Fest 2016 Issue 4

70+ Reviews | Full Listings | Venue Map

Shooting the shit with

Sh!t Theatre Plus: WitTank Bourgeois & Maurice Babar the Elephant Hot Brown Honey Tommy Tiernan Dublin Oldschool Mark Thomas Only Bones Lazy Susan Brendon Burns

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Contents

Comedy 26 Kieran Hodgson

“We like embracing failure”

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A comedy show that’s heavy on the Mahler.

Mad, or brilliant?

The two-woman team tearing up theatrical convention – and tearing open your post

27 Laura Lexx A funny, positive hour from a funny, positive maverick

The Boys are Back in Town

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Theatre 44 Angel A heartbreaking monologue about the war in Syria

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48 Where Do All the Dead Pigeons Go?

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We have a beer with Fringe favourites, WitTank

Queen

ive s Dr

Our team of young guns give their take on How to be a Rock Star and The Showstoppers’ Kids’ Show

Perfect Day It’s week two of the Fringe and you’re probably running out of brain power.

Don’t worry! Fest can plan your day so you don’t have to

Edinburgh Larder 15 Blackfriars Street

Credit: Albert Hooi

2:30pm

Dublin Oldschool Pleasance Courtyard 1:00pm – 2:00pm

It might not seem like the obvious place to begin but Dublin Oldschool will certainly kick your day off with a bang as a pair of k-holing brothers take you on a journey through the Dublin rave scene.

Head towards Edinburgh’s Old Town for some lunch at Edinburgh Larder.

Their menu is made up of seasonal food and local produce that changes daily depending on what’s available. They always have a yummy selection of salads, soups, quiches, and meat and cheese boards on offer. Porridge with a side of black pudding is a thing, says Fest’s editor.

Ed Aczel’s Foreign Policy Heroes @ The Hive 4:20pm – 5:20pm

After lunch, head along to The Hive to enjoy some exceptional anti-comedy from Ed Aczel. His deadpan humour ranges from the impending end of the world to the monotony of everyday life including supermarket loyalty cards and combi boilers.

You won’t be quite sure whether to laugh, cry or just give up all together.

Prefect Day

6

Voujon 107 Newington Road 8:15pm

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You’re sure to be hungry after all that comedy so head over to Voujon for a fusion feast of North Indian and Bangladeshi food.

Liz Miele: Mind Over Melee

Cuncrete Summerhall 10:00pm – 10:55pm

Underbelly, Cowgate

Prefect Day

6:40pm – 7:40pm

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After the anti-comedy comes a very funny debut show from Liz Miele. Focusing on her travels as an anxietyridden American through Europe, and through life, Miele is self-assured and brilliantly funny.

End your day with some drag punk cabaret!

Cuncrete attacks the “grey men” who are responsible for the grey, concrete cities that we live in. Silly, satirical humour that equates property developers with bad punk rock bands, it is utterly hilarious.

Tim Bano talks to Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole of Sh!t Theatre about the housing crisis, the non-threatening side of performance art, and their new show Letters to Windsor House

Credit: Kat Gollock

“ We like embracing failure�

Features

festmag.co.uk

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9

elcome to Woodberry Down, a colossal “regeneration” project in Hackney, slicing the skyline in a thick cluster of concrete and glass. Every apartment has underfloor heating, and there’s a even a lake for kayaking. Just down the road, however, behind the phone box where locals smoke crack, is Windsor House. This is not luxury living. It’s an ex-council block, home to Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole who, collectively, are better known as Sh!t Theatre.

Having looked at Job Seeker’s Allowance, paid clinical trials and feminism in previous shows, their latest sees the pair getting to grips with the housing crisis. They dig into the piles of letters addressed to previous tenants and attempt to find out about the lives of people who made a home so fleetingly in this ex-council flat before them (it’s legal, they checked).

They look at urban inequality through songs and comedy, faces painted white like clowns, straddling the line between political sketch comedy and performance art. It’s what Biscuit calls, “our punky, DIY aesthetic”.

The duo’s name, Sh!t Theatre, is a statement in itself. For Biscuit, “people say that performance art is just ‘shit theatre’. We like embracing failure.”

Mothersole adds that, “It’s against the idea of virtuosity. Just because you’re not an expert at dance, or some skill, you still have a point to make.”

But it isn’t true that Sh!t Theatre are entirely shit.

Their reputation has grown over the last few years, Letters to Windsor House has already collected a very respectable clutch of positive reviews, and their comic ability is apparent even when they’re not performing. What happens, then, when they’re no longer shit? Is there a point when they’ll get beyond themselves?

“That’s something I worry about every day. I get up in the morning and think, ‘What happens if we get too good?’” Mothersole is joking, of course.

But Biscuit has a plan. “We have something we call the UK No. 1 Sh!t Theatre Tribute Band, called Slick Theatre, which is me dressed as Louise and Louise dressed as me. I suppose we could always become Slick Theatre if we ever get too good. It is a massive worry.”

It would certainly solve the pair’s PR problems.

On a Radio 4 programme in June they weren’t allowed to say their name because “shit” doesn’t fly on a Saturday evening on national radio. And back in 2009, while being interviewed during a lunchtime slot on local radio, not only could they not say “Sh!t Theatre”, they couldn’t even say the name of the show when they were performing, because it

was called Sh!t Theatre Presents Sh!t Theatre. “It was pointless. We weren’t allowed to do any of our songs,” says Mothersole. “We weren’t allowed to spell it out loud even though it’s got an exclamation mark,” adds Biscuit. “The mind boggles.”

The duo met at Queen Mary University of London, where they both studied performance and were united by a love of Taylor Mac. Mothersole was asked to perform at a political night in London by a woman who, she says, “wanted to get into my underwear”. She agreed on the condition that Biscuit came along too. “I came essentially as a vag-block,” is Biscuit’s description. “And so Sh!t Theatre was born, as a preventative measure against unwanted sexual advances.”

“ I suppose we could always become Slick Theatre if we ever get too good. It is a massive worry” – Louise Mothersole Since then, they’ve been creating shows inspired by performance art, but the nice kind – none of that intimidating archness, the self-mutilation, the po-faced self-importance. “We consider ourselves performance art,” insists Biscuit. “Other performance artists might not, but the beauty of performance art is that no one actually knows what the fuck it is.”

People who do more extreme forms of performance, Biscuit reckons, “might be upset that an hour-long show with words and trombones gets classed in the same sort of bracket. Our influences are the same as theirs, it’s just we’ve gone in a different direction.”

The comedy aspect has always been important to Sh!t Theatre – or at least to Biscuit. “I don’t think I’d be interested in making something that’s not humorous. But I don’t want to speak for Lou.” “I disagree,” Mothersole says sternly. “I want to do straight depressing Shakespeare plays but I’ve just been following Becca all these years. Comedy’s not my thing.”

“Yeah, I’m the leader. You might want to write that down.”

By making their shows funny, they make their politics palatable. They’re desperate, according to Biscuit, not to appear preachy. But don’t be fooled

Credit: Kat Gollock

into thinking that humour lessens what the pair want to say, particularly about the housing crisis.

They’ve been researching the show for 18 months, workshopping with homeless shelters, young people who are vulnerably housed, people of mixed generations who were renting. Even people who own houses (yes, they do exist).

They also looked at 19th-century London, finding the payslips of washerwomen of the time and calculated—comparing earnings, looking at house prices then and now—that a washerwoman in Dickens’ London would have had more disposable income if she lived in Soho in a one-bed than Biscuit and Mothersole currently have now. “The disparity of wealth and poverty is still there in London.”

So what do they want a show about the housing crisis to actually achieve? To inculcate a subtle shift in thinking from its audience members, perhaps?

To spread small ripples of contemplation and provocation, like a pebble in a pond, until they grow into a solution?

“Obviously we want it to make us rich.” At least Mothersole is honest. And Biscuit? “We would like to be able to buy a large house that we can then rent out. We’d need £120,000. Last year we didn’t make that, but that’s because we were only performing every other day.”

Still, although they’ve doubled the number of performances since last year it seems unlikely, somehow, that Sh!t Theatre will be enjoying the underfloor heating of Woodberry Down any time soon.

SHOW: VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Letters to Windsor House Summerhall 1:35pm – 2:35pm, 3–28 Aug, not 22 £6

PRESENTING

the VERY BEST of

LIVE PERFORMANCE

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After a year off, successful sketch troop WitTank are back – except they’re not, as they are all performing solo. Nonetheless, Jay Richardson finds three performers who remain utterly joined at the hip

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elationships in sketch groups can become notoriously fractious. But interviewing WitTank, I don’t think any of us expected the Armenian Genocide to be invoked so early on.

Naz Osmanoglu once revealed on stage that he was 19th in line to the Turkish royal throne. More recently, he’s been elevated to 17th, thanks to circumstances entirely unconnected to the coup plot against President Erdogan, he assures me.

“They’re actually supportive of our family because they’re quite an Islamic government and the Ottomans were the caliphate,” he states, matter-offactly. “They presented me with a nice plate a few months ago. And I quite like plates.”

Even so, he’s attracting some “increasingly alarming people on Facebook”, stresses Kieran Boyd.

“It’s like they think he could be the Turkish Donald Trump. ‘Make Turkey great again!’”

With “distant Armenian blood” pumping in his veins, Mark Cooper-Jones certainly reckons it’s time for a reckoning. “It’s a point of tension in the group,” he confirms. “I’m waiting for the call where someone asks Naz and I to make a documentary about the Great Crime. Put you in your place.”

Credit: Kat Gollock

The Boys are Back in Town

Chatting to this engaging trio occasionally recalls a heated, confusing game of Risk. Named after a spoonerism that Osmanoglu took six months to understand, WitTank were formed during feverish and resentful plotting at Durham University. When the university revue, featuring the likes of future standups Nish Kumar, Ed Gamble and Tom Neenan rejected them, they formed a rival act with five others and briefly considered the name Stromboidal Mackerel.

For three whole weeks, Cooper-Jones—a future member of the Royal Geographic Society—laboured under the misapprehension that Boyd, with his classically Irish name, was Russian. Looking back, he can only blame it on the rarefied boarding school education he shared with Osmanoglu, inspiring “total mistrust of outsiders”.

“I remember us having these Machiavellian conversations,” Osmanoglu recalls. “‘Who do we like in the group?’”

“We were thick as little shits,” adds Cooper-Jones. “‘I think the Russian one might be a good writer’”.

Boyd protests: “I was just keeping my head down...”

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Features

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“‘What think you of the quiet Russian, shall we cull him?’” Osmanoglu continues, ignoring him. “‘No, we’ll keep him and if necessary kill him later. We’ll kill the tall one and the very confident one...’” “‘The one who came up with Stromboidal Mackerel!’”

“Yeeeees, we got rid of him in two weeks!’”

Osmanolgu leers triumphantly, suddenly back in the present and shooting a sharp glance at Boyd. “You made it through the first wave. Then we realised you could speak English and we were like ‘Ah, he’s alright’.”

The rest is history. After a run of eight successive years at the Fringe, the group put their collective sketch efforts on hold in 2015 and have returned this year with solo standup hours. Although Boyd is the final member of the group to perform his Edinburgh debut, he was actually the first to try standup.

“I’d gone to Germany, was bored and was sending them sketches that they were ignoring,” he explains.

“So I just wrote these routines so that I had something to do when I returned. And, of course, once I’d done standup, they had to do it too. It had to become competitive.”

Once WitTank were established on the Fringe though, having shifted from unconnected sketches into extended, single narrative pastiches of the public school system, “no-one was allowed to work on their standup until [the sketch show] was ready. And it was never completely ready,” admits Cooper-Jones.

“That’s why we all just wanted to focus on one show this year. With two shows a day, you’re splitting the worry. Your hours, the rewrites, everything.”

The mood in their shared flat is certainly more peaceful this time round, suggests Osmanoglu. “Because we’ve had some pretty cataclysmic arguments when we’ve been working together. I really wish we’d filmed some of them.

“You’ve got that stony focus where you’re all about the performance, you can’t deal with emotions.

But then you get back to the flat...” He mimes slitting a throat. “It’s just nice that we can be supportive now.”

Within the sketch dynamic, everyone “has to be happy with the product equally: every sketch, every idea, every line,” Cooper-Jones adds.

“With standup, it’s just you that gets to make the creative decisions. The others are informing and advising. But you can go, ‘I’ll take that, I won’t take that’. With WitTank it’s always: ‘I promise you that I’m right!’” “‘How can I convince you that penguins are funnier than flamingos?!’” Osmanoglu parrots.

All three have had a tough year to potentially draw on in their standup. For Osmanoglu with Exposure, it was the heartbreak that precipitated him having a meltdown; for the other two, it was just “being his friend and having to listen to him”, Cooper-Jones says.

So it is that the ex-teacher is once again striving to impart his passion for his favourite subject in Geographically Speaking. Boyd, meanwhile, is exploring his love of heavy metal and aspects of his Northern Irish family—so easily confusable with Russian—in the ill-advisedly titled Egg. “I just picked it as a meaningless word,” he laments. “But I’ve spent four months rebuffing questions about fertility and whether I’ve got a child.”

Empires have risen and fallen across Europe since WitTank’s Channel 4 sitcom, based on their boarding school shows, went into development. But negotiations are ongoing. And as they wait, the relatively oiky Boyd has become the group’s unlikely authority on posh privilege.

“Initially, these two would have conversations that I didn’t understand at all,” he recalls. “But latterly we’ve done a few comedy workshops at their old school. So I’ve been there enough times and met enough people who taught them to feel like I went there myself.”

Cooper-Jones enthuses: “He’s got by far the best memory of the group, so he remembers stories we told him 10 years ago. He knows more about our school than we do.”

After a decade on the Fringe, WitTank are a “stormy, stressful” but successful “three-way marriage” Boyd concludes, a doubly unfortunate expression given that Cooper-Jones has just revealed his sketchmates will also be best men at his wedding next year.

“There’s no other option,” he sighs. “I was looking for other people for the flat too. But it’s always these guys.”

SHOW: VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

SHOW: VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

SHOW: VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Mark Cooper-Jones: Geographically Speaking Movement 3:45pm – 4:40pm, 6–27 Aug FREE

Kieran Boyd: Egg Gilded Balloon at the Counting House 4:45pm – 5:45pm, 3–29 Aug £5 Naz Osmanoglu: Exposure Just the Tonic at The Mash House 9:00pm – 9:55pm, 4–28 Aug, not 15 £5

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Hamlet in Bed

Handlebards

Just how much Shakespeare can you cram into one very long day at the Fringe? Jonathan Holmes goes Bard barmy and finds out

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his year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. His plays have been staged and restaged and reinterpreted thousands of times, with more than 50 plays by or about Shakespeare at this year’s Fringe alone. Can this son of a glover possibly still be relevant today, and is there anything new to be found in his work? I took a day to find out.

First up, Shakespeare for Breakfast (10:00am, C Venue), which is celebrating its own 25th anniversary this year. Everyone gets a coffee, a croissant and an abridged and updated Shakespeare play to start the day: this year it’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with jokes about Pokémon Go. The early start, along with the aftertaste of orange juice and the feeling of watching a superior sixth form revue, brings me back to school English lessons spent half asleep.

Improptu Shakespeare

Credit: Emma Myrtle

Chasing Shakespeare

Nostalgia and the warmth of the crowd send me into a reverie and as I wake, sweat-kissed and happy, I half expect the years since graduation to collapse into air – you never left Mr Jordan’s class Jonathan.

It was all a horrible dream.

Reality hits and I’m late for my next show. I run up Nicholson Street like I’m going to burst onstage and deliver a letter to the king. Shakespeare’s comedies are often better received overseas than here, so when you read “Korean hip-hop dance version of Taming of the Shrew” (11:00am, C South) the correct response is “yes, of course, at last.” It’s Shakespeare Gangnam style and the best bits are the additions – the traditional costumes, modern dancing and manic jokes. The accents are sometimes difficult to make out, but it only helps distract from Shakespeare’s laugh-a-minute celebration of domestic abuse.

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Features

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Credit: Shannon Steele

If new adaptations can help save weak plays, why not get rid of the script altogether? Impromptu Shakespeare (1:15pm, Just the Tonic at the Caves) improvises entire plays based on audience suggestions, showing that Shakespeare is a genre unto himself, ripe for parody. It’s a neat trick, turning every iamb into a cliffhanger: will they stick the rhyme? Today’s production is about a king banning public displays of affection in his kingdom, and I know I’m going to humiliate myself some day by giving it as an answer in a pub quiz. Two shows in and I’m still upbeat.

Moving on.

I am not Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be, but the Danish prince is the map for how men break down. His dissembling, self-pity and infantile rage are perforations in the male mind, engineered weak spots, a sign of how much Shakespeare has shaped our collective subconscious. Hamlet in Bed (2:10pm, Pleasance Courtyard) hits those weak spots hard.

Written by Michael Laurence, a theatre director finds his possible birth mother then casts her as Gertrude. Annette O’Toole is an Oscar nominated actress, but I can’t dissociate her from playing the man of steel’s girlfriend in Superman III and his mother in Smallville. Oedipal issues are Kal-El’s real kryptonite.

The edges of my brain are fraying now, and the next stop doesn’t help matters. Macbeth is a waking nightmare of a play. Rather than the writing, you remember the images (daggers, ghosts, Birnam wood walking) and noises (clicking of tongues, sound and fury). Macbeth: Without Words (ZOO, 4:00pm) shows just how far these plays can stretch while still retaining their power. With a brooding soundscape and a poised but almost disgusting physicality—a perfect match for a play dripping with blood—this is Macbeth as a fever. I leave with my mind full of scorpions.

Quarter to seven and the sky is doomy on the walk down to the Royal Botanic Gardens – hardly a blasted heath, but I’m on edge now. With their garden productions, the HandleBards are following in a long and lovely tradition stretching back to the groundlings. Open-air Shakespeare is the ultimate in the middle classes at play: white wine, the scent of grass, a view of the castle and some jolly fun. The HandleBards brought all of the props they needed for Richard III (the one I saw) and Much Ado About Nothing 1,500 miles on the back of their bikes, and they split the dozens of roles between the four of them, giving it the air of children putting on a show at the bottom of the garden. It’s hard to imagine a more pleasant way to spend an evening. Yet though the rain stays off as I trudge back up the hill into town, something is about to break. Cry havoc.

Shakespeare for Breakfast

MacBain (Summerhall, 8:55pm) sounds simple— Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain as Lord and Lady Macbeth—but it’s an undergraduate’s hallucination the night before an exam, asleep at his desk with his headphones on. Twisting and twisted, it’s Shakespeare as hypoxia, a parody of modern stagings meets actual Hell on Earth. It’s the remains of culture globbing together after the apocalypse, it’s the Internet gaining consciousness in 1997, it’s the ultimate expression of what Shakespeare has become over the last 400 years: no longer a playwright but a shared space for dreaming. It utterly destroys me. Afterwards I wander around the Meadows in a daze, hatless, muttering, Lear in the storm.

I need a drink.

If we ever have to send just one example of British culture up into space, let it be Shit-Faced Shakespeare (Underbelly, 10:15pm). A Fringe institution, watching one classically trained actor get hammered while the rest of the troupe try to keep the production going (Measure for Measure this year, har har) gives you a newfound respect for the people in Richard Burton’s life. Shakespeare himself found “sack” endlessly funny, and, similarly restored, I make my way to my own personal Juliet balcony: the view from South Bridge over the Cowgate.

Resting my head on the iron bars and looking down at the happy drunks, I think about Shakespeare —constant as the Northern star, still so powerful after four centuries—and how, even as the theatre changes, the drives he described back then drive us still. “What a piece of work is man,” I shout, a tribute to the great man. “In action how like an Angel! In apprehension how like a god!”

“Stop shouting you fucking idiot,” comes the reply from down below.

And the rest was silence.

Preview

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Seemingly elastic physical performer Thomas Monckton is pushing boundaries with his rib-tickling new show, Only Bones. He talks to Tom Wicker about comedy, clowning and disgustingly funny bodies

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homas Monckton is breathlessly funny on stage – an expert in physical comedy. But don’t call him a clown (at least, not on these shores).

“I’ve always struggled with that term,” he says over a coffee in a snatched moment during the madness of the Fringe. “It’s the aesthetic of it. And it’s such a broad term, it’s just impossible for people to have an accurate idea of what you do.”

And knee-jerk associations of buttons, silly costumes and squishy noses don’t come close to Monckton’s style. In his latest one-person show, Only Bones, currently playing at Summerhall, he transforms every part of his body into a sketch. His feet squabble with each other, his hands fight over lipstick and he can’t keep his head still, as it slides between his shoulders.

The show also has a hefty dose of audience inter-

Credit: Kat Gollock

Hitting the Funny Bone

action, which can lead to unexpected consequences.

“There was one audience member who just lost it completely,” says Monckton, of a recent performance. “She got the giggles and the room I’m in is so echoey, I just had to stop for two minutes until she calmed down. It totally made me crack up as well.”

Only Bones evolved out of Monckton’s highly acclaimed solo circus-based piece, The Pianist, which launched the New Zealand-born (now Finland-based) performer into the consciousness of British audiences at the 2014 Fringe. Playing at Assembly Roxy this year, The Pianist involves the spectacular collapse of a grand piano.

“So it’s not the most portable of shows,” Monckton says with a laugh. “I thought it would be nice to make something really basic, stripped back, with a bare-bones aesthetic. For some reason, it felt

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Features

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Credit: Kat Gollock

more relevant to create a show like that now.” The metaphor became literal, and Monckton’s bodily distortions are both hilarious and, at times, difficult to watch.

Monckton freely concedes this. “My stuff has always more or less been rooted in comedy,” he says, “and the body is disgustingly comical. And when you hone in on that, you can find the finer details of that disgusting comedy in these smaller parts.” That element of the grotesque appeals. “Not so much that you’re grossed out, but it’s definitely a more profound experience if you destabilise people.”

With circus training in his background—the skills of which he now uses to tell his largely wordless stage stories—it’s the bodily-ness of the form that still inspires Monckton. “That will always be relevant to us,” he believes, “however far we get into the digital age.” At the start, though, as an eight-year-old living in Patea, South Taranaki, what hooked Monckton into circus was juggling rather than philosophical musing.

“I was like, ‘Oh, this is amazing’,” he recalls. “Because where I grew up, if you wanted to be physical, you played rugby. No other option. And I didn’t have the build.” Meeting him now, his wiry frame swamped by a black jumper, it’s hard to disagree that this might not have been the best sport for him.

“I played it a couple of times and got annihilated,” he says, smiling. “That led to juggling. I think I was the only person who even knew that circus existed in my home town.”

As well as juggling, he threw himself into other circus skills, including teaching himself to unicycle along the way. And after that, there was never really any doubt about his career: as soon as he was able, Monckton joined New Zealand’s circus school, CircoArts, where he trained for two years. However, he soon learned that he’d have to move further afield, if he wanted to keep developing his work.

An amused Monckton can pinpoint the precise moment he realised he had exhausted the possibilities New Zealand had to offer in terms of training, post-graduation: he was the back-end of a zebra costume, crossing a zebra crossing. “I just remember thinking that there had to be more to it than that.”

So Monckton packed his bags and relocated to Paris, studying for two years at famed physical theatre school, Lecoq – and graduating as only the 13th New Zealander in 50 years to complete his course.

He’s now based in Helsinki, but his love for France, for its long history of physical comedy, is undiminished. “It’s the only place where I could introduce myself as a clown and people would go, ‘Ah, OK’.”

Only Bones is produced by the Finland-based Kallo Collective, which Monckton helped to set up.

He regularly works in collaboration on his work. The Pianist, for example, came about after co-producers Circo Aero saw his production, Moving Stationery, for Kallo. Collaborating in a way that has allowed him to develop his own style began “pretty much after Lecoq”, he says, after working with theatre companies.

And in the time he’s been performing, Monckton has witnessed “a huge surge in physical theatre and contemporary circus and physical comedy.” He’s excited by the “huge new wave” of work coming through, and feels that “the international market has been like, ‘Oh, this is great – totally accessible, affordable and good quality stuff’.”

As a consequence, he continues, “there are people starting out who are really interested in creating new work.” And this surge of interest has made “the grassroots stuff more competitive, with people producing better and better work.”

Evolution is the name of the game for Monckton, who’s relishing the frontier feel of exploring new artistic ground. From challenging gender conventions to re-claiming clowning, “it’s the benefit of being on the first wave. You don’t have those expectations, so you can do what you want.”

And Monckton applies that attitude equally to his existing work. “I’d go mental if I couldn’t change it,” he says emphatically. “The driving force for Only Bones was to make a show that wasn’t fully formed and then develop it. So it’s always changing, always developing.”

VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Summerhall 8:30pm – 9:15pm, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 8, 15, 22 £7 – £11

LEAD THEATRE CRITIC

Matt Trueman

True story, bro. Or is it? In a Fringe full of first-hand accounts, it’s those that toy with fact and fiction that fly. Step onto a stage and your truth becomes a tale. Did James Rowland really pinch his best mate’s corpse from a funeral parlour and send him off down the Thames in a flaming dinghy stolen from the Victoria Park boating lake?

Truth is, I just don’t know.

Nor does it matter. Whatever the facts, there’s truth in Team Viking: real grief, still raw; real heart, still healing; and a reminder that life really is for the living.

Stood onstage in a funeral suit in dire need of a dry clean, Rowland’s an instant mate of a performer; a beardy teddy bear of a bloke, all gentle mischief. His story starts at an off-the-peg funeral—his dad’s—and ends at a send-off that’s as spectacular as it is specific. As kids, inspired by the Tony Curtis film, he and Tom would play Vikings, so when, aged 25, his partner-in-pillaging is taken down by cardiac sarcoma—cancer of the heart— he demands a funeral to fit.

Tom was life, basically. He was piggyback races through Hackney late at night, hauling his mates on to the next pub. He was chat-up lines at funerals and hospital break outs for drinks next door; laughter that lugs a drip to the bar. Rowland’s love for him, his awe at this boundless vitality, is plain to see. So is his grief.

Even four years on, his voice still cracks on occasion.

Between segments of the story, he puts together a jaunty, Pythonesque number on a loop station. Singing such life-affirming jollity—“Let’s die idiots together”— becomes harder and harder.

Detailed enough to be credible, outlandish enough to dismiss outright, Rowland’s tale is beautifully calibrated. His persona too: soft and sweet, immensely likeable, but with traces of the laddish pub legend as well.

Because this isn’t just a heartfelt tribute to friendship, nor a plea to pillage life for all it’s worth, it’s also a quiet critique of masculinity and maturity. Tom’s boyish bravura, so nonchalantly, enviably alpha, raises the odd eyebrow, and the story sloshes with a certain (male) sentimentality. While Rowland wallows, bulk-buying baked beans and shutting the world out, it’s his other bezzie Sarah who picks him up and pushes ahead with the plan. That, as they say, is what friends are for.

Some friends are for life, some for a few hours. Yinka Kuitenbrouwer has a file full of them: notes on each of the one hundred or so people and families that have tak-

Team Viking «««« Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 2:55pm – 3:55pm, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10

One Hundred Homes ««« Summerhall, times vary, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22 , £10

Undercover Refugee ««« Natural Food Kafe, 7:25pm – 8:25pm, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, FREE

One Hundred Homes

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Reviews

19

Team Viking

en her in to their homes. She wants to remember them all in turn – her small way of repaying their hospitality.

Inviting us into a driftwood shed, Kuitenbrouwer makes us feel instantly at home. Tea’s dished out; biscuits passed round. Decorum over décor, every time. Sat behind a small desk, she recounts time spent with strangers, in their living rooms and kitchens, over food and drink, stories, jokes and memories. She pegs their photo to her forehead; a projector screen of her memories. There are housemates-turned-lovers, artists-turned-squattors, families and friends and farmers.

Permissive and generous, One Hundred Homes reflects on personal space. Each individual home—big or small, smart or bare—reflects its owners, but they all serve the same purpose and, at a moment of such global displacement, there’s an elegiac element at play.

Between accounts, Kuitenbrouwer weaves a web of connections, overlaps between distant strangers that counter social atomisation, but she celebrates diversity too. It’s a small show, more reflective than relevatory, but one you could happily live in forever.

Karen Houge was taken in as well, only her hosts had no home to host her. Last summer, the 26-year-old

Norwegian joined a group of Syrian refugees on their journey from Greece towards Germany. She queued with them for days at the Macedonian border, got picked up by Croatian police and talked her way into an off-road mafia pizza parlour in Serbia. Starting out with no food of her own, completely unprepared, she was given rations by a Syrian family.

Houge was supposed to be rescuing them, helping them to the heart of Europe: “The world of opportunities.” Cocking a wry eyebrow at hashtag activism, she explains that she initially went to Greece for a good tan and a great Facebook profile picture. On the beaches, sunbathing on a bed of life-vests, she finds good looking young men in “TEAM HUMANITY” T-shirts, drinking protein shakes at breakfast buffets and posing for press photographers.

Still in its infancy, very much a work-in-progress, Undercover Refugee is onto something, but yet to find its form or its finish. The faux-naif tone means Houge’s tale seems tall one moment and truthful the next. You’re never quite sure whether to take it on trust – a register that reveals how reliant we are on media narratives. This one disrupts it. It tells a different truth.

That said there are plenty of characters here, just not in costume – with a range of pulled faces, regional accents and silly voices, Evans moves between personae from a New York lounge singer, Fagin from Oliver and Luton’s Stacey Dooley. In the main though it’s her posh mum who dominates as the comic talks us through her life so far.

A skilled improviser who performs with the Olivier Award-winning Showstoppers!, Evans has always incorporated a level of improv into her solo shows and this one is no exception. Audience members are personally serenaded and she’s continually riffing off what little information they have given her.

Same Same... is also doused in great gags, including a couple of extremely simple but very effective jokes about Brexit and the prospect of Trump as US president.

And to top it off the show is scored with a range of styles from musical theatre to swing and jazz and even a snippet of comic opera, all supported by her able pianist and percussionist.

Evans is an act who deserves to be a household name.

In the meantime we’ll make the most of a packed out cosy show at the Fringe.

Also performing in a small cave is Candy Gigi. For her follow up to her 2014 Malcolm Hardee Award-winning debut, Gigi has mined, plundered and squeezed dry her Jewish heritage for the most visceral take on Fiddler on the Roof that you’re ever likely to witness. But don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s going to be some kind of gentle, Radio 4 take on the musical, like some in this audience seem to have done. In fact the only similarities are a vague nod to the storyline and Gigi’s fine West End voice. Here we find Gigi, single mother to a headless chicken, harassed by her overbearing mother about the need to meet a nice Jewish boy and get married. So Gigi sets out to find one – in this room...

Pippa Evans Same Same But Different «««« Bannermans, 1:45pm – 2:45pm, 6–28 Aug, not 20, 21 , FREE

Candy Gigi If I Had a Rich Man «««« Heroes @ The Hive, 1:00pm – 1:50pm, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £4 – £5

Abandoman Life + Rhymes ««« Underbelly, George Square, 8:45pm – 9:45pm, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £13.50 – £15.50

Abandoman

Credit: Tom Barnes

COMEDY CRITIC

Marissa Burgess

There’s always so much talent on display in a Pippa Evans show. She’s a fantastic singer and improviser and the comedy is tack sharp. Usually she appears on stage as a character—the most famous of which is Loretta Maine, the depressed and angry country and western singer — but this year’s Fringe show, Same Same But Different, sees her as herself, or at least a stage approximation of herself.

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Reviews

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Pippa Evans

The Hardee Award was for “comic originality” and Gigi was a worthy winner. There’s no one quite like her on the Fringe. Whether she’s dressed in a suit that transforms her into a grotesque approximation of a droopy-boobed old woman, nursing a raw chicken, or spitting cucumber at the audience, the level of crazy is set pretty high here. 'Etreme clowning' would probably be the best way of describing this show: nothing is off limits, not least her Jewish heritage. As a Gentile, I won’t risk repeating her gags out of context here.

Elsewhere, all manner of sexual acts are namechecked and the show has a bigger swear count than many acts on the Fringe put together. But it’s also otherworldly, weird and performed with huge amounts of manic energy; in Gigi’s hands it’s all part of the footto-the-floor, unhinged atmosphere of the show. She possesses the spirit of the Fringe like no one else.

In Life + Rhymes, Rob Broderick and Sam Wilson are telling the story of their lives, through their school days and rap battles, and from their first awardwinning album, Spudlife, to Broderick’s search for his absent rapper Poppa, who may or not be in da house.

