fr ee
festmag.co.uk
Big. Loud. Proud. Office life goes turbo… ISSUE 1 – Reviews and full listings of all the best shows at the festival
MISSING The creators of TAYLOR’S DUMMIES, THE RACE, THE ARAB AND THE JEW and THE OVERCOAT present
www.geckotheatre.com @GeckoTheatre
Underbelly Productions presents
‘TiTillaTes ‘asTounding’ as much as iT Brisbane Courier Mail enTrances, and amuses ‘an acrobaTic as much iT and eroTic masTerpiece’ inspires’ Rover Montreal B.Z. Berlin
5.00PM (6.00PM)
31 JULY - 26 AUGUST
8.45PM (9.45PM)
31 JULY - 26 AUGUST
FEST IS YOUR FREE GUIDE TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL Fest publishes the definitive festival guide every Tuesday and Friday throughout August. Pick them up from venues across Edinburgh.
Spot the difference You've got to keep your wits about you at the Fringe: things change fast. Fest was hanging out with the fabulous Briefs in Assembly Gardens, when these brilliantly cheeky performers decided to play a few tricks on us. Can you spot the six differences between these two photos? BRIEFS: THE SECOND COMING 7.50PM - 8.50PM, 4-26, NOT 13, ASSEMBLY GEORGE SQUARE
Photo 1
EDITORIAL Publisher
Sam Friedman
Editor
Ben Judge
Features Editor
Yasmin Sulaiman
Comedy Editor
Lyle Brennan
Theatre Editor
Joe Spurgeon
Kids Editor
Caroline Black
Production Creative Director
Matthew MacLeod
Photo Editor
Claudine Quinn
Photo Assistant
Shona Wass
Photo 2
Events & Marketing Hannah Putsey Web Editor
Dan Heap
Sales team Lara Moloney, George Sully, Tom McCarthy, Hannah Putsey
Cover Image Claudine Quinn
Page 12 Photos With thanks to The Museum and Library of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh www.museum.rcsed.ac.uk The small print Published by Fest Media Limited, Registered in Scotland, Company number, SC344852 Registered office 3 Coates Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7AA Every effort has been made to check the accuracy of the information in this magazine, but we cannot accept liability for information which is inaccurate. Show times and prices are subject to changes – always check with the venue.
photos: Claudine Quinn Answers: 1) Trophy missing 2) Bones missing 3) Gold hat missing 4) The waiter's plate in the background has two ladybirds in photo two 5) Leg tattoo missing 6) White earring missing
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprodiced in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the printer of the publisher.
4 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
Contents page 8 Features 8 BLAM! Ever day-dreamed about being Bruce Lee while at work? BLAM! knows how you feel. We chat to the team behind the spectacle.
12 Austentatious Last year's Free Fringe improv hit returns, with zany sequels to past hits Pride and Predator and Sixth Sense and Sensibility.
16 The Events David Greig and Ramin Gray ask tough questions about how we deal with extreme human tragedies.
page 21 Comedy Reviews 22 Aisling Bea: C'est La Bea Grit, guile and manic energy mark this out as a smash-hit first hour.
e only tival website need
23 Liam Williams A sophisticated debut from this poetically-inclined young grumbler.
25 Felicity Ward: Irregardless Frantic, scatter-gun comedy at its best. With added auto-tune.
page 41 Theatre Reviews
42 Stuart: A Life Backwards Classic Fringe theatre in microcosm: challenging, creative, honest.
45 Grounded Our first five-star review packs a thudding emotional punch.
46 Missing
mag.co.uk on your smartphone of the latest reviews and see ming up near you
Gorge yourself on Gecko's sublime feast of theatrical innovation.
page 62 Music & cabaret 63 Hot Dub Time Machine A delirious tour through twentieth century pop music history.
page 66 KIDS 70 The Man Who Planted Trees Our kids critics are wowed by this beautiful puppet show.
page 72 Listings Your essential guide to all of the shows at the Festival
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 5
Fest's Perfect Day
do everything that the Face it: you're never going to see or planning, you can at least festival haa to offer. But with a bit of plan your perfect day… see the best. Better still, let the fest team Illustration: Dylan Gibson
3:30pm: Stuart: A Life 10am: Peter's Yard Middle Meadow Walk
Choose light, healthy or hungry breakfast options at this cosy café, which uses food. seasonal, locally-sourced
Backwards
Underbelly, Bristo Square
A challenging and crea tive stage re-telling of Alexander Masters’ relationship with Stua rt Shorter, by BAFTA-winner Jack Thorne.
1:30pm: Austentatious Laughing Horse @ Counting
House
as Long-form improv at its best, tten—i.e. performers create a forgo using l fictional—Austen nove audience suggestions.
10pm: Felicity Ward Underbelly, Bristo Square
d, generationA giddy bubble of auto-tune joy from 2012 hopping, audience-stoking ic. Barry Award-nominated com
6:30pm: Holyrood 9a Holyrood Road
s, there’s nothing After a day of Fringe show er from this better than a big, juicy burg ious—pub. popular—but relatively spac
8:30pm: Alex Horne Pleasance Courtyard
l He’s done away with his usua Horne PowerPoint props but Alex trickery still has plenty of technical up his sleeve.
It’s big, loud and proud. Mainly, though, it’s a heck of a lot of fun. Joe Spurgeon meets the brains behind movieplundering Danish hit BLAM! photos: Claudine Quinn
“T
he name of the show was supposed to be Crack Snap Clap Cut Crash Kick Kill,” says BLAM!’s director/performer/creator, Kristján Ingimarsson—which perhaps tells you more about the show that anything Fest might add—”but the Republique theatre in Copenhagen told me they’d never sell a single ticket if we called it that.” Yep, BLAM! doesn’t exactly dial-up on the subtle stakes. But the show’s beauty lies in its unapologetic simplicity: take one office—sterile, familiar, soul-sapping—and amp up all those little human procrastinations and spates of idle mind-wandering to cinemasize. In very loud, very live HD. “I was at this point in my life where I needed to do a show where I could just have fun,” continues
8 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Ingimarsson, an acclaimed visual theatre artist originally from Iceland but based in Denmark since 1992. “I like experimental, physical theatre, but I wanted to make a comedy that everyone could understand. I discovered this bunch of great guys with different physical skills and made the show. I wanted to present a form that everyone would recognise. Movie language is international, it’s so well understood, and so is the language of the office – a workplace everyone knows. But what happens when we mix these two very recognisable worlds together?” The answer is a high-tech, high-risk, crowd-pleaser of a show, full of astounding physical prowess, manifold modern cultural references, clowning and slapstick comedy. Even the set gets in on the act, undergoing u
www.festmag.co.uk
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 9
festfeature t its own perspective-shifting metamorphosis as the action unfolds. You sense Ingimarsson, who plays HERO, and his three cast members (playing GEEK, BOSS and HULK) are having just as much fun as the audience. “It’s true!” he says. “We started in Denmark and have been to Iceland and Norway – everyone seems to love it. People think it’s new, but still recognise it. Like the characters, people want to break out and become the boy or the man they always wanted to be. The audience get the game very quickly: doing stuff in the office when your boss’s back is turned. We just take it a step—OK, some steps— further! “This is the first time we’ve seen fathers take their sons to the theatre. And come back. We’ve changed our audiences and are attracting people not usually interested in theatre.” And the women? “It’s absolutely for them too! They need it! They work in the same places, sat at desks, in boxes and no-one asks, ‘Is this normal? What am I doing here?’ Everyone needs to break out!” BLAM! melds the seemingly opposite realms of European Physical Theatre and Hollywood Action Blockbuster, and has gained some serious pedigree since opening in Copenhagen 18 months ago. Having sold out its Scandinavian run, it’s off to London after Edinburgh, then Italy, then back home again. And while seven actors play the four characters on rotation during the Fringe run, the physical challenge ahead looks immensely daunting. “We work hard and we are trained to do this,” Ingimarsson says. “Is it dangerous? Well, there’s no improvisation in the actual piece when we’re performing and everything is choreographed to the last detail. In fact, it’s rare you get hurt during a performance, it’s usually when you’re warming up or when you step on the soap afterwards. But yes, it is a little bit dangerous. I guess we’re just crazy enough not to think about it!” Pleasance Courtyard, 5:55pm – 7:10pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £10 – £15
10 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
austen powers The Jane Austen £10 note isn’t yet in circulation but, thanks to hit improv comedy Austentatious, a few of her “forgotten” books are. Yasmin Sulaiman chats to its creators about the novelist, storming the Free Fringe and Mansfield Jurassic Park. photos: Claudine Quinn
F
orget Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Jane Austen’s “lost” works—like Northanger Rabbi, Pride and Predator and Man-Filled Park—are being lovingly resurrected by improv group The Milk Monitors, who return to the Free Fringe this month with their 2012 hit, Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel. Anyone who saw the show last year won’t need reminding of the huge queues that snaked their venue, The Counting House, sometimes for hours before its start. “Fights nearly broke out,” say the still slightly-shocked group of six, speaking the day before their first Edinburgh show this year. It’s easy to see why: Austentatious is a dazzling combination of long-form improvised comedy and real literary sensibility complete with a live cello player, sending up the world of Austen without belittling it. Since its lauded Edinburgh debut and slew of four and five-star ratings, the group have been nominated for a Chortle Award for Best Character/Sketch Act and appeared on Radio 4 Extra. Recently, a descendant of Jane Austen’s brother even came to see the show. The conceit is simple: audience members are invited to make up a title for a “lost” Austen novel and drop their suggestion in a hat. An Austen scholar (played by one of the cast) then reads out some of the works of the day, and the third suggestion picked will be improvised as a “forgotten” Austen story over the subsequent hour. “It’s often something that sounds like a Jane Austen novel but isn’t,” says Cariad Lloyd, a former Comedy Award Best Newcomer-nominee who’s also performing in improv show Cariad & Paul: A Two-Player Adventure this year. “So we’ve had Mansfield
12 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Jurassic Park, Darcy and Bingley Forbidden Love, We Need to Talk About Darcy, 50 Shades of Mr Darcy…” “The general trend is things about Darcy that are vaguely lascivious,” adds Joseph Morpurgo, who’s performing his debut solo hour, Truthmouth, at The Counting House on the Free Fringe too. “But occasionally, we get curveball titles that have sod all to do with Austen.” “Hamlet was weird,” agrees Lloyd, “and The Lady Boys of Bangkok.” Graham Dickson—also appearing in Fringe play Below The Belt with fellow comedians Mike Wozniak and Tom Golding—has his own favourite: “It was at a crappy Slug and Lettuce gig very early on. Someone had scrawled in pink lip gloss, Bus Wankers.” In their first Edinburgh show of 2013, they perform the gloriously surreal suggestion Chess, Chaffinches and Cheese Sandwiches, which riffs on Austen-esque themes of love and money to create a story that really does feel like a complete comic novel. Their second performance takes on the even more bizarre title: Fishy Milk. “In a way,” says Morpurgo,”it’s also a way of reclaiming elements of Jane Austen’s work that are popular but aren’t quite correct – for instance, that it’s very straight-laced. If you read her work, u
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 13
"When something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t know was in your head, that’s very satisfying." t obviously it’s really funny. But her Juvenilia is borderline zany. Her letters too speak to this mind that would probably enjoy our show more than you might initially think. “I think our show is inventive and often quite strange. It’s nice that people come in maybe not being au fait with what we do as improvisers, then leave having got the bug for the form.” It’s the form that keeps Austentatious fresh. “When we surprise each other, that’s always fun,” says Rachel Parris, also performing her debut solo show, The Commission, at The Counting House. “In one show that sticks out for me, Cariad [Lloyd] was playing a beloved maid. About five minutes from the end, she revealed she was my mother and we thought my mother had been dead throughout the whole show.” “When something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t know was in your head, that’s very satisfying,” says Andrew Hunter Murray. “It’s a result of being on stage with people that you trust.” And they’re never tempted to duplicate structures that have worked well in the past. “Once a show’s done it’s done,” says Amy Cooke-Hodgson. “There are some golden moments I remember but I certainly wouldn’t think about replicating them because I just don’t have the memory bank to do that.” Austentatious’ success certainly seems to be part of
14 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
the current resurgence of improv in the UK. “It feels like the tide is totally turning,” says Lloyd. “When I first came to Edinburgh, there were three improv shows. This year, there are 64.” The show’s rapid success has also been part of the evolving attitudes to the Free Fringe. “It’s just another option now, rather than a lesser option,” she adds. “I really like that people who can’t afford to see you are able to come. You want an audience more than you want to make money – that’s what’s important, having an audience.” And it’s the audience that’s ultimately behind their best-loved lost Austen titles. “One of my favourite shows is one from last year called Sly’s New Car,” says Lloyd. “We all thought that’s so weird, what does that even mean? It just turned into one of our best shows.” Other classic submissions include Sixth Sense and Sensibility, Lost in Austin Texas, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Gilded Bussom Hall (“I think they tried to spell bosom,” says Dickson, “but spelled it ‘bussom’ instead.”) “Consider this a clarion call to the audiences of Edinburgh to give us increasingly freaky titles,” Morpurgo challenges. “Do your worst, you freaks!” Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1:30pm – 2:30pm, 1–25 Aug, not 13, free
www.festmag.co.uk
“Everything in Assembly’s season of South African shows is vastly more interesting than most Fringe fare, and it’s never less than the highest quality” THE SCOTSMAN
LONDON ROAD, SEA POINT
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
CLOWN FOR HIRE
1-26 Aug, 13:50
1-26 Aug, 17:45
1-26 Aug, 14:00
SOLOMON AND MARION
TUMI MORAKE
THE SOIL
1-26 Aug, 14:30
1-26 Aug, 21:00
1-26 Aug, 19:10
UNDONE
VOICES MADE NIGHT
1-26 Aug, 16:10
1-26 Aug, 16:10
ALAN COMMITTIE 5-26 Aug, 21:20
CHAMP
THE EPICENE BUTCHER 1-26 Aug, 14:30
1–26 Aug, 19:20
EXPLORE THE SOUTH AFRICAN SEASON TICKET SPECIAL
ANY TWO SHOWS FOR /assemblyfestival
@assemblyfest
/assemblyfest
assemblyfest.tumblr.com
£20
Note: Additional Premium Show charges; Offer available 31-15 August subject to availability.
/assemblyfest
showcatcher.com
Local horror Inspired by terrible tragedies from 9/11 to the Utoya massacre, The Events looks at how society moves on in the aftermath. Ben Judge speaks to Ramin Gray and David Greig about being misunderstood, the impulse to understand and the desire for revenge. photos: Claudine Quinn
L
ong before making its debut on the Traverse stage this week, The Events had already earned the opprobrium of the British press. Starting with a misleading headline in The Observer, the story that some tactless artsy airheads were exploiting the Utoya tragedy—the 2011 mass shooting at a summer camp on a tiny Norwegian island—made its way around the globe back in March. “NOW IT’S ANDERS BREIVIK THE MUSICAL!” thundered the Daily Mail in typically understated fashion. This narrative, though, couldn’t be further from the truth. Penned by David Greig, one of the UK’s finest playwrights, The Events is a dark, thoughtful but fictional work that looks at how society picks itself up after a terrible tragedy and takes as its setting a choir practice in rural Scotland. Ramin Gray, the show’s director, says the play “is as much about Utoya as it is about Dunblane, as it is Boston, as Woolwich, as Columbine, as 9/11, as 7/7 and a whole list of other events. The purpose of the piece is to say that we have so many strategies for coping with these things, from the Daily Mail approach of saying ‘The perpetrators are all evil, string ‘em up!’ to The Guardian saying ‘His mother abused him, he was abandoned as a child,’ or that there were political reasons and are generally reluctant to condemn. And so the question is whether either of these two paths is the true path.” “I’ve always been the kind of person that when terrible things happen, I want to know why,” says Greig, whose past Fringe hits include Midsummer and Damascus, and whose most recent successes include Dunsinane and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “I’ve always felt the need to understand. John Major said [in response to the murder of two-year-old James Bulger in 1993] ‘We should condemn more and understand less.’ Well, I’m the opposite of that. But I thought it would be interesting to write a play where the impulse to understand is dangerous and destructive.” “That’s what this play is about,” adds Gray. “And it’s why the Utoya: The Musical stuff is so far from what we’re doing.” The Events was first conceived some two years ago during a barroom conversation between Gray and Greig, a matter of weeks after the Utoya massacre took place. The pair, who had worked together previously on the 2005 production American Pilot, both had Breivik’s crime on their minds and decided that it raised questions that needed exploring. “So we went off on this trip to Norway that October,” says Gray. “On the first day we met a very charismatic, wonderful female priest. We also went to a community choir rehearsal
16 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
on the outskirts of Oslo. We’d spent so much time reading and meeting people and talking about all the trauma that there was something really releasing about sitting in a room full of people singing Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. It was pretty dull in one sense, but incredibly reassuring in another sense. David and I turned to each other halfway through and said ‘Here’s our play.’ This was the best riposte to a guy shooting a bunch of people on an island: another bunch of people getting together in a room to sing not-very-good music. They’re together, and that’s really important.”
www.festmag.co.uk
For Greig, researching the piece threw his own deeply held convictions into turmoil. “I think of myself as an almost impeccable and extreme liberal,” he says. “So it was disconcerting because there I was suddenly finding my inner ‘hang ‘em and flog ‘em’ side. “There was a moment when we were in Norway and it was explained to me that the maximum amount of time [Breivik] could be in prison for was 21 years, and that is the maximum possible sentence he could receive. That drove me mad! I said: ‘That’s ridiculous, you must be joking. Your country’s insane! How could you possibly let this guy out after 21 years?’ And I was quite shocked at my own reaction because this is their justice system and you can’t change it for just one person.” A similar moment of ideological angst presented itself in June this year when the notorious Moors Murderer Ian Brady made a bid to be moved from a psychiatric hospital to prison so that he could starve himself to death. “The people we were rehearsing with were a bit surprised,” says Greig “because again I did find my inner hang ‘em and flog ‘em merchant. I was saying ‘Whatever he wants, do the opposite. If he wants to die, keep him alive.’ It was a viciousness, an imaginative viciousness and I thought ‘Where has this come from?’ That’s primal, really primal, and it might not be a bad idea to recognise it. “Whether its Woolwich or Newtown or Boston, what these events do is to throw a little moral hand grenade into the middle of society and it’s something that we have to respond to. And it’s not a good thing that that happens – it’s a really troubling thing and it changes us.” Traverse Theatre, times vary, various dates between 31 Jul and 25 Aug, £13 – £20
www.festmag.co.uk
C theFestival The Revolving Shed
Buoy
1 – 17 Aug 4.35pm C aquila
Another Story Theatre Company
For the Trumpets Shall Sound
1 – 17 Aug 6.45pm C aquila
Théâtre Sans Frontières/Teatro Tamaska
Deadly Theatre Productions
Canary Gold
Titus Andronicus
14 – 26 Aug 12.10pm C
31 – 17 Aug 12.15pm C nova
Transit
Pudasi
Rouse Ye Women
And Then We Danced
Spanner in the Works Theatre Company
31 Jul – 26 Aug 6.15pm C
12 – 25 Aug 10.00am C
1 – 17 Aug 7.50pm C aquila
1 – 13 Aug 3.40pm C aquila
TKD Productions & C theatre
Honest Arts Production Company
Wadaiko Tokara
31 Jul – 26 Aug 9.35pm C
31 Jul – 10 Aug 10.20pm C nova
1 – 26 Aug 4.55pm C too
À Point Theatre Company
A Body to Die[t] For
Norian Maro
The Mid-Knight Cowboy
Kazakoshi (Mountain Wind)
Diablo
Aria Entertainment & C theatre
The Road to Qatar 1 – 26 Aug 7.20pm C too
With more than 200 shows and events across our venues in the heart of Edinburgh, we celebrate our 22nd Fringe with an inspiring international programme of cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, musicals, theatre and family shows. See it all with C venues.
HHHH Scatter-gun comedy at its best. With added auto-tune‌ Page 25 photo: Claudine quinn
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy
Felicity Ward
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 21
festcomedy Aisling Bea: C’est La Bea
HHHHH
Delightful Irish comic Aisling Bea attracted all the attention last year after winning So You Think You’re Funny?—only the second female standup to do so—but of course had already carved out a fruitful career in television. With professional acting and writing credits, sweetened by award success and a now perfected live routine, there’s lots to be happy about. This is accomplished comedy for Bea’s standup debut, with roots as deep and roving as Irish stereotypes. Bea spins her hayseed origins at full tilt, leaning on yet utterly obliterating the perception of bumpkin life. Everything on show, from the only nightclub in a 20-mile radius to the exclusively Irish throat muscle that prevents her from cheery tunefulness, is frolicsome, well-observed and
Rob Carter: Murder (and Other Hobbies)
HHHHH
One of those performances that immediately puts you at ease and conveys you’re in for a good show, this is a hugely promising debut from Rob Carter. He’s that most commonplace of guitar comics, the singerpsycho. Unlike many in his field, though, he keeps you on the edge of your seat, partly through intrigue as to what he’ll do next, partly in genuine fear. His opening number, sung from the perspective of a 12-year-old murdering his friends, is a case in point – seemingly familiar but full of delightful little rug-pulls and dead-eyed non-rhymes. His persona is one of moneyed privilege too, a more sinister,
meticulously delivered. Bea packs more explosive energy into her set than Edinburgh’s midnight fireworks: it’s joyous to be in the crowd as she makes us feel as at home as she is on stage. But what of her real talents? The swaggering, multi-tasking show-off finale? Mind-blowing. Peer through cracked fingers as she charms with flicks of the hair and flirty chats with the audience. This mix of marvellous bedlamite humour injects moments of flyweight relief alongside flashes of serious political satire in a show which corners through material with grit and guile. Bea is one of few comics to make her hour-long show seem short, with a completely natural gift for storytelling and punch lines. [Andrew Latimer] Gilded Balloon Teviot, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £9.50 – £10.50
less braying version of the JP-belittling character he plays in Fresh Meat. Equally, he can’t avoid comparisons to Flight of the Conchords, not least during a supposedly sexy song that rechristens erogenous zones with random nouns. With the Kiwis’ ongoing absence from Edinburgh that’s scarcely a bad thing and he’s a worthy pretender to their fanbase, shifting fluidly between musical styles – from authentic rap with only fleeting glimpses of his West Sussex bourgeoisness, to cod-reggae from the perspective of Judas Iscariot.
22 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013
The quality and variety dips slightly in the middle of his hour after an unsuccessful serenade. But Carter’s aloof character allows him to incorporate rampant snobbery, misogyny, audience intimidation and the bizarre tale of how he acquired his guitar without appearing inconsistent. Best of all, when he finally drops the mask and reveals the pitiful creature beneath, it’s all the more striking, his Andrew Lloyd Webber-inspired closer a memorable showstopper. [Jay Richardson] Underbelly, Cowgate, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, 1–25 Aug, not 14, £9.50 – £10.50
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy Liam Williams
HHHHH
Who knew that melancholy could be so enjoyable? In his debut solo hour, this up-and-coming comedy misanthrope explores “man handing misery on to man” in moving and intricate detail. Packed with lines that surprise and delight, Williams’s writing tends to take centre stage. In search of some meaning among the postuniversity aimlessness, various set pieces are employed to demonstrate his lyrical style and to provide occasion to expand this narrative. A particularly strong segment on ‘First World Problems’ memorably evokes a growing anger over genuine woes of the lower middle class, at the same time taking aim at the reductive nature of modern communication. This is typical of the ambition on display here. Each faux proposal for a documentary, each suggestion of a new play title, even
Nish Kumar is a Comedian
HHHHH
Nish Kumar is a meme. To the uninitiated, a meme is an idea that reproduces itself naturally through a culture, passing from person to person. The Fringe depends on memes. We usually call it word of mouth. Shows can soar or flop depending on the ideas spread about them. Heck, you’re reading a meme right now. Kumar has become a different kind of meme, the kind usually associated with pictures of kittens or Ryan Gosling. His picture advertising last year’s show—hand on chin looking thoughtful—has been reproduced many times online with different
www.festmag.co.uk
the straight standup takes care to send up the form with incisive wit. These discrete sections do introduce a slight disjointedness to the show, but it’s a testament to Williams’s standup voice that we’re left wanting more talking and less reading. Indeed, for a young comic, this is an assured piece of work that demonstrates an impressive command of tone, employing it with force on inter-generational attitudes to life and the existential angst of the educated twenty-something. There are glimpses of social commentary peppered throughout, it’s an account that rings true with this generation and yet it’s highly personal; there’s a sophisticated reflexivity at work here and it’s seriously affecting. Liam Williams is an exciting new talent, long may he wallow. [Gemma Flynn] Just the Tonic at The Tron, 10:20pm – 11:20pm, 1–25 Aug, not 13, £8.50 – £9.50
straplines, under the heading ‘Confused Muslim’. Kumar is not Muslim. His family hails from Kerala, in India, and he was born in Britain. And so begins his quest to understand why this meme put his self-described “ethnically ambiguous” nose out joint. What follows is an affable ramble through what it means to be Indian-British, at a pitch similar to how US comedian Aziz Ansari plays with white America’s lazy stereotyping of his Indian Tamil heritage. Curiously, though, Kumar scores biggest when he steps away from his specific quest, such as exploring the effect online ‘like’ and ‘dislike’ buttons are having on teenager’s critical faculties or imagining what single people
did in clubs before they had smartphones to use as a social proxy. More material like that and Kumar’s show could become a different kind of meme at this year’s Fringe. Currently, however, it is akin to pictures of sunsets posted on Face-
book – something shared between people looking for something bright, likeable, and comfortingly routine. [Edd McCracken] Underbelly, Bristo Square, 8:10pm – 9:10pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, £10 – £11
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 23
festcomedy Romesh Ranganathan: Rom Com
HHHHH
The litany of things Romesh Ranganathan hates is as long as a midsummer day. He hates everything from obvious targets such as The X Factor and the English Defence League to more personal objects of ire, like all kids, including his own. In fact, he may be the only comedian on this year’s Fringe gunning to emulate the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Rom Com’s conceit is that Ranganathan loathes how romantic comedies show boy meeting girl, boy falling in love with girl, and boy marrying girl. The end. But Ranganathan is here to pick up where these rose-tinted films leave off. And his dispatches from the other side are not pretty. Everything disappoints him, most of all himself. He describes going out with his 30-something friends and realising they look like “shit tribute acts to ourselves in our 20s.” All this enmity is not delivered with venomous rage, but more like a slightly bored maths teacher whose will to uphold social niceties broke years ago. He is resigned to his hatred. Frankly, all of which gets rather tedious. He may have misanthropy nailed, but a lot of his punchlines are underdeveloped. This is frustrating as Ranganathan is obviously a talented performer. His sociopathic delivery is sharp, but, just as with humanity, he gives up too soon on his jokes. Many are one step shy of a potential sucker punch. Rom Com may be about Ranganathan’s discontentment with life, but sadly this feeling leaks out from the stage and hangs over the show itself. [Edd McCracken] Underbelly, Bristo Sq, 6:50pm – 7:50pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, £10.50
Sara Pascoe vs the Truth
HHHHH
In her previous Fringe shows, Sara Pascoe has gone head to head with both the apocalypse and her own ego, playing fast and loose with fact and fiction. This latest offering finds her opposing the very concept of truth and, although her argument that all belief is subjective undermines critical response to her work, it is easily her most accomplished hour to date. Frank discussion of the circumstances in which she was conceived provides the set with its obligatory moments of discomfort,
24 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Pascoe peppering the show with complaints about her current relationship of nine years just for good measure. One routine, in which our hero explains why she isn’t an alcoholic, could easily be construed as a serious cry for help. What makes the show so effective as a whole, however, is the way these moments jar with the endearing whimsy that we’re treated to elsewhere. Arriving onstage in a misspelled Friedrich Nietzsche tshirt, Pascoe is as enthusiastic discussing the theology that informs her worldview as she is the compatibility of communion wafers and the Atkins Diet. She lets the audience
in on her secret for ensuring that her sound technician’s fee is money well spent and speaks with sincere fondness for the mice that infest her home. Unfortunately, while the contrasting sides of the performer’s character complement each other and make it appropriately challenging for us to get a handle on her as a person, Pascoe neglects to ever really tie them together. As such, a clever and original show is denied the cohesive, satisfying conclusion that it deserves. [Lewis Porteous] Assembly George Square, 8:00pm – 9:00pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £9.50 – £12
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy Felicity Ward: Irregardless
HHHHH
Full disclosure: I am predisposed to like any show that rages against abuses of the English language. So it comes as a disappointment that, despite an ironically bastardised title, Felicity Ward only spends a few minutes mocking those
fools who say ‘irregardless’ when they mean ‘irrespective’ or ‘regardless’. If a comedy show can’t justify your innate snobberies, then what is it for? Well, in Ward’s case, it is for creating a giddy bubble of auto-tuned, generationhopping, audience-stoking joy. And on this evidence, she is right. Who needs a diatribe against using ‘bet’ as the past tense of ‘beat’, when you have a punter singing an R’n’B slow jam with Ward via an app that makes him sound like T-Pain? Ward, you see, is wired to the moon. Like an over-caffeinated gym instructor, she never lets the audience rest. But such is her charm, she carries everyone with her on her whippet-like shoulders, almost literally. This is a turbocharged show full of restless energy and handbrake-turn changes of subject and form. She blames her hyperactivity on anxiety (she worries about how ridiculous a profession comedy is), but it accounts for a remarkably high jokes-perminute ratio, most of which hit the mark. In one five-minute burst Ward segues from an imagined German sitcom to a vicious take-down of Mary Poppins to a call and response song about monkeys. Only her slightly cruel junkie shtick falls short. Regardless of the relative lack of linguistic hectoring, Ward has conjured up a gleeful example of what this most ridiculous of jobs is for. [Edd McCracken] Underbelly, Bristo Square, 10:00pm – 11:00pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £11 – £13
www.festmag.co.uk
Phil Ellis: Unplanned Orphan
HHHHH
Phil Ellis does achieve one incontrovertible victory with Unplanned Orphan – he succeeds in leaving his audience, this critic included, genuinely uncertain about what was an accident and what was planned from the beginning. The fire alarm, for example, I’m still not sure about. The show attempts a distinctly risky tactic: it plays with the idea of a disastrous standup performance plagued by errors and technical faults, depending on the audience’s creeping realisation that the string of failed jokes is actually a joke in itself. This requires a huge amount of good faith, which many Fringe-goers may not be prepared to give. Ostensibly, the purpose of the show is unremarkable: comedic self-examination, focusing on dramatic revelations regarding Ellis’s parentage, and life’s unpredictable nature in general. As this preview performance pro-
ceeds, Ellis forgets punchlines, consults his notes, descends into nervous, pointless chatter and battles fruitlessly with technology of all kinds. He may be an Andy Kaufman-style savant, finding the humour in being intentionally unfunny, but unfortunately, his performance is just too convincing. The first half of the show survives through the indulgence of the audience, and only when the calamities become more obviously staged do a few genuine laughs start appearing. One aspect where the distinction between comedy and reality is thankfully made clear is Ellis’s frequent arguments with his tech, the wonderfully deadpan James. Otherwise, Unplanned Orphan does its job too well, becoming a strange meta-entity: a fake-bad performance that becomes just what it is pretending to be. [Sean Bell] Underbelly, Bristo Square, 5:25pm – 6:25pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £9 – £10
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 25
festcomedy Adam Buxton: Kernel Panic
HHHHH
“A bit puerile,” admits Adam Buxton, as he returns from a pretend commercial break which featured a doctored video of an earnest Brad Pitt singing songs about the wonders of, well, poo. He’s got a point—Buxton, not Brad— and there will definitely be worthier, more fulfilling events at this year’s Fringe. Few shows can make you laugh so hard that you begin to lose control of your own bodily functions, however. The new title and portentous description (‘Adam Buxton looks within the soul of his laptop and considers how we present ourselves in the net age’) is a tad misleading as this is partly just a retread of his hugely popular BUG events, at London’s BFI and beyond. The spine of the show throughout remains his trawls through
YouTube, on the hunt for remarkable pop videos and the often breathtaking comments posted beneath. So consistently amusing are his discoveries—and the array of voices used to convey them—that you happily overlook the fact that this is basically just someone reading stuff off the internet. That said, a huge amount of work clearly goes into these laptopbased shows. Some of it may lean toward the selfindulgent (a couple of films involving his kids caused murmurs of discontent) and he falls back on some familiar territory here—a remix of the bizarrely addictive Moby/Michael Stipe song—but you cannot help but admire such an unfettered imagination. As a great mock rock band once said, there’s such a fine line between stupid and clever. [Si Hawkins] Assembly Hall, 10:30pm – 11:30pm, 2–5 Aug, £16
Bobby Mair: Obviously Adopted
HHHHH
That old grumble by standups about reviewers giving away their punch lines – you won’t be hearing that from Bobby Mair. Few publications would dare print the depths-of-bad-taste delving clinchers this lank-haired, scraggily-bearded, firmly frazzled-looking Canadian spouts (I’ll be promptly burning my notes after filing). “I’m Bobby, and I’ve done about as much cocaine as I look like I’ve done,” is Mair’s blunt introduction, immediately setting the tone for a trip inside the mind of a proud societal dropout whose favourite pastimes include women, drugs, drinking, drugs, taking drugs in forests, drugs and, yes, drugs. In here somewhere lies promise for some Bukowskiesque lowlife illumination and bloody-minded self-analysis surrounding his struggles with mental illness and a deeply dysfunctional relationship with his adoptive
parents. But Mair seems determined for the most part only to try and shock, by playing fast and loose with jokes about, say, falling asleep on prostitutes while high on mushrooms, pinching his dead stepmother’s dildo, and violence against women (the line about bruised 16-year-old girls in the basement – just no). He seems to get increasingly exasperated by his inability to solicit any strong reaction either way from the audience, but to expect mass laughter or walkouts is to underestimate how much this kind of shtick has become depressingly commonplace. It’s a shame, because Mair’s delivery is strong, in a manic kind of way, and that streak of genuine, reckless fearlessness in him could be put to clever use if he ever fancied literally cleaning up his act some. Easing off the drugs might be a start. [Malcolm Jack] Just the Tonic at The Tron, 7:40pm – 8:40pm, 1–25 Aug, not 13, £8.50 – £10
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy Dan Cox: Community Service
Tom Rosenthal благодаря
On community service for throwing a quiche at a dog, Dan Cook—gone solo after several years with sketch troupe Delete The Banjax—has been tasked not with picking up litter but entertaining Fringe audiences with a selection of skits, songs, dance moves and dodgy one-liners. Remind me who’s serving time at Her Majesty’s pleasure here again, us or him? Tall and gangly, with mannerisms cribbed from Alan Partridge, Cook’s a naturally funny sight in his orange jumpsuit stamped ‘Gotbusted Penitentiary’, and the biggest laughs of the show come as he flings himself about the stage between sequences to the sound of Chaka Demus and Pliers. The impromptu stuff too comes by instinct – for instance his quick-fire interaction with a guy in the front row whose name is so comedy-perfect I’m not convinced he isn’t a plant. “Tristan Rogers?” Cook hoots. “He sounds like a sex novel!” But then there’s the scripted material, which is consistently iffy. The bit where two female audience members are cajoled into acting out a fight between Venus and Serena Williams behind the falafel van at Dorset Steam Fair momentarily takes things to a properly weird and mischievous place, yet it’s a rarity next to the likes of a shoddy Ed Sheeran send-up and a true cringer about the folly of buying oversized maracas. Lastly we get the true story of Cook’s dog-assault, by way of an intentionally convoluted flashback touching on many of the last hour’s jokes, which serves only as a tedious reminder of laughs that never were. Time served. [Malcolm Jack]
Giving your show a bewilderingly confusing title may appear to be an act of wilful self-sabotage, but it proves a cunning move by Tom Rosenthal. That line of Cyrillic script adds an air of useful mystique to his agreeable, well-crafted and occasionally innovative brand of standup, while also abstracting the fact that he’ll be taking on the not obviously ticket-shifting topics of a) Bulgaria and b) football. This is that rare show that gets infinitely better as it progresses, to the extent that the best gag is in the closing credits, and missed my many. The general thrust—which eventually becomes apparent after a slightly ramshackle intro—is his experience in Sofia filming the ITV2 sitcom Plebs. That sounds ripe for objectionable jingoism, but actually proves to be surprisingly fertile ground as the comic ponders the cultural differences between, say, Plaistow and Plovdiv. Positivity abounds.
