Hannah Maxwell’s Edinburgh Fringe show, Turn Your F*cking Phones Off, is praised as an energetic critique of big technology, smartphone dependency and the perceived erosion of democracy. Blending comedy, audience participation and personal storytelling, it argues that everyday digital habits can feed systems that profit from division and political manipulation.

The performance follows two connected strands: Maxwell’s past work for a secretive organisation influencing public discourse, and her growing alarm over her own screen addiction. She uses karaoke, games and an old-fashioned payphone to contrast real-world connection with algorithm-driven online life; the show runs at Summerhall, Edinburgh, until 31 August.