REVIEW: 3 Little Wigs, Chrome Productions, EdFringe 2025 ★★★★

Welcome to the talent show, featuring none other than the infamous three little pigs, and judged by the sly eyes of the Big Bag Wolf. What could possibly go wrong? 

The first thing to be said about Chrome Productions’ Three Little Wigs is that the talent and energy of the performers is second to none. Their singing and dancing is absolutely stunning, with each note hit flawlessly, and each stamp and twirl timed to perfection. The audience are in the palms of their hands every step of the way, as the three piggies strut up and down the aisle of the theatre and get the crowd on their feet dancing the whole way through. 

It’s a strong choice to theme the show around the three little pigs fairy tale. When we’re talking sexy and powerful, pigs are not the first things to come to mind, but this trio knows how to make it work. The wigs, makeup and costumes combine to build a stunning aesthetic, which is satisfyingly cohesive across the three characters whilst still using subtle differences to give them their own unique personalities. Building from this, the fierce drag persona of the Big Bag Wolf and the pop-up cameos of a few other characters added to make this piece increasingly dynamic and exciting. The three little pigs were developed well through the show, but I do wish we’d seen more of the other performers who only got a brief moment in the spotlight, and could have certainly added to the ensemble moments. 

This show certainly works as a traditional cabaret show, but takes it a step further by including the storyline of the talent competition and the threat of the wolf judge. This is an interesting premise with a captivating set-up, however there was a lack of commitment with the follow through. The conflict of the story seemed to resolve itself, but there were still touching moments between the characters that helped with the cohesion. Still, there is room for development in this aspect of the show.

The technical elements of this show were ambitious, with vibrant lights giving a new level of energy to each number and working well to create a cabaret atmosphere in the theatre space. Unfortunately, there were difficulties with the TV monitor propped up at the back of the stage. The screen displayed an error message for most of the show, although the performers should certainly be commended for their professional response to this, remaining in character and keeping the performance running smoothly as this disturbed certain scenes. When the screen did work, the home-made video that played didn’t fit with the high-quality standard of the rest of the show, and I was left wondering why the videoed scenes couldn’t have been part of the live performance. Perhaps the remaining unseen video footage would have made this more cohesive. 

Regardless of the unfortunate tech issues, the performance was still certainly a night to remember, bringing the highest standard of cabaret to the stage at Edinburgh fringe. The uniqueness and playfulness of the concept made it truly memorable, and the live execution was nothing short of flawless. 

Recommended Drink: a Pink Pig Cocktail

You can catch 3 Little Wigs until the 23rd of August at Theatre 1 at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall from 22:45 (45mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.