HHHHH
Pleasance Courtyard, 4:30pm – 5:30pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10
HHHHH
Birthday Girls: 2053
HHHHH
Set in a dystopian future in which comedy has been outlawed, Birthday Girls’ debut is presented as a covert, underground performance. An anti-comedy rally is taking place immediately outside the venue and the three comics risk being shot on sight should law enforcers get wind of their activities. Whenever they suspect that they’re in danger, the trio act out ‘Scottish Family Drama’, a crass, histrionic soap intended to lend proceedings an air of legality. Having come up with an engaging premise and taken
28 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
The football theme is flagged up via his shirt-laden stage set, and centres on his trip to see a Bulgarian international game. If you’re a fan it’s funny and insightful, but will leave many as cold as a Sofia winter. Personally I was more flummoxed by the video game references, but they fly by fairly quickly and it’s worth hanging in there for the big guns he brings out later: a
lengthy but increasingly successful visual bit, and intimate stories about Danny Dyer, his Plebs colleague. Frequently impressive, if Rosenthal can hone the nervy first third as the run progresses he’ll have a fine show on his hands. [Si Hawkins]
on Tom Parry of Pappy’s as director, the sketch troupe, all former members of the acclaimed Lady Garden, seem poised to withstand the air of expectation that hangs over them. On this showing, Birthday Girls: 2053 is unlikely to be as seismic as the work of Beattie Edmondson’s acclaimed parents (Ade Edmondson and Jennifer Saunders), but she and her colleagues Camille Ucan and Rose Johnson excel in their commitment to irrepressible silliness. Little more than a cheap pun is required to form the basis of a Birthday Girls sketch, but rarely do these slighter pieces outstay their
welcome. Flashbacks introduce strong routines almost as parenthesis and lend the show a complex sense of structure, the performers proving utterly shameless in their pursuit of laughter, yet all the while retaining strong individual personalities. The downside to the girls’ antics is that they occasionally seem forced and self-aware, making it extremely difficult for the audience to be swept up by the mania unfolding on stage. In short, it’s almost all a bit too professional. [Lewis Porteous]
Pleasance Courtyard, 8:15pm – 9:15pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, £9 – £12
Pleasance Courtyard, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £9.50
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy
Mae Martin: Slumber Party
HHHHH
The slightness of Mae Martin’s build and her general air of vulnerability is accentuated tonight by her reliance on notes to see her through. Despite this crutch, her charm and kookiness win out. Alarmingly the 26-year-old Canadian is already nostalgic about her early teenage years and her theme, broadly speaking, is
Joey Page: Reality Is Outside, Paradise Is In Your Brain
HHHHH
In standup, there is often an inverse correlation between how funny a performer is and the self-conscious wackiness of their attire. Spinning bowties and their modern ilk are to be treated with suspicion. Therefore, when Joey Page steps onstage in a suit that looks like a TV test pattern, it seems like an ill omen.
to revisit her, shall we say, first youth. Through the gauze of the past she gets an idea of why she’s gay (approx 25% of the reason is Buffy the Vampire Slayer), why she sometimes gulps in the middle of sentences and why, when she does get her words together, inappropriate things may fall out of her mouth, at least under pressure of talking dirty. Likened mostly to inanimate objects, doomed to Harry
Potter-themed presents and a personification of the struggle between technology and the simpler things in life, Martin has a lot to be gently self-deprecating about. So much so that conveying her neuroses to us tonight has become a bit rushed, and at various points it feels like a joke had an extra dimension choked off. The benefit of the doubt could be given here because it is still pretty clear that this solo show has somewhere
to go. However, it is now her third consecutive Fringe hour and working without notes will not paper over all of the cracks. It’s a tough call. Comparisons to Maria Bamford or Rita Rudner could justly be made, but to reach such a pantheon she will need to be more rigorous in her preparation. [Julian Hall]
Unfortunately, this eccentric style of dress is symbolic of the whole show: it anxiously broadcasts Page’s self-proclaimed strangeness, but never does anything substantial to back it up. Much of the time, Page practises a rambling, long-form style of delivery, where punchlines are rare but the sheer weight of outlandish concepts eventually snowballs into breathless humour. But while the material by no means subscribes to realism, it is honestly no
more ‘surreal’ than the bulk of comedy playing at the Fringe. When it comes to the weird, Edinburgh has high standards. Given that Reality Is Outside, Paradise Is In Your Brain centres around the possibilities of the imagination, the show feels like a missed opportunity to explore some much bigger themes, which Page hints at occasionally, but fails to fully engage with. Despite hyping it in the title and his introductory monologue, Page never actually explores
the paradise in his brain; a series of anecdotes later revealed to be completely false could have raised interesting questions about the lies comedians will tell to get a laugh, but instead it tails off. Page is personable and energetic, but ultimately cannot sustain such half-developed ideas and disappointingly ordinary surrealism. [Sean Bell]
30 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Underbelly, Cowgate, 5:10pm – 6:10pm, 1–25 Aug, not 14, £9.50 – £10.50
Pleasance Courtyard, 8:30pm – 9:30pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8 – £9.50
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy Alex Horne: Lies
HHHHH
With the plethora of standup shows at the Fringe, there’s always one central conceit that binds them: almost all of the material is fabricated or at least embellished. Alex Horne has devoured this idea and synthesised it with a show about lying itself. Does it affect how we appreciate and identify with comedy, or is it actually necessary to fully engage with dishonesty for the sake of entertainment? This collective ruse tends to put an audience at ease, and here Horne’s meandering stories about disastrous fatherhood and social ineptitude are utterly irresistible. He’s assisted by the voices of Michael Caine, Andre Agassi and Cherie Blair, all of whom overlap and argue in what is a technically immaculate routine. Caine confesses his love of chorus lines, Agassi confides that he always knows exactly what’s in his heart,
while Blair brags about her (former) 21-inch waist. Most successfully, Horne indulges in a double-act with himself, conversing with pre-recorded dialogue which is seamlessly fused to the show’s narrative. Clearly, Horne is a gifted raconteur, and the last few years of compering—most notably as host of The Horne Section—have allowed him to perfect a breathless delivery – unrelenting and enviably quick-witted. Though the pace can occasionally ruin any period of reflection or pause, it’s easy to become completely swept up in material on the nature of standup. Lies is flooded with call-backs and genre parody, at once devilishly intelligent without preaching or overselling its craft, while exhibiting how much work has gone into its rehearsal and assembly. [Andrew Latimer] Pleasance Courtyard, 8:30pm – 9:30pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, £9.50 – £10.50
Alfie Moore: Viva Alf’s Vegas
HHHHH
About two-thirds of the way through his show, exsteelworker, policeman and former contestant on ITV’s Show Me The Funny, Alfie Moore confesses that he nearly hired a director. The gag is that he gambled the money instead. But the joke is on the comedian and, at best, this is a coy admission that the narrative of his reallife gambling addiction tends to change direction more often than a riderless horse. In trying to weave a story about his addiction into a wider take on the gambling industry’s predatory habits, plus a tribute to his dad (who he tried to send to Vegas to see his beloved Elvis),
www.festmag.co.uk
Moore had his work cut out from the start. Fortunately the 49-year-old’s efforts pay dividend in spite of this thanks, at times, to some very corny jokes but also to some sharp observations – for example the difference between bribery and lobbying (there isn’t one). Segues abound, however, and in many cases the focus
is lost. The material itself is often instructive if not always amusing, particularly with regard to the psychology of gambling, down the to the colour scheme of the casino. There are lulls along the way as Moore regathers his train of thought and uncertainty sometimes clouds the faces in the front row. But Moore’s ursine
charm and authoritative delivery, a vestige of his days in the force, help him reach a poignant ending where the audience recognises and appreciates his attempt to blend the personal and political. [Julian Hall] Pleasance Courtyard, 9:50pm – 10:50pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, £9 – £12
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 31
festcomedy Phil Jupitus and Deborah Frances White: Voices in Your Head
HHHHH
Abandoman: Moonrock Boombox
HHHHH
Abandoman (there are currently four of them including frontman Rob Broderick) arrive on stage looking like a Libertines pub tribute band. One of them claims to have been in Mumford and Sons, the other two don’t speak much but provide the beats and synth to back up Broderick’s deftly improvised hip hop. There are no pre-written witty songs or straight parodies. Abandoman’s performance is based entirely on interacting with the crowd, picking out little details and weaving them into a loose, surreal narrative about an epic rap battle for control of the moon. Apart from that there is no content to speak of, so what actually happens is almost entirely dependent on the willingness of the audience to provide source material. The big purple cow on
Bristo Square can seem cavernous at times but Broderick keeps the whole audience engaged and participating, instead of just lazily victimising the front rows. What’s more, he can actually rap. Comedy aside, some of the things he does with the hooks he picks up from the audience are downright impressive. With just a name and a few details he weaves semi-fictional personalities and slots them seamlessly into the story as it progresses toward a climactic fun-size Connect Four battle for domination over the lunar surface. At the end of the day Broderick is one of countless improv comics at the Fringe riffing off of their audience, but his way of doing it puts him in a higher class: think Goldie Lookin Chain for people who listen to Radio 4. [Dominic Hinde]
Towards the end of this show a group of lads in the audience let their inner voice out and take issue with what has been put before them. It’s hard to blame them entirely for their lack of response to this improv ‘happening’ that sees Phil Jupitus put into various scenarios (hitherto unknown to him) and then ‘directed’ by the voice of Deborah Frances-White. “If you have come for Phil’s standup you are going to be disappointed,” warns Frances-White from her offstage position at the top of the show, a remark aimed at the aforementioned lads. Fair warning, but by the end you could change that to “if you had come for an evening’s laughter and entertainment...” Witnessing Jupitus as a fallen 1920s Mexican movie star, a 1930s New York miscreant, a director of Hollywood musicals and someone visited by his silent movie icon was not the spectacle it might have been. Frances-White’s imperious voice tries to extract the funny with a series of questions to Jupitus’s
improvised characters. It has some success with a device where she rings a bell if she’s not happy with the answer he gives, prompting Jupitus to bid up his gags. As the evening wore on, however, Frances-White’s involvement either dwindled or didn’t help Jupitus find an out from scenes that were rapidly turning into indulgent melodrama. They always say with improv no two shows are the same. Let’s hope that’s the case here — it would be a shame for someone else to have to endure a repeat performance. [Julian Hall] Pleasance Dome, 8:30pm – 9:30pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £12 – £14
Underbelly, Bristo Sq, 8:45pm – 9:45pm, 1 – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £13.50 – £14.50
32 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
Y O U R F E S T I VA L S T Y L E D E S T I N AT I O N ADIDAS, BENCH, FAT FACE, FOSSIL, FRED PERRY, KAREN MILLEN, KURT GEIGER, LACOSTE, LEVI’S, NIKE FACTORY STORE AND TED BAKER
livingstondesigneroutlet.com
festcomedy
Keith Farnan: Fear Itself
HHHHH
So strong is the Irish comedy brand that it must be tempting and entirely possible for that nation’s comics to make an entire career out of riffing on familiar Emerald Isle topics, and indeed, there are plenty that do. It’s a tempation that Keith Farnan resists in this intelligent, warm and entertaining exploration of the global and personal reasons we have to panic and why, in the end, it’s good for us to do so. The energy, enthusiasm and slight unhingedness with which Farnan starts, kicking off with a rapid-fire prediction of the front row punters’ deaths, is sustained throughout and helps lift the show as he probes into dark corners, as well as on a few occssions when some gags don’t quite
Adam Hess and David Elms
HHHHH
In the boomingly over-large expanse of a basement nightclub, young English standups Adam Hess and David Elms huddle together for mutual support, splitting 50 minutes down the middle into two individual sets (don’t come expecting a double-act). It’s a sensible idea given that they both struggle to eke any solid laughs from even half the
hit the spot. Well known for his political engagement, he’s on wonderful, incisive form again here, with an IRA-led mission to stop an asteroid hitting earth (and why the Ulster Unionists would object) and an almost endearing little foresight of the day electrical applicances rise up to avenge the death of World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing. It’s an ambitious show with a complex theme that Farnan isn’t always able to pivot back to successfully. His frequent on-the-spot explorations of ideas that have just occurred to him—a joy though they are to behold—perhaps serve to deny the show the coherence and completeness it would otherwise have, but with tangents as hilarious as these, he can be forgiven. [Dan Heap]
Lee Camp: Destruction! Distraction! Evolution?
HHHHH
Underbelly, Cowgate, 6:20pm – 7:20pm, 1–25 Aug, not 13, £9 – £10.50
American comedian stands up for an hour and complains about George Bush, Dick Cheney and American capitalism. So far, so predictable. Yet Lee Camp is proof that even if you have the same basic material as a million other political comics, like an Afghan drone strike, it is all about the delivery. He drifts from contemporary consumer society to the problems of the globalised media and the injustices visited upon humanity daily, reveling in the absurdity of it all. Camp has a constant polemical edge, but it is directed as much at people themselves as the politicians that govern them. Using the wonders of Powerpoint he even goes to pains to prove that what he jokes about is real rather than
duration of a standard Fringe show, something which doesn’t augur well for their capacity to graduate to fulllength sets anytime soon. Elms is the warm-up, a straighter-than-straight man who nervously clutches an acoustic guitar upon which songs, reminiscent of Fran Healy on Valium, are intermittently strummed about the likes of awkward interactions at pirate-themed family gatherings and the difficulty of being sincere with women. His delivery
is so one-note deadpan droll, it’s barely possible to discern the difference between set-ups and punch lines. The best bit is when he looks at his bare wrist for the umpteenth time and jokes he’s worn his watch away from staring at it, a feeling I can strongly identify with by the changeover. Hess is the contrastingly loud, animated and camp one; where Elms underplays everything to his detriment, his compatriot has the inverse problem, rushing
34 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
apocryphal. It manifests itself as a peculiarly dark modern Americana. It is also clear that Camp really believes in the show. Playing one of the Fringe’s smaller venues for a very reasonable entry price is not a fast track to a comedy fortune, but this is very much his natural habitat. He gets a sense of the mood of the room, covers his tracks seamlessly and pushes on at an unrelenting pace. Admirably, he doesn’t hesitate to attempt something totally earnest and genuine in the show’s final moments. If you want to leave with a genuine speck of hope for the future of humanity instead of misanthropic bitterness then Camp offers it. Solid, thoughtful comedy. [Dominic Hinde] Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 6:50pm – 7:50pm, 1–25 Aug, not 13, £10 – £12
and garbling lines, flying off wildly at tangents to infrequent avail. There’s possibly something somewhere in Hess’s talent for being able to make a quick-fire joke out of any random word audience members can shout at him, though he typically jabbers that part at such a rate it’s hard to keep up, and he soon loses the thread. Two stars, one each. [Malcolm Jack] Heroes @ The Hive, 6:00pm – 6:50pm, 1–25 Aug, £5
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy Ian Cognito: Trouble with Comedy
HHHHH
Bolstering the burgeoning theory that the free Fringes offer a flavour of how Edinburgh used to be, Ian Cognito is finally back in town, like a disgraced old gunslinger. Coggers—as he’s known to those on the circuit still talking to him—is an act that promoters love to trade juicy anecdotes about, but tend not to actually book these days, just in case. “It’s because I’m dangerous!” he barks at one lad in the front row here, having leapt onto his chair, almost toppled over but carried on regardless while being prodded upright by the folks most concerned that his tankard of ale will spill all over them. Much of it does anyway, plus lashings of spittle and sweat. It’s not the seat to choose if you’re dolled up for
Shane Mauss: Mating Season
HHHHH
Shane Mauss is a nice guy, in many ways. In a certain light you can see a bit of Brad Pitt about him, or an amalgam of characters from One Tree Hill and The OC. These comparisons make the 50 minutes spent with him that much more entertaining. It’s a pity that you may have to resort to playing ‘spot the wholesome doppelgänger’ to ride out some of the debut of Mauss (pronounced Moss), but needs must when the energy in the room is low. There is a passage in the show, over half-way, where you feel that you have acclimatised to the pace of the routines from the Wisconsin-raised comic and that his charisma-neutral setting has geared up to something approximating an innately gentle charm. However, Mauss’s tendency
www.festmag.co.uk
a night out, but then watching Coggers perform is pretty intense however safely ensconced you think you might be. Having been banned from numerous clubs, he likes to make the most of a room. Both the material and his manner are a boot in the face to safety-first promoters: more profanity than you’d hear on the nightbus home, via old-school gags that veer from wonderfully insightful to wince-inducing. But then he takes on so many taboo targets, by the end you’d be offended if you’d been left out. This is controlled anarchy from Cognito. It’s a well-paced set with a coherent theme—his messy life—and even some decent songs to lighten the mood. An old master at work. [Si Hawkins] City Cafe, 10:30 – 11:30pm, 2–26 Aug, not 12, free
to over-egg his routines with (unfulfilled) anticipation comes back to bite him. Admirably Mating Season largely sticks to its theme of how humans and animals get together and how women are the boss. Unfortunately research done in front of nature programmes while on drugs does not make for the clearest or fittest of routines. Precious few killer lines evolve from a morass of sometimes slight, and sometimes obtuse, observations. Back home in the US things seem to be moving along nicely for Mauss, although it is seven years since the HBO award mentioned on his poster. It is not impossible to see the promise behind this bland set, but it will take some teasing out if he is to make an impression internationally. [Julian Hall] Assembly George Sq, 10:30pm – 11:30pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £11 – £12
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 35
festcomedy Pete Firman: Scoundrel
HHHHH As well as being an alliterative dream, Middlesbrough’s mod magician Pete Firman is a consummate performer who has rightly been showered with praise over the last few years. A regular on TV even before his run of six consecutive Edinburgh shows, the 33-year-old’s strapline of “the new posterboy for British comedy magic”, awarded to him by the Telegraph, will be consolidated by Scoundrel. Blending cheeky chappie humour with fresh takes on old tricks, such as regurgitating needles, Firman’s most impressive feat in this show is his balancing act between the two genres
Terry Alderton: Season 4
HHHHH
What to make of Terry Alderton? This true genre-defier sees a rowdy weekend crowd lap up his inspired improvised surrealism along with hefty bouts of lowbrow crassness. For those familiar with Alderton’s work, the pleasure of seeing this manic force of nature unleash himself and his multiple personalities on the front row is seemingly well
Ben Van Der Velde’s Chain Letter
HHHHH
A love letter to letters; Van der Velde’s premise of re-establishing the handwritten word as the way we communicate with our loved ones is an admirable one. However, the quest set by this corkscrewcurled, half-Jewish, half-Geordie comic feels so contrived that the novelty of the show fades early on.
the set-piece building skills that Derren Brown does. But then Brown can’t pull off scampish smut, so it all evens out. That said, a sequence involving some footage of him performing magic as an eight-year-old yields a head-scratchingly implausible result. While Brown’s punchline is wonder, Firman usually rounds off with a gag. Funny to think that it’s his very skill with comedy that might undermine the full effect of Firman’s magic skills, but there is little time to worry about this too much before both audience and performer are on to the next thing. [Julian Hall]
he represents. In one of his early tricks involving a chair (sorry, two chairs) he reveals the method for the sake of a gag – an important reminder that comedy is
not an afterthought for him. Seemingly primed with a line for everything, Firman is in the business of joke toppers as well as trick toppers, though he doesn’t quite have
worth the ticket price. Bounding between intricate crowdwork and deranged nuggets of vocal artistry, he creates a whirlwind of activity that is woven together to demonstrate a serious command of the form. But despite the tongue-in-cheek nature of his remarks (delivered using a classic back-turned, two voices gimmick), you can’t ignore that some of the content here is objectionable. Midget jokes, some questionable accents, and at one point his
darker voice passing judgement on a woman in the front row’s breasts. Then again, there’s undeniably some incredible skill on display here, along with an innovative approach to standup that is completely unique and a testament to Alderton’s intuitiveness as a performer. But to say ‘not for the faint-hearted’ or ‘just ignore the mild sexism, because this is some interesting standup’ would downplay the malignancy of such accepted
objectification. The comedy on display is at times so knowing that we might even be able to argue that the ‘dark voice’ represents some larger point. I want to believe that Alderton is teaching us a lesson about laughing at midget jokes. But that isn’t the tone. Ultimately, the bawdy club comic creeps in and ruins the fun. [Gemma Flynn]
The human chain letter he proposes sees the self-styled postie (complete with black and white stuffed cat and full Postman Pat garb) sent on various futile errands to get people to contact long-lost friends. Most encounters result in lukewarm anecdotes, falling down because, most often, people don’t want to dig up the past. The consequent limpness is enough to lose audience sympathy with the task at hand and the inher-
ent charm is squandered. Van der Velde’s stock club lines, outside of his solo debut’s narrative, are deftly dispatched, although sometimes you can feel the disappointment that they don’t get more of a response. That was never going to be easy with what he describes as an audience sat in a “2-1-3-1” formation. Some “midfield generals” arrive later to fill in the gaps, but you sense that he’s not at his most playful.
“Don’t let the robots win,” is Van der Velde’s message, in a time of texting and email. The emotive aspect of receiving a letter is, however, introduced far too late and feels like an add-on to a series of bland stories that defy exaggeration. The predictable patterns here are of man’s making. [Julian Hall]
36 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Pleasance Courtyard, 9:20pm – 10:20pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, £11.50 – £15
Pleasance Courtyard, 8:00pm – 9:00pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £10 – £13.50
Underbelly, Bristo Square, 4:10pm – 5:10pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £10 – £11
www.festmag.co.uk
AN IMPROVISED MUSICAL FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES (AND ADULTS WHO ACT LIKE KIDS)
Winner of The Comedians’ Choice Award Melbourne International Comedy Festival '13
AS SEEN ON CBBC!
The Age (Melbourne)
FAMILY HOUR
Critics' Choice
Time Out
'Awesome'
The Scotsman
'Joyous'
Independent on Sunday
'Amazing'
Mail on Sunday
'Hilarious'
Whatsonstage'
‘Wonderful'
Huffington Post
'Brilliant'
British Theatre Guide
'Genius'
Evening News
What adventure do you want to go on today? Gilded Balloon Teviot, Bristo Sq - Fringe Venue 14 2-13 Aug 2pm www.theshowstoppers.org Tickets 0131 622 6552 www.gildedballoon.co.uk
Festival Highlights.com
31 JUL- 26 AUG (NOT AUG 12) 21:45
PLEASANCE COURTYARD BOOK NOW ON 0131 556 6550 OR VISIT WWW.PLEASANCE.CO.UK
“A delightfully unpredictable glam culture parody”
hilariously absurd comedy
Adelaide Now
2-25 August, 1.20pm daily Thurs to Sun, Underbelly, Bristo Square Hosts include Julian Clary, Ed Byrne, Jo Caulfield, Christian O’Connell, Alan Davies, Adam Hills and John Moloney.
£7
Tickets/daily line-up: underbelly.co.uk/secret Listen/subscribe: amnesty.org.uk/itunes @secretpoliceman #secretcomedy
www.festmag.co.uk
19:30 (1hr) | 1-22 August (previews 1-2 Aug) Assembly George Square | George Square EH8 9LH | 0131 623 3030 | assemblyfestival.com
LordsofStrut.com
LordsofStrut
David Johnson, John Mackay & Soho Theatre present
RU B B E RBAN DITS
«««« Guardian
«««« Scotsman
«««« Metro
GUILDED BALLOON-TEVIOT 31 JULY – 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19) 10.40PM 0131 622 6552 / GILDEDBALLOON.CO.UK
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 37
festcomedy Mary Bourke: Muffragette
HHHHH
Fuelled by a lifetime of frustration, disgust and righteous anger, Mary Bourke’s efforts to bring feminist politics into the nation’s comedy clubs should at the very least yield compelling results. She’s sick of finding herself the only woman on the bill at circuit gigs and has nothing but contempt for ‘edgy’ comics whose material bows down before the patriarchy in an effort to score cheap laughs. Few have a platform from which they can draw attention to the gender inequalities that persist within their industry and, with this in mind, it’s too bad that Muffragette is so toothless. This is clearly an honest and personal set, Bourke discussing only subjects and events that she experiences in her day-to-day life, however mundane they are. Anecdotes involving Twitter trolls tend to go nowhere, while all the comedian has to show from hours of exposure to children’s television is a weak observation regarding Peppa Pig’s fondness for spaghetti and meatballs. A sustained attack on Eamonn Holmes fares better because it illustrates the innocuous forms that misogyny can assume, and is delivered with unmistakeable sincerity. Were the show to follow in this vein, it would be a caustic eye-opener, but the performer seems reluctant to shift into full polemical mode. Consequently, her message is rarely delivered with the conviction that it warrants, while her jokes simply aren’t strong enough to carry the hour. A master of the acerbic one-liner, Bourke could do something really special if she were to tackle her subject with less restraint. [Lewis Porteous] The Stand III & IV, 5:50pm – 6:50pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £8
Christian O’Connell: This is 13
HHHHH
We’re getting used to pretty much anyone in the public eye trying their hand at standup these days. It seems to be a bucket list special, or, more positively, a rite of passage. However, Absolute Radio DJ Christian O’Connell isn’t a total tourist – he has form, having once lost to Julian Barratt in an open mic competition in Edinburgh 18 years ago. It was, however, a ‘midbucket’ list that prompted his return. Said list comprised
38 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
of things O’Connell thought he should do before he was 40, and it was apparently written at the eponymous age of 13. It’s a neat device, but one can’t help wonder if “be a cool dad” was a genuine inclusion or poetic licence. That said, other items on the teenage to-do list include “duff up Darth Vader” and “play Subbuteo with Bryan Robson.” They would seem to lend it the requisite Eighties authenticity. Whatever the veracity, the set is delivered by someone who is already well-versed in holding the attention of others and who has clearly done
a lot of research on the verbal tics of comedians since he was last on the scene. Consequently, it’s pretty bullet-proof, but to the point where his connection to the material can feel remote. The fault lies at the start of the show where the context of the list is glossed over and details about the 13-year-old O’Connell are not coloured in. Rarely should the early use of PowerPoint be encouraged, but here it seems apposite. It’s not radio, after all. [Julian Hall] Underbelly, Bristo Square, 8:40pm – 9:40pm, 31 Jul – 20 Aug, £12.50 – £13.50
www.festmag.co.uk
festcomedy
David Quirk: Shaking Hands With Danger
HHHHH
David Quirk’s second Fringe hour might be the most heartbreakingly relatable exploration of love in the whole comedy programme. Ostensibly centred around one man’s wandering penis, the real impact here is found in the Australian’s devastating portrayal of the contentment of adoring another person and the tragedy of feeling
that fade. Quirk is captivating, an assured storyteller who bravely pushes sombre moments far beyond the audience’s comfort level in order to flesh out this gutwrenching material. But he’s also a self-conscious standup who refers explicitly and regularly to his lack of jokes. We hear that he even tells the doctor examining his dick that he doesn’t do punchlines, he’s more of an anecdote guy. Quirk is clearly aware that while he’s taking
the audience to a vulnerable place, he isn’t quite relieving them with big enough laughs to compensate. He exhausts the crowd by absorbing them in darkness, then tries to address the imbalance with stories about ejaculate, his penis, sex, his penis again. While the dick jokes are fine, they aren’t enough – but they aren’t the problem and neither is his lack of traditional setuppunchline jokes. Rather, the intensity of the piece is
overwhelming and the level of humour doesn’t quite gel with the emotional ambition. However, if Quirk can find some coherence, if he can make the jokes better serve the content rather than simply aim to distract us for a moment, it’s clear that he has the capacity to produce some accomplished work. [Gemma Flynn] Pleasance Courtyard, 9:45pm – 10:45pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8 – £10.50
HHHH Time Out
31 Jul - 25 Aug | 21:30 gildedballoon.co.uk 0131 622 6552
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 39
Produced by
Presents
Robbie Thomson’s 2 – 25 August (not Weds) // 19.00 // £12/£8
“Bonkers but Brilliant! ”
Grazia
Sven Werner’s 12 – 25 August // Every 30 mins from 15.00 until 20.00 (not Weds) // £14/£9
Fringe Venue 26, Summerhall, Edinburgh Book now: 0845 874 3001 // summerhall.co.uk cryptic.org.uk // sonic-a.co.uk
CalArts Festival Theater - 10 years on the fringe!!
17:30
Whispering in the Dark
13:15
Mask
10:30
Goose
10:30 Goose 13:15 Mask (No Aug. 5, 12) 17:30 Whispering in the Dark
Dallin is turning 13, and no one Pauline and Juliet commit has come to his party. A man uncovers his wife’s matricide in 50s New Zealand O’Neill Theatre NPC infidelity after discovering he - only to meet 60 years later in Semi-finalist can remove his face the afterlife.
August 3-24 -
£8 Gen / £5 Con tix: 0707 420 1313
On Lochend Close Just off the Royal Mile 100m past Cannongate Kirk
www.venue13.com
40 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
HHHHH Grippingly believable exploration of modern warfare told through the eyes of an isolated drone pilot. Page 45 photo: Iona Firouzabadi
festtheatre
Grounded
festtheatre Stuart: A Life Backwards
HHHHH Based on Alexander Masters’ book of the same name, Stuart: A Life Backwards charts the author’s relationship with a vulnerable Cambridge homeless man called Stuart Shorter. Its transfer to stage turns it into a work of autofiction which looks in detail at both Shorter’s tragic life and Masters’ own motivations for befriending one particular person amongst all the other cases he dealt with, and his inability to deal with his own personal insecurities. The cast are exemplary, with Fraser Ayres giving a mesmerising performance as the muscular dystrophy-afflicted Shorter who is by turns violent, funny, sensitive and tortured. There is a creatively rendered supporting case of characters surrounding Masters and Shorter consisting of girlfriends, fellow homelwess, child abusers from Shorter’s past and the medical and legal staff tasked with processing him in his regular encounters with the state.
It is sometimes hard to know who the central character is supposed to be. In reaching out through storytelling, Masters reveals much of himself whilst telling the story of Shorter, the ostensible centre-piece of the production. His monologues—delivered directly to the audience—
Phil Nichol: The Weary Land
HHHHH
“You’re allowed to laugh at this story, by the way,” says a slightly bemused Phil Nichol, towards the end of his intriguing talk. And it is a talk, rather than a standup or theatrical show, an autobiographical monologue that veers from tortured darkness to slapstick hilarity, often within the span of a sentence. Only a few hardy audience members manage to fully embrace the shift in tone, presumably those brought up
clutch at something just out of reach and he is frequently struck by a sense of futility in what he is doing. Stuart… is an attempt to tell two stories—one of a failed system, one of middle class angst—and in the contemporary political climate of austerity and public service
cuts, both feel terribly timely. Ultimately, Stuart: A Life Backwards is what Fringe theatre should be: challenging, creative, compact and honest. [Dominic Hinde]
on the infamous tragic news/ funny vegetable variety show That’s Life. Hence Nichol’s pep talk. The sporadic laughter is clearly a tad disconcerting for the Cumbernauld-bred Canadian—and the story of the family’s migration is a revealing highlight early on— but then The Weary Land was intended to be a more relaxed affair than Nichol’s regular work. It’s an opportunity for the usually energetic comic to sit down and open up about his religious upbringing, early relationships, rampant ego trips, and the emotional trauma that almost did for him. It’s a tale worth telling. Standups thrive on the
instant affirmation laughter brings though, and even a wide-ranging talent like Nichol can’t help throwing in frequent punchlines, even a few bursts of outrageous physical comedy. The Weary Land feels a little caught between stools, due to the comic’s lack of complete confidence in his own tale; he even ponders whether the idea is “self-indulgent crap” after the lights dim. It certainly isn’t, but that’s the problem with straight pieces; how on earth are you supposed to know? [Si Hawkins]
Underbelly, Bristo Square, 3:30pm – 5:00pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £12 – £14
Assembly Rooms, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, 1–25 Aug, not 12, £10
www.festmag.co.uk
‘Extraordinary... Brilliant’ THE GUARDIAN ON WU HSING-KOU
Metamorphosis Contemporary Legend Theatre
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August 8.00pm, Monday 12 August 3.00pm
WORLD PREMIERE
Supported by
Surreal story of the man who woke up as an insect.
