From Edinburgh Fringe mainstay Matt Tedford (Margaret Thatcher: Queen of Soho) comes his follow-up Margaret Thatcher: Queen of Hollywood. It’s a fast-paced, absurdist musical that sees the titular former Prime Minister take on modern Hollywood in an alternate reality where she is still alive, and in her own Oscar-winning cinematic universe.
Tedford commits impressively to the bit, as he’s been doing for years, bringing an often intense, and never-ceasing level of energy to the hour long show, barely taking a moment to breathe. He is phenomenal as Thatcher, using her stoic yet intense presence to remark on modern Hollywood and British politics.
While “The Iron Lady” remains immovable in her presence and performance, her two young female co-stars (Kathy Maniura and Rosalie Minnitt) do a lot of the heavy lifting as they switch at lightning speed between multiple characters with impressive skill and some minor costume changes. They play a voiceless assistant (“Sugar Tits”) and a Weinstein-inspired producer. They play Gen-Z actors and fans of Thatcher, “you are the original Girlboss!”, where their thin glasses do a lot of work. And they do much of the set changes too, while they’re at it.
There’s no doubt an underlying joke here about how Thatcher makes everyone around her do the work. When one of them briefly makes a mistake, it’s unclear if it’s Tedford or Thatcher driving the hard bargain, as she suggests she’ll be out of a job that night.
For me, this show is everything that a Fringe show should be. An insane and hilarious premise delivered with wit and intention. There’s no line of dialogue unconsidered, and no moment that doesn’t keep the crowd entranced. And by embodying the seriousness of Thatcher’s nature, Tedford is able to uniquely engage with the crowd – at one point embarrassing latecomers, and at another, those who took out their phones. Which led to some of the healthiest laughs of the day.
The set didn’t change through the show, with the action taking place in front of a mock up of the famed Hollywood Sign, now saying MAGGIEWOOD, surrounded by lights. Additional prop pieces were brought on for select moments, and the staging and lighting, though minimalist, was employed well. They do a lot with a little.
Content wise, Tedford quips early in the show that some of the jokes do require an understanding of 1980s and 1990s British politics, but the show works regardless of any knowledge. Though the odd bit went over my head, if you know Thatcher and her reputation, as well as the basic scandals of Hollywood, that will be more than enough to see you through. As it did me. Just as Tedford and his cast barely took a breath, so to do their audience, with the absurdity of it all holding most of us in tears of laughter from start to finish.
If you have a penchant for ridiculous premises being utilised to comment on celebrity, feminism, politics and everything in between, then this is the show for you.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Margaret Thatcher: Queen of Hollywood continues in the Piccolo Tent during the Edinburgh Fringe until 30th August. For tickets and more details head HERE.
The author attended the production as a guest on 12th August 2026.
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