REVIEW: As Far As We Know, YESYESNONO, EdFringe 2026 ★★★

YESYESNONO’s sixth Edinburgh Fringe show is like a wide-shot roadtrip movie. Equal parts Western, Noir and Lynch it toys with Americana to deliver a story about the modern world. Perhaps its most interesting element though, is how small-scale it really is. A desk, a chair, a lamp, a casefile. It is the spoken word that transports us to the cinematic drives across streches of desert, to deserted banks and guarded data centres, to detectives eating donughts and receptionists playing Farming Simulator. 

Sam Ward’s script is ambitious, and his delivery is breakneck. He speaks relentlessly, taking one break in a three-part odyssey through the desert. His performance is charismatic, and its deliberate one-note functions well. Hans Sayles is probably the best part of the show and their lighting is evocative, angular and gorgeous. It gives Summerhall’s main hall a really epic feel. Haze envelops Ward as he speaks and creates a compelling image as we get lost in his story. 

The story begins with a woman who has holes in her garden. She’s driving along a road. It takes us through many aspects of modern society; especially finance and tech. It becomes surreal at points as doors become hidden portals to other worlds, as people survive car-crashes and crawl into caves, as a man dressed a little funny waves from a bench then a forest. The phrase ‘Follow the Horizon’ is invoked time and time again, and a detective pointificates with the woman about what this could be, sending them on a thrilling chase that takes up the course of the play. 

On a purely mechanical level, Ward’s story is thrilling, and the way it is delivered sweeps you along, forcing you to follow or lose the thread entirely. Chases feel high-stakes, eerie moments get under your skin, Carmel Smickersgill’s evocative score and sound design adds nicely to the whole project. This being said, I can’t help but feel that the plot is a series of strung-together MacGuffins. This was such a broadly reaching piece that it swept you up to a world but never really let you into it. It’s a work which is asking us to use our imagination whilst simultaneously making observations about things which are all too real. There’s a sort of beauty that the only real relationship developed in the whole show turns out to be an illusion, but it does mean the constant twists and turns of the plot become the complete focus. 

Still, it’s a good focus. As Far As We Know is a compelling piece of storytelling performed and designed with great care and skill. If you’re up in the morning, this is one to catch, and I’m excited to see YESYESNONO’s next piece. 

Recommended Drink: A glass of OJ and a nice black coffee, diner style.

You can catch As Far As We Know at Main Hall at Summerhall (Mainhall) from 6-31 August at 16.45 (65mins). Tickets are available from the EdFringe Online Box Office.