Abandoman’s increasing popularity is due in large

part to Broderick’s quickwitted improv skills. Give him a suggestion or object and his mind turns it into a rhyme within seconds. Improv is always better with some kind of structure and Abandoman has that too: a backdrop of thumping, brilliantly composed hip-hop and, in this latest show, a narrative to maintain the focus.

As ever there’s plenty of interaction with the crowd.

You don’t sit at the front of an Abandoman gig and not expect to be part of the show, whether it be being pulled up on stage or just having your name and life story turned into a rap. With such high levels of audience interaction there’s plenty of scope for unpredictability – the highlight of which tonight is a woman brought on stage to talk about rules she’s broken, who mishears what she is being asked to do, says totally the wrong thing, and finds herself on the receiving end of some gentle ribbing from Broderick. But it all only adds to the fun.

Obviously any one show hinges on what the crowd happen to throw at Broderick, but he and Wilson have the skills to deal with pretty much anything and to turn it into something energetic and feel-good.

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Rob Carter A pant-wetting character sketch of a lousy author – and one of 2016's hidden gems «««« PAGE 24

Comedy Reviews

League Table 1

Bridget Christie ««««« Our first five star comedy review. A show about gardening, except it’s not

2

Kieran Hodgson «««« Get queuing, because this unashamedly highbrow show in the tiny Voodoo Rooms has winning potential

3

Felicity Ward «««« The London-based Aussie is back, and on honking good form

4

Katie Mulgrew «««« On the borderline between comedy and therapy, the newly-maternal Mulgrew hits the right notes

5

Mat Ewins «««« A riotous mixture of video, computer manipulated imagery, and pure silliness

Rob Carter is Christopher Bliss HHHH VENUE:

Just the Tonic at The Tron

TIME:

11:40pm – 12:40am 4–27 Aug, not 15

TICKETS:

£4 –£5

It’s probably not the most promising premise you’ve ever heard: a budding novelist reads excerpts from his unpublished oeuvre down in the Tron basement near midnight.

But Rob Carter’s new creation turns out to be one of this year’s hidden treasures.

Resplendent in shell-suit jacket, sensible spectacles and slacks, Christopher Bliss has finally left his mother’s house in Shropshire and embarked on his first journey to, well, anywhere really. Hence his thrillers are as gritty as you might imagine, i.e. not very. Bliss is to crime what John Shuttleworth is to grime.

The main thrust is a spy story set in Las Vegas (“one of the biggest cities in the world!”) where the villain “eats lots of drugs”—cue ludicrous mime—on that famous Las Vegas, er, beach. Now, a

Bond pastiche may not sound very original, but in the hands of a spectacularly naïve author who nevertheless performs it with bizarre over-confidence, it’s consistently, pant-wettingly funny.

The multi-talented Carter initially emerged as a musical comic, and now boasts Peep Show and Fresh Meat on his acting CV. He’s fabulously watchable here, and this is clearly a well-honed script, full of invention. Every line features some naïve gem, he’ll occasionally miss a page and spoil his own plot, and there’s a genuinely brilliant interactive take on Bond’s signature move.

It has this weekend audience in fits, notably a young woman at a table up front who’s so unexpectedly overcome by one particular gag that she spits her drink all over her companions.

Absolute bliss. ✏︎ Si Hawkins

assemblyfestival.com 0131 623 3030

The Times

Assembly CHeCkpoint Until 28 Aug, 17:30

Assembly CHeCkpoint Until 28 Aug, 18:55

The 2015 sell out hit returns Broadway Baby

Assembly HAll Until 29 Aug, 16:20

Pick your Assembly Festival

#MyAssembly

The Scotsman

Assembly Roxy Until 28 Aug, 20:20 Edinburgh Festivals For Kids

Assembly GeoRGe squARe Until 29 Aug, 10:00

Returns with a hot new line-up

Assembly GeoRGe squARe Edinburgh Guide Until 29 Aug, 17:15 The Sunday Times

Assembly GeoRGe squARe 23 - 29 Aug, 18:30

25

Assembly HAll Until 29 Aug, 18:00

@AssemblyFest

26

TIME:

Voodoo Rooms 9:30pm – 10:30pm 6–28 Aug

TICKETS:

FREE

VENUE:

It’s tough getting a ticket for Kieran Hodgson, with some people queuing over an hour to see last year’s Comedy Award nominee in the small back room bar at the Voodoo Rooms. The limited capacity makes sense from the start, as Hodgson shushes us for a wavering, acoustic violin solo: he’s after intimacy.

Maestro is ostensibly the story of his hilariously precocious childhood ambition to write a symphony. Inspired by his love of Gustav Mahler, he’s been

Lazy Susan Crazy Sexy Fool HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 7:15pm – 8:15pm 3–29 Aug, not 15 £7 – £10

A good barometer for sketch comedy acts is whether or not they can nail the seemingly obligatory ‘film-noir parody skit’ (you know, the ones where they do monologues in 1940s voices. Every damn time). Just on this evidence alone, Lazy Susan have an excellent show on their hands.

The reason their version works is why Crazy Sexy Fool is so good in general; it’s underpinned by both subtext and substance. Comedy duo Celeste Dring and Freya Parker present an hour that’s well-act-

beneath this—the characters, the elitism, the occasional showoff moment on the violin—are moments of direct honesty that provide a creeping emotional intensity.

Intelligent, at times riotously funny, genuinely educational and finally emotionally engaging, it’s not hard to see why some people are willing to queue for so long – Maestro is worth the wait. ✏︎ Will Young

ed, astutely written, and makes some of their peers look positively uninspired. It’s a genre that has its obvious limits, in form and style, yet Dring and Parker still manage to take it to new, interesting places; it’s not quite game-changing but it’s certainly a breath of fresh comic air.

They’re efficient in their use of costume, with sometimes as little as a hairband being enough to set the pace for a new character. Some of the personas are crudely drawn, but they find the joy at the heart of even the least sympathetic ones.

They’re not out to make victims of anyone, they’re just particularly adept at bringing out the humanity in people. There’s a recurrent narrative thread that glues it all together and helps it rise above loose, disjointed sketch shows. The payoff is incremental, and it all builds to a satisfying finale.

Subtle and OTT by turn, there’s scarcely a note in the sketch comedy scale they don’t hit. It’s clear within the first five minutes that the investment in ticket price will pay dividends in laughs. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

Comedy

Maestro HHHH

working on the opus ever since, recently even recording it with an amateur orchestra. Divided into four movements—which provide the narrative structure—each is inspired by a seminal romantic relationship from his past.

Along the way, we meet the cast of his life, from friends and lovers to a sexually suggestive Classic FM host and Mahler himself—as played variously by Christoph Waltz, Andrew Scott and David Tennant. A character comedian by trade, this is Hodgson’s forte – he’s able to trigger laughter with the slightest gesture.

He’s not a naturally warm performer, and the show is unashamedly snobbish. There are references to Proust, Shakespeare, transport design and medieval monarchs. Many are exquisitely funny, though it would be nigh on impossible to catch them all. But

Credit Bobby Goulding

Kieran Hodgson

Tyrannosaurus Lexx HHHH VENUE:

TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Mash House 2:20pm – 3:20pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £5

Earlier this year, Laura Lexx made newspaper headlines when a video of the usually affable comic dismantling a sexist heckler went viral. She saves that story for the latter stages here as it has a genuinely shocking—but sadly not uncommon—troll-related second act, which is quite a change of tone.

Not a jarring one, though, as her second Edinburgh hour is a savvy example of how to structure a relatively straightforward standup show: invite the audience into your

world, and they’ll be as horrified as you are when someone threatens to ruin it.

A more significant presence is her new husband, a hefty fellow comic who she memorably describes as being built like “a bread shithouse” and—shock horror—seems nice. Despite the fierce title, Lexx largely plays to her likeable strengths; she’s a rare ray of sunshine on a rainy day.

Both the jokes and delivery are strong enough that she can even embark on unpromising-sounding sections about Hoovers and her hair (which she shaved for charity last year) and stay sharp. And while that late shift may sound dramatic, Lexx has been weaving in weightier messages throughout. There’s a fine bit early on about how her preconceptions of marriage were warped by working with lots of older male comedians,

Credit: Tina Downham

Laura Lexx

whose stereotyping suggested that she’d turn into an aggressive nutter as soon as the ring hit her finger.

Tyrannosaurus Lexx, indeed.

In fact, it strikes you that getting on stage and being generally positive about love and life is pretty bloody alternative. Shine on, you crazy maverick. ✏︎ Si Hawkins

HHHH VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

27

Heroes @ The Hive, 4:20pm – 5:20pm 4–28 Aug, not 16 £5

Thank God for Ed Aczel. His latest bout of airless anti-comedy begins with Barry McGuire’s ‘Eve of Destruction’, but he’s quick to reassure us that the world isn’t really ending. It just feels that way.

Everyone needs to see Aczel at least once in their life, because you’re already living through one of his routines. It’s like wonderful torture. Deep in the bunker of The Hive (which manages to be both freezing and sweaty at the same time) he interrogates his audience about trivia and geopolitics – Joe

Credit: Alex Genn-Bash

Ed Aczel’s Foreign Policy

McCarthy as a pub bore.

The theme is supposed to be the sexy world of international diplomacy, but he’s soon back to his old fixations of supermarket loyalty cards, combi boilers and classical philosophers. It’s the kind of small talk they would pump into Guantanamo Bay, and when you laugh you know he’s broken your spirit.

Aczel gives off a defeated air, eyes closed and deliberately sabotaging his own rhythm. Other comics would overplay this and

make it seem like they were on the brink of a meltdown, but Aczel is content to drag you down to his level of boredom. The effect is that he can simultaneously have the audience in hysterics and threaten that the show will never end. The ream of paper from which he reads the act becomes a joke in itself.

If there was a wider message— which there isn’t, but if there was—it’s that the end isn’t nigh.

Life is already one long crunching catastrophe, so you might as well laugh. ✏︎ Jonathan Holmes

Mind Over Melee HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 6:40pm – 7:40pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £8.50 – £10.50

There’s no ceremony to Liz Miele’s arrival, taking to the stage without intro music or even an announcement – she just starts telling jokes.

Mind Over Melee is a simple hour of incredibly well-penned gags.

Ironically, though she appears calm and collected, she’s apparently anxiety-ridden and consequently likes to be very well organised to combat the crazy, which may well explain the serene demeanour.

Though this is the 31-year-old

Bourgeois & Maurice How to Save the World Without Really Trying HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 9:25pm – 10:25pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £10 – £12

How to Save the World Without Really Trying is the latest offering from cabaret weirdos Georgeois Bourgeois and Maurice Maurice.

It’s a big sparkly glitter ball of a show from the alleged brother and sister who are also possibly aliens from space. They appear on stage like the result of a sex party pregnancy where the possible culprits could be any of the cast of Rocky Horror, Gary Numan or Liza Minnelli. They’re a sight to behold:

Italian American’s first Edinburgh Fringe, Miele’s no stranger to gigging in Europe, having been over here a few times. In fact, she beds in with some American-in-Europe gags, largely telling the tale of her difficulties getting into Finland – and building a quiet confidence in the process.

But in the main Miele likes to keep things close to the bone, while revealing enough of herself and her vulnerabilities to counterbalance it. Routines about being pressganged into going to the museum at Pearl Harbour, her thoughts on not having children, and getting into fights with orthodox Jewish men who drive vans are on the edge, but handled skilfully.

Elsewhere she confesses to the need for visits to her therapist, the history of suicide in her family and

Maurice’s beehive is taller than Trump Tower and Bourgeois’ lashes look like mating spiders – you don’t get more glamorous than this.

But, as mesmerising as they look, they’re not just about the glitz.

They’ve been working together almost a decade now (some claim they are Liv Morris and George Heyworth and really reside in Hackney, but they’re probably just jealous) and the dynamic shows in this incredibly slick cabaret partnership – the morose Maurice plinking glumly at her keyboard while upbeat Bourgeois is possibly plotting a dictatorship.

Their comedy songs feature satirical material—with a fair few Brexit gags sandwiched in between—with odes to misguided patriotism and a European party that all went a bit wrong. Elsewhere there’s an inventive love/smartphone analogy and desperate cry for people to stop sharing their opinions online. Their musical

her turbulent childhood. But it’s not all “poor me” – it’s matter of fact, this is how it is. She’s reached acceptance.

Elsewhere there are more regular topics where Miele’s sass comes to the fore – yelling at strangers on the New York City Subway and her, increasingly bewildering to her, new-found obsession with sex.

An assured Fringe debut. ✏︎ Marissa Burgess

Credit: Christa Holka

Liz Miele

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talent is undoubted too: there are thumping dance and gorgeous electronica tunes, ballads too, and all ones you’d want to listen to even without the comedy. Dazzling.

You might want to bring your shades. ✏︎ Marissa Burgess

Stuart Goldsmith Compared to What HHHH TIME:

Liquid Room Annexe 3:45pm – 4:40pm 6–28 Aug, not 15

TICKETS:

FREE

VENUE:

festmag.co.uk

Introducing the show, Stuart Goldsmith declares his intention to talk about “trying to be less selfinvolved”. Given that, his subject matter may seem a little strange: moving house, leaving the city to be with his long-term countryliving partner, proposing marriage and having a baby.

It won’t set the world on fire, but Goldsmith finds a winning combination of easygoing earnestness, infectious joy in the minutiae of the every day, and genuine determi-

nation to discard his youthful irresponsibility and make the best life for his wife and child. Plus, every now and then he “chucks in a daftie”, his own endearing term for shots of surrealism that repeatedly catch you by surprise.

The show drags a little towards the final third, focused on his early experiences as a father. As he himself says, “I know you don’t care about my baby”. But most of the time, his sharp wordplay, wry self-effacement and warm charm see him through with flying colours. This section also contains some of his sweetest and most intimate moments. Well aware that a standup comedian—no less one on the Free Fringe—is never going to provide easy financial security for a family, he takes aim at one achievable goal: to make his two-month old baby laugh for the first time.

D-LIST

SHRAPNEL THEATRE PRESENTS

THE

BY

DAVID HENDON

DIRECTED BY

PHIL CROFT STARRING THE APPRENTICE’S

SAMUEL CURRY

Reviews

A RIOTOUS NEW COMEDY ABOUT FAME AND THE CULT OF CELEBRITY

29

There’s standing room only at the Liquid Rooms, and it’s not hard to see why – this will be by far one of the best, most open-hearted hours of standup you can see for free this year. ✏︎ Will Young

★★★★ ★★★★ THE REVIEWS HUB

GRUMPY GAY CRITIC

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TIME:

Liquid Room Annexe 6:15pm – 7:10pm 6–28 Aug

TICKETS:

FREE

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Disillusioned with mainstream comedy in the UK and Australia, Brendon Burns has been proactive in seeking out new audiences for his provocative standup, seeking to play rooms and forge connections that challenge his comfortable white perspective. Of course, he’d like to be a black comic, that’s long been a given even before he voices it on stage. But now he’s embroiling himself fully into exploring and countering racial oppression.

While loath to stand up for

Daniel Piper is in Four Gangs HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 4:00pm – 5:00pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £8.50 – £10.50

We’re introduced to Daniel Piper’s autobiographical fantasy via a warped John Barry score, immediately recognisable as an inept and overblown James Bond theme. Appropriately, both adjectives apply to the performer’s onstage persona. The Piper we meet is a ridiculous creation cursed with a tendency to undercut his grandiose storytelling with embarrassingly truthful asides. He’s had all the ticks of Ian Fleming’s iconic creation hardwired into him from a young age, but is an awkward, insecure fool at heart.

honest in our social interactions.

He also appreciates the perils of having an affluent white man pontificate on the subject, delivering a twist that makes you understand that Edinburgh is not his end game – and that this is a show that he’s readying and honing to launch onto a resistant Australia. ✏︎ Jay Richardson

Here he relates to us his wholly unimpressive experience as a member of several gangs.

Most comedians would approach material on their adolescence by mocking their younger selves. Not so Piper, who plays the part of his show’s proud narrator completely straight. By refusing to distance himself from his humiliating formative years, it’s suggested that the same weaknesses lie at the core of who he is today.

Originally one half of a two-man gang specialising in household yoghurt theft, Piper was 11 when he fell in with an online James Bond discussion forum. This was a tumultuous time in his life, marked by minor flashes of romance and betrayal. A measure of self awareness is achieved years later as our hero takes up beat poetry to impress a girl at uni, but the comic shies away from offering any kind of tidy

conclusion. For his first Fringe show, he’s happy serving up a purely funny, palpably awkward hour. ✏︎ Lewis Porteous

Comedy

Dumb White Guy HHHH

political correctness—accusing feminism of jumping the shark with some sometimes specious reasoning and more-or-less empirical observations that run counter to liberal orthodoxy—when it comes to Australia’s relationship with its Aboriginal population, he’s engaged directly with the oppressed. Amidst all of Burns’ diatribes about ethnic frictions, for the largely ignorant like myself, it comes as a bit of a jolt to learn just how few rights and opportunities the Aborigines have available to them.

Not that this is a show in danger of growing too worthy or sounding preachy. Burns is open about his own, instinctive racial prejudices, recalling them with the candour of amusing cultural cringe and arguing, persuasively, that we all should be a little bit more

Credit: Steve Ullathorne

Brendon Burns

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34 Comedy

Angela Wand Wounded Animals HHH TIME:

TICKETS:

Gilded Balloon Teviot 10:45pm – 11:45pm 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £11 – £12

Though told through clowning and with a dry wit, Wounded Animals is more of a visceral one-person play than a comedy show.

Wand opens dressed in showy fake fur and sequins, spouting descriptions of dancers, a staircase and other stage glitz as she moves about the empty performance space. But she quickly sheds the outfit—literally casting it off into the crowd—and embarks on an apparently autobiographical journey of set pieces using clowning, song

Jenny Collier Jen-Hur HHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly Med Quad 5:30pm – 6:30pm 3–28 Aug £8.50 – £10.50

“This show doesn’t have anything to do with Romans”, Jenny Collier warns us. Whilst that’s not entirely true, she does manage to cover just about everything else under the sun in a wryly funny hour.

Collier uses the show to lay bare her perceived personal flaws, but thankfully she’s secure in her insecurities. She candidly enumerates her vices and gets some laughs in return, but it eventually all unravels to reveal the idea that underpins the whole thing: identity. There’s a low-key demeanour to her act that sometimes works against her; she

and monologue to tell her story.

It’s one that travels from the cool marble-floored Californian church where she made her first confession, through her Alzheimer’s-beset mother, her raw guilt over the death of her dog, and moving to Sweden to marry a fellow clown.

From the moment she strips off the stage outfit and comments on the rounded belly it reveals through the more flexible Lycra costume underneath, the show feels intensely honest.

Her life, like most, is full of contradictions. But she owns her

comes off as a little standoffish and doesn’t quite gel with the audience.

There’s fun to be had with her recurring wordplay gags (including using Latin suffixes for all plurals, apparently so that we don’t notice her lisp), and her waspish edge gives the material a bit of sting.

She has a tendency to pause too long after punchlines in an attempt to salvage jokes that don’t land, though, and it disrupts her natural rhythm. It’s a top-heavy show too; outwith the literal energy expended in her Ben-Hur reenactment, it feels like she runs out of steam towards the end.

It’s enjoyably bitter nonetheless, and she rarely misses her mark when it comes to squeezing the most out of a skit. Come for the titular pun, stay (and more or less be satisfied with your decison) for the completely unrelated material. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

hypocrisies – being a bad feminist, being a vegetarian who loves meat, being shocked at her African friend’s inability to get Swedish residency yet feeling racial prejudice in response to an incident where she is hit in the face by a black guy in a car park. Some sections are powerfully emotional: her anger after the near sexual assault she witnesses on a train is expressed by wielding whips, literally making you flinch both from the action itself and the wrath that emanates from Wand.

An affecting piece of work. ✏︎ Marissa Burgess

Credit: Andy Hollngworth

VENUE:

VENUE:

TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Mash House 9:20pm – 10:20pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £5 – £6

Which is better: poetry or comedy?

If you already have a strong view, Stand Up & Slam! probably isn’t for you. Amiable hosts and “Team Captains”—comedian Rob Carter and poet Dan Simpson—try to create a sense of vicious genre rivalry, but the point here is really to enjoy both. Indeed, their faux gangsta attempts at antagonistic banter fall rather flat, as does hyping up the prospect of the loser “renouncing their art form now and forever”. Over a series of rounds—some freestlyle, some

Ed Patrick

Junior Optimist ««« VENUE:

TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

35

Just the Tonic at The Community Project 6:55pm – 7:45pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £5 – £7

Given that he’s a junior doctor, and holding a symbolically precarious NHS balloon in his press photo, Ed Patrick is a lot less furious than you might expect. Or perhaps he’s just hiding it well for most of this, his first Edinburgh hour.

Junior Optimist isn’t really about the NHS—you’ll want Dr Phil Hammond’s show for the full Jeremy Hunt hunt—but more about Patrick’s ups and downs, which inevitably are hospital-heavy anyway, early on. And he doesn’t hold back.

Even if Patrick wasn’t so assured, his nuggets of behind-the-wards

themed—practitioners from each side compete for audience approval, but the evening is at its strongest when each side visibly cheers the other’s virtuosity.

The quality is inevitably varied.

Highlights tonight include some sharp one-liners from the immaculately camp Steven Darley and a beautifully bittersweet poem by New Zealander Penny Ashman, detailing vows made with her partner to love each other in old age, drool and varicose veins into the bargain.

While some sets aren’t as strong, the tight five-minute cap on each

performer keeps things moving along apace.

There are more attempts at trash talk to maintain the spirit of the thing, though most are pretty gentle.

Both sides are trading in different forms of wordplay, and those shifting dynamics make a refreshing contrast from other more testosterone-fuelled late-night mixed bills.

Ultimately, it’s a pleasant night, with jokers and poets coming left and right. They never really justify their need to fight, but all are buoyed by simple word’s delight. ✏︎ Will Young

info would be worth hearing. “A lot of the time,” he admits, “we’re just guessing.” Okay, so perhaps we didn’t want to hear that bit.

The part-time comic—and he must be seriously part-time, given the hours these poor buggers infamously do—looks thoroughly at home doing a full Fringe show. But then it’s probably a lot more relaxed than that other line of work, when you think about it. When someone dies on stage they usually wake up again.

This is a well-structured set, moving seamlessly from health service stuff to family and his own love life, while just about remaining on theme. Mixing things up late on there’s a fine set piece about his struggles to perform during certain sexual encounters, which features our host sitting with his back to the audience while having an urgent meeting with a certain part of his anatomy, like a man trying to en-

courage a stunt hamster. Enduring image.

He certainly doesn’t struggle to perform here, though. A very promising debut indeed. ✏︎ Si Hawkins

Credit: Steve Ullathorne

HHH

Credit: Edward Moore

Stand Up & Slam!

Elf Lyons Pelican HHH TIME:

Voodoo Rooms 7:50pm – 8:40pm 6–28 Aug, not 16, 23

TICKETS:

FREE

VENUE:

It’s one of the more eye-catching 2016 flyers: the stylish, quirky design, that name —Elf Lyons!—and subsequent blurb, “sometimes wants to kill her mother”, plus the line about Lyons being trained at legendary clown college Philippe Gaulier.

That’s a lot for the actual show to live up to, in truth, and does all rather suggest that Pelican—again, intriguing—is going to take live comedy in some bold new direction, particularly when the announcer warns that Lyons won’t be using a microphone.

And, yes, there are some interesting narrative departures in this versatile director/performer’s latest standup outing, as she equates that maternal relationship to a great oceanic adventure, for example. But generally this show is surprisingly naturalistic.

Mum does indeed sound eccentric, but Elf—mother calls her Emily, Elf calls herself “odd”—actually comes across as pretty regular – there are recurring references to The Sims, Twilight, various other major movies.

The trumpeted clown training is barely evident either, as there’s little visual novelty, although that extravagant dress helps with the bird impressions.

Keeping it relatively simple is perhaps wise in your early Fringe shows, although the one self-indulgence here, the lack of

Comedy

36

microphone, doesn’t help. It frees her movement but also limits the tone, as Lyons is constantly projecting in order to outwit her real nemesis – not mother, but a loud fan, which affects her ability to dominate this room.

That’s unfortunate—but easily fixed, by mixing it up a bit—as generally this is an engaging show, which hopefully builds a platform for further experimentation. Embrace the Elfiness. ✏︎ Si Hawkins

Rory O’Keeffe Monoglot

VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 4:45pm – 5:45pm 3–29 Aug, not 15 £6 – £10

Search for Rory O’Keeffe online, and you’ll find there’s two of them. One blogs on issues such as war, refugees and international law.The other is this afternoon’s host.The contrast is a stark one: from his opening, offstage character monologue from the point of view of the microphone, right up to his final multi-lingual callback, there is absolutely nothing of substance here. Our boy Rory is absolutely a purveyor of flimflam.

And, in truth, O’Keeffe never professes to do anything else.

Indeed, the surfeit of material based on the hit nineties book Men Are

Credit: Arsalan Sattari

«««

from Mars, Women Are from Venus, and the hit nineties/noughtiesTV show Friends firmly positions him as anything but a topical comedian.

Instead, O’Keeffe revels in the silliness of being young, slightly effete, middle class, and from Islington.

“The strongest thing about me is my password,” he confides.

But it’s fine flimflam that he deals in. Within this stately pleasure dome, O’Keeffe does a good job of showcasing his intelligence and imagination. Punchlines come from

odd angles, and set pieces have nice shape and weight, producing satisfying bursts of laughter.

An extended sporting metaphor around “errors” in comedy gives us a lovely running joke that’s worth the slightly forced setup. All of this is wrapped around a loose theme of language and a love of words – both real and made up. It’s all sufficiently well-structured to make this a perfectly enjoyable hour of comedy. Nothing more; nothing less. ✏︎ Evan Beswick

VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Dome 8:20pm – 9:20pm 3–28 Aug, not 15 £8 – £12.50

festmag.co.uk

Ostensibly a true account of how the narrative sketch duo met, Our Story is gentler than Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzalez’s more madcap recent hours, but still solidly entertaining and a decent showcase of their fraternal chemistry and comic acting talents. Jumping between the present and the past, purporting to tell the tale of Max’s induction into wrestling school and Ivan’s arrival at the scout camp next door, it’s peopled with their usual mix of

Simon Slack The Fantasist HHH VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

37

Underbelly, Cowgate 10:40pm – 11:40pm 4–28 Aug, not 17 £8.50 – £10.50

The common preconception that Fringe shows all about the writing of Fringe shows have a tendency towards solipsism is not without an element of truth, but should not excuse an often unjustified prejudice.

Nevertheless, Simon Slack, in the first of many vulgar yet surprisingly subtle visual metaphors, acknowledges from the outset that the creative process can be seen as self-indulgent wankery...by beginning The Fantasist with an operatic bout of simulated masturbation.

The remainder of the show follows a cartoonish (and hopefully

aunt, creating inappropriate but oddly specific greeting cards for Hallmark.

For a Max & Ivan show, Our Story maintains an unusually tight focus on the central story and characters, preferring to routinely allude to rather than portray a renegade scout master, for example. Amusing throughout, it doesn’t quite capture their best work’s knockabout levels of intense silliness. ✏︎ Jay Richardson

fictional) recreation of the show’s genesis; Slack, sitting in his bedroom in grubby underwear, tries unsuccessfully to write while ignoring the distractions and temptations of drugs, television, noisy neighbours and his tragically sweet grandmother. Desperate to find a viable performance piece, Slack eventually invests in a bespoke mail-order puppet that will haunt your nightmares (imagine if Clive Barker carved a ventriloquist’s doll out of chewed gum and badger teeth). The puppet, with whom Slack soon develops a dysfunctional sexual relationship, can be seen as a symbol for everything the audience might find unpleasant about Slack’s often grim comedy, as well as everything he dislikes about himself. Whether you find him funny or not, Slack is several steps ahead of us.

By the second half, Slack’s narrative of self-loathing, selfreflection and self-discovery has

become more interesting than most of the skits and running gags that make up the show. But even if his defiantly Marmite material isn’t to your taste, there is clearly care and thought invested in it. ✏︎ Sean Bell

Credit: Dan Burn-Forti

Our Story HHH

bizarre characters and damaged oddballs.

Both are struggling to find their identities and are tested by adversity, but bond over illicit meetings away from their respective tribes, their burgeoning friendship coloured by our knowledge that present-day Max is getting ready to ditch his partner and strike out solo in America. If that seems like a familiar conceit for the double-act dynamic, well it is. But Olesker and Gonzalez derive a certain amount of pathos from it in between returning to their past, where the callow Olesker faces his wrestling nemesis and the good-natured Gonzalez must help a pitiable friend overcome his feeble ineffectualness.

Along the way, they disclose various jobs Ivan got them fired from and introduce his blandly improper

Crewdit: The Other Richard

Max & Ivan

Glenn Moore Glengarry Glen Glenn HHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Caves 6:00pm – 7:00pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £5

Glenn Moore is the sort of comedian that you wouldn’t mind watching for hours, slightly disengaged from proceedings but knowing if you tune back in he’ll have just delivered another zinger. His is a benign and comforting comic presence: he’s not going to bite, he’s just going to crowbar a pun into a personal anecdote.

In what makes for a polished debut hour, Moore nails his

Tommy Tiernan Out of the Whirlwind HHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Gilded Balloon Teviot 7:30pm – 8:30pm 5–28 Aug, not 12, 25 £14 – £16

Midway through his set Tommy Tiernan reveals that he’s recently realised that a routine he performed some years ago on a TV chat show was probably a little bit racist. While contrite, the content of this hour shows he remains keen to engage with ideas that flirt with the same possibility. He defends his material by stating that he’s only joking – but this stance is always problematic and suggests comedians needn’t take responsibiity for what they say as long as it’s funny enough.

After all, a key sequence in this show concerns a skit imagining Tiernan encountering a succession of

persona from the get-go. He deals in cute wordplay and contrived middle-class repression. It’s the “posh people are hopelessly aloof” schtick you’ve seen plenty of times before, but to have such a sure-footed comic identity established so early takes skill in itself.

The show is a blend of autobiographical tales and surrealist puns that don't always gel seemlessly.

At times, the switches between gravity and levity undermine the reflective tone he’s trying to create. Still, he’s as good as any on the circuit with the throwaway chuckles (“I call my stepfather my ‘fake dad’, or my ‘faux-pa’”). He’s constantly throwing curveballs with the punchlines, which keeps you on your toes the moment an anecdote is starting to sound too

minority groups and embarrassing himself as he attempts to say the right thing. While the joke is clearly intended to be about his own failure to do so, the whole is performed in a succession of stereotypical comedy accents. Are we laughing at those accents, or the ridiculousness of them? The end result is the same – a comedian getting laughs from the funny voices of marginalised groups. That it’s funny doesn’t really work as an excuse.

Because there’s no doubting that this is a really funny show.

Tiernan’s economy of language and poetic vocabulary reveals his mastery in conjuring imagery in an impressively efficient fashion. He’s a likable everyman whose anger and confusion at the world is expressed via rants about Donald Trump, Brexit and Isis. But there are also lengthy sequences exploring the differences between men and women that recall standups from decades ago.

As such, this is a sometimes oddly anachronistic hour. ✏︎ Brett Mills

long-winded – but after a while you begin to expect them and the surprise is lost.

It’s mightily impressive for his first full hour of material, and there’s obvious craft behind his storytelling. Even if they can see the cogs turning a little too much at times, the audience is still won over. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

Sarah Callaghan

Samantha Pressdee Sextremist HH VENUE:

TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

39

Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 10:20pm – 11:20pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £5 – £8

Beginning her show with a strip tease and concluding it with a pole dance, Samantha Pressdee certainly isn’t one to rely on a misleading title. Unfortunately, beyond the overt sexuality that’s promised and delivered, there isn’t much to offer in the way of comedy here.

Pressdee stands topless on stage for the entirety of the show, explaining that she’s an advocate for the ‘Free the Nipple’ campaign. It’s one facet of her politically-charged nature, as she rails against what she sees as a

patriarchy that objectifies women’s bodies. It’s a fair stance to take, but the problem is that any gravity to her argument is undermined by the infantile way in which she presents herself. Nothing about her aesthetic or child-like delivery lends any credence to the worthy cause she’s pursuing. It’s a bit like if Tumblr came to life and did standup.

