Onwards!

Mark this the second show I’ve seen at the 2026 Fringe that tries to directly address the dread we’re all feeling because (gestures hands) of everything.

Come to think of it, this is the second musical show I’ve seen at the 2026 Fringe that tries to directly address the dread we’re all feeling because (gestures hands) of everything.

What are the odds?

In the case of Bremner Fletcher’s Onwards!, he tries to look on the bright side, while also having us laugh at the dark, making the decision to move onward in life with joy and defiance.

A contemporary one-man vaudeville show. I loved the songs and the stories (esp how the Fringe saved Bremner's life!!)

I had never seen one of Bremner’s performances before, and while I appreciated aspects of this show, it felt a little undercooked and disjointed. He works through a range of ideas and themes using song and humour, and while the jokes generally landed, they weren’t as frequent or as biting as they could have been. The songs were mostly good, but similarly, few were particularly memorable. I’ll also echo the comments about the strange use of Suno during the show…should a critique of AI involve the use of AI?

It felt a little all over the place. Excellent singer. Fun stories. But i struggled to stay engaged the whole time

This show embodies the spirit of the fringe: perfectly eclectic, unlike any conventional theater production, and an ode to individuality.

Bremner Fletcher acts as Onwards!’s sole member, manning the lights and sound whilst simultaneously performing for the audience. His unique use of lamps to light the stage adds an aura of authenticity to the production and undoubtedly lends itself to the show’s staunch pro-individual themes. Through song and storytelling, Bremner creates a kind of one-man-musical where— as the sole character— he leads the audience through the trials of maintaining free will in a world constantly vying for your submission. Bremner champions radical happiness, inviting the audience to choose joy for themselves in the face of all the tragedies of our modern day and reject the suppression of our internal wants.

One gripe I have with the execution of this show was the use of Suno AI during Bremner’s critique of AI. Use of AI in any fashion— even a critical lense— is awkward given the way it steals from the very artists that populate spaces like the fringe, so it’s minor involvement in Onwards! left a bad taste in my mouth. Bremner does take the time to air out all of AI’s downsides, however the point he makes through the use of Suno AI could have been done without the controversial application. Despite this unfortunate facet, the show still stands as a very profound and thought-provoking piece that calls the audience towards the betterment of themselves and society as a whole.

The fringe is all about taking a chance, so why not do just that by purchasing a ticket for Onwards! If you aren’t the cerebral type, I can’t promise this show will be for you. However, if you enjoy a little bit of thematic depth and a lot of unique design elements, give Bremner’s one-man-show a go!

Bremner is an amazing storyteller and vocalist, and this show veers from one element to the next, grabbing you in the first instance and then hurling you into the next chapter. "Onwards!" charges along, then pauses for introspection, then hits the gas again, leaving the audience as a passenger on a mesmerizing ride where you're never quite sure where you are going. Worth it for Bremner's vocals alone, everything else simply makes it more and more intoxicating.