Fest 2015 Issue 5 by Fest Magazine

70+ Reviews | Full Listings | Venue Map

TAR BABY THINK YOU CAN’T LAUGH ABOUT RACE? DESIREE BURCH SAYS OTHERWISE Plus:

Your FREE Festival Guide

25– 31 August

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Dane Baptiste Tez Ilyas David Greig Jessie Cave Sam Simmons Trans Scripts The Encounter

“Powerful, emotive and captivating” Kettlemag

“It’s edgy, its raw and its honest… it’s also delightfully camp and full of personality!” Edinburgh49

“The most outrageous act at this year’s Fringe” Edinburgh News

O K AR E K A DAN C E C O M PANY PR E S E NTS

M U ST-S E E D A N C E /TH E ATR E C A B A R E T D I R E C T FROM NEW ZEALAND M A O R I MY TH O L O GY, D R A G Q U E E N S, H A K A, C O NTE M P O R A RY D A N C E & L I V E S I N G I N G

18:40

05 - 31 AUG

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Fest Team Editor Bevan Keswick

Thank you! It’s our final issue of Festivals 2015 ✏ A big thanks to all of our readers, writers, photographers, partners, sponsors and advertisers. ✏ There’s more reviews to go online over the next few days. Keep checking festmag.co.uk ✏ Already starting to think about next year? We are! Get in touch to talk to our sales team. ✏ See you in 2016!

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Deputy Editor Jo Caird Consulting Editor Sam Friedman Lead Writer Matt Trueman Production Manager John Hewitt Jones Sales & Brand Strategist George Sully Concept Designer Sigrid Schmeisser Artworker Kyle McPartlin Photographer Mihaela Bodlovic Writing team Tim Bano, Billy Barrett, Sean Bell, Adam Bloodworth, Graeme Connelly, Si Hawkins, Tom Hackett, Jane Howard, Catherine Love, Edd McCracken, Victoria Nangle, Lewis Porteous, Stewart Pringle, Lucy Ribchester, Jay Richardson, Alice Saville, Matthew Sharpe, John Stansfield, Tom Wicker, Holly Williams Radge Media Chief Operating Officer Lara Moloney Commercial Director Nicola Taylor Editor-in-Chief Rosamund West Sales & Marketing Nicky Carter, Claire Collins, Caroline Harleaux, Issy Patience, Becca Strahan

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Contents

Comedy 8

Tar Baby US comedian Desiree Burch invites us down to her “carnival of race and capitalism”

26 Stuart Goldsmith Standup sits down with flair

28 Jessie Cave Love, laughs and insecurities in the social media age

Lanark

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Playwright David Greig audaciously adapts Alasdair Gray’s seminal novel for the stage

45 Trans Scripts Potent verbatim theatre about self-discovery

Urban Heroes We talk to three comics about straddling the urban and mainstream circuits

Plus:

Venue Map & Listings Where am I? What time is it? What should I see? All this and more answered in the only mag with hour-by-hour listings

Theatre

48 Yerma A pained story rendered through Indian classical dance

Music 58 Orpheus and Eurydice The classic opera, made slick and modern

Kids 64 Kid Critics Cultural commentary out of the mouths of babes

Perfect Day

Tar Baby Gilded Balloon 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Credit: Drew McLellan

Struggling for ideas? Brain overloaded? Sit back and let Fest plan an ideal day at the Fringe

Divas Pleasance Dome 2:40pm – 3:40pm

Start the day (er, at noon,

Sit back (and digest) to the

because it’s the Fringe, okay?)

sweet sounds of Divas: an

with Desiree Burch’s Tar Baby, an

a cappella musical piece that

important work about racism

relates a gay love story, full of

and capitalism. It handles these

hope and heartache, through

heavy issues with hope and care,

‘60s soul tunes and an inventive

and some fun and games too.

narrative structure.

Lunch at Mosque Kitchen Nicolson Square 1:35pm – 2:35pm Pop over to this friendly restaurant serving hot curries and rice near the local mosque. You’ll find a welcoming community vibe, big portions served on paper plates and very reasonable prices.

Perfect Day

Dinner at Ting Thai Caravan Bristo Place 7pm Yes, we’re recommending more spice, but Ting Thai is

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a must-try. A former Fringe pop-up, this central restaurant boasts an authentic menu and a cosy, bustling interior. They don't take reservations – you just queue and hope for a table, quite often sharing with strangers – perfect for swapping show tips with new faces.

The Story Beast Pleasance Courtyard

Rob Auton Banshee Labyrinth 4:00pm – 5:00pm Hurry along to this sprawl-

Perfect Day

ing free Fringe venue off the

Cowgate to catch Rob Auton’s fresh blend of wordplay and insightful ponderings.

10:30pm – 11:30pm If you haven’t yet seen a sweaty man belt out an abridged Beowulf in more or less the original Old English—as an opening gambit, no less—clear your diary and see this show now. Mixing epic tales, short songs and off-the-wall standup, the Story Beast will take you down to Beasty Town and the hour will fly by.

Amazing

Race

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to talk about racism, Desiree Burch tells Tim Bano. Her Fringe First-winning, Amnesty Award-shortlisted play Tar Baby does just that

Theatre

Credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

Features

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ou are probably racist. But it’s not your fault, insists Desiree Burch, “because we’re all products of a racist society.” Burch is a black actor and comedian and, though desperate for a time when her skin colour doesn’t matter, for now it’s the focus of her show Tar Baby. A contender for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, Tar Baby is a provocation to its audiences, a reminder to check our privilege and kick back against the structures that still make society, and us its members, inherently racist. Because for every Obama moment, there’s a Sandra Bland or Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown. (Flyering police officers with the line, “help beat the shit out of racism”, would be unthinkable in the States, Burch says, but here they just laugh). And for Burch, “white supremacy”, a phrase she returns to repeatedly, is also played out in more entrenched and insidious ways, from schools that whitewash a racist past to boardrooms stuffed with old, white men. “In America we just talk about ‘ain’t America great’. We don’t focus on all of the horrible things that we’ve done, and don’t ever take responsibility for them.” There’s a long pause and a resigned laugh. “It’s so psychotic.” If this all sounds hopeless…well, it is. But Burch’s approach is to make us laugh as our hackles rise during her “carnival of race and capitalism”.

“You can get a lot of truth out of comedy in a way that’s like a spank and a rub,” she says. “Comedy gives people a laugh and so they’ll take the harshness.” Between stories drawn from Burch’s own experiences of racism, audience members are picked on to play games like “Test Your Strength”. The aim is “to bring out the element of capitalism that is implicit in any form of oppression.” The carnival theme came from Burch’s memory of school trips to amusement parks where, out of teachers’ sight, the meanness of kids went unchallenged. And funfairs are a classic setting for horror behind the humour. “It’s always on the brink. It’s really fun and then you puke everywhere.” Personal experience is what drives the show: in one story, Burch recalls an audition where she was asked to “be blacker”. It happens all the time, she says, because of pressures to please backers and make money. “They’re operating out of fear and they don’t trust their audience at all.” It’s more common in film and television than stage auditions, but there’s certainly a real dearth of roles for black and minority ethnic (BAME) actors. Burch remembers talking to a black British actor about the issue: “He said, ‘I looked at my résumé and it was slave, slave, slave…’ because those are the only things he would even be considered for.” I ask if quotas are the solution and Burch is

“ I'm not the only one with a race in this conversation. You all also have race. But you see yours represented so you don’t feel the need to discuss it.” Burch wants people to talk about these things “so it’s not just the burden of a person of colour to bear”. She is wary of being labelled as “the person who always brings up race”, but her response is clear: “I’m not the only one with a race in this conversation. You all also have race. But you see yours represented so you don’t feel the need to discuss it.” It’s easy not to notice the lack of diversity in theatres and on screen. It’s easy to be complacent, not to speak out. Burch makes it depressingly clear just how deeply racism runs in our society. It may be less verbal and less visible, it’s certainly less acceptable, but it’s there in every all-white cast, every audition for “slave” or “sassy black woman”. It’s there through omission, when BAME actors aren’t actively encouraged to try for lead parts. And Burch wants us to talk. “You can talk about your guilt, your anger, your confusion. Even if it’s full of questions and ignorance, go ahead. Just don’t not have the conversation.” ✏︎ Tim Bano

VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Gilded Balloon 12:00pm – 1:30pm, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26 £9 – £10

The Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award

Theatre

unsure at first. “I don’t know. I understand how that is stymying.” Quickly, however, she talks herself into the idea. “But all creativity comes with constraint. You create the best things because you had to overcome something.” And then she’s in full flow, orating passionately as she does at the end of her show: “Theatres are like, ‘How can we build our audience? Our audiences are dying because they’re old people.’ Well, you will get people of colour and you will get younger people if you are representing them on stage and in the writers’ room and as directors. You can’t want one thing, but give them the same old shit. Sometimes it’s necessary to go, ‘Look, deal with it. You’re all creative people. Deal with it’.”

Last year, the Fringe’s biggest debate around freedom of expression was provoked by a show that didn’t happen: The City, by Israeli company Incubator, which was cancelled after just one performance following protests. This year, discussions about human rights are wide-ranging. Some contenders for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, like Walking the Tightrope, have emerged directly from last year’s discussions and tackle knotty issues of censorship. Others are starting different conversations. The Amnesty award is given to an outstanding play at the Edinburgh Festival carrying a human rights message. Labels, like Tar Baby, addresses the deeply ingrained language of racism, but in a British context and in the midst of immigration debates. In a world where our online privacy is routinely threatened, meanwhile, Heartbeats & Algorithms imagines the control that corporations and governments might seize hold of through our data. As our cities change, more and more communities are threatened. Verbatim show E15 takes a timely look at the housing crisis in the UK, while Smash It Up explores the destruction of art and public space. At the same time, the growth of zero hours contracts continues to erode the rights of workers, providing the target for the comedy in Katie O’Kelly’s Counter Culture and for Atiha Sen Gupta’s investigation of exploited casual workers in Counting Stars. And some shows are fighting for freedom of expression by smashing taboos. Fake It ‘til You Make It is breaking the silence around men’s mental health, while Trans Scripts offers a platform for transgender voices. As the Freedom of Expression Award recognises, these are all discussions that need to keep happening. ✏︎ Catherine Love

The Amnesty International Freedom o Expression Award

Four distinctly Welsh themed productions presented at ZOO Venue and Dance Base Sally Marie’s Sweetshop Revolution

I loved you and I loved you Light, Ladd & Emberton

CAITLIN A circle of chairs. An AA meeting. Caitlin Thomas revisits her tempestuous life.

Dance Base (Venue 22) Aug 21 - 30 (excl Mon 24)

Rapturous dance-theatre based on the life and loves of the extraordinary Welsh composer Morfydd Owen b.1891.

Zoo Sanctuary (Venue 124) Aug 21 - 30 6:40pm - 7:50pm £10 Ages 12+ (Guideline) #sweetshoprev

8:00pm - 9:00pm £10 (£8) Parental Guidance #CAITLINedfringe @CAITLINedfringe

Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru

Dawns Ysbrydion (Ghost Dance) My People Award winning dance theatre inspired by Wales’ most controversial author, Caradoc Evans.

Zoo Sanctuary (Venue 124) Aug 24 - 29 1:00pm - 2:00pm

A story of endangered cultures, language suppression and the subjugation of nations.

Zoo Southside (Venue 82) Aug 24 - 29 10:40am - 11:50am £12 (£10) #ghostdance @theatrgencymr

£12 (£10) Ages 12+ (Guideline) #mypeople @gwynemberton

www.zoovenues.co.uk

Tel: 0131 662 6892

www.dancebase.co.uk

Tel: 0131 225 5525

TICKETS.EDFRINGE.COM

Gwyn Emberton Dance

Theatre

Credit: Tim Morozzo

A Life in

Three Acts Alasdair Gray’s Lanark defies description. Sean Bell talks to David Greig, the only playwright talented—or foolhardy—enough to adapt it for the stage Lanark

ne might assume it would take a lot to intimidate David Greig, perhaps Scotland’s most famous living playwright. And yet, in discussing his efforts to adapt Alasdair Gray’s novel Lanark for the EIF, his obvious enthusiasm is tempered with a cautious regard for the monumental task he has set himself. “A play like Lanark is like climbing a mountain,” Greig tells me. “You have a clear view of it long before you begin, but once you’re climbing it, the difficulties appear. Right now, we’re proceeding up the north face.” It’s an understandable attitude. Upon publication in 1981, Lanark shattered virtually every preconception about Scottish literature. The novel addressed the realities of the working class in a way that completely avoided what Norman MacCaig once termed “kitchen sink kitsch”. It introduced elements of surrealism and fantasy as a way of portraying Scotland instead of escaping it. It made eloquent, brutal political arguments while abandoning the clunky tropes of agitprop. The impression it made on Greig, and many others, has been lasting and profound. “I read it just after I finished school,” he remembers. “It was a novel that wasn’t like other novels. It

showed me that any kind of writing was possible, in any combination. And for a novel that was obviously so groundbreaking to have come from Scotland, and be about Scotland, made you feel as if you were suddenly located somewhere interesting, instead of living in a backwater.” Greig was approached to adapt the novel by Graham Eatough, Lanark’s director and a frequent collaborator with whom he co-founded the theatre company Suspect Culture. “Graham had been talking to Alasdair’s gallerist, who had been making arrangements for a retrospective for Alasdair’s 80th birthday. They were considering a theatrical element, and Graham immediately said Lanark – mainly because, when we were at university studying drama, I shoved a well-thumbed copy of the novel into his hands. He had been infected, just as I had.” Greig’s career has been one of astonishing variety: it’s difficult not to be impressed by a playwright who has tackled both Tintin and Caligula. Fortuitously, that eclectic background proved to be key when considering how to go about adapting a work as dense and multifaceted as Lanark. “Lanark could have been adapted in at least 10

different ways, each perfectly valid: as a political fable for example, or a psychological exploration. But we wanted to adapt the book faithfully – that involved replicating the experience of reading it. If something’s playful on the page, it should feel playful on the stage.”

Hyslop herself. As Greig has previously been vocal in criticising aspects of Scottish arts funding, I ask how he feels about this particular instance, and what lessons can be drawn from it. “I don’t think we could have done it without them. I’ve been completely satisfied by the Expo Fund’s involvement. My criticism was of a particular set of policies that Creative Scotland was then operating under.” (In 2012, Greig wrote an open letter to Creative Scotland condemning their planned removal of its flexible funding stream.) “Whereas this comes directly from the Scottish government. But we’ve been very lucky with our partnerships, such as the [Glasgow] Citizens Theatre. To Greig, the logic behind such a massive investment is a matter of national importance. “Alasdair is an important writer, and Edinburgh is an important arts festival. This is our chance to give something to the rest of the world, to showcase Scottish arts, and it would have been a terrible shame to go off halfcocked and do it on a shoestring.” Greig, however, is eager to point out that the “The Expo Fund is a very practical idea, and I adaptation has been a group effort, with creative hope it continues. But the day-to-day business of energies flowing from every participant. “Alasdair arts funding will continue to be done through Crewrote Lanark over the course of decades. It’s one ative Scotland. They have a very tough job. When mind’s outpouring over what felt like a lifetime. the British government cuts a percentage of its Add to that the fact that Gray has sat at the centre funding via Barnett [the mechanism used by the UK of Scottish culture for 30 years... No one of us could Treasury to adjust the amount of public expenditure engage with that. There had to be a sense of compa- to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland], there’s no ny and multiplicity. It wasn’t one artist approaching way for Scotland to avoid that. The arts will have another, but many.” to fight very hard. The best way forward is for the Lanark’s awe-inspiring and sometimes forbidScottish government and Creative Scotland to work ding reputation has meant that it is arguably not together. I’m optimistic about that cooperation, but the most populist of books, a condition Greig has it will be a tough environment.” some hope of rectifying. “Lanark is a book that Finally, I ask about Greig’s other major project means everything to a small number of people this August, an endeavour just as close to his heart and nothing to a great many people,” he says. “Our as Lanark: ‘Welcome to the Fringe’ is an effort adaptation is aimed squarely at people who haven’t to bring Palestinian artists to Edinburgh for the read the book. What we’re aiming for is a 25-yearfestival season, formed in response to the restricold to sit down, not knowing what they’re going to tions imposed by Israeli border controls, lack of see, and have their mind blown like mine was when funding opportunities and UK visa regulations. “I’m I first read the novel.” delighted by what we’ve been able to achieve so far,” Still, that doesn’t mean the material will be sim- says Greig. “I’m hopeful that if the model works, we plified or watered down in any way. “It’s meant to can expand it to include any country, any sectors be big,” Greig says firmly. “That’s why our play has of society, who find it difficult to get to the Fringe. two intervals and three acts of an hour each.” None of us want the Fringe to become a playground Lanark’s theatrical adaptation was made for middle-class white students. possible by the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, “All artists must be mindful: are we trying to keep a relatively new means of funding that comes the barriers up, or break them down?” ✏︎ Sean Bell straight from the Scottish government. When it VENUE: Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh was decided earlier this year that Lanark would TIME: times vary, 23–31 Aug, not 26 receive £200,000 for its production, it merited an TICKETS: £10 announcement from the culture secretary Fiona

Features

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“ Lanark could have been adapted in at least 10 different ways, each perfectly valid. If something's playful on the page, it should feel playful on the stage”

Comedy

Credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

Urban Heroes White, middle-class, and monocultural. The Fringe is undoubtedly that â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but also much more. Lewis Porteous speaks to artists straddling the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban comedy scene as well as its mainstream equivalent Dane Baptiste

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hichever direction Britain’s ideological compass swings, political correctness proves a tenacious subject of discussion. We live in a multicultural, internationalist world, and yet anxieties surrounding race and religion abound. The establishment has long grappled with how to address these issues, but all too often exchanges are dominated by white Christian voices, to the point where it almost comes as a shock to find subjects of the debate publicly participating in it. Step forward Tez Ilyas, whose debut solo show, TEZ Talks, has proven one of this Fringe’s much talked about hours. A heartfelt plea for understanding, it sees the comic address his background as a British Muslim by presenting a mock induction to the faith. Of course his first priority is making audiences laugh, but Ilyas’s ultimate agenda is to assume a degree of control over his community’s narrative, reclaiming it from an ill-informed, sensationalist media. “What I found hardest in this show was getting the tone right,” he reveals. “In earlier versions, I gave it a harder edge and people really didn’t go with the comedy. They were taking things I said at face value and forgot they were watching a comedy show. I want to take the audience with me. Hence I have the conceit that they’re converting to Islam. It becomes ‘this is what we have to do’.” Leaving scores of teary-eyed punters in his wake with his emotional plea for understanding, Ilyas is showing himself adept at bridging differences between an oppressed minority group and predominantly white, middle-class comedy audiences. This is, however, the only demographic he’s ever targeted. For a great deal of black and Asian acts, the obvious first step of their career is to cut their teeth on the urban circuit, a thriving scene running parallel to the mainstream, with few crossovers among punter and performer alike. Conventional wisdom has it that material needs to be tailored to fit its context, and Tez concurs. “I found out very early on that the stuff I do for the mainstream circuit doesn’t always work with urban audiences. You’re not telling them anything they don’t know. I can be more ironic with a white audience.” But one performer who holds himself in stark opposition to this approach is Dane Baptiste, a rising black voice whose latest hour, Reasonable Doubts, could well be one of the festival’s best reviewed offerings. Nominated for last year’s best newcomer Fosters Award and achieving sell-outs almost daily throughout the month, he’s proving urban acts can break through to the mainstream with the minimum of compromise.

“Some people may feel their subject matter isn’t welcome in the mainstream and that they can’t crossover, but it’s inevitable for most performance artists to want their ideas to have as many people identify with what you do as possible,” Baptiste explains of his move to more challenging pastures. “Any observation I make isn’t so much forcing ideas onto people as describing a parallel which they can identify with. I think the way of making material work is for it to be unique and distinctive to yourself, but to present it so that anyone can relate to it.