Substantively speaking there’s not much to go by, other than an autobiographical whirl through her list of past boyfriends. The crowd (with whom she fosters virtually no rapport) is small, and subsequently the responses are even weaker.

It’s a shame because she’s got interesting things to say but it’s all lost in a muddled routine with very little flair for jokes. You might buy into her liberation movement, but it’s hard to buy into her act.

She seems to conflate impassioned statements of belief with political satire – both have their place in comedy, but the balance is all wrong here. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

unconsciously dominates so much standup. She can make the domestic feel epic, and the dramatic seem silly and relatable. As her story weaves towards an unexpected (and briefly gruesome) conclusion in Paris, Callaghan rescues romantic comedy from cliché – by showing herself a little sympathy, she wins the same—and, just as importantly, laughter—from the audience as well. ✏︎ Sean Bell

Credit: Steve Ullathorne

festmag.co.uk

greater ambition, forcing them to ask questions about themselves and 24 what they want to say.

Sarah Callaghan’s new show is, HHH for the most part, an example of the VENUE: Pleasance Dome latter. This is all the more surprising, TIME: 8:20pm – 9:20pm given that its title refers to those 3–28 Aug, not 15 dubious self-help maxims that TICKETS: £9 – £12 aim to change your life in 24 hours.

Exploring the gulf between the If the Fringe is any kind of reliable idealism of these instructions and metric, an increasingly evident trend her own experiences, Callaghan is in comedy in recent years has been imaginative enough to recognise the the idea that a standup show should potency of her concept, but smart be built around an overarching enough to make sure it rarely gets in theme or narrative. When this fails, the way of her actual comedy. it can leave a performance feeling Using her game plan for selfsuperficial or clunky, with good ma- improvement as a spring board to terial forced to fit around a tenuous examine her existing, unimproved foundation that doesn’t really suplife, Callaghan presents an hour of port it. But when it works, a central autobiographical reflection without idea can propel a performer towards ever giving into the narcissism that

40

HH VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House 8:00pm – 9:00pm 3–29 Aug £5

They're not a double-act. Rosco Mclelland is followed by Christopher Macarthur-Boyd in a shared set format that probably benefits the performers more than it does the audience.

Mclelland takes the first half, then introduces Macarthur-Boyd for the second. The dynamic itself works well; Mclelland is an

Annie McGrath The Seven Ages of An HH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 4:45pm – 5:45pm 3–28 Aug, not 17 £6.50 – £9

It’s a tough gig coming up with a unique angle to make your first solo Fringe show fly. Get it wrong and this can be a long hour, and a long month, as Annie McGrath is possibly now discovering.

One half of the sketch duo Twins, McGrath has conjured a seemingly fertile concept here that allows her to flit between both character stuff and standup: seven personas of varying ages, from sperm to spirit, all also representing different aspects of a jobbing comedian’s

fragment of the completed puzzle that the audience expects.

Both of them are young, inexperienced and definitely not the finished article, so the format suits this stage in their careers.

It’s a showcase of two comedians who will doubtless improve but for the moment remain reliant on the contrast offered by this unusual setup. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

psyche. There are props for each, stored in her comedy bookcase at the back of the stage, including a sheet for the aforementioned spectre. “I put this on the other day and some people left,” she admits.

“So I cut eye holes in it.” Ah well, it now gives her one of the show’s bigger laughs.

The hour gets off to a promising start with a pithy intro, including a hilarious pasta-based artwork of her dad (the comedian Rory McGrath), but begins to drag as soon as the characters appear.

They’re all actively portrayed by the comic in her regular deadpan manner, a gag that—appropriately enough—gets very old, very quickly.

Even McGrath sounds bored, trundling through a script that’s oddly devoid of punchlines; you wonder if she’s been culling misfiring jokes along the way. By the end—a baffling, badly-executed

callback set piece about a famous actress—she’s almost apologetic, which doesn’t help.

It isn’t a total car crash, but this show could do with a serious service to survive August intact. ✏︎ Si Hawkins

Comedy

archetypal warmup act, playing off crowd reactions and appearing lost when they don’t feed him enough lines. It’s a logical introduction for the more pensive musings of Macarthur-Boyd.

The show feels incomplete on a number of levels, with the double billing equating to less than the sum of its parts. Both performers’ routines are a little undercooked.

Mclelland’s the chummy, energetic compere with a gruff drawl and very few lines of material. Macarthur-Boyd is the sombre sit-down comic with a wistful style that belies his adolescent appearance.

The latter seems to be doing an amalgamated impression of lots of other acts he’s seen, while the former desperately needs some substance beneath the delivery.

They’re two jigsaw pieces that fit well together, but only form a

Credit: Stuart Laws

Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and Rosco Mclelland

Jason Byrne is Propped Up HH VENUE: TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Assembly Hall 9:00pm – 10:00pm 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22 £16 – £19.50

Hard to believe, I know, but reviewers do actually enjoy a laugh.

And for easy, joyous laughs, there ought to be few Friday nights more enjoyable than in the company of Jason Byrne. In part, that’s exactly what happens tonight. Byrne’s ability to create chaos out of nothing, to whip an audience into frenzied giggles, to divine exactly what his willing participants are likely to do next, ekeing every scrap of silliness from their quirks, is a treat to watch. Dammit, the man can

Rory O’Hanlon You Are Where You Need to Be HH TIME:

Opium 5:00pm – 5:50pm 6–27 Aug

TICKETS:

FREE

Reviews

VENUE:

41

It’s apparently a yogic mantra that, “You Are Where You Need to Be”. This lesson in accepting your circumstances was offered to Rory O’Hanlon while he attended yoga classes for an injured hamstring. But if Hindu philosophy, self-help and alternative therapies sound like interesting material for standup comedy, they’re not – you’ll sadly have to look elsewhere. For all the show’s billing, this is merely one throwaway line amid a host

even deliver pitch-perfect, funny routines about the weather.

But somewhere in the planning of tonight’s show, Byrne has decided that his central joke, the observation around which his show climaxes, is that “Gwyneth Paltrow is a miserable bitch”. Literally, he says that – over and over again.

And as it becomes more and more obvious that this is less a throwaway remark than a central conceit, so does the show become more and more distasteful. Here’s a man whose honed technique could make anything sound funny. He’s chosen to coax families into laughing along to misogyny.

One of the joys of watching Byrne is that he has the ability to conjure absolute, easy escapism.

But just because he doesn’t need his audience to think hard, doesn’t mean he’s excused from doing so.

But, hey, I’m not his mother. He can do what he wants. There are few performers who can grab an audience by the wrists and lead them up and down the garden path in such spectacular fashion. It’s entirely up to Byrne where he wants to lead them. ✏︎ Evan Beswick

of lightweight club routines that never add up to much.

Observational comedy comes in for a tough time among highbrow comedy circles, but seeing it done poorly is a reminder of how much craft is required to make it work. A good observational comic finds true gems in everyday life – banalities made surprising by a turn of phrase, private moments rendered communal. This year, O’Hanlon has noticed that, among other things, hangovers are bad, Ryanair is shit, pornography is more accessible than when he was a child, Italians get a lot of sex, and Donald Trump is ugly.

It’s tightly performed and evidently gig-hardened. His timing and audience rapport are decent, and his dry confidence makes for easy viewing. Brief references to his experiences with alcoholism

and family depression raise the possibility of something more, but they never resurface.

It’s easy to imagine O’Hanlon being a reliable booking for most comedy clubs, but that’s ultimately all this is: a series of serviceable but uninspired club sets run together in an effort to make up 50 minutes. ✏︎ Will Young

UNMISSABLE THEATRE MADE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

11.00am

EQUATIONS FOR A MOVING BODY

‘So interesting, engaging and relatable.

Beautifully human.’ Audience member

1.00pm

PEOPLE OF THE EYE

A personal story following a family finding their way through the deaf world.

2.45pm

SACRÉ BLUE (6–16 Aug only) ‘a fun packed, punk rocking, poetry slamming play.’ NARC Magazine

2.45pm

600 PEOPLE (18–27 Aug only) Stand-up meets astrophysics, exploring the stories we tell to understand our place in the cosmos.

4.50pm

PUTTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER

Part riotous gig, part tender storytelling.

6.30pm

E15

A truthful retelling of the Focus E15 Campaign, Britain’s housing crisis and how one group of women refused to be marginalised.

8.15pm

TWO MAN SHOW

Two women play two women playing two men.

10.05pm WHERE

DO ALL THE DEAD PIGEONS GO? I could give you the answer right now… but it would ruin the show.

Book now:

Venue 26c

0131 226 0000

northernstage.co.uk/edinburgh

Theatre

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Dublin Oldschool A lyrical whirlwind of a journey through the Dublin rave scene HHHHH

Reviews

festmag.co.uk

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League Table 1

JOAN ««««« Joan of Arc, brought to vivid, funny life as you’ve never seen her before

2

Dublin Oldschool ««««« An exhilerating take on rave culture in the Irish capital, with two talented rapping actors as your guides

3

Dublin Oldschool

This Evil Thing ««««

VENUE: TIME:

Inspirational and disturbing work about conscientious objectors and standing by your beliefs

4

May-WeGo-Round? «««« Sex and dating explored through contemporary dance, physical theatre, clowning and storytelling

5

Wil Greenway: The Way the City Ate the Stars «««« This surreal love story about an Aussie road trip will transport you

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 1:00pm – 2:00pm 3–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22 £6.50 – £10

“I can see through my eyelids!”

Rave Dave, one of the large cast of fucked-up characters who swagger through Dublin Oldschool, might have lost the plot: his eyes are wide open. But Emmet Kirwan’s two-hander is a rave story that can see through both eyelids and skulls, shining a laser beam into the lives of a pair of k-holing brothers.

They’re determined not to waste their youth, which means getting wasted as thoroughly and often as is humanly possible. Kirwan’s story is soaked in the sweaty, messy Dublin rave scene. Jason (Kirwan) is a wannabe DJ who still feels invincible: his voice leads us on a three-day bender through flat parties, drug dealers’ houses, field raves and blind alleys. His heroinaddicted older brother David (Ian Lloyd Anderson) can barely

Credit: Albert Hooi

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remember the buzz. Sleeping rough and hiding from his parents, he’s a casualty from a party that ended a long time ago. But when Kirwan and Lloyd Anderson’s voices blend—in streams of rapped poetry, or hilarious rapid-fire banter—the bleakness feels miles away. Because there’s a bit of joy in this story, too. It’s full of faith in the power of pills and powders to warp time, to power benders, to transport you back to when parliament was pushing through 18th-century land reforms, or forward to the molten end of the universe. And as their words finally give way to music, it feels ecstatic, a carefully-deferred rush of emotion. Kirwan’s story might feel effortless, but it’s been built with care – and underlaid with just enough pain to bring it crashing back down to earth. ✏︎ Alice Savile

HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Gilded Balloon Teviot 4:30pm – 5:30pm 3–29 Aug, not 17 £9.50 – £12.50

Mark Thomas The Red Shed HHHH VENUE: TIME:

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for comedy writing, he makes us laugh in the darkest of times as Rehana recounts her stalwart father learning the lines to Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’.

The dust of Kobane continues to swirl as you walk back into the Edinburgh drizzle, your heart and mind aching a little, a scratching at your throat where a guillotine might hit. ✏︎ Kate Wyver

Traverse Theatre times vary 6–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22 £8.50 – £20.50

The left—as we’re constantly reminded—is in crisis. Giving up and looking back at the glory days—a united Labour Party, and a strong trade union movement—is tempting. But Mark Thomas’s warm, engaging look at the state of the nation via social histories and contemporary activism highlights the need to honour the past whilst looking to the future, recapturing the spirit of the eighties but never giving in to misty-eyed nostalgia.

The Red Shed itself is the Wakefield Labour club, where Thomas has done his time in social

Credit Steve Ullathorne

festmag.co.uk

The Edinburgh Fringe is a bubble protecting us from the world outside, audiences checking reviews over news for a month. Filipa Bragança ferociously pops that bubble with Henry Naylor’s achingly relevant monologue. Dripping with violence, loss and revenge, we are taken hostage in Kobane, northern Syria, in 2014.

Though fictional, this dramatic war reportage is vital to our understanding of terrorism. Reporters

fled Kobane for fear of being decapitated, so Angel stands tall in attempting to tell the city’s story.

Known as the ‘Angel of Kobane’, Bragança’s character Rehana is based on a Kurdish soldier, rumoured to have killed more than 100 Islamic State fighters. She became a symbol of resistance and rumours spread that she came back from the dead, a newly heroic guardian angel. Bragança not only illuminates the realities of war, but depicts them with overwhelming savagery as well as heartbreak.

In an hour she reels off a list of inhumanities so long and so vile that it is no wonder the kind, curious young girl quickly turns into a brutal, cold-hearted killer.

Naylor deals with this modern legend exquisitely in an example of masterful storytelling. Best known

Credit: Rosalind Furlong

Angel by Henry Naylor

organising, socialist pantomimes, and gallons of real ale drinking over some of the 50 years since it’s stood, opposite the local Conservative club. This moving, impassioned and often very funny show is partly a 50th anniversary celebration of the building and its members, and partly a mission to answer some questions about Thomas’s own political awakening.

Namely, he has a vivid memory of children singing ‘Solidarity Forever’ through the school railings

at passing strikers – but then that’s just the sort of rose-tinted, Billy Elliot view of the working class that he has no interest in propagating.

Did it really happen? Armed with a Dictaphone and a hand-drawn map of the local closed pit—now a McDonalds, of course—he sets out to find those children and their rebellious teacher. In his insistence on pragmatism over romanticism, Thomas finds real heart and guts in the stories he uncovers. ✏︎ Billy Barrett

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VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Summerhall 7:05pm – 8:05pm 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, 22 £10 – £11

Fittingly for a show about the end of the world, omens abound in Kieran Hurley’s excellent new one-person play. Discovery Channel documentaries about the collapse of the Roman Empire stalk late-night TV; a teenager plays the decades-old computer game Sim City and destroys her creation with a Godzilla monster; flashes blaze across the sky. These dreadful signs are relayed by Hurley himself, sitting besuited and barefooted at a table, a selection of musical cues and effects at his fingertips.

He exudes a homeless radio announcer vibe, telling us four

we find it easier to imagine the end of the world than the beginning of a new one? Is fear more vivid than hope?

So, from a show that is flecked with anger and more than enough brimstone for the entire world, what emerges is something challenging, but subtly optimistic. Just like every good sermon. ✏︎ Edd McCracken

jingoism, Hollywood schmaltz, or plastic Liberace piano sleaze.

They might tap dance, dick about in huge floral hats, and even woo a pretty lady from the audience with a cover of Enrique Iglesias’s ‘Hero’.

But there’s a sense of sheer fun and inventiveness that stops this quartet’s work from feeling cynical. And there’s some gorgeous clowning and physical theatre, too, culminating in a sequence where they rip through a Phantom of the Opera medley on rollerblades, before skating backwards into sepulchral darkness.

The fun flounders, a little, in a series of pop songs that drown out their strings with heavy amplified beats, made murky by the venue’s patchy sound system. But a surreal Russian wedding finale—with a Pink Floyd soundtrack—restores the evening to glorious mayhem.

Their marriage of string instrument artistry and crotch-thrusting showmanship might not be the most promising of matches. But when they’re having this much fun, it’s one that deserves a happy ending. ✏︎ Alice Savile

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interweaving stories about four people, whose ordinary days are preludes to the end of days: a financial trader who has sacrificed relationships for career; a Muslim zero hours staff member at a high street coffee shop; a teenage girl caught up in a sexting furore at her school; a fading, vain pop star with a thing for bees.

They never meet. Their disparate classes, backgrounds and stories underline Philip Larkin’s observation that the end is the greatest leveller of all; that “all streets in time are visited”. Hurley regales their stories in the second person – a tricky narrative high-wire act. But it works. The machine-gun repetition of “you” gives proceedings an urgent sermon-like feel. Even more so when, nearing the conclusion, Hurley breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the ‘you’s in the audience and questions why we are here. Is it, as he suggests, because

Credit: Jassy Earl

Heads Up

Moscow Boys HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Zoo Southside 8:35pm – 9:50pm 5–29 Aug, not 15, 22 £11 – £12

Okay, the name’s at least a tad ironic. But Moscow Boys sound like a boyband for a reason: they’re a Russian string quartet who mix classical music with puppyish energy and moves that would put Backstreet Boys to shame.

It’s co-produced by Aurora Nova, better known for a more challenging brand of international performance.

But Moscow Boys’ presence on their lineup feels like a riposte to all the cheesy stereotypes that gather round populist classical music, whether it’s Last Night of the Proms

Gavin Lind (Australia)

Committed to Mediocrity

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The So and So Arts Club The Marvellous Adventures of Mary Seacole 3 – 29 Aug 18.10 C nova

Under Two Floorboards

The Oxford Gargoyles

4 – 29 Aug 19.45 C south

15 – 29 Aug 15.30 C

The Latymer Theatre Company

Big the Musical

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Life According to Saki 3 – 29 Aug 14.15 C

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The Oxford Gargoyles: Jazz A Cappella

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Asleik & Jon (Norway) Aladdin and His Magical Europe Refugee Tour 2016 3 – 29 Aug 17.30 C nova

Some Riot Theatre

Sonic Boom Theatre Company

3 – 29 Aug 19.30 C nova

21 – 29 Aug 13.30 C

A Series of Unfortunate Breakups

Hero Worship

Reviews

With more than 200 shows and events across our venues in the heart of Edinburgh, we celebrate our 25th Fringe with an inspiring international programme of cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, musicals, theatre and family shows. See it all with C venues.

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VENUE:

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TICKETS:

Northern Stage at Summerhall 10:05pm – 11:05pm 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £9 – £11

If you really, truly want to find out where dead pigeons go, there are easier ways than buying a ticket to this show. Pigeons barely come into it. Because Scott Turnbull’s performance has travelled far beyond its original bird-based brief to become a mad space odyssey, narrated by one very lonely man.

Using a slide projector and some haphazard drawings, he creates a deliciously silly and totally unsci-

Empty Beds HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 1:50pm – 2:50pm 4–28 Aug, not 15 £8.50 – £10.50

The devastating effects of mental illness ripple outward like a wave, engulfing not just the sufferer but their family. It’s this that Julia Cranney explores sensitively in her new play, Empty Beds, which is being presented at the Fringe in association with the charity Young Minds UK. Sisters Jo (Matilda Tucker), Catherine (Cranney) and Emily (Carys Wright) are visiting Jo’s twin brother, Mike, who’s been hospitalised after an incident at home.

Their journey has got off to a bad start after university student Emily’s late arrival means they miss

their first train from London. And tempers flare as further delays prompt barely buried resentments to surface.

The strength of Cranney’s writing is in its believability. Across their fraught journey, the ways the sisters push each other’s buttons rings true. Their personalities are well drawn and their relationships grounded in the kind of careless humour and deeply ingrained resentments characteristic of long familiarity.

Tucker, Wright and Cranney have an easy chemistry, with Cranney’s sardonic, coiled performance as Catherine standing out. Director Glynne Steele uses the set—four train seats—effectively, keeping things fluid by having the cast shift around as their allegiances change.

Ali Hunter’s lighting design evokes movement, and train announcements add realism and, at a key moment, drive the plot.

But what really elevates this production, as it travels towards its gut punch of a destination, is its realistic rendering of the bundle of concern, guilt and frustration that mental illness drops like a ticking time bomb into people’s lives. ✏︎ Tom Wicker

Theatre flimsy production values of either of those. Turnbull’s slides are embedded with dust and footprints from where he’s stomped on them, as he runs about the stage.

Combined with his crude, chaotic scribbles, it’s like being held hostage by a mad 10-year-old with a Star Trek obsession. But even in its weirdest moments, there’s a desolation to it. No amount of whimsy or silliness can fill the huge, echoing emptiness of life in empty space. ✏︎ Alice Savile

Credit: Scott Turnbull

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entific look at a man who’s been sent mad by solitude.

Turnbull’s drawing is painfully slow, a blunt instrument that’s joyfully incongruous with the hi-tech machinery wielded by NASA’s finest. His wobbly marker outlines show his dejection after he’s dumped by his girlfriend, and his escape to the solace of a mysterious ‘moon job’ that’s advertised in the local paper. Alone in a space station, he’s giving the audience a talk about his experiences. But he struggles to stick to the brief.

He draws gross fox sex pictures, muses on heartbreak, goes on a surreal blind date gameshow, and bickers with his robot companion – who’s got the voice and slightly broken personality of his favourite Sunderland footie captain.

It’s a bit Red Dwarf, a bit Mighty Boosh – but without even the

Credit: Glynne Steel

Where Do All the Dead Pigeons Go?

HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Roundabout @ Summerhall 1:35pm – 2:45pm various dates between 5 Aug and 28 Aug £9 – £17

festmag.co.uk

Paines Plough’s Roundabout at Summerhall has become a go-to destination for great new writing, and this three-hander from Alan Harris is no exception. It’s a funny, heartwarming and tender tale of underdogs fighting the odds.

In sleepy MerthyrTydfil, a boy meets a girl outside a medical trials lab. But the course of young love runs far from smooth, and their fathers aren’t helping. His is a Polish builder obsessed with taxidermy and

Bubble Schmeisis HHH VENUE: TIME:

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Summerhall 3:00pm – 4:00pm 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22 £8.50 – £11

Nick Cassenbaum could be telling us this story over a pint, as laughs roll easily with stories of embarrassing childhood memories.

Checking in on us occasionally, he makes sure we’re up to speed with his words. The only thing that reminds us we’re not sitting with him at the back of a quiet pub is his outfit: a bath robe and a wrap.

The two Klezmer musicians orchestrating his story behind him are dressed the same way.

Cassenbaum undresses as he prepares for his first schvitz, a traditional Jewish steam bath,

his estranged wife, hers a failing ice cream seller threatened with debtors’ prison. With an amateur pornographer circling with a tempting offer of cash, can love win out in the end?

Charmingly performed by Remy Beasley, Richard Corgan and Andy Rush, the story rattles along. We’re taken on a whistle-stop tour of the town where “all roads lead toTesco”.

Characters and scenes change in a moment, aided by nimble lighting and sound.

The play takes time to find its feet, but once you feel at home in its world it’s completely absorbing. It finds colour in a grey landscape, joy in a post-industrial town whose community is hurting. As such its climax is a glorious celebration of humanity in the bleakest circumstances. It shows that compassion can still conquer commercial interest.

At a time when many are writing off towns such as Merthyr as being backwards and out-of-step, this is a timely reminder of its struggles and complexities; and the fact that there is little to match the dignity of good people in hard times. ✏︎ Theo Bosanquet

peeling back layers from his story of identity and cultural preservation as he does so.

Bubble Schmeisis attempts to archive a specific identity in order to preserve a little part of it, in the worry that traditions are being passed down through generations less and less. With little visual aspect to the production until the very end, it’s all in the storytelling, the smile and the schvitz. While the pace lags occasionally, we wait patiently for him to pick up threads of the story as we know another guaranteed laugh is around the corner.

The final 15 minutes lift the performance, as anger and passion break through the calm, and one unsuspecting audience member gets up close and personal with the experience of a schvitz. Though there is nothing groundbreaking about this gentle one-person show, it is generous

enough to share a slice of a specific East End Jewish culture in the hope that it will live on a little longer. ✏︎ Kate Wyver

Credit: Matt Humphry

Love, Lies and Taxidermy

Putting the Band Back Together HHH VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Northern Stage at Summerhall 4:50pm – 5:55pm 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £10 – £12

Every show has a history – a moment of inspiration or motivation, followed by years of work, before it continues to evolve as new performers join and former members bow out. Rare, however, is it possible to understand the scale of that evolution solely by witnessing the final performance. Yet in Putting the Band Back Together, a life is joyously celebrated and honoured.

In 2014, Mark Lloyd—a talented artist, collaborator, father and good

friend to everyone connected to this show—was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. His ambition was to reunite his old bands before his tragic passing earlier this year. Over the past two years, co-creators Unfolding Theatre have supported workshops with ex-players across the North East of England, repopulating countless house bands and performing intimate memories of why we stash our instruments in the cupboard to begin with.

Musicians Maria Crocker, Alex Elliott and Ross Millard—joined by Unfolding artistic director Annie Rigby and a nightly house band of volunteers from the audience— connect Mark’s story to the wider implications of putting something back together. What’s involved in this process? Sometimes the artefact is reformed with greater

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strength and purpose; other times it remains fragile and cracked.

The band perform an array of original Geordie folk, pop and rock numbers, prompted by Mark’s first involvement.

Theatrically, the show is a little disjointed and trips over itself in the stitching together of personal stories with broader themes of memory, identity and friendship.

But its rich legacy, already established in Newcastle, feeds into and completely uplifts this fiercely honest show. ✏︎ Andrew Latimer

HHH VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Northern Stage at Summerhall, 1:00pm – 2:00pm 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £9 – £11

Erin Siobhan Hutching returns to Edinburgh this year with The Deaf and Hearing Ensemble to deliver a heartfelt production on the challenges of raising a deaf child.

Hutching’s sister is deaf, and so she grew up as a signer, revisiting the language in this light-hearted but poignant inquiry into communication and the performativity of signing.

People of the Eye’s greatest strength is that signing is built right into its DNA. Hutching is joined

by Emily Howlett, the two playing a

Credit: David Monteith-Hodge

People of the Eye

range of characters, from parents and doctors to schoolkids and teachers. At first, they’re confused as to why their daughter isn’t responding to their words. As she goes to school, bullying provides fresh heartbreak and misunderstanding before she is able to rejoice in the playfulness of signing as she grows up.

There are some clear issues to work on here. The story of the sisters is, by far, the most interesting storyline and could be told with finer clarity and dedication. The play is also slightly wonky, and the fluency

of its scenes could be strengthened.

For instance, when we dip out of the narrative to take part in moments of audience interaction—such as learning some basic sign language (a nice touch, but a little jarring)— it’s tough to settle back into the characters’ lives.

There are challenging companies such as Graeae making work that is both accessible yet theatrically complex. While People of the Eye employs a rich combination of surtitles, music and imagery to facilitate its storytelling, a greater experiment with form is required. ✏︎ Andrew Latimer

Queen Lear HHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Assembly Roxy 4:10pm – 5:10pm 4–29 Aug, not 16 £14 – £16

festmag.co.uk

Writer and producer Ronnie Dorsey’s new play, an all-female three-hander, dips into the same deep thematic pool as Virginia Woolf’s musings on Shakespeare’s sister. She focuses on one of the many silent female figures whose presence is only implied, marked by their absence in his works.

Here, Dorsey gives a voice to Lear’s wife, attended by her nurse (Jane Goddard) and counselled by a friar (Mary McCusker) as she suffers the final throes of a pregnancy that is killing her.There are shades of Henry

culated before the audience walk in, but a whiteboard stands at the back of the stage to remind us of the unfixed and uncertain nature of this play, and indeed of love.

With welcome nonchalance towards sexual preference, the cast of five dive into human emotions of like, lust and love. The actors don’t all seem entirely comfortable onstage, and the bungee chords used to create scenes don’t help, getting actors in a tangle whilst slowing the pace of Bradfield’s fast script.

The scientific strand of writing is pushed over in favour of astrolo-

gy, as talk of the moon and stars drifts a little too close to sickly sweet cliché, but is forgiven for the wit of a silent Tube scene and an extravagantly romantic serenade.

Though one or two more abstract monologues are difficult to follow, Bradfield’s sharp, imaginative writing is the star of this show.

The ending wraps up the play too neatly, stripping away the nuance and subtlety from the random, beautifully uneven encounters.

Though flawed, xx is a great watch and the work of an extremely promising playwright. ✏︎ Kate Wyver

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Reviews

their backs to us—as Queen Lear (Alice Allemano) recalls her idyllic childhood before she was swept into court by her monstrous, abusive husband.

However, the painting analogy is apt: this is a dramatically static production, coming across as a side-note to Shakespeare.

Dorsey’s writing is often lyrically beautiful, with memory captured by some vivid imagery, but theatre takes second place to poetry.This production never escapes the feeling of being just a piece of verse put on stage. ✏︎ Tom Wicker

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VIII in the tyrannical, never-seen king’s obsession with a male heir.

From the friar’s secret—she has disguised herself as a man in order to follow her vocation—to Queen Lear’s utter subjugation to her husband’s desires, Dorsey explores the limited and pitiless lot of her female characters. And her recasting of Cordelia as Goneril and Regan’s half sister is an intriguing spin on that fraught relationship.

Director Mark Leipacher frames his production like a triptych painting, with the three actresses freezing in place—sometimes with

Paradise in The Vault 6:55pm – 7:45pm 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21 £5 – £7

There is roughly a 1 in 2.45 billion chance you will meet the one, and a 1 in 36 trillion chance you’ll see the same performance of xx as I saw.

Jack Bradfield’s incredibly fresh script explores chance encounters with a structure decided by luck. It is witty, funny and sad in equal measure, jumping between emotions as often as between characters.

With echoes of Barrel Organ’s 2014 Fringe hit Nothing, the actors of each monologue and duologue are decided afresh every night.

Frustratingly, the algorithm is cal-

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★★ The Independent “Extraordinary” ★ The Stage

16:00

3-29 AUG (not 15)

“A total delight...

See it, see it!”

Total Theatre Magazine “Breathtaking… accomplished… hilarious”

13:25

13:25

4 - 28 AUG

4 - 28 AUG

★★ The Herald

“Epic shadow puppetry”

DEFYING EVERYDAY Defying the norm since 1947 05-29 August 2016 | Tickets at edfringe.com

Theatre

“Outstanding”

HHH VENUE:

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festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Theatre 12:00pm – 1:30pm 4–27 Aug, not 10, 17 £7 – £12

This double-bill from Clean Break came from an emerging writers programme focused on female BAME writers.The resulting plays,

by Somalia Seaton and Chino Odimba, have as their shared fabric the criminalisation of young women, mental health issues and teenage motherhood.

House is a domestic drama that bubbles with hidden secrets. When the twitchy Pat returns to visit her deeply religious mother and sister, unspeakable truths are slowly uncov-

Credit: Katherine Leedale

House and Amongst the Reeds

ered. Seaton’s opening and closing speeches have a beautiful intensity, shimmering with poetic imagery, but she can pen note-perfect naturalistic dialogue too. Where it struggles is in moving the story on – House occasionally lurches from the humdrum to the dramatic.

Still, three really first-class performances elevate it: Shvorne Marks is compelling as the edgy Pat; Rebecca Omogbehin hugely appealing as her guileless sister; while Michelle Greenidge gives a monumentally imperious performance as a woman whose prioritising of religion and respectability means she is blinded to her children’s needs.

Amongst the Reeds is about two

teenage girls who slip through the cracks. Illegal immigrants, they end up hiding in a foul, dark, empty house, in a toxic relationship of deluded mutual dependency.Tonally, Odimba’s play quavers; Oni and Gillian, her runaways, are intriguing but their dynamic never quite works. Oni essentially psychologically traps her heavily pregnant friend, but while the practical reasons for Gillian’s fear of daylight are eventually disclosed, the psychological motivation for Oni’s unhealthy possessiveness is never brought to light. Another nice (and very different) performance from Omogbehin, alongside a vulnerable Jan Le, still aren’t quite enough to convince. ✏︎ Holly Williams

His utter misery makes for plenty of moments of offbeat tragi-comedy – like a walk home in the rain after a disastrous blind date, pelted with rice and foam by a revolving desk fan. But there’s a seriousness to it, too: at the job centre, he’s assigned jobs he patently can’t do, like being a swimming instructor or furniture mover. And turning them down means losing his puppeteers, and hence his independence.

It’s hard not to see the analogies with the way disabled people are treated – themes ingeniously

emphasised by the presence of disabled stage manager Martin Vick, who’s patronised and told which jobs he can and can’t do.

But these points are muddied by the devised piece’s sprawling structure and unsophisticated narrative. Its humour is sour, rather than sharp, and it badly loses its way in the final sequence. What Meet Fred does well, though, is to convey the emotional complexities of being dependent – and the need for support, with no strings attached. ✏︎ Alice Savile

Meet Fred HHH VENUE: TIME:

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Summerhall 3:55pm – 5:00pm 5–25 Aug, not 15, 22 £5 – £10

What if puppets hated being puppets? It’s not a hugely original thought – even Disney’s Pinocchio squealed, “I’m a real boy!” But Hijinx Theatre and Blind Summit’s Meet Fred goes further, with a performance that’s both built on and tied down by its own constant self-awareness.