Book now at eif.co.uk/metamorphosis 0131 473 2000
Taipei Representative Office in the UK
Charity No SC004694 Photo Kuo Cheng-Chan
ADAPTED FROM FRANZ KAFKA
festtheatre Long Live the Little Knife
HHHHH
It’s rare in theatre for uplifting, redemptive conclusions to arise from scenes depicting genital mutilation. If nothing else, David Leddy’s Long Live the Little Knife satisfies on this front, but is otherwise a brash and manic triumph. The entirety of the theatre is covered in paint-splattered dustsheets and the stage strewn with cans of Special Brew when we’re introduced to Liz and Jim, husband and wife con artists. They’ve achieved a level of comfort in life as “fake vintage tat merchants”, but their happiness comes to a head when professional rivals force them to seek a quarter of a million pounds in protection money. Unscrupulous crime lord The Wee Man encourages the pair to raise funds through art forgery, and so they doggedly pursue this agenda despite lacking all the requisite skills. Wendy Seager and Neil McCormack are fine comic performers and carry the farce with frenetic aplomb. We laugh at their characters’ skewed airs and graces as their desperate naiveté digs them into an increasingly depraved hole. The humour eventually gives way to a
Threeway
HHHHH After scouring the internet, a usually monogamous couple have recruited a stranger to join them on their quest to become “sexual adventurers”. Julie, a hard working nurse, has instigated this course of action and her unambitious partner Andrew naturally feels threatened by the arrival of their guest. A tall, toned black man whose penis, casual racism tells
sense of tragedy and pathos, however, the actors’ range finally causing us to feel sympathy toward the unlikely heroes. The infinitely amusing script is based on a series of
interviews conducted with a real life Liz and Jim, and calls the psychology and authenticity of truth into question. Fact and fiction, we discover, are ultimately interchangeable and all we can say for
certain is that Leddy remains one of Scotland’s most exciting voices. [Lewis Porteous]
us, will doubtless be much bigger than his. Mark is everything Andrew is not. When left alone together, the men attempt to establish ground rules for the night ahead with excruciating consequences. It’s to writer DC Jackson’s credit that he recognised the finite amount of laughs to be had at the awkward note on which Threeway starts. Thus, the Fringe First-winner’s script swiftly changes tack when its characters find themselves mysteriously
trapped in each other’s bodies. Hotshot businessman Mark is reduced to staying at home in the guise of a ginger haired beta male, poring over old movies in a bid to understand their situation. Andrew gets a taste of responsibility as the unemployed waster is forced to carry out his partner’s work duties, while Julie must pay regular visits to Mark’s neglected spouse. From the play’s limp opening, it grows into a
predictable farce which adheres slavishly to established bodyswap story conventions. It’s hard to care about characters who loudly proclaim “I’m not a faggot!” when threatened with contact from other men, while a depressingly claustrophobic air pervades what is ultimately a rather tawdry affair. [Lewis Porteous]
44 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Traverse Theatre, times vary, 1–25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £17 – £19
Pleasance Courtyard, 12:30pm – 1:45pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £12 – £16
www.festmag.co.uk
festtheatre Grounded
HHHHH The emotional whiplash from this grippingly intense one-woman play—making its UK debut at this year’s festival thanks to London’s Gate Theatre—almost hurts. The boundless blue of the sky turns to the pink of a pregnancy test and, finally, to camera grey as a drone devastates foreign lands and the life of the grounded female US fighter pilot operating it. The use of unmanned drones in war zones has filled headlines, but American writer George Brant wisely forgoes soundbite scripting for a laser-sighted focus on Lucy Ellinson’s nameless Pilot – an adrenalin junkie in need of a new fix when childbirth ends the sonic boom of her Top Gun lifestyle. She’s our lens onto a chilling new world where national borders have faded as warfare becomes an endless shifting frame from one desert to the next. She becomes a self-professed desk-bound god who gets a kick out of smiting “the guilty” from her “eye in the sky” even as her daughter’s face starts to blur with her onscreen targets. Ellinson is mesmerising as Pilot – sardonic, swaggering and fragile as glass, restlessly pacing the grey-hued transparent cube that comprises
www.festmag.co.uk
the set. It’s an effective way of conveying the character’s claustrophobia and her estrangement from life beyond her joystick. Director Christopher Haydon’s edgily paced produc-
tion, with its staccato bursts of rock music, mirrors Brant’s spiky writing, which touches on the relationship between gender, motherhood and career without preachiness. Powered by Ellinson, this
show soars across utterly believable territory. [Tom Wicker] Traverse Theatre, times vary, 1–25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £17 – £19
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 45
festtheatre Missing
HHHHH Missing must surely be one of the most visually arresting shows at the Fringe. The design and use of the innovative set is near perfect, framing the performers as they flit between spoken theatre and visceral dance. Starting out by delving into the past and insecurities of the shy and awkward middle-aged Lily, Missing opens up into a disjointed love story. It skips between locations, between languages and time periods, rewinds and fast forwards. The various diverse elements of the show overlap seamlessly, and composer Dave Price’s soundtrack underpins the production magnificently as it weaves together ethereal post-rock strings with flamenco and jarring fuzz at different points in the narrative. There are snatches of conversations, windows into moments of desperate anguish and genuine hap-
piness as the action darts around the disparate parts of Lily’s life and personality. The production’s refusal to ground itself in any specific place, time or language also serves to emphasise the universality of the main character’s thoughts and experience. There are no long monologues or explanations. Much of the action is rendered in half-memories and almost wordless encounters, shadowed by the spectre of the infant Lily— portrayed using puppetry— as she hovers at the edges of stage and of her adult self’s psyche. Missing is technically accomplished on almost every level. It is neither a play featuring dance nor a dance performance with dialogue, but a brilliant combination of visual, musical and theatrical innovation and is a pleasure to watch unfold from start to finish. [Dominic Hinde] Pleasance Courtyard, times vary, 2–25 Aug, not 7, 18, £11.50 – £15
The Three Lions
HHHHH
The Three Lions is a brand new comedy from actor and writer William Gaminara, set in Zurich the night before England’s fruitless attempt to bag the 2018 World Cup. The play imagines what went on when the dubious trio of David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham came together to hash out a plan to bring football home to English soil. As far as comedy is concerned, it’s a set-up that came with its jokes pre-packaged. And the glee of the three main actors at being
46 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
presented with such fertile material is palpable. Dugald Bruce-Lockhart is great as Cameron, his squirming, spluttering performance a bewildering feat of sweaty endurance – even if he sometimes hams it up just a little too much. Sean Browne, meanwhile, bears an almost frightening resemblance to Beckham, nailing the footballer’s monotonous whine and sharp-suited vanity; while Tom Davey’s jack-the-lad William delivers easy laughs from his first appearance to his last. The problem with basing the majority of the comedy around sending up such
well-known public figures is that the jokes run the risk of growing repetitive. And indeed, there’s only so many times we can watch the exasperated Cameron trying to tease some sense out of the others before; much like the Duke of Cambridge’s hair, it starts to wear thin. Despite this, there are plenty of laughs to be had here – and like all good satires, a depressing amount of them are firmly lodged in the stinking quagmire of verifiable fact. [Alistair Grant] Pleasance Courtyard, 4:30pm – 6:00pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £11.50 – £15
www.festmag.co.uk
festtheatre
Fight Night
HHHHH Is there a more frustrating company than Ontroerend Goed? The rule-bending Belgians—performing here alongside Australia’s The Border Project—are capable of theatrical brilliance, redefining the genre and extracting torrents of self-examination and afterthought as they did with 2009’s extraordinary one-on-one show, Internal. On other occasions, though, they fall disappointingly short with cod psychological,
substance-lite efforts such as 2011’s examination of crowd behaviour, Audience. So where does this year’s audience-driven deconstruction of the electoral system, Fight Night, lie? Slap-bang in the middle, somewhat predictably. It’s got all the OG trademarks: high production values, handsomely turned-out cast, audience involvement; and as five “candidates” stride onstage sporting boxing gowns to begin the idiological pugilism (the combat metaphor runs throughout
the show), expectations are set high. It’s a popularity contest, really, based on the little we know about our quintet of eager contenders and we vote (via a hand-held keypad) for our favourite. Who do we most like the look of? Whose views align to ours? Whose words do we find most offensive? Only one can win. Fight Night certainly holds our attention as our affable host/ringleader (resembling a young George Galloway in Harris Tweed) prompts, cajoles and exposes the fal-
libilities of personality-based electioneering: horse-trading, coalescing, back-biting, self-aggrandising. The system’s broke, and we all know it. But so what? It’s hardly revelatory, in truth, as those of us used to gobbling up our meagre sliver of democracy will attest, but Fight Night is nonetheless a further reminder of the art and artifice of the election game. [Joe Spurgeon] Traverse Theatre, times vary, 1–25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £17 – £19
For festival gigs
DODGY HUDSON TAYLOR THOMAS J SPEIGHT VOLTS THEM BEATLES BAGS OF ROCK MACFLOYD
Thu 22 Aug Thu 15 Aug Sat 24 Aug Sat 3 Aug Sun 4 Aug Thu 8 Aug Fri 23 Aug
ELJAM & FEAST RECORDS SHOWCASE
Sun 25 Aug
03 - 25 August 2013 Tickets: 0131 665 2240 www.thebrunton.co.uk www.edinburghfringe.com The Brunton, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh. EH21 6AA
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 47
festtheatre The Boy Who Kicked Pigs
HHHHH
Based on a novella by former Doctor Who star Tom Baker, this twisted tale of murder and mayhem in deepest, darkest Kent is ghoulishly funny and stylishly staged. The brilliantly named Kill the Beast theatre company have channelled the grinding suburbia of a Lowry painting through The League of Gentleman’s Royston Vasey. Against an off-kilter monochrome backdrop, the cast contort themselves into a vivid parade of grotesques as David Cumming’s superbly nasty teenager Robert Caligari plots his first murder – with the aid of his sister’s talking piggy bank, Trevor.
Ban this Filth!
HHHHH
There’s a moment at the climax of Alan Bissett’s new piece where it all gets awkward. Really awkward. Edinburgh’s dutifully liberal theatregoing set find themselves thrust into the position of domineering aggressor, soliciting cheap thrills out of the writer’s vulnerability, all the while willing him to enjoy it as much as he has the previous fifty minutes of relatively easy philosophical banter. It’s also the moment where Bissett’s sixth-form cod debate on feminism falls apart, making way for something much more interesting. What he sets up here is a straight head to head between the musings of a Falkirk native brought up on a diet of Predator, football, and Jamie Lee Curtis’ boobs in the film Trading Places, and Andrea Dworkin’s no-holds-barred mauling of pornography and patriarchy. Both come
The script is bitingly funny and the show’s warped view of a drab and faded England skilfully references countless comedy horror films and TV series while finding a fresh vein of surrealism to open up
and fling across the stage. As Caligari festers in his bedroom, bossed around by Trevor and boiling with frustration, director Clem Garrity keeps things moving with manic energy. Housewives
advance from their doorsteps in grim formation and jokes cut through the air like a volley of knives. Beautifully detailed animations and a feverishly exaggerated set create a nightmarish world of unremitting tedium in which locals greedily devour news of a motorway pile-up. Beneath the small-town Grand Guignol and lashings of black-hearted humour is a dark vision of a society lacking meaning or purpose, where children are neither seen nor heard. But don’t panic: the show’s rictus grin never droops and the blood and guts keep coming. [Tom Wicker] Pleasance Courtyard, 4:10pm – 5:20pm, 31 Jul – 14 Aug, £9 – £11.50
out of it bloodied and barely standing. It’s a nice conceit, and largely works – and in places, that’s shouldered by some neat writing, Dworkin’s strident, furious lamentations contrasting with the easy colloquialism of Bissett’s masculine—and feminist— awakening. But for all the charm (and, dammit, Bissett has it by the bucketload), there’s a weight his banter can’t support. Marking the move from childhood into teenage years, for instance, Bisset moulds and modifies language and references to a child’s changing priorities and growing prejudices. But it’s a podgy monologue crying out for the discipline of an editor’s pen. Absolutely, Bissett juggles his ideas here with dexterity and a strong sense of form. But when it comes to execution, he’s phoned it in a bit here. [Evan Beswick] Scottish Storytelling Centre, 9:00pm – 10:00pm, 1–11 Aug, £12
48 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
festtheatre Anna
HHHHH Anna Politkovskaya was murdered for what she believed in. Gunned down in a lift for refusing to be silenced, for refusing to sit back and let the human rights abuses of the Russian/Chechen war continue unreported. The formidable Badac Theatre Company have created a brutal call to arms in her memory; an uncomfortable, uncompromising confrontation with our own apathetic consumption of atrocity. We’re taken down into the basement of Summerhall and arranged along the walls of a stark white corridor. It’s like a holding pen. But anyone waiting to be moved on into a comfortable seat or an immersive playground is in for a rude awakening, as Politko-
vskaya’s story is played out in the closest possible quarters. You can smell the sweat and spittle as Marnie Baxter’s furious representation of the journalist rails against the lies and cruelties of her countrymen. We see Politkovskaya shake with grief and rage as she hears the story of a woman whose son was tor-
tured to death, or speaks to a survivor of the Dubrovka massacre. We see her beaten and abused by soldiers and Putin’s lackeys. We see the pain she faces daily and the suffering she endures for bringing it to light, and we have nowhere to avert our eyes. Badac confronts our apathy by temporarily revoking
our right to it. This shiv of a play is at its most powerful when it sticks close to the stories Politkovskaya fought for, but its brutal, unrelenting punches make the price of truth harrowingly clear. [Stewart Pringle] Summerhall, 8:30pm – 9:30pm, 2–25 Aug, not 12, £10
The Paper Birds commissioned by Northern Stage, supported by West Yorkshire Playhouse and University of Chichester, in association with Live Theatre presents
“Terrifically sharp, vibrant and poignant” The Independent
6.35pm (1hr 15) 3 - 24 AUG (not 6,13,20) Venue 73 NORTHERN STAGE AT ST STEPHEN’S Box Office 0131 558 3047 Book Online northernstage.co.uk
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 49
Str
n Quee
et n Stre Quee et e Stre Thistl
t Stree Rose
t Stree Rose
ridge rley B Wave
t Stree Rose
treet ver S Hano
t Stree erick Fred
eet le Str Cast
9
36
27
et e Stre Georg
t Stree Rose
reet es St Princ ound The M
s arden G t e e es Str c n i r P
ace Terr
25
George Sq
23 Pleasance Dome
Bristo Sq
Mound Place
24 The Stand
York Place
Roxburgh Place
25 The Beehive Inn
Grassmarket
George Street
26 Scottish Storytelling Centre
The Netherbow Summerhall
Sp itta lS tre et
1 Assembly George Sq
4 The Assembly Rooms
Chambers Street
6 C aquila
Johnston Terrace
28 Summerhall
7 C nova
India Buildings
8 C too
St Columba’s
Bread Street
et re St on ws La dy La
5 C venues
st Port We 27 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall Hanover Street
29 Sweet Grassmarket
Apex City Hotel
30 The Banshee Labyrinth
Niddry Street
31 The Dram House Upstairs
Guthrie Street
Grassmarket
32 The Edinburgh Dungeon
Market Street
Bristo Sq
33 Pleasance Courtyard
Pleasance
Royal Terrace
34 The Stand Comedy Club II
York Place
Niddry Street
35 The Stand Comedy Club III & IV
York Place
Hill Street
36 The Voodoo Rooms
W. Register Street
37 theSpace @ Surgeons Hall
Nicolson Street
Blair Street
38 theSpace on North Bridge
Carlton Hotel
India Buildings
39 theSpace on the Mile
High Street
18 Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde Hanover Street
40 Traverse Theatre
Cambridge Street
19 Laughing Horse Br House W. Nicolson Street ss @ Counting ou cro oll Horse @ Free Sisters gh 20 Laughing Cowgate st T
41 Underbelly Bristo Sq
Bristo Sq
42 Underbelly Cowgate
Cowgate
13 Heroes @ The Hive ST 14 Hill Street Theatre
ree t
Hig h Rig gs
12 Greenside
et re St ey Gr rl Ea
15 Just The Tonic at the Caves
16 Laughing Horse @ City Cafe 17 Laughing Horse @ Espionage
ce n Pla Niddry Street risto Lau
am 21 Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix Broughton Street
44 Zoo Southside
Place Panmure
reet Tarvit St
ce Pla
Home Street
Freemasons’ Hall
Terrace Lonsdale
Br ist o
Pl ac e
a t Pl Tevio
Lauriston Place
Pleasance Nicolson Street
am gh ou Br Leve
treet
rnybank
et re St
22 New ThoTown Theatre
43 Zoo
Ca nd lem ak
reet ers St Chalm
We
ens Gard ston Lauri
Charlotte Sq
ge brid 11 Gilded Balloon untain Fo go Rie
et Stre ple Sem
9 Charlotte Sq Gardens 10 Dance Base
29
w Ro er
et ark ssm Gra et ark m s s Gra
42
e bridg
10
7 17 Street toria Vic
rge IV Geo
Ca m br idg eS t.
8 6
2 Assembly Grin Hall 3
e dg
ill Castleh
n sto hn Jo
Ro ad
/R Street High
rket nma Law
King Stables Road
dla yS tree Assembly Roxy t
C
2
st. Bank
ce ra er eT stl Ca
Road Lothian
Kin gS tab les
Wave Stat
t tree ket S Mar
lace nd P Mou
urgh b n i d E astle C 40
24 34 35
Sq. drew St An
4
14
22
e Sq.
treet ver S Hano
18
treet rick S Frede
treet Hill S
treet stle S h Ca Nort
et g Stre Youn
Sq. drew St An et e Stre Thistl
Forest Ro ad
t Herio
The Meadows
d Regent Roa
e Bridg North
Calton Road
t East Market Stree
‘The centre of the cultural universe’ The Scotsman
t Stree New
32
12
lace rloo P Wate
38
erley ation
Leit h St r
21
Jeffrey Street
26 39
Cockburn Street
Mile Royal reet / High St
t
St
Pleasance
gh bur Rox
et tre dS on 3 m m Dru
33
st.
ge St. Colle South
O v e r 240 S h o w s A c r o s s 27 V e n u e s at the Pleasance Courtyard and Dome
ce Pla
S
ary rm Infi
rgh xbu Ro
. ge St Colle West
37
et tre
23
ce l Pla Hil
ce
w erro pott
son hol Nic
41 11
el ap Ch
are e Squ Georg
St.
1
Place leuch Bucc
Cheaper Tickets Mondays & Tuesdays
44
West Crossc auseway
BOX OFFICE www.pleasance.co.uk 0131 556 6550
auseway East Crossc
reet uch St Buccle
are e Squ Georg
et tre nS so ol h ic tN es W
New for 2013
43
et tre dS on m ich tR es W
et Stre
19
treet ton S Crich
ce d Pla mon Rich
Lo th ian
se ’s clo rtson Robe
e Bridg South
5
tre G u thrie S e
Road Holyrood
e Cowgat
15
31
Cowgate
eet rs Str mbe Cha
30
et Stre ary’s St M
eet ry Str Nidd
t Stree Blair
se Old Fishmarket Clo
20
et rs stre kfria Blac
16
se s Clo Gray’ South
13
Mile Royal
e lac
ngate Cano
t tree lor S keil Ran
t tree rk S Cle
28
et Stre gue nta mo
festtheatre Pants on Fire’s Pinocchio
HHHHH
The tale of the fibbing wooden boy with the involuntarily extending conk goes dubstep. The thumping wobbly-bass soundtrack is just the tip of this slick and amusingly unconventional retelling of Carlo Collodi’s Disney-popularised kids’ classic by London theatre company Pants on Fire. Sometime in 1950s America, widower Geppetto endeavours to lift himself from the despair of his wife and son’s deaths in a freak nuclear testing accident by carving a marionette out of an old tree stump, much to the meddling fluster of his matronly neighbours. Brought to life, whether by magic or Geppetto’s drugaddled mind, Pinocchio—portrayed both by a puppet and a live actor—is a brattish little guy who refuses to go to school, instead allowing himself to be led astray by seductive con artists, The Fox and The Cat. En route to learning the error of his ways and bringing peace to his poor dad, all sorts of trippy experiences and encounters are had, best of all with a giant cricket that takes the form of a 1950s B-movie monster. Playing out with pace against a dynamically shifting stage set (everything is styled as if in black and white) it all looks sumptuous, but there’s an abundance of superfluous material squeezed in for what feels like little more than the sake of it – the period-style song-based commercials for cleaning fluids and citrus drinks and so on are funny, but feel devised as if purely to show off the cast’s musical theatre chops. Still, an enjoyable watch and no lie. [Malcolm Jack] Pleasance Dome, 1:00pm – 2:15pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
If These Spasms Could Speak
HHHHH
Robert Softley warns us that his speech impediment may make parts of his performance difficult to catch, which he finds strange because in his head he sounds “like Laurence Olivier.” He needn’t worry, because not only is every word clear, his tough and tender verbatim play—woven from interviews in which disabled people talk freely about their relationship with their bodies—is strikingly lucid. Softley is a canny and engaging performer, switching effortlessly from cheeky charisma to poignant inter-
52 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
rogation of his experiences living with cerebral palsy. The focus on body image is a smart piece of misdirection, because while the physical limitations Softley and his interviewees describe are recurrent themes, If These Spasms Could Speak is far more concerned with the way their bodies negotiate life; facing, overcoming or sinking under the familiar problems of love, sex, parenting and music festivals. While many of the short monologues are brilliantly funny, such as one woman’s celebration of her “awesome tits”, the best moments are those in which Softley speaks in his own voice, particularly about that paradoxical
visibility disabled people experience – that opacity that draws stares but not recognition or acknowledgement. Though there are times in which the voices becomes fractionally too jumbled, in general Softley inhabits the voice and the physicality of his subjects with remarkable clarity and empathy. In a festival that still has questions to answer regarding accessibility (less than a third of all venues report wheelchair access), it’s a pleasure to hear stories that are still often unspoken articulated so openly and so well. [Stewart Pringle] Pleasance Courtyard, 5:45pm – 6:45pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7 – £9
www.festmag.co.uk
paterson’s land The Fringe’s newest venue BabyO SensoryO Dance Derby The Garden John and Zinnie Harris
Gareth Williams and Johnny McKnight
Last One Out Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht
The Seven Deadly Sins Scottish Opera
9 - 26 August
is core funded by
Registered in Scotland Number SCO37531 Scottish Charity Number SCO19787
Ménage à Trois By Claire Cunningham and Gail Sneddon
9 - 25 August Part of Made in Scotland 2013. Part of British Council Edinburgh Showcase. National Theatre of Scotland, a company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland (SC234270) is a registered Scottish charity (SCO33377). Photograph of Claire Cunningham by Sven A Hagolani.
Box Office details
Book now!
Fringe Box Office
0131 226 0000 l edfringe.com
Paterson’s Land (venue 247) 37 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh Box office open from 9 August 0131 651 1421 l patersonsland.co.uk See website for full programme. Booking fees apply
Supported by the European Union
festtheatre The Events
HHHHH There’s not one, but two troubling hearts pulsing at the centre of David Greig’s new play, an exploration of the aftermath of an (unnamed) atrocity in which a gunman rips through a community choir. The first is the question of evil, which stalks the script and shapes the responses. The second is empathy – particularly for the killer, a softly spoken young man who talks endearingly of moments of self awareness where, even in the act of killing, he realises “this is really, really silly”. But where one stops beating and the other starts is anyone’s guess in a piece which constantly dangles the bait of easy, comforting sentimentality, but hands it over only at the end – comfortless after an act of empty retribution. Broadly, The Events charts the struggles of minister/ choir leader as she attemts to find meaning in an act which decimated her liberal idyll.
Solfatara
HHHHH From a brief glimpse of its publicity photograph, this award-laden production from the Catalan company Atresbandes looks much darker than actually proves to be the case. Balaclavas can create a terribly powerful impression. Solfatara is the Catalan word for volcano, and this three-hander explores the concept that people are all primed to erupt eventually; some do it often, others simmer ominously under the surface. The set-up looks like a hostage situation and in a sense it is, as the headwareclad Albert Pérez Hidalgo represents the omnipresent fear that hijacks our lives
Her opposite number plays everyone else—the killer, her partner, the father, the politician—trapping her in a tangle of connections which play out in the widest theatrical brushtrokes, sometimes poignant, sometimes farcical. Meanwhile, a live choir threatens permanently to reclaim the drama for song, forcing words and sentiment to appear refreshed and anew – and not always flatteringly so. “I wake up every day, it’s a daydream,” they lament, lending a plaintive newness to Dizzee Rascal’s modern malaise. Elsewhere, the killer’s own words, pored over for meaning and psychological insight, are transformed into a trite showtune. The effect is disconcerting and intriguing. Grieg gives us the puzzle pieces of empathy and morality and then, brilliantly, refuses to let them click. [Evan Beswick] Traverse Theatre, times vary, various dates between 31 Jul and 25 Aug, £18 – £20
and relationships. He taunts and teases an attractive and seemingly contented couple, played by Mònica Almirall and Miguel Segovia, eventually driving them to the brink of madness. That may still sound rather intense but Hidalgo is more a Shakespearian fool than a malevolent threat, creating mischief that he invariably regrets. The play is spoken in Spanish with English subtitles which provide a further outlet for knowing humour, as this unseen offstage presence veers wearyingly from the script whenever the actors’ behaviour becomes too irrational or repetitive to bother transcribing. Created by the performers and ostensibly a comedy, Solfatara is a fine vehicle for
54 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
their versatility, exploring physical theatre, dance and offering sharp, sometimes gasp-inducing dialogue. The tone shifts rapidly and regularly as the couple are wracked by emotional pain, wreak havoc at a dinner party then are overcome with reconciliatory lust, that itself
shifts from sensual to sinister. Impressively unpredictable and beautifully played, this is an accessible, innovative treat. Look beyond the balaclava. [Si Hawkins] Summerhall, 8:00pm – 9:00pm, 2–25 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8
www.festmag.co.uk
festtheatre Have I No Mouth
HHHHH
Prepare to be sucker punched. This new work by Irish company Brokentalkers begins as a charming dialogue between real-life mother and son Ann and Feidlim Cannon, as they list the objects that matter most to them in the presence of their psychotherapist. Ann— who’s a reiki master, not a performer—feels appropriately stilted, and Feidlim’s reflections on the death of a father and an infant brother are gently moving. When the performance slips into a re-enactment of Feidlim’s recurring nightmare, in which his father returns as a mute, lurching stranger, what began as merely intriguing becomes extremely powerful. This
bandaged avatar, this scarecrow of a departed loved one, becomes a vessel and a punching bag for unresolved regrets and resentments. At times the effect is
chilling, at others there’s a palpable sense of release that grows from the astonishing honesty of the performances. There are moments of quiet beauty, such as the
linking of Ann and Feidlim’s history through showers of polystyrene snow, and others of almost unbearable intensity. Feidlim initially castigates his mother for selecting “gloomy” objects to represent her lost husband and child, but as the significance of these are gradually unpicked, the depth of her suffering is tenderly, harrowingly revealed. An entirely personal story, somehow it becomes more universal as the specificities of death and grieving are developed. If it’s a healing process, as Ann and Feidlim insist it is, then it’s a painful one, but the theatrical scar tissue it leaves is remarkable. [Stewart Pringle] Traverse Theatre, times vary, 1–25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £17 – £19
Lapin Wants Breakfast **** Herald
2-18 August 10.00 am Institut français Venue 134 0131 225 53 66 edfringe.com
How to be a Modern Marvel® by Cie du Veilleur
2-26 August 4.30 pm Institut français Venue 134 0131 225 53 66 www.edfringe.com
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 55
festtheatre Rites: A Children’s Tragedy
HHHHH
Young Pleasance captures the mayfly brevity of childhood and the bewildering impulses of adolescence in this hauntingly evocative show. It’s adapted from German playwright Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play Spring Awakening, famously turned into a Broadway musical in 2006. Co-creators Jo Billington and Tim Norton have worked with their young cast to weave a spellbinding web of snatched moments from Wedekind’s tale of teenage school boys and girls, blindly grasping at adulthood as their burgeoning sexuality leads to confu-
The Surrender
HHHHH
“The man no longer lives in my arse, I live there now. And what a place it is,” says Swiss actress Isabelle Stoffel with a coquettish tilt of the head. She’s not wrong either, as we find out in graphic detail over the course of her hourlong précis of Toni Bentley’s lascivious erotic memoir. Bentley, you see, is missing something. Something deep inside of her. Something that neither ballet, nor books, nor religion seem to salve. “Who am I?” she wonders, gazing into a mirror. Ten years, a misaligned marriage and a fortuitous threesome later, she eventually discovers the untold glories of anal sex and, in the metaphorical sense, doesn’t look back. It’s hard to take The Surrender seriously at times, as Bentley replays her various anal encounters (298 of them, no less) recorded on tape, occasionally breaking off to talk us through biologi-
sion, rape, pregnancy and suicide. The production’s buttoned-up uniforms and crisp white pinafores feed into a dream-like atmosphere of nineteenth-century repression, heightened by mournful lighting and baroque strings. Between scenes, the cast dance and break away from each other in fluidly choreographed yearning. The script succeeds in finding the humour of puberty while foregrounding Wedekind’s anger at an emotionally sterile adult world in which moral condemnation hides hypocrisy and children are left to flounder in ignorance by those entrusted with their care.