“I don't think discrimination is something unique to urban acts alone. There is always something people can relate to regardless of their background.” “For example, I don’t think discrimination is something unique to urban acts alone. Most comics feel they don’t fit in or exist outside conformist culture. This is always something people can relate to regardless of their background.” Baptiste says that when he recalls being on the receiving end of prejudice in front of a minority audience, his words are treated like a straight observational routine no different to that of the space hopper-fixated middle-aged white man. It’s when the mainstream hears what he’s been subjected to that references to bigotry acquire a more challenging, almost surreal edge. Fiercely intelligent and of unshakeable conviction, Baptiste believes that honest, considered material will transcend arbitrary audience divisions. “My material doesn’t change,” he says. “My thing has been to galvanise those circuits, to hopefully be just a stand-alone person.” Veteran urban comic Funmbi Omotayo—himself enjoying unqualified success at the Fringe after 15 years of graft—takes the opposite tack. “With mainstream audiences, I have to change my entire set. My references are very cultural, and I’m talking specifically cultural. If you’ve never been in that world or that circle, you won’t understand what I’m talking

Comedy

Tez Ilyas: TEZ Talks

about. Even though we think London’s multicultural, we still have separate experiences.” While Baptiste believes that persistence will result in audiences attuning themselves to a comedian’s material, Omotayo is wary of approaching crowds in anything that could be deemed a confrontational manner. “As much as black people like to point the finger, we’re just as ignorant to other races,” is one of the explanations he offers. Another is that, “when you’re a black comic, you carry the weight of every single black person in the world. How you portray yourself on stage, your colleagues at work are going to be judged by it. I have a responsibility to represent myself in such a way that the perceptions of people like me will change.” The opinion shared by all three emerging acts is that the urban circuit is too parochial and exclusionary by nature. It makes sense that it exists because, as Baptiste suggests, “in any kind of entertainment, people tend to project onto or have empathy for someone they might resemble or share experiences with”, but people should be open to new perspectives. It could too be accused of engendering complacency in its acts – something Ilyas, a recent convert to structured, narrative-driven shows, seems especially disapproving of. “I think the urban circuit spoils people because they can progress to a certain level and earn good money quite quickly. Whereas on the mainstream

circuit, you’ve got to fucking slog. You’ve got to do the open mics, the mixed bills, come up to Edinburgh, lose lots of money and I can see why that’s unattractive.” Still very much at the onset of a promising career, Baptiste desires to continue developing as an artist, exposing his following to new realms of honesty and insight. “It’s a symbiotic relationship between you and your audience where if you maintain consistency and keep doing what endeared you to them in the first place, they’ll support that. Fame and infamy never last.” Let’s hope that neither do stereotypes and barriers. ✏︎ Lewis Porteous

SHOW: VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Dane Baptiste: Reasonable Doubts Pleasance Courtyard 7:15pm – 8:15pm, 5–30 Aug, not 17 £11 – £13 Tez Ilyas: TEZ Talks Pleasance Courtyard 7:15pm – 8:15pm, 5–30 Aug, not 17 £10 – £12 Funmbi Omotayo: Legal Immigrant Gilded Balloon 9:00pm – 10:00pm, 6–30 Aug £8.50 – £9.50

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LEAD THEATRE CRITIC

Matt Trueman

Am I dead yet? Is it over? Can we all go home now? Are we done here? Is it safe to come out? This has been the longest Fringe in living memory. I know negativity’s not the done thing. I know we’re supposed to be all, like, “EDINBURGH FRINGE: WHOOP WHOOP”, but the truth is that 2015 has not been a good vintage. In fact, it’s been distinctly average: a sea of mediocrity; a trudge through sludge. There’s not much bad work out there (providing you know the places to avoid), but there’s not that much really good stuff either. It’s all much of a muchness. Seventy-plus shows in, I’d only champion 10 at most. Usually it’s easy to find double that; maybe more. Maybe I’ve just been looking in the wrong places. Maybe I’ve just been a massive grump all month. Maybe you’ve had more luck than me and maybe it’s been better in the blue pages next door where the comedians hang out. Maybe, when Simon McBurney arrives on day three and delivers a once-in-a-decade Complicite show like The Encounter, it becomes harder to get excited about an emerging company from Tring or A.N. Other performance lecture about taking care of one another. Maybe it’s George Osborne’s fault and no one’s had the time or resources to really nail their show down. It’s probably that. Fucking George Osborne. Whatever the reason, kneel by your beds tonight and pray to the gods of the British Council Edinburgh Showcase. The biennial festival-in-a-festival rides into town this week with 30 new shows and a load of hangers-on in tow. It’s the Fringe equivalent of a deus ex machina and it might just save us all from mediocrity. Pray, people, pray. It hasn’t started brilliantly. Unlimited Theatre’s Am I Dead Yet? feels like one of those half-cooked shows we’re blaming on the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Chris Thorpe and Jon Spooner want us to talk about death and, over the course of an hour, proceed to say little more on the subject than that. A kind of cabaret of death, with songs and stories and sciencey bits, it kicks off with two men in their forties in their pants. You see two middle-aged bodies showing life’s wear and tear – the bald bits, the paunches, the bags round the eyes – and you know exactly why they’ve been preoccupied with the subject. Life begins at 40? Pah. For the most part, it revolves around two fragmented stories: one about two policemen picking up body parts after a suicide on the rail tracks; the other about a young girl, trapped beneath the ice and drowned – technically dead, but, because her body temperature

Am I Dead Yet? ««« Traverse Theatre, times vary, 18–30 Aug, not 24, £18

The Paradise Project «« Northern Stage @ Summerhall, 5:40pm – 6:50pm, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £12

The Paradise Project

Theatre

Credit: Richard Davenport

Reviews

Am I Dead Yet?

has dropped so significantly, only temporarily. The argument—such as there is one—sits in the interplay of these two stories. As medical science advances, so our control over death increases, and it’s quite conceivable that, in the not so distant future, we’ll have to actively choose to die. Time we started talking about it, in other words. This isn’t necessarily the right conversation, though, being far too happy to skim the surface and skirt what they call the last remaining taboo. They muse on male suicide rates and your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest, then bash out a lovely little improvised, crowd-sourced song on the subject. It’s scatty, scruffy stuff: a magazine show about mortality. Tonally, however, it’s neatly balanced: Thorpe’s morose and Spooner’s puppyish. The crisp, Spartan writing style—pure Thorpe— its well with an eager-beaver curiosity—Spooner’s—that’s always out to cram one more stat into the mix. With a CPR demonstration mid-show, this is theatre that could genuinely save lives – and how many shows can say that? The Paradise Project wants to save the world – or at least, it wants to start a new one, a better one. Actually, why stop short there? Third Angel and Mala Voadora

want perfection. Paradise on earth. Utopia. A rotating cast of performers—always one male, one female—play Person A and Person B. Think Adam and Eve 2.0, charged with founding an ideal society that keeps all its members happy at all times. Having built themselves shelter, sourced food and laid out a month’s supply of water, they need to agree on some rules. So, is killing ever allowed? What about stealing? In no time at all, they’re onto meta-questions of methodology. How to settle disagreements? How to make democracy workable with only two voters? Majority rules, second preferences, 10 votes apiece. It’s pertinent given crises of democracy around Europe and across Britain. It nudges up against Scottish independence and electoral reform. Trouble is, it’s unfeasibly dry – almost theoretical theatre.That white graph-paper room stands in for the world like a mathematician’s model and, surprise surprise, all A and B can think to do is make a model of their own. And so on, ad infinitum.That makes The Paradise Project entirely illustrative, dragging out a few ideas into a full hour’s ‘drama’, but forgetting the humour, momentum and flavour that makes drama a delight. Its paradise is lifeless. Again: is it over? Am I dead yet? ✏︎ Matt Trueman

Circus has been growing here for over 10 years, and this year there is not just one but two dedicated circus hubs: the Underbelly’s Meadows station with domes The Lafayette and The Beauty; and the Big Sexy Circus City at Fountainbridge. Gone are the days when a lone trapeze artist would cause a stir at the Spiegeltent. Now the Fringe is attracting world-class acts who play with, evolve and challenge the form to create startling and imaginative shows. If ever there was a contender for the new La Clique, it’s Barbu. Burlesque has been on the wane for years, and nothing has quite yet filled the gap of its sexy, breathy glamour. Until now. The look is striptease-lumberjack, the music Québécois traditional tunes with electro beats. These bearded men toss each other into balances like Soviet hammer throwers, roller skate at breakneck speed and pole dance with surprising grace. One of them hurls a beer keg in loops around his head; another, dressed in corset and military boots, juggles silk scarves. And if you’re the type that believes no circus is complete without animals—as one lady in the queue for Les Inouis (below) lamented to me—then Barbu’s magic hamster won’t disppoint. It’s a riot of an evening with a rugged hanging-out-at-the-sauna atmosphere, and deliriously fabulous music. One of this year’s recurring threads in circus is film noir. The performers of Circa dress in tailcoats and spats, and The Elephant in the Room comes over all Cluedo on us. Meanwhile over at the Big Sexy Circus City Hitch! is inspired by the works of Alfred Hitchcock. As with Elephant, it’s an awesome concept. Some of Hitchcock’s best-loved movies contain breathtaking stunts; others have circus themes in their titles (Vertigo, Rope); and 1930s Murder! even has its climax on a trapeze at a big top. I’ll be honest, perhaps the Hitchcock dork in me had hopes that were too high for this. I was expecting something akin to a performance from the Reduced Shakespeare Company, weaving together plots and stunts into circus tricks. This does happen a couple of times, with a Vertigo-inspired slackline act and a Chinese pole routine by a woman covered in birds. But each skit is in isolation, and although the shower scene from Psycho is schlockily original, with a neat twist, some scenes have only the most tenuous relation to their subject. With the exception of Anna Sandreuter who

Barbu Electric Trad Cabaret «««««

Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 9:50pm – 11:00pm, 10–29 Aug, not 18, £17.50 – £18.50

Les Inouis «««« Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 2:25pm – 3:25pm, 9–29 Aug, not 13, 17, 24, £11 – £12

Wings in my Heart «««« Big Sexy Circus City, times vary, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £20

Hitch! «« Big Sexy Circus City, times vary, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £12

Hitch

Credit: David Monteith-Hodge

DANCE CRITIC

Lucy Ribcheser

With 40 or so circus shows in town this year, you could definitely spend every night of the Fringe at the big top.

Theatre

Credit: Christian Bonneville

Reviews

festmag.co.uk

Barbu Electric Trad Cabaret

stands out for her skills and comic timing, the acrobatics don’t hold up against the other circuses around town. Which is a shame because the company are so loveable and engaging; if this show pitched up with no competition you’d have a great night out. Away from film homages, companies are also framing serious themes with circus skills. B-Orders, from the Palestinian Circus Company uses physical feats to share images of life under occupation, and dazzling duet Smoke and Mirrors at Assembly Checkpoint—really one of this year’s must-see circus shows—explores the need for kindness in world obsessed with work. At Underbelly’s Beauty, Belgian troupe T1J, of the stunning L’Enfant Qui, have created a stark, brooding look at the plights of migrants. Les Inouis—‘the unheard’—takes place in vignettes of melancholy dreams and garish nightmares. You can see the relationship between this piece and the style of L’Enfant Qui: the storytelling isn’t always crystal clear but the images touch you in a part of the brain that connects with the gut. A man washes up ashore and a wolf in a Cyr wheel circles, elegant but menacing. Later a woman gives birth on a slackline, her tremors reaching right along the rope. She stands, clutching the baby, teetering back and forth, and it captures brutally the terror and peril of being alone in a hostile environment, just trying to keep a child alive. It’s a circus piece that keeps growing inside you after it has finished; a performance by a

company with huge empathy and unusual ways of visualising complex feelings. For something more traditional—in the cirque nouveau sense rather than the red-cheeked ringmaster one—Wings of My Heart is at the larger big top in the Big Sexy Circus City. You’d be forgiven for running from its pink and purple posters, but despite a tangible new age ambiance, this circus has some of the most original, arresting showpieces this Fringe. There’s a fantastic atmosphere down at the Circus City, with open-air workshops and a well-stocked bar, and on the afternoon I went, before the show opened a man slowly climbed a high wire into the clouds. The opening of Wings is spectacular, so much so it seems a shame to spoil it – but expect both water and fire in an elemental dance with mythic grace. The show relies heavily on its design, but then, there’s a circus brain behind that too: directorial duo Maedir Rigolo and Lena Roth, who have the kind of transportative imagination you want from the medium, create skirts that whisper in the air, a giant Newton’s cradle, and a mechanical bird-frame. At two and a half hours, it’s long, but the finale is extraordinary. Most ringside climaxes build applause on applause on applause; here you can hear the breath of the performer from 30 feet away. As her skills soar, so does the tension, and it leaves you with that old circus feeling that you’ve seen some human superpower at work. ✏︎ Lucy Ribchester

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7.20PM (8.20PM)

No 20 mi N 1 i Nt 4 m e e e : F es e rN lb o u tiv ati r al o N N e ba al rr Co y a me wa dy rd

06-30 AUGUST 2015

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  r n co m   edia n.     Sco t s m ’ an   List   Fe s t S kin

10.10PM (11.10PM) 06-30 AUGUST 2015

Danny Ward Assured storytelling from this unconventional youngster HHHH PAGE 24

Comedy Reviews

24 Comedy

League Table 1

Phil Nicol ««««« The Canadian comic returns to the Fringe with a new show that lurches spectacularly from catharsis to carnival

Butt Kapinski «««« US clown Deanna Fleysher investigates as private dick Butt Kapinski, casting her audience as every other role in her hilarious take on film noir

Danny Ward St Vitus Dance ««««

Angela Barnes ««««

VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

This return to the Fringe presents an hour of confessional standup that flits between the mundane and a discussion of identity

James Acaster «««« Nominated for the Comedy Award for the last three years running, this masterful performer is long over due a gong

Corey White «««« A heart-rending confession of personal hardships and universal truths from a Fringe newcomers

Pleasance Courtyard 7:05pm – 8:05pm 5–30 Aug £7 – £9.50

Danny Ward opens with an explanation: as a restless child, his mother would joke he had “St Vitus Dance”. His show is named after that memory. It was only recently he learned that St Vitus Dance, or Sydenham’s chorea, is a real medical disorder – which, he admits, it would have been nice to know before he had thousands of flyers printed. This typifies Ward’s approach to standup: though the duds are rare, when he does make a few slight missteps, he not only recovers from them, but usually turns them into newer, better jokes. Ward retains all the energy of his youth, but has thankfully combined it with the focus and cynicism of adulthood. Consequently, he has a talent for probing any strange fact or societal stupidity he alights on with deliberative,

frustrated rationality. At one point, Ward remembers spotting a woman buying two tins of Heinz baked beans, and two tins of Aldi own brand beans. This obsesses him, and by the time Ward has finished interrogating the possible reasons for such a dual-purchase, the whole room is laughing in agreement. Though there are plenty of well-crafted one-liners, Ward’s real gift is storytelling: he can spin anecdotes out of mundanity so expertly that the story of his stay in a Travelodge at a Cardiff service station becomes a minor saga. The observational comedy of daily life is, quite naturally, unavoidable at the Fringe. As such, it not only deserves but requires unconventional approaches such as Ward’s. He reminds us just how strange the everyday can be. ✏︎ Sean Bell

OUR LADIES of Perpetual Succour Based on The Sopranos by Alan Warner Adapted by Lee Hall Directed by Vicky Featherstone

Traverse Theatre18 - 30 Aug 2015

Box Office: 0131 228 1404 traverse.co.uk Touring to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Kirkcaldy, Musselburgh and Newcastle.

Age recommendation: 16+ Contains swearing, sambuca & singing National Theatre of Scotland is core funded by

@NTSonline #OurLadies

nationaltheatrescotland.com

The National Theatre of Scotland reserves the right to alter casts, performances, seating or ticket arrangements and latecomers may not be admitted. National Theatre of Scotland, a company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland (SC234270) is a registered Scottish charity (SC033377). Photograph of the cast by Simon Murphy.

Stuart Goldsmith An Hour «««« TIME:

Canons’ Gait 4:55pm – 5:50pm 8–30 Aug, not 19

TICKETS:

FREE

VENUE:

There’s little we Brits like better than a good sitdown. If you do it during a standup gig it does seem a bit odd calling it standup, but then ‘standup-sitdown’ sounds like a kid’s show, and this is far too thoughtful for that. Stuart Goldsmith returns to the free Fringe, surely the natural home

for a long-time street performer, and finds himself on a stage with a big couch at the back, one of those comfy cushioned nightclub ones, which—either by accident or design—has become a handy performance tool. When Stu starts to take stock, he takes a seat. Suddenly this isn’t just a man telling jokes for spare change, but a well-travelled sage, imparting hard-won wisdom. That said, the fully-erect bits are excellent too. Goldsmith is a hugely underrated comic, effortlessly confident and accomplished, belying the tales of anxiety that pepper his sets. He’s previously been accused of being too polished, but there’s a

relaxed air to this show – the couch helps – while his material remains beautifully crafted. One routine, a seemingly unpromising riff on the concept of beer goggles, boasts an inspired pay-off that could well become an oft-repeated classic, with the right exposure. In a different era Goldsmith would be the king of prime-time, but perhaps he falls between today’s mainstream TV stools, the T-shirted kids and the be-suited guys. He may still be a bit too street for the latter camp. The question is, if he transfers this show to London, will he take the couch with him? ✏︎ Si Hawkins

ingredients to the joke and letting the audience cook it up themselves. Rather than set up, set up, punch line, he just reads out the recipe and knows those who want to will make the humour. Insanely convoluted callbacks are peppered throughout and the rewards for an attentive audience are huge. That said, it’s impossible not to pay attention, as Simmons

spends a good deal of his time touching, screaming at, and covering the audience in foodstuffs. This show couldn’t be further from normal standup, and that's the whole idea. Points are awarded during the Fringe for originality, pushing the boundaries of comedy and taking risks. Sam Simmons takes a lot of points for this mad hour. ✏︎ Graeme Connelly

Sam Simmons Spaghetti for Breakfast «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly Potterrow 9:00pm – 10:00pm 5–30 Aug, not 17 £12.50 – £14

Simmons takes absurdist comedy to a new level. He does it cleverly and divisively – indeed, he literally divides a room. Half are in hysterics, half are bemused. All are wondering what is actually happening here. A huge volume of props is strewn around the stage to be used in accompaniment to a meticulously worded script. Some of the script is spoken live, some is his own voice, pre-recorded and played for him to react to. It is all bizarre from the word go and dished out in little morsels so if one bit isn’t to your taste, the next will be. There are jokes, but he doesn’t actually tell them. Part of Simmons’ genius is in providing the

Comedy

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The I Hate Children Children’s Show Award winning magic for kids and cool parents.

