Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us

Mark Watson brings Before It Overtakes Us back to Edinburgh for three final Fringe performances on 27, 28 and 29 August 2026. The late-night shows start at 11:15pm in the Grand at Pleasance Courtyard.

The hour grew out of an encounter with a stranger that left Watson thinking about the uncertain future facing humanity, giving the show a bigger subject than its everyday stand-up starting point.

Key Event Details

What To Expect

Before It Overtakes Us begins with a personal encounter and opens out into a show about uncertainty, anxiety and the future. Watson uses the incident as a way into questions that are much larger than one conversation, while keeping the material rooted in the personal storytelling style that drives the hour.

These Edinburgh dates are not the start of the show’s life. Pleasance says it has already played major Australian comedy festivals and a national tour, following a sold-out Fringe run the previous year. The 2026 return is specifically billed as three final Edinburgh performances.

The 11:15pm start makes this a proper late-Fringe booking. It runs for 60 minutes, carries a 14+ guideline and contains strong language.

Tickets & Entry

Tickets are £21 for each of the three performances. All three dates are listed for booking through Pleasance, subject to availability. Check tickets and availability.

Location

The show takes place at Pleasance Courtyard, Grand in Southside, Edinburgh.

Getting There

Pleasance Courtyard is at 60 Pleasance in the Southside. Late-night Fringe transport still runs across the city, but check your route home in advance because the show finishes after midnight.

Our Tips

• This is an 11:15pm start, so double-check your date and travel home.
• The run is only three performances long.
• The show is listed as 14+ and contains strong language.

Source: official event page