January 18, 2026 
One 4 Review
Comedy for the Curious 4**** - One4Review
Ever wondered why people bite their nails, fall for clickbait, or genuinely believe UFOs are part of a government cover-up? Comedy for the Curious has you covered. Hosted by American comic and marine biologist brainiac Robyn Perkins, this clever show is part science, part comedy, part exploration of what makes humans tick — and it’s consistently fascinating.Tonight’s topic: bad habits and the psychology of conspiracy theories. Perkins opens with a killer monologue, her scientific background giving her jokes an extra zing. One moment she’s delivering a slick punchline about dating shows, the next she’s wielding data and graphs to back it up. You’re laughing and learning without even realising.The format is beautifully simple. Each night features a guest comedian and a bona fide expert joining Perkins onstage. Tonight’s comedy slot is Scottish rising star Ruaridh Miller, whose short but standout set weaves the evening’s themes seamlessly into his material. His riff on people who genuinely believe pigeons are government surveillance devices is dry, sharp, and earns him a clutch of instant new fans in the room.Then comes the heart of the show: stats, spreadsheets, and more graphs than you’d expect at a Fringe comedy gig. But Perkins keeps it lively, threading zingers and quick asides between explorations of cognitive bias, misinformation, and how conspiracy theories spread. It’s a kaleidoscope of psychology, comedy, and data storytelling — digestible, surprising, and consistently funny.Joining the discussion is Dr Mioara Cristea, an expert in the field, who brings academic weight without a shred of dryness. Perkins’ sparky enthusiasm, Miller’s calm, precise delivery, and Cristea’s grounded science hit a perfect sweet spot between insight and entertainment. Particularly enjoyable were their debunking strategies, the discussion on social media’s role in spreading conspiracies, and the way credibility and evidence are navigated with humour.Do you walk away with all the answers? Not quite — and that’s not the point. Perkins has created something genuinely unique at the Fringe: a show that teaches without preaching, sneaks research papers into punchlines, and leaves you feeling just a little smarter — and perhaps a little more aware of the invisible cat societies lurking in our world.Overall, Comedy for the Curious is the show to drag your most sceptical mate to — the one who hates both stand-up and science lectures — just to prove them wrong. With razor-sharp guests, a format that has real legs (and arms, and tentacles), and an endlessly likeable host, this is one X-File of a show you’ll want to believe in.****Reviewed by Steve HLaughing Horse @ West Nic Records12.45 (1hr)Until 24 Aug (not 20) Click Here For Review