Get your tickets now! Best

Children’s Show

IHATECHILDREN.COM

Mornings at 11:45 Pleasance Courtyard

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011

Editor’s Choice

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011

The List No2

at the Fringe 2013

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I Loved Her «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 5:30pm – 6:30pm 8–30 Aug £9 – £10

A love story set in the age of social media, Jessie Cave’s I Loved Her is more a one-woman show than straight standup. She begins waiting for the three dots of an incoming message on an oversized, crudely drawn cardboard iPhone. That’s the other thing you should probably know about Jessie Cave – she is relentlessly and unashamedly quirky, so much so that she has made a collage of other people’s receipts for no reason other than that they left them there. She mixes her own history (“my first love was Screech from Saved by the Bell”)

Jonny Pelham Before and After «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 6:45pm – 7:35pm 5–31 Aug £7 – £9.50

Jonny Pelham speaks the language of an outsider. Having been born with popliteal pterygium syndrome (a cleft palate condition that affects one in 300,000 people), he’s grown accustomed to the outcast’s perspective cruelly thrust upon him. Does any of this make him pity himself, or prevent him from performing brilliantly

with social media tips for a successful life (“when I want to make someone jealous I just Instagram a picture of a random man’s hand”). After getting pregnant on a onenight stand she lays bare all the thoughts and feelings that go along with new love and young motherhood. Using shadow puppetry and child-like masks as a way of impersonating her new boyfriend and baby she tells of the ins and outs of a very modern relationship. Her neuroses about ex-girlfriends will hit a nerve with anyone that’s ever discovered an old love letter. After a blistering start and spew of raw emotion, I Loved Her loses steam toward the end with only a few stories punctuated with laughter. Very much a 21st-century romance peppered with embarrassing and all too recognisable anecdotes, Cave has created a beautiful one-person romcom for millennials. ✏︎ John Stansfield

expressive standup? Not one bit. His abilitiy to provoke a laugh has evolved from a coping mechanism during awkward teenage years into a professional career, one in which he can project his insecurities on stage and find solace in the affirmation an audience offers. There’s an underlying, and endearing, vulnerability to his act, which at moments makes you forget you’re watching a show – he’s a natural guy, and he’s simply sharing witty anecdotes from his formative years. Conjuring genuinely hilarious images (such as his description of his childhood “gang”, in which the cultural differences between himself and his four Bangladeshi friends made him seem more like their lawyer),

Comedy

Jessie Cave

he paints a wry picture of life as a partially disabled adolescent. He’s emotionally receptive without being mawkish, and his speech impediment gives him a gentle, lethargic delivery (presumably a happy accident rather than comic design). There is a tendency in his work to lay the groundwork for a joke, but then fail to formulate the phrasing necessary to execute the punchline; he’ll carefully thread the semantics of an anecdote only to stumble in his wording, losing the punch and the laugh it deserves. Despite this, Before and After remains a highly promising (given his relative inexperience) and wonderfully self-effacing show. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

9:10PM AUGUST 6TH - 30TH carlhutchinson.net @cphutchinson BROADWAY BABY

ONE 4 REVIEW

THREE WEEKS

“BRILLIANT” MICK FOLEY

NAOMi PAUL

‘Terrific deadpan delivery... topical and relevant. Audiences loved it!’ Pulse Ensemble Theatre

Aug 7-29 (not Sundays) | 08:05pm (50min) | Price £8.00 (£5.00)

“Possibly the most beautiful act currently performed in Europe” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)

FIRST TIME EVER IN UK. MULTI AWARD WINNING INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS WINNER 2015 PARIS - WINNER 2013 JAPAN - WINNER 2012 CANADA

bigsexycircuscity.com 29

venue 347, fountainbridge

Comedy

Jena Friedman American C*nt «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6 7:30pm – 8:30pm 18–30 Aug £8

Self-deprecation is an oft-used tone for comedians, some of whom forever try to make themselves the butt of the joke and endear themselves to their audience. Jena Friedman takes this to a whole new level with the name of her show alone. “I’m aware that there’s a very offensive word in the title”, she begins. “American”. That indicates a level of transatlantic self-awareness largely absent from the material itself, but it is fittingly daring given the black humour

she purveys. She’s teeming with prickly quips but, unlike many before her, there’s a smart undercurrent to her cutting bravado. So, beneath the 9/11 jokes there’s sterling commentary on femininity and cultural identity. It’s all enveloped in barbed retorts, of course, but there’s still intriguing social critique lurking below the surface. The New York comic has written for Letterman and curently serves as a producer on The Daily Show, so she’s not a newbie to the indus-

try. Despite this the show is, by her own admission, still a work in progress, and the fabric of her routines is a little disjointed at times. Without the fluency that comes with a polished structure, she doesn’t quite achieve as much as she could have. There are sufficient snort-inducing gags to render that less of an issue, though. She’s restricted herself to a fairly niche market in terms of substance, but her style is such that her appeal stretches much further. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

Steve Bugeja Day Release «««« VENUE:

TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Mash House 8:00pm – 9:00pm 6–30 Aug, not 18 £5

What happens when an already socially awkward man finds himself driving the father of the girl he loves, on day release from prison, to her wedding to another man? You’ll find the answer in this touching and funny show, which takes a roomful of people on a most surprising road trip. Bugeja is an oddball of a man, which he explains by way of 10 introductory facts about himself at the top of the show. It’s a helpful device that not only warms up the

Lou Conran Small Medium at Large ««« VENUE:

TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Gardens times vary 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24 £8

“You’ll think I’m bonkers,” admits Lou Conran, early in her debut hour. In fact, she isn’t bonkers enough. If Conran were a more psychedelic, starry-eyed character, her troublesome stories of supernatural encounters could be passed off as the fanciful concoctions of a space cadet. But she seems much

room but sets the scene and introduces us to this geeky, studious and slightly socially inept man – one half of the odd couple that star in his tale. It also starts the rhythm of peppy laughs that continue uninterrupted throughout. It’s a fascinating tale, and a very personal one, as Bugeja finds himself repeatedly going against his own personal ethos – “Don’t do things you’re scared of”. And this is a man scared of many things. Bugeja keeps his audience rapt, sharing his discomfort at the peer pressure to go on the stag do, his terror at meeting this man he is to spend three hours in a car with, and just what came from that drive in terms of Bugeja’s own personal growth and view of the world. The detail is delicious, and the laughs warm steadily while Bugeja shares his story with unabashed honesty. An uplifting treat. ✏︎ Victoria Nangle

too normal to be seeing visions of ghostly houseguests and prophetic green energy balls hovering over friends’ shoulders. You’d think she was making it all up for comic effect, but that energy-ball story ends far too unpleasantly to be fabricated. It’s all slightly unnerving. Which is unexpected, given how lovely her venue is – one of the Fringe’s finest, in fact. Despite this being her first hour, Conran has managed to secure her own dedicated caravan in the Assembly Gardens and decked it out like a festival fortune-teller’s lair. From the décor, poster, and, indeed, her introductory section, you’d assume that this show is an immersive character effort. In fact Conran

quickly loses the exotic airs and cracks on with an enlightening tale of dead bodies, freaky happenings and supernatural intercourse. The setting makes for a novel audience experience, as everyone (well, 12 at most) faces each other on the cosy caravan couches: you do find yourself going “ooh!” at the random stranger opposite. Conran makes good use of the intimate setting, involving us all in a non-threatening manner, and her storytelling gets stronger as the show progresses. Come the final curtain, we may have experienced some unnerving tales, but we’ve done it together. A spooky static-caravan of love. ✏︎ Si Hawkins

ST ANDREW

SQUARE GARDEN

Returning for a second year this outdoor arena has proven to be the bestandbrightestnewFestivalhubinthecity.StAndrewSquareGarden will also play host to The Spiegeltent, plus the best in free outdoor entertainment, fantastic bars and mouth-watering food concessions!

16 jul - 31 aug

www.thestand.co.uk | tickets: 0131 558 7272 www.arfringe.com | tickets: 0844 693 3008

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LE MONDE

Martin Mor Away Gallivanting ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

The Stand Comedy Club 2 8:20pm – 9:20pm 7–30 Aug, not 17 £8

Some comedians spend half their time on stage trying to develop a rapport with the audience, convincing us that we’re all good chums and that the whole show is just a framing device for some classic banter among mates. For Martin Mor, it’s established from the moment he starts speaking and

it feels reassuringly natural. The veteran standup from Coleraine has a gregarious way with people that makes Graham Norton look a bit wooden, and it’s the fulcrum of his act. Mor has done a lot of travelling over his many years in standup, and he’s got a few stories to tell. His party piece is sharing anecdotes about his time in a country randomly suggested by the audience. You get the sense he could’ve kept it up for hours, such is his combination of intrepid traveller and gifted storyteller. With his booming Northern Irish voice, tattoos, piercings and ZZ Top facial hair, subtlety in style or substance is not something Mor

goes in search of with his material. Indeed, his unassailable self-confidence, along with his bold image, adds to his appeal. He’s uncompromising in his role as neighbourly raconteur, ceaselessly spinning yarns and maintaining our interest throughout. Occasionally it becomes too bogged down in friendly feeling, more like a pal waxing lyrical in the pub than crafted standup, but perhaps that’s his intention. Whether it’s his dangerous encounter with an audience member in Cape Town or the time he got more than he bargained for watching a peep show in Amsterdam, Mor is always on the cusp of another interesting tale. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

characters, most of which, individually, are very funny – ridiculously exaggerated caricatures and stereotypes of tourists, police officers and the types of people who organise fêtes. Nonetheless, no loose ends are left dangling and all the seemingly random moments from the start are given meaning and fit into the story. But something doesn’t quite click. Perhaps it’s that we’re given

too short a time to let the madness of the world of zazU sink in – or maybe we’re given too much to take in all at once. It would make a great sitcom – there are catchphrases and regular characters that keep reappearing in this strange world where normal rules don’t apply. But disbelief is never entirely suspended and the end result is a good show that could have been great. ✏︎ Graeme Connelly

zazU A Fête Worse Than Death ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 9:45pm – 10:45pm 5–31 Aug, not 19 £8.50 – £10

zazU is a lovely comedy play about a weird fictional place that is hosting a summer fete and the various interested parties involved in making the fete happen. There is mystery, intrigue, murder and quiche. All four of the cast members are keen as mustard and each performs marvellously. The story is good – clever, well written and with enough variety to keep the audience hooked. All the ingredients are there. Yet somehow the whole isn’t greater than the sum of its parts. Perhaps, it’s just a bit too fragmented. The cast dart off between each scene for quick costume changes and reappear as different

Comedy

festmag.co.uk

Matthew Crosby Smaller Than Life ««« VENUE:

TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Mash House 7:40pm – 8:30pm 6–30 Aug, not 18 £5

When Matthew Crosby performs with Pappy’s, his infectiously silly sketch troupe, he projects an air of authority. Without his professional, sometimes stern presence, we sense their shows would be lost to the easygoing buffoonery of his partners. Whenever he goes it alone as a standup, it’s striking to watch this aura fade. The material he peddles is generally lightweight and reliant on novelty props, the comedian doing everything in his power to convince us we’re having a freewheeling good time. He’s successful up to a point.

There are enough surprises, callbacks and party games here to keep us entertained, but never does Crosby strike upon anything particularly inspired. When the pace sags, moments of clarity kick in and we find ourselves disappointed by his inability to take his performance to the next level. Much of the show is informed by a recent holiday to Russia. Asserting that Vladimir Putin is the kind of man he’d most like to be, the comedian dons a mask of the president’s face and challenges the audience to tests of physical

strength. Satire is an important tool for attacking the powerful, but Crosby offers no commentary on the man or his politics. Instead, he treats him like a faintly risible 1980s action movie star. “It’s not very great if you’re a gay person in Russia,” he acknowledges at one point, a reference to the country’s institutionalised homophobia and general disregard for human rights. Could he be about to engage with the world in a serious or meaningful way? Let’s ask the glove puppet he’s just fished from his prop bag. ✏︎ Lewis Porteous

36 Comedy

Howard Read Man (Work in Progress) ««« TIME:

Banshee Labyrinth 4:20pm – 5:20pm 8–22 Aug

TICKETS:

RUN ENDED

VENUE:

Awkward and bumbling but entirely capable, Howard Read is a man doing his best in a world that doesn’t make it easy. He is a work in progress, as is his show. Read admits at the start that it could do with some polishing, but there is nonetheless a good deal of his charm is in his unfinished approach. He stutters at the ruder words that he himself has chosen to say and, elsewhere, apologetically explains the punchline to weaker jokes that don’t quite land. It is quirky and appealing. His honesty is refreshing and, though his style varies from the quietly calm to loud screams, it is always genuine. The show is loaded with jokes, good and bad. He drip feeds them slowly but surely. There is never too long to wait for a laugh, and some of his one liners are fantastic. There is a brief but entertaining song that should feel completely out of place in a standard stand up show, but Read again makes it all feel like just another day at the office. Read handles being heckled like a seasoned champion. Elegantly, he draws the heckler into the show then discards them when he is done, leaving no ill feelings or resentment – just a gentle lesson in manners. In this work in progress, it is undoubtedly his crowd work which, while unusual, is the most solid of his skills. ✏︎ Graeme Connelly

Andrew Watts How to Build a Chap ««« VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Laughing Horse @ The Counting House 8:45pm – 9:45pm 6–30 Aug, not 17 FREE

It takes some considerable cajones to stand before an Edinburgh audience and perform even one non-derisive joke about cricket; Andrew Watts manages several, and, astonishingly, manages to pull them off. In a way, it’s a good representation of Watts’ approach to the entire show: the occasional injection of the unexpected keeps it fresh, and he knows precisely how far he can pursue a running gag without testing the audience’s patience. That said, Watts’ set never suffers from moments of boredom: he produces a tightly-crafted hour of comedy, in large part due to a strict adherence to his chosen theme. Following up his successful Fringe run with Feminism for Chaps, How to Build a Chap tackles the mysteries and discontents of fatherhood. Watts approaches the subject with a gratifyingly self-

aware bent. Given that reflecting on how to raise his child inevitably means reconsidering his own father, Watts declares upfront that the spectacle of a male comedian working through their daddy issues is not exactly unheard of at the Fringe, before taking generally effective steps to subvert the cliché. Elsewhere though, Watts’ material strays into reliable but predictable territory. Almost every comic who has produced progeny will employ them as comedy fodder sooner or later, and as a result, many of the jokes—the sheer exhaustion of parenting, the indecipherability of children’s logic—are hardly groundbreaking. But there are still plenty of laughs to be had, and Watts is careful never to exploit his offspring, always preferring to turn his well-phrased mockery on himself. ✏︎ Sean Bell

“Possibly the most beautiful act currently performed in Europe” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)

FIRST TIME EVER IN UK. MULTI AWARD WINNING INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS WINNER 2015 PARIS - WINNER 2013 JAPAN - WINNER 2012 CANADA

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The world famous circus trailblazers return to

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A show that mixes spectacle and storytelling. The Guardian ASSEMBLY HALL

18:00 6 - 31 AUG

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Comedy

Pippa Evans

TIME:

Bannermans 1:45pm – 2:40pm 8–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24

TICKETS:

FREE

VENUE:

The fact that Pippa Evans believes there are no guilty pleasures would seem to indicate she is unfamiliar with some of the more outré entertainments at the Fringe... But I digress. Given that many of the standups who invade Edinburgh each year regard their easily-mocked audiences the same way a shark might view a school of obese tuna, the fact that Evans tells us we have nothing to be ashamed of is refreshing. She mines her own unfashionable proclivities for the purposes of self-deprecation, but never

Credit: Callum Teggin

There Are No Guilty Pleasures «««

apologises for them, and believes we shouldn’t either, no matter what our guilty pleasures may be. This lends a nice touch of emotional honesty to what otherwise might be a fairly predictable show. As a practitioner of musical comedy, Evans is something of a rarity: she can actually sing. Unfortunately, this is often wasted on some middling material (two bythe-numbers parodies of country music and hipsters, in particular). Her more personal routines, which switch between giddy ebullience and ironic grimness with light-

ning-quick speed, usually make up for any tiresome lulls. Another strong point of Evans’ set is that she exhibits a bravery rare at the Fringe, in that she is prepared to poke fun at the British comedy establishment itself. It’s a bold move for any UK-based comedian to declare they have no interest in appearing on a panel show, and hearing jokes about the omnipresent Jimmy Carr that are usually only told by dissatisfied TV wannabes is both unexpected and satisfying. ✏︎ Sean Bell

Nathan Caton Straight Outta Middlesex ««« VENUE: TIME:

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TICKETS:

Pleasance Dome 8:00pm – 9:00pm 5–30 Aug, not 17 £8.50 – £11

A key moment in Nathan Caton’s set comes when he gently mocks the audience that he’s picked up since being on Radio 4 last year. He recalls a nice, middle-class older lady who approached him after a show, exclaimed her fandom and then attempted a fist-bump. It nicely sums up a show that’s likeable, sometimes very funny, sometimes a little awkward and overly eager to please. Caton is an appealing character: a middle-class boy from Greenford who’s from “West London” when he’s trying to be cool, or “Middlesex” when he’s talking to the police. He throws lines and turns of phrase out with faux-street casual-

John Lloyd Emperor of the Prawns ««« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

Assembly Checkpoint 4:30pm – 5:30pm 6–30 Aug, not 19 £11 – £13

With a hand in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Not the Nine O’Clock News, Spitting Image, Have I Got New For You and Blackadder, John Lloyd has more than earned his reputation. Without his efforts, the landscape of comedy, in the UK and beyond, would be unrecognisable. Hence the difficulty with Em-

ness, all the while acknowledging that he’s actually a bit of a dweeb. The material itself is a mixed bag. Caton takes the popular view that “political correctness has gone way too far” and is funny on people’s quickness to take offence. A punter at a previous gig who accused him of anti-ginger “racism” is met with incredulity, as Caton points out that ginger’s not a race and wonders “when they got the upgrade”. He’s less convincing when he wheels out the hoary old myth that people are somehow trying to “ban

Christmas”, which undermines the sincerity of the rest of the set. There are some periods of slack between punchlines, and also in Caton’s overly polite audience interactions, in which he sometimes seems keener to be liked than to go for the laugh: a pitfall for a lot of young comics that Caton should be over by now. But this is distinctive, good-humoured and competent standup, which should encourage Radio 4 to come knocking again. ✏︎ Tom Hackett

peror of the Prawns: how much of the goodwill extended to Lloyd as a performer is on retainer from his previous work, and how much is due to his talents onstage? Lloyd would apparently prefer we didn’t think about this divide too much. Though he is generally a pleasure to listen to—erudite without pretension, genial but not pandering, and very funny—Emperor of the Prawns suffers a little from its constant name-dropping, making sure we remember precisely who Lloyd is, who he’s worked with, and what he’s done. Then again, that is Lloyd’s life, and he has every right to talk about it. In some cases we should be glad he did: his reminis-

cences of his late friend Douglas Adams are as touching as they are hilarious. Emperor of the Prawns, in style somewhere between standup and a self-aware TED talk, is a journey through Lloyd’s personal philosophy on life and humanity. Its moments of seriousness and humour almost perfectly counterbalance (understandably, it dips towards the latter), though as a whole, it is something of a curate’s egg. Funny voices are not, regrettably, Lloyd’s strong point, and such experiments detract from the show’s real joy: listening to Lloyd’s sardonic observations, meandering inquiries, and autobiographical revery. ✏︎ Sean Bell

Geoff Norcott The Look of Moron «« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Tron 2:20pm – 3:20pm 10–29 Aug, not 18 £5

Geoff Norcott talks a good game, but only when he’s not on stage. The blurb for this show is bullish, promising to take on “lazy lefties” and “dogmatic atheists”, indicating that Norcott would live up to his self-styled status as one of the few proud Conservative voters

in a comedy industry generally seen as left-leaning. But once he’s confronted with the audience, it’s another matter. Despite the fact he faces no apparent rancour from the crowd, Norcott appears somewhat nervous about bringing his iconoclastic Tory comedy to the land of massive SNP majorities. His more explicitly political material is apologetic, rather than pugilistic. He emphasises, a little desperately, that there is more that unites than divides him with the average Edinburgh punter. As a result, you don’t need to share Northcott’s politics to enjoy this show. Only the most overzealous idealogue would be offended

by Norcott, but equally, only the most devoted right-winger would give him a free pass purely for the positions he espouses. The Look of Moron is unashamedly middle-ofthe-road observational comedy on domestic life and contemporary culture, for the most part unlikely to offend or beguile. His strongest material is focused on his perception of himself (versus, say, how his agent perceives him), though one suspects there’s a lot more that could be mined there. From the rapport he establishes with us, Norcott clearly has nothing to fear from the audience. But his lack of courage leaves the show underwhelming. ✏︎ Sean Bell