Alex Maxwell as Melchior and Winnie Guy as Wendla emanate confusion and shame as their characters’ tentative touches end in a shocking assault; and as sweaty-palmed, bookish schoolboy Morritz, Harry Kingdon is responsible for some of the play’s funniest and saddest moments. The sheer talent of the cast—drawn from London schools by the brilliant,
entirely self-funded Young Pleasance—is what makes this so special, as they move effortlessly between playing children, teachers and parents. They bring a depth and maturity to the stage that puts far more seasoned ensembles to shame. [Tom Wicker] Pleasance Courtyard, 1:20pm – 2:20pm, 1–17 Aug, £8 – £9.50
cal diagrams and achieving a unification of the conscious and the subconscious through rectal penetration. Who knew? As she continues to proclaim gnomic observations of the “my arse sucked us into an airless vacuum” variety, the whole thing threatens to descend into parody. But as the selfdiscovery/sexual awakening mandate wears thin, Stoffel’s wide-eyed earnestness and puppyish enthusiasm prove surprisingly likeable. You believe her. She makes the preposterous exact; funny, even. If you’ve read Anaïs Nin, Henry Miller or even perennial housewife-troubler EL James, this is a serviceable stroll across some welltrodden terrain that, sadly, given the 50 shades colouring every WHSmith bestseller stand these days, just feels a little familiar. [Joe Spurgeon] Gilded Balloon Teviot, 1:30pm – 2:35pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, £12 – £14
56 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
festtheatre Jekyll & Hyde
HHHHH
London Road, Sea Point
HHHHH
Portraying an unlikely relationship cutting across boundaries of age, race, religion and much more in a way that’s convincing and for the most part compelling, this two-hander from South Africa carries no shortage of warmth, intuition and truth. Not least in the performances of Ntombi Makhutshi and Robyn Scott, respectively as Nigerian illegal immigrant and white-collar drug dealer Stella, and her amiably prying elderly Jewish downstairs neighbour Rosa. When Stella suffers an ominous break-in, Rosa
www.festmag.co.uk
offers accommodation and counsel, initially to a frostily guarded response that quickly softens into gratitude and eventually friendship. The two lonely women discover they have greater common ground than logic would suggest; from the pleasures of a stiff drink and playing Peeping Tom on residents of the adjacent apartment block, to, ultimately, the need for someone with which to share the burden of personal tragedy. Scott, the years believably piled on with make-up, impresses, especially in portraying a loveable old dame with a strength of mind and character belying her tremblingly frail frame. The promise of
some drama out of Stella’s pursuit by shady associates in the “import-export” business curiously doesn’t pay off; understandable, perhaps, considering this is at heart a subtler story about people living together harmoniously against the odds. With that in mind, it’s little wonder London Road, Sea Point has been rapturously received at home. It won’t play with the same impact in Edinburgh, but it’s a well-realised and relentlessly goodnatured show nonetheless, which will lift its fair share of spirits. [Malcolm Jack]
Performers peering out of the gloom with chalky white faces, dark Victorian streets patrolled by twisted characters and the steady thunk-thunk of a double bass. It’s almost a genre in its own right at the Fringe, and given that it’s generally an artistically undernourished one, productions such as Flipping the Bird’s Jekyll & Hyde live or die on their atmosphere and humour. There’s plenty of the former here, as creepy antique collector St John Pomeroy relates the strange tale of Dr Jekyll to an accordion-squeezing publisher, but precious little to smile at in this muddled and murky penny dreadful. Writer Jonathan Holloway has taken a free hand with Robert Louis Stevenson’s text, but despite some rather adolescent interventions, such as an unfunny running cocaine gag, the result is painfully talky. The Victoriana is shallowly sourced and carelessly arranged, and there’s barely a laugh to be found. Despite Holloway’s best intentions, the sexual politics are hopelessly confused. The inversion of Dr Jekyll’s sex feels rather less bold when she is then defined entirely by the deployment of her sexuality. The good doctor is never glimpsed with a test tube, but she wastes no time in stripping off or administering a blowjob to our hero. Needless to say, it leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth, and makes the play’s other faults harder to excuse. The young cast are game and talented, and there’s a gorgeous high-rise set by Joanna Scorcher, but they can’t obscure the deficiencies of Holloway’s childish script. [Stewart Pringle]
Assembly George Square, 1:50pm – 2:55pm, 1–26 Aug, not 12, £14 – £15
Assembly Roxy, 10:45pm – 11:45pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £10 – £12
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 57
festtheatre Forest
Men
Forest is a play with grand ambitions. Inspired by writer Georgia Harris’s own struggles with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic attacks, it depicts a girl (Little One) trapped within her own imagination, fleeing from reality and the tomorrow she can’t bear to face. Navigating her way through a surreal forest full of talking animals (or rather, manifestations of her own subconscious), Little One must learn to confront her demons as reality seeps inevitably into the internal world in which she is taking refuge. It’s an ambitious premise on which to build a play, and the end result is not without merit. There is an endearing, dream-like quality running through the production, and the relatively young cast do well to make themselves heard above some minor technical faults that hinder the opening scenes. The writing itself, meanwhile, demonstrates an intriguing spark of raw creativity marred by an almost adolescent clumsiness. All the moralising and emphasis on self-belief becomes simply too much to chew on after a while. The whole thing is at times so sickly sweet it’s hard to sit through it without developing severe tooth decay. Comparisons with Alice in Wonderland might be obvious, but they also give some indication of where Forest falls short: there are none of the complexities of the former to be found here. Surrealism thrives on being open to endless interpretation, and in the end, Forest proves just a little bit too heavy-handed to really pack the punch it’s aiming for. [Alistair Grant]
Written by Royal Court Young Writer and Bruntwood Prize nominee Miriam Battye, Men is a deceptively simple black comedy focusing on Frank, a young man attempting to write a novel while coping with the strains of his unhealthy relationship with Syrus, an older man. Themes of bullying and abuse are present from the start, but as the play develops it becomes clear something altogether more troubling is afoot. The cast make good use of a sparse set and the performances are mostly excellent; even if Harrison Clark’s sensitive Frank remains a—no doubt deliberately—frustrating character to grapple with. Tom Rawlinson is fantastic as the intolerably smug, sneering Syrus, his strutting presence slowly morphing into something distinctly more sinister and unhinged. Letty Thomas, meanwhile, provides most of the comic relief as Frank’s bumbling friend Suze, spewing out awkwardness with every spluttered consonant. And yet there is also an aching loneliness to her character that is somehow brilliantly
HHHHH
Sweet Grassmarket, 6:55pm – 7:55pm, 1–11 Aug, £7.50
HHHHH
Hindsight
HHHHH The spectacle of past, present and future versions of a single person all shouting at each other is a conceit that will be familiar to any fan of Calvin & Hobbes. Nevertheless, Hindsight manages to make this well-worn time travel trope into something fresh and unpredictable. A student with little in his life but his girlfriend, Rob (James Kirk) is preparing to propose when he is accosted by an aged, embittered version of himself (Raymond Mearns). Convinced that
58 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
captured in her flustered appearance. It is perhaps unfortunate that the brevity of the play leaves her motivations unexplored. An abrupt ending leaves the drama feeling curiously incomplete, creating a sense of a fascinating story left somehow unfinished. This may have been a conscious decision on the part of the writer, allowing us a fleeting glimpse into a troubling
situation that provides no cosy resolutions. While an interesting approach, as a piece of theatre it’s undeniably unsatisfying. Nevertheless, this is strong, worthwhile stuff, well written and executed and containing the unmistakable glint of genuine theatrical talent. [Alistair Grant]
tragedy can only be averted if Rob’s relationship ends, his future self has travelled in time, baseball bat in hand, to change things for the better. The first half of Hindsight is spent setting up the premise, while the second is spent gleefully tearing it apart. Unfortunately, the first half is also strained, tonally awkward and bereft of any real laughs. Both the humour and pathos only click when another, even older version of Rob appears (played with caustic charm by Paul Sneddon), and the play finally discovers how to have fun with itself. One of the most refreshing
aspects of the play is how it lightly touches upon the national character: while selfloathing is named-checked early on as a distinctly Caledonian neurosis, Robert has the capacity for great love and evil deeds, and it’s up to him to decide which course to follow – he controls his destiny. Taking this as a metaphor for Scotland at the crossroads might be an interpretation too far, but such symbolism would be to the play’s credit. [Sean Bell]
Underbelly, Bristo Square, 12:05pm – 1:05pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £9 – £10
The Assembly Rooms, 1:15pm – 2:15pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £10
www.festmag.co.uk
festdance&physicaltheatre Circa: Wunderkammer
HHHHH
Australian group Circa are widely touted to be at the forefront of contemporary circus choreography, and after only a few minutes of Wunderkammer it’s easy to see why. Freyja Edney dances with a single quicksilver lit hoop, weaving it up and down to the tempo of sensuous baroque. If there is any doubt that circus is as intelligent or creative a form as ballet or contemporary dance, it is erased throughout the course of this electrifying hour. Bodies are tossed and spun in multiplying patterns; women become skipping ropes, men the statues on the shoulders of female pedestals. Undercutting circus gender archetypes men duet and trio gracefully with each other and a single dandy delicately disrobes from his frills to his lacy knickers in a trapeze striptease. The moments that stand out most are not the flashiest skills or the tallest human towers but the depth and precision of the dance when layered on top of circus artists’ extraordinary strength. Just try tearing your eyes away from the beauty of Todd Kilby and Lewis West floating up and down the Chinese pole as if their bodies are filled with helium, not a wisp of tension in their faces to bely the force being used to feign such lightness. The neon and lingerie vibe of this show may conjure up visions of vacant mannequin dolls but the flesh and blood flowing through it is a vital celebration of human power. [Lucy Ribchester] Underbelly, Bristo Square, 5:00pm – 6:00pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £16.50 – £18.50
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 59
festdance&physicaltheatre Omega
HHHHH
Unholy Trinity
HHHHH
Traditionally, writers and activists have the monopoly on discussion of feminist ideas, so it is both refreshing and exciting to see the female body, its cultural associations and its vocabulary of movement explored with eloquence and grace by three powerful solo dancers. In Salome, Avatâra Ayuso partners with an elaborate red dress, both femme fatale and Little Red Riding Hood, travelling through glamorous gesture–arms outstretched, Hollywood pose–to the language of demure femininity–swooping legs, and floating feet–to a skittish animalism, perched on all fours. Composer Daniel Williams layers the original Strauss score with threatening electric heartbeats; the unsettling and seductive mood that saturates the piece is spellbinding. Finishing on a more upbeat note, Aoife McAtamney’s softer swells pairs Irish
acapella folk songs with silent passages of dance. There’s a zen-like energy to the way she loses herself in swoops and stretches. Finally, clicking her fingers, arms spread, we get the peaceful and uplifting sense that she has found her own rhythm. By contrast, Dolly by Giorgia Nardin stands out as the most biting. In a fleshcoloured leotard Nardin’s form is rendered neutral and strange, while a fierce melancholy drenches her twitches and convulsions as each new passage spirals out of control. The power here is in Nardin’s subtlety. She is a human trapped in a doll’s skin, moving and behaving in a way that seems to overwhelm and disturb her. When it comes to expressing ideas that have such raw basis in emotion, dance can fill the spaces left empty between words. [Lucy Ribchester]
This Pandora’s box of bizarre and sinister images takes place at the rather un-cabaretfriendly hour of 2:35pm, and may leave you wondering what exactly it was you consumed for lunch. Moscow-based blackSKYwhite have teamed up with composer Michael Begg to create a circus of horrors series of vignettes that vamp up their disturbing qualities to hysterical proportions: a giant white puff of a clown; a two-headed tap dancer with a microphone in each hand; a wriggling, pulsing pupa lovingly carried in the arms of a man dressed in soviet military uniform. The score, which combines both Begg’s swelling synth passages and savagely ramped-up versions of merry-go-round, swing and oompah-jazz, is music to drink absinthe to, alone at 2am in a haunted house. But while the cast
demonstrate mesmerising nuance and skill in grotesque clowning, the choreography never really goes anywhere. A feather-hatted woman wriggles for a while before tossing juggling skittles to the ground. A mannequin bride twitches with hypnotic creepiness, but doesn’t develop beyond the immediate shock of the first impression. It leaves each segment feeling more like a tableau vivant that outstays its welcome than an individual skit. Flashes of arresting innovation—a woman wearing a backward mask taking a bow, or a man with bone-thin limbs and tail—are lost in a soup of disconnected weirdness. This show could be fascinating staged onboard a ghost train or tucked behind velvet curtains in an interactive club environment, but as it stands, the sum doesn’t do justice to its parts. [Lucy Ribchester] The Assembly Rooms, 2:35pm – 3:45pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £15
Dance Base, times vary, 2–10 Aug, not 5, £6 – £8
60 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
festdance&physicaltheatre Fright or Flight
HHHHH
If you see anyone walking round with bruises on their limbs this festival, there’s a chance they may belong to circus group 3 is a Crowd. Beginning with a particularly vicious three-way game of Are You There Moriarty?, the cast wallop each other silly with rolled-up newspapers before descending into an acrobatic tangle of limbs, topped at either end with chicken foot-style yellow rubber gloves. This sets the tone for a combination of circus arts and elfin mischief that flutters around the motif of birds and their offspring, topped off by a delightful score. Apart from the obvious euphemism for women, it’s an inventive comparison to
In Two Minds
HHHHH
Dance is an increasingly popular medium for exploring and expressing the distorted thought patterns of mental illness, so much so that Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret is now one of a handful of universities offering a masters degree in dance psychotherapy. It’s from this course that choreographer Shan Chan comes, utilising her clinical research, along with fellow
draw with circus performers. Masters of both awkwardness (in clowning) and grace (in the air), circus artists are trained to comically strut and
waddle as well as soar. This must be the only show at the Fringe—this year at least—where you can watch a woman laying
choreographer Suzi Cunningham, to climb into the mind of a person with schizophrenia. The first half sees a cast of five moulding together and fracturing apart. With Chan as protagonist, the rest of the group become giggling bullies or monstrous double-backed creatures, grotesque in their cooperation. Later, earthy, flat foot beats and tribal patterns help remind us that in parts of the world such distorted visions are hailed as luminary gifts.
Chan’s talent is in creating choreography pacy and vivid enough to be accessible but not so literal as to be crass. There are moments of brilliance – a pulsing human centipede yanking itself painfully forward then gently stroking its thighs is as fascinating as it is original. Less convincing are the passages that play with language; the exception being Cunningham’s jagged poem where interrupted rhythms and rhymes form a skewed
NATIONAL THEATRE WALES
THE RADICALISATION OF BRADLEY MANNING
a rubber egg, at a most uncomfortable-looking angle, then later dexterously juggle half a dozen of them with her full body. Bianca Mackail gives such an elegant turn on the aerial hoop you almost forget to watch Rockie Stone plodding round the stage below, all four limbs balancing precariously on the tops of bottles. There are a few wobbles, but only the kind that remind you how close circus performers come to the edge of their comfort zones every time they set foot onstage. And their presence early on in the show later contributes to a heart-stopping finale. [Lucy Ribchester] Assembly Roxy, 7:30pm – 8:30pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 19 Aug, £14 – £15
mirror to a frenetic solo. This might be a show that appeals more to people with an interest in the subject. But if Chan and Cunningham continue to produce work as carefully constructed and sincerely expressed as this, they might go a long way towards bringing positive attention to a developing strand of dance. [Lucy Ribchester] C Venues - C, 5:05pm – 5:55pm, 31 Jul – 10 Aug, £9.50 – £10.50
ZOO southside
By Tim Price Directed by John E McGrath
6th - 25th August 7.30pm (2.30pm) Pleasance at St Thomas of Aquin’s High School (Venue #17)
pleasance.co.uk | 0131 556 6550 www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 61
festmusic&cabaret Die Roten Punkte: Kunst Rock (Art Rock)
HHHHH
Welcome to the funhaus. For that is exactly what German musicians Otto and Astrid Rot turn their venue into, with a beautifully grotesque, glam-rock punk-pop riot of a gig. Audiences are thrown headfirst into surreal stories about burger store dinosaurs, banana houses and inspired riffs on the sound of a hairbrush caressing a pineapple. All of these feature in a completely bonkers rock opera that is compered with shedloads of humour and bickering, musical prowess and even a poignant narrative arc. Certainly, this is a gig where woops and cheers will not be out of place. Each song builds on the last with Otto thrashing on his electric guitar and Astrid crashing down on the symbols and drums. It’s the definition of good fun balladry with more
slapstick humour than you can slip on, references to sex, drugs and of course completing the holy trinity: rock ‘n’ roll. Everything is joke fodder including childbirth, alcoholism, anal sex and death – with tongue placed firmly in cheek (amongst other places). This is a show all about our performers. Dressed like vaudevillian punks, with deep-red lipstick and glowing white faces (think Jack White at clown college), they tumble and squabble around the stage in exuberant black and red clothes that unfold, unwrap and unravel with each passing song. Admittedly, their “arguments” can on occasion become annoying as they recur throughout the whole show, but this adds more humour to an already hilarious concert of epic kunst rock proportion. [Andrew Latimer] Assembly George Square, 8:55pm – 10:05pm, 1–25 Aug, not 12, 19, £9.50 – £12
La Clique
HHHHH What to do when your 10th anniversary is nigh, but the format you have been trading on is slowly fading into dated territory? If this was the question that crossed the minds of La Clique producers, the answer seems to be, as a certain other once-quirkyand-original concept would say, keep calm and carry on. In a show that feels lackadaisical and plodding through gritted teeth, we are treated to a man in a blue bunny suit making jokes about being gay and a blacklace-underwear-wearing (for a few minutes anyway) burlesque artist. Even more depressing is the squeal that comes when the first performer so much as touches
a button of his jacket. Today’s cabaret consumer wants their pound of flesh. It’s only when La Clique veterans The Skating Willers
62 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
step up to graze the noses of front-row punters with pulse-raising roller-skating that we get a glimmer of the old La Clique showmanship
and class, and above all the thing Spiegeltent does best: close quarters. It’s this frisson of both intimacy and danger however that is missing from most of the acts. Piff and magician-chihuahua Mr Piffles score on originality, and Casus’s Emma Serjeant is fabulous—though her sauced-up hand balance doesn’t compare to the magic she creates in her regular show Knee Deep. But overall it leaves you feeling something it seemed would be impossible to ever feel about La Clique when it first came on the scene; that it’s no more than a safe bet for a half-decent night out. [Lucy Ribchester] The Famous Spiegeltent, 10:00pm – 11:30pm, 2–25 Aug, £20
www.festmag.co.uk
festmusic&cabaret Hot Dub Time Machine
HHHHH
Hot Dub Time Machine is a fantastic idea: a tour of 20th (and a little 21st) century popmusical history, beginning in the 1950s and climaxing in 2013. The 50s, 60s and 70s are all about working the crowd, getting some drinks in – maybe a Smirnoff Ice because it’s retro and it’s gonna be the naughties soon and you’re gonna want to be sufficiently hyped so you can scream ‘WHAT’S YOUR ZODIAC SIGN’ during Fatman Scoop. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but, guys, something amazing happens during “99 Luftballons.” Experiencing a club night this fun in the grand surroundings of McEwan hall is also a real treat. Former students of Edinburgh University will enjoy the novelty of almost vomiting
where they graduated, while Fringe visitors will enjoy that the price tag is affording them some well-earned respite from hundreds and thousands of youth theatre companies. The star of the show is DJ Tom Loud, our dear leader, who crucially knows when to move on before a song gets boring and who is at all times just about to set off a cannon of ticker tape. He’s created a really fantastic night here, he’s mixing it all flawlessly and the videos that play on the big screens give you something interesting to look at when watching one of your pals mouthing all of the words to New Kids on the Block’s “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” gets a little too much. A great night out, guaranteed. [Gemma Flynn] Underbelly, Bristo Sq, 12:15am – 2:45am, various dates until 26 Aug, £11.50 – £12.50
ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE @ ST BRIDE'S (VENUE 123) Monday 5 to Sunday 25 August 131 performances, 71 shows from the UK plus Australia, China, Ireland, South Korea, Spain, and USA Bar/cafe open daily- food by First Coast restaurant AMC @ St Bride's, 10 Orwell Terrace, EH11 2DZ tickets: The Queen's Hall 0131-668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net/elsewhere/2013/08 or, Fringe 0131-226 0000 www.edfringe.com
The only festival website you need Visit festmag.co.uk on your computer, tablet or phone to get all of the latest reviews and find out what shows are on nearby
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 63
festmusic&cabaret Mr Phil Kay and Thee Cameron St. Clair…
HHHHH
After a notorious gig last year at which he stripped naked; got booed off stage and made the promoter cry, Phil Kay appears now to be in a calmer, more reflective mood, with a storytelling show promoting his autobiography and this slow-paced hour of music. Indeed, there’s something almost wierdly (and certainly unexpectedly) carthartic in sitting at the top of the Voodoo Rooms after a long day of running around Edinburgh, listening to Kay pour forth the contents of his mind in gravelly, bluesy baritone, alongside his adept guitar playing and the piano tinklings of his musical partner, Cameron St Clair. A mishap with the set and recent goings-on in Edinburgh provide the material for a largely improvised first fifteen minutes, before Kay moves on to his prepared set of ostensibly entirely unconnected songs – most of which raise a roar from his hardcore fans and a titter from everyone else, although one or two do fall on stony ground. Whilst the show is billed as the creation of a concept album, it’s never made clear what the concept is. He alternately probes the darkest and most whimisical recesses of his mind, moving from a song about burying a parent to another about the new life the prawns of the Costa Concordia buffet Kay likes to think got when that ship capsized last year. The audience are not in gales of laughter throughout, though whether this is a function of this being a new and quite different phase of his career, only time will tell. [Dan Heap] The Voodoo Rooms, 10:30pm – 11:30pm, 2–11 Aug, not 5, £8 – £10
[title of show]
HHHHH
For a show built almost entirely on trope-busting, [title of show] begins with a familiar premise: the show-within-a-show. As we watch four fast-talking, flamboyantly bitchy New Yorkers struggling to write an original musical of their very own, we find in Patch of Blue Theatre’s production of Jeff Bowen’s self-referential musical an affectionate send-up of its own genre, burdened by an unfortunate identity crisis. There is much to like about [title of show]: the cast—camp, writer’s-blocked Off-Broadway wannabes Jeff
Daniel Cainer: Schtick and Spiel
HHHHH
It was having what he refers to as a ‘mid-life kosher crisis’ that first compelled jobbing songwriter and composer Daniel Cainer to conduct a thorough exploration of his Jewish roots. He’s subsequently enjoyed successful tours of North America, had his work embraced by the Reform Judaism community and been declared a top pick of the Fringe by Three Weeks magazine. Touchingly, he seems most proud of the latter achievement. For although the Londoner has clearly
64 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
and Hunter; sassy starletsin-waiting Heidi and Susan; and chronically underappreciated pianist Larry—are likeable in their prancing, self-absorbed sort of way. The vocal performances are consistently strong—female leads Jamie Lee Pike and West End veteran Carley Stenson are impressively versatile—and Patch of Blue’s adaptation makes skillful use of a barely-dressed set. The problem is that [title of show] frequently finds itself struggling against the weight of its own meta. For the most part, it’s hilariously self-aware and thoroughly enjoyable; a sly-winking pastiche of musical theatre and the aspirational denizens
thereof. But more than once it wanders off course, and becomes for a few moments exactly the kind of low-Rent rags-to-riches tale it set out to satirise. The final scenes, as our would-be Kander and Ebb’s Broadway dreams seem poised to come true, are plodding drama which, while narratively necessary, feel completely out of place. The muted musical finale makes for a graceful exit, but the incongruity is an unworthy end to a confident, playful production. [Marcus Kernohan]
spent a great deal of time immersing himself in Jewish tradition, he isn’t himself a particularly religious man. He clearly approached this project intent on preserving a lost culture and on demonstrating the full extent of his artistry. Writing either in character or from his own perspective as an irreverent observer, the result of Cainer’s labour is a playful, light-hearted hour with the potential to be a lowkey festival highlight. Where it suffers is in the performer’s inconsistent delivery. Our host offers very little context for Schtick and Spiel and is correct in thinking that his songs are strong enough
to speak for themselves. The problem is that it’s initially difficult to engage with them, the audience having to wait until half way through the show before Cainer begins to more forcefully assert his presence. The likes of “Bad Rabbi,” the true tale of a cokeaddicted, philandering pillar of a religious community, benefit hugely from the energy with which the artist pounds away at his “Yamalka” keyboard, it’s just a shame that everything preceding it feels like a warmup. [Lewis Porteous]
Assembly Checkpoint, 3:10pm – 4:30pm, 1–26 Aug, not 12, £10.50 – £12.50
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 12:45pm – 1:45pm, 31 Jul – 26 Aug, £9 – £10
www.festmag.co.uk
IRISH PUB
FRINGE FEST
Finnegan’s Irish Bar Fringe Venue 101
Thursday 1st August until Saturday 24th August
LIVE COMEDY LIVE MUSIC 7 NIGHTS WWW.FINNEGANS-WAKE.CO.UK Finnegan’s Wake, 9b Victoria Street, Edinburgh EH1 2HE T:0131 225 9348 E: FinnegansWake@tcg-uk.com
Find us on
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 65
festkids
Hot Mama Cabaret favourite Ali McGregor returns to Edinburgh where her new children’s show Jazzamatazz is set to be a family-friendly hit. Caroline Black talks to her about burlesque, barking like a dog and bringing up young girls.
A
sk regular Fringe audiences what words spring to mind when you say Ali McGregor and you can bet that sassy, glamorous and siren are high on their lists. Classically trained—and with a phenomenal voice— she was a principal Soprano with Opera Australia before making the shift from opera to cabaret. Her adult shows—the returning Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Night Night and particularly last year’s Alchemy—see McGregor work her vocal magic, blending songs from her youth with silky smooth jazz to both popular and critical acclaim. Smokin’ hot temptress she may be but McGregor is also a smart lady and sharp comic who really sees herself as a big kid and this new children’s show, Jazzamatazz, is giving her the chance to have some fun barking like a dog and watch excited kids go nuts with a burlesque dancer from New York (“He’s usually Evil Hate Monkey but he’ll just be ‘Monkey’ in this show.”). McGregor says that whilst “the facade in my adult shows is one of sophistication and sultriness, I’m really just a fool. I have all the refinery but I can laugh at myself, shake my booty and be a bit of a dickhead too.” Although McGregor’s cabaret style is certainly sexy, it is by no means in your face but she knows that those familiar with her adult shows might wonder how she’s going to “tone it down” for children. Yes, she’s thought about it a bit, but not too much. The fact that she’s performing in front of kids at four o’clock in the afternoon and the choices of songs—think Bjork’s ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’, Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ and Tom Wait’s ‘Ice Cream Man’—mean that things are naturally less sassy but McGregor admits
she was surprised by how little she had to adapt her style. “I’ve seen from my daughter what works and what doesn’t but, really, this is who I am on stage so for the kids show I’m just less sultry, more fool. I still get dressed up like it’s an evening show; my hair is done, false eyelashes on, I’ve got my pretty dress and sparkly shoes on and the band are in their smart suits. Kids love dressing up and a sense of occasion so they feel like they’re coming to a proper grown up music concert, and that makes it feel pretty special.” Like most working parents, McGregor—who is married to fellow Australian and comedian, Adam Hills and pregnant with their second child— has experienced a step change in her career since having her daughter. “It’s made me more focused, I prioritise a lot better these days because it has to be good to take me away from my family,” I can hear McGregor smiling, “I don’t do shitty gigs anymore.” And even more than that, being a mum and knowing that she is no longer the most important person seems to have given McGregor a new perspective on her professional life which she appears very comfortable with. “When you’re working you can get a little bit up yourself as all you’re thinking about is you. It’s easy to over-focus on yourself, how the shows are going, ticket sales or obsessing over reviews which isn’t very healthy. You just don’t have that luxury when you have a child.” The increased media and social pressures to conform to an unrealistic and—in some cases, arguably unreal— female body image weighs heavy on McGregor’s mind as she raises her daughter. Refreshingly, McGregor
66 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
festkids
maintains that working so closely with burlesque artists will help her daughter develop and maintain a positive body image. “I decided in the beginning that the best thing I can do for my daughter is to expose her to the burlesque acts that I work with. There are women of every different shape and size who are incredibly proud of their bodies and, certainly with the artists that I know, are not
www.festmag.co.uk
cheap and tawdry or over-sexualised: it’s actually just confident and womanly.” McGregor sees a clear difference between these sometimes naked burlesque artists and the neediness in the sexualisation of some women in music videos and advertising. Burlesque artists don’t need anyone to like their body; they’re happy in their own skin and that’s the important bit for McGregor. “If I can
give my daughter this gift – to surround her with incredibly strong, incredibly confident women - then I can teach her to love herself no matter what her body looks like and that will serve her very well.” The Famous Spiegeltent, 4:00pm – 4:50pm, various dates between 3 Aug and 25 Aug, £10
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 67
festkids Dean Friedman’s Smelly Feet
HHHHH
It was a really good show; perfect for pre-schoolers. The actors are all pretending to be kids - Danny and his younger sister have to help his friend Pete to try and cure him of his really smelly feet. Pete also has a pet (plastic) snail who helps them with their quest. It’s a well acted, funny story told through some clever silly songs. The show opens with the hilarious “This is a silly song” (which it definitely is), and there are lots more in the show, such as “Don’t tease the bees” and “Brush your teeth.” Danny and Pete
are brilliant at playing their guitars, and they all sing. Great fun for young kids with enough silly jokes aimed at the mums and dads to keep them happy. Lots of chances to sing along with a grand bubble-blowing finale where the audience helps to cure Pete’s stinky feet once and for all. [Hector Cotton, age 7] Sweet Grassmarket, 12:10pm – 1:10pm, 1–25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £8
Princess Pumpalot: The Farting Princess
HHHHH
This story is about a Princess who does lots of pops (but they called them farts). There were lots of people on stage being different characters but the princess was my favourite. The King was also on stage and he had a big button which—when he pushed it—it froze all of the people on the stage so he could tell you what was happening. There was this sort of cabin thing that had magic beans inside it.
Bec & Tom’s Awesome Laundry
HHHHH
Like the title says this show is awesome! If you like hilarious, fun packed comedy sketches then you’ll love Bec and Tom’s Awesome Laundry. It’s not just for kids, adults will find it funny too. There’s lots of poo and bum jokes that make kids laugh! First impressions are that the set is simple because it’s all cardboard but the comedy is really clever. The show is about Bec, a silly girl that doesn’t like laundry and Tom who loves facts and is serious. Together they make a great show. They go to do their laundry and have to wait a long time. Bec
and Tom get up to lots of different sketches. They are both quick at improvising. At one point Bec pretends to be a doctor and she uses a pretend Ipod and funny things happen. This is a really great show that deserves a much bigger audience. [Eleanor Smith, age 10] Gilded Balloon Teviot, 11:00am – 11:50am, 31 Jul – 13 Aug, £7
68 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
There were red beans and green beans which both made her fart. The red beans whooshed people away but the green ones made her do really stinky farts. There was lots of farts in it but just pretend ones so you couldn’t smell them, which was good. It was a bit of a silly show with mostly talking. I didn’t laugh much and I didn’t really have a favourite bit. It was quite slow and sometimes it felt very long. [Lois Black, age 7] The Assembly Rooms, 11:00am – 11:50am, 1–25 Aug, not 12, £11
www.festmag.co.uk
festkids My Brother the Robot
HHHHH
My Brother the Robot is about a father, daughter and a robot son. It is set in the future. The dad is an inventor, and he is trying to perfect his new robot, the R4. He wants to make it more human-like than any robot ever invented, so he makes it like a child. He trusts his daughter, Bobby, to help the robot learn. Bobby has always wanted a younger brother, just like her online friends. She wants someone to play with and keep her company as her dad is always busy and after a while she gets lonely playing on her net goggles all by herself. Bobby and the robot get on very well—they have lots of fun
as the robot learns all about the world around him and he’s often naughty—just like a real little brother. There’s lots of singing and dancing. I liked this show because it had good actors, good lyrics and it was a really good story. The costumes were really awesome. [Zander Cotton, age 9] Pleasance Courtyard, 2:55pm – 3:45pm, 31 Jul – 25 Aug, not 14 Aug, £8 – £10
The Magical Playroom With Cbeebies’ Cerrie Burnell
HHHHH
The show was about a girl who went inside a magical playroom, which was in a hospital. She went to hospital because her mama told her she needed to wear a plastic arm but she didn’t want to. The girl had a name for the
The Man Who Planted Trees plastic arm and it had tattoos on it, which was funny. My favourite bit was when she went inside the playroom. She got a big key to get inside the room. When she got inside all of her toys—the snow tiger, the rocking horse and little rag doll—had been made bigger by magic and they could talk to her. It was funny when she was shouting “NO! NO! NO!” and tooting on her trumpet very loudly when she didn’t want to listen to her mama. There was glitter at the end and some smoke that looked like clouds. It was a really really good show. [Phoebe Black, age 4] Pleasance Courtyard, 11:00am – 12:00pm, 31 Jul – 18 Aug, not 14 Aug, £9.50
70 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
HHHHH
The Man Who Planted Trees is a production which tells the true story of Elze’ard Bouffier, a French man who transformed an unused area of countryside into a forest of happiness! This play was a hilarious—but sometimes sad—mix of inspiring storytelling and wonderful puppetry. The story tells a tale of a man called Jeane who takes an adventurous journey through war time France. On his way he meets lots of unique people and discovers the wonderful story of “The man who planted trees.”My favourite character was a puppet called Dog. I liked Dog because he was very funny and he was a great friend to Jeane. He told
lots of funny jokes that made the audience really laugh. The scenery, sounds and smells were AMAZING and really add to the atmosphere in the theatre. I was a bit unsure about the play at first as the flyer didn’t catch my eye, however I absolutely loved this play!If you want a feel good production that will warm your heart, go and see this – five stars for sure! [Iona Wood, age 11] Scottish Storytelling Centre, 3:00pm – 4:05pm, 30 Jul – 17 Aug, not 5 Aug, 12 Aug, £10
www.festmag.co.uk
2-25 August, 1.20pm daily Thurs to Sun, Underbelly, Bristo Square Hosts include Julian Clary, Ed Byrne, Jo Caulfield, Christian O’Connell, Alan Davies, Adam Hills and John Moloney.
£7
Tickets/daily line-up: underbelly.co.uk/secret Listen/subscribe: amnesty.org.uk/itunes @secretpoliceman #secretcomedy
Sweet Venues presents
FOUR TERRIFIC TALES IN ONE SUPERB SHOW! Scamp Theatre & Watford Palace Theatre are delighted to present:
Dean Friedman‛s & other terrific tales from Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
words & music by Dean Friedman book by Dean Friedman August 1 - 25 (not Weds) 12:10pm Sweet Grassmarket Venue 18
Tickets: www.EdFringe.com or call 0131 226 0000
www.festmag.co.uk
11.45AM (12.40PM) 01-26 August 2013
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 71
Festival Listings When it's this time... ...this show is on...
22:30 ❤ Adam Buxton HHHH ... at this venue...
Assembly Hall 2–5 Aug, £16 ...on these dates...
07:00
11:00 Planet of the Japes Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 2-4 Aug, £free
09:00
Joe Munrow: Jazz Monkey Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
BBC: Shaun Keaveny BBC@Potterrow, 23 Aug, £free Daily at the BBC BBC@Potterrow, 2-25 Aug, £free
10:15 Bespoke Comedy for the Discerning Family Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-11 Aug, £free
10:30 The Improv of Being Earnest theSpace on North Bridge, 21-24 Aug, £5 BBC: MacAulay & Co BBC@Potterrow, 5-23 Aug, weekdays only, £free Henson Alternative’s Puppet Up! Uncensored Assembly Hall, Various dates from 10 Aug to 25 Aug, £16
10:45
The listings are arranged by type - Comedy or Theatre - and then by time. We've listed the dates that each show is running, but remember that it might be on at other times. Check our website for more information. Dates and times can sometimes change, so check with the venue before planning ahead. If you're looking for a show to see right now, visit festmag.co.uk on your smartphone to find out what's coming up at nearby venues
...for this price
BBC: The Today Programme BBC@Potterrow, 24 Aug, £free
Fest is the only place you can get daily listings for all of the comedy and theatre shows at the Fringe.
