Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical, Baby Wants Candy, EdFringe 2026 ★★★★

Walking into a fringe venue buzzing with anticipation and a remix of ‘Helpless’ playing through the PA? Yes, please. This is the exciting opening to my night as I take my seat for Shamilton! The Improvised Hip Hop Musical. 

This show from the Baby Wants Candy comedy ensemble is an hour long improvised musical which prioritises hip hop and rap elements into its storytelling. Featuring a rotating ensemble cast of five – on the night I attend this is frontlined by the UK’s very own MC Hammersmith (real name Will Naameh) – this powerful group of improvisers take audience suggestions for a real life or fictional figure to base their story around and proceed to weave an impressive narrative supported by two incredible house musicians. On the night I attend, the cast eventually settle on telling the story of Sherlock Holmes (with Justin Bieber just narrowly missing out). 

I have to say, the first ten minutes of the show in which the cast interact with the audience to decide their protagonist is perhaps the funniest: it is certainly the most naturally off-the-cuff we hear Naameh as he skillfully deflects audience member’s ever increasingly ridiculous prompts. Once the main character is chosen, the lights go down and we hear the striking chords of a familiar opening number (spoiler alert: there’s a fair few Hamilton references in this show). I won’t get too deep into the plot as it changes each night, but for this particular adventure we follow Holmes as he attempts to unravel the one case he’s never been able to solve: the death of his father. Aided by a colourful ensemble of rotating characters, inexplicably including Shaggy and Scooby Doo, Holmes navigates a series of situations through song that culminate in a satisfying payoff for all. 

The improvisation of this team is excellent. The way they are able to ‘yes and’ the improbable situations they discover and eventually lead us back to a skillfully wrapped up conclusion is endlessly impressive. There are twists, turns, and delicious callbacks all through the show played out by a cast that clearly work very well together and have a talent for storytelling. Naameh delivers a cold, calculating Holmes who breaks our hearts by tearing apart all his relationships in the pursuit of logic. Allen Lucas delivers an endearing parody of ‘Dear Theodosia’ as the forgotten best friend, Watson. The rest of the ensemble create such bold, ludicrous and juicy characters through their physicality and bold storytelling choices that we cannot help but be delighted and held on the edge of our seats throughout. 

The design elements of this show are impeccable. While the set it simple, and the costumes Hamilton adjacent but neutral enough to blend into any plot, the lighting and sound are exceptional. The house band drives the piece and is constantly ready to take the performers’ leads and turn a scene into a well-crafted musical number. The lighting is so in-sync with the music and performers’ beats that at times it really feels like a fully rehearsed production.

That said, the element that slightly let this production down was the skill of the performers’ various improvised raps. This is of course no easy feat, and there were certainly several moments in which a particularly perfect rhyme or thematic thread was pulled together that had the audience in cheers, but there were also several clunky rhymes, trailed off sentences and nonsensical phrases. Could I do any better? Absolutely not. But I think perhaps more skilled improvising rappers could. If you’re going to capitalise on the Hamilton brand, you really have to make sure your word-play and lyricism is at the top of your priorities list. 

Despite a few weakly executed lines, this show was an absolute delight to watch. Improvised musicals always are when done right, and the Baby Wants Candy team certainly deliver a clever, well-crafted and fantastically absurd show. 

Drink recommendation: Perhaps a brandy or a single malt whiskey, neat. Something to keep you away from the certain 7% solution favoured by Holmes himself.

You can catch Shamilton! The Improvised Hip Hop Musical at Studio One at Assembly George Square Studios from 5-30 August at various times (60 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office