Charles Booth

at first but we soon get the hang of it. Booth chatters through his collection of showpieces with a few recurring themes – including the politically questionable notion of “transracialism”, in which someone born into one ethnicity feels they belong better in another – and throws himself—sometimes physically— into each character. Unfortunately the laughs are just too few and far between, and the material not strong enough to carry the show. There is one stand-out character, a depressed and washed out northern comedian subverting known gags and taking them to darker destinations. Booth plays well here and lets himself seep into angry despair with entertaining results. But for the most part, this is a showcase for Booth’s versatility as a performer. He can sing, dance, act and throw his all into a plethora of accents, as well as being a dab hand at costume and staging. With all the rigmarole covered, it’s just a shame more time wasn’t spent on punchlines. ✏︎ Victoria Nangle

Deer in the Spotlights «« VENUE:

TIME:

Credit: Steve Ullathorne

TICKETS:

Just the Tonic at The Mash House 5:20pm – 6:10pm 6–30 Aug, not 18 £5 – £6

Character comedy is traditionally an opportunity to showcase the versatility of a performer. Under the loose premise of a literal deer caught in the headlights of a truck, Charles Booth has a variety of lives pass in front of his roadkill’s eyes before it meets its maker. What begins with a dance mime piece from the perspective of a giant phallus and a variety of differently motivated sperm segues into a skit about a mad scientist who laughs maniacally at his own dastardly plots, chiefly concerning placing Daily Mail articles and fast weight loss stories. The concept is a little jarring

Comedy

Matt Winning Mugabe and Me (3D) «« TIME:

Opium 3:45pm – 4:45pm 8–29 Aug, not 18

TICKETS:

FREE

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VENUE:

There’s something to be said for starting your show with a bang. Kicking off with what he claims is “the most expensive opening joke at the Fringe”, Matt Winning does just that. He’s open, instantly likeable and keyed in to the absurd from the start, offering up material that is funny, well-written and full of ridiculous turns. He makes a good first impression. We’re asked to suspend our disbelief as this young white guy introduces himself as the son of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. It’s clearly absurd, but the fear that he will turn into his

Tiff Stevenson Mad Man «« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6 4:05pm – 5:05pm 6–29 Aug, not 17 £10

Tiff Stevenson is, by all accounts, quite good at comedy. Her profile has risen through reality TV series Show Me the Funny, and she’s since enjoyed success both at the Fringe and on TV. It’s a shame, then, that this year’s offering, Mad

father is a familiar idea rooted here in unfamiliar ground. Keen to travel the world and make his own mark, Winning embarks on an odyssey of international employment and experience, which unfortunately doesn’t deliver on the energy of such a promising beginning. The quirkiness is still there, but the laughs thin out as Winning’s more interesting ideas remain underdeveloped. The blend of surrealism with more reality-rooted issues doesn’t always work either, jarring awkwardly in places: a gag about Laser Quest leads to a dig about unaffordable mortgages, and there is a thoughtful but lengthy metaphor involving FIFA and a lightbulb joke. It’s a shame, as Winning can clearly write—as his Rabbie Burns pastiche demonstrates nicely— but not with the consistency to deliver this effectively over a whole hour. ✏︎ Victoria Nangle

Man, is so underwhelming. Stevenson handles culturally sensitive subjects with all the subtlety of a short film about a bull in a china shop directed by Michael Bay. In her hands, delicate topics are thumbed to pieces. At the other end of the scale, she goes after well-worn tropes. Isn’t Katie Hopkins horrible? Isn’t Dubai materialistic? Grateful are we for having such things pointed out to us. There is one brilliant joke about coverage of gay marriage only mentioning male couples—“Even equality isn’t equal”—but it’s mostly pretty hackneyed stuff.

There’s an uncomfortably arrogant air to her act, reeling off tired observations as though they’re so fresh only her brilliant mind could conceive of them. She refers to the fact that she’s a feminist. Great news. The problem is that she just uses that as a stick with which to beat hypothetical naysayers, instead of riffing on gender politics. Shut up and agree with her already! It’s particularly frustrating if, like me, you do agree with her, but find her views presented so petulantly you can’t help but feel alienated. ✏︎ Matthew Sharpe

42 AUG 12-16 3PM DAILY

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5 - 30 Aug 4pm (80 mins)

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A dark comedy about three recently deceased characters experience of hell by Jean Paul Satre, winner of the Noble Prize for Literature. M+E version is both funny and cruel with sublime twist. 17th - 29th August, 21.05 (50 Minutes) Tickets: £12 (c £10)

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The Encounter Complicite triumphs with this technologically thrilling new work HHHHH

Reviews

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PAGE 44

Theatre

Reviews

44 Theatre

League Table 1

Bromance «««««

Tomorrow ««««« A powerful exposition on the themes of loss and decay

Smoke and Mirrors «««««

Credit: Robbie Jack

First to bag a Fest five star this year is a physical, funny and fresh take on male relationships

The Encounter ««««« VENUE:

TIME:

Sexy, stripped-back circus about staying sane in the modern world

The Encounter ««««« Epic new writing that shocks and satisfies the audience with a stunning sonic soundscape

A Gambler's Guide To Dying «««« A moving tale about the fragility of life and family relationships

TICKETS:

Edinburgh International Conference Centre times vary 7–23 Aug, not 11, 12, 13, 18 £32

Simon McBurney's epic new play is many things. It is a thrilling story of survival, based on Petru Popescu's book Amazon Beaming, following American photographer Loren McIntyre as he gets lost in the Amazon jungle with a sometimes-hostile tribe. It's a pioneering piece of sonic art, guiding each audience member on a ourney with uncannily rendered 3D sound. McBurney's amplified voice blends with inventive Foley sound-effect creation, pre-recorded sound-scapes and interviews, played on loop to create a lush aural world. But The Encounter also goes deeper, using biological and technological innovation to enrich not only a gripping story but also to realise its more metaphysical themes. Loren is able to communicate internally with the tribal leader via a form

of mind-reading – a phenomenon which the audience experiences; sounds and voices that whisk around our skulls. The Mayoruna tribe's way of life is threatened by oil developers. The tribe begin to move through the Amazon to “the beginning”, taking Loren with them. And things do get a bit pretty trippy: they destroy their possessions, seek to reach a higher, interconnected state of consciousness, taking hallucinogens and dancing until they break free of time itself. McBurney expands out from this scene, until The Encounter is about the stories we use to make sense of the world – including the very concept of time itself. His solo performance is vast, dispelling any cynicism. This is a dazzling work that uses modern technology to make vivid an ancient, elemental story. ✏︎ Holly Williams

Ndebele Funeral «««« VENUE: TIME:

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TICKETS:

Summerhall 1:00pm – 2:15pm 5–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25 £13

Thandi is an exile in a South African shantytown living with Aids, when Mandisi (Yusef Miller), an ex-university friend from her days as a medical student, shows up. They’re interrupted by government worker Jan, who’s been sent to keep things in check. The play centres on an exploration of the socio-political climate of contemporary South Africa. Choreographers Sduduzo Ka-Mbili and Cuereston Burge experiment with movement to emphasise the unity of three central characters that, on the surface, are polarised in about every sense. Plot-wise,

Trans Scripts «««« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 3:00pm – 4:30pm 5–31 Aug, not 18 £7.50 – £10

It has become increasingly accepted that awareness of transgender issues, and the arguments carried with them, are more widely articulated today than at any point in history. Defenders of such a narrative point to figures such as Caitlin Jenner or Chelsea Manning and the plentiful coverage they have enjoyed, as if the media should be

the trio are brilliant at exposing each others’ downfalls, yet they never act uncaringly. It’s because they are good people. And Zoey Martinson’s writing (she also stars as Thandi) does well to highlight the affection between the two friends. The character of Jan offers a persuasive portrayal of a government messenger swept up in this crisis. Awoye Timpo’s direction never allows the audience outside of Thandi’s home, and though we are made to feel the fledgling nature of he condition we are never made to pity her, nor mourn her impending death, as the plot begins to soar. Here is a challenging, yet colourful, vision of unity in a fragmented state. Most pleasing of all is the way this difficult play tackles its themes of healthcare and poverty with dance, song, comedy and a very modern sense of the stage. ✏︎ Adam Bloodworth

congratulated for such generosity. But the narrative is just that, and it comes at the expense of less publicised realities: 16 trans Americans were murdered in the US this year. The latest was last week. Trans Scripts cannot alter the imbalances of popular perception alone, but it is a valiant piece of theatre that recognises its limitations and glories in what it can do. Constructed from interviews with trans individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, the show is powerfully aware that their community is forever subject to redefinition and debate, and that the present heightened awareness of their struggles and aspirations may disappear just

as quickly, leaving the same human beings behind in a world that has not yet matured enough to properly recognise them as such. The intelligence and eloquence of Trans Scripts extends far beyond the context in which it has been created. The six performers reminisce, painfully and hilariously, about how they came to understand themselves: what went right, what went wrong and what they have still to achieve. Trans Scripts tells the stories that are unique and familiar, moving and amusing, timely yet unending. It is the audience’s responsibility to listen; in this case, it is also a pleasure. ✏︎ Sean Bell

Quizoola! ««««

TIME:

Out of the Blue Drill Hall 3pm – 9pm 21 Aug

TICKETS:

RUN ENDED

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Q: So what’s Quizoola? A: It’s Forced Entertainment’s durational question and answer show (the clue’s in the “quiz” part of the name). Sometimes the company perform it for a full 24 hours, but at Forest Fringe they just do six hours with three alternating performers: Richard Lowdon, Terry

O’Connor and Cathy Naden. Q: How does it work? A: One performer asks questions, the other one answers. After a while, they swap. That’s it. Oh, and they’re all wearing clown makeup. Q: What’s so interesting about that? A:The interesting—and extraordinary—thing about the show is its varying texture.The format of questions and answers is deceptively simple, opening out a huge range of scenarios.The tone shifts from quiz show to interrogation to conversation to philosophical discussion. At several points, it breaks down into hilarious word games or extended jokes, while

another line of questioning spins a whole narrative around the two figures on stage. And because we as an audience are free to come and go, our own fragmented experiences of those six hours also alters the nature of this slippery, multi-faceted event. Q: But isn’t it all a bit…meaningless? A: In a way, yes. At times it’s meaningless, but at others it’s surprisingly meaningful. Mostly it’s a little bit of both, though it can be hard to tell. The banal becomes the profound and the real collapses into the fictional. Q: Do you want to stop? A: Yes. ✏︎ Catherine Love

ever feeling like an issue play. Adaptors Lee Hall and Vicky Featherstone have made two canny creative choices. First, they put music—from the schoolgirls’ repertoire of Mendelssohn and Handel to the hits of ELO—right at the heart of the show. Second, they give their protagonists full control of this wild 24-hour tour through their young lives, with the same six actors playing all the additional roles. The result is loud, mouthy and relentlessly energetic. The

ensemble cast make brilliantly badass schoolgirls, causing havoc while a statue of the Virgin Mary looks down from Chloe Lamford’s Technicolor riot of a set. The storytelling might occasionally go awry, but crude charm wins through every time. And in a world that pressures women from every angle, it’s refreshing to see six female characters in all their rude, messy complexity, refusing to be part of someone else’s narrative. ✏︎ Catherine Love

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour «««« TIME:

TICKETS:

Traverse Theatre times vary 18–30 Aug, not 24 £20

“This is our show,” say the Catholic schoolgirls of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour as they stride on stage, fags in hand and surrounded by booze. From beginning to end, these six characters absolutely own the raucous narrative they tell. Their lives might seem to be spinning out of control, but they’re not letting anyone else speak for them. Adapted from Alan Warner’s The Sopranos, the show accompanies these six schoolgirls to Edinburgh, where a choir competition is a good excuse for an afternoon of unbridled hedonism as they teeter on the brink of adulthood. It’s a checklist of teenage “issues”— pregnancy, cancer, sex—without

Credit: Peter Dibdin

VENUE:

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Theatre

Credit: Vipul Sangoi

Yerma «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

New Town Theatre 2:00pm – 3:00pm 6–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25 £10

Lorca’s tale of unbearable yearning and ostracism is told through the Indian classical dance of kathak in this piece from Surrey-based Amina Khayyam Dance Company. Khayyam takes the title role, with Yerma’s dominant husband, his watchful sisters and the rest of the community all played with sensitivity by Lucy Teed and Jane Chan. Kathak’s courtly, kaleidoscopic patterns and echoing rhythms bring majestic power to the storytelling, creating a strong frame for the emotions of Yerma to run

spiralling out of control. Khayyam pulls us into her agony with spins, stamps and fine-tuned arms that mark out details of the story. It seems the bells on her ankles come to represent both acceptance and the ever-present absence of a child. When she dons them she dances buoyantly with the other women; when she takes them off her solos are intense with melancholy fire; and when she finally piles them in a lump at the front of the stage, you can’t help but feel the sadness in their cold misshapen form.

This isn’t dance narrative as we know it but something that burrows much deeper into the emotional roots of Lorca’s play, finding a poetry of its own in the sorrow and dignity of the movement, and resonating universally with the horror of being a woman trapped by society’s ideas for her. Khayyam is phenomenally expressive and her eyes alone tell half the tale. A live performance from the three-strong musical ensemble only adds to the immediacy of Yerma’s pulse. ✏︎ Lucy Ribchester

Broken Windows ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 1:30pm – 2:30pm 5–31 Aug, not 18 £7.50 – £10

Broken Windows explores what it is to be female and making the transition from girlhood to adulthood in contemporary Britain. It is a verbatim piece drawing on interviews by the writer/performer Caitlin Ince, with accompanying music composed by Matthew White. Ince embodies the women she has met as they hesitantly ex-

plore the pressures on their femininity, while White voices Ince’s thoughts. It’s a neat trick ensuring all participants are treated equally. So we meet teenagers on the cusp of their adult lives discussing educational pressures, sport, unrealistic media imagery, sex and virginity, and unhealthy relationships with food. While some of the views presented perhaps offer views of contemporary femininity that are unsurprising, there is a story of a football protégé planning to turn her back on the game that adroitly plays out the conflicts of identity. Putting verbatim accounts to music enables Ince and White to foreground key phrases without

disempowering those that have agreed to take part in the project. The piece moves along swiftly, with little stabs of humour and an emotional denouement of hope. But it’s a shame the research that underpins the project is not more incisive; after all, we’re invited to get a sense of contemporary femininity via six interviews alone. And while the media get it in the neck there’s little engagement with the wider social, political and economic forces that entrap women, and so the show remains predominantly personal. Still, it’s an affecting piece performed with conviction and charm that encourages thought without being hectoring. ✏︎ Brett Mills

the youngsters they should be caring for. Tennyson has an acute memory for the jagged texture of teenage years. Watching as a teenager of the noughties, the familiar points of reference—MSN Messenger, Jane Norman bags as status symbols— raise a smile. The narrative, though, prompts anything but nostalgia. Tennyson’s monologue is frequently funny, but its laughs often come with a sting. These teenagers are

bruised and insecure, let down by an increasingly hostile world. While Poppy as a character is vivid and distinct, the world around her sometimes lacks clarity. And as the targets of Tennyson’s critique multiply—bullying culture, poor pastoral care, exam-fuelled stress—the script begins to lose its way a little. Still, though, it’s a brilliantly nightmarish vision of youth, with enough force to give all adults pause. ✏︎ Catherine Love

««« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 4:10pm – 5:10pm 6–30 Aug, not 19 £10 – £11

In Izzy Tennyson’s new play, adolescence is brutal and the school is a battleground. For protagonist Poppy, arriving at a new all girls state school, Darwinian logic has never been so sharp. It’s bully or be bullied, the cruelty excused with cries of “it’s only a fucking joke”. The kids definitely aren’t alright. As played by Tennyson, Poppy is all fidgeting anxiety, hands restlessly tugging at jumper, hair, tie. And she’s right to be nervous. Her position quickly fixed in the school’s complex social hierarchy, the only options are violent ones, putting Poppy in the complex role of both victim and bully. Adults, meanwhile, are all frustration and disgust, as teachers, parents and mental health services alike fail

Credit: Richard Davenport

festmag.co.uk

Brute

Institute ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard, 1:00pm – 2:20pm 5–29 Aug, not 12, 18 £10.50 – £14.50

Dizzyingly tall filing cabinets and other surreally distorted pieces of office furniture set the scene for this visually awe-inspiring but otherwise opaque physical theatre production by interdisciplinary company Gecko. Unlike previous show, Missing, which contained longer fragments of dialogue and one tangible narra-

The Outsider ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

New Town Theatre 5:30pm – 6:40pm 6–30 Aug, not 18 £12

Camus’s L’Étranger is an unlikely source for a clown show, but Finnish illusionist Janne Raudaskoski deals in a dourer school of magic than most. He plays a green-haired alien who’s crashed his spaceship in Edinburgh and feels bewildered by what he finds. But although his face never shifts from a bemused pout, there’s plenty to astonish in this tricked-out production. Two giant screens show life-size doppelgangers that Raudaskoski waves to, shares beers with and even tries to kill off. The wizardry doesn’t stop there: the production bombards the audience with at least five glitter cannons, bubbles for each audience member, a lightup drone, a laser gun, and even a

tive thread—a woman’s fight to save her decaying soul—Institute offers multiple interpretations as to what his spectacularly muscular, multimedia experience is actually about. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with that – this is a visceral, rather than cerebral, undertaking, and there’s plenty to feel here; repressed trauma and lost love seem to haunt the dream-like piece. The institute itself – perhaps a hospital in which torturous experiments take place, or maybe just the bureaucratic home of nine-to-five tedium – breaks apart to reveal large set-pieces that conjure the lives and stories of the men who work in it. Martin—ostensibly the name

motorbike roaring across the stage. But ironically, the one thing this overloaded performance is short of is actual clowning. Raudaskoski is oddly static and inexpressive, a wide-eyed impresario who’ll do anything to entertain except make a fool of himself. For long periods of time he disappears and leaves us in the hands of his two green-haired avatars, blinking on their screens in bewilderment. The performance is loosely structured into life themes like work, love or drinking, with short films showing Raudaskoski experiencing them first hand. Their monochrome bleakness effectively conjures all the alienation you’d expect from a bona fide alien, but it’s hard to engage with their slow-moving digital world. There’s a lot to astonish in Raudaskoski’s screen-filled trickery, but it’s an oddly colourless wonder. He tries to replace the heart he’s carefully removed from his performance with flotillas of bubbles: magic, without warmth. ✏︎ Alice Saville

of one of these springy, acrobatic office drones—has memories of a failed relationship, which are evocatively conjured in repeated, distorted iterations of a date in a restaurant. This builds into a memorably disturbing sequence in which his limbs and head are forced in different directions by a series of long poles operated by the other performers, reminding the audience he’s a human puppet. The piece’s structural laxness means that it’s difficult to connect with these moments other than as a series of isolated episodes, however, and overall it could be made the more powerful for a bit of straightforward storytelling. ✏︎ Billy Barrett

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‘DANCED AT WARP SPEED AND IN FLAWLESS SYNCHRONICITY’ BACHTRACK ON BALLETT ZÜRICH

KAIROS Choreographed by Wayne McGregor Recomposed: Vivaldi The Four Seasons by Max Richter

SONETT Choreographed by Christian Spuck Music by Philip Glass and Mozart Shakespeare’s sonnets as you have never seen, or heard, them before. Thu 27 – Sat 29 August Edinburgh Playhouse Supported by

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H H ay

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Angel in The Abattoir ««« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

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TICKETS:

Gilded Balloon 12:00pm – 1:00pm 5–31 Aug, not 18 £10 – £12

Dave Florez’s monologue, performed by Phil Nichol, is a dark and sometimes gripping story. Although it starts with a cheerful Nichol introducing himself, smiling, and throwing a sports bag around the audience, it very quickly turns horrific and gruesome. A Spanish boy, Angel, moves to Scotland and falls in love with Lorna, whom he can never have for himself. Lorna’s dad is a policeman who whores her out to local men and sexually abuses her. In order to protect her, Angel accidentally becomes her pimp. Nichol is both a good actor and a strong character comedian; his portrayal of Angel occasionally slips into parody, with a touch of stock Mexican coming through, but he negotiates shifts between horror and levity well. While Angel has a typical innocence-to-experience storyline, Florez gives Lorna a hard time by denying her the innocence of a childhood. There are shades of Philip Ridley, with graphic descriptions of childbirth and Lorna fingering herself in public. Angel wants to be a hero. He sees adults as idols, and then has the illusion shattered, realising that he’s growing up in a dark and twisted world in which fathers abuse their daughters. It’s a sad tale well told. As a side note: a young man collapsed during the performance I saw. Nichol and his tech were exemplary in making sure he was ok, fetching help and asking the audience if we were happy that the show continued. ✏︎ Tim Bano

ErictheFred ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Assembly Roxy 9:45pm – 10:40pm 8–30 Aug, not 12, 17, 24 £12

Chris Lynam has worked as a clown for years. In his new play, ErictheFred, he attempts a new challenge: to tell the story of a melancholic clown reliving his glory days for a contemporary audience. It is a daring staging with grit and soul; the audience all the while encouraged Lynam’s clown to go on and on. Behind a mesh screen, our clown appears, uncomfortably constrained by a frilly white dress. He rips the thing to shreds and in new attire—a plain-looking suit—he performs his classic mix of slapstick, mime and comedy. The act is interspersed with projections that expose Lynam’s private doubts, insecurities and imagined successes.