11:40 The Twins Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-18 Aug, not 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, £4 – £6
Tristan Garrel Cambridge Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-17 Aug, £free
The Birmingham Footnotes Disagree Just The Tonic at the Caves, 2-11 Aug, £5
In Cahoots Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 1-25 Aug, £free
11:50
Our Father Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 14-25 Aug, £free
Ray Fordyce’s Brunchtime Banter Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free
UCL Graters: Crab Salad Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £9.50
BBC: Loose Ends BBC@Potterrow, 17 Aug, £free
12:00
11:05 Alexander Bennett’s Afraid Of The Dark Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-25 Aug, £free Dark Side of the Sun theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £6
11:10 Bridget Christie - A Bic for Her The Stand Comedy Club, 3-25 Aug, not 12, £10
11:30
An Arab Woman’s View of Life Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-3 Aug, £free
Shall We Just See This One? Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-12 Aug, £free
Death Ship 666! - The Titanic Parody Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4-25 Aug, £free
Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £8
Pretty On the Inside The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £7 Tickled Pig Presents: The Noon Show / PBH’s Free Fringe Henry’s Cellar Bar, 3-24 Aug, not 15, £free Big Value Comedy’s Lunchtime Club Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £3 – £6 M.P.H.: A Comedy Compendium Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 1-25 Aug, £free Princess Savage Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free Surname and Surname Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free The God Particle Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8
The Donfather Just The Tonic at the Caves, 2-9 Aug, £6 Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 The Human Condition Free Show Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free Do a Show Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-13 Aug, £free Gusset Grippers Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-25 Aug, £free
12:05 Crunch the News The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, £free
12:10 Mike Wozniak - Take The Hit The Stand Comedy Club II, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8 Domestic Science The Canons’ Gait, 3-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free
12:15 Funny Women Pop Up Fringe Le Monde, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £10 Joby Mageean: Condiment Soup Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 1-15 Aug, £free JAM Comedy Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-11 Aug, £free MI4 Espionage - Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 3-25 Aug, £free Remember That I Love You Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
12:20 Stick Man Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 12-25 Aug, not 15, £free Ellievision Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-24 Aug, not 15, £free In the Words of Meat Loaf... Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Staple/face: Bathtime With Tom’s Dad The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, not 12, £free
12:30 Patrick Turpin: Just a Girl, Standing in Front of a Boy, Asking Him to Love Her Bannermans, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free
Suman Biswas: Free After Amateur Transplants Whynot? , 18 Aug, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £free The Bravery Test Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 6-25 Aug, £free The Lunchtime Ferret Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 9-18 Aug, £free Smells Like Shit ... Tastes Like Chicken Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4-8 Aug, £free The Lunchtime Special Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £3 – £6 Worst Show On the Fringe - Free Bristo Bar & Kitchen, 3-24 Aug, £free About Comedy: Stand-Up Comedy Courses Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, Various dates from 3 Aug to 24 Aug, £99 Absolute Improv Workshop theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 5 Aug, £195 Double D’s with Jenna Wimshurst and Caroline Bridgwater Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 1-5 Aug, £free Bog Standard Britain The Royal Scots Club, 16-17 Aug, £10
12:40 Steve Richards’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Politics 2 Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £12.50
facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
72 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
comedylistings Tony Law: Nonsense Overdrive The Stand Comedy Club, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10
12:45 The Human Centrepiece Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 3-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free FECCLES... On Love! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-3 Aug, £free Ben Champion: Human Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 – £9 Lebensmüde - a Comedy Show Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, £free Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe Pleasance Courtyard, 3-25 Aug, not 7, 13, 20, £9.50 – £10.50 Benefit Paradise in the Kirkhouse, 5-17 Aug, not 11, 12, £7.50
12:50 Helen O’Brien: Bronagh’s Big Weekend Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10
12:55 The Bear Pit Comedy Podcast podcast Southsider, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free Sofa Specific Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10
13:00 Barry on Arthur’s Seat Summit of Arthur’s Seat, 3-25 Aug, £free Frimston and Rowett: A Sketch Show Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-25 Aug, £free Giraffe: Sketchy Comedy Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £9.50
Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10
13:15 Alistair Green: Ping Pong Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 2-25 Aug, not 13, £free Austerity Pleasures Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free
Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 Ghosts of the Happy and High-Spirited Ciao Roma, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Charles Booth: We Cool? The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Dahle and Jones on a Plate - Free The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, not 19, £free BBC: Front Row BBC@Potterrow, 15 Aug, £free
Big Comedy Lunch Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 3-25 Aug, not 13, £free Dan & Dan Live: The First Sign of Madness The Canons’ Gait, 3-24 Aug, not 13, 20, £free Cookstown Sizzling Comedy Club Presents the Irishtorats of Comedy Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free When I Grow Up Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £9
13:05 Revill’s Selection - Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free
13:10
This Is Soap: The Improvised Soap Opera C venues - C, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6.50 – £8.50
Pete Otway and Kiri Pritchard-Mclean Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free The Blank Slates Chiquito, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Matthew Collins: Puzzled Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 1-25 Aug, £free Soup The Voodoo Rooms, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Martin Croser - Funny Bone China The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Damn Danes Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-7 Aug, £free Late Night Laughs at Lunch - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, £free
13:20 Kindness The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Baconface - It’s All Bacon! The Stand Comedy Club II, 3-25 Aug, not 12, £5
Katie Mulgrew: Your Dad’s Not Funny The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £6 – £7
53 Minutes about 52 Sheep (60 Minutes Long) Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 8-24 Aug, £free
Holland and Barker: How to Be... A Man. The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free
Afternoon Delight Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, 17, 18, £2.50 – £5
Amnesty’s Secret Comedy Podcast Underbelly, Bristo Square, Various dates from 2 Aug to 25 Aug, £7
Jessie Cave and Jenny Bede: Ain’t too Proud to Beg Henry’s Cellar Bar, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free
Josh Ross and Sunil Patel Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-26 Aug, £free
Best of the Fest Daytime Assembly George Square, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £8 – £12.50
www.footlightstour.co.uk
The Independent
13:25 Jonny Donahoe: Class Whore Underbelly, Bristo Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £6 – £8.50 Rob Lloyd: Who, Me Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £9
13:30 Afternoon Delight Just The Tonic at the Caves, 17-18 Aug, £5 Frost and Ireland: Beautiful Mess Gilded Balloon Teviot, 12-20 Aug, £7.50 – £8.50 Thünderbards Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £5 – £8 Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Amused Moose Laugh Off Final theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 11 Aug, £10 Cecilia Delatori: Quick, Quick, Slough! Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 13, 20, £free Nick Bowling Laughs in the Face of Death for 45 Minutes and Then Asks Him Politely to Leave Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 15-25 Aug, not 21, £free The Hill and Weedon Fan Club Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-14 Aug, £free Thpethial Le Monde, 15-25 Aug, £5 – £10
Catherine Semark: Shadow Ape The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, £free Lead Pencil Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Multi-Levelled Morons - Free Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, not 15, £free
13:40 CatSoup: Out of the Bag SpaceCabaret @ 54, 20-24 Aug, £4 Does My Face Look Big In This Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 19 Aug, £6 – £9
13:45 The Barnes Identity Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-11 Aug, £free Unprepared For Life Whynot? , 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Will Sidgwick Presents Will Sidgwick - Live Pilgrim, 2-22 Aug, £free Alex and Alexis Should Not Be Friends The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Afternoon Delight Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 17-25 Aug, £free Hannah Gadsby: Nakedy Nudes Assembly Checkpoint, Various dates from 2 Aug to 25 Aug, £6 – £11 An Improvised Improv Show - Free Show Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 1-25 Aug, £free
The only festival website you need Visit festmag.co.uk on your computer, tablet or phone to get all of the latest reviews and find out what shows are on nearby
COMEDY, THEATRE, CABARET AND MORE www.festmag.co.uk
OPEN 'TIL 5AM
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 73
comedylistings PC, Mac and Me: The Funny Side of Computers Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 2-25 Aug, £free
Barry Castagnola: The Donny Donkins ‘As (hopefully soon to be) Seen On TV’ Show Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 Instant Sunshine Pleasance Dome, 2-10 Aug, £10
The Peculiar Case of Kemsley and Todd The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 19, £free
A Complete and Comprehensive History of the Roman Empire in Less Than an Hour - With Jokes Bannermans, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free
14:05
Bob Graham - Animal Person Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £free
Daly’s Comedy Club @ The Edinburgh Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
Richard Herring’s Edinburgh Fringe Podcast The Stand Comedy Club, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10
Mark Olver: Dancing About Architecture Assembly Checkpoint, 5-22 Aug, not 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, £8 Nick Hall: Live! Bristo Bar & Kitchen, 3-24 Aug, £free
13:50 Quest For Comedy! Paradise in The Vault, 5-18 Aug, not 12, £5 – £7.50
14:00 This Arthurs Seat Gala Belongs to Lionel Richie Summit of Arthur’s Seat, 17 Aug, £free Lucy Frederick - In Pursuit of Cool Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Eric’s Tales of the Sea A Submariner’s Yarn Just The Tonic at the Caves, 2-25 Aug, not 13, £8 – £10.50 BBC: The Richard Bacon Programme BBC@Potterrow, 19 Aug, 22 Aug, £free Sarah Hendrickx: Time Traveller Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, £free My Name Is Sue Underbelly, Bristo Square, 12-26 Aug, £13.50 – £14.50 The Durham Revue: Friends Without Benefits Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10 BrainSex Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £7 – £12 BBC: The Culture Studio BBC@Potterrow, Various dates from 5 May to 14 Aug, £free
Three Half Pints theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8
14:10
14:15 Gagging for Attention Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £2 – £3 The Edinburgh Revue: Stand-Up Show Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 1-26 Aug, not 14, £free Paul Merton’s Impro Chums Pleasance Courtyard, 8-11 Aug, £13.50 – £14.50 Rob Collins: Jesus Christ Flew Into the Cuckoo’s Nest Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free Zapp and Dembina Comedy After Lunch / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Raph ‘n’ Simon Solve a Murda The Dram House Upstairs, 14-24 Aug, not 20, £free The Coin-Operated Girl - A Sex Workers Real Life Revelations of Frivolous Fornications! The Dram House, 2-24 Aug, £free
14:20 Tony Jameson Football Manager Ruined My Life The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £7 The Maydays: Confessions Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50
God, Greed and Football Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 13, 19, £4 – £6
14:25 10 Films with My Dad The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, £free
Love Chiquito, 3-13 Aug, not 8, £free Be Careful What You Wish For with Alice Lashman Madogs Cocktail Bar & Grill, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Captain Alan of Canary Wharf Chiquito, 14-24 Aug, £free
14:30 Amy Wright’s Occupation El Barrio, 3-23 Aug, £free Silky: It Was This Show Or Have Kids The Stand Comedy Club II, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8 Xaablargh the Conqueror’s Guide to Humons Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 19-25 Aug, £free Phillip and Marjorie’s Marriage Preparation Course for Regular People and The Gays The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 11, 14, 21, £free Arthur Smith Pleasance Courtyard, 3-18 Aug, £10 – £12 Charlie Smith: Too Tall for the Ride Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-13 Aug, £free Amused Moose Comedy Awards Final City Edinburgh, 18 Aug, £12.50
AAA Batteries (Not Included) - Free Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 1-25 Aug, £free
Nathaniel Metcalfe: Enthusiast The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free
Here She Be Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-26 Aug, £free Laura Levites: Selfhelpless Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £9 The Edinburgh Revue: Sketch Show Opium, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Hilarity Bites Comedy Club Showcase Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free The Little Wheel Sketch Show Citrus Club , 17-23 Aug, £free First World Problems - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 3-25 Aug, £free Greener on the Other Side Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-26 Aug, not 15, £free Gary Colman Grind - Free Whistlebinkies, 3-24 Aug, £free Gráinne Maguire’s One Hour All Night Election Special Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 16 Aug, £6 – £10 Obie: A Comedian’s Guide to Improving Your Memory. Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free
14:40
14:50
Atella the Pun Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 3-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Patrick Morris: Standing Up and Saying Things Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free Sy+ Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Women of an Uncertain Age Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £5 – £9.50 DillyDolly Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 14-25 Aug, £free Full of It: The True or False Game Show - The 2 Fat F*cks on Holiday Tour 2013 Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Ian Fox - Shutter Monkey - Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free
14:35
Mr Susie’s To Earth With Love Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £3 – £6 Marcus Brigstocke presents Unavailable for Comment Underbelly, Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £8 – £13
14:44 Adam Larter and Ali Brice: Plumpy’nut Heroes @ The Hive, 3-25 Aug, £5
14:45
Laugh Support Machine - Free Base Nightclub, 3 Aug, 24 Aug, £free
Joz Norris Has Gone Missing Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free
The Lost Letters of Cathy G Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free
Max Fletcher - Fail Beter The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 14, 20, £free
John Williams: My Son’s Not Rainman Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8 Shirley and Shirley: Carnage Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 17 Aug, £6 – £11
15:00 Dan Willis: The Walking Dead Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 2-25 Aug, £free Showcatcher Assembly George Square, 6-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £7.50 – £10 Toby Explains the Universe The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 20, £free Mitch Benn is the 37th Beatle The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10
Aaaaargh! It’s the Monster Stand-Up Show - Free Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, £free How to Make a Killing in Bollywood Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 10 Aug, 11 Aug, £5 – £11.50 Bristol Improv Presents... / PBH’s Free Fringe Whynot? , 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Collier and Cox: Single, No Return Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 Dressing Down Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 Raph Shirley: A Portrait of a Provincial Dickhead Bristo Bar & Kitchen, 3-24 Aug, not 17, £free Three Men and a Saucepan - Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free
15:05 Now I’m 64! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £8 Secrets of the Elders of Zion Paradise in The Vault, 5-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £7
15:10 Charmian Hughes: Odd One In The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Stuart Laws Absolutely Will Not Stop, Ever, Until You are Dead (1hr Show) Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, not 15, 22, £free
15:15 Eric and Little Ern Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £6.50 – £12.50 Everything That Happened in the 20th Century, Seen Through the Eyes of a Liar Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 5-25 Aug, £free Unmanageable Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
74 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
comedylistings Neil Hickey: Escape Artist Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9.50 BBC: The Unbelievable Truth BBC@Potterrow, 15 Aug, £free Catriona Knox: Player Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10 The Oxford Imps Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £5 – £10
15:20 The Oxford Revue: With Bits Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10 Short & Curly - A Ripe Pear Ciao Roma, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £free The St Andrews Revue Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £7.50 Tania Edwards: The Art of War Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £9
15:30 Wardens Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 14, £8.50 – £13.50 Ellis & Rose: Big in Denmark Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, not 19, £5 Chris Coltrane: Compassion is Subversive Globe, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Men With Coconuts City Edinburgh, 4-23 Aug, not 10, 13, 17, 18, £free Nadia Kamil in: Wide Open Beavers! The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £6 – £7 Susie McCabe: An Uncivil Partnership New Town Bar, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, £8 Awkward Hawk - Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £free Don’t Drop the Egg Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Philip O’Shea Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 2-25 Aug, not 23, 24, £free
This Is Your Trial Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 5-9 Aug, £free – £500 Comedy Death: True Horror Stories from the Circuit The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £free
15:45 Poetic Justice The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, £free But It’s My Birthday! Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 1-25 Aug, not 3, 14, £free
Eleanor Thom: I Am Bev Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £10
Making Faces: Calm and Collected Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 9-25 Aug, not 14, 20, £free
Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrghhh! So It Goes - John Fleming’s Comedy Blog Chat Show Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 19-23 Aug, £5
Subtlety with Ed Mayhew Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-8 Aug, £free
Are You a Technophile? - Free Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free
The Rat Pack Stand-up Comedy Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 11, £free
Mark Stephenson: Half Man Half Amazing The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, £free
Casual Violence Presents: House of Nostril Pleasance Courtyard, 4-25 Aug, £6 – £9.50
The Bob Blackman Appreciation Society Bonanza / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free
Ain’t It Awkward - Harriet Dyer and Freddie Farrell Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free
15:35 Britain’s Got F*ck All Talent! 2013 Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £7
15:40 The News at Kate 2013: World Inaction The Canons’ Gait, 3-25 Aug, not 13, £free Michael Legge - Free Wi-Fi The Stand Comedy Club II, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £7 – £8 Simon Munnery: Fylm The Stand Comedy Club, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10 Dave Griffiths: C U In Court Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8 Men With Coconuts The Canons’ Gait, 13 Aug, £free Roll It in Sequins Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10 That Pair: Never Liked Her Anyway Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-23 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8 The Good, the Bad and the Morally Ambiguous Chiquito, 3-24 Aug, £free
Joseph Morpurgo Truthmouth Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Kriss Foster and Friend Ryan’s Cellar Bar, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Bright Club: Scotland’s Fringe The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10 Chris Fitchew in Jack of All Trades Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £5 – £11 Chris Henry Isn’t Musical! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, £free In Bits Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free
15:50 Quiz in My Pants The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Adam Strauss: The Mushroom Cure Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £10 The Tim Vine Chat Show Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £free – £17
15:55 Ross vs Violich - Pistols at 3.55pm The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free
16:00 How Do I Get Up There? The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10 Rachel Parris: The Commission Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 I Am Happy! Le Monde, 16 Aug, 18 Aug, £10 LOLympics Live - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Paul Merton’s Impro Chums Pleasance Courtyard, 12-17 Aug, £12.50 – £14.50 Rob Auton: The Sky Show The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Robin (A One-Man Comedy) Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8 The Human Being’s Guide to Not Being a Dick About Religion The Dram House Upstairs, 11-24 Aug, not 14, 21, £free Ben Verth: What Is This Place? Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 30 Jul - 25 Aug, not 8 Aug, 15 Aug, £3 – £5 Bec Hill: Bec by Popular Demand Gilded Balloon Teviot, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5 – £8 Funeral Addict Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £free Licence to Laugh Comedy Club - Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 3-25 Aug, £free Michael J Dolan: Nothing Will Ever Be Alright Again, Ever Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9 Matt Forde: The Political Party Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 16 Aug, £6 – £10
Stella Graham - A Pint of Stella Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, not 15, £free
Demitris Deech Isn’t Sick! Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-26 Aug, £free
Sunday Fundraiser New Town Bar, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £free
A Tiny Gang in Some Sketches They Wrote Whynot? , 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free
Karl Schultz: Start the Karl Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £5
Gerardine Coyne: Venus in Fuzz Bannermans, 4-23 Aug, not 10, 17, £free
Sandi Toksvig My Valentine Pleasance Courtyard, 3-11 Aug, £14
John-Luke Roberts: Broken Stand-Up The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, not 13, £free
Gein’s Family Giftshop Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free
Morgan and West: A Grand Adventure Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £10.50
Nick Helm: One Man Mega Myth Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £7 – £14
16:05 Farce Noir Presents... The Big Sheep Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10
16:10 Fraser Millward’s Masquerade! Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8.50 Peter Antoniou: Comedium Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, £5 – £7 Ben Van der Velde’s Chain Letter HH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £11 Who’s Driving Adam? theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5-10 Aug, £6
16:15
Talking to Strangers on Buses Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
16:20 Paul Savage - Cheerful Shambles Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free Gyles Brandreth: Looking For Happiness Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £10 – £17 Amy Hoggart as Pattie Brewster: Just a Normal Girl Doing a Cool Show Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10
16:25 Stewart Lee - Much A-Stew About Nothing The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 3-25 Aug, not 12, £10
16:30
Vampire Hospital Waiting Room - Free Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 19-25 Aug, £free
Dan Cook: Community Service HH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10
Bec Hill and Patrick Monahan’s Hour of Fun! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 14 Aug, £10
Katie Goodman: I Didn’t F*ck It Up Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 – £10
Twins The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 19, £free
Sad Faces Threw a Party Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10.50
Funny Bones and Wisdom Teeth Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 12, 18, 19, £free Ahir Shah: Anatomy Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free
The Ginge, the Geordie and the Geek- Live Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £10 – £14 Chris Kent: Second Fix Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 2 Aug, 13 Aug, £5 – £9.50
COMEDY, THEATRE, CABARET AND MORE www.festmag.co.uk
OPEN 'TIL 5AM
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 75
comedylistings Gamarjobat (ga-ma-jobat) Rock Out! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-26 Aug, not 13, 20, £6 – £13
Jack Jerome Ciao Roma, 3-24 Aug, £free
BBC: In Tune BBC@Potterrow, 16 Aug, £free
John Lloyd: Liff of QI Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, not 13 Aug, £7 – £13
Live Bait Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 13, £free Croft & Pearce Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £5 – £9 Flipper Committed Suicide Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 3-25 Aug, not 13, £free Hannah Gadsby: Happiness is a Bedside Table Assembly Roxy, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £6 – £11
16:35 AntiGraham Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £12
16:40
Alan Hudson: Magician or Superhero? Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £11 Peter Searles: Bolivia & Beyond The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 19, 20, 21, £8 Fanfiction Comedy Assembly George Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £8 – £10 Red Bastard Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 7, 14, £7 – £13
16:45 Yianni in Think Big The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free
Lenny Peters - Lost in Nonsense Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Tamar Broadbent: Almost Epic Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50 Bob Slayer: Worldwide Bawbag Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 1-31 Aug, not 21, 27, 28, £5 The Only Way Is Downton Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £6.50 – £11 Fin Taylor - Cramp Globe, 3-24 Aug, £free Jody Kamali: Livewire - Free Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Shhhh - An Improvised Silent Movie Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 5-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £10
Going Dark! The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Danny Ward - Pressure Point Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 1-25 Aug, £free
Darts Wives Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 12 Aug, £6 – £11 Ellie and Oscar Share a Time The Voodoo Rooms, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free
Jigsaw - Jiggle It Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £12
Ladyboner C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
Sam Fletcher - Drawnout Jokes Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £10
16:55
Darren Walsh: I am a Giant Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, £free – £5 BEASTS Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10
16:50 Sally-Anne Hayward Hey Follower! The Stand Comedy Club II, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8
Manos Kanellos: Greekonomics Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £4 – £7 The Oxford Revue Presents - Free The Canons’ Gait, 3-25 Aug, £free
17:00 BBC: Comic Fringes BBC@Potterrow, 12 Aug, £free Milo McCabe: Schiz Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £10.50
Upstairs Downton Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, £5 Alan Irwin: The Idiot Wind - Free Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 It’s Not Really There El Barrio, 3-23 Aug, not 12, £free Lewis Schaffer Is Free Until Famous - 20th Year Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free The Real MacGuffins Come Again Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10 Zoe Lyons - Pop-up Comic The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, £9 – £10 Yori Yori Love Chat Luisa and Pat Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-10 Aug, £free
The only festival website you need Visit festmag.co.uk on your smartphone to get all of the latest reviews and see what’s coming up near you
layout.indd 1
05/08/2012 21:12
facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
76 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
comedylistings 42: My Life, My Universe, My Everything Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free All Our Friends Are Dead Ryan’s Cellar Bar, 5-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £free Adam Kay: How to Be a Bogus Doctor Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £6 – £12 Chaos and Order - A True Story Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-28 Aug, not 16, 17, £free ComedySportz @ Laughing Horse Free Festival Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 18-25 Aug, £free I Wanna Be Like You Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 16-17 Aug, £free
The Leeds Tealights: The Ultimate Indoor Experience Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £9 The G Spot New Town Bar, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £6 Geoff Norcott Occasionally Sells Out Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £9 The Play That Goes Wrong Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £7 – £12.50 BBC: The Unbelievable Truth BBC@Potterrow, 15 Aug, £free Drei, Zwei, Eins mit Flange Krammer Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 13, 14, 15, £free Aberdeen vs Glasgow vs The World - Final Round - Free Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-25 Aug, £free
Christian Schulte-Loh: Attack of the 50 Foot German Comedian Base Nightclub, 3-24 Aug, not 13, 20, £free Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free
17:05 Flyerman 2 - This Time It’s Funny! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 13, 20, £5 – £7 Gavin Crawford - A Bummer Abroad theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £9 Jessica Fostekew: Moving The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, £free A Lighthearted Alternative to Culture - Free Mood Nightclub, 3-13 Aug, not 5, 12, £free Sarah Campbell: Isn’t It Fun??? The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, not 15, £free
Sight Gags for Perverts The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, not 14, £free
17:10 Stephen K Amos Talk Show Pleasance Courtyard, 21-24 Aug, £12 – £13 The Tim Vine Chat Show Pleasance Courtyard, 19-20 Aug, £13 Nicholas Parsons’ Happy Hour Pleasance Courtyard, 1-18 Aug, not 6, 13, £6 – £13 Lucy Porter – Northern Soul The Stand Comedy Club, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £9 – £10 Mae Martin: Slumber Party HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £10.50
17:15 Bruce Fummey - Gaelic in the Afternoon Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 2-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £3 – £5 Gravity Boots Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9 Matthew Highton’s It Came from the Mud Whistlebinkies, 3-25 Aug, £free Split Shift Opium, 3-13 Aug, £free Present and Correct Citrus Club , 3-23 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Rosie Wilby: Is Monogamy Dead? Assembly Hall, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £5 – £9 Slap and Giggle: Recharged Opium, 14-24 Aug, £free
The Comedian’s Comedian Live With Stuart Goldsmith Gilded Balloon Teviot, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £5 – £9 Two Tickets to the Gum Show Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Who Ya Gonna Call? The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Pam Ford - Happy In Your Skin? Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £free Jarlath Regan - Djarlo Unchained The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10 Adam Belbin - The Other Half of Next Year’s Show Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Life Winner Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, not 15, £free
COMEDY, THEATRE, CABARET AND MORE www.festmag.co.uk
OPEN 'TIL 5AM
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 77
comedylistings 17:20 Cambridge Footlights: Canada Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Gower Hour La Tasca , 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Paul Gannon Aint Afraid Of No Ghost Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Funny Women Pop Up Fringe Le Monde, 15-25 Aug, not 17, 24, £10
17:25 Phil Ellis: Unplanned Orphan HH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 Rhys James Prepares / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-26 Aug, not 13, £free
17:30 Benny Boot: As Seen On TV Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £11 Heavy Petting / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 16-25 Aug, £free Mark Restuccia - The Diary of a Serial Internet Dater Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8.50 McDaniel and Callaghan Pilgrim, 3-24 Aug, £free The Exciting Adventure of an Uninteresting Man Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 7, £free
The Weegies Have Stolen the One O’Clock Gun The Jazz Bar, 3-25 Aug, £6
Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
Chastity Butterworth & The Spanish Hamster Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10
Tom Webb’s Wedding Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, £free
Pekka and Strangebone’s Comedy Showpiece The Voodoo Rooms, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £free
A Pile of Wit C venues - C aquila, 1-10 Aug, £6.50 – £8.50
David Mills: The Gospel Truth Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £5 BBC: Just a Minute BBC@Potterrow, 13 Aug, £free Sion James and Friends - Free! Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 14-25 Aug, £free Sucker Punch Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 1-13 Aug, £free A Danish Bagpipe Comedian Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-15 Aug, £free Brothers and Sisters... It’s The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £7.50 – £13.50 Dan Nightingale: Love in the Time of Cholesterol Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50 How to Be Awesome at Everything Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 1-25 Aug, £free James Christopher: What Are You Doing Here? The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Knightmare Live Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 14 Aug, £7 – £11.50
17:40 Will Franken: Concert to Benefit the Victims of My Father Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £10 Kieran Hodgson Flood Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 15 Aug, £6 – £10
17:45 Comedy and Cupcakes Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 3-25 Aug, £free Ian Smith - Anything Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 Pat Cahill: Start Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 Sam Lloyd: Fully Committed Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6.50 – £12.50 At Wit’s End C venues - C aquila, 1126 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Diane Spencer: Hurricane Diane Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Gordon Southern: The Kerfuffle Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £12
Sympathy for the Revill Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free
17:50 Not Suitable for Drinking Ciao Roma, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free Phil Wang: Anti-Hero Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Slightly Fat Features Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £13 Mary Bourke: Muffragette HH The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £7 – £8
18:00
Ivo Graham: Binoculars Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10
Mixed Doubles Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £9.50
Maureen Younger: The Outsider - Free Show Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, Various dates from 2 Aug to 25 Aug, £free
Matt Okine: Being Black & Chicken & S#%t Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £7 – £12
Old Men Can’t Jump Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 9-18 Aug, £free
Over It - Death, Anorexia, and Other Funny Things Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 3-25 Aug, £free
Tim Renkow and Dave Millett Are Meandering With Purpose Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 1-26 Aug, £5 Alexei Sayle The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 13-25 Aug, not 19, £12 Colin Hoult: Characthorse Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Gavin Webster: Don’t Give Any Money to Comic Relief and Other Opinions The Stand Comedy Club II, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £7 – £8
Stephen Carlin: Gambling Man Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £6 – £12
Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free
Susan Calman: Always (A Work in Progress) The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-12 Aug, £10
Old Jewish Jokes Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free
Adam Hess and David Elms HH Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, £5 Total Hero Team The Dram House Upstairs, 3-17 Aug, £free Harry Deansway: Wrong Way Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9
Christian Reilly: Songs of Praise The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, £free
Yianni in Think Big (The Big One) Venue150 @ EICC, 25 Aug, £10 Scott of the Antarctic: The Musical The Dram House Upstairs, 18-24 Aug, £free David Kay The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 19 Aug, £10 Kevin Dewsbury Out Now Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free
18:05 All-Nude College-Girl Revue or How I Made It Through the LSE SpaceCabaret @ 54, 19-24 Aug, £6 – £7 Aidan Goatley is On the Mend The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, £free Pun Run The Canons’ Gait, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £free
Birthday Girls: 2053 HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9.50
Four Screws Loose in Screwtopia! Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £5 – £10.50
Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7
Absolute Improv! theSpace on the Mile , 2-24 Aug, not 4, 18, £7 – £10
THE TOM SHOW
V22 6:30 ‘Pizzazz’ facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
78 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
comedylistings If the Queen Can Have an Official Birthday, So Can I, and These 22 Days Are It The Canons’ Gait, 3-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free
18:10 4Play Comedy Chiquito, 11-17 Aug, £free Festival of the Spoken Nerd - Full Frontal Nerdity Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £12
Murder, She Didn’t Write Sweet Grassmarket, 1225 Aug, not 14, 21, £8 No Moral Compass Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free The Ginge, the Geordie and the Geek- Live Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £10 – £14 Comedian? No. Just Italian Free Fringe George, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free
Ruth E. Cockburn Doesn’t Even Smoke Madogs Cocktail Bar & Grill, 3-24 Aug, £free
Griff Rees Jokes Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £free
Edward Aczel - Lives in a Meaningless Shed Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £11
Amused Moose Comedy Awards Gangshow Just The Tonic at the Caves, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, £7 – £9
18:15 The Pin Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £11 Sean McLoughlin: Backbone Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Rory and Tim: On the House The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 13, £free
Bollywood Rejects Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, £free Flhip Flhop Assembly Checkpoint, 19-26 Aug, £10 – £12 Mick Ferry: Has Been Found Wanting Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50
18:20
Chris Henry Stands Up Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, £free
Keith Farnan: Fear Itself HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50
Nathan Cassidy: Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free
Mike Newall: Six Weddings Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8
At It @ 6.15 Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 1-25 Aug, £free
WitTank presents The School Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £12
Dobbing and Hamdi The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, £free Rod Woodward: Funny Turn Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8
18:30 BBC: It’s Not What You Know BBC@Potterrow, 6 May, 6 Aug, £free Nik Coppin - Mixed Racist (Free Festival) Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Rick Kiesewetter: Chink Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, £free The Thinking Drinker’s Guide to Alcohol The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10 ❤ Aisling Bea: C’est La Bea HHHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £10.50 Javier Jarquin: Joke Ninja Assembly Hall, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £5 – £10 NewsRevue 2013 Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 14 Aug, £9 – £16 Rob Carter: Murder (and other hobbies) HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £10.50
Chris Dangerfield: How I Spent £150,000 on Chinese Prostitutes Heroes @ The Hive, 5-24 Aug, £free David Sedaris - An Evening With David Sedaris Venue150 @ EICC, 17-24 Aug, £20 Twice as Nice Comedy hosted by Sam Deards Dropkick Murphy’s, 3-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £free I’m Fine, You? The Street, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 12, 19, £free Australia is F*cked Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, not 15, £free
Tom Binns is Ian D Montfort: Psychic Fayre Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £14.50
Chris Griffin and Patrick Mulholland: Contrast and Compare Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [E] The Banshee Labyrinth, 11-12 Aug, £free
New Art Club: Feel About Your Body Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £14
Fat Chav Le Monde, 16-25 Aug, not 17, 24, £5 – £8.50 Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [F] The Banshee Labyrinth, 13-14 Aug, £free
18:40
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [Z] The Banshee Labyrinth, 23-24 Aug, £free
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [B] The Banshee Labyrinth, 5-6 Aug, £free
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [D] The Banshee Labyrinth, 9-10 Aug, £free
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [A] The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-4 Aug, £free
Sarah Millican - Home Bird The Stand Comedy Club, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, £11 – £12
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [H] The Banshee Labyrinth, 17-18 Aug, £free Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [J] The Banshee Labyrinth, 21-22 Aug, £free Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [I] The Banshee Labyrinth, 19-20 Aug, £free
Tickling Jock: By Night Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 7 Aug, 21 Aug, £12
Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [G] The Banshee Labyrinth, 15-16 Aug, £free
Free Footlights The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, £free
Good Breeding Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free
TO N Y DUNN THE AGAINST
Fast Fringe Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, £free – £10 Luke and Harry’s Journey to Sex Colony 01 Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-24 Aug, not 7, 13, 20, £5 – £10 Gareth Morinan Is Playing the Numbers Game [C] The Banshee Labyrinth, 7-8 Aug, £free
18:45 Tig Notaro: Boyish-Girl Interrupted Gilded Balloon Teviot, 16-25 Aug, £14 – £15
Janey Godley Is Ungagged Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 15 Aug, £5 – £12 Anti-Clever Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Benjamin Crellin: Comic of Duty Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 1-25 Aug, £free Killing Miss D Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-15 Aug, £free Offal Comedienne Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 17-25 Aug, £free How to Be Rich and Thin Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Henry Paker: Classic Paker Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10.50
18:50 Mat Ricardo: Showman Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Romesh Ranganathan - Rom Com HH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10.50
LAUGHING HORSE @
THE COUNTING HOUSE Aug 1-13
19:00
COMEDY, THEATRE, CABARET AND MORE www.festmag.co.uk
OPEN 'TIL 5AM
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 79
comedylistings Lee Camp: Destruction! Distraction! Evolution? HHH Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £12
18:55 Steve Bugeja Tries Hard Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
19:00 BBC: Just a Minute BBC@Potterrow, 13 Aug, £free Ardal O’Hanlon The Assembly Rooms, 12-18 Aug, £15 Chris Ramsey: Feeling Lucky Underbelly, Bristo Square, 23-25 Aug, £15 James Acaster Lawnmower Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £12 Sex Guru Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6.50 – £12.50 The Beta Males in ... Superopolis Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £11.50 Tony Dunn Against the Psychopaths Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-13 Aug, £free Chris Stokes Tells It Like It Possibly Could Potentially Might Be Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9 Doctor Brown: Bexperiments Underbelly, Cowgate, 13 Aug, £7 Joe Bor Is Jasper Cromwell Jones Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £5 – £11 The Noise Next Door: Soundhouse Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £7 – £14 Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister Look at the State of Britain The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £8 – £9 Jimmy Savile: The Punch and Judy Show Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £5 David Morgan - Pretty Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10
Jamie Demetriou: People Day Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Matt and Ian’s Improv Show Sweet Grassmarket, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £7 Phil Kay Verbal Diary Heroes @ The Hive, 1-11 Aug, £5 Charlie Chuck’s Grande Night Out theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 20-24 Aug, £8 Fernando - Taste the Difference Sweet Grassmarket, 12-24 Aug, not 14, 18, 21, £5 Rob Delaney Live Underbelly, Bristo Square, 20-21 Aug, £19.50 Rowena Haley: There’s More to Life Than Chips Southsider, 3-24 Aug, £free Al Murray - The Pub Landlord: The Only Way is Epic Underbelly, Bristo Square, 16-17 Aug, £19.50 Damian Clark in G’Damo! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 – £10 Graham Clark: Afraid of the Clark Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 The G Spot New Town Bar, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £6
19:05 Chris Martin: Passionate About the Pointless Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £12 Shelf Life: Lotta Quizeen’s Guide to Managing the Modern Home theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £8 Jerry Sadowitz: Card Tricks and Close Up Magic The Assembly Rooms, 19-25 Aug, £15.50 A Midwife Crisis theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £6
19:10 Seymour Mace Presents, Marmaduke Spatula’s F*ckin’ Spectacular Cabaret of Sunshine Show. The Stand Comedy Club II, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8
19:15 Ant Dewson: Now That’s What I Call Musical Comedy - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Lost in the Eighties The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £free Severe Blether Warning Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 1-26 Aug, £free Aaron Twitchen’s Princess Guide to Dating Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-24 Aug, £free Joe Lycett - If Joe Lycett Then You Should’ve Put a Ring On It Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 Working Men’s Club Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Mr Ambiguousness The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free Away An’ Bile Yer Heid Globe, 3-24 Aug, £free Marlon Davis: Crackin’ Up Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £11 Rhys Mathewson - The Best £10 You’ll Ever Spend Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10 Tales from the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-26 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Andrew Maxwell: Banana Kingdom Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8 – £15 AAA Stand-Up Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £11 Casual Violence: Om Nom Nominous - Free The Voodoo Rooms, Various dates from 3 May to 17 Aug, £free
19:20 Vikki Stone - Definitely Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 14 Aug, £7 – £12 David O’Doherty: David O’Doherty Will Try to Fix Everything Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8 – £15
Amazing Charity Comedy Gala theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 18 Aug, £15 Craig Hill - Tartan About! Underbelly, Bristo Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £7.50 – £14.50 Lights! Camera! Improvise! Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £11 Bulletproof Jest theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £6 – £7
The Appalling Carly Smallman HH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £10
19:30
Matt Lacey: Classroom Warrior - Free The Voodoo Rooms, 3-24 Aug, not 13, 19, £free
Adam Hills: Happyism Assembly Hall, 15-25 Aug, £13 – £14 Comedy Gala 2013: In Aid of Waverley Care Edinburgh Playhouse, 22 Aug, £25 Jimeoin: Yes,Yes, Whatever...?! Venue150 @ EICC, 9-18 Aug, £15 – £17.50 Mark Thomas: 100 Acts of Minor Dissent The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 3-25 Aug, not 12, £10 Paul Foot: Words Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £12 Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans - Wonder & Joy Heroes @ The Hive, 1-24 Aug, not 14, 21, £free The Wireless Podcast - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Iain Stirling: At Home Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Jenny Eclair: Eclairious Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-17 Aug, £13.50 – £14.50 Lee Nelson Live Assembly George Square, 12-24 Aug, £17.50 Paul F Taylor Presents The Greatest Show In The World Ever The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Big Value Comedy Show - Early Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 John Gordillo: Cheap Shots at the Defenceless The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10
Tim FitzHigham: Challenger Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £7 – £12.50 Will Mars: Americana Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Lords of Strut Assembly George Square, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £8 – £13
Alistair McGowan: Damn Labels! Gilded Balloon Teviot, Various dates from 18 Aug to 25 Aug, £13.50 – £14.50 Bruce Fummey - The Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free David Baddiel - Fame: Not the Musical Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 11 Aug, £7.50 – £17.50 I Am the Tag Team Champions Studio 24, 24 Aug, £7 Milton Jones On The High Road Assembly Hall, 2-14 Aug, not 5, 6, £16.50 Sean Hughes Penguins Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £7.50 – £15 Bookshop Comedy Encore to the End of August Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 27-31 Aug, £5
19:35 Rory O’Hanlon: Don’t Drink Don’t Smoke The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Luke Toulson: I Don’t Know How I Feel About My Kids - Free The Cabaret Voltaire, 3-24 Aug, £free Elegant Nymphs Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £4 – £8
19:40 Tony Law: Night-Time Nonsense Overdrive The Assembly Rooms, 25 Aug, £12
Daniel Rigby: Berk in Progress Assembly Checkpoint, 7 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £5 Tom Wrigglesworth: Utterly at Odds with the Universe Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12 Fred MacAulay: 25 Fringes The Assembly Rooms, 1-23 Aug, not 14, £14 – £15 Jon Bennett: My Dad’s Deaths Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50 Bobby Mair - Obviously Adopted HH Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Pick Me Up Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Chris Mayo’s Identity Crisis Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8.50 Jason Manford - First World Problems Venue150 @ EICC, 2025 Aug, £17.50 The Prima Party Scrapbook Sweet Grassmarket, 1-18 Aug, £8
19:45 Laughter On the Outskirts - Free Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, £free Rik n Mix Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free The Colour Ham Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-24 Aug, not 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, £5 – £11 Rock and Dole Opium, 3-24 Aug, £free 2 Irish Men Walk into a Bar - In a Yurt Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Faux Latino Show Pony Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £5 – £10.50 Mark Dolan - You’re Awesome! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 – £10 Standing Up For Something La Tasca , 3-24 Aug, £free
facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
80 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
comedylistings Slaughterhouse Live Just The Tonic at the Caves, 19-22 Aug, £10 Instant Order: Trial By Audience The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Paco Erhard: Djerman Unchained Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Stay at Home Dad Citrus Club , 3-20 Aug, £free It’s Me Dayne Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £5 – £8 Panto-monium: An Adult Pantomime for Gentlemen and Gentleladies Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Tanyalee Davis - Big Trouble in Little ‘Gina The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10 Waking Up to Myself! Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 30 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £free
19:50 Ronny Chieng: The Ron Way Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £12 Thrice Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50 Beard Envy Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free
19:55 The Shambles C venues - C aquila, 1-26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
20:00 BBC: Clare in the Community BBC@Potterrow, 16 Aug, £free Sara Pascoe vs the Truth HHH Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12 BBC: Vic Galloway BBC@Potterrow, 5 Aug, £free Bourke and No Hair Bristo Bar & Kitchen, 3-24 Aug, £free Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
So You Think You’re Funny? Gilded Balloon Teviot, 22 Aug, £15 Terry Alderton: Season 4 HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £13.50 Tommy Holgate: Good Spirits Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 1-26 Aug, £5 A Panda Suit, Pythagoras and Plenty of Puns Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-22 Aug, not 13, £3 – £5 Can You Put This in the Bin for Me? - Free Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 16-25 Aug, £free Michael Fabbri: Buffering Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 1-25 Aug, £free Reginald D Hunter: In the Midst of Crackers Pleasance Courtyard, 9-24 Aug, not 13, 19, £15 – £17 Tartan Ribbon Comedy Benefit Pleasance Courtyard, 13 Aug, £12 Lewis Schaffer Is Better Than You Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £5 Paul Zerdin: No Strings Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7 – £12.50 Dr Professor Neal Portenza’s Interactive Goat Hour: There are no goats and the show is only 54 minutes long, excluding the bonus minute The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, £free BBC: The News Quiz BBC@Potterrow, 8 Aug, £free Bob Doolally: A Life in Football The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 12 Aug, £10 Norman Lovett - Old and New The Voodoo Rooms, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £8 – £10 Richard Herring - We’re All Going to Die! Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £7 – £14 BBC: Jazz House BBC@Potterrow, 7 Aug, £free Employees of the Month: Glenn Moore and Friends Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-26 Aug, £free
Playing Politics Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, £12.50
20:05 Eric Davidson Brigadoom theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £10 Jim Campbell: Stupid Animals Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £11 Thespianage theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £5 Terry Clement: Din Times 8 Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £11 Improvabunga - Some Sort of Improv Show theSpace on the Mile , 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £5 – £7
20:10 Nish Kumar - Nish Kumar is a Comedian HHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £11 Julia Sutherland - Fat Chance The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 5 Aug, 19 Aug, £8 Lost Voice Guy - A Voice of Choice The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £7 – £8 Matt Green - Alive Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Simon Evans: Leashed The Stand Comedy Club, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £6 – £12 Jeff Mirza: Meet Abu Hamsta and Paki Bashir-From Allah with Love Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 13, 20, £5 – £10
20:15 Gareth Richards: Gareth Goes Electric Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Light Relief Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, £8.50 Yannis Pappas - The Happy Place Assembly Roxy, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £6 – £11
Lee Kern: Bitter Twitter Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 – £9.50 Suzy Bennett - Dancing On Thin Ice Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £11.50 Wagapaga Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 18-25 Aug, £free Miracles Etc Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £12 Caroline Rhea Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £10 – £14.50 Rob Deb BigBang Theory of Life Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-17 Aug, £free Tom Rosenthal Благодаря HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £12
20:20 The News at Kate 2013: My Professional Opinion Ciao Roma, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Tom Craine: Crying On A Waltzer Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Mr Winchester: Classic Entertainment! Pleasance Dome, 1925 Aug, £10.50 – £14 Bob and Jim - Two Stars Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 13 Aug, £6 – £10 Daniel Simonsen: Stranger Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6.50 – £11 Brian Appleton’s History of the World in 3 Darts Pleasance Dome, 5-11 Aug, £10 – £12 Martin Mor - How Do You Like Your Blue-eyed Boy Mister Death? The Stand Comedy Club II, 2-25 Aug, not 12, £8 Max and Ivan: The Reunion Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12.50
20:25 Addy Time The Canons’ Gait, 3-25 Aug, £free
20:30 ❤ Alex Horne: Lies HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Age Against the Machine Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £free Benjamin Partridge: An Audience With Jeff Goldblum The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Kevin Shepherd: Confess Nothing - Free Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free Barnardo’s Big Comedy Benefit The Assembly Rooms, 12 Aug, £20 Baby Wants Candy: The Completely Improvised Full Band Musical! Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £10 – £15 Daniel Sloss: Stand-Up Venue150 @ EICC, 2-25 Aug, not 21, £10 – £17.50 Paul McCaffrey: Name in Lights Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, £6 – £10 Livid Failure The Dram House Upstairs, 12-24 Aug, £free Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards Pleasance Courtyard, 25 Aug, £14 Phill Jupitus and Deborah FrancesWhite: Voices in Your Head - The Phill Jupitus Experiment HH Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £14 Amateur Transplants: Adam Kay Is Going For A Number One Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £7 – £14 Alistair Barrie: Universal Adapter The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Norwegians of Comedy The Dram House Upstairs, 3-10 Aug, £free
BBC Radio New Comedy Award 2013 Edinburgh Heats BBC@Potterrow, 20-21 Aug, £7 Carl Donnelly: Now That’s What I Carl Donnelly! Volume V Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £10 A-Z of Backpacking - Free Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free An Evening with Elaine C Smith Palais de Glaces Spiegeltent, 7 Aug, £25 Joey Page: Reality Is Outside, Paradise Is In Your Brain HH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9.50
20:40 Christian O’Connell: This Is 13 HHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 20 Aug, £7 – £13.50 John Robertson - The Dark Room Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £10 Hope & Gloria The Voodoo Rooms, 3-24 Aug, £free My Name Is Christian Grey Chiquito, 12-24 Aug, £free Jimmy McGhie: Delusions of Candour Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Omid Djalili Live The Assembly Rooms, 13-25 Aug, £17.50
20:45 Bench Bites Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 2-25 Aug, not 10, 11, 19, £free Evolution of iMaAN Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free Free - 99 Club Stand-Up Selection Cowgate Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Kai Humphries Shameless Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £12 Bronston Jones: Life’s Short. I’m Not! - Free Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free
COMEDY, THEATRE, CABARET AND MORE www.festmag.co.uk
OPEN 'TIL 5AM
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 81
comedylistings Blind Mirth Improv Comedy Paradise in The Vault, 13-26 Aug, not 19, £6 Jen Carnovale: Not a Person Person - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Japanese ‘Locky’ Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7-25 Aug, £free The Jocks and Geordies Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 2-25 Aug, £free Toby Adams - Routine Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-25 Aug, £free Wilkinson Ford: Webmasters Base Nightclub, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free Abandoman: Moonrock Boombox HHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £7 – £14.50 Patrick Monahan Cake Charmer Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 7 Aug, £5 – £12 Best of Waterloo Comedy Club - Ralph D’iamond Hosts Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-6 Aug, £free Craig Campbell’s Thrilling Mic Hunt The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10 Death by Murder Greenside, 12-17 Aug, £7 Jay Foreman: No More Colours Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £11
20:50 Akmal Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £7 – £12.50 Andrew Lawrence There Is No Escape Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6.50 – £13.50
20:55 Abigoliah Schamaun: Subtle Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Bruce Dingerdik’s Top End Tour Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 18-26 Aug, £7
Stephen K Amos: Work in Progress The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-24 Aug, not 12, 13, 19, 20, £10 Bob Doolally: A Life in Football The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 19 Aug, £9 David Kay The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 20 Aug, £10
Dead Famous Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, £free
21:00
Assemble: The Lovely Men - Free Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 3-17 Aug, not 15, £free
Will You Hold My Hand? Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10.50 Tom Binns Does Ivan Brackenbury and Others Heroes @ The Hive, 1-25 Aug, £5 Alistair Green Is Jack Spencer: Sex Addict Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8.50 Adventures On Air – Free! Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, Various dates from 1 Aug to 25 Aug, £free Big Value Comedy Show - Late Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Pajama Men - Just the Two of Each of Us Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £10 – £15 Scott Capurro: Islamohomophobia The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10 Tumi Morake in HerStory Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £12 Wayne Thallon: Procreation Just The Tonic at the Caves, 6-25 Aug, not 13, £8 – £10 Dear Ray The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, not 19, £free Henson Alternative’s Puppet Up! Uncensored Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £12 – £25 Jason Byrne’s Special Eye Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £10 – £19.50 Josh Widdicombe: Incidentally... Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 15 Aug, £10 – £13
Spring Day: Learn How to Take a Punch - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £free Best of So You Think You’re Funny? Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-18 Aug, not 5, 6, 12, 13, £6 – £10.50
Gary Lynch - Dark Charisma Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, not 12, £free Greg Proops Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 14 Aug, £9 – £14.50 Rocky Horror Night Frankenstein Pub, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, £free Beardyman: One Album Per Hour Gilded Balloon Teviot, 15-21 Aug, £13 – £14.50 Neil Delamere: Smartbomb Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7 – £12 Scotland’s Pick of the Fringe Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £5 The Fringe Comedy Academy: Class of 2013 The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 13 Aug, £6 The G Spot New Town Bar, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £6
21:05 Stand Up Sat Down theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £3
21:10 Marcus Brigstocke: ‘Je m’accuse - I am Marcus’ Assembly Hall, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £10 – £14 Alfie Brown: The Revolting Youth Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £11
Charlie Baker: Baker’s Dozen Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £5 – £11 Gerry Howell: Seriousnessmus The Dram House Upstairs, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £free 101 Comedy - Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free From Beer to Paternity Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 4-25 Aug, not 20, £free Freda Chats Shittington Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Henning Wehn’s Authentic German Christmas Do Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £7.50 – £11.50 Luisa Omielan: What Would Beyoncé Do?! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-11 Aug, £7 – £13 Alan Davies: Work in Progress Gilded Balloon Teviot, 15-26 Aug, not 20, 21, £13
21:20 Alan Committie: Fully Committied Assembly Roxy, 5-26 Aug, not 12, £11 – £12 Seann Walsh: The Lie-in King Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 13 Aug, £7.50 – £13 The Essential Tom Stade: 12 Nights Only! The Assembly Rooms, 13-25 Aug, not 19, £15 Gavin Crawford - A Bummer Abroad theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £9 ❤ Pete Firman Scoundrel HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £8.50 – £15 Ed Byrne – Roaring Forties Venue150 @ EICC, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 13, £17.50 – £19.50
21:15
Dana Alexander: Is This Really Happening? The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8
Anil Desai’s Another Night at the Movies Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free
Liam Mullone: Game Over Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £9.50
21:25 Colin Geddis: Comments Disabled Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10
21:30 The Big Comedy Gala in Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support Venue150 @ EICC, 12 Aug, £20 Horse & Louis’ Comedy Bingo! - FREE Laughing Horse @ New Empire Bingo, 16-17 Aug, £free KelFi & FiKel Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Carl Hutchinson: All the Rage Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Jem Brookes: Puntitled Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free Markus Birdman Happily Ever After The Stand Comedy Club II, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8 The Comedy Reserve Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Howard Read: Hide and Speak Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £12 John Robins - Where Is My Mind? Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £11.50 Mikey Avern: Absurd Projections Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 1-17 Aug, not 13, £3 – £5 Richard Gadd: Cheese and Crack Whores Southsider, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £free Rich Hall Assembly George Square, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £10 – £14 Brett Goldstein Contains Scenes of an Adult Nature Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £11 Gareth Richards: Gareth Goes Electric Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 2 Aug to 24 Aug, £6 – £10 Lloyd Langford: Galoot Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £11.50
Russell Kane: Smallness Pleasance Courtyard, 8-22 Aug, not 9, 10, 16, 17, £10 – £17.50 Suman Biswas: Still Alive After Amateur Transplants Just The Tonic at Bristo Square, 18-25 Aug, £11
21:35 Peter Buckley Hill and Some Comedians XVII The Canons’ Gait, 3-24 Aug, £free Mark Smith: The Most Astonishing Name in Comedy Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10
21:40 George Ryegold: Adulterated Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £9.50 The Boy With Tape On His Face: More Tape Pleasance Courtyard, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 13, £12 – £13.50 Jonny & the Baptists: Bigger Than Judas Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 Brendon Burns Hasn’t Heard of You Either The Stand Comedy Club, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £12
21:45 Alex Kealy and Friends Kilderkin, 3-24 Aug, not 15, £free David Quirk - Shaking Hands With Danger (AUS) HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Ginger Nation The Dram House, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free I Think So I’m Ready Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Bruce Fummey - My Afro Celtic Angst Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free Peacock & Gamble: Heart-throbs Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £11 Paul Pirie: Me Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 1-25 Aug, £free
facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
82 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
comedylistings PowerCouple - Standup Comedy from Stephen Bailey and Gary John Senior Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Alan Sharp: As Seen On... The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-24 Aug, £free Gary Delaney 2: This Time It’s Not Personal Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £12 Luke Benson: Legendary Feet Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10
21:50 Claudia O’Doherty: Pioneer Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6.50 – £11.50 Alfie Moore - Viva Alf’s Vegas HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £12 The Quint Fontana 2013 Comeback Special The Voodoo Rooms, 3-25 Aug, not 13, £free Glenn Wool: This Road Has Tolls Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £14
22:00 Alex Williamson Gilded Balloon Teviot, Various dates from 31 Jul to 9 Aug, £5 – £11 Gay Straight Alliance Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 2-26 Aug, £free Katerina Vrana: Feta With The Queen Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, not 13, 20, £free The Sitcom Trials Gilded Balloon Teviot, 21 Aug, £10 Daniel Sloss - StandUp (Extra Shows!) Venue150 @ EICC, Various dates from 9 Aug to 24 Aug, £17.50 Darius Davies’ HBÖ Special Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 2-25 Aug, £free Joke Thieves Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Künt and the Gang Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, not 11, £free
So You Think You’re Funny? Gilded Balloon Teviot, Various dates from 4 Aug to 14 Aug, £10 ❤ Felicity Ward: Irregardless HHHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7 – £13 A A and A Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4-22 Aug, not 9, 10, 16, 17, £free #LazyTitle Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £free Carey Marx: Intensive Carey Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Foil, Arms and Hog Late Night Irish Sketch Comedy Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Loyiso Gola: The Professional Black! Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £7 – £11 Storytellers’ Club Pleasance Courtyard, 16-17 Aug, £10 WeGotTickets New Talent Showcase Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 14 Aug, £5 Jennifer Wong: Laughable The Dram House Upstairs, 3-22 Aug, £free Best New Sketch Act 2013: The Final Gilded Balloon Teviot, 20 Aug, £10 Dr Ettrick-Hogg and Guests - Stand-Up Show- Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free Hal Cruttenden: Tough Luvvie Gilded Balloon Teviot, 16-26 Aug, not 20, 21, 22, £13 Late Night Gimp Fight Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Michael Che: Cartoon Violence The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10 The Alternative Comedy Experience The Stand Comedy Club, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £10
Adrienne Truscott’s Asking for It: A One-Lady Rape About Comedy Starring Her Pussy and Little Else! Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £5 BBC: Radio 4 Extra Stand-Up Show BBC@Potterrow, 15 Aug, 19 Aug, £free
Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre - In Space Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 21 Aug, £5 – £11 Simply the Jest Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10
22:05
❤ Liam Williams HHHH Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £9.50 The Dog, the Witch and the Wardrobe! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £6.50 – £10 Barry From Watford: Shooting from The (new) Hip Pleasance Courtyard, 12-25 Aug, £7.50 – £10 Musical Comedy Awards Showcase Underbelly, Bristo Square, 23-24 Aug, £14 Shirley Gnome Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £9.50
Hardeep Singh Kohli: Hardeep Is Your Love Pleasance Courtyard, 14-18 Aug, £10 – £12 The Wrong Side of the Door Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 2, 24, £6 – £10 ❤ Trouble With Comedy HHHH Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 2-26 Aug, not 12, £free Al Lubel is Mentally Al Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Shane Mauss: Mating Season Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8 – £12 The Underdogs Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 5-18 Aug, £free Recovering Catholics Anonymous(& other crosses I’ve had to bear) Ryan’s Cellar Bar, 3-26 Aug, £free
22:25
22:35
Magpie & Stump Are Chairman Lmao and the Lolitburo theSpace on the Mile , 19-24 Aug, £6
22:10 Listen, Lancelot... Dragonfly, 3-24 Aug, £free Abominations theSpace on North Bridge, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £9 Rory McGrath and Philip Pope in Bridge Over Troubled Lager Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 10 Aug, 11 Aug, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 14 Aug, 15 Aug, £8 – £13
22:15 Dave Bailey and Friends Comedy Hour Paradise in The Vault, 5-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £free Davey Connor Live! But Not in Your Living Room Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 12 Aug, £5 – £9.50 Pete Cain: Everybody Out! The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10 Clare Harrison’s 15 Inches of Fame Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-26 Aug, not 17, 18, 19, £free Eat a Queer Foetus 4 Jesus Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1425 Aug, not 23, £free Greg Proops: The Smartest Man In The World Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 15 Aug, £13 Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £free Woolly Mammoth Panic Attack Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, not 15, £free
22:20
The Best of Irish Comedy The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 2-25 Aug, not 13, £12 Jerry Sadowitz: Card Tricks and Close Up Magic The Assembly Rooms, 23-24 Aug, £17.50
22:30 The Showstoppers’ Improvised Musical Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-25 Aug, not 22, £10 – £13.50 Chortle Student Comedy Award Final Pleasance Courtyard, 12-13 Aug, £8.50 Doc Brown Pleasance Courtyard, 19-25 Aug, £10.50 – £14 Fisting for Biscuits Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free Scott Agnew - Something’s Gotta Give The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £7 – £8 The Horne Section Live in a Cow Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £7 – £14 ❤ Adam Buxton: Kernel Panic HHHH Assembly Hall, 2-5 Aug, £16
Gary Myers: The Psychopathology of Everyday Laughs Just The Tonic at the Caves, 14-25 Aug, £2 – £6.50
22:40 Simon Donald - Butch Straight Poof The Stand Comedy Club II, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £7 – £8 Paul Zerdin: No Strings Gilded Balloon Teviot, 19 Aug, £10.50 Rubberbandits Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £14 Viv Groskop: I Laughed, I Cried Le Monde, 18-19 Aug, £8 Edinburgh Comedy AllStars Underbelly, Bristo Square, Various dates from 1 Aug to 25 Aug, £10 – £15.50
22:45 Dave Callan: The Psychology of Laughter Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £5 – £10 Humza Arshad presents Diary of a Badman Gilded Balloon Teviot, 11-25 Aug, £11 – £12
Rhys Nicholson: Dawn of a New Error Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £11.50 The Comedy Zone Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10 Billy McGuire Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free Mat Ewins: Once Upon a Time in the Jest Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £9 David Trent: This Is All I Have Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £12 Eleanor Conway’s Comedy Rumble Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Russ Powell: Powell to the People Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 3 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Benny Davis: The Human Jukebox Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Guilt & Shame: Addicted to Everything Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £free – £9
22:50 Bad Bread: Glove Contractually Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Garrett Millerick: Does it Matter? Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £9.50 Joy of Sketch Pleasance Courtyard, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, £10
23:00 The Quiz Show That Has Nothing to Do With Horses Sweet Grassmarket, 24-25 Aug, £7 Jordan, Jesse, Go! Pleasance Courtyard, 22-23 Aug, £9 A to Z Improv Comedy - Free Kilderkin, 3-24 Aug, £free Alistair Greaves and Si Beckwith: All Aboard for Funtime! Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 2-26 Aug, not 12, 20, £free
COMEDY, THEATRE, CABARET AND MORE www.festmag.co.uk
OPEN 'TIL 5AM
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 83
comedylistings Eric Hutton’s Favourite Songs - Free Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 13, 14, 19, £free Mrs Manning Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Rich Hall’s Hoedown Assembly George Square, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £10 – £15 The Noise Next Door Comedy Lock-In Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 2 Aug to 24 Aug, £10 Set List: Stand-Up Without a Net Pleasance Dome, 1-24 Aug, not 11, 12, 18, 19, £8 – £14 The Wrestling II Pleasance Courtyard, 13-14 Aug, £15 Patrick Monahan and Bob Slayer Set a World Record! Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 7 Aug, £5 Cariad & Paul: A TwoPlayer Adventure Pleasance Dome, 14 Aug, 15 Aug, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, 22 Aug, £9 – £9.50 Chris Martin: Passionate About the Pointless - EXTRA SHOW Pleasance Courtyard, 16-18 Aug, £12 AAA Stand-Up Late Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £11 Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-25 Aug, £free School Night Pleasance Courtyard, 5-21 Aug, not 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, £12 Super Organic Me - Free Henderson’s Vegetarian Restaurant and Arts Venue, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrghhh! Free! It’s the Increasingly Prestigious Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards Show Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 23-24 Aug, £free McNeil & Pamphilon Go 8-Bit! Pleasance Dome, 10 Aug, 11 Aug, 16 Aug, 17 Aug, £10 BBC: Late Junction BBC@Potterrow, 13-14 Aug, £free Paul Currie: The Sticky Bivouac Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9.50
23:10 Voices in Your Head Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 1 Aug to 24 Aug, £6 – £10
23:15 Shaggers - Free Festival Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-25 Aug, £free The Equal Opportunities Act 2010 Presents... Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, £free The Canadians of Comedy Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 19 Aug, £5 – £10 AAA Batteries (The Symposium) - Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, £free Al Murray The Pub Landlord’s Compete For The Haggis Independence Special! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 17-18 Aug, £15 Bo Burnham: What Pleasance Courtyard, 9-19 Aug, not 13, £12 – £13.50 Sexual Freaky Friday Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar, 1-25 Aug, £free Trevor Noah: The Racist Pleasance Courtyard, 22-24 Aug, £14 What Happens Next? Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 17-25 Aug, £free Sugar, Spice ... All Things Nice? Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 2-3 Aug, £free
23:20 The New Wave Pleasance Dome, 8-24 Aug, not 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, £10 Iain Stirling: At Home Extra Shows Underbelly, Bristo Square, Various dates from 1 Aug to 23 Aug, £6 – £10 Shit-faced Shakespeare C venues - C, 31 Jul 26 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Do The Right Thing Pleasance Courtyard, 18-21 Aug, £9
23:30
23:45
Will Seaward: Socialist Fairytales! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £10 Doctor Brown: Because, Becaves and Befrdfgth Underbelly, Bristo Square, 15-20 Aug, £15 Rob Deering’s Beat This Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 5 Aug, 6 Aug, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, £5 – £10 The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society The Stand Comedy Club, 6-22 Aug, not 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, £10 Stu and Garry in The Catchily Titled Improv Show The Stand Comedy Club, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, £10 Stupid Hair and Skinny Jeans - Ryan McDonnell Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-26 Aug, not 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, £free BattleActs! Improvised Comedy - Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 3-22 Aug, £free Obie: Hostage: A Captive Audience Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 30 Jul - 25 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, £free The Stand Late Show The Stand Comedy Club, Various dates from 2 Aug to 24 Aug, £15 Jobby Hunter Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 1-25 Aug, not 15, £free Hedluv and Passman: Two Cornish Rappers and a Casiotone Two: This Time It’s Similar Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £11 Let Me Entertain You Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free
Josh Smith - From Top to Bottom Show Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 16-17 Aug, £free Robert Taylor is The Musical Misfit Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 1-15 Aug, £free Afterhours Comedy Assembly Roxy, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £12.50 Best of Scottish Comedian of the Year Underbelly, Bristo Square, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, £7 – £13.50 Kearse and Marrese: Raw and Uncut Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 3-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free Sex With Animals Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free
23:40 Shelby Bond: People Pleaser Just the Tonic at The Tron, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £7 Wil Hodgson - Leave the Landing Light On The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £7 – £8
23:50 Brendon Burns and Colt Cabana Sit in a Fifty-Seater Around Midnight and Provide the Commentary to Bad Wrestling Matches The Stand Comedy Club II, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 13, 19, £8 The Broken Windows Policy The Stand Comedy Club II, 5 Aug, 19 Aug, £8
23:59 The Assembly Rooms The Very Best of the Fest The Assembly Rooms, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £15 The Room Assembly George Square, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £8 Bookshop Midnight Mayhem Heroes @ Bob’s Bookshop , 1-26 Aug, £5 Dave Callan: The Psychology of Laughter Gilded Balloon Teviot, 14-26 Aug, £10 Björn Gustafsson Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-12 Aug, £5 – £10.50 Do We Need You After The Apocalypse? The Game Show Gilded Balloon Teviot, 15-17 Aug, £10 – £11 Baby Wants Candy: The Graduation Show Assembly George Square, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, £10
Comedy Countdown Gilded Balloon Teviot, 19-25 Aug, £7.50 Best of the Fest Assembly Hall, Various dates from 2 Aug to 25 Aug, £10 – £15
00:00 Just the Tonic Comedy Club’s Midnight Show Just The Tonic at the Caves, Various dates from 3 Aug to 25 Aug, £10 – £12 Sanders and Co Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-26 Aug, £free The Horne Section Live in a Cow - Extra Shows Underbelly, Bristo Square, 3 Aug, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £7 – £14 Marcel Lucont À La Carte Throughout Edinburgh, 9-17 Aug, £free Spank Underbelly, Cowgate, 3-26 Aug, £10 – £15.50 The Distraction Club The Voodoo Rooms, Various dates from 3 Aug to 26 Aug, £10
The Revolution Will Not Be Improvised Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 13-23 Aug, not 17, 18, 19, £free The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 3-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £6.50 – £7.50 Questions on Ducks Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 2-26 Aug, £free
00:45 Fate, Dutch Courage and the Fingerless Gloves Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 18-26 Aug, £free The Brethren of Levity - Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-26 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free A Lol-along-a Luc Valvona - Free Show Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-26 Aug, £free
00:15
Man Feelings Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 2-17 Aug, not 16, £free
Wits End Comedy Club Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-12 Aug, £free
Spanktacular Underbelly, Bristo Square, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £15.50
Get Involved Charabang! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3-26 Aug, not 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, £12 Angelina Jolie Touched My Neighbour’s Goat Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 13-26 Aug, not 20, £free That Funny Blind Guy Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 3-28 Aug, not 14, 27, £free Midnight Madness Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-26 Aug, £free
00:20 Late Show Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 3 Aug to 25 Aug, £12 – £14
00:55 Shit of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 4-26 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £free
01:00 Real Men Have Beards Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 19-26 Aug, £free Late’n’Live Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3-27 Aug, £10 – £15 Big Spoon, Little Spoon Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 2-18 Aug, not 5, 12, £free
00:30
Paul Dennis: Almost Blunted Purpose - Free Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 2-26 Aug, £free
One of Us Might Be Famous - Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-26 Aug, not 13, 20, £free
Barry’s Audio Tour of the Fringe Outside the Tron Kirk (Hunter Square), 3-4 Aug, £free
facebook.com/UnderbellyEdinburgh
84 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
@FollowTheCow
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings 08:00 Twenty-Six Marathons in Twenty-Six Days The Royal Mile, 1-26 Aug, £free
09:00 Breakfast Plays: Clean Traverse Theatre, Various dates from 14 Aug to 25 Aug, £14 Limbo Whitespace, 5-8 Aug, £9 Breakfast Plays: A Respectable Widow Takes To Vulgarity Traverse Theatre, Various dates from 13 Aug to 24 Aug, £14
09:15 The Rimers of Eldritch Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5 All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 Sleeping Beauty and the Spinner Church Hill Theatre, 20 Aug, £5 Midsummer/Jersey Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5 Shadows Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5
09:20 The Yellow Boat Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 The Emperor Wolf Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 The Brothers’ Grimm Spectaculathon Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5
