Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 · Gilded Balloon Patter House
The hit NZ workplace sketch-comedy is heading to Edinburgh Fringe — performing 26 nights at one of the world’s great comedy stages.
August 2026 · Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh
Watch
45-second trailer
Out of the box thinker
The CEO song
Audience verdict
I was laughing so hard I nearly fell out of my seat.”
Sarah K. — HR business partner
Irreverent, provocative, unmissable.”
James T. — Teacher
Every word cleverly crafted, every song belly-laughingly witty.”
Michelle B. — Head of talent acquisition
Everyday HR and corporate terms rightly denuded into their ridiculous reality.”
David L. — Finance manager
Bloody brilliant. Dragged my whole team along — best professional development we’ve ever done.”
Nicola F. — Organisational development manager
Loved every moment of it. Close to the bone and absolutely hilarious.”
Tom R. — Senior marketing manager
Critical response
★★★★★
“A comic triumph with its humour recognisable to all who have partaken in corporate culture.”
Glam Adelaide · Read full review ↗
★★★★
“Giving office life a good shake, this plundering of human resources jargon is an instantly relatable gem.”
InDaily SA · Read full review ↗
“In a festival packed with comedic brilliance, H.R. The Musical really stands out.”
Jess Pyke, Upside Adelaide · Read full review ↗
“Catchy, caustic and completely unmissable for anyone who has ever survived a performance review.”
RNZ Culture 101 · Listen ↗
About the show
The hit NZ workplace sketch-comedy H.R. The Musical is coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August — 26 nights at the Gilded Balloon Patter House, one of Edinburgh’s top five venues.
A performance revue like you’ll never get in an office tower, this riotous musical sketch-comedy takes on the ridiculous and objectionable in the modern workplace in the form of the blues, rap, latin plainchant and more. Covering transparent coworker communications, DEI, the showdown with AI, and endless restructuring.
H.R. The Musical was the runaway hit of NZ International Comedy Festival 2024, selling out across New Zealand. The show and its follow-up, H.R. The Musical #2, have since been performed to more than 10,000 people in New Zealand and Australia, including a triumphant run at Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Int’l Comedy Festival.
The Gilded Balloon is known for its outstanding comedy programme — having hosted the likes of Flight of the Conchords and Tim Minchin. This is Kiwi humour and joy on the world’s biggest stage.
If you’ve worked in an office — or survived a performance review — this show is for you.
The cast
Amy Mansfield
Writer, producer & performer
Photo: Michelle McLennan
New Zealand writer, composer and creative producer whose work spans theatre, music and large-scale arts events. Previous work includes the touring play I Didn’t Invite You Here to Lecture Me and the NZSO-performed Hansel & Gretel collaboration with composer Claire Cowan.
Mika Austin
Performer
Photo: Andi Crown
Actor, HR executive and former lawyer who has toured extensively across New Zealand and Australia with H.R. The Musical and its sequel.
Jessica Robinson
Performer
Acclaimed stage and screen performer with credits including The Brokenwood Mysteries, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Great Gatsby, alongside extensive cabaret and clown performance experience.
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