Fred is a bunraku puppet who’s absolutely miserable. He hates being at the mercy of his three handlers.

He hates his life, where he’s forced to try to live alongside humans three times his size. And most of all, he hates the fact that he’s in a show.

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TIME:

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Assembly George Square Theatre 10:30pm – 11:30pm 3–28 Aug, not 16, 22 £6 – £12

Midway through a lengthy forensic discussion of a Nutella stain on a man’s shirt, I realise that this is it.

This isn’t the pre-show, it is the show. One where two white-faced bouffon clowns pick on each audience member in turn, blowing up the tiny details of their lives into a fairground mirror image of foolishness.

The stained-shirt guy has, it turns out, gained his chocoholic’s-badge-of-shame after a messy encounter with a Nutella pancake

– one which is analysed with all the blow-by-blow precision of two drunken football pundits. Another man is the subject of a long interrogation as to his status as Photoshop “influencer”. And a woman with apparently shorter-than-average legs is told to balance on her friend’s back, the length of their embarrassment measured out by a ticking egg-timer.

Skrimshanks have big bloated bellies, bandy legs and pointing toes, like a nightmarish Punch seen double through the bottom of a pint glass. It takes a lot of gumption to prance into a room, with nothing prepared but an 18th-century costume. But they feel desperate, as much as ballsy, like pub regulars in search for a crumb of conversation to hide the gnawing loneliness of another solo drinking session.

And as they prod their way through the comic equivalent of an awkward encounter at the drycleaners, it all feels more sordid than funny. There are some nervous giggles at other people’s dirty laundry. But my main lasting feeling is an urge to escape and eat a Nutella pancake – without having to worry about the stain. ✏︎ Alice Savile

At heart, it’s a story of friendship—“spit sisters or summink”— but Fran & Leni celebrates women behaving badly. The duo bait music hacks and piss standing up, but for all music offers escape, even they can’t tear through society’s sexism.

If Fran & Leni asks what happens when punk rage hits middle age, it also links two sides of the Seventies. Hasler suggests that the culture of unreported sexual abuse now being investigated under the Yewtree banner spawned a wave of feminist punks. Dog collars and

shaved heads fend off unwanted attention from “dirty old blokes who try it on with everything.”

For a play about punk though, it’s pretty damn conventional, working through the old tropes of dodgy managers, daddy issues and schisms that lead to splits. Sappy too; so pared back that it gives no sense of the punk scene and its wild, frazzled edge. What’s missing? The music. Without blaring guitars and hoarse screams, Fran & Leni can’t summon the anger it describes. ✏︎ Matt Trueman

Theatre

Skrimshanks

Fran & Leni HH VENUE:

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TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Theatre 3:05pm – 4:10pm 4–29 Aug, not 15 £9 – £11

“Lades have to sound like ladies” – apparently. These two don’t.

Francesca Jane and Eleanor Rose are Fran and Leni – punk band The Rips to the world, queens of the London punk scene. To each other: Ludwig and Amadeus. “Why don’t girls get names like that?”

Sadie Hasler’s two-hander tells the story of the fictional feminist punk duo. Framed by a new autobiography, it looks back to the detention where two schoolgirls met: Leni stomping about in DMs, Fran tinkling the ivories and considering a classical career. From thereon in, they’re “tight as babies arseholes.”

Lifted VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall various times various dates between 5 Aug and 27 Aug £5 – £6.50

festmag.co.uk

A man is in an interrogation room being questioned by the police.

Suddenly, with a change of lighting, we’re inside his head, hearing his rambling thoughts. This monologue

by Sara Shaarawi and Henry Bell alternates between these two modes, and as the questioning becomes more intense the character retreats further inside his own memories.

Shaarawi and Bell dig into questions of race and nationality—this character is a Scottish Pakistani Muslim, the friend he’s being

And the interrogation room scenes fall down because this is a one-person show, so Gilani has to repeat the police questions before answering. “What did I say to him?

I said…” or “How do I know him?

We met at…” It’s clunky, as are the changes in lighting, and both need a bit of polish to make it more natural.

There are clearly big, knotty things this play wants to say. A bit of finessing, and Lifted could be a powerful way of saying them. ✏︎ Tim Bano

walk is a pleasant one, the company fortuitously charming, but as the journey unfolds we’re increasingly left scratching our heads.

The idea of random acts of kindness, and involving audience members in their delivery, is a good one. It resonates at a time when a fear of strangers is sadly prevalent. In fact, the major benefit of this journey is the chance to get to know your fellow travellers (hello, Douglas and Stefan!). But

the execution is far too simplistic.

And any suspension of disbelief is immediately blown at the start when we’re given a UK number to text John in New Zealand, and told if we call it, we’ll get James at the venue. Oh, okay then.

As a way to stretch your legs you could do worse. But I’d save your money and take a scenic stroll instead. You could always indulge in a genuine random act of kindness along the way. ✏︎ Theo Bosanquet

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questioned about is Kuwaiti—as well as police brutality. There are some interesting moments as we get absorbed into the stream of consciousness, and an unusual plot twist, but it needs to be less heavy-handed.

Ikram Gilani slightly overplays his character: the facial expressions too big, the voice reaching too hard for expression and finding falseness instead. It’s just a bit too over-stylised.

Delivery #16 VENUE:

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Credit: Carlotta Fransisco

HH

Theatre Arts Exchange times vary 6–27 Aug, not 10, 15, 22 £12

Interactive shows have grown exponentially at the Fringe over the years. This latest example from New Zealand theatre maker, John Burrows, is nicely conceived, but sorely lacking in surprise.

On gathering at Theatre Arts Exchange my two companions and I meet “James” and are given two packages. We’re told we must deliver them to Jenny, whose fiancé John is back in New Zealand and wants to surprise her for their anniversary. He will text us instructions as we go.

So we set out to find her, starting at a cafe and ending up a long way from where we started out. The

56 Theatre

Blood Will Have Blood HH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

C venues – C nova times vary 9–29 Aug £9.50 – £13.50

By the pricking of my thumbs, something frustrating this way comes – a less-than-successful, increasingly baffling riff on Macbeth that fails to live up to its potential.

ImmerCity’s interactive show plays on the borders of Shakespeare’s Scottish play, dropping audience members into a war-torn land suffering under Macbeth’s corrupt, bloody rule. Via headphones, we learn that we’re an amnesiac who has awoken clutching a pouch of objects, dirt under our nails, at the mercy of a witch.

There’s an atmospheric vibe to the folklore tone of the narration and a challenging note of moral ambivalence to the witch’s elemental view of the endless cycles of bloodshed. The savage Scottish territory of Macbeth, the lawlessness of its supernaturalism, is ripe for exploration. But that doesn’t really happen here.

Instead, we get side-tracked into washing rags and endlessly practising pretend stabbing with sticks, under the fierce glare of a mute, finger-pointing witch. In a small room in C nova, this feels less like theatrical immersion and more

like nagging. The more portentous dialogue could be ripped straight out of one of those "choose your own adventure" books from the eighties.

The eventual reveal of who you are is pretty cool, offering a sideways view on the play that refreshes certain familiar elements of the story. But while the show raises interesting questions, it fails to follow through on them in a satisfying fashion. By its wispy ending, Blood Will Have Blood has lost its way, becoming as insubstantial as witches vanishing on a blasted heath. ✏︎ Tom Wicker

Teatro Delusio VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 1:45pm – 3:00pm 3–29 Aug, not 17 £8 – £14.50

Behind the scenes in an opera house, more than 20 characters filter through the wire-laden, ladder-scattered stage, masked heads looming large. It is hard to believe these are all performed by only three actors, but the trio in Teatro Delusio have mastered the art of quick change. Stage managers, actors and conductors come and go in a jumbled fashion that never forms a story or builds tension. The clarity of each characterisation in this masked mime is exquisite but the plot is entirely incoherent and inconsequential.

This non-verbal play aches for

Credit: Pierre Borrasci

HH

more music as the moments of physicality aren’t close enough to slapstick or dance for them to be entertaining enough alone. The enormous stage is flooded with wasted potential. The vast open wings and multitude of trip hazards are gagging to be played with, fallen over and used for laughs, but are left largely untouched. Company Familie Flöz suggest they will give us a raging comedy, but provide us with little more than a few gentle titters.

A few minutes of beautiful pup-

petry begin the production, playing with the form and sprouting what could be the start of some truly unique material. This is then thrown aside in favour of masked mime.

The company are evidently talented puppeteers and it is a shame the form is not used enough.

Teatro Delusio is dull, lacking laughs and sorely missing more of the puppetry that briefly flits in and out of the play. Set backstage at a theatre, I’d much rather be on the other side of the curtain. ✏︎ Kate Wyver

Girl HH VENUE: TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

C venues – C cubed 5:15pm – 6:05pm 4–28 Aug, not 16 £7.50 – £11.50

Performed mostly in Korean without surtitles—but with intermittent English interjections and translation—this historical drama by Modli is rather appropriately about the difficulties we sometimes encounter in speaking and listening. In particular, about trauma.

A woman brings her recently deceased mother’s ashes back to her family, who had long thought her dead after she went missing during the Second World War. In the intervening years, it emerges, she had been kept by the occupying Japanese forces as a “comfort

woman”— the hideously euphemistic term for the army’s sexual enslavement of girls as young as twelve—and after her escape, cut all family ties to save them from disgrace.

The language barrier onstage— the woman’s daughter is from Myanmar, and so has to have a translator—draws attention to the problems of trying to communicate the unspeakable, and creates some poignant drama as she painfully acts out some of her mother’s experience to her horrified relatives.

These reenactments and fraught discussions around the urn reflect on the ways in which the past invades the present, however much we may try to forget – and the importance of rituals and remembering as a means of coming to terms with it.

For an issue that’s clearly been given research and thought however, there’s a surprisingly quick resolution to the whole saga – at only 50 minutes, few of the audience actually realise it’s the end since the play seems to be just hitting its stride. ✏︎ Billy Barrett

the staging, which employs vintage suitcases and folding chairs to imagine a range of sets and locations.

The performers slip in and out of costumes to embody a range of enjoyable characters.

The talented cast connect well with each other and their audience.

However, billed as a physical comedy, there’s not quite enough laughs to justify the almost complete lack of dialogue here, and the vignettes are slightly too brief and unrelated for the show to build in any meaningful way before we’re swept off to

another location. Whilst approaching serious subjects with humour can often bring a fresh perspective or heighten their poignancy, here the Carry On bawdiness lumped together with projected photographs of families piling onto trains to escape wars can feel a little grating.

The show has already toured internationally, and it feels like it was made with this slightly too much in mind – created for so broad a range of audiences that it lacks a coherent focus and takes very few risks. ✏︎ Billy Barrett

Journeys HH VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

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57

Gilded Balloon Teviot 1:15pm – 2:15pm 8–29 Aug £7 – £9

With slapstick humour, slick movement and cartoonish character work, Mountview graduates Buckle Up Theatre journey through wartorn 20th-century Europe in this charmingly zany but rather shallow physical theatre show.

A soldier, an artist, an actor and a housewife hop on and off trains to find themselves in a series of farcical encounters: Russian roulette, foot fetishism and a well-meaning but awkward breast grope all feature. The physicality is accomplished, imaginative and sharply choreographed with bang-on comic timing. There’s a childlike wonder to

HHHH VENUE: TIME:

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The Hub 10:30pm – 11:55pm 6–27 Aug, not 15, 22 £30

He hasn’t quite achieved national treasure status just yet, but so well loved is Alan Cumming for just being Alan Cumming that it’s easy to forget about the considerable talent that earned him that fame in the first place. Until you see him performing live, that is, when you realise that this a pro at work.

Cumming has selected something of a motley collection of “sappy songs” for this showcase—ranging from Katy Perry to ‘Mother Glasgow’—but almost all have a nice

Hot Brown Honey HHHH VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Assembly Roxy 8:20pm – 9:25pm 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22 £14 – £16

The five female performers of Hot Brown Honey use the show to deconstruct a male version of the world, doing so through a mixture of dance, acrobatics and song.

A “preacher” presides over the action from a vantage point above the stage. In place of a much hated “patriarchy”, the women offer us a glimpse of female entitlement. They show us a world where women own not just their bodies but their entire lives – reproductive, sexual and professional.

The show is adept at demolish-

Credit: Steve Vaccariello

Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs

Music

58

anecdote associated with them and, in the end, Cumming is charming enough to get away with singing anything he likes.

He covers some surprisingly raw material in his between-song patter, including some difficult truths about his father and grandfather, creating an atmosphere of intimate familiarity that belies the ritziness and spaciousness of the performance space.

He’s funny too, offering this Saturday night festival crowd some mild titillation with references to various instances of youthful—and not so youthful—naughtiness. And as you’d expect from someone who’s been knocking about in Hollywood for a

ing all kinds of gender stereotypes. A Polynesian beauty is just glimpsed at first. She appears— initially at least—to conform to the myth of tropical and very passive loveliness. But then she turns herself into a warrior-like dancer, kitted herself out with palm leaves, and the audience cheers.

It all opens with what appears to be a raffle. Subsequent events make us think that the lucky “winner”, a male member of the audience who becomes the butt of the show’s jokes, might not have been so lucky after all.

Hot Brown Honey switches from one routine to another with ease, pausing to take a swipe at practices restricting or demeaning to women. “This is the big stuff we deal with every day,” the preacher tells us. “We will make noise,” is one of the final edicts. The

while now, Cumming has some good value showbiz tales up his sleeve.

As a singer, he’s persuasive throughout—supported with considerable slickness and style by Lance Horne on piano (he also musical directs), Eleanor Norton on cello and Stuart Semple on drums—but it’s in the bigger, louder numbers that he really shines. His rendition of Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’ is a highlight, as is his take on ‘How do Humans Live?’ from Weill’s The Threepenny Opera. He starred in the show on Broadway in 2006, and was massacred by the critics for his efforts – no danger of that here. ✏︎ Jo Caird

audience don’t need much encouragement where this is concerned – applause rings out all the way to the rafters. ✏︎ Helen Fowler

festmag.co.uk

THE

HOWSTOPPERS PRESENT

HHHHH ‘Had me weeping with laughter… you absolutely have to go.’

Mail on Sunday

HHHHH ‘So polished, it defies belief.’

Daily Telegraph

HHHH ‘Magical, properly funny.

A triumph.’

The Times

3-28 AUG, 6PM EXTRA SHOW: 23 AUG, 9.50PM WWW.PLEASANCE.CO.UK | 0131 556 6550

59

60

VENUE: TIME:

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Gilded Balloon Teviot 3:45pm – 4:45pm 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £11.50 – £13.50

American singer/songwriter Tom Lehrer is best known for the darkly satirical songs he recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. And this virtuoso performance by pianist Adam Kay is the perfect showcase for some of Lehrer’s best work; Kay is intelligent, world-weary and knowing.

We watch Lehrer develop from his early days as a child prodigy studying maths at Harvard through to eventual musical stardom. Along the way Kay plays and performs

brious; no other expression could work as well for the dark humour that runs through Lehrer’s work.

It feels like a privilege to hear Lehrer’s work in this setting. Kay’s update makes the writer feel as relevant today as he was 50 years ago. ✏︎ Helen Fowler

to London after the death of her Sicilian mother.

Director Kevin Jones keeps the energy up and the cast flowing skilfully around the audience in the production’s semi-site-specific staging. And the ensemble, each of whom plays multiple roles, sketch their characters sharply, and sing beautifully. But the absence of any real narrative sees the vignettes— some of which are more successful than others—verge on the samey.

Tomorrow, Maybe may turn up in modern clothes, with its Apple

Pay sticker on the set’s fake till and lyrical digs at London transport, but it’s a warmly old-fashioned show at heart, with poignant melodies backed by Teddy Clements’ swelling arrangements. And Amies’ lyrics lean towards wistful and sad, rather than cynical. There’s more sugar than salt in this brew.

Ultimately, this show never develops like it could. And Rosa, as a character, is too saintly to be true. But this is still an extremely enjoyable, well-orchestrated new musical, full of heart. ✏︎ Tom Wicker

Music

(Performed by Adam Kay) HHH

Lehrer classics at the piano, including the rather disturbing and all-too-literal ‘Poisoning Pigeons in the Park’.

Kay brings some versions of Lehrer’s songs up to date, including material for what he calls the “X Factor generation”. One song details every British prime minister for more than a hundred years.

Recent political events, of course, meant a last-minute revision.

Lehrer’s music feels surprisingly modern, considering he was working more than 50 years ago.

Nowhere is this more true than in his ‘The Masochism Tango’. “I ache for the touch of your lips, dear,” sings Kay. “But much more for the touch of your whips, dear.”

The performer’s sardonic tone feels well-suited to this story of Lehrer, who himself parodied others in his music, doing so without mercy. Kay’s face is suitably lugu-

Credit: Steve Ullathorne

The Remains of Tom Lehrer

Tomorrow, Maybe ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

C venues – C nova 3:15pm – 4:30pm 3–29 Aug, not 15 £7.50 – £11.50

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. That’s the theme of this new musical, set in a busy London café and dropping into the lives, loves and problems of its flurry of customers.

It’s a good backdrop for a rich slice of life, which composer and lyricist Stephanie Jayne Amies gets plenty of mileage out of.

Among many others, we meet a homeless busker, a professionally frustrated delivery guy and an actor waiting for her big break.

They’re all overseen by kindly café owner Rosa, who has returned

★★★★★

A dance spectacular from Nue Dance Company

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www.nuedancecompany.com

By phone: 0131 226 0000

5-29 Aug (exc 10, 15, 22 Aug)

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Issue 5 hits the streets Tuesday 23 August

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How to Be a Rock Star Alice McGuire, aged 9, had a great time dancing along with the inimitable Tessa Waters – and enjoyed hearing some classic AC/DC too

What happens in the show?

Tessa teaches you a whole load of rock star moves, dances and poses, and the DJ plays cool rock tunes. In the show, the audience can get up on stage and get involved – basically everyone gets to do their thing and the audience cheers them on.

Describe the show in five words Fun, exciting, loud, music, dancing.

Who was your favourite character and why?

There was only one person on stage, Tessa Waters, and she was very energetic, loud and encouraged everyone to get involved.

She was also very funny and didn’t mind if any of her moves might have looked a bit silly to some people.

What did you like most about the show?

I liked that all the kids and the adults got involved, and we all cheered each other.

Credit: Kat Gollock

KID SHOWS CRITICS

Alice & Lauren

Kids

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What didn’t you like about the show?

I think the show was more for younger children, maybe best for children aged 4-7 as the younger children absolutely loved it. I was a bit embarrassed as most of the children were a few years younger than me.

What did you think of the songs?

We didn’t sing any songs, but the DJ played lots of good rock tunes, including a couple of my AC/DC favourites.

What did your grown-up think of the show?

My dad thought that Tessa was great, full of encouragement for everyone, promoting self-confidence, positive body image, and that rock can be fun. He’d have loved to have taken me to something like this when I was younger.

Would you tell your friends to come and see the show?

It depends on how old they are. Maybe not for everyone in my class, but definitely for those with younger brothers or sisters.

VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Gardens 3:15pm – 4:05pm, 4–29 Aug, not 17 £6 – £8

Credit: Damien Robertson

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The Showstoppers’ Kids’ Show

Ten-year-old Lauren Hunter was impressed by the quick thinking of the Showstoppers in this junior version of their Olivier Award-winning improvised musical What happens in the show?

The Showstoppers asks kids for a story they should tell, including setting, main character and villain.

Then it was turned into a musical that they improvised. Today, it was Elly’s story about an elephant in the candy kingdom, where a spaceman comes and tells her to move to the moon. There was also an evil potato vampire. On another day it would be completely different.

Describe the show in five words Imaginative on-the-spot musical storytelling.

Who was your favourite character and why?

Elly the Elephant, because the actor could do a really good voice for her and she had to change into a chocolate bunny and be eaten by the potato vampire.

Were there any characters you didn’t like?

The man on the moon was a bit boring.

What didn’t you like about the show?

The greeting dance was nice for the children who went on stage but wasn’t very good for the rest of us.

What did you think of the songs?

Most of them were great, but some of the performers were better at rhyming than others.

What did your grown-up think of the show?

Mum thought some bits were outstanding and they kept the children’s attention well.

Would you tell your friends to come and see the show?

It says it is suitable for ages five and over and I think it is best for 5-8 year olds, so I would mainly tell younger friends to go.

VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

What did you like most about the show?

I liked how quickly they thought of things. And whatever the kids suggested they just went with it.

Pleasance Courtyard 11:40am – 12:40pm, 3–21 Aug £7.50 – £10

«««« VENUE: TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Scottish Storytelling Centre 11:30am – 12:30pm 4–21 Aug, not 17, 18, 19 £5 – £7

Considering an astronomical percentage of Fringe flyers and posters are non-recyclable due to their gloss finish, an eco-folktale about saving the environment is somewhat apposite at the festival.

Children will be left with the legacy of our waste (the UK alone produces more than 30 million tonnes a year), and Glasgow-based Modest Predicament’s kids’ show about preventing pollution by taking personal responsibility is thoroughly charming.

Hup «««« VENUE: TIME:

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Pleasance Kids @ EICC times vary 11–28 Aug, not 17, 18, 24 £8

Fans of the late 1980s indie band The Wonder Stuff will probably be the only people disappointed by this gentle, beautiful show. Rather than a stage imagining of the shaggy-haired outfit’s second album of the same name, Hup is a magical experience for the very youngest of kids, featuring a playful raccoon and a band of classical musicians.

The room is laid out with trees and soft green carpet for the shoeless audience to loll about on.

Kids are encouraged to roam free.

A violinist enters playing a simple,

When Errol is kidnapped by the Earth Creatures as punishment for humans’ failure to care for the planet, his sister Erin sets off on an adventure to rescue him, but not before learning some valuable eco-lessons from woodland pixies along the way. She’s taught— through song, of course—about the value of composting, recycling, mending clothes and growing vegetables, messages that she then implores the town’s adults to heed.

By combining puppetry, live music and poetry with facts about sustainability, this smart quartet deliver a fun, relevant show for ages five and up. It doesn’t patronise or confuse youngsters on the basics, instead focusing on the ways in which we can work together to decrease our dependence on plastics and non-renewable energy sources.

Granted, there may be even more productive ways to educate while

entertaining kids, such as literally involving them in the story (not to test their knowledge about the environment, but to open a space for dialogue). That being said, Erin, Errol and the Earth Creatures is creative, conscientious storytelling that centres the role that kids will play in future conversations about art and the environment. ✏︎ Andrew Latimer

elegiac tune. Another enters, harmonising. A cellist adds a spine-tingling layer of bass. As the children look from one musician to another, you can almost see the sparks behind their eyes as synapses fuse in wonder.

The very loose plot involves a cute raccoon playing with the musicians, gradually encouraging them to dress up in the black and white garb of its kin. The raccoon also interacts with the kids, sometimes through just simple eye contact, sometimes with streamers and puppets. It is all so, so careful and wee ones lap it up.

Crucially, for a show produced

by Starcatchers in collaboration with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the music is great. For parents with small children, most music is reduced to tinny, highpitched nursery rhymes embedded

by Satan into toys to play on an eternal loop. So the original compositions here, all lilting chord progressions that invoke a bucolic serenity, is like the relief of a cool towel on a feverish brow. Hup does what the best kids shows do. It restores a sense of magic and wonder in the oldest, and introduces this vital gift to the very youngest. ✏︎ Edd McCracken

Credit: Dahlia Katz

Erin, Errol and the Earth Creatures

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Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows times vary 4–22 Aug, not 15 £9.50 – £11.50

Don’t worry if you start to feel sleepy during this show. It has a gently hypnotic effect, beautifully capturing that floaty moment in childhood between storytelling and dreaming.

Contemporary circus group Upswing have created a loving hymn to the power of imagination, using aerial acrobatics and video projections to transport children aged from three to ten years old away from the hubbub of the Fringe.

It’s also a tale of mothers and daughters – about how they can

lose sight of each other sometimes.

The Little Girl (Hazel Lam) wants Mum (Hannah O’Leary) to finish a bedtime story; Mum just wants her to go to sleep, so she can finish her work. But the Little Girl’s invisible friend, Three (Nathan Johnston), wants adventures.

There’s a lulling simplicity to the choreography of this show, which—as well as the usual seating—is bordered by blankets and cushions for families in the middle of Lafayette, Circus Hub’s bigger spiegeltent. Lam spins from bedsheets to a space shuttle launch countdown, while O’Leary’s desk becomes a ship on a voyage.

The animations that spill across a semi-transparent column descending from the ceiling conjure up oceans, sharks and forests, while a fluttering soundtrack adds a touch of magic. There’s the same

sweeping emotional undertow as in the best children’s books, as Mum and Little Girl bridge their distance.

Bedtime Stories is a lovely, affecting thing. It will captivate small children while reminding the rest of us to slow down, put aside the bank statements and dream a little. ✏︎ Tom Wicker

himself runs away to a nearby town. He’s taken in by a kind old lady who dresses him and teaches him how to drive. Soon, though, he returns to the animal kingdom and is made king of the elephants.

Poulenc’s music, originally for piano and narrator, is fun and whimsical – a delightful accompaniment to the children’s story, even if it isn’t Poulenc’s finest work.

Isabelle Trub plays the complex

music perfectly on a little upright piano, an excellent performance in itself.

But combined with the performers, some hand-drawn projections and even a modicum of audience participation (nothing too strenuous), In Sight have created a great piece of work with a strong ethos behind it. It’s a joy to slip into the animal world for 40 minutes. ✏︎ Tim Bano

Kids

««««

Credit: Daniel Harper

Bedtime Stories

Babar the Elephant ««« VENUE:

TIME:

Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides run ended

Jean de Brunhoff’s story of the little elephant Babar is brought charmingly to life in this production

by In Sight Theatre Troupe, who work with learning disabled and non-learning disabled adults. It’s performed enthusiastically by a capable cast and set to Francis Poulenc’s 1940 piano score.

Zara-Jayne Arnold narrates the story, while the other cast members use physicality and dance to bring the tale to life. They form themselves into giant elephants and cars as Babar’s mother is killed by hunters, and Babar

Chiffonnade «« VENUE: TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Institut français d’Ecosse times vary 5–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22 £6 – £8

Fabric and water are solo performer Suzel Barbaroux’s dance partners in Chiffonnade. Michèle Dhallu’s choreography contorts Barbaroux’s body into a snail and an ice skater as the human form, raw materials and imagination are used to create an unusual children’s show that has delightful textural aspects but lacks cohesion or plot.

Barbaroux’s house is a fabric ball, bending and bouncing as she manipulates it masterfully.

It magically gains the powers of Mary Poppins’ handbag as more

textiles emerge and Barbaroux explores it, pulling, twisting and dancing with it. She tests the weight of the materials as she throws them around the stage, reacting to each piece of fabric as if they were living and breathing.

She shows how imagination can turn the simplest scrap of fabric into a multitude of objects and ideas.

This is a show of two entirely separate halves as the world Barbaroux forms comes to life and the stage begins to leak. She glides around the newly wet stage

gracefully, splashing the front row of the audience. It feels slightly inappropriate to have a children’s show performed in a bikini and almost uncomfortable at times as the lack of any sort of plot turns the play into a spectator sport.

This is a tale of exploration and discovery, rather than a story with logical narrative. Chiffonnade is a fun, gentle experiment of what different textures can be used to create, but lacks the humour or excitement to keep children fully engaged, even for its short running time. ✏︎ Kate Wyver

Ribbet Ribbet Croak VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

67

Pleasance Courtyard 3:15pm – 4:00pm 3–21 Aug £5 – £9

The kids are cheerfully ribbeting, waving paper fish or clapping along. Behind them, adults sit with expressions that vary from stoic constipation, to phone-scanning boredom, to dementedly intense focus on the back of their child’s head. This is definitely a kids’ kids show, with production values at about the level of a primary school assembly, and about as many concessions to the adult half of the audience.

Natalie Kapur and Natalie Green perform as Grandma and Grandpa Frog, wearing flapping flippers, and

Credit: Moulded Theatre

««

making a sloshy array of slippery mouth sounds. There’s a vague, directionless plot, but it’s really an excuse to get out prop after flimsy prop, cobbled together from cardboard and tissue paper. They visit the sea, the moon, a generic hot country and, eventually, return to their house in the woods to throw a frog party.

There’s enough going on the hold the kids’ attention – but nothing more. Moulded Theatre’s

unambitous approach never steps out of the most cliched language of under-fives storytelling, or risks a moment of danger, or excitement.

The gentle music and multisensory approach make it a safe environment for babies and nervous children. But that’s not enough. Kids' imaginations aren’t allowed to leap, while adults are left dangling their feet in a tepid paddling pool – these frogs are treading water. ✏︎ Alice Saville

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59

Your Fringe Schedule 00:30

Rob Deering’s Beat This Gilded Balloon Teviot, 25–29 Aug, £10

Arielle Dundas: Moppet of Chaos Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 5–29 Aug, not 28, £free

Cardinal Burns Presents Pleasance Courtyard, 24–27 Aug, £12 Spank!

Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–29 Aug, £13.50—£15.50 Spanktacular Pleasance Courtyard, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, £15.50 Midnight Show – Just the Tonic Comedy Club Just the Tonic at The Community Project, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £5—£10 Huge Davies and Sam Lake: Joking Hazard Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–29 Aug, not 16, £5 Night at the Museum Gilded Balloon at the Museum, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, 28 Aug, £12 Paul Johnson: The Cool Kids Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–29 Aug, not 16, £5 Late With Kate Canons’ Gait, 7–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Will Seaward’s Spooky Midnight Ghost Stories III Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4–30 Aug, not 11, 16, 21, 23, £6—£10 NeverMind the BusStops Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 3–30 Aug, £5

00:15 Hate ‘n’ Live Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–28 Aug, £free Sameer Khan: At the Zoo Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–29 Aug, £free

Free the Dolphin Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £free

Don’t Panic Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 13–29 Aug, £free George McGoldrick: Hot Milk Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 5–29 Aug, not 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, £free

The Todd and Molly Show: Welcome to LA LA Land Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 17–29 Aug, £free

Late’n’Live Gilded Balloon Teviot, 6–30 Aug, £10—£16

The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 4–29 Aug, £7—£8

Late Night Old Town Bloodbath City of Edinburgh Tours, Various dates from 5 Aug to 28 Aug, £12.50

Redmond, Cook and Bagshaw: The Smooth Hour Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 8–26 Aug, weekdays only, £free Best Of Teknicolour Smoof (With Roger Swift) Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–29 Aug, £free This is Business Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 5–29 Aug, £free

00:45 Panicky Tack Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–29 Aug, £free The Madness in My Method Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free

01:00 Henrietta Steventon: The Immoral High Ground Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 16–22 Aug, £free Richy Sheehy: People Are Strange Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 5–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free NeverMind the BusStops Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 3–30 Aug, £5 Licence to Laugh Comedy Club Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–29 Aug, £free

01:30

02:00 NeverMind the BusStops Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 3–30 Aug, £5

09:00 BBC: @BBCEdFest BBC, 8–25 Aug, not 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, £free

10:00 BBC: @BBCEdFest BBC, Various dates from 5 Aug to 26 Aug, £free BBC: Janice Forsyth BBC, 8–25 Aug, not 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, £free

10:15 Brenda Feuerle: A Firefighter Woman at Work Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15 Aug, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, £9

10:20 Pete Inskip’s Return to the UK Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–20 Aug, £5 Brenda Feuerle: A Firefighter Woman in Heaven Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 16 Aug, 18 Aug, 20 Aug, £9

10:45

11:45

A Sketchy History Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 23, £5

Help Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 5–27 Aug, not 11, 15, 20, £5

11:00 About Comedy: Stand-Up Comedy Courses Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, Various dates from 6 Aug to 27 Aug, £99 Get Fit With Bruce Willis Valvona & Crolla, 15–20 Aug, £10

❤

Bridget Christie: Mortal HHHHH The Stand Comedy Club, 5–29 Aug, not 15, 16, £12

11:05 Fat Head and the Big Dog Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 8–28 Aug, £free

11:15 Amy Annette: What Women Want Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 26–28 Aug, £free Present and Correct Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–25 Aug, not 9, 15, 22, £free

11:20 Minky: A Sketch Show Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–20 Aug, not 15, £5

11:30 Brenda Feuerle: A Firefighter Woman in Heaven Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22 Aug, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, £9 Brenda Feuerle: A Firefighter Woman at Work Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, £9 Class Clowns Gilded Balloon Teviot, 21 Aug, £5

11:50 Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, £6—£10 David Callaghan: Let’s Get This Partly Started Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Amanda and Madi: Buffering Just the Tonic at The Caves, 21–28 Aug, £6 Dirty White Boys Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–20 Aug, not 15, £5

11:55 Shaken Not Stirred: The Improvised James Bond Film Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£6.50

12:00 Drastic Measures Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5 Variety Hour Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 24–28 Aug, £free Cook It How You Like, It’s Still a Potato!

Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Nick Elleray: More Memories Than Future Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Mostly David Ephgrave Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5 Shit of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–28 Aug, £free

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

0131 556 6550

The Oxford Revue: Free Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 16, 24, £free Daniel Kitson Presents an Insufficient Number of Undeveloped Ideas Over Ninety Testing Minutes Starting at Noon The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £5 Susan Morrison: Walking Dead, Famous and Funny The Stand Monument , 5–28 Aug, £8 Ninkynonks and Bear Haters Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 5–29 Aug, £free Mystery Gimmick Stand-Up Show Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Simon Lukacs Shows His Range Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 15–23 Aug, £free Heavy Petting: Bad Laughing Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free Enter the Bagman Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5 When You Improv on a Star: an Improvised Disney-Style Musical Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£10 Bristol Revunions: Mustard Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–23 Aug, not 17, £free A Sharma Sutra’s Tale Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Puppet Fiction Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Canvas No.9 The City Art Centre, 15–19 Aug, £free Josie Long and Martin Williams: Investigations The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 16–28 Aug, £10

Comedy

00:00

70

SH!T HOT PARTY LEGENDS

PRESENTING

THE BEST OF THE FEST

4 - 28 AUGUST - 1:30PM

NEW TOWN THEATRE

WWW.THENEWWEETHEATRE.CO.UK

FRINGE BOX OFFICE: 0131 226 0000

Aaaaaargh! It’s the One-Liner Show –

12:10

Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free

HHHH

12:25

12:40

❤ BG - Pleasance advert - 16 OUTLINES final.indd 1 Scottish 06/07/2016 11:15 Free Show Comedy Male Comedienne Children, What’s That

festmag.co.uk

12:05 Lee Kyle: I Came Here to Burn This Place to the Ground and Build a Table and I’m All Out of Table Making Equipment and Matches The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–20 Aug, not 15, £7—£8 Safe Places and How to Ruin Them Silk, 6–27 Aug, not 15, £free Rachel Fairburn: Skulduggery Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 18–28 Aug, £5 Nicola Mantalios-Lovett: Cult Following The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 21–28 Aug, £8 It Just Takes One theSpace on Niddry St, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8 I Am Wario Sneaky Pete’s, 6–27 Aug, not 17, £free Revan and Fennell: Fan Club HHH Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5

Fern Brady:

The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9

Sooz Kempner – Queen Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£9 The Edinburgh Revue Stand-Up Show Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 5–29 Aug, not 15, £free

12:15 Ambition Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£11

Listings

Richard Brown: Stop,

Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 5–29 Aug, £free

Sound? Everybody Look, It’s Richard Brown!

Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5

12:30 The Lunchtime Special Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£6 Revill’s Selection – Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–20 Aug, not 15, £free Macho Like Me Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £5—£12 Punel Show Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £free

Always Be Rolling – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

Adventures of Tracey Tracey Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 18–28 Aug, £free

Previously on Maff Brown Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 23, £free

Savage Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 21–28 Aug, £free

Woop Woop It’s Da Sound of That Pauly Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, Various dates from 4 Aug to 26 Aug, £free

12:20 Babushka: A Sketch Show Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£6 Ursula Burns: The Dangerous Harpist Stand in the Square, 16–29 Aug, £9

71

Stand-Up History

Can’t Adult, Won’t Adult Bannermans, 6–28 Aug, not 14, £free Andy Storey @ funnystorey Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

12:45 Stewart Lee: Content Provider The Stand Comedy Club, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £10 The Free Association Presents...

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, £5 This is Soap C venues – C, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50 Comedy, Craft Beer and Curry: Live at V Deep Gilded Balloon at V DEEP, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £20

12:50 Paul Duncan McGarrity – Ask an Archaeologist Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Adam Larter’s Return on Investment Heroes @ The Hive, 6–28 Aug, not 15, £5

BROADCASTING EACH NIGHT ON SHOWBIZ TV SKY CHANNEL 266 AND ON YOUTUBE

13:00 Briony Redman: Secret Show Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£9 Pottervision!

Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free A Poke in the Eye Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 12, 15, £6—£8

❤

Arthur Smith – Mindlessness: A Beginner’s Guide

HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–21 Aug, £7—£12.50

10 Things I Hate About UKIP T-Bar, 6–27 Aug, £free The Funny Brothers Frankenstein Pub, 15–29 Aug, £free Shappi Khorsandi: Nina Is Not OK Assembly George Square Theatre, Various dates from 5 Aug to 20 Aug, £10 Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe Gilded Balloon Teviot, 6–28 Aug, not 15, 16, 25, £11—£12 Yaseen Kader: Smile Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5 C for free at ibis C venues – C soco at ibis, 3–29 Aug, £free Tom Houghton Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 22–26 Aug, £free

Doors to Manual Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£6 Tom Binns: Summertime Special 2016 With Ivan Brackenbury and Ian D Montfort Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, £6—£11 Big Thumb theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 23–27 Aug, £5 Neil McFarlane: Sightseeing With a Hangover Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£8

❤

Candy Gigi: If I Had a Rich Man

HHHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £5

13:10 Made in Cumbria Sweet Grassmarket, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £8.50 Peter Brush: Dreams with Advert Breaks

HHH

Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free

Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show Pleasance Courtyard, 4–28 Aug, £6—£12 Amused Moose Comedy Award: Grand Final theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 21 Aug, £12

Studs Ciao Roma, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

Your Fringe Schedule

72 Comedy

MISS GLORY PEARL

UNDER COVER

WITH THE NAKED STAND UP

‘FEEL-GOOD COMEDY AT ITS BEST’

BROADWAY BABY

5TH – 27TH AUGUST (NOT 14TH OR 21ST) 9:10PM (50 MINS)

theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall Venue 53

BOXOFFICE 0131 510 2384

13:15 Short & Curly: A Curly Night In Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £5 Afternoon Delight Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–27 Aug, not 15, £3—£5 Variety Hour Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 18–23 Aug, £free Fit Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–28 Aug, £free Aaaaah! It’s 101 Clean Jokes in 30 Minutes – Free Show Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 4–28 Aug, £free Lost Voice Guy: Disability for Dunces Volume Two The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8—£9 Champion of Comedy Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, £free Ivor Dembina: Old Jewish Jokes Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Hilarity Bites Comedy Club Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free A Dave Cohen Show: Music Was My First Love Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 24–28 Aug, £free

Andrew Learmonth: All the People I’ve Ever Loved Will Die The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, £9 Mulhollandland (Work in Progress) Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £free

Erich McElroy’s (US) Electile Dysfunction

HH

Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–28 Aug, £free

We’re Sorry Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free The Durham Revue: Gigglebox Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50

❤

Ahir Shah: Machines HHHH Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free The Simpsons Taught Me Everything I Know, Free Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 15, £free

13:45 The GILF and The BuJew Opium, 6–26 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Man in the Miracle Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, £free

Joe Hart: Internaut Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £5—£10

Character Tålks Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9

Frugl Presents Classic Joke Club Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

Mothers Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4

Sketch Thieves Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free

Silky: Indoor Fireworks The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£8

13:25

BBC: Breaking the News BBC, 25 Aug, £free

Laurence Owen: Cinemusical High Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, £free

Middle Age Came Quick!

Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, £free

Nerd Do Well Hispaniola, 6–27 Aug, £free

Robin Boot’s Rockomedy: Puns ‘n’ Poses Sneaky Pete’s, 6–27 Aug, £free A Comedy Tapas Opium, 6–27 Aug, £free

Bristol Improv Takes Over the World Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–28 Aug, £free

13:20 He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s Daniel Cook Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Rights and Responsibilities (or How a Horse Was Tried for Murder) Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£7

Call of Dudey Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 23, £3.50—£7

13:30 Richard Pulsford: Phrases Ready Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Jam Sandwich Bedlam Theatre, 15–21 Aug, £9 Cassie Atkinson – Supernumerary Rainbow Sabor, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Apocalypse Cruise Ship Love Affair Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel Underbelly, George Square, 5–21 Aug, £11.50—£12.50

❤

Pippa Evans: Same Same but Different HHHH Bannermans, 6–28 Aug, not 20, 21, £free

Card Ninja Underbelly, George Square, 25–28 Aug, £9.50—£11

Alison Spittle Discovers Hawaii Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

13:35 Cat Call Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Off The Kerb Showcase Assembly George Square Gardens, 24–28 Aug, £10

13:40

13:55

Elliot and Farhan’s Life Lessons Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free—£4.50

Anatomy of Dating theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 23–27 Aug, £7

Dyer and Whitney’s Supercalifragilisticexpialisketchshow Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9

Who’s the Umpire theSpace @ Venue45, 22–27 Aug, £6

14:00 Boy Girl Brain Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

0131 556 6550

The Story of the Nervous Man C venues – C soco at ibis, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £free Aaaaargh! It’s 101 Naughty Jokes in 30 Minutes – Free Show Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 4–28 Aug, £free Ryan Cull: Brace Yourself Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

❤

Erin McGathy: Love You Loudly

HHHH

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

Rousha Browning: Jumble Sale Heroes @ Dragonfly, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £5 Rotating Bill Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free BBC: Steve Wright in the Afternoon BBC, 19 Aug, £free Matthew Highton’s I, the Universe Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 19, £5 Simon Feilder: Die Trying Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £5 Late Night Laughs at Lunch Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

14:30

14:05 Faye Treacy: Special (Work in Progress) Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–27 Aug, £free

14:10 Ali Brice Presents Home is Where Eric Meat is HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 7, 8, £5 Two Girls One... Mug! Frankenstein Pub, 4–28 Aug, not 14, 15, £free

14:15 Harriet Dyer – Barking Tales (Showcase) T-Bar, 6–27 Aug, £free Lynne Jassem: From Como to Homo Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, 23, £5—£8

festmag.co.uk

Lucy Frederick – Positively Livid Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free The Red Richardson Experience Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

14:20 ❤ Laura Lexx: Tyrannosaurus Lexx

HHHH

Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£5

Alex Hylton: I Came, I Saw, I Complained Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Simon Plotkin is Gerald Galbraith: Troubadour Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£6 Ellie Taylor: Infidelliety Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6

14:25

Listings

Eleanor Morton: Happy Birthday Katie Lewis!

The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 16–28 Aug, £8

73

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Seymour Mace: Shit Title HHHH The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9 Worst Show on the Fringe – Free Movement, 6–28 Aug, £free Afternoon Tea With Ray Fordyce and Casual Acquaintances Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Adele is Younger Than Us C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £7.50—£9.50 Niche Rebels Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 23, £free Stu and Garry’s Improv Show The Stand Comedy Club, 5–29 Aug, not 15, £5 The Edinburgh Revue’s Tenth Birthday Bash Opium, 5–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Angel Comedy Showcase Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free

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1 Last Dance With My Father HHHH Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 3–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Joanna Neary Does Animals and Men The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 16–28 Aug, £8 Gag Reflex Presents...

Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Peter Dobbing: Armchair Futurologist III Sneaky Pete’s, 6–27 Aug, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, £free—£2 Juicer Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

Joey Page: Jowie Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £5 The Prozac and Cons – Free Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free

14:35 AAA Batteries (Not Included) Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Robyn Perkins (is a) Work in Progress Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–28 Aug, not 26, £free

14:40 Danielle Ward: Seventeen HHH Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6 Croft & Pearce Are Not Themselves Underbelly, George Square, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £7—£11.50 Eric’s Tales of the Sea – A Submariner’s Yarn Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£10.50 Rodney Bewes: Whatever Happened to the Likely Lad, Part Two HHH Assembly Checkpoint, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £8—£10 Two and a Half Old Men Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 5–20 Aug, £free The Forbidden

HHH

Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £5—£10

Audible Presents Pleasance Dome, Various dates from 5 Aug to 28 Aug, £free Best Boy Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Live at the Pleasance Pleasance Dome, Various dates from 10 Aug to 25 Aug, £free

14:45 The Late Night With Boabby Roaster Show Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7 David Green: Celebrity Love Letters The Street, 7–27 Aug, not 15, 16, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, £free—£2 Ian Fox – Pictures of Things That Make Me Laugh – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–27 Aug, £free Yolav and Graham’s Jovial Trauma: Refugee Stand-Up Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 23, 24, £free Matt Green: Writing To Harvey Keitel – Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free Here’s Some Black for the Union Jack Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 4–28 Aug, £free

Mitch Benn: Don’t Fear the Reaper The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £9—£10

14:55 Bob Graham Fifth Show Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 4–27 Aug, not 15, £free Switch: A Sketch Show Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

15:00 Amée Smith: Relax, It’s Not About You

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Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10

Get Fit With Bruce Willis Valvona & Crolla, 21 Aug, £10 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 6–28 Aug, £1 Kill the Beast: Don’t Wake the Damp

HHH

Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 26, £6—£12

Gareth Richards: The Halo Effect Whistlebinkies, 6–28 Aug, not 18, £free

George Egg: Anarchist Cook Gilded Balloon Teviot, 23 Aug, £10

Beautiful Ducks Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, Various dates from 4 Aug to 26 Aug, £free

Marny Godden: Where’s John’s Porridge Bowl?

Scott Gibson: Life After Death Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£10 Zero Quest 2: The Choosening Sabor, 6–27 Aug, not 15, 22, £free

14:50 The Ashes: Comedy Showdown Liquid Room Annexe, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 28 Aug, £free Australia: A Whinging Poms Guide Liquid Room Annexe, 6–27 Aug, not 16, 23, £free

HHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

The Oxford Imps: Hyperdrive Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£10 Five Go Off on One! Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7 Alfie Brown: Scissor Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, £free Dissecting the Joke With Matt Hutchinson and Haran X Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free

David Anthony Wood: Mind Rats Sportsters, 6–28 Aug, £free Away Day Henry’s Cellar Bar, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free Katia Kvinge: Squirrel Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £5

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Thom: Foolery With Thom Tuck

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Heroes @ Dragonfly, 4–27 Aug, not 15, £5

The Noise Next Door’s Really, Really Good Afternoon Show Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 9, 16, £5—£10.50 Ken Do’s Success for Losers Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free Andy Stedman: Nine Months and Counting Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 20, 21, £free Californians Dreamin’ C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 SuZanna GonZo: Dark Lady Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–27 Aug, not 15, £3—£10 L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, £free—£2 30 Minutes of One and Half an Hour of the Other Opium, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

15:05 Life and Death (But Mainly Death) theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 21, £5—£9

Wisebowm: The Struggle is Real theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £7.50

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

Your Fringe Schedule S&M Masterclass Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, not 15, £free Beth Vyse as Olive Hands in All Hands to the Pump... HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 10, 17, 24, £5

15:15 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 6–28 Aug, £1 Are You Really Being Served? With Steve McLean Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 6–28 Aug, £free Giants Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50 Ed Gamble: Stampede Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

15:30 Knock Knock Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–28 Aug, £free Charmian Hughes – Soixante Mirth Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 15, £free Chris Coltrane: Socialist Fun Times Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free Evelyn Mok and Katharine Ferns Present Katharine Ferns and Evelyn Mok! Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 10, 17, £free—£2 1 Woman, a Dwarf Planet and 2 Cox: Samantha Baines Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 6, £6—£10 Ditty Fiddler Globe Bar, 6–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Nick Hall: Szgrabble!

HHH

T-Bar, 6–27 Aug, £free

Notflix Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6—£10

Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 6–28 Aug, £1

Gráinne Maguire: What Has the News Ever Done for Me? Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 17, £5

Edinburgh Comedy Awards Show Pleasance Courtyard, 28 Aug, £14

Performance Anxiety Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, £free—£2 Woody Allen(ish) Frankenstein Pub, 5–29 Aug, £free

15:20 Paul Revill: Revillations – Free Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–20 Aug, not 15, £free Louise Reay: Que Sera HHH Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Naomi Petersen: I am Telling You I’m Not Going Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£9.50

15:35 Nick Revell: Gluten-Free Christ; Seven Easy Steps to Mindfulness, Weight-Loss, Eternal Beauty, Spiritual Detox, Untold Riches, and Dealing with Disappointment The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £8

15:40 Andy Zaltzman: Plan Z The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10—£12

Comedians Cinema Club Just the Tonic at The Tron, 14–28 Aug, not 15, £10

L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 10, 17, £free—£2

Bilal Zafar: Cakes Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4

Aaaaaaargh! It’s the Monster Stand-Up Show – Free Show Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free

John Robertson: Arena Spectacular!

The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–27 Aug, not 15, £8—£9 Laughing Stock Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Daniel Nicholas: Scripted Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free—£5 Kev’s Komedy Kitchen Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£8

Liars’ Club Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £free Matt Winning: Ragnarok Opium, 6–27 Aug, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 6–28 Aug, £1 Barbara Nice: Raffle!

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 16–28 Aug, £9 Mark of Stupidity Two: Even Stupider Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free Loose Brie Filling My Tin, With Loose Brie, Phil and Martin Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Hilarity Bites Management Showcase Show Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free Pear Shaped Afternoons – Free Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, £free

Bluesy Woozy Man Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 17, £free

Mark Cooper-Jones: Geographically Speaking HHH Movement, 6–27 Aug, £free

Anna Morris: It’s Got to Be Perfect

Andrea Hubert: Week

Freestyle Comedy 3 Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

HHH

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 16, £5

Ship of Fool Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free

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Stuart Goldsmith: Compared to What

HHHH

15:45

Any Suggestions, Doctor? An Improvised Adventure in Space and Time Sweet Grassmarket, 4–27 Aug, not 15, 22, £8

Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, not 15, £free

❤ Richard Todd HHHH Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

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Katie Mulgrew: Saboteur / Free Festival HHHH Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

15:50 Matt Forde: It’s My Political Party (and I’ll Cry if I Want to) Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £9.50—£14 Cheekykita – Tittitutar Town Sweet Grassmarket, 15–28 Aug, £5 The Curious Case of the Doc on the Night Shift theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £7

15:55 Walnut Sanchez and the Macaroni Saga Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£7

The Weaning of Life / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, £free

HHH

Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 17, £free

16:00 The Knockabout Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 4–28 Aug, £free Crack in Progress by Lucy Pearman Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £free The Guilty Feminist With Sofie Hagen and Deborah Frances-White Gilded Balloon Teviot, Various dates from 15 Aug to 24 Aug, £10

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Daniel Piper is in Four Gangs

HHHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

Susan Calman: The Calman Before the Storm Pleasance Courtyard, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 21 Aug, £14 Peter Fleming and Wilbur Bilb: Over the Airwaves Heroes @ Dragonfly, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £5 Neil Henry: Mindwangler Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 50% Liability C venues – C soco at ibis, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £free Battle of the Supervillains: The Great Supervillain Debate Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 22–23 Aug, £free

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

0131 556 6550

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Simon Munnery: Standing Still

HHHH

The Stand Comedy Club, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £9—£12

Tony Cowards: Daft Pun Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7 Battle of the Superheroes: The Great Superhero Debate Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 22, 23, 24, £free Paul Merton’s Impro Chums Pleasance Courtyard, 11–21 Aug, £12.50—£14.50 Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £free Around the World Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Omid Djalili: Schmuck for a Night Pleasance Courtyard, 23–27 Aug, £17—£19 Stephen K Amos Talk Show Gilded Balloon Teviot, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £7—£14 Sam Fletcher: Daftwerk HHH Underbelly, George Square, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50 The Rat Pack Presents...

Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free Dominic Frisby: Let’s Talk About Tax

HHH

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£9.50

Rob Auton: The Sleep Show Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, not 16, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 6–28 Aug, £1 Sooz Kempner – A Bit of a Character Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

Comedy

15:10

74

CARL HUTCHINSON. Three Weeks

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Imagine...

The Stories They Could Tell Tel: 0131 225 0672 realmarykingsclose.com Open 9am-10pm daily Jody Kamali is The Incredible Man of Mystery Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6 Now We Are Sixty Sabor, 6–27 Aug, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 10, 17, £free—£2

festmag.co.uk

16:05 The Coin-Operated Girl Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free The Ashes: Comedy Showdown Liquid Room Annexe, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £free Glitch – The Improvised Puppet Show theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £8 Penelope Solomon: I Was a Penis at the Royal Festival Hall The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 16–28 Aug, £10 4 Minute Warning Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

16:10 Adam Hess: Feathers

HHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 5–28 Aug, £6

Listings

Wild at Heart – Free Henry’s Cellar Bar, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free

75

16:15 Dirty, Rotten, Irish Scoundrels Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free Abi Roberts: Anglichanka HHH Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 16, £free Oxford Imps vs Cambridge Impronauts: An Improv Battle of the Blues Gilded Balloon Teviot, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £10 Tom Neenan: Vaudeville Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10.50 Paul F Taylor: Sour Apes Bannermans, 7–28 Aug, not 13, 20, 27, £free 48 Minutes, Another Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, £free

Weird Stuff Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free Angus Dunican: The Vanity Project Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7 Siân and Zoë’s Luxury Cruise Through the Horrifying Vacuum of Space Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

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Olaf Falafel and the Cheese of Truth

HHHH

Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free

9PM 5th–27th August The Stand 5

16:30 2061 Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Kat Bond: Loo Roll Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 25–29 Aug, £5 Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden Gilded Balloon Teviot, 22 Aug, £14 David McIver is a Very Fun Guy With Lots of Friends Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 15, 22, £free Juliette Burton: Decision Time

HHH

16:20

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

Luke Benson’s Big Night Out (In the Afternoon) Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free

Russell Hicks: Deadliner Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

Funny for a Grrrl Stand in the Square, 4–28 Aug, £9—£10

This Glorious Monster: Wrong ‘Uns Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, £7—£11

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Andrew Hunter Murray: Round One Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£9

Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £5

Awkward Confessions of a Homeless Sex God Cowgatehead, 6–28 Aug, £free

One4Review

@cphutchinson Carlhutchinson.net

New Festival Fringe Experience.

Wed-Sun 5-28 Aug 10.30pm.

Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1

L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 3–23 Aug, not 10, 17, £free—£2

Broadway Baby

Ed Aczel’s Foreign Policy

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Tudur Owen: The LL Factor Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Radio Active Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£15

16:25 FanFiction Comedy Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10

Will Mars: Schtick Shift Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Kevin Quantum: Illuminations Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 4, 22, £5—£12

Daniel Audritt and Sean Cannon: Breaking the Mould Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

Help Us Tom Toal, You’re Our Only Hope Ciao Roma, 6–27 Aug, £free

Goose: Hydroberserker Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–28 Aug, £6—£12

Jack Evans: Melancholy Poontang Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 16, £free

Becky Walker’s Mandatory Rest Break Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 20–24 Aug, £5 Kids With Beards: The Curse of the Secret Ham Just the Tonic at The Caves, 16–28 Aug, £free AART Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10 Mirthquake Southsider, 6–27 Aug, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, Various dates from 6 Aug to 21 Aug, £2 Comedy With a Colour Blind Dyslexic Geordie Who Also Has an Underactive Thyroid Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free

16:35 Suzanne Lea Shepherd: Rapscallion Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free

16:45

Sophie Willan: On Record HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Alcohol is Good for You Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £free Katy Brand: I Was a Teenage Christian

HHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7—£13.50

Banging Fun Stuff Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5 Annie McGrath: The Seven Ages of An

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Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

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Daniel Nils Roberts: Honey

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Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9

Kieran Boyd: Egg

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Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

76 Comedy

Your Fringe Schedule

Tubby Tubby Dumb Dumb Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Rory O’Keeffe: Monoglot HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Rhys James: Forgives HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£11.50 Phil Mann: Nothingism – Free Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 5–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free John Pendal: International Man of Leather HHH The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£8 L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, Various dates from 6 Aug to 21 Aug, £2 Star Trek vs Star Wars The Banana Skin, 6–21 Aug, £free

16:50 John Gordillo: Love Capitalism HHH The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9 Relatively Normal Nightcap, 6–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

17:00 A Plague of Idiots Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Steve Bugeja: Unpronounceable

HHH

Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7

Manic Pixie Dream Girls Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Thrones! The Musical Parody Assembly George Square Studios, 3–29 Aug, £10—£14 Rory O’Hanlon – You Are Where You Need to Be HH Opium, 6–27 Aug, £free Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–27 Aug, £free Wayne Carter Teaches You to Be Fabulous Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, £free Impromptunes – The Completely Improvised Musical Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£11.50 Carey Marx, Hero of the People HHH Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, not 17, £free Space Cat Pasta Bake Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, £free

Fish Finger Fridays: A Sketch Show Kilderkin, 6–27 Aug, not 15, £free

A Stage, a Mic, Some Jokes Sneaky Pete’s, 6–27 Aug, £free

HUB Fresh Pleasance Courtyard, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £free

L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, Various dates from 6 Aug to 21 Aug, £2

#Jollyboat: Seven Songs for Geeks Movement, 6–27 Aug, £free

17:15

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Sleeping Trees: Sci-Fi? HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 The Improvised Improv Show Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–28 Aug, £free Joe Davies: Who’s the Daddy?

Heroes @ Dragonfly, 5–28 Aug, not 16, £5 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Infectious Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 13–28 Aug, £free Will Seaward: Magnificent Bastard Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 20, £5 Jordan Brookes: The Making Of Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free James Wilson-Taylor: Ginger is the New Black Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £6—£10.50 Pete Otway: Six Years from Then HHH Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Go Go Power Rangeurs: The Movie, Live!

C venues – C soco at ibis, 17–29 Aug, £free Martha McBrier: Japanese Boy Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free James Cook: Ready, Steady, James!

Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Komischer Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7 Jen Carnovale Wronger Than You Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 14, 15, £free Totally Wired: Trigger Warning!

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9

17:10 Matt Forde: It’s My Political Party (and I’ll Cry if I Want to) Pleasance Courtyard, 9 Aug, 18 Aug, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, £12—£14 The Best of Irish Comedy The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 5–28 Aug, £12

Ellis & Rose: Obsolete Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 5–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free

Get Your Own Back: Live!

Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £8—£13.50

The Attenborough Tours: Life on Fringe Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 5–29 Aug, £5

The Kagools Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7

The Good, the Bad and the Weegie Outhouse, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £7

L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £2

Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Mawaan Rizwan – Gender Neutral Concubine Pirate Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £free Men With Coconuts: Improvised Bond La Belle Angèle, 6–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £free Alex Smith – Not Even Trying Whistlebinkies, 6–27 Aug, £free

0131 556 6550

Floss Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £free Ashley Storrie and Other Erotica Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

17:20 Zach & Viggo: Thunderflop Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11

Micky Bartlett: Blissfully Ignorant Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, £5—£10.50

Spencer Jones is The Herbert in Proper Job Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

Susie Youssef – Check Youssef Before You Wreck Youssef Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £7—£12

Baron Fingolfin: The Stranger Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

Shhhh – An Improvised Silent Movie C venues – C nova, 6–20 Aug, £9.50—£11.50

Pete Johansson: Good People HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £5

Christian Reilly: Rock’n’LOL Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, £free Murder She Didn’t Write C venues – C, 3–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 David Mills: Shame!

Underbelly, George Square, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11.50 Alice Marshall: Vicious Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6 Hardeep Singh Kohli’s Mix Tape Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Topical Storm The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £9—£10 Adam Rowe: Bittersweet Little Lies HHH Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

festmag.co.uk

17:25 Mixed Doubles: Fundraiser Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 27, £6.50—£9.50 Liam Withnail: True Defective Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

17:30 Gordon Southern: Long Story Short Frankenstein Pub, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 24, £free Aladdin and His Magical Europe Refugee Tour 2016

HHH

C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50

The Oxford Revue: Hello You Assembly George Square Studios, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £5—£10

Listings

Josie Long: Work In Progress The Stand Comedy Club, 16–28 Aug, £12

77

Eric Lampaert: Alien of Extraordinary Ability Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Lucie Pohl: Apohlcalypse Now!

HH

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6—£10

Maddy Anholt: Rent Girl Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Pat Cahill: D.O.T.T Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £5

Merkin 9 to 5 Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, £free Poncho Orange CC Blooms, 6–28 Aug, £free James Christopher – What’s the Tory?

Mourning Glory Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Harriet Dyer: ‘We’d Prefer Someone a Bit More Mainstream’

HH

Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free

Barbarians Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2

Looking Out for Linda (The Remix) Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free

17:35

Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Tamar Broadbent: Get Ugly HHH Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £free Ed Night: I’m Amazed It Has a Title Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5 I Don’t Believe it! An Evening With Victor Meldrew Assembly Roxy, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £16—£17.50 Tez Ilyas: Made in Britain HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 All My Friends Are Dead Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free Mark Smith: Old Smudge Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 17, £free Jenny Collier: Jen-Hur HHH Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10

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Lucy Porter: Consequences

HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £7—£14

Jack & Lou: Agents of Farce theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–20 Aug, £4 Lewis Schaffer: You Are Beautiful

HHH

Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10

Salacious B. Crumb’s Luxury Biscuits Silk, 6–27 Aug, £free

17:40 Guy Masterson: Love and Canine Integration Assembly Roxy, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£10 Bruce Fummey’s Alba: Scotland the Origins Stand in the Square, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £9—£10 James Veitch: Game Face Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Mike Newall: High on Gravy Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6 Phil Ellis is Alone Together (But Mostly Alone) HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11

17:45

17:55

Beth Vyse: As Funny as Cancer Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£8

Viv Groskop: Be More Margo The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£8

Rose Matafeo is Finally Dead Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£9 Luca Cupani: The Admin of Death and Other Confessions Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 4–29 Aug, not 10, £5 Künt and the Gang – The Final Küntdown Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 28 Aug, £7 Künt and the Gang – It’s a Bit Early for Künt and the Gang Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 26–27 Aug, £7

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Daphne’s Second Show HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2 Helen Duff: Come With Me Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Grant Stott’s Tales from Behind the Mic Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 14, 22, £6—£12 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1

18:00

Gusset Grippers Woodland Creatures, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £5

Alistair McGowan: 12th Impressions Gilded Balloon Teviot, 16–28 Aug, not 23, £17

L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2

Norman Lovett: Entertaining Moaner Heroes @ Dragonfly, 16–28 Aug, £8

My Groupon Adventure T-Bar, 6–27 Aug, not 15, 22, £free

Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden Gilded Balloon Teviot, 23 Aug, £14

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £10—£16.50

Henning Wehn: Westphalia is Not an Option Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 16, 22, £8.50—£12.50 Katharine Ferns is Faking It (Work in Progress) Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free Kriss Foster and the Very Small Museum Globe Bar, 6–28 Aug, not 23, £free Cam and Flora C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Gareth Morinan: Graph Giraffe Banshee Labyrinth, 6–27 Aug, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1

Glenn Moore: Glengarry Glen Glenn

Stuart Laws: So Preoccupied With Whether or Not He Could That He Didn’t Stop to Think Whether He Should (1hr Show) HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10

George Egg: Anarchist Cook Gilded Balloon Teviot, 22 Aug, £10

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10.50

Clare Plested: Flock Up HH Ciao Roma, 6–27 Aug, not 17, £free

Paul Foot’s Game of Dangers Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 7 Aug, 24 Aug, 25 Aug, 26 Aug, 27 Aug, £10—£12

Bethany Black: (Extra)Ordinary

HHH

Christian Talbot: C60 Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

Joel Dommett: Pretending to Smoke With a Breadstick Pleasance Courtyard, 3–27 Aug, not 15, £7—£12

Comedy in the Dark Just the Tonic at The Community Project, Various dates from 6 Aug to 21 Aug, £8—£12

Diane Spencer: Seamless Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £5—£9.50

17:50

Phil Jerrod: Hypocrite Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

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Lolly 2 HHHH

HHH

The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9

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Giacinto Palmieri: Nietzsche, Women and I Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

Rowena Hutson: Strong Female Character Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, £5

Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Hysterical Woman HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

18:05

Laugh Train Home Comedy Showcase Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–28 Aug, £free

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Brennan Reece: Everglow HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10

Luke Stephen: Commit No Nuisance Nightcap, 6–28 Aug, not 17, £free

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

Absolute Improv! theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 21, £6—£10

A Taste of Planet Caramel Opium, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

18:15

Best of UCLU Comedy Club Movement, 6–27 Aug, not 16, £free

John Scott Smashes It to F*ck Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free Price (still) Includes Biscuits theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5—£8 I Should Have Listened to Ivor Dembina The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 16–27 Aug, not 21, £6

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Brendon Burns: Dumb White Guy

HHHH

Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, £free

Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 24–27 Aug, £free Egg - Static Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–23 Aug, not 15, £free African-Czechoslovakian / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, £free Elliot Steel: Netflix ‘n’ Steel Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, £6 Darius Davies – Road to Wrestlemania Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Danny Buckler: Showman Shaman Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £free Green Bananas Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free While You Were Out Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 15–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

SupercalifragilisticexpiGARYTROcious Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Ever Mainard: Let Me Be Your Main Man Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6.50—£12.50

18:25 Kill the Beast: He Had Hairy Hands Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 26, £6—£11.50

18:30 Aloof!

