REVIEW: Doughboys, Drunk Jester Players, EdFringe 2026 ★★★★

Doughboys is a gleefully silly tale of bravery, self-exploration, and gender-fuckery with a warm emotional core. It is a delightful hour of new writing, presented by a passionate and talented emerging cast making solid choices that work with the quirks of Fringe theatre rather than against them. 

1917. A trench. The charmingly inept British Sergeant Haddock and his terrified second in command French Corporal Duchamp eagerly await the arrival of American troops to bolster their forces before going over the top tomorrow. The backups arrive – but wait! Those moustaches don’t look real! These Doughboys are not boys at all – they’re girls! Hilarity ensues as each of the female recruits strives to achieve their own aims: Private Sandes wants a chance to fight and prove herself, Private Bianconi is on the prowl for an eligible batchelor, and Private Furse just wants to find her brother. Haddock is none the wiser, even as the hijinks ramp up and Bianconi’s flirtations reach boiling point, but Duchamp clocks the girls immediately and gives them an ultimatum; sneak him out before tomorrow’s big assault, or he’ll expose their identities.

Darcy Thompson’s script is sharp and engaging, evidently drawing inspiration from droll comedies such as Blackadder, but placing his own subversive focus front and centre. This play is explicitly queer, refusing to view gender or sexuality as binary despite the farcical plot and time period. A particular highlight is when Moulin-Rouge-trained Duchamp performs a full lipsync number, later donning a dress and wig in an attempt to escape the trenches. When Haddock then falls in love (lust) with the disguised Duchamp, Thompson’s light-footed script avoids the vaguely homophobic subtext that this farcical trope often falls into, instead using this moment as a vehicle for self-expression and sexuality exploration. The play’s final moments of revelation and ultimatum are genuinely moving, guided by Meena Knowles’ stellar performance as Sandes.

Indeed, the performances are strong across the board, with standouts from Thompson himself as Haddock, and director Lily Filippatos as Bianconi. These overblown characters remain rooted in the emotional truth that the actors bring to their performances, as well as by the other actors’ dedication to sincerity in their roles. The costuming (Aura Meyers) is also a standout, adding a depth of experience to the production that elevates it above many other Fringe productions.

Witty, subversive, and surprisingly touching, Doughboys is a charming exploration of sexuality and gender couched in a military farce.

Drink recommendation: A tot of rum (I guess you can add Diet Coke if needs be!).

You can catch Doughboys at Thistle Theatre at Greenside @ Riddle’s Court from 7-22 August (not 16) at 18:25 (60 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.