Zara Gladman is? Aileen

THE SHOW

Zara Gladman brings her acclaimed, sell-out debut Fringe show ( “Flawless stagecraft ★★★★★” – ThreeWeeks; “Outstanding ★★★★½” - One4Review; “iconic” – Josie Long) back to Edinburgh.

 

Ageing millennial Gladman and her alter-egos – including everyone’s favourite Glasgow West end mum Aileen – take centre stage for a worthy cause: to raise funds for Aileen’s

son’s gap year. Expect silliness, song and a healthy dose of drama in this sparkling hour from one of the UK’s most-talked about comics. Plus, a raffle!

 

Zara Gladman is “one of the most-shared names in Scottish comedy” (The National). Her viral creations have been viewed by millions, from West end mum “Aileen” to “Scottish newsreader” (“appallingly accurate” - Kirsty Wark) and the “woman who is secretly a

rat”. In 2025 Gladman wrote, directed and starred in her own BBC sketch show ‘Good For Her’, available to watch on iPlayer (“Gladman hits the mark slyly but surely ★★★★” – The Herald)

 

★★★★★ “Wildly funny” – Three Weeks

★★★★ “Gladman’s whole show is a delight” - Across the Arts

★★★★½ “Outstanding. Sketch comedy with bite, brilliance and just the right amount of bile” – One4Review

The Telegraph's Top 5 Young Sketch Comedians to Watch

iPaper 33 best shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Musical Comedy Awards Finalist 2025

Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award Finalist 2024

TICKETS

Friday 21st November 2025

20:00 (60min)

£12

FURTHER INFO

Seating: Every ticket-holder gets a seat, so you can leave standing-up to our acts. 

Suitability: 16+ (Restriction)

Warnings and Additional Info: N/A

Accessibility: Full accessibility information for all our venues can be found on our website. Alternatively, please contact our Box Office with any access questions.

Groups: Please contact our Box Office for alternative group size arrangements or group bookings of 7 or more. See Terms and Conditions for more information.

MONKEY BARREL COMEDY

Monkey Barrel Comedy has been ‘Scotland’s Best Comedy Venue’ since 2020 (Chortle Awards) and was described by The List as “a year-round Edinburgh institution”. It has over 500 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor, making it one of the city’s top-rated year-round attractions.

The club was home to both of 2022's Edinburgh Comedy Awards winners, Best Comedy Show 2023 and Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer 2024. It has been described as the "Beating Heart" of the Fringe by The Telegraph and “the best comedy club in the world” by comedian Olga Koch. 

“What a comedy club you’ve got there, Edinburgh!” (Kevin Bridges)

“Down there at the Monkey Barrel, there's something in the water, AND I CAN'T STOP DRINKING IT!” (Sam Campbell)

"Fringe Heroes" (The Metro)

"Redefining what weekend comedy can and should be" (British Comedy Guide

5.0★★★★★ Trip Advisor | 4.7★★★★ Google | 4.5★★★★ Facebook 

FOLLOW US INFO

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DRINKS & MORE

Our adjoining bar, Barrel Bar, is open from 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at least 1 hour before every show every other day. It serves a wide selection of drinks, including locally-sourced beers, cocktails, and spirits. 

Table service is available in the venue throughout the show, so you can get drinks delivered straight to your seat without missing a thing. Order via the QR codes positioned next to your seat. Not applicable for all shows.