Sabor, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–27 Aug, £free

zazU: Raisins to Stay Alive HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£10

Tyrannosaurus Sketch Greenside @ Royal Terrace, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £8

Stuck in a Rut Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free

Crack Comedy Club’s Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free

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Pick of the Fringe The Sheraton Grand Hotel , 25 Aug, £180

Bob Blackman’s Tray HHHH Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 14–27 Aug, not 21, £free L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2 Patrick Turpin: To Me, You Are Perfect

HHH

Sneaky Pete’s, 6–27 Aug, not 15, £free

18:20 James Meehan – Class Act Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Lunch Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50 Morning After Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4 UCL Graters: Immature Cheddar Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free—£7 Susan Calman: The Calman Before the Storm Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £7—£14 Peter White: Straight White Male Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£10

Talk Hard Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 5–28 Aug, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2 Shaggers (Free Festival) Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free Harriet Beveridge: 42 Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £9 Ari Shaffir: Ari S-P-EC-T HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, £5 NewsRevue 2016 Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £9.50—£17 Jimmy McGhie: Apologia Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£11

18:35 Free Footlights Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, £free

Britney Assembly George Square Studios, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £5—£8

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Andrew Doyle: Future Tense

HHHH

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £9—£10

Living Luke Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, £4—£8 Bristol Revunions: Dolce Vita Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7 Eddy Brimson: Up the Anti Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Shellshock! Improv Live! theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–20 Aug, £6.50

18:40 Adam Kay – Fingering A Minor on the Piano HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£14 Jack Barry: You Don’t Know Jack HHH Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Russell Howard and Steve Williams Work in Progress Assembly George Square Studios, 3–21 Aug, not 10, £5 Jacob Hatton: Dreams of FitzRoy and Londis Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £8 Ruby Thomas: Chick Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Lewis Macleod is Not Himself Frankenstein Pub, 4–21 Aug, £free

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Liz Miele: Mind Over Melee

HHHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

Joz Norris: Hello, Goodbye Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Global Pillage Assembly George Square Studios, 25–28 Aug, £10—£12 Fast Fringe Pleasance Dome, 3–27 Aug, £5—£10 Adventures in Menstruating with Chella Quint Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

18:45 L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2 Sarah Kendall: Shaken Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, £7—£12.50 Simon Munnery and Friends: 30 Not Out The Famous Spiegeltent, 22 Aug, £14 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 Me, Me, Me Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, £free Sam Carrington: Awkwardly Mobile Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7 Nath Valvo: Happy Idiot HH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £7—£12 Wendy Wason: Tiny Me HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Normally Abnormal Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free I Was Mick Jones’s Bank Clerk Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 15–28 Aug, £free Paul McCaffrey: Fresh Hell Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Irish Championship Comedy Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, £free

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

0131 556 6550

Will Duggan: A Man Gathering Fish

HHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

The Leeds Tealights: Tension Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£9

18:50 ❤ Jake Yapp is One in a Million

HHHH

Underbelly, George Square, 3–28 Aug, £6—£11

Daisy Earl: Scottish Comedian of the Year Winner 2015 Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24, £10—£14 Rachel Parris: Best Laid Plans HHH Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, £6—£11.50 Garibaldi Silk, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Masud Milas: Routes Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10 Zoë Coombs Marr: Trigger Warning

HHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£11

18:55 Holly Burn: I Am Special HHH Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Light Relief Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, £8.50 The Cambridge Footlights International Tour Show 2016: Lagoon Assembly Roxy, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £7—£13 Ed Patrick: Junior Optimist HHH Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7

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John-Luke Roberts Builds a Monster HHHH Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Comedy

78

Your Fringe Schedule

19:00 L!ghten Up Your Life!™ Gayfield Venues, 25–28 Aug, £2 Comedy at the Portrait Gallery Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, £12

festmag.co.uk

BBC: The One Show BBC, 24–26 Aug, £free Simon Evans: In the Money HHH Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £10—£14 Foiled HH Ruby Rouge, 5–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Isle of Edna: G Street Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£8 Comedy Reserve at the Courtyard Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£9.50 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1

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Laurence Clark: Independence

HHHH

Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £5—£10

Chris Forbes: Tall Needy Mutant Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £5—£10

Listings

ComedyOpoly: Board Games With Comedians Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 15–29 Aug, £5

79

Mystery Gimmick Stand-Up Show C venues – C soco at ibis, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £free Luke Kempner: Judi Dench Broke My Heart Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

Colin Hoult / Anna Mann: A Sketch Show for Depressives

HHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

Lords of Strut: Late Night TV Talk Show Assembly Roxy, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

Orlando Baxter: Suspensions, Detentions and Summer Vacations Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

Andy Askins: The Man With No Name Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Zoe Lyons: Little Misfit Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 25, £6—£11.50

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BEASTS Present Mr Edinburgh 2016

19:05

Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 13, £6—£11

Dave Lemkin: The Village Hall Ciao Roma, 6–27 Aug, £free

HHHH

Horace: We Are Family Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 16, £free An Act of Godley: Janey Godley Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free Des Clarke 3D The Stand Comedy Club, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, 16, £11—£12 Knightmare Live: The Game Has Changed Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£12

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Mr Swallow – Houdini HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£14

Life and Death (But Mainly Death) theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 21 Aug, £9 Funny Bones and Wisdom Teeth theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 26–27 Aug, £7 Gary Little: A Little Bit of Personal The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £11—£12 Susie McCabe: There is More to Life Than Happiness The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £9—£10

19:10 ❤ Geoff Norcott: Conswervative

HHHH

Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11

Gavin Webster: Jesus Christ’s a Window Cleaner Now The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9 Tiff Stevenson: Seven Assembly Roxy, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Aidan Killian: The Money Shot Heroes @ Dragonfly, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £5

19:15 Fiona Sagar: Entitled Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1 ❤ Lazy Susan: Crazy Sexy Fool

HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

Rainbow Class Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 13, £6—£11 Coshowpolitan Globe Bar, 6–28 Aug, £free Craig Hill: Up and Coming!

Venue150 at EICC, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 23, £8.50—£17.50

Michael and Roper: Three’s a Crowd, Four’s an Audience Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 11, 17, £free

Stuart Mitchell: Dealt a Bad Hand Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

Lauren Pattison: Reet Petite – A Work in Progress Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £5

19:20

Gráinne Maguire: Great People Making Great Choices Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£12 Smurthwaite on Masculinity Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, not 16, £free Sarah Bennetto: I Love You All and I Mean That Sincerely Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–27 Aug, not 15, 22, £free Rowena Haley: Three Chords and the Truth T-Bar, 6–27 Aug, £free ❤ Robert Newman: The Brain Show

HHHH

Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £10—£12.50

Bella Younger’s Deliciously Stella Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£12 Larry Dean: Farcissist Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

Paul Foot: ‘Tis a Pity She’s a Piglet Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12.50 Stephen Bailey: Nation’s Sweetheart Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 7, 15, £5 Big Value Comedy Show – Early Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£10

19:25 Puddles Pity Party: Let’s Go! Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £10—£16

19:30 07800 834030 Sneaky Pete’s, 6–27 Aug, not 8, 22, £free Just Jokes Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–27 Aug, not 15, £free This is Your Trial Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6.50—£14 Apocalypse Wow Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–29 Aug, £free

AAA Stand-Up Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, £6—£11

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

Comedy Gala 2016: In Aid of Waverley Care Edinburgh Playhouse , 20 Aug, £25

Mid-Brow: The Live Show Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7.50

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Shayne’s Mom on Tour Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 23, 24, £free

David O’Doherty: Big Time HHHH Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £9—£15 So You Think You’re Funny? Grand Final Gilded Balloon Teviot, 25 Aug, £15 Amazing (Probably) Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, £free

❤

James Acaster: Reset HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £8—£14 Two Funny Lassies Kilderkin, 6–27 Aug, £free Chris Davis: Chinchilla Coats Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, £free Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma...

Comedian!

Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Quiz in my Pants Movement, 6–27 Aug, £free Vladimir McTavish: Scotland In Sixty Minutes The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9 God Only Knows LifeCare Centre, 17–20 Aug, £3.50

Committed to Mediocrity C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£10.50 Jimeoin: Renonsense Man Venue150 at EICC, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 23, £8.50—£17.50 Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1

❤ Tatterdermalion HHHH Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 16, 22, £6—£12

Tommy Tiernan: Out of the Whirlwind

HHH

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 5–28 Aug, not 12, 25, £9—£16

19:35 Dig the New Breed Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 15, £3—£5 Kai Humphries: In Full Colour Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, £5—£12.50

Your Beloved Alexander Bennett Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 15, £free

Aidan Goatley: The Joys of Retail (and How to Escape Them) Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, £8

101 Comedy Club – Free Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free

Jonny & the Baptists: Eat the Poor HHH Roundabout @ Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £9—£12.50

Twisted Edge Showcase / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–28 Aug, £free Running-a-Mock Presents: Facebook Official Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £free

19:40 Danny Deegan is Taller Than Jesus, More Visible Than God Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Paul Currie: FFFFFFFMILK! Heroes @ The Hive, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £5

How to Become a Poker Millionaire (and Still Be a Loser) Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5 Ed Cook’s Comedy Thing Spotlites, 21–28 Aug, £4 Steen Raskopoulos – You Know the Drill Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£12.50

Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–27 Aug, £free Nathan Cassidy: 42 Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £free Damian Clark Can’t Slow Down Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free

Iain Stirling: Onwards!

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–26 Aug, £8—£12

19:50 ❤ Jo Caulfield:

Jarlath Regan – Arseways Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £10

Vince Atta: Loopzilla Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£6

19:45 Pun-Man Two: Girls Just Wanna Hear Puns Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Eleanor Conway’s Walk of Shame Frankenstein Pub, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Tight Ten The Titter Truck, 5–28 Aug, £1

Pretending to Care

HHHH

Andrew Ryan: Ruined Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Tim Renkow: King of the Tramps Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £5 Elf Lyons: Pelican

HHH

Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £free

❤

Sofie Hagen: Shimmer Shatter

HHHH

Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, £free

20:00

Nish Kumar: Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout the Words Real Loud HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£12 Jonathan Pie: Live Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 BBC: Asian Network’s Big Comedy Night BBC, 21 Aug, £free Nazeem Hussain – Legally Brown Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £7—£12 Tom Binns is Ian D Montfort: How to Touch Dead People Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, £7—£12 Ron White – Live in Scotchland Assembly George Square Studios, 26–28 Aug, £15 Andy Field: Roar

HHH

Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £free

Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and Rosco Mclelland

HH

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

Tony Law: A Law Undo His-elf What Welcome HHHH Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£13

Gillian Cosgriff: This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£11

Darren Connell: Trolleywood Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6—£11

Patrick Monahan: That 80s Show HH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£14

Pajama Men: 2 Man 3 Musketeers Assembly George Square Studios, 22–25 Aug, £15

Board Game Smackdown - Free Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 4–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

Robin Morgan: Free Man Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Javier Jarquin: Hombre Al Dente Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £free

Pete Firman – TriX Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £8.50—£15

Loyiso Gola: Dude, Where’s My Lion?

Spontaneous Sherlock La Belle Angèle, 6–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £free

Raymond Mearns is Feeling the Love Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 2–29 Aug, not 15, £free Jocks and Geordies Whistlebinkies, 7–28 Aug, not 13, 20, 27, £free

❤

Sally Phillips and Lily Bevan: Talking to Strangers Assembly George Square Studios, 15–21 Aug, £12.50—£14

HHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

0131 556 6550

The Gayest Thing You’ve Ever Seen CC Blooms, 6–28 Aug, £free The Eulogy Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £6—£10.50 Anti-White PC Mangina Activate!

Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, £free Playing Politics Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 18 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, £12.50 Jeff Seal: The Goddamn Truth – Free Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 22, £free Milo McCabe: The Unflappable Troy Hawke HHH Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Mark Dolan: Life Hacks HH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 12, £6—£10 Freedom of Speech Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Des Bishop: Grey Matters Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£13 Sisters Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free

20:05 Improvabunga! theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £7—£8 Alistair Williams: I’ve Started So I’m Finished Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

20:10

Nina Conti: In Your Face Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £10—£17.50

Chris Stokes – The Man Delusion Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11

C for free at ibis C venues – C soco at ibis, 3–29 Aug, £free

The He & She Show theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £6—£7

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

The Star Factory Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Comedy

80

Your Fringe Schedule

❤

Lou Sanders: What’s That Lady Doing? HHHH Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£9 Shite Club – The Downfall of Jellybean Martinez Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £free Tom Walker: Beep Boop Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 The Ruby Darlings Voodoo Rooms, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

20:15 ❤

festmag.co.uk

Lynn Ruth Miller: This is Your Future Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 16–28 Aug, £5—£6

HHHH

Underbelly Potterrow, 3–28 Aug, not 8, £7.50—£15

Neal Portenza.

Neal Portenza. Neal Portenza. Tracey.

Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Tom Allen: Indeed Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£11 David Longley: Everything I Hate About My Club Set The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£8 Eric Davidson – Ukedoodledandy

HH

SpaceTriplex, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £10

Good Grief Ciao Roma, 6–27 Aug, £free

❤

Henry Paker: Guilty HHHH Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 14, 15, 21, £6—£11

20:30

Jo Coffey: Not 25 Southsider, 6–27 Aug, not 12, 19, £free

Sam Simmons: Not a People Person

Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12.50

Stephen Carlin: TV Comeback Special Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, not 22, £5

❤

HHH

Bob C venues – C cubed, 4–23 Aug, £9.50—£11.50

HHHH

Jamali Maddix: Chickens Come Home to Roost Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

Max & Ivan: Our Story

Emma Sidi: Telenovela Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

Mischaps Cowgatehead, 6–25 Aug, £free

Alice Fraser: The Resistance Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£11

Listings

David Quirk: Approaching Perfection Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 4–29 Aug, £5

Tessa Waters: Over Promises

Sam Campbell: The Last Dreamer Assembly Roxy, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£12

81

The Reel Comedy Club Vintage Mobile Cinema, 5–28 Aug, £12.50

Justin Moorhouse: People and Feelings Gilded Balloon Teviot, 17–28 Aug, £10.50—£12

20:20 Martin Mor: #RoadComedian The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9

Andrew Roper – Superhero Secret Origins: Special Edition Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–28 Aug, £free Jess Robinson: Impressive Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6.50—£12 Loren O’Brien: Who? Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £6—£10 Monkey Barrel Comedy @ The Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Banana Skin, 3–28 Aug, £free—£10

24 Hours With Mary Lynn Rajskub Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£12

Emily Lloyd Saini - Is This Part of the Show?

Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–23 Aug, not 8, £free

Madame Señorita: The Expector Heroes @ Dragonfly, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £5

Kane Brown: The Oath Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free

Lost Voice Guy: Disability for Dunces Volume Two Stand in the Square, 23 Aug, £9

Sean McLoughlin: Kamikaze Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£9.50

Michelle McManus: Pop Goes the Idol Stand in the Square, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, 22, 23, £11—£12 Suzi Ruffell: Common Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£6 Sarah Callaghan: 24

HHH

Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

The Thinking Drinkers: Around the World in 80 Drinks Underbelly Med Quad, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£11.50 Thomas Green: That’ll Teach You Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £5—£7 St Andrews Revue Presents: Loop Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, £5—£8

Shappi Khorsandi: Oh My Country! From Morris Dancing to Morrissey

Stephen K Amos: Work in Progress The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–27 Aug, not 15, 16, 22, 23, £10

The Stand Comedy Club, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, £11—£12

Shellshock! Improv Live! theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £6.50

❤

HHHH

Lloyd Griffith: Is a Keeper Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10.50 A Girl With Two Dicks T-Bar, 6–27 Aug, not 15, £free Carl Donnelly: Bad Man Tings HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

Haggis McSporran: Is Out of His Box! C venues – C nova, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £9.50—£11.50 Bob Doolally Puts the Leg Into Legend The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 22–23 Aug, £12

Joe Fairbrother’s Power Hour Underbelly Med Quad, 3–27 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

20:40

Jonny Pelham: Fool’s Paradise Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£11

The Invention of Acting Just the Tonic at The Caves, 16–28 Aug, £6

Darren Walsh: S’Pun Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

Ross Hepburn is Beetlejuice’d Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free

Andrew Maxwell: Slight Return Assembly George Square Theatre, 18–28 Aug, £10—£15

Not Quite Write theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £5—£7.50

Andrew Lawrence: The Hate Speech Tour Assembly Roxy, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £5—£12

20:45

Gagster’s Paradise Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free John Robertson: The Dark Room Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–27 Aug, £6—£11 Barnardo’s 150th Anniversary Comedy Benefit Venue150 at EICC, 23 Aug, £20 Ella Woods: Stag Do Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 24–28 Aug, £free

20:35 23, Please: The Sketch Show That Never Was C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £8.50—£10.50

Daniel Sloss: So? Venue150 at EICC, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 23, £8.50—£17.50

Aatif Nawaz: Aatificial Intelligence HH Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, £free Abandoman: Life + Rhymes HHH Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £10—£15.50 Clusterf**k Movement, 6–27 Aug, £free You’re Welcome Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 17–28 Aug, £free James Loveridge: Castles in the Sand Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Amy Howerska: Smashcat Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5 We Are All C*nts Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free

Sarah & Saskia with Comedy Chums Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free JJ Whitehead: Fool Disclosure Liquid Room Annexe, 5–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £free Fraser Geesin: Jack of All Polymaths Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, £free It’s Thea-Skot in Here (So Take Off All Your Clothes) HHH Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, not 16, £free Mike Ward: Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free

HHH

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 25, £5—£12

Chris Henry: Chris’ World Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £free Matt Price: Poltroon Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free Mark Nelson: Smiley Face Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£12.50

20:50 ❤ Spencer Jones Presents The Herbert in Eggy Bagel

HHHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6

21:00 ❤

Mat Ewins: Mat Ewins Will Make You a Star HHHH Heroes @ The Hive, 4–28 Aug, £5 How Can I Drive to a Gig With a Jakey On My Bonnet?

Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free Amir Khoshsokhan – Shhhhhh HHH Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 4–28 Aug, £free Frigid Moan’s Diary The Street Bar, 5 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, £free—£5

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

LJ DA FUNK’s Anti-Fascist Counter-Terrorist Comedy Orgy Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Twonkey’s Mumbo Jumbo Hotel HH Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £6.50 Carl Hutchinson: The Fixer The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–27 Aug, not 15, £9

Harmon Leon’s Big Fat Racist Show Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free Rory Bremner Meets...

Gilded Balloon at the Museum, 13–19 Aug, £12 Andrew Learmonth: All the People I’ve Ever Loved Will Die The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 28 Aug, £9

Travels With Autism Just the Tonic at The Caves, 16–28 Aug, £8

Margaret Thatcher Queen of Game Shows Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10—£14

Scarlet SoHandsome and Fiends Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 15, 16, 23, £5

Vir Das’ Unbelievable: The Dishonest Indian Gilded Balloon at the Museum, 20–28 Aug, £12

❤

Jason Byrne is Propped Up HH Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £10—£19.50

Felicity Ward: 50% More Likely to Die HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7—£13.50 Joke Thieves Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free

Just the Tonic Comedy Club Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 15, £5—£10

Axis of Awesome: Won’t Ever Not Stop Giving Up HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 15–28 Aug, not 25, £9—£12

Naz Osmanoglu: Exposure HH Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Joe DeRosa: Zero Forward Progress Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £6—£11

21:05

Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–27 Aug, £free Laurence Owen: Cinemusical Voodoo Rooms, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £free Neel Kolhatkar: Neel Before Me Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6—£12 Danny McLoughlin: Phillip Was Right Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 Mark Watson: I’m Not Here HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £9—£16

Jamie MacDonald: High Vis Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£11

21:10 Alan Anderson: Whisky for Dafties Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 12–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £12—£18 The Upper-Class Rapper Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 15, £free May Contain Nuts theSpace on Niddry St, 15–20 Aug, £6 The Best of Scottish Comedy The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £12

Under Cover With the Naked Stand-Up theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £10

21:15 Lloyd Langford: Rascal Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free

Rhys Nicholson – Bona Fide Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £7—£12

Goodbear Bedlam Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6.50—£10

Limmy: Daft Wee Stories Venue150 at EICC, 18–21 Aug, £17.50

A History, w Nowell Edmurnds Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£5

Kinsey Sicks: Lady Cocks of Bang Boys Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £7—£12

The MMORPG Show Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£8

Stand Up & Slam!

❤

HHH

Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£6

Archie Maddocks: Shirts Vs Skins Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free

Yeti’s – Demon Dive Bar HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£12

Frenchy: World’s Worst Adult Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6—£12

Seann Walsh: One for the Road Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £10—£14

Circumcision Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free Paul McMullan: Alcopop Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Comedy Boxing Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £free Mae Martin: Work in Progress Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £free Tom Ballard – The World Keeps Happening Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£12 Myra DuBois: Self AdMyra Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Ria Lina: Dear Daughter HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£10 Ali Hassan: Man Interrupted (Work in Progress) Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£7

21:20 Taylor Glenn: A Billion Days of Parenthood Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6

Nick Cody: Come Get Some!

Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12.50

21:25 ❤ Rahul Kohli: Newcastle Brown Male HHHH The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£8

❤

Bourgeois & Maurice: How to Save the World Without Really Trying

HHHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£12

Harriet Kemsley: The Girl on the Wrong Train Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

21:30 Paul Thorne: This Month’s Apocalypse The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8—£9 Kitten Killers: Stallions Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Comedy Reserve at the Dome Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£9.50

Baby Wants Candy: The Completely Improvised Full Band Musical HHHH Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, £10—£15 Blind Mirth Paradise in The Vault, 6–20 Aug, not 14, £6—£7 Luisa Omielan – What Would Beyoncé Do?!

Venue150 at EICC, 26 Aug, £17.50 George Egg: Anarchist Cook Gilded Balloon Teviot, 24 Aug, £10 David Elms: Goody Boy Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£9.50 Luisa Omielan – Am I Right Ladies?!

Venue150 at EICC, 27 Aug, £17.50 Michelle Wolf: So Brave Pleasance Courtyard, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£13 John Hastings: Integrity Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Heidi O’Loughlin: Cult Comedian Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 16, £6—£11 Emily Tresidder: Crazy Is Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£10 Mark Steel’s in Toon Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10—£14 Scotland’s Pick of the Fringe Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £7 Rab’s Videogame Empty - Presented

by Glasgow Film Festival Assembly Rooms, 27 Aug, £15

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

0131 556 6550

Mavericks: A Sketch Show (Of Sorts) theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5 Good Kids: On Tap Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50 99 Club Stand-Up Selection – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–28 Aug, £free Desiree Burch: This is Evolution HHH Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 6–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £5 Gabriel Ebulue: Hip-Punk Heroes @ Dragonfly, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £5 Marcel Lucont’s Whine List Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

❤

Kieran Hodgson: Maestro HHHH Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, £free

21:35 Bristol Underground Comedy Ciao Roma, 6–27 Aug, £free Princes of Main: Cool Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£11 Hayley Ellis: FOMO

HHH

Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

21:40 LOLympics Live!

Stand in the Square, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £11—£12 Garrett Millerick: The Dreams Stuff is Made of HHH Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50 David Stanier’s Silly Party Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£5

Comedy

82

Your Fringe Schedule

Big Value Comedy Show – Late Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£10

21:45 Tiny Horse Comedy Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £free Tom Ward: Sex, Snails and Cassette Tapes HH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50 Police Cops Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£12 Tom and Will’s Open Swim Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Pierre Novellie is Cool Peter Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

festmag.co.uk

Johnny Cochrane: Appeal Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Sean Cannon: The Idiot Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

❤

Birthday Girls: Sh!t Hot Party Legends HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, £6—£10 Chris Turner: Observational Tragedy Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 26, 27, 28, £6—£10 Phil Nichol: Twenty

HHH

Assembly Checkpoint, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£14

Jay Handley: You Want the Truth? You Can’t Handley the Truth!

Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free

Listings

An Imp-revised History of the World T-Bar, 17–27 Aug, £free

83

Richard Gadd: Monkey See Monkey Do Banshee Labyrinth, 6–28 Aug, £free

Joe Jacobs: Orthodox Joe Frankenstein Pub, 4–29 Aug, not 8, 15, 27, £free

21:50

Nev: Guts Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Pleasance Courtyard, 23 Aug, £13 Alex Kealy is an Idea Whose Time Has Come Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 Foil, Arms and Hog: DoomDah Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £7—£13 50% Scottish, 100% Crazy, Let’s Laugh Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, £free

22:00 Adele and Tom’s First Birthday Party!

Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free Chris Gethard: Career Suicide Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7—£11 Jiggle & Hyde Present: Sketchy Mother Pluckers theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £7 Aunty Donna: New Show Gilded Balloon Teviot, 16–29 Aug, not 25, £10—£12 BattleActs!

Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Matthew Giffen, Cocaine and Potatoes Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 14–25 Aug, not 19, 20, £free Flo & Joan: Victory Flaps Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–21 Aug, £free I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 16–20 Aug, £5.50

The Blind Date Project HHH Zoo Southside, 5–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £8—£12 Hal Cruttenden: Straight Outta Cruttenden Pleasance Courtyard, 17–28 Aug, £14—£16 Scott Agnew: I’ve Snapped My Banjo String, Let’s Just Talk

HHH

Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5

Craig Campbell’s ‘Easy Tiger’ HHH The Stand Comedy Club, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, £11—£12 Ari Shaffir: This Is Not Happening Heroes @ The Hive, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £5

Further Ted: Michael Redmond, Joe Rooney and Patrick McDonnell Heroes @ The Hive, 16 Aug, 17 Aug, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, 24 Aug, £6 #BiggerthanKanye Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–28 Aug, not 19, £free

22:05 ❤ Randy Writes a Novel HHHH Underbelly Potterrow, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7—£12.50

ACMS: The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 7–24 Aug, not 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, £12 Viva La Shambles The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 18 Aug, 20 Aug, £10 Bob Doolally Puts the Leg Into Legend The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 19 Aug, £12

❤

Comedians Film Club Vintage Mobile Cinema, 5–28 Aug, £12.50

Dr Phil’s NHS Revolution HHHH theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 5–27 Aug, £5—£10

Big Angie C venues – C soco at ibis, 14–20 Aug, £free

22:15

The Voice of Ray Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 16, 22, £free Pete Inskip’s Return to the UK Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £5 My Big Dick is Making Me Thirsty Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–28 Aug, £free Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, £6—£14 Daniel Sloss: So? (Late Shows) Venue150 at EICC, Various dates from 12 Aug to 27 Aug, £14.50—£17.50 Reality Check Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 13–28 Aug, £free

Maureen Langan: Daughter of a Garbage Man The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £8—£9 Funny Cluckers – Best of the Fest – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 5–27 Aug, £free Aidan Goatley: Mr Blue Sky Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, £8 Peter Buckley Hill and Some Comedians: The Final Aardvark La Belle Angèle, 7–25 Aug, not 12, 13, 19, 20, £free Shit-Faced Shakespeare Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, £7—£15

Shane Todd: Holywood to Hollywood Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£9.50 The Shambles theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £7

22:20 The Bear Pack Underbelly, Cowgate, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £7—£12 Carnal Desire Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Hell to Play Liquid Room Annexe, 6–28 Aug, £free Samantha Pressdee: Sextremist HH Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£8 Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon HH Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £3—£7 Colum Tyrrell: The Hookers and Blow Show Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £4—£6

22:25 Woman Up Improv Show theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 23–27 Aug, £8

22:30 Gus Loomis: Still Live Cowgatehead, 6–27 Aug, £free Jayde Adams: 31

HHH

Voodoo Rooms, 6–28 Aug, not 17, £free

The Establishment Heroes @ Dragonfly, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £5 The Ross Voss Comedy Experience C venues – C nova, 3–20 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 The Really Good Show Hour Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 4–28 Aug, not 19, £free

This Belongs to George Osborne Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–28 Aug, not 14, £free Joe Lycett: That’s the Way A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett Assembly Hall, 23–27 Aug, £15 Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets Do Shakespeare Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 23, £5—£11 Evan Desmarais: Bad Things, Right Reasons – Free Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free City Cafe Late Nite and Free Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Keep Out of My Box (and Other Useful Advice) Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £5—£10 Set List: Stand-Up Without a Net Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £5—£14.50 The Sitcom Trials: So You Think You Write Funny?

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 23–24 Aug, £10 Fright Bus Service Necrobus, 3–28 Aug, £7—£9 Head Sets Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £free Colin Hay: Get Rid of the Minstrel Gilded Balloon Teviot, 15–28 Aug, £12—£14 Russ Peers: Bad Gay? Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5 Kate Lucas: Whatever Happened to Kate Lucas?

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£12

22:35 Will Franken: Little Joe The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£8

Over 200 shows every day! @ThePleasance

22:40 Simon Slack – The Fantasist HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 Cook and Davies: Do Not Leave This Room Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £free—£3 James Nokise: So So Gangsta The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9 Omar & Lee Present: We Are All Idiots Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5 The Very Nice Improv Show theSpace on the Mile, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5—£7 Al Porter: At Large Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£11

22:45 Norris & Parker: See You at the Gallows

HHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 21, £6—£9.50

Shit-Faced Showtime Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, £7—£12.50 Brendon Burns and Colt Cabana Do Comedy and Commentary to Bad Wrestling Matches!

Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Eshaan Akbar and Friends Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £5 The Travelling Sisters Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50 Shaggers (Free Festival) Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

Bob Slayer: 24 Hour Shows Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 24, £5 Let Dinki Die Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £5—£10 Zoe Lyons: Little Misfit Gilded Balloon Teviot, 24 Aug, £10

22:50 The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £7—£14 Katie Brennan’s Quarter-Life Crisis Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Nicole Henriksen – Techno Glitter Penguins Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Patrick Melton: My Least Favorite Everything Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50

22:55

Not Trying to Be a Dick Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free Twins: Two Balls in a Bag Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£9 Hammerton Community High Class of ‘75 theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 18 Aug, 20 Aug, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, £5

❤

The Free Association: JACUZZI

HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–21 Aug, £6—£10

BBC: World on 3 BBC, 19–20 Aug, £free Best of Scottish Comedian of the Year Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, £6—£13.50 Imaginary Porno Charades Sweet Grassmarket, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £7

23:05 You’ll Never Get This Time Back Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £free

23:10 The Big Stiffy Sweet Grassmarket, 18–21 Aug, £7

23:15 RLB: Real Life Broadcasting Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 21–28 Aug, £free Decide-a-Quest Laughing Horse @ The Crags Bar, 4–20 Aug, £free LoveHard: The House on the Hill Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 4–20 Aug, £free Fin Taylor: Whitey McWhiteface HHH Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–28 Aug, not 23, £5 Foxdog Studios Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 4–28 Aug, £free

Adrian Gray’s The 007 Conspiracy: James Bond’s Terrifying Truth, Exposed!

Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

The Two Mikes Assembly George Square Studios, 26–28 Aug, £20

This Is Our Summer Holiday Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

2 Girls, 1 Cup of Comedy Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 7–28 Aug, not 15, £5

Robom and Goremorrah Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

23:00

Phil Dunning: The People’s Prince Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

Can I Stop You There?

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 22–28 Aug, £10—£12

Mark Watson’s Edinborolympics Pleasance Courtyard, 18–27 Aug, £8.50—£11 lara A king: Not Broken, Just Bent Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 3–29 Aug, £5 Farewell Tim Pleasance Courtyard, 8–22 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

Angela Wand: Wounded Animals

Folie à Deux Pleasance Courtyard, 24–27 Aug, £9—£10

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £8—£12

Gavin Webster’s 11 O’Clock Bill Stand in the Square, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £12

HHH

Best of HUB Pleasance Dome, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £5

AAA Stand-Up Late Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, £6—£11 Comedian’s Guide to Autism Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 20–28 Aug, £free Me, Myself and ISIS – Free T-Bar, 6–29 Aug, £free Cut the Chat Live Outhouse, 23–24 Aug, £free Nina Conti and Simon Munnery Whack it Up the Flagpole Pleasance Dome, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £11

The Late Night Sexy Show Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–21 Aug, £5—£9 A+ Underachiever Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–28 Aug, £free Pigeons and Things Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, £free Foil, Arms and Hog: DoomDah Underbelly, Cowgate, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £11.50—£13

Afterhours Comedy: Amused Moose Comedy theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £12.50

23:20 WiFi Wars Pleasance Dome, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, £12.50

23:30 Big Silly Mash-Up! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, not 20, 21, £free Political Animal The Stand Comedy Club, 9–25 Aug, not 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, £12 The Wimps Show Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 4–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free Bearpit Podcast (Podcast): 100 Year Anniversary Pleasance Dome, 23 Aug, 26 Aug, £5 Brickhead: Yeah Yeah, Yeah?