Out of his comfort zone and aquiring a gun, he shoots (and kills) a butterly in a tragic moment. To punish himself, he whimsically attempts death by hanging and ends up bouncing around at the end of a noose that won’t kill him. He tries to take his own life again using a pen knife with no real edge. Yet the play has plenty of its own razor sharpness – at its close the stage implodes, the set falling down around him and us, sitting terrified in the audience. Unperturbed by the chaos, Eric begins to mend a flattened wind instrument damaged in the blast: it is the show’s finest moment. No mere mishap will impair this clown’s will to go on. ✏︎ Adam Bloodworth

Theatre

Shift/ A Best of Spoken Word ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Summerhall 9:30pm – 10:30pm 5–28 Aug, not 6 £6

Shift/ – A Best of Spoken Word brings together seven leading spoken word poets from Edinburgh to present solo works during the Fringe. On Tuesdays, in the intimate

space of the Cairns Lecture Theatre at Summerhall, Rachel McCrum presents her work Do Not Alight Here Again. A story of places and travels; of home; of boats that navigate their way across the sea; of the mainland and whatever lies beyond. McCrum speaks softly, a small smile creeping onto her lips as she inserts a gentle joke. The words roll around her welcoming cadence. And yet, she opens: “please do not listen to the sound of my voice. Performance is cheating in poetry.” But McCrum’s performance is un-

derstated, and it is key. Her focus is always on her words, deeply crafted but still lightly conversational. Do Not Alight Here Again washes smaller poems in with a larger work. Small sections that can be rolled around in minds; stories of people and places. McCrum then links these poems together with explorations of who she is and how she travelled between the spaces these poems occupy: over seas, or down streets. Through this, we see an image of the whole: an image of journeys travelled, and journeys yet to be travelled. ✏︎ Jane Howard

To Sleep To Dream «« VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Summerhall @ Tom Fleming Centre times vary 18–29 Aug £15

There is a wonderful moment, towards the end where Douglas unfurls his linoleum with a message for us, before curling up in it, lovingly surrounded by his chairs. It’s an ugly tender take-me-forwho-I-am gesture and you can feel the strange sensual indulgence in its clumsy angles. But it’s the only time we feel anything for this character, and it comes just a little too late. ✏︎ Lucy Ribchester

««

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TICKETS:

Reviews

a roll of linoleum. His relationship to these objects fluctuates. He sets up elaborate tricks with them that fire into anti-climax. He explores their weight in relation to his own body. The trouble is there is little play, wit or grace here. Doubtless it’s possible that this is Synge’s point. But if you follow that thread to its logical conclusion, it’s possible to put anything on stage.

Douglas VENUE:

seeks to make up for the deficits, with physical actions muttered and emotions spoken out loud. The presence of writer, director and narrator Daniel Marcus Clark in the room seems little more than a gimmick. He speaks over the pre-recorded audio, every slight stumble at odds with the diligent planning of the soundscape. The central concern of To Sleep To Dream seems to be showing the audience the power of the imagination: look what you can create when you don’t have visuals to get in your way! Fundamentally, though, this is a concept familiar to anyone who has ever listened to a radio play – or even read a book. ✏︎ Jane Howard

ZOO 11:50am – 12:40pm 14–29 Aug £10

As with theatre, where delivering lines naturally doesn’t always bring out the best in them, recreating modes of everyday movement in physical theatre doesn’t always serve to illuminate its subject. Douglas is a tricky piece to form an opinion of because you can feel the good intentions and innovative ideas beneath the surface. But ultimately the surface itself isn’t enough to hold the show. Scottish practitioner Robbie Synge has created as a character a lonely, ill-understood man who potters about, obsessing with and fussing over objects: chairs, lights, wires,

Credit: Sara Theresa

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To Sleep To Dream, an audio work you experience blindfolded, is a compelling technical achievement. Steve Fanagan’s sound design and Chris Timpson’s “sound spatialization” is densely and meticulously crafted, forcing your ears to focus on the many audio layers to

the show. Unfortunately, the rest of the production only serves to let this down. The plot is a pastiche of dystopian sci-fi motifs familiar from the likes of Waterworld, Black Mirror and The Lego Movie: a flooded earth, a totalitarian government under which menial tasks are remunerated with “points” used to purchase everything from lunch to showers, a ban on creativity. Our protagonist, surprise surprise, meets a group of rebels who introduce him to another way of thinking. Rather than embracing what is different about an exclusively aural experience, EarFilms instead

«« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Underbelly, Cowgate 12:20pm – 1:35pm 6–30 Aug £9 – £11

It’s the eve of the millennium, and the fantastically named Scaramouche Jones is about to mark his centenary. Fifty years he’s been a clown; the 50 years before that were ample preperation for this unique profession. Stumbling off stage from his final performance, he settles down in his dressing room to tell the story of his life. From his birth to a gypsy woman in a Trinidad brothel to his travels around Africa and Europe, Scaramouche’s tale is as unlikely as his name. Justin Butcher’s play has him repeatedly brushing up against the big events of 20th-century history, landing himself in

An Audience With Jimmy Savile «« VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Studios 7:55pm – 9:05pm 11–22 Aug £16

Jimmy Savile: a horrendous reminder that the truth is both stranger and nastier than anything a writer could come up with.This weak production is structured as a This Is Your Life style television show, interlacing tributes from MaggieThatcher and

stranger and stranger scenarios. By the time he’s a gravedigger in a Nazi concentration camp, where he unexpectedly discovers his skill for clowning, it’s hard not to feel that Butcher’s imagination has pushed his protagonist a little too far. The problems with Scaramouche Jones lies in the form as well as the content. Despite telling the story of a performer, Butcher’s play makes little argument for appearing on a stage. Overly wordy and with more description than action, it has the texture of a novella or radio play. Running at over an hour, the lack of theatricality makes it feel longer. Thom Tuck, done up in full clown finery, does his best to inject some drama into Butcher’s script. He’s an accomplished storyteller and owner of an impressive range of accents and facial expressions, all of which get deployed here. Still, though, the somersaulting narrative falls surprisingly flat on stage. ✏︎ Catherine Love

even the Pope with the stories of the girls he abused. But only the borrowed horrors of Savile’s story could allow a show this mediocre to transfer from London runs to sellout Fringe performances. Jonathan Maitland’s script is, whatever its faults, clearly well-intentioned. Leah Whitaker plays Lucy, who can’t convince her own family, let alone the police, of what Savile did to her. But her compelling story is lost in Brendan O’Hea’s dialled-in directorial decisions, which make the production feel staid and sketchy. Savile’s lure is, predictably, central to the appeal of this production. Alistair McGowan’s photo-perfect performance is baroquely grotesque, a foil-wrapped corpse in a metallic tracksuit and

Theatre

Scaramouche Jones

limp platinum locks. He nails every tic, and Savile’s effortless ability to deflect criticism with a stream of charitable platitudes. There’s a genuinely powerful scene when Lucy confronts Savile on his belief that by becoming a kind of year-round Father Christmas, he’ll be protected him from the eyes of God as well as from the eyes of the law. But Maitland’s script is an ill-structured mess: especially when it’s been lopped from its original 85 minute running time to a Fringe-friendly hour-long slot. We never see Savile brought to justice. And this production gets away with it too, using Savile’s grotesque charisma to hide a multitude of sins. ✏︎ Alice Saville

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Francesca,Francesca...

Explore the mythology surrounding the remarkable Francesca Woodman.

17th-29th* @ 12.45pm £8.00 (£6.00) *no performance 23rd from rting Depa eTriplex Spac e 38 Venu

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From the creator of 2014’s hit Pomegranate Jam 18:45

IamI A multimedia dreamscape within the Eversphere, following an eclectic group discovering life after death.

21:30 Bayou Blues 15:45 Francesca, Francesca... 18:45 IamI 21:30 £8.00 General | £6.00 Concession

£6-8 Study at Pleasance Dome

12.15pm 5-15 Aug

11.00am 16-31 Aug

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On Lochend Close - Just off the Royal Mile 100m past Cannongate Kirk

venue13.com Aug 8-29 | tickets: WWW. 07074 20 13 13

www.venue13.co

Velvet La Clique and The Famous Spiegeltent «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

The Famous Spiegeltent times vary 5–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £20 – £22

Velvet skillfully blends together cabaret, burlesque and circus, seasoned with a ‘dare to live big’ theme and topped with a generous helping of deafening disco beats, culminating in a well deserved

standing ovation after 80 minutes of first-class entertainment. Admirers of the male form are spoiled by acrobats Mirko Köckenberger, who plays a charmingly boyish bellboy who can handle a suitcase (or four), and the slightly sadomasochistic aerialist Stephen Williams, who dangles dangerously close above the spectators’ heads. The crew of La Clique know what they’re doing, and they’re doing it very well. Whenever an act seems to reach the end of the audience’s attention span, there’s always a little surprise around the corner – like the striptease that turns into an African dance. And what starts

like a predictable hula hoop act turns into one of the most hilarious scenes of the show. The biggest strength of Velvet however is its vocalists. At the age of 62, Australian diva Marcia Hines simply blows us away. And multi-talented Brendan Maclean, who plays the lead character in the narrative, might be a King of Pop in the making. He belts out disco tunes effortlessly, and deeply impresses with his unplugged cover of the Bee Gees’ ‘Staying Alive’. He brings a new, unnerving dimension to the song - it’s worth the ticket price all by itself. ✏︎ Arnoud Breitbarth

This 1762 German work is a sensible choice. Gluck was keen on dramatic power over the lavish ballets and displays of vocal virtuosity of the Italian operas of his youth, making his work ripe for a modern setting. German director Sebastian Ukena’s irreverent approach converts the shepherds and shepherdesses of his pastoral original into an enjoyably bonkers chorus of garden gnomes in little pointy hats, scattering neon fake flowers. But there’s realism, too, as Orpheus’s backward glance is given careful psychological

reasoning by Eurydice’s attacks on his resolve. Counter-tenor Magid El Bushra’s truthful performance emphasises Orpheus’s petulance and delicacy, while the pared-down chorus offers a richly blended living surround sound as well as colour. This is an Orpheus who’s been dragged out of his underworld (even if he can’t bring Eurydice with him) into a lively, fun performance that’s heavenly for opera fans and is anything but the living hell that opera sceptics might suspect. Go: you won’t look back. ✏︎ Alice Saville

Orpheus and Eurydice «««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

theSpace @ Venue45 7:40pm – 8:55pm 14–29 Aug, not 16, 23 £12

The Fringe is known as the place that production values come to die, so when you see an opera company represent the journey to hell and back with not one, but two fully realised set changes—from a shiny floored hospital room with blinking monitors, to a Teletubbies-bright astroturfed garden, and back again—you can be sure they mean business. About Turn have addressed the dearth of opera at the Fringe in serious, if engagingly bonkers, style. Their lavish-by-festival-standards production condenses Gluck’s opera into little over an hour, accompanied by a small chamber orchestra.

Music

KIDS CRITICS

Lauren & Ruby

Lauren Hunter, nine, gives us her thoughts on Our Teacher’s a Troll What happens in the show? After a teacher has a nervous breakdown, a troll takes over a school and everyone is too frightened to stop the troll having its own way apart from the twins Holly and Sean. Describe the show in five words Story time reading with actions. Who was your favourite character and why? Holly because she was a mischievous girl. Were there any characters you didn’t like? All the adult characters because they didn’t bother to do anything about the troll but I think an adult would do something. What did you like most about the show? The light effects did make you imagine the troll. What didn’t you like about the show? It was too long for the story so it was like bits of the story were being repeated. Would you tell your friends to come? Probably not because although the acting and lighting was good at making you create a troll in your imagination, it would have been better if there had been someone dressed up as a scary troll. The story was too long for younger children and it felt like older children would have seen something like it before. What did your grown-up think of the show? My dad is 34 and he thought it was written how adults see children but I suppose it was written by an adult. ✏︎ Lauren Hunter (age 9) VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Roundabout @ Summerhall 11:00am – 11:50am, 6–23 Aug, not 11, 18 £10

Kids

Our Teacher's a Troll

The Piper Ruby Foster, six-and-a-half, enjoys the quirky creativity of The Piper What happens in the show? It was all about a town full of rubbish and there were rats there. They hid the rubbish in the wardrobe. Then the bear put all the rats in the river but the mayor was very cheeky and didn’t give the bear what she asked for.

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Describe the show in five words A party with a bear. Who was your favourite character and why? I liked the bear because she was the hero but I also liked the kids who volunteered to be part of the show. They did really well at acting even though they weren’t actors. Were there any characters you didn’t like? I liked all of them. What did you like most about the show? I liked that it was quite unusual and there were no princesses or anything like that. You don’t often get shows about rubbish. The costume for the bear was really good, it was old paper and material and stuff and it made the bear look all fluffy. I liked the rat puppet too because he ate lots of rubbish and turned big. There were lots of nice colourful, things to look at and the party in the mountain seemed fun. What didn’t you like about the show? There could have been less of the lady talking over the top and more of people talking on stage.

Reviews

What did you think of the songs? The music bits were nice but they didn’t make much difference to the show. How did the show compare to the book? I hadn’t heard of The Pied Piper of Hamelin before and I don’t think I’d bother finding out more about it. This was enough.

Would you tell your friends to come? Yeah, I think everyone in my class would like it. What did your grown-up think of the show? It was well meaning and there was no shortage of invention or variety in its staging but I would agree with Ruby that it probably relied too heavily on the unseen narrator to tell the actual story. ✏︎ Ruby Foster (age 6 and a half) VENUE: TIME: TICKETS:

Underbelly Potterrow 10:30am – 11:30am, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 20, 24 £12 – £14

Michael Griffiths in the acclaimed cabaret that will play with your heart.

WINNER BEST CABARET ADELAIDE FRINGE 2014

18:00 06 - 31 AUG

Ludwig

Live

“A DEEPLY FELT REFLECTION OF THE MAN. SAVOR EVERY MINUTE.” – NEW YORK TIMES

NOMINA TED FOR A 20 15 DRAM A DESK AW ARD IN NEW YO RK

0131 510 2385 www.thespaceuk.com theSpace @ Symposium Hall

He’s written operas, sonatas and symphonies Now he brings his epic piano skillz to the cabaret circuit

WITH THE MUSIC AND LYRICS OF JOHN LENNON LENNON & McCARTNEY

JOHN WATERS with STEWART D’ARRIETTA 6 – 28 AUGUST

22:30 6–27 AUGUST

Extra shows 19:30, 10, 17, 28 August Extra Shows 14:30 17 & 24 August Extra Shows 21:00, 24 August

Music

Under the Ground ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Assembly Checkpoint 3:10pm – 4:05pm various dates between 7 Aug and 31 Aug £10 – £11

Under the Ground, by Katie Barnett and Megan Hughes of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, profiles travellers on the Glasgow Subway connected by their isolation. At the core of this new musical is a young woman mourning the passing of her father, replaying a nostalgic message of condolence left on her phone in an effort to alleviate her grief. Then there are the strangers who find comfort in each other, and the mistaken marriage proposal

that manages to unify the carriage as they snap the awkward moment on their camera phones. The script has a situation comedy feel, but the songs really fly. There’s a High School Musical-style vitality here, the young cast working well together and presenting a series of uplifting moments throughout the show. The solos, however, aren’t as strong as the ensemble numbers, and are often too tightly wrapped up in plot

to make much of an impact on the overall feel of the production. More theatre should be set on the subway. It’s a place we’d rather not be, but most us have a least a few fond memories of the time we’ve spent under ground, a feeling this show neatly captures with the line, “I will never have another moment with you, ever again”. A charming musical about one of life’s most incidentally romantic places. ✏︎ Adam Bloodworth

Le Haggis «««

TIME:

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TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Gardens 9:30pm – 10:45pm 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24 £15 – £16.50

Admirers of kilts, acrobatics and Celtic tunes will have the time of their life at Le Haggis, a decidedly Scottish variety show that will leave you humming ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and ‘The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond’. A strong live band blasts out folk, rock and mystic power ballads, while skilful acrobats show their tricks – and flesh. In his Chinese pole act, Edd Muir spices up a Diet Coke ad with IrnBru (he wasn't wearing underwear under his jeans, to the delight of many). The beautifully choreographed acrobatic lovers’ quarrel between Jamie Swan and Beata Surmiak is both arousing, heartbreaking and astounding at the same time. And keep an eye—and

Macbeth ««« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

New Town Theatre 3:00pm – 4:30pm 19–30 Aug £12

Macbeth has never been filled with as much youthful angst as when he sings: “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” This new musical version of Macbeth, from composer Garth McConaghie and director Stuart Harvey for Youth Music Theatre UK, condenses Shakespeare’s text

Credit: Colin Tennant

VENUE:

ear—out for Sally Simpson, who gives a stellar fiddle solo. The show's rhythm gets very predictable: loud and intimate songs alternate – there's nothing in between. The weakest point however is the main singer, Grant Dinwoodie, who runs around screaming and making weird faces

until he gets all the attention in the room. It would be bearable if he was an astounding vocalist, but he's off key a bit too often, maybe because of all that jumping and running. Otherwise this is an entertaining 75 minutes of Scottish variety fun. ✏︎ Arnoud Breitbarth

into just 85 minutes. Many scenes use the original text, before songs force the audience to linger and meditate on specific moments. The work is at its most electrifying when this musical treatment is used to bring out new ideas from the text. As Macbeth sings “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”, Hecate grabs his head and forces him to watch her witches manipulating people. If a player’s life is spent strutting and fretting upon the stage, that stage belongs to Hecate. Harvey consistently centres the role of the witches in Shakespeare’s text. In the opening scene we watch them dress the rest of the

characters; they spend the production on the sidelines of the action, often draped around a CCTV vision of the stage. The young, school uniform-wearing women that take on these roles—stiff jittering limbs, zombied eyes—are the highlight of the ensemble. It’s a slightly uneven production: microphone issues mean some lines are lost; selective subtitles are distracting and some details are missed. But it’s an interesting take on Macbeth, well composed and sung by an assured cast. And in the end, perhaps a healthy dose of musical angst is the best way for teenagers to create, and view, the Scottish Play. ✏︎ Jane Howard

Music

Promise and Promiscuity a new musical by Jane Austen and Penny Ashton «« VENUE:

TIME:

TICKETS:

Assembly George Square Studios 2:40pm – 3:50pm 6–31 Aug, not 12, 17, 24 £10 – £12

Another Fringe, another Jane Austen show. Promise and Promiscuity is a light-hearted one-woman romp, patchworking together Austen plots and throwing in a few songs for good measure. New Zealander Penny Ashton nimbly plays all of a remarkably large cast of familiar characters, as she tells the story of Elspeth Slowtree, a Lizzie Bennetta-like who writes pirate fiction (Fifty Shades of Arrrrr) and must navigate the marriage market of Regency England. There’s no faulting Ashton’s energy, enthusiasm and commit-

Thrill-Seeking Pianist WLTM Like-Minded Audience for NSA Fun and Good Times « TIME:

Voodoo Rooms 6:35pm – 7:30pm 8–30 Aug, not 18

TICKETS:

FREE

VENUE:

It’s never a bad idea to date a pianist. They can count, know how to keep rhythm and are capable of working magic with their fingers. You’d assume pianists wouldn’t

ment, but it’s a shame that all the characters—from the repulsive suitor to the overbearing mother to the snobbish love rival—are so irritating. She goes for broke on the comedy voices and upper-class twit mannerisms, snorting, snickering and simpering as required. Everyone in Promise and Promiscuity has silly names—Thomasina Jeggings, for example—and Ashton allows the modern world to—nudge-nudge—rudely intrude for comic effect. Cue laboured jokes about how much the young ladies enjoy big balls, and poetry recitals featuring the lyrics of

Britney Spears. The show also enjoys a light-lacing of feminist hindsight, with Ashton cheerily refusing to let her heroine be entirely defined by a man. Austen nerds—and if you’re not, why on Earth would you be watching?—are amply rewarded with lifted scenes and twisted lines from the original novels. There’s clearly an audience who are still hungry for Austen spin-offs, and many people watching found Ashton’s giddy character work and panto-broad jokes side-splitting. I found myself glowering like Mr Darcy at a house party. ✏︎ Holly Williams

struggle to find dates then. But cabaret artist and piano player Mister Meredith is having some troubles on that front. He takes the audience on a date full of songs and incoherent babbling so we can experience his misfortunes in the world of gay hookups. It doesn’t take long to realise why things never work out. He has some clever lyrics here and there, and his ‘Dalek Song’ will resonate with fans of Doctor Who. But despite the occasionally impressive wordplay, Meredith leaves the unfortunate impression of a six-year-old who gets the giggles when he mentions pee and

poo, crossed with an oversexed teenager. If a translation of ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ into a song about piss and vibrators is your thing, then this is your show. Meredith tickles the ivories with skill, but singing seems an effort, sometimes to the point that he loses focus on his playing entirely. His self-deprecation never feels sincere and he repeats the same joke about being ‘bottom’, ‘versatile’ or ‘top’—positions for gay male sex, dontcha know—three times. It’s never a bad idea to date a pianist. Except maybe this one. ✏︎ Arnoud Breitbarth

6 - 29 Aug 9.45pm

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a kind of tragic...

