History shows at the Edinburgh Fringe can be hit or miss – but Paul Coulter’s 5 Mistakes That Changed History is in a league of its own. Part stand-up comedy, part expertly researched storytelling, it’s an hour that will have you laughing, learning, and leaving the theatre wanting more. I went with my teenager (a reluctant history student these days) and watched her rediscover the joy of a subject she’d sworn off.
If you read my round-up of the best Fringe shows for teenagers, you’ll know that 5 Mistakes That Changed History was already on my radar. After seeing it in person, I can confirm it’s an absolute treat – thanks entirely to the talent, wit, and infectious enthusiasm of Paul Coulter.
Paul is the genius behind the show: researching, writing, and performing with a pace and energy that had the entire packed auditorium leaning in one minute and roaring with laughter the next. He takes pivotal moments from history and retells them with razor-sharp humour, clever modern-day parallels, and a storyteller’s instinct for just the right detail to keep you hooked.
It’s easy to see why the title 5 Mistakes That Changed History works so well for marketing – it’s attention-grabbing. But it’s Paul himself who makes the magic happen.
My daughter’s verdict
In her own words:
“It felt like a school lesson… but actually good. I’d give it 4 stars because it did feel a bit too much like school when he was saying ‘read the book’ or ‘go to the British Museum’. It was filled with so much information and you learn a lot. It’s quite entertaining though. I already knew two of the stories already.”
This is high praise from my 13-year-old, whose once-great love of history has been squashed this past year by vocabulary lists and dry exam prep. During the show, she was nodding along, smiling, and whispering “I know this!” or “This is what actually happened!” She also laughed—loudly—at Paul’s modern-day comparisons, with the Prince Andrew reference earning a particularly gleeful cackle.
Her teenage “4 stars” probably translates to: I loved it, but I’m not ready to admit I’m a geek yet.
My thoughts
I loved every minute. Paul Coulter is exactly the kind of teacher you wish you’d had – passionate, funny, and with a gift for making history feel alive. His humour is sharp, his research meticulous, and his choice of stories delightfully eclectic (with some obscure gems that even I didn’t know).
This wasn’t just a comedy show with a bit of trivia thrown in – it was genuinely educational and historically accurate, and it reminded me how powerful storytelling can be in sparking curiosity. And yes, I’d already bought his book 10 Mistakes That Changed History, eager for more.
Final verdict
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a casual learner, or simply love a good story well told, Paul Coulter’s 5 Mistakes That Changed History is a Fringe gem. He deserves the packed houses – and then some.
📍 Tickets available via the Assembly Festival website.
Disclaimer: I received press tickets for this show, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