Sabor, 6–27 Aug, not 16, 22, £free Massive Lazy Girls Pleasance Courtyard, 24–28 Aug, £9—£10

23:40 Jason Neale’s Footprint Heroes @ Dragonfly, 5–28 Aug, £5

❤

Rob Carter is Christopher Bliss

HHHH

Just the Tonic at The Tron, 4–27 Aug, not 15, £4—£5

23:45 The Stand Late Club The Stand Comedy Club, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £15 Beardyman: One Album Per Hour Pleasance Courtyard, 18–24 Aug, £12.50—£14 The Mr G Summer Heights High Singalong Underbelly, George Square, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £12.50

PLEASANCE pleasance.co.uk

0131 556 6550

Comedy in the Dark (Late Edition) Underbelly, George Square, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, £14.50 Irish Comedy – No Safe Space Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 4–28 Aug, £free The International Incident Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, 4–28 Aug, £free ACE! Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 4–28 Aug, £free Vir Das’ Unbelievable: The Dishonest Indian Gilded Balloon Teviot, 15–19 Aug, £10 Edinburgh Comedy Allstars Underbelly, George Square, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £10—£15

23:50 Bronston Jones – God Bless ‘Merica (Again) The Stand Comedy Club 2, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£9

23:55 Fright Bus Service Necrobus, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £9 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrghhh! It’s the Increasingly Prestigious Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards Show – and It’s Free!

Laughing Horse @ Ghillie Dhu, 26–27 Aug, £free

23:59 Best of the Fest Assembly Hall, Various dates from 5 Aug to 28 Aug, £12—£15

Comedy

84

Your Fringe Schedule

85

Listings

festmag.co.uk

Your Fringe Schedule Breakfast Plays: Tech Will Tear Us Apart (?)

Traverse Theatre, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £14.50

09:25

09:30 Dance-Forms 72nd International Choreographers’ Showcase Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–19 Aug, £12

Green Tea and Zen Baka Dance Base, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free

10:20 Witch theSpace @ Venue45, 15–20 Aug, £8 Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £8.50—£12.50 Plain as Paper Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £8

10:00

10:25

Alice Gilded Balloon Teviot, 16–28 Aug, £8—£9

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £7

Grand Guignol theSpace @ Venue45, 22–27 Aug, £7 Shakespeare for Breakfast C venues – C, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50 Us / Them HHH Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8—£10

10:05 Eurohouse Summerhall, 16–26 Aug, £10

10:10 The Sister Paradise in Augustines, 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £8 Waves Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £7.50—£9

10:15 Stories to Tell in the Middle of the Night Summerhall, 13–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £10 Wasted Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–20 Aug, £7—£8 The Girl with the Hurricane Hands (and Other Short Tales of Woe) Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4–28 Aug, £free

The Country Wife theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £8—£8.50

10:30 Daffodils (A Play With Songs) HH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 27 Aug, £20.50 Revolt. She Said.

Revolt Again.

Traverse Theatre, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £14.50—£20.50

❤

The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro HHHH artSpace@StMarks, 11 Aug, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, £10—£15

❤

Mark Thomas: The Red Shed

HHHH

Traverse Theatre, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, 28 Aug, £20.50

Milk HH Traverse Theatre, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £14.50—£20.50 The Forest Pleasance Courtyard, 22–25 Aug, £10

❤

Tank HHHH

Pleasance Dome, 7–20 Aug, £6—£10

10:35 Nancy’s Philosopher Summerhall, 16–20 Aug, £12

10:40

11:05

The Country Wife theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £8—£8.50

Eden theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £8

King John theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £7

The Lizards theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £8

10:50 Happy Yet? theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–20 Aug, £7

10:55 Rumpelstiltskin Paradise in The Vault, 15–20 Aug, £5.50

11:00 Equations for a Moving Body HHH Northern Stage at Summerhall, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £9—£11

❤

My Eyes Went Dark HHHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £18.50 Expensive Shit

HHH

Traverse Theatre, 5 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, 28 Aug, £18.50

The Taming of the Shrew C venues – C south, 14–20 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Greater Belfast Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 12 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £18.50

❤

Diary of a Madman HHHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £12.50—£18.50 Bull theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–27 Aug, £8 Single Varietal Spotlites, 16–19 Aug, £5 Wilde Without the Boy Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, £5—£10 Dancing with the Star! – Movin’ with Melvin!

Assembly Checkpoint, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £15 Shakespeare Tonight Paradise in Augustines, 22–27 Aug, £14 In Fidelity HHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, £18.50

Lifted HH theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–20 Aug, not 7, £6.50

11:10 Myth in Store Paradise in Augustines, 16–20 Aug, £8 The Squire Sisters theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £6 Road theSpace on Niddry St, 15–20 Aug, £8

11:15 Four Plays for Coarse Actors theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £8 Jane Eyre: An Autobiography Assembly Roxy, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £8—£13

11:20 Confetti Venue 13, 6–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £10 Perfidious Lion Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50

11:25 Irons Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–20 Aug, £10 Spill Your Guts Here theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5—£7 The Fox and the Hound Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–20 Aug, £9 Ears on a Beatle Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £9

The Happening Just the Tonic at The Caves, 21–28 Aug, £5 Krapp 39 Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £6—£10 Lost in Blue Summerhall, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £10—£12 World Without Us

HH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £10—£12

2044 Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–20 Aug, not 10, 11, 14, £7 Once... HHH Assembly George Square Theatre, 4–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £10—£14 Rubber Zoo Southside, 6–28 Aug, £10

The Echo Chamber Spotlites, 14–28 Aug, £6.50

11:50 Outside the Box – A Live Show About Death HHH Summerhall, 4–21 Aug, £6—£8 Happy Yet? theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £7 Escape from the Planet of the Day That Time Forgot Assembly Roxy, Various dates from 6 Aug to 29 Aug, £10—£12 Scapegoat theSpace on the Mile, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8 Luna Park Zoo Southside, 14–29 Aug, not 22, £5—£9

11:35

The Six-Sided Man Assembly Roxy, Various dates from 4 Aug to 28 Aug, £6—£12

Black and White Tea Room Paradise in The Vault, 6–20 Aug, not 14, £10

Callisto: A Queer Epic Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

Hamlet theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £10

11:55

11:40 Troika SpaceTriplex, Various dates from 5 Aug to 25 Aug, £7 Change SpaceTriplex, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £7 More Scouse Saddam theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 16–20 Aug, £8 Little Wolfie theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £8—£9 Northanger Abbey Underbelly, Cowgate, 5–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50

11:30

The Taming of the Shrew Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 22–27 Aug, £10

The Living Room Rose Bruford @ Upper Church, Summerhall , 18–21 Aug, £12

Leftover SpaceTriplex, Various dates from 8 Aug to 27 Aug, £7

Escape Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 16–20 Aug, £12

11:45 Finders Keepers ZOO, 5–27 Aug, not 15, £7—£9

Fabric Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

12:00 Anything That Gives Off Light Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 26 Aug, £25 Jonas Müller Regrets Writing This F*cking Masterpiece HH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £6—£10.50 Mushroom!

Gayfield Venues, 25–29 Aug, £10 Molière’s The Hypochondriac C venues – C, 14–20 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Lest We Forget Paradise in Augustines, 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £6—£8 Emoji Spotlites, 14–20 Aug, £4 Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6.50—£11

BOX assemblyfestival.com OFFICE 0131 623 3030 @AssemblyFest

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Theatre

09:00

86

New Town Theatre

Mysterious / 96 George Street EH2 3DH +44 (0)131 220 0143

7 th, 8 th, 9 th AUG 2016 11:30am - 75min

Directed by

£10.00 / £5.00

Wang Xiaoying ☆☆☆☆

The Guardian Review of Richard III

☆☆☆☆

“...every bit as exciting as you could imagine” The Morning Star Review of Richard III

Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe Presents Early Doors Pleasance Pop-Up: The Pub, 5–29 Aug, not 15, 23, £7—£12

Trolley Girls Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 24–28 Aug, £free

The Life and Crimes of Reverend Raccoon C venues – C nova, 21– 29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

House and Amongst the Reeds HHH Assembly George Square Theatre, 4–27 Aug, not 10, 17, £7—£12

Für Elise C venues – C nova, 3–20 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

❤ This Evil Thing HHHH

festmag.co.uk

New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £11—£13

All Might Seem Good C venues – C, 21–28 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Jerry Finnegan’s Sister C venues – C nova, 3–24 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 The Toyland Murders

HH

Bedlam Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £7—£9

Oh Hello!

Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £8—£12 Gefilte Fish and Chips Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, £6—£11 Mimes in Time Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £6—£10 Binari Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 22, £8—£13

Listings

Wrecked HH Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13

12:05 African Traditional Acrobatics and Cultural SpaceTriplex, 16–27 Aug, not 18, 21, 23, 25, £10 If There’s Not Dancing at the Revolution, I’m Not Coming Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 22, £8—£10

12:15

12:30

And the Rope Still Tugging Her Feet

A Divine Comedy Valvona & Crolla, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, £15

HHH

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £5—£10

Save + Quit HH Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10 Dear Home Office Underbelly Med Quad, 22–28 Aug, £8—£9 Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London HHH Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Out of Our Father’s House Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–28 Aug, £5—£12

12:20

12:10 The Baffling Adventures of Question Mark Man theSpace on the Mile, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £7 Sticks Stones Broken Bones Underbelly Potterrow, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£12 Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Roundabout @ Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £9—£13 Feel-Link Zoo Southside, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £8—£12 The Necessity of Atheism theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £8

A Regular Little Houdini Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, £6—£10 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5 Shoot the Women First The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 16–28 Aug, £10

12:25 Sheltered Paradise in The Vault, 15–20 Aug, £8 The Pianist HHH Assembly Roxy, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £9—£13

Tent Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £6—£8 Slaves of Sleep theSpace on the Mile, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £7 5 Years Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 21–28 Aug, £free Best of the Fest Daytime Assembly George Square Gardens, 5–28 Aug, £8—£12.50 Delivery #16 HH Theatre Arts Exchange, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £10—£12 All Aboard the Marriage Hearse Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13 Grimm: An Untold Tale Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 Playing Maggie... The Iron Lady Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, £6—£11 Something Borrowed Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 18, £6—£11

❤

The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro HHHH artSpace@StMarks, 17–27 Aug, not 21, 23, £15

DRIFTWOOD

Leftover SpaceTriplex, Various dates from 5 Aug to 25 Aug, £7

12:45

12:35 Caesar in a Lift Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 15 Aug, 17 Aug, 18 Aug, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, £8.50 Death and the Human theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8 Just Let the Wind Untie My Perfumed Hair... or Who Is Tahirih? HHH Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13

12:40 Troika SpaceTriplex, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £7 Three Jumpers Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £7 Change SpaceTriplex, Various dates from 8 Aug to 27 Aug, £7 Triumvirette Greenside @ Infirmary Street, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £8 Captured HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Shakespeare Syndrome Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–20 Aug, not 14, £free—£8

Cold/Warm Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£9 Jules Verne’s Extraordinary Voyages: Journey to the Centre of the Earth C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £8.50—£10.50 Happiness is a Cup of Tea Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 24, £6—£9 Concerning Mars Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £7 A Play, A Pie and A Pint Le Monde, 5–28 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, 22, 27, £12.50 Machina ZOO, 5–29 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, 28, £5—£9

12:50 Inferno Spotlites, 4–23 Aug, not 12, 13, £9 Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£12 Entrails theSpace @ Venue45, 12–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £7.50

SUPPER CLUB The finest cabaret stars

The List

87

Big Bite-Size Lunch Hour: Best Bites Pleasance Dome, 6–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £7—£10.50

Daily line-ups at assemblyfestival.com

Assembly GeorGe squAre

Assembly CheCkpoint

Until 28 Aug, 15:30

Until 28 Aug, 23:30

Your Fringe Schedule

Theatre

88

Coup de Grâce Sweet Grassmarket, 5–27 Aug, not 16, 17, £7.50 Erik Satie’s - Faction Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £7.50—£16.50

12:55 The Castle Builder Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£12 Fish and Chips with Edith theSpace on the Mile, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £6

13:00 ❤

The Glass Menagerie HHHH King’s Theatre, 21 Aug, £14 John Muir: Rhapsody in Green Valvona & Crolla, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, £12 The Wedding Reception The George Hotel, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £39 My Name is Gideon: Songs, Space Travel and Everything In-Between HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 The Magnetic Diaries ZOO, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £9 Mercury Fur C venues – C cubed, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £9.50—£11.50 The Snow Queen Gilded Balloon at the Museum, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £5—£10

People of the Eye

HHH

Northern Stage at Summerhall, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £9—£11

Operation Love Story Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £8—£10 Hari Ho Gati Meri Dance Base, 27 Aug, £12 Heads Up Dance Base, 25–26 Aug, £7

❤ Dublin Oldschool HHHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £6—£10

Spill: A Verbatim Show About Sex Pleasance Courtyard, 23–29 Aug, £7.50—£10 The Bookbinder Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10 I Love Ursula Hamdress Spotlites, 21–28 Aug, £10 Grey Matter C venues – C nova, 21– 29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 The Invisible Man C venues – C nova, 14–19 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Touch Theatre Arts Exchange, 26–28 Aug, £free Zero Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50

❤ Zero Down HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50

M.I.S. – All Night Long Dance Base, 17–21 Aug, £10—£12 The HandleBards: Much Ado About Nothing Assembly George Square Theatre, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, £13.50—£15 The Opportunity Theatre Arts Exchange, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £5 Single Varietal Spotlites, 19 Aug, £5 The HandleBards: Richard III Assembly George Square Theatre, 22 Aug, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, 28 Aug, £13.50—£15 Dropped HH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

13:05 A Remarkable Person

HHH

Pleasance Dome, 5–27 Aug, £6.50—£11

The Game’s a Foot, Try the Fish theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 7, £5—£7

❤

On the Conditions and Possibilities of Hillary Clinton Taking Me as Her Young Lover HHHHH Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £8—£12

A Fête Worse Than Death Paradise in The Vault, 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £6 Attempts on Her Life theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £8 A Dog’s Tale theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £4—£8 Trumpageddon Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, not 16, 23, £8.50

13:10 Troilus and Cressida theSpace on Niddry St, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8 No Filter theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £7 ADAM – The Modern Frankenstein theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £6

❤

Overshadowed

HHHH

Assembly Roxy, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£12

Mark Thomas: The Red Shed Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 13 Aug, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £20.50

The Elephant Man Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6.50—£13 Expensive Shit

HHH

Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 24 Aug, £18.50

Communicate C venues – C nova, 21– 29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Milk HH Traverse Theatre, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 27 Aug, £20.50 Our Writer C venues – C nova, 3–20 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 One for the Road Quaker Meeting House, 23–27 Aug, £8

My World has Exploded a Little Bit Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

Playback Impro Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free

Twix theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £5

Impromptu Shakespeare Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5

In the Wine Assembly Checkpoint, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £8—£12.50

13:15 Shylock Assembly Roxy, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10—£14 Journeys HH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 8–29 Aug, £8—£9

13:20 Pond Wife HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Children and Animals

HH

Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

HHH

The Trunk Underbelly, George Square, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Medea Dream Silk, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

13:25 Kursk Bedlam Theatre, 22–28 Aug, £8 The Nine Lives of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, £6—£10

❤

Last Dream (on Earth) HHHH Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £10—£15

13:30 Snow Charm and Spring Scenery Theatre Big Tops, 13 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 Alice Unhinged Pleasance Courtyard, 5–20 Aug, £6—£9.50 Mule Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £5—£11 In Tents and Purposes Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 15, 26, £6—£11 Hero Worship C venues – C, 21–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

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The Starship Osiris Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50

Girls Night Out theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £4—£7

Beyond Price Summerhall, 16–28 Aug, £5

13:45

Daffodils (A Play With Songs) HH Traverse Theatre, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, 28 Aug, £20.50 Revolt. She Said.

Revolt Again.

Traverse Theatre, 17 Aug, 21 Aug, 26 Aug, £20.50 The Marked HHH Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £7—£12 Year Ten Spotlites, 14–20 Aug, £6 Yokai Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11 Wrecked HH Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13

festmag.co.uk

13:35 Growth Roundabout @ Summerhall, Various dates from 6 Aug to 27 Aug, £9—£17

❤

Letters to Windsor House

HHHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 22, £6—£8

F.R.A.N.C. The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £9—£10 Jekyll and Hyde Spotlites, 24–28 Aug, £9

❤

Love, Lies and Taxidermy HHHH Roundabout @ Summerhall, Various dates from 5 Aug to 28 Aug, £9—£17

13:40 Abberline’s Artefact SpaceTriplex, 22–26 Aug, £12 The Inevitable Heartbreak of Gavin Plimsole Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10

Listings

It Folds Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £12—£14

Irons Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £10 Octopus HH Assembly George Square Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Teatro Delusio HH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £8—£14.50 A Royal Flush theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £6—£9 Taiwan Season: Solo Date Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10 Just by Ali Smith Assembly George Square Gardens, 15–21 Aug, £9—£10 The Unknown Soldier Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 22, £7.50—£11 In Fidelity HHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £18.50 Scary Shit Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £6—£10

❤

Bubble Revolution HHHH New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £7—£10

13:50 Screw Your Courage! (or The Bloody Crown!)

Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £5—£10 Jumping the Barriers theSpace on the Mile, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8

❤ Empty Beds HHHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

At War With Love Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 8–20 Aug, not 14, £4—£8 Improvised Adventures in Time and Space Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–20 Aug, £6 Terra Incognita Zoo Southside, 14–29 Aug, £5—£10 The Man Who Built His House to Heaven Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £6 Éowyn Emerald & Dancers Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £5—£10

Tracy Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 20, £6—£10

Red and The Wolf Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 17–27 Aug, not 21, £10

My Romantic History theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 7 Aug to 27 Aug, £6—£9

13:55

Sweet Child Of Mine Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £5—£11.50 All Quiet On the Western Front Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9.50 Greater Belfast Traverse Theatre, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, £18.50

❤

Diary of a Madman HHHH Traverse Theatre, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, 28 Aug, £18.50

A Streetcar Named Desire Assembly Roxy, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £7—£10

14:00 Raw Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 28 Aug, £20 Life by the Throat

HHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours Grassmarket East, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 16, 22, 23, £10

The Fool C venues – C south, 24–28 Aug, £8.50—£9.50

Tink Tank Underbelly Potterrow, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£12

Paperclips and Ammunition C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

We Paved the Streets With People PASS Theatre, 27 Aug, £free

❤

HH

My Eyes Went Dark HHHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £12.50—£18.50 Every Wild Beast C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £9.50—£11.50 The Mindspace Lauriston Halls, 15–25 Aug, not 21, 23, £6 Hari Ho Gati Meri Dance Base, 25–28 Aug, £10—£12 Holes by Tom Basden C venues – C south, 14–20 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 The Age of (Distr) action theSpace @ Venue45, 16–20 Aug, £7 Goggles HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Missed Connections C venues – C nova, 13–20 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 The Other Institut français d’Ecosse, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10 Faulty Towers the Dining Experience B’est Restaurant, 5–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £49.50—£54.50 Alice in Wasteland Studio 24, 26 Aug, £20 The South Afreakins Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, £3—£8 On Ego by Mick Gordon ZOO, 5–20 Aug, £8—£10

❤ Counting Sheep HHHH Summerhall @ The King’s Hall, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £12

The Accidental Adventures of Sherlock Holmes C venues – C, 8–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

DRIFTWOOD

The Chicken Trial

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50

The School for Wives C venues – C nova, 3–20 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Locusts and Weasels C venues – C nova, 13–29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Rubber Zoo Southside, 6–28 Aug, £10

The Calm Venue 13, 21–27 Aug, £9 Grandad Died theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £5 Foxtrot Paradise in The Vault, 15–28 Aug, not 21, £7 Bouncers theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–20 Aug, £7 Romeo and Juliet Post Scriptum theSpace on the Mile, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £5—£8 One Hundred Homes

HHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8—£10

Labels Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Delphine HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Generation Zero

HH

Special Delivery Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 24–28 Aug, £7 Gulliver’s Travels Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Yokes Night Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£10 Verge of Strife Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, £7—£12

14:20

14:10 Hamlet in Bed Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £6—£11.50

Blood Will Have Blood HH C venues – C nova, 9–29 Aug, £11.50—£13.50

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10

Spaced: Whisky Theatre Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@ Jenners, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, 28 Aug, £15

Lucky 6 Spotlites, 14–20 Aug, £10

Absence of Separation Bourbon Bar, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

HHH

Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, not 15, £5—£9

14:05

14:15

Trolling Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£11

Around the World in 80 Days Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5 Glasgow Girls Assembly Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £12—£17.50 The Mission Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£11 Made Up HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 Intergalactic Nemesis: Twin Infinity – A Live Action Graphic Novel Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £6—£14

SUPPER CLUB The finest cabaret stars

The List

89

Cautionary Kate

Life According to Saki C venues – C, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£10.50

Daily line-ups at assemblyfestival.com

Assembly GeorGe squAre

Assembly CheCkpoint

Until 28 Aug, 15:30

Until 28 Aug, 23:30

Your Fringe Schedule

Theatre

90

14:25 In Her Own Words: The Diana Tapes theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £9 Van Gogh Find Yourself Natural Food Kafe, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Mairi Campbell: Pulse HHH Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £11—£14 Hella Granger – Superstar Sweet Grassmarket, 21–28 Aug, £8

14:30 Anything That Gives Off Light Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 20 Aug, 24 Aug, £25

❤

The Glass Menagerie HHHH King’s Theatre, 11 Aug, 13 Aug, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, £14 Snow Charm and Spring Scenery Theatre Big Tops, 12 Aug, 16 Aug, 17 Aug, 18 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 Songs and Stories of Scotland Sweet Grassmarket, 15–28 Aug, £8 Absolutely Legless Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 27 Aug, £10 Lost in Complete Dance Base, 16–21 Aug, £10—£12 Delivery #16 HH Theatre Arts Exchange, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £10—£12

Death of Her Brother Sweet Grassmarket, 5–20 Aug, £8 The Auld Alliance Mayfield Salisbury Church, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £12 Dusty Horne’s Sound and Fury HH Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6.50—£11 Playing Soldiers C venues – C, 21–29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Frankenstein Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6.50—£13 Much Ado About Nothing HH Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 15–20 Aug, £8 Ane Servant o’ Twa Maisters Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre, 20 Aug, £11 Enron St Ninian’s Hall, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £12 The Handmaidens of Death – WWI Theatre of Its Time Quaker Meeting House, 22–27 Aug, £8

14:35 Ubu on the Table

HHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 10, 15, 22, £6—£12

No Exit (Huis Clos) theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 22–26 Aug, £7 Anonymous Paradise in The Vault, 15–20 Aug, £5 PALPitations theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–20 Aug, £5

Call Mr Robeson Spotlites, 5 Aug, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, £7—£11 Just an Ordinary Lawyer Spotlites, Various dates from 4 Aug to 20 Aug, £5—£10 This is Japanese Iki! Sweet Grassmarket, 21–28 Aug, £10

14:40 ❤ Agent of

600 People Northern Stage at Summerhall, 18–27 Aug, not 24, £11

My Life in...

Le Monde, 8–26 Aug, not 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, £10

Nzinga Warrior Queen Scottish Storytelling Centre, 4–19 Aug, not 10, £7—£10

14:50

The ME ZOO, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £5—£10

Cosmic Fear or The Day Brad Pitt Got Paranoia HHH Bedlam Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6.50—£9

Karen Hobbs: Tumour Has It Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 Don’t Panic! It’s Challenge Anneka

HH

Influence: The Secret Life of Pamela More

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 11, 22, £7—£10

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

Fat Girls Don’t Dance

HHHH

❤ Fossils HHHH Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

The Supermarket Six theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £7 The Hours Before We Wake Underbelly, Cowgate, 5–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50 Bull SpaceTriplex, 23–27 Aug, £8—£9 A Tale of Two Cities: Blood for Blood HH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£13 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn theSpace on Niddry St, 15–20 Aug, £8

14:45 Hurricane Michael Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£11

Chopping Chillies Assembly Roxy, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £8—£12

HHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10

14:55 The Erpingham Camp Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–20 Aug, £9 Tago: Korean Drum II Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 17, £8—£13

❤ Team Viking HHHH Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7—£10

Antigone theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £8

15:00 Electric Eden Pleasance Pop-Up: The Club, Various dates from 3 Aug to 29 Aug, £6—£10

God’s Anointed Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £7 Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 5–20 Aug, not 14, £5.50—£11 Immortal Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8 How is Uncle John?

Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£11 The Moira Monologues by Alan Bissett Scottish Storytelling Centre, 20–29 Aug, £12 Ockham’s Razor: Tipping Point C venues – C scala, 3–25 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £14.50—£16.50 Nel HHH Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Hess HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £6—£12 Wrecked HH Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13 Sexual Fears of a Modern Day Virgin Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 6–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £5—£7.50

Thanks But No Thanks Theatre Arts Exchange, 22 Aug, £10 papercut– Theatre Arts Exchange, 20 Aug, £10 Measure for Measure The Lyceum, 20 Aug, £10 You Tweet My Face Space Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £5—£10 They Built It. No One Came.

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Bubble Schmeisis

HHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £6—£11

This Earth Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £5—£6 Bloody Mary C venues – C cubed, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £7.50—£9.50 The Silence at the Song’s End Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 22–27 Aug, £8 Taiwan Season: NuShu Dance Base, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £10—£12

BOX assemblyfestival.com OFFICE 0131 623 3030 @AssemblyFest

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Dame Nature – The Magnificent Bearded Lady Assembly George Square Theatre, 16–29 Aug, £10—£11

15:05 Fran & Leni HH Assembly George Square Theatre, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Crazed C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50 Family Voices and Victoria Station theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £8 Killer Cells theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–20 Aug, £7 Six Characters in Search of a Handout Paradise in Augustines, 15–20 Aug, £8 Everyman theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £5

❤ Denton and Me HHHH

festmag.co.uk

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £8—£12

We Are Not Criminals theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £6—£9

15:10 Swivelhead HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Exactly Like You

HH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £6—£11

Fingertips C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50 In Utero theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £6—£10 Three Layers of Meta and a Time Machine Paradise in Augustines, 22–28 Aug, £9.50

The Hogwallops Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 4–22 Aug, not 10, 15, £9—£12

Every Brilliant Thing Roundabout @ Summerhall, 6–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £15—£17

The Picture of Dorian Gray Bourbon Bar, 21–27 Aug, £free

Remember Edith Cavell Palmerston Place Church, 27 Aug, £11

Robert Burns: Rough Cut Scottish Storytelling Centre, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £7—£9

Some Voices theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 7 Aug to 27 Aug, £6—£9 Dreamcatcher theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £15

❤ HHHH

Skin of the Teeth

Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6.50—£11

Jules Verne’s Extraordinary Voyages: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £8.50—£10.50 Brazil HHH New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £8—£12

The Life of the Party Bourbon Bar, 14–20 Aug, £free The Elephant Girls New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11 The Duke Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 8, 15, £free

❤ Scorched HHHH Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £7—£9

You, Me and the Distance Between Us Paradise in The Vault, 22–28 Aug, £7

15:20

Lucy, Lucy and Lucy Barfield HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10

Poena 5X1 Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

This is Not Culturally Significant HH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, £6—£10

Smother Zoo Southside, 5–27 Aug, £8—£12

POP-UP Duets (fragments of love) National Museum of Scotland, 4–28 Aug, not 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, £free

Be Prepared HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11

15:25 Sheets Silk, 6–27 Aug, £free The Lounge HHH Summerhall, 3–27 Aug, not 4, 15, £10—£15

15:35 Vera Vera Vera theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19–27 Aug, not 21, £7 Nowhere Now Sweet Grassmarket, 19–21 Aug, £7

15:40

15:30

15:15

Dracula Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6.50—£11

❤ A Simple Space HHHH

❤ Driftwood HHHH

Underbelly, George Square, 4–25 Aug, not 10, 17, 22, £10.50—£15.50

Listings

Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours Grassmarket East, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £10

Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £10—£15

Noiseless and Patient SpaceTriplex, 16–27 Aug, not 21, £8 Hang C venues – C nova, 3–27 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Sleeping Dogs Lie theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £7

Giant HH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6.50—£11 Catching Up Natural Food Kafe, 6–19 Aug, £free

15:45 Beryl Sweet Grassmarket, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, 24 Aug, £7 The Jungle Book: Cobwebs and Moontalk C venues – C south, 4–21 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Dead Awaken

HHH

Venue 13, 6–27 Aug, not 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, £10

The Enchanted theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £6—£8 One Day Moko Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£13.50 Touch Therapy Paradise in The Vault, 6–20 Aug, not 14, £7 The Meeting Sweet Grassmarket, 17 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, 26 Aug, 27 Aug, £7

❤

Diary of a Madman HHHH Traverse Theatre, 24 Aug, £18.50

15:50 ❤ Bucket List HHHH Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £6.50—£13.50

15:55 The Money Fish Paradise in The Vault, 5–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £4—£10 Carlotta de Galleon – A Fool for Love!

Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, £5—£8 F*cking Men Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £10—£15 Meet Fred HHH Summerhall, 5–25 Aug, not 15, 22, £5—£10

DRIFTWOOD

Anything That Gives Off Light Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 26 Aug, £25 Raw Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 27 Aug, £20 Ada/Ava by Manual Cinema Underbelly Potterrow, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £7—£13 Cut Underbelly Med Quad, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £14.50—£15.50 Diary of a Madman Institut français d’Ecosse, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£10

Lovely Lady Lump Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Alba Flamenca Alba Flamenca, Various dates from 5 Aug to 28 Aug, £14 Flesh Dance Base, 24–28 Aug, £10—£12 Blow Off Traverse Theatre, 22 Aug, £16.50 Chef: Come Dine With Us! Assembly George Square Theatre, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£14.50

❤ Pss Pss HHHH

Mushroom!

Gayfield Venues, 24–29 Aug, £10

Assembly Roxy, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £9—£14

Expensive Shit

HHH

Traverse Theatre, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, £18.50

My Dog’s Got No Nose The Royal Scots Club, 23–27 Aug, £8 The Lake of Dead Languages The Royal Scots Club, 15–20 Aug, £10 Three Days’ Time C venues – C nova, 17–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 White Rabbit Red Rabbit Assembly George Square Studios, 4–28 Aug, £8—£12 The Room Mate The Edinburgh Academy, 16 Aug, 18 Aug, 20 Aug, £12.50 In Our Hands Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, £6—£11 The Dwelling Place

HH

Summerhall, 3–19 Aug, not 4, 15, £6—£12

16:05 Krapp’s Last Tape theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £8 Chinese Women’s Whispers Spotlites, 14–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £8 The Berkovian Medea Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 22–27 Aug, £9.50 The Maiden’s Toy theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £7 Decade theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £8 Wasted Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £8 The Telemachy Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £10 One Hundred Homes

HHH

Summerhall, Various dates from 5 Aug to 28 Aug, £10

16:10

I Am Rhythm Dance Base, 5–21 Aug, not 8, 15, £10—£12 I Keep a Woman in My Flat Chained to a Radiator ZOO, 5–29 Aug, not 17, £5—£9 Macbeth: Without Words ZOO, 14–29 Aug, £8—£12

A Little Princess C venues – C cubed, 9–29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

The Girl Who Touched the Stars Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 22–27 Aug, £9 Often Onstage Pleasance Dome, 3–26 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£11

SUPPER CLUB The finest cabaret stars

The List

91

16:00

Daily line-ups at assemblyfestival.com

Assembly GeorGe squAre

Assembly CheCkpoint

Until 28 Aug, 15:30

Until 28 Aug, 23:30

Your Fringe Schedule Mr Kingdom’s Queen Victoria (Or a Little of What You Fancy) Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£12

27 Wagons Full of Cotton by Tennessee Williams Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £6—£10.50

Red Rose / White Rose Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 15–20 Aug, £5

The F Words Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 22–27 Aug, £8

HHHH

Paper in My Pants Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 15–20 Aug, £6

❤

Mark Thomas: The Red Shed Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 14 Aug, 17 Aug, 21 Aug, 26 Aug, £20.50

Dolly Wants to Die Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

Adventures of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl HH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£10

Eight theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–27 Aug, £8

Begin Again Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5

Alice and the Dream Child Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 8–20 Aug, not 14, £8

A Number by Caryl Churchill C venues – C nova, 14–28 Aug, not 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, £8.50—£10.50

❤

Wil Greenway: The Way the City Ate the Stars HHHH Underbelly Med Quad, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Spoonface Steinberg theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £6—£8 Queen Lear HHH Assembly Roxy, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £10—£16 A Matter of Life and Death Greenside @ Infirmary Street, Various dates from 5 Aug to 19 Aug, £4—£8

16:15 UTO theSpace @ Venue45, 21–27 Aug, £8—£10 Daffodils (A Play With Songs) HH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 13 Aug, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £20.50 Revolt. She Said.