The Events Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £18 – £20 Bedding Out Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 10 Aug, £free Ciara Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £18 Hunt & Darton Cafe Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 3-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Shakespeare for Breakfast C venues - C, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6.50 – £8.50 The Secret Agent Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £13 – £20 Cadre Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £18 – £20 Theatre Uncut Traverse Theatre, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £7.50 BiDiNG TiME - walks and talks Summerhall, Various dates from 7 Aug to 24 Aug, £free I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £13 – £20
10:05 Tea at Five theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 11-17 Aug, £6 – £7
10:15 Argonautika Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 Circle Game Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5
The Making of Something Awesome Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5
The High-Schooler’s Guide to the Galaxy Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5
09:30
Vernon God Little theSpace on Niddry St, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, £5
Hamlette Church Hill Theatre, 9 Aug, £5 Speak Truth to Power Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 What I Heard About the World Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 20-24 Aug, £12
10:00 Catastrophe / Rough for Theatre II / Breath The Hub, 31 Aug, £4
Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7 Aug, £5 Chops theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 6 Aug, £5 Rabbit Hole Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5 The Morning After Season: The Pink Bedroom theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 3 Aug to 24 Aug, £5 – £7
www.festmag.co.uk
Return to the Forbidden Planet Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 The Morning After Season: Wuthering Heights theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 2 Aug to 23 Aug, £5 – £8 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Story Shakespeare: Pericles C venues - C too, 12-17 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 The Laramie Project theSpace on Niddry St, 19 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £5 Pandora’s Box Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 Rough Magic theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 8 Aug, £5
10:20 Kind Zoo Southside, 2-17 Aug, £5 – £9 Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5 Aug, 9 Aug, £5
10:30 Playwriting Workshops Sweet Grassmarket, 1920 Aug, £20 Snap theSpace on the Mile, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £7 The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £10 – £12.50 Pirates and Mermaids: A Fairytale for Adults Scottish Storytelling Centre, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £8 – £10 Goose Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, £8 Taiwan! Here I Am Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 20-24 Aug, £7 The Price of Everything Hill Street Theatre, 14-25 Aug, £12 The System Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £7
10:35
Blaggards Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, £free Junk C venues - C, 11-17 Aug, £6.50 – £8.50 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50
10:50
The Tempest in the Firth of Forth Summerhall, 6-8 Aug, £17 – £20
4.48 Psychosis theSpace on the Mile, 2-6 Aug, £7
Bedtime Solos by Jakob Holder Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 13, 20, £5 – £12
Buckingham’s Finest The Royal Scots Club, 6-10 Aug, £8
Everyman Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10
❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 2 Aug, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £17 – £19
11:00
11:05
The Hawke Papers Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet, 5-25 Aug, £free BiDiNG TiME - walks and talks Summerhall, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £free Gardening: For the Unfulfilled and Alienated Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £6 – £9
Tea at Five theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, Various dates from 2 Aug to 24 Aug, £7 Going For Gold theSpace on North Bridge, 12-17 Aug, £5 Love in the Past Participle theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £7 We’ll Stuff You Once You’re Dead theSpace on North Bridge, 19-22 Aug, £5
❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £17 – £19
Synergy theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5-10 Aug, £6
Snap Out of It! C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
A Reason to Smile theSpace @ Venue45, 19-24 Aug, £5
These Halcyon Days Assembly Hall, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 18, 19, £12 – £13 Arcadia Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £8 Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £17 – £19 Quietly Traverse Theatre, 1 Aug, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £12 – £19 Who Wants to Kill Yulia Tymoshenko? Assembly Roxy, 1-25 Aug, £8 – £12 Ode to the Insignificance Festival Square, 20-21 Aug, £free All That Fall The Hub, 25-26 Aug, £15 Happy Days The Hub, 31 Aug, £4
The Diary of Anne Frank theSpace on North Bridge, 5-8 Aug, £8
A Glee Inspired: Romeo and Juliet C venues - C, 1-13 Aug, not 7, £8.50 – £10.50
10:45
❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £17 – £19
Black T-shirt Collection Pleasance Courtyard, 1924 Aug, £10.50 – £13.50
Inquiry into the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Edinburgh Christadelphian Church, 9 Aug, £free
11:10
Working on a Special Day Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £12
11:15 The Medicine Showdown Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 The Scarlet Letter and Other Betrayals theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £7
11:20
The Brothers’ Grimm Spectaculathon Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 The Making of Something Awesome Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 The Fabric of Heaven Church Hill Theatre, 20 Aug, £5 The Silence of Friends Greenside, 5-8 Aug, £7 Small Steps in Random Directions Just The Tonic at the Caves, 12-25 Aug, not 13, £3 – £4
11:30 The Trojan Women C venues - C nova, 3-8 Aug, £8.50 – £9.50 Waves Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 2-23 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Anoesis Summerhall, 3-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, £8 – £14 Pigeon English Underbelly, Cowgate, 1225 Aug, £9.50 – £10.50 The Waiting Room Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £8 – £12 When We Embraced HHH Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3 Aug, 4 Aug, 6 Aug, 7 Aug, £8 – £11 Bitch Boxer Pleasance Courtyard, 18-25 Aug, £10.50
The Rimers of Eldritch Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5
The Ghost of Twin Oaks Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5
Twelfth Night: Unplugged Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5
¡Bocón! Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5
L.O.V.E. Assembly Roxy, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 19, £8 – £12
Celebrating 40 Years of the Fringe Firsts Pleasance Courtyard, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £5
Chatroom theSpace on North Bridge, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £6
The GB Project Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 8-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £11
Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50
11:35
Midsummer/Jersey Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5
Grated Expectations theSpace on North Bridge, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £6
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 85
theatrelistings Shake the Dust theSpace on the Mile, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £3.50 – £6 Rabbitskin by Dominic Grace theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £8
Gardening: For the Unfulfilled and Alienated Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £6 – £9
11:40
The Knight of the Box Near The Station Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 2-25 Aug, £free
Austen’s Women Assembly George Square, 3-25 Aug, not 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, £12 – £13 A Hundred Minus One Day theSpace on North Bridge, 12-17 Aug, £8.50
11:45 You Should Ask Wallace Venue 13, 18-21 Aug, £8 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Tracy Venue 13, 3-9 Aug, £8 Graceland Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 Relationshit Venue 13, Various dates from 10 Aug to 17 Aug, £5
11:50 Handmade Tales Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, not 14, £8 Growing Pains theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 20-24 Aug, £6
12:00 The Snow Cabinet Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 20-24 Aug, £8 The Story of Little Dombey National Library of Scotland, 7-21 Aug, £12 I Guess if the Stage Exploded... Summerhall, 19-24 Aug, £10
Nostalgia for Reality Quaker Meeting House, 5-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £9
Magic Number Six theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £7 Pip Utton: Churchill The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 20, £9 – £10 The Wild Wood of Widdershin Just The Tonic at the Caves, 17-18 Aug, £6 Motherland Summerhall, 20-23 Aug, £12 To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre) New Media Scotland, 12 Aug, £4 The Emperor Jones; Today, I Must Sincerely Congratulate You; Rhyme ’Em to Death New Media Scotland, 13 Aug, £4 House/Lights New Media Scotland, 11 Aug, £4 Rumstick Road New Media Scotland, 10 Aug, £4 Finding Libby Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, £5 – £11
The ‘Lockerbie Bomber’ C venues - C, 31 Jul - 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
In Holy Matri-moany theSpace on North Bridge, 12-17 Aug, £5
The Inventor and The Escort Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £5 – £10.50
Love in the Past Participle theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £7
The Zero Hour Venue150 @ EICC, 20-24 Aug, £12 Murder, Marple and Me Gilded Balloon Teviot, 16-25 Aug, not 19, £9.50 – £10.50 The Cardinals Greyfriars Kirk, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £12
12:05 Chaucer: Hold Up Your Tale C venues - C nova, 6-10 Aug, £8.50 – £9.50
A Womb With a View theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £6 – £7
12:10 Specie Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Ball at Hawking’s New Town Theatre, 2-12 Aug, £6 – £12 Beeston Rifles Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10
Everything’s Elsewhere C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 13 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
Dustpan Odyssey New Town Theatre, 1425 Aug, £6 – £13
Hanging Bruce-Howard C venues - C nova, 11-26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
The Butterfly Room theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 13-17 Aug, £7
Gotcha C venues - C nova, 14-26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Mansfield Presents Lovers’ Vows Paradise in Augustine’s, 5-17 Aug, not 11, 12, £8.50 Men HHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £10 Penelope theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £9
Voluntary Departure Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £10 Don’t Wake Me: The Ballad of Nihal Armstrong with Jaye Griffiths Gilded Balloon Teviot, 5-25 Aug, not 13, 20, £10 – £12
Inside Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £5 – £10 The Tempest in the Firth of Forth Summerhall, 9 Aug, £20
Vernon God Little theSpace on Niddry St, 19 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £5 Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 6 Aug, £5 Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 13, 20, £7 – £12 Chops theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5 Aug, 9 Aug, £5 Operation: Love Story La Tasca, 3-24 Aug, £free Pirates and Mermaids: A Fairytale for Adults Scottish Storytelling Centre, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £8 – £10
South Downs theSpace @ Venue45, 19-22 Aug, £7 Titus Andronicus C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 15 Minutes C venues - C aquila, 3-10 Aug, £6.50 – £8.50 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 The Laramie Project theSpace on Niddry St, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, £5
12:15
Rough Magic theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7 Aug, 10 Aug, £5
Bedding Out Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 10 Aug, £free
Penny Dreadful theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £3 – £5
A Play With Words and Blind Love Pilrig Studio, 7 Aug, £5
❤ Missing HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 8-11 Aug, £13.50 – £15
Rules of the Game theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £8
Argonautika Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5
Subject to Requirement Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 18-25 Aug, £free
Sex, Drugs and Toilet Rolls theSpace on North Bridge, 19-22 Aug, £5
The High-Schooler’s Guide to the Galaxy Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5
Shakesperience Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5 The Imaginary Invalid Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 Wing It, Dusty theSpace on the Mile, 12-17 Aug, £5
Revolution Society Pleasance Dome, 13-25 Aug, not 20, £8 – £10 No Holds Bard Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £12 Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 8 Aug, £5 The Penelopiad Pilrig Studio, 8 Aug, £5
12:25
Gordon Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet, 16-25 Aug, £free
Canary Gold C venues - C, 14-26 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50
12:20
Head Over Heels Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 Leaving Iowa Pilrig Studio, 5 Aug, £5 The Uncanny Valley Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 A Hundred Minus One Day theSpace on North Bridge, 19-24 Aug, £8.50 Preen Back Yer Lugs! Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £12
12:30 The Events Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £18 – £20 We Will Be Free! The Tolpuddle Martyrs Story The Assembly Rooms, 2-25 Aug, not 12, £14 – £15 Herons Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 11, 21, £5 – £8 Our Fathers Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 7, 13, 20, £12
In Association with Summerhall and The Lowry, and part of the British Council Edinburgh Showcase, Human Remain Presents
The Tin Ring
by Zdenka Fantlová
Fri 2 – Sun 25 August 8pm Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall Tickets £14 Concessions £12 Book online at festival.summerhall.co.uk/event/the-tin-ring/ or call 0845 874 3001
86 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings Solpadeine Is My Boyfriend Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 18 Aug, £6 – £11
Mrs Moneypenny Returns AGA Showroom, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, £15
A Cut in the Rates by Alan Ayckbourn and Gray Matter by JD Farr Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 19-25 Aug, £free
Genesis/Golgotha Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £14
Ali J Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, £6 – £10.50 Cheesed Off Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 19-25 Aug, £free Kaffa! SpaceCabaret @ 54, 6-10 Aug, £7 Tejas Verdes Just Festival at St John’s, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £7 – £14
The Ants Pilrig Studio, 6 Aug, £5 The Pearl Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9.50 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 Threeway HH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8 – £16
La Merda (The Shit) Summerhall, 14-25 Aug, £12
I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £18
Nobel Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 11, 18, £7
Snooze Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 1-8 Aug, £free
12:35 How to Occupy an Oil Rig Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £11 – £14 Shake the Dust theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £6 Road Greenside, 12-17 Aug, £8
12:40 Rockaby / Act Without Words I / That Time The Hub, 31 Aug, £4 Killing Roger Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £11
You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
Dorothy Greenside, 5-10 Aug, £6.50
Double Booked Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 1 Aug to 25 Aug, £6 – £10
XY Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9.50
Something Fishy Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 2 Aug to 24 Aug, £6 – £10
Ben Franklin: The Rogue who Invented America Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £12
The Curse of Elizabeth Faulkner Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10
Safe theSpace on North Bridge, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £10
The Greatest Liar in All the World Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10
Ciara Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £18 – £20 The Early Hours Paradise in Augustine’s, 20-24 Aug, £2 – £5
Howie the Rookie Assembly Hall, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 19, £12 – £13
The Librarians theSpace on North Bridge, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £5 – £7
Happy Never After Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, £6 – £9.50
12:45
The Secret Agent Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £18 – £20
Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50
Ulysses Paterson’s Land, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £16
Bette Davis Ain’t for Sissies The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-24 Aug, £free
Cadre Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £18 – £20
Glory Days theSpace on the Mile, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £8 The Extremists Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £13
Martyr’s Crossing Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 6-9 Aug, £5
12:50 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 Look Back in Anger C venues - C too, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £9.50 – £11.50 Way Back Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10 And They Played Shang-a-Lang The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 2-25 Aug, not 12, £10 Monkey Poet - Love Hurts Actually The Banshee Labyrinth, 3-26 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free
12:55 The Lost Gatsby theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £8
AFGHAN DAYS BABYLON NIGHTS
Motherland advert 43x64:Layout 1
2/7/13
UKMOD/ Crown Copyright 2013
ONE OF THE TOP TEN MOST CREATIVE SHOWS TO SEE ON THE FRINGE - Huffington Post 2012 ‘Spare, Shocking, beautiful’
‘A great work This was perfection!’
Anne Brown Director Voices of War
Major Peter Watson M.C. Scilla Ellworthy Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Black Watch (Rtd.)
‘Very fine! I was moved many times’
ROYAL SCOTS CLUB
29-31 ABERCROMBY PLACE. EH3 6QE 3.00p.m. 6-10 & 12–17 August Tickets £10(£8) BOX OFFICE: 0131 226 0000
www.festmag.co.uk
FrINGe VeNue
241
‘Astonishingly original’ New York Times www.motherland.org.uk 19–23 August Dissec�on Room Summerhall Edinburgh 0845 874 3001 www.summerhall.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 87
theatrelistings 13:00 Indian Peter’s Coffee House Valvona & Crolla, Various dates from 3 Aug to 26 Aug, £12 Inquiry into the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Edinburgh Christadelphian Church, 8-9 Aug, £free The Sign of Four Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £8 The Portrait Firm Summerhall, 12-24 Aug, not 15, 20, £10 Bedding Out Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 9 Aug, £free ❤ Missing HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 2-25 Aug, not 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, £8.50 – £15 One Last Thing Sweet Grassmarket, 5-18 Aug, £8 Long Distance Affair (make possible an impossible trip) Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £6 – £11 Charlie Dupré Presents... The Stories of Shakey P Just The Tonic at the Caves, 5-25 Aug, not 13, £8 – £10 Banksy: The Room in the Elephant Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 19 Aug, £7 – £12 Pants On Fire’s Pinocchio HHH Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10.50 The Way You Tell Them Summerhall, Various dates from 3 Aug to 15 Aug, £7 – £10 Beating McEnroe Summerhall, Various dates from 2 Aug to 16 Aug, £7 – £10
Not the Messiah Pleasance Courtyard, 1-24 Aug, £6 – £10 Gardening: For the Unfulfilled and Alienated Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £6 – £9 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 Eugenie Grandet Assembly George Square, 2-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £12 Making News Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £15
13:05 Going For Gold theSpace on North Bridge, 19-22 Aug, £5 Let’s Get Things Straight... theSpace on North Bridge, 12-17 Aug, £5 Punchline theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 18, £5 – £11 Goodbye Sun and Bear C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Take Care theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £6.50 The King and Queen of the Universe C venues - C aquila, 1-23 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 The True Story of Ah Q (Physical Theatre) theSpace on the Mile, 12-17 Aug, £12 Between theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £5 – £8
13:10 Jordan Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £8 – £12
Tell Me A Secret C venues - C nova, Various dates from 1 Aug to 25 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £17 – £19
❤ Rites: A Children’s Tragedy HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 1-17 Aug, £6 – £9.50
The TEAM Makes a Play theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 2-10 Aug, £8
Hindsight HHH The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10
13:25
The Dragon and George theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £5 The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn Monroe Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £8 – £13 Journey to X theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £7 The Prawn King theSpace on the Mile, 5-10 Aug, £7 Damned C venues - C nova, Various dates from 31 Jul to 26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Internal Affairs theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 12-16 Aug, £6.50 The Sugar and Honey Cook-Along! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £8 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 FOX theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £6
The Medicine Showdown Church Hill Theatre, 9 Aug, £5 Twelfth Night: Unplugged Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 ❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £19 Sweater Curse: A Yarn About Love Sweet Grassmarket, 1-26 Aug, £6 – £8 All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5 The Dumb Waiter New Town Theatre, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 13, £8
13:20 PussyFooting C venues - C aquila, 1-26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
13:15
From Where I’m Standing Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50
Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50
You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
I Could’ve Been Better Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 13 Aug, £6 – £11
Scotsman Best of the Fest Assembly George Square, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £12
Mask Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, £8 Sleeping Beauty and the Spinner Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5
88 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
The Yellow Boat Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 The Emperor Wolf Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5
The Shape of Things theSpace on North Bridge, 19-24 Aug, £8.50 Big Boys Don’t Cry Paradise in The Vault, 13-26 Aug, not 18, 19, 25, £8 The Walls SpaceCabaret @ 54, 12-17 Aug, £8
13:30 ❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 1 Aug, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £12 – £19 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 Sid and Valerie Summerhall, 19-25 Aug, £10 Outside on the Street Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £10 Choose Your Own Documentary By Nathan Penlington Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £11 Quietly Traverse Theatre, 2 Aug, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £17 – £19 Sh!t Theatre’s JSA (Job Seekers Anonymous) 2013 Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 2-24 Aug, not 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 18, £5 Stand Up, Woman Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £free The Canterbury Tales theSpace on Niddry St, 5-10 Aug, £7
Tobacco Merchant’s Lawyer The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £9 – £10 Four Walls Bedlam Theatre, 6-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £6 Hamlette Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £17 – £19 Speak Truth to Power Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 The Surrender HHH Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £14 The Way to Keep Him Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 20-24 Aug, £5 Ciara Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £13 ❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £17 – £19 ❤ Missing HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 3 Aug, £15 The Ghost of Twin Oaks Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5 ¡Bocón! Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5
13:35 Say It Again, Sam Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, £8
13:40 Whodidit theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £6 – £8 Long Distance Affair (make possible an impossible trip) Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £6 – £11
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings High Plains (A Western Myth) Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £11
London Road, Sea Point HHH Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £15
You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
The Rain That Washes Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, not 7 Aug, £6.50 – £11
13:55
Sympathy Pains Pleasance Dome, 18-26 Aug, £8 – £10
13:45 The University of Westminster Presents... Body Odours theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £4 – £7 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 The Confessions of Gordon Brown Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £7 – £12.50 Chorus Greenside, 2-17 Aug, not 11, £7 Graceland Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5 I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, £18 Solstice Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £10 Out to Lunch Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 13, 20, £10 Road Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £8
13:50 Endgame The Hub, 31 Aug, £4 Journos theSpace on the Mile, 12-17 Aug, £7 Bygone Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 12, £9
Morning and Afternoon Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £12
14:00 Embers King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 25 Aug, £10 Histoire d’amour King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 17 Aug, £12 Positive Paradise in the Kirkhouse, 13-26 Aug, not 19, £6.50 – £7.50 The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 11 Aug, £8 – £15 Bedding Out Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 10 Aug, £free A Long Road Home Palmerston Place Church, 16-17 Aug, £5
Sleight of Mind theSpace on the Mile, 5-9 Aug, £3 The Babysitter Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10 The Ghost Hunter Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 15 Aug, £6 – £12 Tejas Verdes Just Festival at St John’s, 2-26 Aug, not 3, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, £7 – £14 The Boy Who Lost Christmas Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £free Breaker Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £7.50 – £13 Captain Gingerbeard Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 7, £free Cape Wrath Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 9-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £11 Faulty Towers The Dining Experience B’est Restaurant, 2-27 Aug, not 3, 10, 17, 24, £43
A Long Road Home Central Hall, 10 Aug, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, £5
Minnie and Mona Play Dead Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £11.50
Open Wide Tour The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free
Ring Pleasance Dome, 19-24 Aug, £10.50 – £13.50
Play for September Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £9
Take Two Every Four Hours Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £10.50
The School of Night’s Spontaneous Shakespeare Gilded Balloon Teviot, 14-25 Aug, £11 – £12 The Tree and the Abbey Lauriston Halls, 15 Aug, £7
You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 Anoesis Summerhall, 10 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 25 Aug, £14
Clown for Hire Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £13 Wyrd C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 The List Summerhall, 3-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, 20, £12 Our Glass House Summerhall, 13-25 Aug, not 19, £free
14:05 Island State C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Let’s Get Things Straight... theSpace on North Bridge, 19-22 Aug, £5 Puss-in-Boots theSpace on North Bridge, 2 Aug, 5 Aug, 7 Aug, 9 Aug, £6 – £7 The Company of Wolves theSpace on North Bridge, 3 Aug, 6 Aug, 8 Aug, 10 Aug, £6 – £7 Bad Boy Eddie C venues - C aquila, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £10.50 – £12.50 Death by Shakespeare theSpace @ Venue45, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £8 The Violinist theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £8 The Major SpaceCabaret @ 54, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £7 Harder Please theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £3 – £5 Sex, Drugs and Toilet Rolls theSpace on North Bridge, 12-17 Aug, £5 You All Know Me - I’m Jack Ruby! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £7
14:10 Sock Puppet Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £11 Fourplay theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 3 Aug to 23 Aug, £6 – £7.50 A Tiny Tempest C venues - C, 18-26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Impromptu Shakespeare Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £9.50 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
The Tempest in the Firth of Forth Summerhall, 12-15 Aug, £20 A Play With Words and Blind Love Pilrig Studio, 8 Aug, £5 Circle Game Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5 Questioning Aslan Edinburgh Elim, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £11 Sleeping Soldiers C venues - C, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 The House Beautiful C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
Here’s Connie theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £5
Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5 Aug, 9 Aug, £5
14:15
Bridge to an Island C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 Hirsch Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £12.50 Northanger Abbey Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 2-10 Aug, £5 – £9 Pandora’s Box Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 Rough Magic theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 6 Aug, £5 The Imaginary Invalid Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5 The Trials and Tribulations of Mr Pickwick Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £12
Chops theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 8 Aug, £5 Chariot Edinburgh Elim, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, 24 Aug, £11 Much Ado About Nothing C venues - C, 11-17 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Rabbit Hole Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 Sex Lives of Others Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £12
14:20 God Bless Liz Lochhead The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 1 Aug, 12 Aug, £14 – £15 Robert Golding Assembly Roxy, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £5 – £12 Sandpits Avenue Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, not 20, £8
FAILEONTOLOGY We all want to escape something
{
4.45pm (1hr) 2-26 August (Not 12) Venue 124 Zoo. 140 the Pleasance, EH8 9RR Box office 0131 662 6892
"Totally original fringe theatre" Mark Finbow
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 89
theatrelistings The Lady Vanishes Paradise in Augustine’s, 20-24 Aug, £8 Kierkegaard Comedy Show - with Claus Damgaard C venues - C aquila, 1-26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Long Distance Affair (make possible an impossible trip) Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £6 – £11 Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7 Aug, £5 The End: An Apocalypse Anthology Sweet Grassmarket, 1213 Aug, £7 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 The Paper Cinema’s Odyssey Summerhall, 17-25 Aug, £14 The Penelopiad Pilrig Studio, 5 Aug, £5
14:25 Head Over Heels Church Hill Theatre, 9 Aug, £5 Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £9.50
14:30 David Copperfield St Ninian’s Hall, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, £12 The Ants Pilrig Studio, 7 Aug, £5 The Oldest Man in Catford New Town Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £11 – £15 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
Longing for Grace Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £12 An Actor’s Lament Assembly Hall, 1-20 Aug, not 5, 12, £12 – £20 Quad The Hub, 27 Aug, £6 Beckett and Contemporary Art: Make Sense Who May The Hub, 28 Aug, £6 On Behalf of Nature Royal Lyceum Theatre, 18 Aug, £10 All That Fall The Hub, 25-26 Aug, £15 Champ Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £15 Good Things by Liz Lochhead St Serf’s Church Hall, 17 Aug, £9 Moonshine, Medicine and The Mob: Whisky Tasting Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@Jenners, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, £15 Sailor Beware Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, 10 Aug, £7 The Odyssey of Dave Quaker Meeting House, 12-17 Aug, £7.50 The Reluctant Doctor Quaker Meeting House, 19-24 Aug, £7 Pint Dreams Pleasance At The Antiquary, 22-25 Aug, £6.50 – £7.50 Hatches, Matches and Dispatches Mayfield Salisbury Church, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £10 Lifting the Mask theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 4 Aug to 24 Aug, £6 – £7.50 Pirates and Mermaids: A Fairytale for Adults Scottish Storytelling Centre, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £8 – £10
Romeo/Juliet C venues - C too, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £8.50 – £10.50 Extreme Withdrawal Is Manifest Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 9-18 Aug, £free I Need a Doctor: The Unauthorised Whosical Adventure Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £11 Phil Nichol: The Weary Land HHH The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £9 – £10 Solomon and Marion Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £10 – £16 The Bread and the Beer Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10 The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning Pleasance At St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, Various dates from 7 Aug to 25 Aug, £10 – £14
14:35 The World Has Gone Mad Mood Nightclub, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Omega HHH The Assembly Rooms, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £14 – £15 An Afternoon of Playback Theatre Sweet Grassmarket, 1217 Aug, £8 Fantastical Adventures in the Mundane Sweet Grassmarket, 1926 Aug, £7
14:40 Can You Hear Seagulls? Sweet Grassmarket, 3-11 Aug, £8.50 Mammoth Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £12
If Room Enough Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £11 – £14 Shakespeare: Olde Words – New Worlds Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £9 Economy of Thought Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £14 Jack and Jill and the Red Postbox Sweet Grassmarket, 5-11 Aug, £8 Where the White Stops Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £11 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
14:45 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 The Trench Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £12.50 Bite the Bullet The Assembly Rooms, 16-25 Aug, £10 Children of Mine Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £8 Mercy Killers Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, £5 – £10 Alice in Wonderland C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 On the Line: Media La Tasca, 3-24 Aug, not 8, 20, £free Spandex Greenside, 20-24 Aug, £8 Eilish O’Carroll: Live Love Laugh Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, not 14 Aug, £10 – £17
Close to You Greenside, 2-17 Aug, not 11, £5 – £8 Mother F Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £9.50
14:50 The Love Project Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £11 The Year I Was Gifted Sweet Grassmarket, 2-25 Aug, not 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, £8 My Pregnant Brother Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £10 No Direction Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £8 – £15 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
14:55 The Liz and Dick Show theSpace on North Bridge, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £10 What I Want to Say But Never Will Sweet Grassmarket, 1318 Aug, £8.50 Timeline Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £10 Look Back in Anger Greenside, 4-10 Aug, £9
15:00 Metamorphosis King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 12 Aug, £12 Afghan Days Babylon Nights The Royal Scots Club, 6-17 Aug, not 11, £10 Four Walls Bedlam Theatre, 2-5 Aug, £4 – £6
Indian Peter’s Coffee House Valvona & Crolla, 6 Aug, 8 Aug, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 15 Aug, £12 Shylock with Guy Masterson Assembly Hall, 12 Aug, £15 Seven Ages (featuring Kevin Tomlinson) Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £10 Sentinels Bedlam Theatre, 5-11 Aug, £9 The Bespoke Overcoat Greenside, 12-17 Aug, £8.50 Calotype Central Hall, 17 Aug, £9 Adam Smith, le Grand Tour Institut français d’Ecosse, 2-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £5 – £10 Blazing Grannies St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 17-26 Aug, £free Dark Vanilla Jungle Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6.50 – £11 Theatre Uncut: Dalgety & Fragile by David Greig Paterson’s Land, 20-24 Aug, £10 Long Distance Affair (make possible an impossible trip) Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £6 – £11 Conversations Not Fit for the American Dinner Table Bedlam Theatre, 12-24 Aug, £9 Hide and Seek Central Hall, Various dates from 3 Aug to 10 Aug, £7.50 – £8.50 Itch: With a Twist Pleasance Courtyard, 13 Aug, £8 The Secret Garden SpaceCabaret @ 54, 14-24 Aug, £8
POP UP FRINGE
Day Pass
£25
15-25 August
Tickets from
£5
Le Monde Hotel 16 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PF
www.funnywomen.com
90 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings Gardening: For the Unfulfilled and Alienated Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £6 – £9 Holes by Tom Basden Assembly George Square, Various dates from 4 Aug to 25 Aug, £10 – £20 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 Who’s Afraid of Rachel Roberts? Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £12 Don Quijote Summerhall, 16-24 Aug, £12 ❤ Breaking News HHHHH Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £12 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 Wot? No Fish! Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £12 A Night to Dismember Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £6 – £9 On the Beach by John Osborne Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £11 Ruskin Live Scottish National Gallery, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, £10 The Weaver Venue150 @ EICC, 4-24 Aug, £12 Yellow Pears Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 12, £5 – £8
15:05 In Holy Matri-moany theSpace on North Bridge, 19-22 Aug, £5
We’ll Stuff You Once You’re Dead theSpace on North Bridge, 12-17 Aug, £5
Collected Stories New Town Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £10.50 – £13.50
The Bitches’ Box Assembly George Square, 1-23 Aug, not 13, 20, £8 – £10
Easter Eggs theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £5
I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £18 – £20
The Making of Something Awesome Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5
Something There That’s Missing theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £5 – £8
Shadows Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5
Moving Family Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10
Duvet Dave theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2 Aug, 3 Aug, 5 Aug, 6 Aug, 7 Aug, £5 Bassett theSpace on North Bridge, 5-10 Aug, £8
15:10 The Winter’s Tale theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 6-10 Aug, £5 Best Kept Secrets theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £8 You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18
15:15 The Tempest theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £8 – £9 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Piracy! Comedy on the High C’s theSpace @ Venue45, 18-24 Aug, £9.50
Bath Time Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £5 – £10 Nick: An Accidental Hero Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £12 The Events Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £18 – £20 The Graveyard Slot theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 3-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £7.50 – £9 The Medicine Showdown Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5
You Once Said Yes Underbelly, Cowgate, 12-25 Aug, £18 The Yellow Boat Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5
15:25 The Walls SpaceCabaret @ 54, 2-11 Aug, not 4, £5 – £8 Below the Belt Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6.50 – £11
15:30
Twelfth Night: Unplugged Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5
Book of Blakewell Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, £6 – £10
Ciara Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £18 – £20
Each of Us Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £10
The Secret Agent Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £18 All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Church Hill Theatre, 20 Aug, £5
Speak Truth to Power Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5 ❤ Stuart: A Life Backwards HHHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7 – £14
The Savage Planet The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-11 Aug, £free
15:20
¡Bocón! Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5
Waist - Free The Fiddler’s Elbow, 12-24 Aug, £free
The Emperor Wolf Church Hill Theatre, 9 Aug, £5
Forever C venues - C too, 18-26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
Bright Lights C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
The Brothers’ Grimm Spectaculathon Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5
Hag Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £11
The Way You Tell Them Summerhall, 19 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £10 The Wedge CANCELLED Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, £8 Beating McEnroe Summerhall, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, £10 Trash Cuisine Pleasance Courtyard, 19-26 Aug, £12 – £15 Cape Wrath Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 9-24 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £11 Pigmalion Zoo C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 White’s Lies Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 14, £10 – £16.50 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £17 – £19
15:40 Who Are You Supposed To Be? C venues - C aquila, 1426 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Auld Edinburgh Tales Sweet Grassmarket, 1226 Aug, £8 Fault Lines theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 3 Aug to 23 Aug, £6 – £7.50 Act Without Words II / A Piece of Monologue / Play The Hub, 31 Aug, £4 Diablo C venues - C aquila, 1-13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Long Distance Affair (make possible an impossible trip) Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £6 – £11
15:45 Cadre Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £18 – £20 A Matter of Life and Death C venues - C, 11-17 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Annoying the Neighbours Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £11 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Burton’s Last Call Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 1-24 Aug, £free Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 1 Aug, £12 Quietly Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £19 The Picture of Dorian Gray C venues - C, 19-24 Aug, £6.50 – £8.50 Lexi Heart, The Singing Magician- PBH Free Fringe Cafe Camino, 3-24 Aug, £free
15:50 Bobby Gould in Hell theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 4 Aug to 24 Aug, £6 – £7.50 Honest Iago and Three Other Choice Villains from Shakespeare theSpace on the Mile, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £9
15:55 I’ll Be Seeing You Paradise in The Vault, 5-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8
16:00 Three Women Greenside, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £7
‘A TRULY SPECTACULAR SHOW’ THE SCOTSMAN
31 JUL - 26 AUG 5.55PM
PLEASANCE COURTYARD www.blamtheshow.com
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 91
theatrelistings Gardening: For the Unfulfilled and Alienated Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £6 – £9
Inquiry into the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Edinburgh Christadelphian Church, 7-9 Aug, £free
Mrs Moneypenny Returns AGA Showroom, 9-25 Aug, not 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, £15
