Brendon Ludlow
6 Aug 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow Me on Instagram
After a completely sold-out season at Adelaide Fringe, Cackling Jackal brings My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow Me on Instagram to Edinburgh for its highly anticipated Fringe debut and what a gift it is.
At its heart, this is a beautifully crafted story of identity, family, and the winding road of self-discovery. Exploring a trans journey with honesty, vulnerability, and an abundance of humour, the show strikes that elusive balance between making you laugh out loud one moment and quietly catching your breath the next.
Rather than preaching or trying to provide easy answers, it invites the audience into a deeply personal world with generosity and warmth. Every story feels authentic, every laugh is earned, and every emotional beat lands because it comes from a place of truth. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community or simply someone who appreciates exceptional storytelling, there is something profoundly human here that resonates long after the curtain falls.
The writing is sharp, the performance effortlessly engaging, and the pacing allows the emotional moments the space they deserve without ever losing the audience’s attention. It’s funny, tender, hopeful, and overflowing with heart.
This is queer theatre at its very best: deeply personal while somehow feeling universal. Cackling Jackal has created something truly special a show that celebrates identity, honours family in all its complicated forms, and reminds us that the people who matter most don’t always need to understand every detail to love us.
If you’re looking for a show that will make you laugh, reflect, and leave with a fuller heart than when you arrived, put My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow Me on Instagram at the top of your Fringe list. Five stars simply don’t feel like enough.