Date: 22 August 2026
Time: 3.45pm – 4.35pm
Venue: The Galleries at Portrait (Venue 421)
Running time: 50 minutes
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Reviewed by: Bella Pirintji
Fringe Run: Various dates between 7 – 30 August | Multiple Times | Multiple Venues
Ticket Price: Various prices
Age Suitability: 16+ (guideline)
Performers: Max Norman as Coco The Time Travelling Tart (@coco.timetart), 5 Foot Entertainment, National Galleries of Scotland
Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/coco-s-art-history-comedy-highlights-tour
Are you a person of culture who enjoys art, history, comedy and drag? Then you may be interested in Coco’s Art History Comedy Highlights Tour, which combines all of the above.
In probably the least boring gallery tour on earth, Coco The Time Travelling Tart takes us on a journey through the ages.
During this unique Fringe experience, Coco’s group of keen time travellers (the audience, dubbed ‘coconuts’) are led between paintings in the National Galleries of Scotland’s Portrait Gallery. Here, she treats us to a number of tales from bygone times as we make our way through the gallery, and thus from the 1500s to the present day. The setting results in a particular focus on Scotland’s people and culture.
We learn how Coco herself impacted history through influential relationships, major mishaps and romping rendezvous. The stories are partly historically accurate, with a generous amount of embellishment.
Coco’s knowledge of history runs deep, and her imaginatively naughty jokes are delivered with Princess Diana-like poise. The pacing is perfect for keeping even those with the shortest attention spans locked in (yes, even myself, who watches every video at 2x speed).
Her physical approach to icebreaking might make some want to run and hide. But it works; she had a group of strangers acting silly, childish and arguably inappropriate in a location that’s normally rather serious. It was extremely refreshing.
All this action occurs among the general public, who look on with amusement and confusion. Coco’s stature, confidence and vivacity capture the attention of everyone within earshot and eyesight as she commands her ‘coconuts’ through the interactive tour with a warm and inviting energy.
Max Norman, the mastermind behind Coco, says he got here “completely by accident”, with the character spawning from a social media video about King Charles’ fingers. Having run tours in other major museums and galleries, his process involves spending time in each venue to write material before previewing it to its staff for feedback and approval.
History lovers and haters can unite for laughs and learning this Fringe with Coco, who is also running tours at the National Galleries of Scotland’s main location on The Mound.
