An improvised, macabre show where Alex Staniforth invents a new horror story each night, with audience members drawn in as characters to guide the adventure through the haunted Edinburgh Vaults.
Stand Up Horror is back at The Banshee Labyrinth for a run of dates through the end of 2026. It's an improvised, macabre show run by actor, writer and tour guide Alex Staniforth, who makes up a new horror story from scratch every single night. The twist is that he doesn't do it alone: he draws volunteers from the audience to step in as characters, and it's those characters who decide what they do, what they find and, on occasion, even who they love. The narrative wanders across the city, pitting the group against ghosts, zombies, witches or all three at once, with the audience guiding the adventure and determining whether they live or die.
The setting does a lot of the heavy lifting here. The Banshee Labyrinth is an underground events and rock & metal venue built into the Edinburgh Vaults, once the haunt of criminals and the unsavoury. It sits right next door to the former home of the very rich Lord Nicol Edwards, and still claims to be haunted by 'The Banshee', a spirit a group of workmen heard screaming during a refurbishment. It's exactly the kind of place that fits a night of improvised horror.
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There are plenty of dates to choose from if you're around the Old Town. The run spans from 15 November 2025 through to 19 December 2026, with specific dates on 19 September 2026, 3, 17 and 21 October 2026, 7, 21 and 29 November 2026, and 5 and 19 December 2026. The show is strictly over 18s, so keep that in mind if you're planning a group outing. Tickets are pay-what-you-can-afford, from £10 to £15 plus a ticket service fee.