THE OVERCOAT 0131 560 1581 summerhall.co.uk

PG | SummerHall (Venue26)

11:00am ~ 11:55am

AUG 5 -30 (not 17) 9:45am (55m) 06 AUG - 30 AUG (not18)

Dr Seussâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

5 30 August 0131 556 6550

The Voice Thief «««« VENUE: TIME:

festmag.co.uk

TICKETS:

Summerhall times vary 5–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24 £15

Dystopian future visions are so popular in older children’s culture these days that it’s a wonder that pre-teens don’t all run away and live in the woods, the better to escape their near-certain doom. This promenade performance for children of nine and up gives the trend a welcome feminist twist: a charismatic patriarch runs a facility for “vocal cleansing”, which takes girls' and young women’s voices and purges them of their less agreeable elements, such as moans, cries and shouts. Guiding us through the sterile corridors and laboratories are the patriarch’s Girl Guide-y daughter and two Stepford Wife-like assistants, who pertly repeat their boss’s

You Look Tasty! (A Play by A. Tiger) ««« VENUE: TIME:

Reviews

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 11:45am – 12:45pm 7–31 Aug, not 18, 25 £8 – £10

Approach with caution. This two-person play has plenty to recommend it to children of about seven and over with an appropriately dark sense of humour. It’s witty, scary and daft, with a great premise that’s revealed in layers through some clever plotting and dialog by writer Stewart Pringle. It proved a little too much for the younger

various mantras about clean voices, quiet voices and “aural filth”. The production design is truly impressive, with every room of Summerhall’s labyrinthine basement transformed into something otherworldly and convincing. There are some memorably creepy and powerful images, as in the section in which a young audience member repeats a nursery rhyme into an industrial-looking tube, before having her glowing, sprite-like “voice” stretched and scrubbed behind a glass screen. As the plot turns and things start to go wrong, some problems

emerge with the script and characterisation. Crawford Logan as Dr Mackenzie lacks the appropriate menace for a really good villain, and the speed with which the female characters find their voices and screw up their courage against him stretches credulity given the oppressive, totalitarian setup. The target audience could have handled something more subtle and perhaps darker still. But as an introduction to immersive theatre it’s pretty much exemplary, and it will give girls in the process of finding their voices plenty to think about. ✏︎ Tom Hackett

children in the audience on the day I was in, whose reaction hovered somewhere between bemusement and fear. But lovers of, say, the blood and guts of the Horrible Histories series should be delighted. “Everything’s fine and very safe!” Sue (Harriet Kemsley) assures us in a high-pitched, panicked and girlish manner that she maintains throughout an excellent comic performance. A former London Zoo keeper, she’s now one of the two surviving members of the London Zoo Players, a company formed two months ago at the insistence of an escaped tiger. Aloysius Tiger himself is seen in glimpses from behind the curtain—a twitching tail here, a curled claw there—and his voice has the

mannered menace of Disney’s Shere Khan. “You look tasty!” he bellows repeatedly, as Sue gives the details of her former colleagues’ steady annihilation. More poetic extracts revealing Aloysius’s perspective on his capture and captivity make it clear that he’s no pure villain. But the show becomes both funnier and scarier as he and Sue’s full intentions are revealed. With a crowd of, say, 8-12 yearolds hungry for laughs and scares, this would work brilliantly. With the more mixed audiences that are inevitable at the Fringe, it comes off a bit half-cocked. But that’s no reflection on the quality of this show, which as a children’s horror-comedy really earns its stripes. ✏︎ Tom Hackett

The Amazing Bubbleman ««« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

The Assembly Rooms, 11:05am – 12:05pm 6–30 Aug £11

Louis Pearl is The Amazing Bubbleman, and, he tells us, in a very loud and excitable tone, he definitely loves bubbles the most out of anyone else in the room. But he’s here to make bubble lovers of everyone. Pearl never pretends there’s any-

Shakespeare Untold: Romeo and Juliet (The Party Planner’s Tale) «« VENUE: TIME:

TICKETS:

Pleasance Courtyard 12:30pm – 1:20pm 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26 £10

Another year, another shoddy Shakespeare adaptation. Except this time it’s from people who should know better: Shakespeare’s Globe, the Bard’s home in London. Surrounded by the pink detritus of a party balloons, petals and decorative bay trees, the party planner of the Capulet ball (Sally Lofthouse) tells the audience the story of Romeo and Juliet. A few quotations from the play are used, but otherwise the plot is explained in a clear, child-friendly way by the graceful and expressive

thing magical about these bubbles. This is science, and it’s science that can be replicated at home. You just need a solution of soap and water and anything that has a hole in it, demonstrating with a straw, a scrubbing brush, and a watch pulled from the audience. Of course, not everything can be easily recreated at home. Pearl shows amazing dexterity in his manipulation of the bubbles: cutting them in half, blowing bubbles within bubbles, making them bounce off his hands. And then there are the times Pearl gets a bit tricky with it all: balloons filled with helium float

Lofthouse. Towards the beginning, the party planner gets a little input from the children in the audience. When she asks them to give examples of really important jobs, one kid says “doctor”, one says “mayor”, another says “pooing in the streets”. Lofthouse duly ignores it. The interactive element is quickly abandoned anyway. It’s a decent and digestible précis of the play, but it’s marred by an embarrassing attempt to throw a load of contemporary elements at it, like Twitter and hashtags, Katy Perry and the Kardashians. Sure, it’s aimed at kids, but there’s a difference between accessibility and vapidity. This is vapid. The party planner is a fairy godmother with a feather duster, image-obsessed and bringing a bizarre consumerist bent to the play. Stripped of any sort of message, except that throwing lavish parties is a good thing, Romeo and Juliet becomes a strangely empty affair. ✏︎ Tim Bano

up into the domed ceiling of the Music Hall; elaborate head gear is constructed on the heads of children; a smoke-filled bubble is popped to create a volcano, and then a rocket. In this big room, much of the show is lost on the younger children more content to run around than watch a man play with bubbles. And many older children will have been disappointed not to be chosen to get close to the action. The show fluctuates in its engagement of the audience: but when they’re engaged, the room is filled with as many gasps and cheers as bubbles. ✏︎ Jane Howard

Kids

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Until 30 August 11.30am (40mins)

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Comedy

“NO WORDS! JUST APPLAUSE!“ SO IN LD 32 O U CO T UN SHO TR W IE S S!

00:00 Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho Assembly George Square Gardens, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, £14 Spank Underbelly, Cowgate, 8–31 Aug, £13.50—£15.50 BAGMAN Pleasance Courtyard, 8–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £5 Best of the Fest Assembly Hall, Various dates from 8 Aug to 31 Aug, £10—£15 The Room Assembly George Square Theatre, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, £8 Just the Tonic Comedy Club – Midnight Show Just the Tonic at The Caves, 8–30 Aug, not 17, 19, £10 David O’Doherty: We Are All in the Gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking at David O’Doherty Assembly George Square Theatre, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, £15 Twins: Pret A Comedy Pleasance Courtyard, 8–31 Aug, not 18, 19, 25, £5 Aardwolf Presents: Wet Behind the Ears Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–31 Aug, £free FLUU Pleasance Courtyard, 8–31 Aug, not 18, £5 Will Seaward’s Spooky Midnight Ghost Stories II Gilded Balloon , 6 Aug–1 Sep, not 18 Aug, £6—£9.50

THREE WEEKS

PLEASANCE BEYOND

3:15PM

5–31 AUGUST (NOT 17)

0131 556 6550 WWW.PLEASANCE.CO.UK

The Beta Males: Alpha Sketches Pleasance Courtyard, 21–24 Aug, £9—£10 Tats Nkonzo: The African With Wifi Pleasance Dome, 22–23 Aug, £10.50 Shane Todd – Sick Bro! Pleasance Courtyard, 8–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £5

00:10 Late Show Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 8 Aug to 30 Aug, £10—£15 Karl Schultz: Matthew Kelly – Hypnagogia Pleasance Courtyard, 8–30 Aug, not 18, 25, £5 Birthday Girls: Party Vibes Pleasance Courtyard, 25–31 Aug, £5

00:15 KINGS! Pleasance Courtyard, 8–31 Aug, not 21, 22, 23, £5 Foxdog Studios Ltd Cowgatehead, 9–30 Aug, £free Big Silly Comedy: Midnight Mash-Up! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–31 Aug, £free Kirsten MacGregor: Hello Cruel World Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 7–31 Aug, £free

00:20 Lee Nelson: Suited & Booted Pleasance Dome, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, 30 Aug, £15

00:30 Spanktacular Underbelly, George Square, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, 30 Aug, £16.50 This is Business Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 8–31 Aug, not 18, £free Ronan Linskey – Cult of Personality Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–31 Aug, £free BlundaBus: Never Mind the BusStops Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 7 Aug–1 Sep, £5 The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 6–31 Aug, £7—£8

00:45 Irish Comedy Carnage and TedFest Toilet Duck Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–31 Aug, £free ABC of Musical Comedy – Luc Valvona – Free Show! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–31 Aug, £free

01:00 Mixology Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 12–21 Aug, £free The Inflatable Colonel and the Prisoner of Azkaban Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 20–31 Aug, £free The Room: The Musical Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 7–31 Aug, not 12, 17, 24, £free

Late’n’Live Gilded Balloon , 8 Aug–1 Sep, £10—£16

01:15 Trevor Feelgood: The Dork Knight Rises in 3D Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 9–23 Aug, £free

BBC: Kaye Adams BBC@POTTERROW, 10–27 Aug, not 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, £free

10:45 Present and Correct: Fan Club theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £5

09:00

11:00

BBC: @BBCEdFest BBC@POTTERROW, 7–30 Aug, £free

❤ Bridget Christie: A Book For Her

BBC: Shaun Keaveny BBC@POTTERROW, 21 Aug, £free

The Stand Comedy Club, 8–31 Aug, not 17, £9

10:00 Phill Jupitus: Sketch Comic Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 21–27 Aug, £free

10:15

HHHH

Quivertip Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free Pundamental Christian Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 6–30 Aug, £free

11:15

Life Gives You Lemons Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free

David Callaghan: No Momentum Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 24, £free

10:20

11:40

I Hat Lenny Henry – 50p a Ticket Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £0.50

Shaken Not Stirred Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £2.50—£6.50

10:30 Adam Vincent: Careless Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, Various dates from 23 Aug to 30 Aug, £free

11:45 Newcastle Brown Male Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 10 Aug, 13 Aug, 14 Aug, 17 Aug, 29 Aug, £free

12:00 Underwhelmed Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 16, 23, £free Murray Porter and Friends New Waverley Arches , 7–31 Aug, £free Hurt and Anderson: Sketchbombs Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6–30 Aug, not 11, 17, 24, £free Groan Up Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free About Comedy: Stand-Up Comedy Courses Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, Various dates from 8 Aug to 29 Aug, £99 Mo Gilligan and Kae Kurd Present: Ticking All the Boxes Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 22–29 Aug, £free Maxine Jones: Full Circle Cabaret Voltaire, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £free Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, £6—£9 1 Given Head Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Audio Tour Outside the Tron – Hunter Square, 8 Aug, 30 Aug, £free What the Dickens! Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

EDDYANK PRODUCTIONS present

FANTI ACROBATS INT.

Come and watch the hottest & unique African Acrobatics & cultural show

£10 (7)

Comedy Mash Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free

Doors to Manual Cowgatehead, 22–29 Aug, £free

Spring Day: Kept in Stitches – Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free

The Discount Comedy Checkout – Improv Show Cowgatehead, 8–21 Aug, £free

12:05 The Walking Dead: Advanced Tactics Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, £free

festmag.co.uk

Scurochiaro Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, not 10, 18, 24, £free

12:10 Fern Brady: People Are Idiots HHH The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 Michael Legge: Tell it Like it is, Steve The Stand Comedy Club 2, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 The Edinburgh Revue Stand-up Show Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £free Off the Top Canons’ Gait, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free

12:15 Not Disabled... Enough! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Kishore Nayar Has a Go New Waverley Arches , 17–23 Aug, £free

Listings

Return of the Danish Bagpipe Comedian Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Joe Wenborne: Fight Back at 50 Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£12 James Farmer: Ultimate Worrier Bannermans, 8–30 Aug, £free

Camden Comedy Free Lunchtime Showcase Whistlebinkies, 8–30 Aug, £free

Stu and Garry and... The Stand Comedy Club, 7–31 Aug, not 17, £10

Henry Ginsberg – 28 Years Later Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free

Dani Frankenstein

The Maydays Present: Oh Boy! The Quantum Leap Show Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Now That’s What I Call Stand-Up #2 Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 6–30 Aug, £free

12:20 Tobias Persson and the Drivel Rights Movement The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 7–30 Aug, not 17, £10 Class Act Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 21–24 Aug, £5

12:30 Uncanned Laughter Sportsters, 8–29 Aug, not 18, 19, £free Zach & Viggo: Thunderflop CC Blooms, 8–30 Aug, £free

❤ Danielle Ward: HHHH

Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

That Silly Show Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 16–21 Aug, £free The Lunchtime Special Just the Tonic at The Tron, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6 Hilarity Bites Comedy Club Showcase Show Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 7–30 Aug, £free James Bran: Invisible Badminton and Other Dreams Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free The Underbelly Radio Shows Underbelly Med Quad, 5–28 Aug, weekdays only, £5

12:35 Lunchtime of Champions Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £3—£6

12:40 Tom Binns: The Club Sets Assembly George Square Gardens, 6–31 Aug, £6—£11

17 – 22 Aug

24 – 29 Aug

11.15 - 12.15 pm

14 - 15 pm

Mark Silcox: No Women Plenty Of Cry Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 Mummy’s Gone a Bit Parental Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £5

12:45 Nina Conti: Talking Comedy The Assembly Rooms, 21 Aug, £12 David Sheeran: Lights, Camera... America! Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 8, £free 25 Stories Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, £7 Man Up, Jonny Fluffypunk Electric Circus, 17–21 Aug, £free

12:55 Cassie Atkinson and Oh Standfast: Comedy in Progress Southsider, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

13:00 Tony Law: Frillemorphesis

HHH

Masters of the Yoniverse Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, Various dates from 17 Aug to 28 Aug, £free

13:15

Jo Coffey: Curiously Caffeinated Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Late Night Laughs at Lunch Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 6–31 Aug, not 16, 17, £free

Big Value Comedy Show – Lunchtime Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6 Gurpal Gill: India’s Strongest Man (1982) Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe Assembly George Square Studios, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 18, 25, £11—£12 Erich McElroy’s Imperfect Guide to Picking the Perfect President Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–30 Aug, £free Fashion C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, not 8, £7.50—£9.50

13:05 Animal House theSpace on the Mile, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £7

13:10

The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 7–30 Aug, not 17, £12

F-Holes Paradise Palms, 7–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free

Set Menu with Hardeep Singh Kohli V Deep, 14–30 Aug, not 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, £30

Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show Pleasance Courtyard, 6–30 Aug, £6—£11 Rowena Haley: My Green Astra Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, £free

Sy Thomas: Jumper Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel Underbelly, George Square, 6–31 Aug, not 18, £7—£12.50 Ivor Dembina: Old Jewish Jokes Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 17, 23, £free I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday... Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 7–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Upstairs Downton – The Improvised Episode Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–31 Aug, £free Afternoon Delight Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £2.50—£5 Amused Moose Comedy Award Grand Final theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 23 Aug, £12.50 Juliet Meyers: Through the Pigeonhole Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Nicky Wilkinson and Friends Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Vampire Hospital Waiting Room Sin, 7–31 Aug, £free Caroline Mabey: Chaos Is a Friend of Mine Opium, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free Mike Wozniak: One Man Dad Cat Band Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Lost Voice Guy: Disability for Dunces The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 10, 17, 24, £7—£8 Beard: The Grin of Love HH Sneaky Pete’s, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free Ed Gamble: Lawman Canons’ Gait, 8–30 Aug, £free Faye Treacy Worries Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free

13:20 Sameena Zehra: Homicidal Pacifist The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 Caimh McDonnell: Bride and Prejudice Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free Eleanor Morton: Allotted Mucking Around Time The Stand Comedy Club 2, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8 Welcome to Tiddleminster Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£5 Alastair Clark: Getting Better Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, £free Have a Word Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–30 Aug, not 19, £free

13:25 Jennie Benton Wordsmith HHH Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

13:30 This Is Soap C venues – C, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £7.50—£9.50

Japanese Samurai Don Quixote Challenging Against English Giant Windmills! Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Bob Blackman’s Tray Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 24–30 Aug, £free At Least 100 Jokes Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, £free Ali Brice presents: Eric Meat Has No Proof, Only Memories of Pasta HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 6–30 Aug, £5

Elvis McGonagall: Countrybile Stand in the Square, 17–30 Aug, £8 Bob Graham: It’s Easy to Be Cynical Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–29 Aug, not 17, £free

13:45 Will Seaward Has a Really Good Go at Alchemy Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

Welcome to Clown Town – At the Fringe! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Joz Norris: Hey Guys! Heroes @ The Hive, 6–31 Aug, not 19, £5 Best of the Fest Daytime Assembly George Square Gardens, 7–30 Aug, £8—£12.50 Rhinoceros New Waverley Arches , 7–30 Aug, not 8, 12, 19, 26, £free

Kids With Beards present... ¡Niños Con Barbas TV! Just the Tonic at The Caves, 17–29 Aug, not 18, £free

14:10 The Exeter Revue: Sketchup Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, not 13, 20, 27, £free

❤ Butt Kapinski HHHH Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 18, 24, 26, 29, £free

Laurence Owen: Cinemusical Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

Going Underground The Rabbie Burns Whisky Bar, 3–31 Aug, not 18, 19, 20, £10

The Oxford Revue Presents – Free La Belle Angèle, 8–30 Aug, £free

I Would: A Hypothetical Sketch Show Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£9

The Humble Quest for Universal Genius Assembly George Square Gardens, 21–30 Aug, £12

Leeds University Comedy Kabaret Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 6–30 Aug,

Journey to the Centre of Dead Cowgatehead, 7–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

Is This the Best of Jack Campbell? Banshee Labyrinth, 7–31 Aug, £free

Leggoland HH Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free

Claire Ford: Box Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Haven’t a Clue! - Free Frankenstein Pub, 17–23 Aug, £free

Diary of a Dating Addict Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£9.50

Relatively Normal Opium, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

Mark Watson: Work in Progress The Stand Comedy Club, 21–30 Aug, £10

Aaaaaahhhh, it’s 101 Clean Jokes in 30 Minutes – Free Show Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 6–30 Aug, £free

The Dead Secrets Present... The Curiositorium Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50

Expect the Unexporcupine Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Pippa Evans: There Are No Guilty Pleasures Bannermans, 8–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

This Arthur’s Seat Belongs to Lionel Richie On Top of Arthurs Seat, 22 Aug, £free

UCL Graters - 2015: A Sketch Odyssey Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, £free—£7

Comedy Death: Comics Talking About Their Worst Gigs Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 8–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 18, 24, £free

13:35 ❤ Jordan Brookes: Adventures in Limited Space HHHH Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6 Tony Jameson: Football Manager Ruined My Life (Data Update) The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10

13:40 All Made Up: This Time It’s Social Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£11 Foolball Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£9

Sketch Thieves Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Alex Hylton and Sarah Keyworth: Chasing Tales Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free

13:50 The Durham Revue: Cirque du Sillý Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£10

Safe Eyed Coalminers Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Möglich Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£7 Richard Brown: Art is Easy Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, £free Conor O’Toole and Alison Spittle Frankenstein Pub, 24–31 Aug, £free

14:00

14:05

BBC: Janice Forsyth BBC@POTTERROW, Various dates from 10 Aug to 27 Aug, £free

The History of Gluttony Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, £8.50

14:15

Worst Show on the Fringe Movement, 8–29 Aug, £free Baron Sternlook’s Improvised Musical theSpace on Niddry St, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £8—£8.50 Tiernan Douieb: The World’s Full of Idiots, Let’s Live in Space

HHH

Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free

Aidan Killian: Holy Trinity of Whistle Blowers Heroes @ The Hive, 7–31 Aug, not 18, £5

Kevin Precious: Gecko Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–30 Aug, £free

❤ Seymour Mace Niche as F*ck!

