REVIEW: Channel, Wet Hands, EdFringe 2026 ★★★★

Nestled within the unrelenting heart of Edinburgh Fringe, there rests a quiet oasis, a sanctuary of restoration and peace. Channel is an immersive experience born from the collaboration between Dutch Kills Theater Company and artist Wet Hands. It exists for one reason: to offer an escape. An escape from a world of overload, the pressure of expectation, and a festival relying on feverish momentum.

Inside a shipping container, the audience spends 75 minutes in dimmed lights, on cosy cushions, accompanied by lulling, improvised rhythms. The set is simple, with seats adorning the walls in a pale pebble-like grey. There are two microphones, and a DJ booth from which the show is crafted.

Once the audience are settled and the doors are sealed, we are welcomed into the space and given permission to move around, make sounds into the microphones which are woven into the soundscape, or simply rest, sometimes to the point of sleep. In this instance, someone gently jangled their keys into the mic, which later appeared as a twinkling sound, softly playing through the speakers.

Despite the lack of any explicit narrative or message, Channel bears a stark reminder of what is lacking in festivals such as Edinburgh Fringe. The chance to stop, rest, and restore. In an overstimulating world of social media, non-stop news and 24-hour communication, the chance to shut yourself away becomes radical. This experience would be particularly welcome to neurodivergent audience members, where the opportunity for sensory re-connection is especially necessary and often hard to access in the busy month of August. 

Channel‘s simple structure is what makes it wonderful. After a short introduction, the audience are encouraged to engage in communal restoration, yet are free to find their own source of comfort. Many soon fell asleep, curling up and snoring softly. Some sat with their eyes lowered, deep in thought.

I opted to watch Wet Hands (Jack McGuire), who ceaselessly mixed and tapped his way through the melody and the lights, deep in focus as he built the pulsing ocean of sound. The music is constructed electronically, producing a slow, psychedelic beat that you cannot resist relaxing to. 

For me, the experience itself was deeply satisfying and fulfilling for the full duration. The music and the lights shift, your thoughts will ebb and flow, yet note that the content itself is consistent throughout. The gift of envelopes full of prompts on entry wasn’t strictly necessary, however, for some participants searching for more engagement, this would be a welcome opportunity for interaction.

At the end of a hectic day, Channel is a necessary chance to reconnect and revive before heading back out into the fray. You will leave feeling like you’ve just had the best night’s sleep of your life. Simple, skillful, and powerfully effective. 

Recommended Drink: A steamy hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows. 

You can watch Channel at The Cubicle at Buccleuch Place at Assembly George Square at Various Times (75mins) on August 8-30 (Not 17). Tickets Available at the EdFringe Online Box Office.