Monks - Edinburgh Fringe Review

Review by Mark and Aimee

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

Brothers assemble for the utterly bonkers and brilliant Monks. Created and performed by the brilliant comedic duo of Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela, this interactive clown epic is an absolute masterclass in physical comedy and audience connection.

The premise is delightfully straightforward: two medieval monks are left completely unsupervised while their Abbot is away. Having opened the monastery doors to outside visitors for the first time in five years, their grand ambition for the afternoon is simply to sit back and do "nothing" together with a room full of strangers. Naturally, utter chaos immediately unfolds.

What follows is an hour of pure, manic invention. From meticulous lentil-counting and audience baptismal rituals to a full-blown indoor storm (complete with spray bottles and flying foliage) and a search for a runaway donkey, the duo creates a world so absurdly charming that you can’t help but dive in headfirst.

Luján and Hortigüela both possess an electric, almost telepathic dynamic on stage. They handle audience participation with astonishing warmth and skill, turning the room into a real-time community where every spectator is thrilled to play along. This is truly a shared experience.

Beneath all the gloriously silly slapstick and panto-style mayhem lies a surprisingly gentle, heartwarming message about connection and the precious value of spending time doing nothing with the people who matter.

Monks is rare, radiant, and endlessly inventive. You walk out of the venue with a full heart, aching cheeks, and a newfound appreciation for medieval monasticism. Truly one of the most bonkers and greatest hours at the Fringe this year.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monks runs at Greenside @ George Street - Lime Studio until Saturday 29th August 2026. For tickets visit https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/monks

Monks runs in Toronto, Canada at the Tarragon Theatre from 20th October until 8th November. Visit https://tarragontheatre.com/plays/tarragon-season-26-27/monks/ for more details.