The Islanders Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £11
A Poem for My Sister Royal Over-Seas League, 15-16 Aug, £10 A Family Beyond The Army Sweet Grassmarket, 12-25 Aug, £8 Diary of a Madman Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £8 ❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 2 Aug, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £17 – £19 I Knew a Man Called Livingstone National Library of Scotland, 7-21 Aug, £6 – £10 Hound Dog Sweet Grassmarket, 2-11 Aug, £8.50 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 Of Dice and Men: UK Premiere Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 21 Aug, £10 Quietly Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £17 – £19 Angus: Weaver of Grass Scottish Storytelling Centre, 19-25 Aug, £10 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £17 – £19
❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £17 – £19 Silence in Court New Town Theatre, 2-25 Aug, £10 – £12.50 Ten Out of Ten Assembly Hall, 5-26 Aug, not 19, £10 – £12 Ulysses Paterson’s Land, 14-26 Aug, not 18, 19, 20, 25, £16 Nirbhaya Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £10 – £16 The Fifth Duck Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 5-9 Aug, £5
16:05
If You’re Glad, I’ll Be Frank By Tom Stoppard theSpace @ Venue45, 12-17 Aug, £7 Cain theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £3 – £7 Very Still and Hard to See Greenside, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £10
16:10 Devil in the Deck Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £9 Deimos theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £10 Pip Utton - Adolf The Assembly Rooms, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, £15 Undone Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £13 Voices Made Night HHH Assembly Hall, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £15
All Or Nothing theSpace on North Bridge, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £7
It’s Not What You Know... theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £7
The Suicidal Tendencies of Sheep and a Dog Called the Hoff theSpace on North Bridge, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £7
She Was Probably Not a Robot Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £6 – £10
Cut! Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 13, 19, 20, £6 – £12 Concrete Duvet theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £7 Sandel theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 11, £10 – £12 The Fanny Hill Project Zoo, 2-26 Aug, £5 – £8
The Beginning Pleasance Courtyard, 18-24 Aug, £9 – £12 ❤ The Boy Who Kicked Pigs HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 14 Aug, £6 – £11.50 Laugh Your Farce Off Pleasance Courtyard, 15-17 Aug, £9.50 Melmoth the Wanderer The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, £14 – £15
92 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
16:15 A Play With Words and Blind Love Pilrig Studio, 5 Aug, £5 Argonautika Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5 Circle Game Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 Expiration Date Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 3-24 Aug, not 12, 20, £8.50 Safe theSpace on North Bridge, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £10 The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs Revisited Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12.50 The Boss of It All Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £13 The High-Schooler’s Guide to the Galaxy Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 This Was the World and I Was King C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 A Happy Side (As Well) Greenside, 2-10 Aug, £5 – £8 Return to the Forbidden Planet Church Hill Theatre, 20-21 Aug, £5 Slapdash Galaxy: 3D Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 14 Aug, £7 – £13 Bonanza Summerhall, 13-25 Aug, not 19, £12 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Pandora’s Box Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5
Shakesperience Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5
For Their Own Good Summerhall, 19-24 Aug, £10
16:20
Pint Dreams Pleasance At The Antiquary, 22-25 Aug, £6.50 – £7.50
Desdemona, a Play About a Handkerchief Sweet Grassmarket, 2-11 Aug, £8 Inspector Norse Assembly George Square, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £10 Signs of Our Occupy theSpace @ Venue45, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5.50 – £7.50 Losing the Plot New Town Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £12 – £15 Pendulums Bargain Emporium Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12.50 The Veil (Le Foulard) Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6.50 – £11 Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £9
Pirates and Mermaids: A Fairytale for Adults Scottish Storytelling Centre, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £8 – £10 Rough Theatre Paradise in The Vault, 5-11 Aug, £6 Family Tree Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £6 – £10 Bonanza Summerhall, 2-11 Aug, £6 – £12 How to be a Modern Marvel® HHH Institut français d’Ecosse, 2-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £5 – £10 Are You Sitting Comfortably? C venues - C nova, 11-26 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Contractions C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
16:25
The Ants Pilrig Studio, 8 Aug, £5
Track 3 Bedlam Theatre, 4-24 Aug, £10
Lauder! Summerhall, 2-16 Aug, not 6, 13, £12
Head Over Heels Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 Leaving Iowa Pilrig Studio, 6 Aug, £5 I Heart IKEA Zoo Southside, 2-14 Aug, £5 – £9 Jewel theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5
16:30
Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 Leonce and Lena Venue150 @ EICC, 4-24 Aug, £12 Whistleblower C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
16:35
The Three Lions HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £8 – £15
The Six Wives of Henry VIII Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug,
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings not 6 Aug, 13 Aug, £8 – £12 Tango Theatre: Woman of Shadow, Woman of Light C venues - C aquila, 1826 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Roughs Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, £9 Buoy C venues - C aquila, 1-17 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
16:40 The Sleeping Trees’ Odyssey Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £7.50 There Has Possibly Been an Incident Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £11 – £14
16:45 Major Tom Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £12 Fantasy No. 10 - The Beauty of Life Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £10 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Little Foot Paradise in Augustine’s, 5-10 Aug, £5 – £6 The Cow Play C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Faileontology Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 12, £5 – £10 Breaking the Silence C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Landfall theSpace @ Venue45, 19-24 Aug, £8 Cadre Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £13
16:50 Krapp’s Last Tape The Hub, 31 Aug, £4 Rave Generation Paradise in Augustine’s, 20-26 Aug, £7.50 Chaos By Design theSpace on the Mile, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £5 The Shawshank Redemption The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £15 – £16
16:55 Broken Holmes theSpace on the Mile, 20-24 Aug, £8
17:00 Newton Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 13, 20, £10 Gardening: For the Unfulfilled and Alienated Pleasance Courtyard, 1-25 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £6 – £9 Another New World Cafe Camino, 3-24 Aug, £free Caught in the Net The Edinburgh Academy, 6-10 Aug, £10
Eh Joe Royal Lyceum Theatre, 31 Aug, £8 All That Fall The Hub, 25-26 Aug, £15 Titus Paradise in the Kirkhouse, 20-26 Aug, £8 Bedding Out Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 9 Aug, £free Soddin’ Flodden Scottish Storytelling Centre, 2-17 Aug, not 12, £8.50 Ulysses Paterson’s Land, 9-11 Aug, £16
17:05 A Laughing Matter theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £6 Jack, Or the Submission theSpace on North Bridge, 19-24 Aug, £7
The Autumn of Han theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 18, £5 – £11 Made for Each Other Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, not 20, £8 The Emperor Wolf Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 Hope Light and Nowhere Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £11 Mansfield Presents Lovers’ Vows Paradise in Augustine’s, 3-4 Aug, £7.50 The Vanish Inquisition Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10.50 The Fabric of Heaven Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, £5
The Circus of Terror Greenside, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £free The Actor’s Nightmare theSpace on the Mile, 5-16 Aug, not 11, £7
17:15 Sans Salomé theSpace on Niddry St, 2-24 Aug, £8.50 – £11 The Rimers of Eldritch Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 Dumbstruck Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 14, £6 – £10
Repertory Theatre C venues - C, 11-26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50
The Way of the World theSpace @ Venue45, 12-17 Aug, £7.50
Sleeping Beauty and the Spinner Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5
❤ Circa: Wunderkammer HHHH Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £12 – £18.50 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14
Consequences theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £8
Europa, Our First Migrant Italian Cultural Institute, 23-24 Aug, £8
17:20
Darren Maskell: A Woodlouse Trapped Underneath a Glass Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 19-25 Aug, £free
Laughing Wild theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £6
I (Honestly) Love You C venues - C aquila, 1-13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
76 Million People and Me Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 11-15 Aug, £free
17:10
Eleemosynary theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8
The Canterbury Tales theSpace on North Bridge, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £9 The Emma Packer Show - What’s the Point in Living If You Can’t Cha-Cha-Cha? Mood Nightclub, 14-24 Aug, £free
Ballad of the Burning Star Pleasance Dome, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £7.50 – £13 Midsummer/Jersey Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5 Shadows Church Hill Theatre, 20 Aug, £5 The Gypsybird Speaks C venues - C, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 The Pyramids of Margate Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £12
17:25 Raiders: The Whisky Trader Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 1-20 Aug, £8 I’ll Be Seeing You Paradise in The Vault, 3-4 Aug, £8
17:30 Why Is John Lennon Wearing a Skirt? Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £12 American Gun Show Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £5 – £9 Birdhouse Assembly George Square, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £8 – £12 God of Carnage Greenside, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £6 – £9 Of Dice and Men: UK Premiere Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 21 Aug, £10
Hamlette Church Hill Theatre, 10 Aug, £5 Around Miss Julie C venues - C nova, 11-26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Ciara Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, £18 Whispering in the Dark Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 5, 12, £8 Human and Other Things C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 It’s Dark Outside Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £7 – £14.50 My Village and Other Aliens Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, not 12, 19, £5 – £8
17:35 Speak No Evil Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 1-14 Aug, £6.50 The Boadicea of Britannia Street New Town Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £9 – £14
17:40 The Edge of Our Bodies theSpace @ Venue45, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £10 Dick Whittington theSpace on North Bridge, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £4 – £7 I Want to Tell You Something Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £5 – £8
17:45 The Three Little Pigs Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £15 A Funny Valentine Valvona & Crolla, 14 Aug, 15 Aug, 20 Aug, £12
2-4 (previews), 5-10, 12-17, 19-24 August 13:45 (40 mins), £7.50/£5 (Concession) Greenside Studio 2 (venue 231), edinburgh fringe 2013
www.festmag.co.uk
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 93
theatrelistings Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 ❤ If These Spasms Could Speak HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £6 – £9 21st-century Poe Paradise in The Vault, 5-11 Aug, £7 I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £18 – £20 Italia ‘n’ Caledonia Valvona & Crolla, 7 Aug, 12 Aug, 16 Aug, £12 Captive Minds theSpace on North Bridge, 19-24 Aug, £6 Credible Likeable Superstar Rolemodel Pleasance Dome, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £7 – £13 Moonshine, Medicine and The Mob: Whisky Tasting Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@Jenners, 6-24 Aug, not 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, £15 Static - Free The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-24 Aug, £free The Bunker Trilogy: Morgana C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £11.50 – £13.50 Villains, Heroes and Adventurers: Whisky Tasting Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@Jenners, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, £15 Grimm Ever After Paradise in The Vault, 13-18 Aug, £7.50 The Collision of Things Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £6.50 – £11 The Life and Times of Victor Biktrakarawitz Paradise in The Vault, 13-18 Aug, £4.50 Itch: With a Twist Pleasance Courtyard, 12 Aug, £8 Pianoforte, My Life Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 4-10 Aug, £12
17:50 Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 11-26 Aug, £8.50 Measure for Measure Zoo Southside, 2-10 Aug, £5 – £7.50 DNA Zoo Southside, 11-17 Aug, £7.50 Shadow On Their Wall Paradise in The Vault, 3-11 Aug, £6 – £7 The Smallest Light Zoo Southside, 18-26 Aug, £8
17:55
18:10
BLAM! Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £8 – £15 The Hat, The Cane, The Moustache C venues - C too, 1-26 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50
Beijing Cake theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £5 – £8
18:00 Sanctuary Just Festival at St John’s, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 14 Aug, 16 Aug, £8 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 How to Avoid Making an Entrance of Yourself Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £2.50 – £5 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £17 – £19 Laquearia Summerhall, 2-9 Aug, £10 Ciara Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £18 – £20 Mucus Factory Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 12 Aug, £free Shakespeare’s Cymbeline Just The Tonic at the Caves, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £5 – £9 The Tree and the Abbey Lauriston Halls, 15 Aug, £7 Cadre Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £18 According to Oscar Mayfield Salisbury Church, 5-9 Aug, £8 Hide and Seek Central Hall, Various dates from 3 Aug to 10 Aug, £7.50 – £8.50 Meal Ticket Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £10
18:05 Baddies theSpace on the Mile, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £9 How Hard Do You Hum When You Cum? theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 12 Aug to 23 Aug, £5 Our Friends, The Enemy theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £8 Melodic Dystrophy theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 13 Aug to 24 Aug, £5 Sugar Kane SpaceCabaret @ 54, 9-17 Aug, £10
❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £19
Don’t Disturb the Driver theSpace on North Bridge, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8 – £10
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged Church Hill Theatre, 20 Aug, £5
Ohio Impromptu / Rough for Theatre I / Not I The Hub, 31 Aug, £4
The Trilogy Paradise in Augustine’s, 3-18 Aug, not 12, £5 – £10
A Writer’s Lot theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £5 – £7
A Brief History of Beer Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 1-20 Aug, not 12, £free
Artaud: a Trilogy C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Humans Inc C venues - C, 8-26 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Killers The Assembly Rooms, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £14 – £15
18:15 As You Like It The Royal Scots Club, 12-17 Aug, £12 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 1 Aug, £12 Something Beginning With Paradise in The Vault, 20-24 Aug, £7 The Events Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £18 – £20 Northanger Abbey Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £9 Rabbit Hole Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 The Secret Agent Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £18 – £20 Freeze! Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 19, £5 – £9 The Principle of Uncertainty Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £10 Return to the Forbidden Planet Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Desperately Seeking the Exit / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 1-25 Aug, not 12, 19, £free Find Me theSpace on North Bridge, 6-8 Aug, £5 – £7
94 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 2 Aug, £19 Risk Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 21-25 Aug, £free Shakesperience Church Hill Theatre, 9 Aug, £5 The Imaginary Invalid Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5 Life theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 18, £5 – £11
18:20 Splatter theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £7 – £9 The Penelopiad Pilrig Studio, 6 Aug, £5 A Killer Story Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £7 His Majesty, the Devil – a Play With Music Quaker Meeting House, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £8 – £9.50 My Favourite Madman Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 2-10 Aug, £6 – £8
18:25 Leaving Iowa Pilrig Studio, 7-8 Aug, £5
18:30 Gym Party Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, £10 ❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £17 – £19 Holes by Tom Basden Assembly George Square, Various dates from 10 Aug to 25 Aug, £20 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £17
Quietly Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £17 – £19 Chalk Farm Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, 19, £6 – £11.50 Executed for Sodomy: the Life Story of Caterina Linck C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Love Struck Central Hall, 10 Aug, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, £7.50 Pint Dreams Pleasance At The Antiquary, 22-25 Aug, £6.50 – £7.50 ❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £17 – £19 Morag and Keats C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Romeo and Juliet The Royal Scots Club, 5-10 Aug, £10
18:35 Timeline Greenside, 2-10 Aug, £5 – £10 Recalculating Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 12-26 Aug, £8 The Complete History of the BBC (Abridged) Sweet Grassmarket, 1225 Aug, £7 – £9 On the One Hand Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £11 – £14
18:40 Hidden Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 14, £6 – £10.50
18:45 Crimes Against Comedy The Edinburgh Dungeon, 2-26 Aug, £10.50 Medea Whitespace, 13-24 Aug, not 19, £8 Next Door Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50 Love Struck Palmerston Place Church, 14-15 Aug, £7.50 In the Kingdom of the Blind Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £9 The Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona Lisa theSpace on Niddry St, 2-24 Aug, £8.50 – £11 (As/Des)cent Sweet Grassmarket, 1-11 Aug, £9
Kiss Me Honey, Honey! Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8 – £13.50 For the Trumpets Shall Sound C venues - C aquila, 1-17 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Katie Mag C venues - C aquila, 1826 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Oh My Irma Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £11
18:55 Forest HH Sweet Grassmarket, 1-11 Aug, £7.50 The Dumb Waiter New Town Theatre, 2-25 Aug, not 12, 13, £8
19:00 First Love Royal Lyceum Theatre, 28 Aug, 31 Aug, £8 Eh Joe Royal Lyceum Theatre, 29 Aug, £8 Embers King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 24-25 Aug, £10 Inquiry into the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Edinburgh Christadelphian Church, 7-8 Aug, £free Calotype Central Hall, 14-17 Aug, £9 Othello - Two Men Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 20-24 Aug, £7 Ciara Traverse Theatre, 1 Aug, £13 The Goddess of Walnuts Paradise in The Vault, 3-18 Aug, not 12, £5 – £6 Ulysses Paterson’s Land, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, £16 ‘33 (a Kabarett) Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £12 Lockerbie: Lost Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, £5 – £10 The Hard Man The Wee Red Bar, 19-26 Aug, £8 Kafka’s A Report to an Academy Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £6 Juliet: A Dialogue About Love C venues - C, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 A Circus Affair Zoo, 2-10 Aug, £5 – £9 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 2 Aug, £13 Masters of Drip The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-24 Aug, not 7, 13, 21, £free The Last Picasso theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £7.50 Wyrd C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
19:05 The Winter’s Tale theSpace on North Bridge, 3 Aug, 5 Aug, 7 Aug, 9 Aug, £9 Jerry and Tom theSpace on the Mile, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £8 – £10 After Ever Happily theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £7 Punk Rock theSpace on the Mile, 12-17 Aug, £8 Black Rubix Theatre Presents: Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 13 Aug to 24 Aug, £5 Faustus and the Snakes theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £9 A Midsummer Night’s Dream theSpace on North Bridge, 2 Aug, 6 Aug, 8 Aug, 10 Aug, £9 The Mad Hatter Bum Party theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 12 Aug to 23 Aug, £5 Maddy’s Many Mouths theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £8
19:10 A Concrete Jungle Full of Wild Cars theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 3 Aug to 10 Aug, £4.50 – £8.50 The Bridge That Tom Built C venues - C nova, 1426 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Kubrick3 Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12.50 Red Hanrahan theSpace @ Venue45, 2 Aug, 3 Aug, 5 Aug, 6 Aug, 7 Aug, £7 On Hold theSpace on North Bridge, Various dates from 13 Aug to 24 Aug, £6 Vinegar Tom C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 13 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50
Gorbella theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £7
19:15 At The Illusionist’s Table The Scotch Malt Whisky Society - 28 Queen Street, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, £49 Nehru: His Inner Story Paradise in The Vault, Various dates from 3 Aug to 25 Aug, £free – £8 Sleeping Beauty and the Spinner Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5 No Place Like Zoo, 2-26 Aug, not 11, 18, £4 – £9 The Wolf and the North Wind: A Contest in the Sky Paradise in The Vault, Various dates from 4 Aug to 26 Aug, £free – £8 Questioning Aslan Edinburgh Elim, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 22 Aug, £11 Twelfth Night: Unplugged Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 Chariot Edinburgh Elim, Various dates from 13 Aug to 24 Aug, £11 Sappho ... in 9 Fragments theSpace @ Venue45, 8-10 Aug, £12
19:20 What Where / Footfalls / Come and Go The Hub, 31 Aug, £4 Daughters theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 19-24 Aug, £8 The Fabric of Heaven Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5 The Epicene Butcher and Other Stories for Consenting Adults Assembly George Square, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £10 – £13 The Yellow Boat Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5
19:25 The Revenge of the Gargantuan Poo Monster Greenside, 2-17 Aug, not 11, £5
19:30 The Tragedy of Coriolanus The Edinburgh Playhouse, 20-21 Aug, £10 Hamlet Royal Lyceum Theatre, 10-13 Aug, £10 All That Fall The Hub, 25-26 Aug, £15
www.festmag.co.uk
Chris Dugdale - Magic and Mischief! Assembly George Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6 – £12 Good Things by Liz Lochhead St Serf’s Church Hall, 3-16 Aug, not 4, 11, £9 Hamlette Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 Notes from Bermondsey Street C venues - C, 19-26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Sailor Beware Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, 5-10 Aug, £7 South African Delights Sweet Grassmarket, 18-22 Aug, £8.50 Speak Truth to Power Church Hill Theatre, 19 Aug, £5 The Tea Diaries Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, 2-3 Aug, £8 Silence in Court New Town Theatre, 2-25 Aug, not 18, £10 – £12.50 Shattered! Cafe Camino, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £free The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour Outside the Beehive Inn, 29 Jul - 1 Sep, £14 The Ghost of Twin Oaks Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, 9 Aug, £5 ¡Bocón! Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 Whatever Gets You Through the Night The Queen’s Hall, 20 Aug, 23 Aug, £13.50 – £16.50 Dying On Stage Lauriston Halls, 13-17 Aug, £5 Pre:View Traverse Theatre, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £6.50 Titus Andronicus: An All-female Production Bedlam Theatre, 2-24 Aug, £7 – £9 David Copperfield St Ninian’s Hall, 5-17 Aug, not 11, 15, £12 Free Money Magic Show Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 1-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £free Oresteia C venues - C, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Don Quijote Summerhall, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, £12 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 All Roads Lead to Rome Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £2.50 – £5
Come Blow Your Horn Murrayfield Parish Church Centre, 7-17 Aug, not 11, £10.50 Phone Whore: A One Act Play With Frequent Interruptions Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, 1-25 Aug, £free The Bacchae Holyrood Park Information Lodge, 22-24 Aug, £free Times Square Tourist theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £5 The Diary of Anne Frank Duddingston Kirk Manse Garden, 7-25 Aug, not 12, 13, 19, 20, £10 The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning Pleasance At St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, 6-25 Aug, not 7, 11, 14, 21, £10 – £14
19:35 Eve: A Balancing Act Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 11-17 Aug, £8.50 Look Back in Anger Greenside, 12-17 Aug, £9 Bin Laden: The One Man Show C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Barry Brennan’s BiMonthly Dungeons and Dragons Sessions – A Geek Tragedy Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 3-10 Aug, £8
19:40 Agamemnon Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £6.50 Two is the Beginning of the End Sweet Grassmarket, 19-25 Aug, £8.50 We, Object theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 20, £5 – £10 Your Problem With Men Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £15 Wonders of Magic Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 13-16 Aug, £12 Creaturamia... Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 21-25 Aug, £10 Brush C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50
19:45 Hatches, Matches and Dispatches Mayfield Salisbury Church, 3-23 Aug, not 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, £10
Graceland Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, £5 The Bloody Ballad Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul 25 Aug, not 12 Aug, 19 Aug, £10 – £14
20:00 An Anonymous Life... and Some Sketches Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City Football Club, 1-25 Aug, £free Faulty Towers The Dining Experience B’est Restaurant, 1-27 Aug, not 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, £46.50 Sonica Presents Sven Werner’s Tales of Magical Realism Summerhall, 12-25 Aug, not 14, 21, £14 Original Sin/PBH’s Free Fringe Cowgatehead, 19-25 Aug, £free Touched... Like a Virgin Le Monde, 15-25 Aug, not 17, 24, £10 Motherland Summerhall, 19 Aug, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, £12 Our Glass House Summerhall, 13-25 Aug, not 19, £free The Tin Ring Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, £14 Metamorphosis King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 10-11 Aug, £12 On Behalf of Nature Royal Lyceum Theatre, 16-17 Aug, £10 Leaving Planet Earth Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 10-24 Aug, not 13, 20, £12.50 Histoire d’amour King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 15-17 Aug, £12 Good Mourning! VOstBil Institut français d’Ecosse, 13-18 Aug, £10 The Events Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £13 ❤ Solfatara HHHH Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, £8 SingleMarriedGirl theSpace on North Bridge, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £6 – £10 The Devil and Billy Markham Royal Over-Seas League, 15-16 Aug, £10 Feral HHH Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 13, 20, £9
20:05 Pole Factor theSpace on the Mile, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8
Strangeways theSpace on North Bridge, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £7.50 A Conversation With My Father Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 14-24 Aug, not 20, £8 – £11 Captain Amazing Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3-12 Aug, not 6, £8 – £11 Comedy, Evolved theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 5-10 Aug, £8 Missing Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10.50
20:10 Dirty Water theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 12, 18, £8 A Note of Dischord theSpace @ Venue45, 12-17 Aug, £7
20:15 A Play With Words and Blind Love Pilrig Studio, 6 Aug, £5 Captain Morgan and the Sands of Time The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-24 Aug, not 14, £free Circle Game Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5 Donal O’Kelly’s Brace Fionnuala and Skeffy Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £6 – £12 The High-Schooler’s Guide to the Galaxy Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5 Cinderella Lives! Venue 13, 3-24 Aug, not 12, £8 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 Pandora’s Box Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5 The Imaginary Invalid Church Hill Theatre, 20 Aug, £5 Fanny Whittington Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £7
20:20 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest theSpace on Niddry St, 2-24 Aug, £8.50 – £11 In Real Life (IRL) theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £5 – £8 The Penelopiad Pilrig Studio, 7 Aug, £5 Diary of a Madman Quaker Meeting House, 5-17 Aug, not 11, £8 – £9.50
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 95
theatrelistings Comedy, Evolved theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £12 Higgs Summerhall, 2-17 Aug, not 5, 12, £10 4.48 Psychosis C venues - C nova, 14-26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Globophobia Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, £5 – £8
20:25 Cherry On Top C venues - C, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Entertaining Mr Orton C venues - C, 11-17 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50
20:30 A Funny Valentine Valvona & Crolla, 5 Aug, 7 Aug, 8 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, £12 Creepie Stool Just Festival at St John’s, Various dates from 16 Aug to 26 Aug, £10 Kiss, Cuddle, Torture Just Festival at St John’s, Various dates from 9 Aug to 23 Aug, £10 Pugni Di Zolfo (Fists of Sulfur) – History of Caruso Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, not 12, 21, £5 – £8 The Ants Pilrig Studio, 5 Aug, £5 The Bunker Trilogy: Agamemnon C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £11.50 – £13.50 Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 3 Aug, £19 I’m With the Band Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £18 – £20 Italia ‘n’ Caledonia Valvona & Crolla, 17 Aug, 21 Aug, £12 Paradise Zoo, Various dates from 3 Aug to 25 Aug, £5 – £8 Waiting for Godot The Hub, 31 Aug, £4 Serotonin Syndrome Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 2-17 Aug, not 5, 11, 12, £5 – £8 The Events Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 25 Aug, £18 The Exception and the Rule theSpace on the Mile, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £3 – £7 ❤ Anna HHHH Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 12, £10
God of Carnage The Royal Scots Club, 12-17 Aug, £12 ❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £17 – £19 Singin I’m No a Billy He’s a Tim Just Festival at St John’s, Various dates from 2 Aug to 24 Aug, £12 The Secret Agent Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £18 – £20 The Project Zoo, Various dates from 2 Aug to 26 Aug, £5 – £8
20:35 Fast Film Noir theSpace @ Venue45, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £9 Metamorphosis Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 1-10 Aug, £7.50 Running With the Firm Zoo Southside, 2-26 Aug, £7 – £10 H to He (I’m Turning Into a Man) Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £12
20:40 Titus Andronicus theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £12 The Fantasist Underbelly, Bristo Square, 21-26 Aug, £11 – £12 The Worst of Scottee Assembly George Square, 1-24 Aug, not 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, £12 Substance C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
20:45 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 2 Aug, £19 Six Characters in Search of an Author C venues - C, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 ❤ Long Live The Little Knife HHHH Traverse Theatre, 1 Aug, £12 Cadre Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, £18 Kabul Venue150 @ EICC, 4-24 Aug, £12 Unrequited Greenside, 2-10 Aug, £5 – £5.50 Agnes of God The Royal Scots Club, 5-10 Aug, £10
Fight Night HHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £17 – £19
Squally Showers Zoo Southside, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £12
20:50
Bring the Happy Live Meeting Point - Forest Fringe @ The Drill Hall, 19-23 Aug, £10
After What Comes Before Greenside, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £6 – £8 The Break-Up of Cause and Effect C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
21:00 I’ll Go On Royal Lyceum Theatre, 25 Aug, 26 Aug, 28 Aug, 31 Aug, £8 First Love Royal Lyceum Theatre, 29-30 Aug, £8 Eh Joe Royal Lyceum Theatre, 23 Aug, 27 Aug, £8 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, £17 Popaganda Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 2-25 Aug, not 5, 12, 19, £2.50 – £5 Bedding Out Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, 9 Aug, £free Ciara Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 18 Aug, 24 Aug, £18 – £20 Penthesilea Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, £10 Riding the Midnight Express with Billy Hayes Gilded Balloon Teviot, 23-25 Aug, £15 Cadre Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, £18 – £20 Fade Bedlam Theatre, 2-24 Aug, £5 – £8 ❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 4 Aug, £17 The Crawl Frankenstein Pub, 2-16 Aug, not 4, 11, £8.50 The Man Who Thought the Moon Would Fall Out of the Sky Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 20 Aug, £14 Biding Time (remix) Summerhall, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 12 Aug, £12 Boys C venues - C aquila, 1-26 Aug, not 12, £8.50 – £10.50 Quietly Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 23 Aug, £17 – £19
96 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
21:05 Safe theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-17 Aug, £10 The Vacuum Cleaner theSpace on North Bridge, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8 Project Lolita theSpace on the Mile, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8 The Cherry Orchard C venues - C aquila, 1-17 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Vessel theSpace on North Bridge, 2-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £5 – £9
21:10 Life Sentence theSpace on the Mile, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £4 – £8 On Hold theSpace on North Bridge, 3 Aug, 6 Aug, 8 Aug, 10 Aug, £5 – £6
Bonk! theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 2-24 Aug, not 4, 11, 18, £7 – £8
21:25 Fleabag Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50 Dirty Laundry Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50 Bluebeard theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £4 – £8.50
21:30 Mejnun theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 19-24 Aug, £6 – £8 The Witness Venue 13, Various dates from 10 Aug to 17 Aug, £8 Loving Dick The Fiddler’s Elbow, 3-24 Aug, not 13, £free Squidboy Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 20 Aug, £6 – £10 33 Zoo, 2-17 Aug, £9
The Givers theSpace on the Mile, 19-24 Aug, £5 – £8
21:35
21:15
The Ballad of Agnes Bean theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 12-24 Aug, not 18, £8
❤ Grounded HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 10 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, £17 – £19 Midsummer/Jersey Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, £5 Shadows Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5 ❤ Have I No Mouth HHHH Traverse Theatre, 25 Aug, £17 The Medicine Showdown Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5 The Rimers of Eldritch Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5
21:20 The Brothers’ Grimm Spectaculathon Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 Beyond Therapy theSpace on the Mile, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £7 The Making of Something Awesome Church Hill Theatre, 17 Aug, £5
A View from the Bridge Zoo, 2-16 Aug, £5 – £9
Rodney & Julie J theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £6 This Is My Box Sweet Grassmarket, 1-18 Aug, £8.50 Billy With His Boots On Zoo, 18-26 Aug, £10 7-tik 3 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 19-26 Aug, £5
21:50 The State vs John Hayes C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 Overcoat C venues - C, 31 Jul - 17 Aug, not 7 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 She Dances With Fate New Town Theatre, 1-25 Aug, £11
21:55 Kindred Greenside, 2-10 Aug, £7 Can’t Buy Me Love Greenside, 12 Aug, 13 Aug, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 17 Aug, £7 League of St George C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50 The Phantom of the Fringe Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 1-26 Aug, £7 Dear Friend, Greenside, 19-24 Aug, £7
22:00 Dark Matter Summerhall, 15-24 Aug, not 18, £12 Red Riding Hood Greenside, 5-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £7.50 The Bunker Trilogy: Macbeth C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, £11.50 – £13.50 Boris & Sergey’s Vaudevillian Adventure Underbelly, Bristo Square, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, £7 – £14 The Bloody Great Border Ballad Project Northern Stage at St Stephen’s, 3-24 Aug, not 6, 13, 20, £11 – £14
22:05
21:40 (As/Des)cent Sweet Grassmarket, 1925 Aug, £9 Two Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 1-14 Aug, £8.50 Red Noses theSpace @ Venue45, 6-10 Aug, £5 – £9
It Goes Without Saying Hill Street Theatre, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £12 In Tune With Dementia theSpace on the Mile, 12-17 Aug, £8 In Tune With Dementia theSpace on North Bridge, 2-10 Aug, not 4, £5 – £8 War of the Waleses theSpace @ Venue45, 1224 Aug, not 18, £7 – £9
22:10
21:45 Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 5-24 Aug, not 11, 18, £10
Nothing to Be Done theSpace on North Bridge, 19-24 Aug, £8 Macbeth theSpace on the Mile, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £5 – £8
www.festmag.co.uk
theatrelistings A Marriage Proposal C venues - C too, 9-10 Aug, £10.50 Bent C venues - C too, 11-17 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50
Beats by Kieran Hurley Pleasance Courtyard, 2-11 Aug, £9.50 – £13.50
Forever 27 New Town Bar, 4-15 Aug, not 9, 10, £7
The Mid-Knight Cowboy C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 10 Aug, £8.50 – £10.50
Hooked Sweet Grassmarket, 1-25 Aug, not 7, 14, 21, £8
22:15
Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches C venues - C aquila, 1117 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50
Whatever Gets You Through the Night The Queen’s Hall, 20-25 Aug, £13.50 – £16.50
Super Tuesday theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 20-24 Aug, £8 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, £5 Miles & Coltrane Blue: (.) C venues - C, 3-26 Aug, £9.50 – £11.50 Shakesperience Church Hill Theatre, 7 Aug, £5 Argonautika Church Hill Theatre, 6 Aug, £5 Rabbit Hole Church Hill Theatre, 5 Aug, £5
22:20 Water Stain Venue150 @ EICC, 4-22 Aug, £12
22:25 Head Over Heels Church Hill Theatre, 8 Aug, £5
22:30 Party Piece Bedlam Theatre, 2-24 Aug, not 12, £5 – £8 Buzzcut Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, Various dates from 2 Aug to 25 Aug, £free The Seer Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 13, £6 – £10.50
www.festmag.co.uk
Boredom Pleasance Hunt and Darton Cafe, Various dates from 3 Aug to 24 Aug, £5
22:40 Engels! The Karl Marx Story theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 13-17 Aug, £7 Gabe Day theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 2-17 Aug, not 4, 11, £4 – £8.50 Midnight at the Rue Morgue: The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe SpaceCabaret @ 54, 2-24 Aug, not 11, £10
22:45 Novemberunderground Underbelly, Cowgate, 1-25 Aug, not 12, £6 – £10.50 Real Horror Show Assembly Roxy, 1-26 Aug, not 13, £10 – £13 Jekyll & Hyde HH Assembly Roxy, 31 Jul - 25 Aug, not 13 Aug, £6 – £12
23:00 Dog Sees God The Outhouse, 7-10 Aug, £8 Cartwheels C venues - C nova, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 12 Aug, £7.50 – £9.50 Funeral Replacement Service Necrobus, 1-26 Aug, £5 – £7.50
23:10 Your Problem With Men Greenside, 12-17 Aug, £10 Boris & Sergey II Perilous Escapade Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 26 Aug, not 13 Aug, 21 Aug, £6 – £11
23:15 Brand New Ancients Traverse Theatre, 20 Aug, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, 24 Aug, 25 Aug, £18 – £20
23:20 Tourniquet 2013 Summerhall, 2-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 19, £6 – £12
23:30
23:05
Séance Sweet Grassmarket, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, £10
Timeline Greenside, 12-17 Aug, £10
Brand New Ancients Traverse Theatre, 21-22 Aug, £18
Dinner is Swerved C venues - C nova, 3-25 Aug, not 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, £14.50 – £16.50
23:45 [Life] - An Everyman’s Tale Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 4-17 Aug, £free
23:59 The Trial Just The Tonic at the Caves, 7-11 Aug, £10
00:30 Funeral Replacement Service Necrobus, 6-27 Aug, £7.50
01:15 Vanity Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 13-26 Aug, £free
August 6 – 8 | edinburgh festival guide 2013 fest 97
The Fest Guide to…
Festival Architecture with Hannah Gadsby Edinburgh is world-renowned for its architecture but what does its festival structures add? Comic and art critic Hannah Gadsby gives us her critique. photos: Claudine Quinn
Deflated Cow Underbelly, Bristo Square
When inflated, it's a reclining nude—perhaps an odalisque by Ingres—but when deflated it takes on more of Pablo Picasso in his violent cubist Les Demoiselles d'Avignon phase. So it's really a marvellous thing to suit your mood. It's a lovely reclining nude. It's on display, it's narcoleptic and it's beautiful like a Christmas turkey.
Faux Decaux Palazzo Theatre, Assembly George Square Gardens
I'm quite taken with the rendering inside of the two ladies who are modelling the Venus Pudique, which is the "prudent Venus". She's covering up her bits with her hands, across the breasts and vaginal area. This incidentally draws attention to those areas while still being modest – so you can cop a look, but not be morally implicated.
Medieval Rapunzel Tower Gilded Balloon Teviot
Shit-Gothic Assembly George Square
There's a good attempt isn't there to get the cardboard rendering matching the building beyond. What they're missing is the defence in the actual building. They need somewhere for the archers. You've got the rounded staircase, which is great for duelling. But you want to come from the top where the staircase is wide so you can maximise your defence.
98 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
It's reaching towards the sky but not heaven. It's just going up – it's not very brave like Gothic was. Gothic got thinner and more delicate as it got higher, whereas this is just a block. As far as buttresses goes, these are just balconies. Sure, no one can use a buttress—except for a gargoyle—but they are much more aesthetically pleasing.
www.festmag.co.uk
www.geckotheatre.com @GeckoTheatre
Part of the British Council Edinburgh Showcase dramaanddance.britishcouncil.org
ALI MACGREGOR THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN ARDALO’HANLON BREABACH CAPERCAILLIE CHRISTINE BOVILL DONNIE MUNRO DOUGIE MACLEAN THE FIVE-THIRTY CABARET FRED MACAULAY GOD BLESS LIZ LOCHHEAD
HORSE HUE AND CRY JERRY SADOWITZ KILLERS LA CLIQUE LOVE AND MONEY MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS MELMOTH THE WANDERER MOGWAI OMEGA OMID DJALILI
100 fest edinburgh festival guide 2013 | August 6 – 8
PEATBOG FAERIES PORTICO QUARTET PRINCESS PUMPALOT THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION TOM STADE VERY BEST OF THE FEST WE WILL BE FREE: FREE! THE TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS STORY AND MANY MORE
www.festmag.co.uk