Basically Nocturnal Review at the Edinburgh Fringe

A relaxing hour long serenade from Thomas Currie is the best way to end your day at this year's Edinburgh Fringe!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Photo by Niv Novak and Kyle Head.

What is Basically Nocturnal?

I won’t lie, by the time 9:40PM rolled around yesterday, I was absolutely exhausted. Four shows down, several reviews written, three interviews filmed, and over 20,000 steps clocked. After sprinting from a show that ran late at Pleasance Appleton Tower, I collapsed (sweaty and breathless) into the front row.

And that’s when Thomas Currie greeted me: calm, collected, and entirely unbothered, perched in a brown leather swivel chair beside his electric piano. From that first moment, the show began with warmth.

You see, Currie is a self-proclaimed night owl. He does his best thinking after dark, and Basically Nocturnal is his attempt to recreate the vibe of a bedtime story; relaxing, engaging, and quietly profound. And that’s exactly what he delivers.

Currie is a natural storyteller. Each song, whether thoughtfully chosen or cleverly created (you’ll have to see the show to know which is which) is crafted with the audience in mind. The result is a performance that’s funny, intelligent, and easy to sink into. Currie’s vocal tone and range are gorgeous; frankly, he could sing the phone book and I’d be on board. His charisma is effortless, and most importantly, you feel safe in his hands.

There are touching moments, too. Letters from his grandmother add a heartfelt glimpse into home, nostalgia, and family. But the show never becomes too heavy. It’s more of a gentle exhale than a gut punch. And after the day I’d had, that was a welcome relief.

Is Basically Nocturnal worth seeing?

Absolutely. It’s soothing, sharp, and quietly delightful. You’ll laugh, you might reflect, and you’ll most likely leave feeling better than when you arrived. Sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of theatre we need.

Ticket Information and Show Times for Basically Nocturnal.

Basically Nocturnal runs until the 25th of August at Blether at Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. Show time is at 9:40PM. Tickets can be accessed through the Edinburgh Fringe website.

Location:  Blether at Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh

Date of Review: 2nd of August

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Disclaimer: I was invited to this show on August 2nd, 2025 in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own and were not influenced by the invite.