a guide to our star ratings
A Quick Disclaimer:
There’s a reason we’re called Hot Take Reviews. There’s no test to become a reviewer — no license or official qualification. Of course, some arts and culture journalists write for national publications and these obviously carry a certain weight. But most Fringe reviews come from the people who matter most: the audience.
We’re full-time copywriters who love writing and love the arts. We enjoy peeling back layers of meaning to get to what is, ultimately, our own opinion. These are Hot Takes — rooted in subjective experience. We write about shows because we care about live performance and want to be a force for good. So our reviews will always lean towards support rather than criticism for the sake of it. We welcome feedback too — please comment on the blog, message us on Instagram or email us if you’d like to share your own thoughts.
With this, and transparency in mind, here is how we try to position our independent ratings system:
We will only review shows we can watch. If a show is so lacking as to earn a walk-out, it will not receive a review or any rating.
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star
Difficult to sit through. One star acknowledges the effort of bringing a show to the Fringe — no small feat — but the result has missed the mark entirely. That might be down to poor quality, tone-deaf treatment of a subject, or lack of substance. Excessive, lazy ‘punching down’ will also land a show here.
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars
There’s potential, not realised. There’s a glimpse of artistry, talent or storytelling that had us rooting for the piece, even if it didn’t quite land. A 2-star show is usually not something we’d recommend, but it still reflects an effort that could grow into something stronger.
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars
A solid and enjoyable show. It’s well-executed, with a clear sense of meaning or entertainment value, but nothing particularly new. Overall, we’d recommend it. While there may be room for refinement or elevation, it stands alone as a complete, competent and worthwhile experience with room to be pushed.
★★★★☆ 4 Stars
An excellent performance. Memorable, skillful and resonant beyond the final bow. This is a strong recommendation — the kind of show you’d bring a friend to to show off your good taste. It’s shy of five stars often because we believe it could go even further.
★★★★★ 5 Stars
An outstanding piece of work. This rating is reserved for shows that move us deeply, shift perspectives or leave a lasting mark. Often boundary-pushing or boldly original, a 5-star performance is one we’ll remember for years — not just for what it was, but for how it made us feel. 5 Stars is also for shows at the top of their game in their field. We know not all performances need to have a meaningful through line, some exist to surprise and delight.
Our Rating System
Published on
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 
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