Stewart Lee: A Room With a Stew The Assembly Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £12.50

The Stand Comedy Club 2, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8

Songruiner Globe Bar, 8–29 Aug, £free David von Jones: Ethically Adventurous Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, Various dates from 6 Aug to 28 Aug, £free

14:20

Mark Stephenson: Amsterdam HHH Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £free Geoff Norcott: The Look of Moron Just the Tonic at The Tron, 10–29 Aug, not 18, £5

14:25 David, Tom and Sophie: Live in Scotland Chiquito, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free

14:30 Sajeela Kershi: Shallow Halal Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 17, 24, £free

HHHH

Late with Lance! Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Elaine Malcolmson: Arrangements The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–30 Aug, not 17, prices vary Paul Duncan McGarrity – Today is the Good Old Times of Tomorrow Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Aidan Goatley’s 10 Films With My Dad Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free Laugh Train Home Presents: Chick-Ass Comedy Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Aaaaaarrgghh! It’s 101 Naughty Jokes in 30 Minutes – Free Show Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 6–30 Aug, £free Sheeps Skewer the News Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 21–30 Aug, £free The Notorious Mary Bourke The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 The Edinburgh Revue: Sketches in Scarlet Opium, 8–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free

Comedy

A new play about the impact of war on women

17-22 August @ 11:00 24-29 August @ 13:25 SanctuaryThePlay.com

I M P E R M A N E N C E DA N C E T H E A T R E

DA-DA-DARLING ‘POETIC ENERGETIC RACY VINTAGE STYLISH’

SIMON CASSON DUCKIE

7 - 31 Aug (except 17) 10.15pm (1hr) zoofestival.co.uk Guruguru Sneaky Pete’s, 8–29 Aug, £free Instant Sunshine Pleasance Courtyard, 22–29 Aug, £11—£12 Orry Gibbens and Red Richardson Better Than Crap Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 22, £free

festmag.co.uk

Daphna Baram: Something to Declare Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 7–29 Aug, not 10, 18, 24, £free

14:35 Suzanne Lea Shepherd: Dorothy Was Never from Kansas Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Dan Mitchell: Plate Expectations Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free

14:40 George Zach: Greek Tragedy Cowgatehead, 7–31 Aug, £free Laughing Stock Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Old Men in Black Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £free Aspects of Joy – Free Hispaniola, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free

14:45

Listings

Free Footlights La Belle Angèle, 8–30 Aug, £free

Everything That’s Wrong with the Universe Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10.50 Deborah Frances-White: Friend of a Friend of Dorothy Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 6–29 Aug, not 9, 10, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, £free Jake Lambert and Dom Lister Exist Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £free Gary Colman: Tickling Mice Whistlebinkies, 8–29 Aug, £free Joe Hart: Dirty Rotten Apples Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £5—£10 David Tsonos: Walking the Cat Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free Live in the Staff Room (Sex, Fairy Tales, Serial Killers and Other Stuff) Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free Ian Fox – Shutter Monkey (A Comedy Show With Pictures) – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free Puppet Fiction Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Carl Donnelly and Chris Martin Comedy Podcast: Live! Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , Various dates from 9 Aug to 30 Aug, £free The Noise Next Door: The Really, Really Good Afternoon Show Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£10.50 George Egg: Anarchist Cook Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£9.50

14:50 ❤ Megan Ford: Feminasty HHHH Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, £6—£9

Australia: A Whinging Pom’s Guide Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, £free John Robertson: Let’s Redecorate! HHH The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10

14:55 History’s Greatest Monster Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £4—£5 Imaginary Colin Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 25, £free

15:00 Mitch Benn: That Was the Future The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10

Clandestine Sketch Show Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 6–30 Aug, not 11, 23, £free Winter is Coming. Again. Gilded Balloon , 5–23 Aug, not 18, £6.50—£13 Phil Kay ‘n’ Russell Hicks: Psychedelicious Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 13–23 Aug, £5 The Stupid Show for Idiots Opium, 19–29 Aug, £free Trudelights of the Fringe Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free The Sunny Side Show Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3.50—£6 The Story Of The Nervous Man (A Silent Comedy) Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 27–31 Aug, £5 Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 Imagine There’s No Ben Target (It’s Easy If You Try) HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 6–30 Aug, not 16, 17, 18, £5 Haus of Chi-Chi St John’s, 7–25 Aug, not 18, £free Unexpected Items in Badinage Areas Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Lifeshambles Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£11

Magnum Hopeless Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 6–30 Aug, £free

Notflix SpaceTriplex, 24–29 Aug, £9

The Wonderful World of Lieven Scheire Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£10.50

15:10

The Oxford Imps Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £5—£12 David Mulholland’s Conspiracy Cowgatehead, 7–31 Aug, not 19, £free Read All About It! Cowgatehead, 7–31 Aug, £free Lou Conran: Small Medium at Large Assembly George Square Gardens, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£8 Australia is F*cked George Next Door, 16–22 Aug, £free Lily Bevan – Pheasant Plucker Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£11 Jo Burke: iScream Cowgatehead, 16–29 Aug, £free Mambalsa – One Man’s Quest to Launch a New Partner Dance Pilgrim, 8–29 Aug, £free French Fried Comedy Edinburgh Sportsters, 8–29 Aug, £free Mickey D: Good Bloke Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

15:05 Night of My Life theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 10–22 Aug, not 16, £7

Double Dipp’s Pick ‘n’ Mixx theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–22 Aug, £6 Gamer Gamer Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £2—£10 Charmian Hughes: When Comedy Was Alternative (The Laughs and Loves of a She-Comic) HH Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £free Joe Fairbrother: We Can Do Anything Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free

15:15 Cardinal Sin Sweet Grassmarket, 17–23 Aug, £free Jellybean Martinez: Mr Saturday Night TV Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5—£7 Helen Duff: Smasher – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free

❤ Daphne Do Edinburgh HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 Rory O’Keeffe: Job’s Worth Southsider, 8–29 Aug, £free Shut Your Cakehole Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 7–30 Aug, not 19, £free

76 Comedy

Edith Dark in the

By Philip

Meeks

Inspired by

Edith Nesbit’s ‘Tales of Terror’

4.25pm

5-30 August (not 18)

Momentum Playhouse Venue 166

www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/edithinthedark The Improvised Improv Show – Free Show! Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 6–30 Aug, £free

15:20 Nick Purves is a Recovering Snob Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, £free The Kagools Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 Hari Sriskantha: Like Breath on a Mirror Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £free

❤ Goose: Kablamo HHHH Assembly George Square Theatre, 6–30 Aug, £5—£10

Bat-Fan Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Gag Reflex Presents Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Nick Coyle’s Guided Meditation Lauriston Halls, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio Idiot (Free) George Next Door, 15–22 Aug, £free The Amazing Sketch Show C venues – C, 23–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 David Mulholland’s Conspiracy New Waverley Arches , 7–31 Aug, not 19, £free

❤ Candy Gigi – Chicken Soup

15:25 Comedy Manifesto Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £free AAA Batteries (Not Included) Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5

15:30 Matthew Collins: The Benefit of Several Doubts Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 7–30 Aug, not 18, £free Flick and Julie: Pop-Up Penny Pinchers Cowgatehead, 10–29 Aug, not 19, £free Hydrophobia (Free) Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 7–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

HHHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 7–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £5

Simon Munnery: And Nothing But The Stand Comedy Club, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £9—£10 Jenny Bede: Don’t Look at Me HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 6–30 Aug, not 8, 24, £6—£11 Chris Coltrane: Left-Wing Propaganda Machine HHH Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, £free Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards Show Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Aug, £14

15:40 Jim Smith: Farmed and Dangerous The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 18–30 Aug, £8 Giraffe: Raisin’ the Hoof Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Dan Nicholas: Reverb (The Love Story of Terrance the Crocodile and Julia the Mannequin) Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 Markus Birdman – Grimm Realities Canons’ Gait, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £free Yianni: Why Did the Chicken Cross the Line? The Stand Comedy Club 2, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8 Eric’s Tales of the Sea – A Submariner’s Yarn Just the Tonic at The Caves, 7–29 Aug, not 18, £7—£11 Comedians’ Cinema Club Just the Tonic at The Tron, 12–29 Aug, not 18, £8 What a Load of Skit Chiquito, 23–29 Aug, £free

15:45 Kevin McMahon – Quantum Magic Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £5—£12 Matt Winning: Mugabe and Me (3D) Opium, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Nev – $cum Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Paul Harry Allen’s Retro Delights Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Stella Graham – Fox Sake Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Alistair Barrie: No More Stage 3 Movement, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free Routines Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Gabriel Ebulue: Armchair Anarchist Cowgatehead, 7–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free The Rat Pack Stand-Up Comedy Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, Various dates from 9 Aug to 30 Aug, £free Nathan Cassidy: Back to the Future Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, £free Card Ninja Sin, 7–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Comedy With a Colour-Blind Dyslexic Geordie Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6–30 Aug, £free The Cambridge Footlights International Tour Show 2015: Love Handles Underbelly Med Quad, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

Robin Morgan: Guten Morgan Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £free

Rodney Bewes: Whatever Happened to the Likely Lad? The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £10

Luke Toulson: Grandpa, Hitler and Me The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8

Neil Henry’s Magical Mindsquirm Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

15:50 Matt Forde: Get the Political Party Started Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10 Quiz in my Pants Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, £free

15:55 Anna Morris: It’s Got To Be Perfect HH Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free

16:00 Paul Merton’s Impro Chums Pleasance Courtyard, 13– 22 Aug, £12.50—£14.50 Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, £free Juliette Burton: Look At Me Gilded Balloon , 16–21 Aug, £10 Tamar Broadbent: Brave New Girl Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 9, 19, £free Niamh Marron – Stand Up Chameleon Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

BlundaBus: RoadShow Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 26 Aug, £5 Battle of the Superheroes Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 8–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 20, 21, 26, £free Gyles Brandreth: Word Power! Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £8—£18 LOLympics Live – Free Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 6–30 Aug, £free Ismo Leikola: Observing the Obvious Gilded Balloon , 7–30 Aug, not 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, £5—£10

❤ LetLuce in Sea Men (A Naval Tale) HHHH

Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Nina Conti: In Your Face Pleasance Courtyard, 26 Aug, £14

❤ Rob Auton: The Water Show HHHH Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free Sam and Tom from TV! Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6

Lucie Pohl: Cry Me a Liver HH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £5—£9

The Clean (as Possible) Comedy Show Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 7–30 Aug, £free

Battle of the Supervillains Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 20–21 Aug, £free

❤ Minor Delays HHHH

The People’s TV Show Fingers Piano Bar, 22–30 Aug, not 24, £free

16:05 The Coin-Operated Girl – A Sex Worker’s Real Life Revelations of Frivolous Fornications Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Laura Lexx: Lovely

HHH

Underbelly Med Quad, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10.50

Tiff Stevenson: Mad Man The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–29 Aug, not 17, £9—£10

16:10

festmag.co.uk

Freestyle Comedy Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–30 Aug, £free Moby Alpha Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£12 Michael Brunström: The Golden Age of Steam Heroes @ The Hive, 18–23 Aug, £5 Kitten Killers: Woof Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£9 Tanyalee Davis: Actual Size Heroes @ The Hive, 24–31 Aug, £5

16:15 Karl Spain: A Time for Jokes Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £5—£9.50 Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden – Old Masters Gilded Balloon , 16–26 Aug, not 20, 21, 22, £12

Listings

Abi Roberts: Downtown Abi Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free

Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

Ray Bradshaw: I Dare Ray to... Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£10 Stephen Bailey: Should’ve Been a Popstar Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 19, £5—£11 Brydie Lee-Kennedy Loves You Two Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free The Missing Hancocks: Live in Edinburgh! (Show B) The Assembly Rooms, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £10—£16 Best Boy: Bested Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free 48 Minutes / Free Festival Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 6–30 Aug, £free Louise Reay: It’s Only Words Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free—£5 Stephen K Amos Talk Show Gilded Balloon , Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £7—£14

❤ The Missing Hancocks: Live in Edinburgh! (Show A) HHHH

The Assembly Rooms, Various dates from 5 Aug to 29 Aug, £10—£16

Dyer and Whitney: You and I Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free

16:20 Martin Croser is an Evil Robot Sent from the Future to Destroy Us All Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, £free Funny for a Grrrl Stand in the Square, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £9—£10

Scott Bennett: About a Roy (Stories About Me Dad) Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6 Beth Vyse: As Funny As Cancer HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 Howard Read: Man (Work in Progress) Banshee Labyrinth, 8–22 Aug, £free Stand-Up Philosophy – Free Silk, 8–29 Aug, not 13, 17, 25, £free

16:25 Katherine Ryan: Kathbum The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–22 Aug, not 17, £10—£12 Literary Death Match The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 23–30 Aug, £10

16:30 Jason Neale is Proper Funny: Fact Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 21–25 Aug, £5 Daddy and Robin I Love You (Featuring the Little Snowman) Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 10 Aug, 11 Aug, 27 Aug, 28 Aug, 29 Aug, £5

❤ Lolly HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50

John Lloyd: Emperor of the Prawns Assembly Checkpoint, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£13 Suzy Bennett Gumption! Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Ollie and Susie’s New Year’s Shindig Southsider, 8–29 Aug, £free

Sophie Pelham: Country Files Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£9

Thrones! The Musical

16:35

16:50 ❤ Michael J Dolan:

An Audience with Harry Deansway Just the Tonic at The Tron, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5

Tania Edwards: Electrifying Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50 That Pair: Letting It Go Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5

16:40 FanFiction Comedy Assembly George Square Theatre, 6–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Sad Faces Present The Dawn Chorus Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£10 The Leeds Tealights: Discuss Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 12, 18, £5—£9

16:45 ❤ BEASTS: Live DVD HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

James Ross – Leopardoptera Globe Bar, 8–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Ken Crystal Afternoon Showcase Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 6–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Tiny Horse Comedy Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 7–30 Aug, not 19, £free Comfort and Joy New Waverley Arches , 7–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free

Get Your Own Back: Live! Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 6, 20, £7—£13

Mid-Brow Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£9

Compose Mantis: The Duo-plicity of Improv New Waverley Arches , 7–31 Aug, £free

James Veitch: Genius Bar HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10.50

BBC: In Tune BBC@POTTERROW, 21 Aug, £free

Christian Schulte-Loh: Return of the 50 Foot German Comedian Sin, 7–29 Aug, not 19, 26, £free

Rose Matafeo and Guy Montgomery Are Friends Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free

Rhys James: Remains Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£11

Miserable Guts

HHHH

The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8

John Scott Presents Dissent The Stand Comedy Club 2, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8

16:55 Stuart Goldsmith: An Hour (Free Show) Canons’ Gait, 8–30 Aug, not 19, £free

17:00 Never Been Better Opium, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free Lucky Strike Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£9.50 Paul Sinha: Postcards From the Z List The Stand Comedy Club, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £5—£10 Evelyn Mok: Idiot Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Messrs Brimson and Wilson in Lofty Expectations Cabaret Voltaire, 6–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Mark Thomas: Trespass – Work in Progress Summerhall, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 20, £10—£12 The Maydays & Friends: Unplugged Thistle King James Hotel, 18–30 Aug, £free Sleeping Trees: Mafia?/Western? Pleasance Courtyard, 5–22 Aug, £6—£10 Twisted Loaf Present Stale Mate Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5—£8 Shit of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–30 Aug, £free

Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, £10—£14

Thünderbards: Chapter III Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£10 Jenny Say Qua Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free

❤ Martha McBrier: Pigeon Puncher HHHH

Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free

So That’s What We Voted For? The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10 Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 7–29 Aug, £free Man-ish Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 20–30 Aug, £free Christian Reilly: Songs of Insolence Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, £free Jollyboat: Nerdplay Movement, 8–29 Aug, £free Kelly Kingham: Inside Out Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Asp Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free Ivor Dembina: New Jewish Jokes The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 Devil’s Door Bell Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 18, 23, £free Russell Hicks: Big Mouth Strikes Again Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–31 Aug, £free

17:05 Luke and Harry’s Jaws theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 21–22 Aug, £8

The Secret of My Failure theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £7.50 Shellshock! Improv Live! theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £7

17:10 Muswell Hill theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £6.50

17:15 James Dowdeswell’s Perfect Pub Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free Myrtle Throgmorton, Ancient Heckler Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 7–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £6—£10 Aaron Twitchen: Deadlines and Diets Laughing Horse @ The Blind Poet , 6–29 Aug, not 19, 26, £free Jonathan Grant: Social Intercourse Cowgatehead, 14–21 Aug, £free Jon Cozart – Laughter Ever After Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£11 BEINGS Cowgatehead, 22–28 Aug, £free Abigoliah Schamaun: Post-Coital Confessions Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£10 Milo McCabe: Genesisocide Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free Gareth Cooper: Mishmash Fingers Piano Bar, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 24, £free Katsura Sunshine – Let Me Tell You a Story About Japan! Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Lucy Frederick – In the Wild Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£8.50 Alex Smith - The Art of Grooming Whistlebinkies, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free

Micky Bartlett: Narcissilly Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 7–29 Aug, not 18, £free

❤ David Mills: Don’t

Patrick Morris: Fairly Premature Bucket List Underbelly Med Quad, 5–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£11

Get Any Ideas / Free

17:30

Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, £free

Paul Savage: Tired and Emotional Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free

HHHH

Next Year’s Show (50% Abridged Version) Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free Virginia Ironside: Growing Old Disgracefully The Assembly Rooms, 18–30 Aug, £12

17:20 Marny Godden: Flap ‘em on the Gate Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Yve Blake: Lie Collector HH Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6.50—£10.50 Adam Hess: Salmon

HHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 7–31 Aug, £5

Charles Booth: Deer in the Spotlights Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6 Tom Allen: Both Worlds

