Rose Bruford College graduate Georgia Polly-Taylor has won a Gold Fringe Theatre Award for her one-woman show Georgia Polly-Taylor: Very Hot. Very Messy., following its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut at Underbelly Cowgate.
The Fringe Theatre Awards recognise outstanding work presented at the Edinburgh Fringe, with shows judged on reviews from approved publications. To qualify, productions must receive at least two four-star reviews from accredited publications. Very Hot. Very Messy. is among this year’s Gold Award recipients.
The one-woman-show, combining clowning, physical performance and character comedy, Very Hot. Very Messy. follows wannabe socialite and model Hot Mess at her first ever MET Gala. When the night takes a spectacularly disastrous turn, she embarks on a surreal journey through shame, celebrity and self-discovery.
Georgia graduated from Rose Bruford’s BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts programme in 2022 with First Class Honours. She developed the show alongside fellow Rose Bruford alumna Nancy Hannigan, who directs and co-produces the production.
The production has already received critical recognition, including five-star reviews from Everything Theatre, LouReviews and The Obscurity, as well as winning the Best of the Camden Fringe Award in 2025. Everything Theatre described Polly-Taylor as “mesmerising”, while the Edinburgh Fringe listing quotes a five-star review praising audiences “bellow[ing] with laughter”.
At Edinburgh, the show has been presented at Underbelly Cowgate’s Belly Laugh, where it runs until 30 August.
The award adds to an impressive run of recognition for Georgia’s work, following her Best of the Camden Fringe Award and Brighton Fringe bursary win. Her Edinburgh success also forms part of a strong showing from Rose Bruford graduates at this year’s Fringe, with alumni and graduating students presenting original work across Edinburgh and Camden.
Congratulations to Georgia and the whole Very Hot. Very Messy. team on this fantastic achievement.