Revolt Again.

Traverse Theatre, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 27 Aug, £20.50 Numbers by Kieron Barry C venues – C nova, 15–29 Aug, not 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, £8.50—£10.50

Milk HH Traverse Theatre, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, 28 Aug, £20.50 I’m Doing This for You HHH Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £5—£10 Happy Dave HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6.50—£11

16:20 Arcadia Spotlites, 14–28 Aug, £8 360 Allstars Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £10—£16 Small Hours C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£10.50 Under Ice Summerhall, 8–21 Aug, not 16, £10 Epic Love and Pop Songs Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10

16:30 Equus C venues – C, 21–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Silver Lining & Jacksons Lane: Throwback HHH Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 4–22 Aug, not 15, £11—£16 Shaedates: or How I Learned to Love Myself ZOO, 5–20 Aug, £5—£10

❤

The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro HHHH artSpace@StMarks, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 29 Aug, £15

Back of the Bus Assembly George Square Gardens, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £8—£12.50

16:35 ❤ Infinity Pool: A Modern Retelling of Madame Bovary

HHHH

Bedlam Theatre, 3–29 Aug, not 19, £6—£11

16:40

We Live by the Sea Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£9

William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£13

I Am Yours theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £6—£9

A Terrified Soul – Macbeth theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 25–27 Aug, £8

❤

Mr Incredible HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11

Angel by Henry Naylor HHHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 17, £6—£12.50 Wrecked HH Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13

All the Things I Lied About Roundabout @ Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £9—£13

We Paved the Streets With People PASS Theatre, 27 Aug, £free

Broken Fanny theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5

Growing Pains H Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50

16:45

Blushed Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £7 Hotel Europa Just Festival at St John’s , 25 Aug, £12 Hip ZOO, 23–27 Aug, £10 Casting Call Woe Gilded Balloon at the Museum, 15–28 Aug, £8—£10 Stuff Assembly George Square Theatre, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Tandem C venues – C, 14–29 Aug, not 18, 19, £10.50—£12.50 Greater Belfast Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 14 Aug, 26 Aug, £18.50

❤

Diary of a Madman HHHH Traverse Theatre, 20 Aug, £18.50

Dracula C venues – C too, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £9.50—£11.50 MOONFACE Zoo Southside, 5–28 Aug, not 21, £5—£9 Alana C venues – C nova, 14–28 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 In Fidelity HHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £12.50—£18.50 Jules Verne’s Extraordinary Voyages: The Lighthouse at the End of the World C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £8.50—£10.50

❤

My Eyes Went Dark HHHH Traverse Theatre, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, 28 Aug, £18.50

Prestwick Elvis theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 7 Aug to 27 Aug, £6—£9

16:50 Iphigenia in Tauris Spotlites, 4–20 Aug, £9

❤

How (Not) to Live in Suburbia

HHHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 10, 15, 22, £8—£12

Putting the Band Back Together

HHH

Northern Stage at Summerhall, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £10—£12

16:55 5 Out of 10 Men... theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, not 14, £7—£9 The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £8 Unnatural Selection Natural Food Kafe, 21–27 Aug, £free From the Mouths of the Gods HHH C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £10.50—£12.50

17:00 About a Girl SpaceTriplex, 22–27 Aug, £3.50 Swansong Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6.50—£11 Trashed Lauriston Halls, 8–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £free Whiteout Zoo Southside, 5–27 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £10—£12.50 L’Heure Fugitive Rose Bruford @ Upper Church, Summerhall , 25 Aug, £10 Revolution in the Magic Square Theatre Arts Exchange, 6–21 Aug, not 15, 20, £8—£10 Fourth Monkey’s Genesis and Revelation: The Whale theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, £8—£11

Lady Shakespeare Paradise in The Vault, 15–28 Aug, not 21, £8 Evil Spotlites, 4–20 Aug, £9 Leaf by Niggle Scottish Storytelling Centre, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, 23, £6—£10 Electric Eden Pleasance Pop-Up: The Club, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £10 Undermined ZOO, 15–20 Aug, £10 The Opportunity Theatre Arts Exchange, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, £5 Dancer Dance Base, 17–28 Aug, not 22, £10—£12 The Club Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, £6.50—£12.50 En Folkefiende HH Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£11 Thanks But No Thanks Theatre Arts Exchange, 23–24 Aug, £10 Rubber Zoo Southside, 6–28 Aug, £10

17:05 The Wall theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £10 Making Monsters theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £10 The Rose of Jericho theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £10 A Fragile Lift theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £5 The Lost Children of Neverland SpaceTriplex, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £7

17:10 Cracked Tiles Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, not 5, 14, 26, £7.50—£8.50 Poe’s Last Night Sweet Grassmarket, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £8 In Defence of Hitler!

Sweet Grassmarket, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £8

BOX assemblyfestival.com OFFICE 0131 623 3030 @AssemblyFest

#MyAssembly

Theatre

Alan and Bennett Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 6–20 Aug, not 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, £4—£8

92

FirstSprout Theatre

Deal with the Dragon

written and performed by Kevin Rolston

17:15 Twonkey’s Drive-In: Jennifer’s Robot Arm Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £5 Contemporary?

ZOO, 7–19 Aug, £8—£12

festmag.co.uk

Spaced: Whisky Theatre Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@ Jenners, 9–27 Aug, not 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 25, £15 A Dream of Dying

HH

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £11

Remember Me: Horatio’s Hamlet Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £10 The Song of Beast (after Hamlet) C venues – C south, 4–29 Aug, £9.50—£11.50

❤ Adler & Gibb HHHH

Two Spotlites, 24–28 Aug, £8.50

Felix Holt: The Radical Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 15–20 Aug, £8

Anarchy at the Hearty Toadstool Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–24 Aug, £free

Taiwan Season: Lost in Grey Dance Base, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £10—£12

17:20 Dead Wright Greenside @ Infirmary Street, Various dates from 6 Aug to 24 Aug, £7—£9 Deep-Fried Language C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 The Concept Venue 13, 19–27 Aug, £9 Boys Greenside @ Infirmary Street, Various dates from 5 Aug to 25 Aug, £7—£9

Summerhall, 3–27 Aug, not 4, 8, 15, 22, £12—£15

Ten Storey Love Song Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 4, 16, £6—£10

Girl HH C venues – C cubed, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £9.50—£11.50

All in the Timing Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–20 Aug, not 14, £4—£9

Nuclear Family Assembly Roxy, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£13

17:25

Art of Reduction and Distillation of Humanity: Whisky Theatre Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@ Jenners, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £15

Listings

Hunchback Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £10

All In Summerhall, 16–26 Aug, not 22, £12 Tomatoes Spotlites, 22–23 Aug, £5 All of Me Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 22–27 Aug, £8

17:30 Perhaps Hope

HHH

Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 4–22 Aug, not 15, £10—£15

Animal (Are You a Proper Person?)

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £7—£13 Remember to Breathe Summerhall, 5–27 Aug, not 15, £8—£12 Bricking It HH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£10.50 Hotel Europa Just Festival at St John’s , 24 Aug, 27 Aug, £12 Travesty HH Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£11 Grace HHH Assembly Checkpoint, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 9, 15, 22, 23, £10—£14

17:35 The D-List Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£10.50 Canon Warriors Paradise in The Vault, 15–28 Aug, not 21, £7

Home theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–20 Aug, £7

Love for Sale HHH Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, £7—£12

The Murderer Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, £5—£8

17:40

17:50

Boris: World King Pleasance Dome, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £7—£13.50

Albatross Paradise in Augustines, 15–28 Aug, not 21, £12

Alice in Wasteland Studio 24, 23–25 Aug, £20

The Winter Gift theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £12

Darktales HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £6—£14

1984 theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 22–27 Aug, £7 Rotterz theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 15 Aug to 26 Aug, £6 Molhados&Secos – Wet and Dry HHH ZOO, 14–29 Aug, £7—£8 Tartuffe theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–20 Aug, £8 Droll theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 26–27 Aug, £5 Katsura Sunshine: Rakugo!

Sweet Grassmarket, 7–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8

17:45 John Muir: Rhapsody in Green Valvona & Crolla, 20 Aug, £12 YPFii C venues – C too, 14–20 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Tell Me Anything

HHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, £8—£11

DRIFTWOOD

4D Cinema Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 8, 15, 22, £4—£9

17:55 Call Mr Robeson Spotlites, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, £10—£11 Rose Silk, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Just an Ordinary Lawyer Spotlites, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, 28 Aug, £9—£10

18:00 Broken Serenity Cafe, 6–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

❤ Le Bossu HHHH Bedlam Theatre, 3–21 Aug, not 16, £5—£8.50

Posh Bedlam Theatre, 16–28 Aug, not 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, £8—£9

Assembly Hall, 4–29 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £10—£16

❤

The Glass Menagerie HHHH King’s Theatre, 21 Aug, £14 The Wedding Reception The George Hotel, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 18, 23, £39—£43 The Allergic Audience Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, 8–19 Aug, weekdays only, £10 Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours Grassmarket East, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £15 Being a Dad Just Festival at St John’s , 20 Aug, £10 Every Wild Beast C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £9.50—£11.50 Trainspotting Assembly George Square Studios, 4–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £10—£15 Absolutely Legless Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 27 Aug, £12 I Love You / It’s Over The Edinburgh Academy, 19–20 Aug, £8

SUPPER CLUB The finest cabaret stars

The List

93

Nicole Henriksen is Makin it Rain Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11

❤ Attrape Moi HHHH

Daily line-ups at assemblyfestival.com

Assembly GeorGe squAre

Assembly CheCkpoint

Until 28 Aug, 15:30

Until 28 Aug, 23:30

Your Fringe Schedule

94 WINNER

SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST AWARD

BROKEN BONE S “He reminds you what your imagination is for”

“Astonishing”

Theatre

STICK

STONESS, ,

– The Scotsman

lemon bucket orkestra presents a guerrilla folk opera

COUNTING SHEEP

SUMMERHALL @ KING’S HALL AUG 4-28 @ 8 PM (NOT MONDAYS)

COUNTINGSHEEPREVOLUTION.COM PLUS 2 PM ON WEEKENDS

❤

Blush HHHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11

18:05 A New Case of Jekyll and Hyde theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 23–27 Aug, £4 Bit of Sunshine theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £8 Wonderman HHH Underbelly Potterrow, 3–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £6—£12 Fire Burn: The Tragedy of Macbeth theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 15 Aug to 27 Aug, £9.50

❤ Scorch HHHH Roundabout @ Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £9—£16

18:10 Stunning the Punters (& Other Stories) Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £5—£10 A Waiting Room theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £6 The Marvellous Adventures of Mary Seacole HHH C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £9.50—£11.50 Dreaming of Leaves theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 16 Aug to 26 Aug, £8

18:15 India Flamenco Alba Flamenca, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £12

Three for Two by Phil Booth ZOO, 5–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £5—£9 Dark Vanilla Jungle C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 7, 16, £9.50—£11.50 Back of the Bus Assembly George Square Gardens, 5–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £8—£12.50 Black Comedy The Royal Scots Club, 15–20 Aug, £12 The Tobacco Merchant’s Lawyer New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £12

18:25 A Boy Named Sue C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£10.50

18:30 The Game’s Afoot Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, 15–19 Aug, £8 The Gin Chronicles: A Scottish Adventure artSpace@StMarks, 8–25 Aug, not 21, £12 E15 HHH Northern Stage at Summerhall, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £9—£11

Happy Together C venues – C cubed, 4–29 Aug, not 16, £8.50—£10.50

❤

Shakespeare in the Garden: Twelfth Night, or What You Will C venues – C south, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50

An Evening with CS Lewis Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, £11

And They Played Shang-A-Lang New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £10

18:20 Almost, Maine Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5 Ros & Guil R Dead theSpace on the Mile, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £8 Fourth Monkey’s Genesis and Revelation: The Ark theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, £8—£11

Bird HHHH

Dance Base, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £10—£12

A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for 56 Minutes and Then Leaves... 8 Voodoo Rooms, 22 Aug, £free And Now… Zoo Southside, 15–27 Aug, £10—£12

❤

Blank HHHH Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 22, £10—£12 The Empire Builders Institut français d’Ecosse, 5–21 Aug, not 15, £6—£12 Hamlet, Ophelia – Part One Spotlites, 13–28 Aug, £7—£8

Collateral Damage The Royal Scots Club, 22–27 Aug, £10

❤

Monkhouse theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 15 Aug to 26 Aug, £6

Taiwan Season: The Sacrifice of Roaring ZOO, 5–29 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £5—£10

The Convolution of Pip and Twig SpaceTriplex, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £6—£8

Diary of a Madman HHHH Traverse Theatre, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, £18.50

The Great Gatsby Greenside @ Royal Terrace, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £8 Five Kinds of Silence Quaker Meeting House, 22–27 Aug, £10 Of Wardrobes and Rings Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 16–20 Aug, £11

18:35 Gratiano Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, not 22, £7.50—£11 Care Takers C venues – C, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £9.50—£11.50

18:40 ABCs to LSD theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 22–27 Aug, £5 A Good Clean Heart Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £6—£11 iDolls theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 16 Aug to 27 Aug, £6 Contactless Paradise in The Vault, 6–20 Aug, not 14, £8

Unveiled Paradise in The Vault, 27–28 Aug, £8

Brain Matter(s) Venue 13, 21–27 Aug, £9

18:45 ❤

My Eyes Went Dark HHHH Traverse Theatre, 24 Aug, £18.50 Expensive Shit

HHH

Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 14 Aug, 26 Aug, £18.50

Your Own Man / Mad Notions Dance Base, 23–28 Aug, £10—£12 Sirqus Alfon: I Am Somebody HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £7—£12 Poetic Transformations of Existential Delight Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £5 The HandleBards: Richard III Assembly @ Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: West Gate, Various dates from 5 Aug to 19 Aug, £12—£15

The HandleBards: The Taming of the Shrew Assembly @ Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: West Gate, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, £13.50—£15 A:Version and Pitch Dance Base, 17–21 Aug, £10—£12 The HandleBards: Much Ado About Nothing Assembly @ Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: West Gate, Various dates from 6 Aug to 20 Aug, £13.50—£15 The HandleBards: Romeo and Juliet Assembly @ Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: West Gate, 21 Aug, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, 28 Aug, £13.50—£15 Petrol HH ZOO, 5–29 Aug, £5—£9

18:50 The Point theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–20 Aug, £10

18:55 Closer by Circa Underbelly, George Square, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 16, 23, £11.50—£18.50 xx HHH Paradise in The Vault, 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £7 Droll theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 15–25 Aug, not 21, £5

BOX assemblyfestival.com OFFICE 0131 623 3030 @AssemblyFest

#MyAssembly

19:00 Raw Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 27–28 Aug, £20 Cut Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £10—£15.50 We’re All Mad in Here Leith Depot, 21–25 Aug, £free Milk HH Traverse Theatre, Various dates from 5 Aug to 25 Aug, £14.50—£20.50 Revolution in the Magic Square Theatre Arts Exchange, 20 Aug, £10 FiXion?

Buccleuch Free Church, 15–19 Aug, £free Foehn Effect C venues – C nova, 14–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

festmag.co.uk

Trinity Theatre Arts Exchange, 22–26 Aug, £10 I Ran With the Gang: The Story of Alan Longmuir, the Original Bay City Roller Le Monde, 5–28 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, 22, 27, £15 At the Illusionist’s Table The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 5–29 Aug, not 8, 22, £59

❤ O is for Hoolet HHHH Scottish Storytelling Centre, 12–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £10

Daffodils (A Play With Songs) HH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 17 Aug, 21 Aug, 26 Aug, £14.50—£20.50 Snakes and Giants

HHH

Summerhall, 3–27 Aug, not 4, 15, £9—£11.50

The Dwelling Place

HH

Summerhall, 3–19 Aug, not 4, 15, £6—£12

Listings

Cafe Baile Lauriston Halls, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, £9

❤

Mark Thomas: The Red Shed

HHHH

Traverse Theatre, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 27 Aug, £20.50

papercut– Theatre Arts Exchange, Various dates from 15 Aug to 21 Aug, £10 The Tempest Inveresk Lodge Garden, 27 Aug, £11

19:05

Sisu theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8 Faslane Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, £8—£10 Remember Edith Cavell Palmerston Place Church, 23–26 Aug, £11

19:20 Doubting Thomas

Keep it Real theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £8 Another Fine Mess theSpace on the Mile, 22–27 Aug, £8—£9

❤ Heads Up HHHH

HHH

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, 22, £5—£10

❤ JOAN HHHHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11

First Lady Serenity Cafe, 15–28 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Alix in Wundergarten

HH

Underbelly Med Quad, Various dates from 3 Aug to 29 Aug, £6—£11

Revolt. She Said.

Revolt Again.

Traverse Theatre, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, 28 Aug, £20.50 Family Values theSpace on the Mile, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5—£10 Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours Grassmarket East, 5–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 16, 22, 23, £15

Parish Fête-ality: A Game of Scones C venues – C, 8–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Sins Borne theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £8

Horse McDonald in Careful Gilded Balloon at the Museum, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £6—£13.50

Unseen Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, £7

❤

Delay Detach

HHH

Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–20 Aug, not 14, £8

19:30

Cradle King Scottish Storytelling Centre, 12–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £10

Living a Little New Town Theatre, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £7—£10

Anything That Gives Off Light Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 16–25 Aug, not 21, £25

A Series of Unfortunate Breakups C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 16, £8.50—£10.50

Cats and Dogs Give the Best Advice Spotlites, 6–20 Aug, £5

Scottish Ballet Festival Theatre, 18–20 Aug, £12

Ane Servant o’ Twa Maisters Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre, 6–19 Aug, not 7, 14, £11

HHH

ZOO, 5–28 Aug, £5—£10

Richard III The Lyceum, 24–28 Aug, £10 The Glass Menagerie HHHH King’s Theatre, 5–20 Aug, not 9, 16, £14 Stamp Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £8—£10 Expensive Shit

HHH

Traverse Theatre, 20 Aug, £18.50

An Act of Faith The Salvation Army Edinburgh City Corps, 25–26 Aug, £7

Still Here ZOO at St Mary’s South Lawn, 3–24 Aug, not 4, 13, 18, £7—£10

Enron St Ninian’s Hall, 8–20 Aug, not 14, 18, £12 The Shepherd Beguiled Duddingston Kirk Manse Gardens, 10–28 Aug, not 15, 16, 22, 23, £10 In Fidelity HHH Traverse Theatre, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, 28 Aug, £18.50 Blow Off Traverse Theatre, 22 Aug, £16.50

19:35 Deadline Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £5—£8

DRIFTWOOD

Being a Dad Just Festival at St John’s , 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 16 Aug, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, £10 Jen Stone and Megan Thompson Dance Project Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 23–27 Aug, £6 The Auld Alliance Mayfield Salisbury Church, 5–19 Aug, weekdays only, £12

19:55 Adventure Quest Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £5—£10 The Wives of Others C venues – C, 14–29 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 Partial Nudity ZOO, 5–27 Aug, £7—£9

19:40

Steam Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £7

19:45 Lïnger Dance Base, 5–21 Aug, not 8, 15, £10—£12 Is It Tabu?

C venues – C south, 4–29 Aug, not 15, £7.50—£9.50 A Passion for Passion Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £free Unknown and Liminal Dance Base, 23–28 Aug, £10—£12 Nightmare Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 22–27 Aug, £9 Fourth Monkey’s Genesis and Revelation: Sodom theSpace on Niddry St, 5–27 Aug, £8—£11 The Gingerbread Lady The Royal Scots Club, 22–27 Aug, £12

20:00 The Room Mate The Edinburgh Academy, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, 21 Aug, £12.50 Faulty Towers the Dining Experience B’est Restaurant, 4–29 Aug, not 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, £49.50—£54.50 Villain Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11 Ash HHH ZOO, 5–19 Aug, £5—£10

❤ Counting Sheep HHHH Summerhall @ The King’s Hall, 4–28 Aug, not 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, £10—£12

Alba Flamenca Alba Flamenca, 5–28 Aug, £14 Child’s Play ZOO, 21–29 Aug, £7 Measure for Measure The Lyceum, 16–20 Aug, £10 The Toad Knew King’s Theatre, 24–28 Aug, £12

❤

Stack HHHH

Bedlam Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £6.50—£10

The Underground: A Response to Dostoevsky Rose Bruford @ Upper Church, Summerhall , 25–26 Aug, £10

SUPPER CLUB The finest cabaret stars

The List

95

Dirty Glitter theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 5 Aug to 26 Aug, £9

Soddin’ Flodden Spotlites, 14–28 Aug, £10

I, Who Have Hands More Innocent

❤

19:15

Not the Horse theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 6 Aug to 27 Aug, £9

Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour Outside the Beehive Inn, 1 Aug–4 Sep, £14

HHH

Bhumi theSpace on Niddry St, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £10

Greater Belfast Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £18.50

Natural Food Kafe, 6–27 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

19:10

Saturday Night Forever Underbelly Med Quad, Various dates from 4 Aug to 28 Aug, £6—£11

Terry Pratchett’s Mort Paradise in Augustines, 15–28 Aug, not 21, £9.50

Undercover Refugee

19:25

2 Complicated Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £9

Old Herbaceous The Brunton , 20 Aug, £12.50

Joli Vyann: Imbalance HHHH Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 4–22 Aug, not 10, 15, £9—£12

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 15, 22, £8—£11

Pale Imitations SpaceTriplex, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £9

Two Kittens & A Kid (A Gay Man Raising His Inner Diva) theSpace on the Mile, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £8—£10

Daily line-ups at assemblyfestival.com

Assembly GeorGe squAre

Assembly CheCkpoint

Until 28 Aug, 15:30

Until 28 Aug, 23:30

Your Fringe Schedule

20:05 Lifted HH theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £6.50

The Monologues of a Tired Nurse theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £6 The Rose of Jericho theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £10 The Inspectors Call Spotlites, 15–28 Aug, £7—£8

20:10 Pussyfooting Paradise in The Vault, 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £10 Lucy McCormick: Triple Threat Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £6—£12

20:15 The End Dance Base, 16–21 Aug, £12 A Common Man: The Bridge That Tom Built

HHH

C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 6, 7, 20, 21, 25, 27, £10.50—£12.50

OwlTime C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £7.50—£9.50

❤ Two Man Show HHHH Northern Stage at Summerhall, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £9—£11

Every Day I Wake Up Hopeful Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £7

20:25 Holmes & Watson: The Farewell Tour theSpace on the Mile, 15–27 Aug, £9 Discretion Guaranteed Paradise in The Vault, 6–28 Aug, not 14, 21, £12

20:30 A Divine Comedy Valvona & Crolla, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, £15

John Knox Buccleuch Free Church, 15–19 Aug, £free Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours Grassmarket East, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £15 Trainspotting Assembly George Square Studios, 3–28 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £10—£15 Solo Shakespeare, Macbeth: Hecate’s Poison Quaker Meeting House, 16–20 Aug, £7

Buzz: A New Musical

HH

Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £8—£10

Jeu Jeu la Foille: Frontal Lobotomy Laughing Horse @ Southside Social, 4–21 Aug, not 8, 15, £free Mungo Park – Travels in the Interior of Africa Summerhall, 3–27 Aug, not 4, 8, 15, 22, £8—£14 The Road to Huntsville HHH Summerhall, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £8—£10

Only Bones Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 8, 15, 22, £7—£11

20:50

Spoon-Feeders theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £9

Spool Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8

The Magic Cave of Salamanca Quaker Meeting House, 22–27 Aug, £6

Lippy theSpace on the Mile, 23–27 Aug, £7

Deal with the Dragon C venues – C nova, 5–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£10.50

I’m Missing You Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £7—£11.50

❤

Red HHHH

Dance Base, 5–21 Aug, not 8, 15, £10—£12

21:05 Fémage a Trois theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £10

21:10 I Will Speak for Myself theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–27 Aug, £10

Ubu Faust theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5—£6

❤ Camille HHHH

Beryl Sweet Grassmarket, 17 Aug, 18 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, £7

Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, £5—£10

UTO theSpace @ Venue45, 16–20 Aug, £8—£10 The Rooster Rebellion theSpace on Niddry St, 5–20 Aug, not 7, 14, £10 The Rose and Crown theSpace on Niddry St, 22–27 Aug, £8

21:15 Blood Will Have Blood HH C venues – C nova, 9–29 Aug, £11.50—£13.50

The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro HHHH artSpace@StMarks, 17 Aug, 20 Aug, £15

20:55

A Working Title SpaceTriplex, 16–20 Aug, £9

20:35 ❤ Moscow Boys HHHH

Bildraum Summerhall, 16–28 Aug, not 22, £10

Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £10—£12

21:00

❤

20:40 Femmetamorphosis Spotlites, 4–28 Aug, £8 Procrastinate theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 22–27 Aug, £7

20:45 Frankenstein: A New Play Spotlites, 14–20 Aug, £10 Scenes from an Urban Gothic Theatre Arts Exchange, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £10

All of Me Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 15–20 Aug, £8

Boris & Sergey: Preposterous Improvisation Experiment Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£12 M.I.S. – All Night Long Dance Base, 23–28 Aug, £12 The Birds#1. Corpses theSpace on the Mile, 15–20 Aug, £8 Ceilidhs in Lauriston Hall Lauriston Halls, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, £8 Echoes ZOO, 5–28 Aug, not 15, 22, £8—£12

Criminology 303 Venue 13, 6–27 Aug, not 8, 15, £9 The Meeting Sweet Grassmarket, 20–22 Aug, £7

Torch HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £6—£11

The Collector The Royal Scots Club, 15–20 Aug, £12

Waltzing Matilda Just the Tonic at The Caves, 4–28 Aug, not 15, £10

Hummingbird

HHH

ZOO, 5–29 Aug, not 16, £5—£9

❤

Diary of a Madman HHHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 14 Aug, 26 Aug, £18.50

In Fidelity HHH Traverse Theatre, 24 Aug, £18.50

21:35 Penetrating Europe, or Migrants Have Talent Paradise in Augustines, 22–28 Aug, £7 Nosferatu’s Shadow Sweet Grassmarket, 4–28 Aug, £10 Tristram Shandy: Live at Scotland C venues – C nova, 10–28 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

21:40 Hyena Paradise in The Vault, 22–28 Aug, £10 I Found That the Sun Will Rise Tomorrow Paradise in Augustines, 6–20 Aug, not 14, £7 Just A Quick One Spotlites, 4–20 Aug, not 14, £5.50

21:20

21:45

Nowhere Now Sweet Grassmarket, Various dates from 15 Aug to 27 Aug, £7

Identity Crisis Spotlites, 21–28 Aug, £10

21:25 Pizza Delique Paradise in Augustines, 22–28 Aug, £7

21:30 Hotel Europa Just Festival at St John’s , 23–24 Aug, £12

❤

My Eyes Went Dark HHHH Traverse Theatre, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, £18.50

As Yet Undecided theSpace on the Mile, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5—£7 Expensive Shit

HHH

Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £18.50

Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII theSpace on the Mile, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £10

21:50 Bonita & Billie Holiday HHH Assembly Roxy, 3–28 Aug, £6—£13

21:55 No Help Sent C venues – C nova, 3–29 Aug, not 15, £8.50—£10.50

22:00 The Master and Margarita ZOO at St Cuthbert’s, 5–29 Aug, not 8, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 28, £10—£12 Joe’s NYC Bar Just the Tonic at The Caves, 5–28 Aug, not 15, £11.50 Mouse – The Persistence of an Unlikely Thought Traverse Theatre, 6–28 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8.50—£12 The Surge Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 8–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £free Alice in Wasteland Presents CabaRave...

The Closing Show Party!

Studio 24, 26–27 Aug, £20 String Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–20 Aug, £7 Elixir HHH Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 4–22 Aug, not 15, £9—£12 Of, or at, a Fairly Low Temperature Summerhall, Various dates from 3 Aug to 28 Aug, £4—£8

❤ Cuncrete HHHH Summerhall, 3–26 Aug, not 4, 8, 15, 22, £8—£10

Kara Sevda Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 22–28 Aug, £free I Used to Hear Footsteps Summerhall, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £4—£8 Oliver Reed: Wild Thing HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£13.50

BOX assemblyfestival.com OFFICE 0131 623 3030 @AssemblyFest

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Theatre

Two and One More Venue 13, 21–27 Aug, £9

96

22:05 Howie the Rookie Paradise in The Vault, 15–28 Aug, not 21, £9.50 Allison After a Fire Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 14, 21, £5—£7

❤

Where Do All the Dead Pigeons Go?

HHHH

Northern Stage at Summerhall, 6–27 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £9—£11

22:10

The Naked Magicians Pleasance Courtyard, 8–29 Aug, not 16, £11.50—£15

22:40 Last Call Summerhall, 3–28 Aug, not 4, 8, 14, 15, 19, 22, £8—£10

22:50

❤ The Vaudevillains HHHH

Single Varietal Spotlites, 19 Aug, £5

Assembly George Square Gardens, 4–28 Aug, not 16, £11—£16

22:55

Private Manning Goes to Washington theSpace on Niddry St, 15–27 Aug, not 21, £8—£9

festmag.co.uk

Chapel Street theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, Various dates from 6 Aug to 20 Aug, £5—£10

1% theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5–27 Aug, not 14, £9

Royal Vauxhall Underbelly Med Quad, 3–29 Aug, not 15, 22, £6—£12.50

Christeene: Trigger Underbelly, Cowgate, 17–28 Aug, not 22, £11—£12 Yuri Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £6—£11

22:15 Greater Belfast Traverse Theatre, 17 Aug, 20 Aug, 23 Aug, 28 Aug, £18.50

22:20 All Cashed In SpaceTriplex, 15–20 Aug, £8 Bang! To the Heart Zoo Southside, 5–29 Aug, not 10, 15, 22, £10—£14 The Craig Chalmers Experience SpaceTriplex, 22–27 Aug, £10

22:30 Bones theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, Various dates from 5 Aug to 19 Aug, £5—£10

Listings

Skrimshanks HH Assembly George Square Theatre, 3–28 Aug, not 16, 22, £6—£12

23:10 Juice Straws Are Bleak Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 5–27 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £6—£9 The F Words Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 15–20 Aug, £8

23:15 ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore Paradise in Augustines, 6–20 Aug, not 14, £8 Death and the Data Processor Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 21–25 Aug, £free They Call Me Miss Commuter theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 22–26 Aug, £9

Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother in the Case of a Study in Blood Spotlites, 4–20 Aug, £7—£8

23:20

23:00

The Rules Of Inflation theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 15–20 Aug, £10

5 Guys Chillin’ C venues – C too, 4–29 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 Lies. All Lies.

Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4–19 Aug, £free Circleville, Circlevalley Pleasance Courtyard, 3–21 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 We Are Ian HHH Pleasance Dome, 3–28 Aug, not 15, £6—£10 Novel Experiments in Living theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, 22 Aug, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, £8

23:05 Irrelevant Sweet Grassmarket, Various dates from 6 Aug to 26 Aug, £7 F*ckboys for Freedom Sweet Grassmarket, Various dates from 5 Aug to 27 Aug, £7

Ronnie and Jonny: Friends Disunited Laughing Horse @ 48 Below, 21–26 Aug, £free

23:30 Predrinks | Afterparty Underbelly, Cowgate, 4–28 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

23:45

✏ Find out what’s near you plus upto-the-minute Festival reviews on festmag.co.uk

Seance Sweet Grassmarket, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £10

23:55 Fourth Monkey’s Genesis and Revelation: Ascension Part 2 HH theSpace on Niddry St, Various dates from 6 Aug to 27 Aug, £8—£12 Fourth Monkey’s Genesis and Revelation: Ascension Part 1 HH theSpace on Niddry St, Various dates from 5 Aug to 26 Aug, £8—£12

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Until 28 Aug, 15:30

Until 28 Aug, 23:30

Photos by Kat Gollock

Fringe Fashion Susan Calman wears: Jeans, a white T shirt, and a waistcoat I stole from a TV show I was on – which isn’t very fashionable! Hand over mouth: because not everyone has the privilege of free speech. www.amnesty.org.uk

TIME:

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