HHH

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10

Shakespeare’s Avengers Assembleth: Age of Oberon Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 7–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £4—£7 Hardeep Singh Kohli: Big Mouth Strikes Again Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£12 Graham Clark Reads the Phonebook Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

BBC: The Verb BBC@POTTERROW, 27 Aug, £free The Giggle Dungeon Take Over! Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 15–30 Aug, £free Lou Sanders: Excuse Me, You’re Sitting on My Penis Again

HHH

Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 7–30 Aug, not 19, £free

At Least 100 Jokes Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Matthew Collins: My Favourite Waste of Time New Waverley Arches , 7–30 Aug, not 17, £free Rosie Holt: (No) Strings Attached Frankenstein Pub, 7–31 Aug, not 19, £free Ed Aczel: The Random Flapping of a Butterfly’s Wings Heroes @ The Hive, 7–30 Aug, not 19, £6 James Christopher’s Annual Cry for Help Banshee Labyrinth, 9–30 Aug, not 15, 22, 29, £free BlundaBus: RoadShow Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 26 Aug, £5 Nick Hall: Dodekahedron Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10 Jessie Cave: I Loved Her Underbelly, Cowgate, 8–30 Aug, £9—£10

Anything Can Be a Podcast Podcast Returns! Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free Will Durst: BoomeRaging From LSD to OMG Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £5—£12.50 Amir Khoshsokhan – Milk and Hedgehogs Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Alfie Moore: A Fair Cop Stands Up Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, £6—£11 Bec Hill: Caught On Tape HHH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£9.50 The Oxford Revue: Issues Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£10

17:35 Lewis Schaffer is Free until Famous, £5 Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5 Al Lubel: Al Lubel Free Voodoo Rooms, 12–30 Aug, £free

17:40 Christian Talbot is Shite at Being Irish Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Bruce Fummey: A History of Scotland Stand in the Square, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8

17:45 Luca Cupani: Still Falling Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 26, £5

17:25

❤ Larry Dean: Out Now! HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12

Oxford Comedy Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–31 Aug, not 17, £free

Dead Ghost Star Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free

When the Sh*t Hits the Fan Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 18, £5—£10

Aidan Strangeman: Horsey Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£10

Tatterdemalion Assembly Roxy, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£12

Andrew Bridge: AART Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 15–30 Aug, £free

Harriet Kemsley: Puppy Fat Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50

Ivo Graham: No Filter Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£11

Christian O’Connell: You’ve Ruined My Morning... and Other Fan Mail HH Gilded Balloon , 7–29 Aug, not 19, £6—£12

The Stand Comedy Club 2, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8

Light Relief Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, £8.50 Damien Slash: Übermen HH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50 Cerys Nelmes Presents Pick’n’Mix – Free Southsider, 8–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £free The Beau Zeaux: An Improvised Comedy Pleasance Courtyard, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £6—£12 Croft & Pearce – There’s Always Something Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£10

17:50 Clare Plested: The Essential Collection Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free Sarah Callaghan: Elephant HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12

17:55 Jim Smallman: My Girls Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £3—£6

18:00 Mark of Stupidity Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 6–30 Aug, £free The Best of Irish Comedy The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 7–30 Aug, £12 Keith Farnan: Anonymous HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, 25, £6—£11 Sam Gore: The Cryptid Crossword Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–30 Aug, £free

Ria Lina: Taboo Raider

Songs with Phil New Waverley Arches , 7–30 Aug, not 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, £free Brennan Reece: Marvel

Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–29 Aug, not 17, £free

Comedy in the Dark Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£12 Let’s See Jen Carnovale Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Silky: The Shrieking in My Mind The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8 Fin Taylor: Stink HH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£9.50

❤ David Elms: Mister Boy HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50 Nina Conti: In Your Face Pleasance Courtyard, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £12 Morgan Berry: Watership Down Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Bucket HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 13, 14, £6—£10 Trygve Wakenshaw: KRAKEN Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 17, 24, £7.50—£12.50 Phil Wang: Philth Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10 Soho Comedy at the Fringe Sin, 7–31 Aug, £free Loch Ness Monster Hunter Bedlam Theatre, 24–30 Aug, £8 One Man Breaking Bad: The Unauthorized Parody Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 6, 17, 25, £6—£15

Comedy

LABELS

5th-31st August (Not 17th) Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker 1, 12.35pm (60mins)

“Powerful, important & funny” - Emma Thompson www.pleasance.co.uk @worklight_uk #LABELS The A to Zed Of Loving A Ned Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £6 Mark Smith: Log Flume Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 19, 26, £free

18:05 Bristol Revunions: Cream Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £3—£7

festmag.co.uk

Time at the Bar! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £6

18:10 The Happy Accidents: Cheer Up, It Might Never Happen – Free Chiquito, 25–29 Aug, £free

18:15 Matt Price: The Boy with Cake on His Face Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd Has 200 Voicemails Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Sunshine and Lollipops (and a Creeping Sense of Existential Terror) Cowgatehead, 21–31 Aug, £free

Listings

Becky Brunning and Bethan Roberts Are Not Men Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 7–29 Aug, not 18, 24, £free

Vladimir McTavish: Scotland, 45 Events That Shaped a Nation The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8 Kevin Day: Hairline

HHH

Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£11

Dave Griffiths: C U in Court Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free Hey Hey 16K Sneaky Pete’s, 8–22 Aug, £free Five Childmen and It – Don’t Wake the Psammead! Sneaky Pete’s, 23–29 Aug, £free How to Win a Pub Quiz Kilderkin, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

Jewish Cockney Caribbean Female Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 7–30 Aug, £free Katharine Ferns: Conscious Incompetent Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free A Very Tall Storrie Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

18:20 Baby Wants Candy: The Graduation Show Assembly Checkpoint, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £10 Rory O’Hanlon: It’s Great to Be Here Cabaret Voltaire, 8–30 Aug, £free

George and Co (the Solo Tour) C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Sam and Helen: Out There Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5—£7

The Wild Card Kitty Show Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6–30 Aug, not 18, 25, £free

Sooz Kempner – Character Activist Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free

The Brendon Burns Show Again Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, £free

Holly Burn: I am Kirsty K Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5

Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio Idiot (Free) Cowgatehead, 17–22 Aug, £free Love Bites Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free UCLU Comedy Club Presents... Movement, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free

Centred: A One Clown Comedy About Stuff C venues – C south, 6–31 Aug, not 16, 17, £7.50—£9.50 Tom Parry: Yellow T-shirt HHH Just the Tonic at The Tron, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £4—£5

18:25 Murder, She Didn’t Write Sweet Grassmarket, 7–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £6.50—£8.50

18:30 McNeill of Tranent – The Fastest Man in the World Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6 Aug, 7 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £free Gone with the Inflatable Colonel Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 19–30 Aug, £free 99 Club Stand-Up Selection – Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 8–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free NewsRevue 2015 Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £9—£16.50 Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–29 Aug, £free Paul Currie: Re-Release the Baboons Heroes @ The Hive, 6–31 Aug, not 10, 12, 19, 26, £5 Festival of the Spoken Nerd: Just for Graphs Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Super-Fragile-Nihilistic-Sexy-and-Atrocious (and Other Poems) Fingers Piano Bar, 18–22 Aug, £free

Supermassive Face Palm La Belle Angèle, 8–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Not Just a Funny Turn Gilded Balloon , 25 Aug, £15 Shaggers Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Davey Connor – So, There You Go Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£8.50 Alun Cochrane: A Show with a Man in It HH The Stand Comedy Club, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10 Huntington & Hutt: Insignificant Other Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free

18:35 Absolute Improv! theSpace on the Mile, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 23, £6—£10 Steve Hall: Zebra

HHH

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£8

Chris Kent Stop Stalling Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £5—£9.50

18:40 The Thinking Drinkers’ Guide to the Legends of Liquor Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £7—£12.50 Tom Neenan: The Andromeda Paradox Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 18, 19, £6—£10

Fred MacAulay: Him Off the Radio The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 22, £14—£15 Brody and Chadwick’s Great Blimp Deception Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 23–30 Aug, £5 Pat Cahill: Panjandrum Heroes @ The Hive, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £5 Fast Fringe Pleasance Dome, 5–29 Aug, £5—£10 John McKeever: Multifarious Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 21, £6—£11 The USOL Best Friends Club Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, £free

18:45 Ste and Dave in Training Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Bristol Improv Steals the Show – Free Sportsters, 8–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Shit-Faced Showtime Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £7—£12 Jody Kamali – Spectacular! Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10 Nicky Wilkinson’s Happy Hour Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Comedy

5th-31st Aug 5.10pm pleasance.co.uk 0131 556 6550 Jack Dome WOMANz: Jou’re Welcome HHH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£10 Private Harris Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Sarah Kendall: A Day in October Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Amy Howerska: Sasspot HHH Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£11 Jamon Iberico and Other Short Stories New Waverley Arches , 18–28 Aug, not 20, 21, £free Rik Carranza: Charming Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Nocturnal Sunshine of Their Spotless Minds Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Will Mars: Outspoken White Guy Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free

❤ Diane Spencer: Power Tool HHHH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, £6—£9.50 Jonny Pelham: Before and After Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£9.50

18:50 Chris Dugdale: Sleightly Dishonest Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£12.50

Richard Soames Does the Right Thing Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10

Michelle McManus: Reloaded HHH Stand in the Square, 6–30 Aug, not 8, 17, 24, £10—£12

The Wee Man Syndrome Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 18, 23, £7

Cosmonaut by Ryan Good Underbelly, Cowgate, 7–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £6—£10

Oliver Suddon – For One Night Only! Festival Radio, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, £10

Alex Williamson: That Guy from the Internet Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, 26, £7—£12

Love Sick Assembly Hall, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£9.50

Justin Moorhouse: Destiny Calling Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11.50

❤ Massive Dad 2.0: Step Up 2 Massive Dad HHHH

Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50

18:55 How to Be Fat Zoo Southside, 7–31 Aug, not 17, £7.50—£8.50 Peter Brush: Older Than the Oldest Dog That Ever Lived Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3—£6

❤ John-Luke Roberts: Stdad-Up

HHHH

Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, £free

19:00 GingerbeToast On Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free BlundaBus: RoadShow Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 26 Aug, £5 Looking Out for Linda Southsider, 7–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Comedy at the Portrait Gallery Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, £10 The Half Naked Chef Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 26, £5

Laugh Train Home Comedy Showcase Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 6–30 Aug, £free BBC: Asian Network’s Big Comedy Night BBC@POTTERROW, 23 Aug, £free Lou Conran: Small Medium at Large Assembly George Square Gardens, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£8 Lost Voice Guy: Disability for Dunces Stand in the Square, 24 Aug, £8 My Two Years in Tokyo Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Sheffield of Dreams Cowgatehead, 10–29 Aug, not 12, 17, 25, £free Phil Jerrod: Neanderthal HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Normally Abnormal Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free Alex Horne: Monsieur Butterfly Pleasance Courtyard, 15–29 Aug, £12

Dan Lees: Brainchild Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Ian Smith – Whereabouts Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Jack Barry: This Title Came to Me in a Dream Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£9 The Pin: Ten Seconds with The Pin HHH Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11 The Sinister Tales of Doctor Synistra Spotlites, 16–31 Aug, £5—£7.50 BBC: Live Music With Radio Nan Gàidheal BBC@POTTERROW, 28 Aug, £free

Accidental Death of an Anarchist theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–22 Aug, £8 Danny Ward – St Vitus Dance Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£9.50

19:10 The Large HArdon Collider Serenity Cafe, 8–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Sofie Hagen: Bubblewrap Liquid Room Annexe, 7–31 Aug, £free Space Carrots Present: Where’s Keith? Silk, 8–29 Aug, £free Tim Drain: I Know How to Make the Women I Sleep with Laugh theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 25–29 Aug, £6 Susie McCabe: The Drugs Don’t Work The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 Gavin Webster: The Sexist’s Sexist The Stand Comedy Club 2, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8

Phill Jupitus: Sketch Comic Scottish National Gallery, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, £free

19:15

Fernando – Carry On Campervan Sweet Grassmarket, 29–30 Aug, £10

Stand Up & Slam! – Free Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free

19:05 Aidan Goatley: Year of the Goat Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free

JAM Comedy Globe Bar, 8–29 Aug, not 18, 26, £free

Cut the Mustard C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50 SherwoodJam Black Medicine, 23–29 Aug, £free

❤ Dane Baptiste: Reasonable Doubts HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£13

Nicole Henriksen – Honeycomb Badgers on Acid Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free

❤ Nish Kumar: Long Word... Long Word... Blah Blah Blah... I’m so Clever HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£12 In Cahoots: Two White Guys Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £7—£10.50 AAA Stand-Up Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£11 Moj Taylor Is in: The Pursuit of Crappiness Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £7.50—£10 Philip O’Shea Turns 30 – Live Banshee Labyrinth, Various dates from 8 Aug to 30 Aug, £free SomeNews: The Misstakes Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–30 Aug, £free David O’Doherty: We Are All in the Gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking at David O’Doherty Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8—£15 Tez Ilyas: TEZ Talks

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12

Stephen Carlin: The Gospel According to Stephen Canons’ Gait, 8–30 Aug, not 18, £free Craig Hill: Playing With My Selfie! Venue150@EICC, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 25, £8.50—£17.50

19:20 Ronny Chieng: Chieng Reaction HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Alfie Brown: -ism

HHH

Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–31 Aug, £6—£11

Al Murray: The Pub Landlord’s Summer Saloon Assembly George Square Gardens, 21–30 Aug, £19.50 Paul Foot HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12.50

festmag.co.uk

Big Value Comedy Show – Early Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£10

19:25 Pelican: A Sketch Show Just the Tonic at The Caves, 10–29 Aug, not 18, £5

19:30 Plague of Idiots Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, £5—£10

❤ Liam Williams: Bonfire Night HHHH

Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 20–30 Aug, £free

Kate Lucas – Work in Progress Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 21, £free Totes Inappropes! Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 6–30 Aug, not 18, 26, £free

Listings

Adam Hills: Clown Heart Assembly Hall, 22–30 Aug, not 28, £14—£15

So You Think You’re Funny? Grand Final Gilded Balloon , 27 Aug, £15

Alexander Bennett: I Can Make You a Moron Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free

Honest to Godley! Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free

Jo Brand Gilded Balloon , 17 Aug, 19 Aug, 21 Aug, £15

Imaan After My Own Heart The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10

Damian Clark - It’s a Good Day to Damo Sin, 7–31 Aug, not 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, £free

Barry Cryer’s 80th Birthday Roast Gilded Balloon , 23 Aug, £12 QI Presents: No Such Thing as a Fish Underbelly Potterrow, 26– 30 Aug, £11.50—£12.50 Milton Jones and the Temple of Daft Assembly Hall, 7–21 Aug, not 10, 17, £8.25—£18.50 Adventures in Menstruating with Chella Quint Stafford Centre, 8–28 Aug, not 12, 14, 17, 25, £free Alice Fraser: Savage

HHH

Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–31 Aug, £free

Simon Caine: Buddhism and Cats Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 7–29 Aug, not 18, £free Jena Friedman: American C*nt The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 18–30 Aug, £7—£8 Champagne Socialist Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 19, £free Jimeoin: Yeehaa! Venue150@EICC, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 25, £8.50—£17.50

❤ Ahir Shah: Distant HHHH Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free

Joby Mageean – Billy No Immune System Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6 Aug, 21 Aug, £free Kelly Ford’s Kapers Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 27–30 Aug, £free Tommy Tiernan Alive in Edinburgh Gilded Balloon , 16–30 Aug, not 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, £15—£16 Musical Comedy Awards Showcase Underbelly Potterrow, 20–21 Aug, £12

19:40 Matthew Crosby: Smaller Than Life Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £4—£5 Breakfast Epiphanies Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–28 Aug, not 18, £3—£6 Heidi O’Loughlin: A Woman Talking Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Iain Stirling: Touchy Feely HH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–29 Aug, £6—£10 Baby Wants Candy: The Improv All Star Explosion! Assembly Checkpoint, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £13 Imran Yusuf: Super Roar of the Underdog Turbo X: HD Remix The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 21–30 Aug, £12 My Favourite Words in the English Language Just the Tonic at The Tron, 10–30 Aug, not 18, £7—£8.50 Simon Munnery’s Fylm School Heroes @ The Hive, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £5 Dr Professor Neal Portenza’s Catchy Show Title Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Revan and Fennell: Fan Club C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50

19:45 Gearoid Farrelly: Gearoid Less Travelled Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £5—£9.50 Katia Kvinge: 140 Karakters HHH Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 12, 18, £free

Joanna Neary: Faceful of Issues HHH The Assembly Rooms, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10 Laughing Horse Free Comedy Selection Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–29 Aug, £free Private Harris St John’s, 7–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Jocks and Geordies Whistlebinkies, 9–30 Aug, not 15, 22, 29, £free Papa CJ: Naked Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–23 Aug, £free

19:50 ❤ Andrew Doyle: Minimalism!

HHHH

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10

Andrew Ryan: Perfectly Inadequate Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11 Jonny and the Baptists: The End Is Nigh Roundabout @ Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 18, 25, £9—£12 Freddie Farrell: Today Was a Total Waste of Makeup Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, £free Elf Lyons: Being Barbarella HHH Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 24, £free

❤ Tim Renkow: Kim Jong-Un, Muhammad, Jesus and Other Power Hungry Maniacs HHHH

Heroes @ The Hive, 7–31 Aug, not 12, 26, £5

19:55 Raymond Mearns Is Growing Old Disgracefully Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 4–31 Aug, not 17, £free

20:00 Reginald D Hunter: Bitchproof Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 12, 18, 24, £9—£17 John Robins: Speakeasy Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Superhero Secret Origins Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Nathan Caton: Straight Outta Middlesex Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£11

❤ Emma Sidi: Character Breakdown HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9

Joe Lycett: That’s The Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett Pleasance Courtyard, 24 Aug, £10 Hal Cruttenden: Straight Outta Cruttenden Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£16 Adam Benjamin and Victor Preda: Icomeclasts Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 6–30 Aug, £free HUB Fresh Pleasance Courtyard, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, £free Pete Firman: Super Duper Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £8.50—£15 The Big Comedy Gala in Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support Venue150@EICC, 28 Aug, £18 My First Laugh Sportsters, 8–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Wheely Wheely Wheely Wheely Wheely Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

Kai Humphries: How to Be Happy Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, £6—£12.50 Rob Beckett: Mouth of the South Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7.50—£13 Sparrow-Folk: SuBIRDia Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £5—£10 Playing Politics Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, 28 Aug, £12.50 Joey Page: Catastrophe Party Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£11 Stereotypist Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Super Villain Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 13–30 Aug, £free Annie McGrath and Nico Tatarowicz #Pray4AnnieAndNico Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 7–29 Aug, not 18, 24, £free Jo Caulfield: Awkward Conversations HHH The Stand Comedy Club, 7–30 Aug, not 17, £10 Patrick Kielty: Help Assembly George Square Studios, 24–30 Aug, £12.50—£14 Frequently Asked Questions Scottish Storytelling Centre, 6–30 Aug, not 8, 10, 17, 24, £6—£8 BBC: Sue Perkins’ Big Night Out BBC@POTTERROW, 22 Aug, £free Marc Jennings: Disconnected Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free An Improvised Murder New Waverley Arches , Various dates from 16 Aug to 22 Aug, £free

20:05

Steve Bugeja: Day Release Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5

Price Includes Biscuits theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £8

Joe Lycett: That’s The Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £6—£12

20:10 Stewart Francis: Pun Gent The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £14—£15

Pop Pop Underbelly Med Quad, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

Abi Roberts’ Musical CID Gilded Balloon , 27–30 Aug, £8

Andrew Lawrence: Uncensored HH Assembly Roxy, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£12

Mark Steel: Who Do I Think I Am? Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £10—£14

Bruce Fummey: Scottish Comedian of the Year Winner 2014 Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £3—£10

❤ Lazy Susan: Double Act HHHH Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10

20:15 Evan Wonders of the World Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free Sean McLoughlin: Whatever It Takes Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£9.50

❤ Angela Barnes: Come As You Are

HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£11

Waking Up in Trees and Trucks George Next Door, 8–28 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Cheeky Irish Pups Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Accident Avoidance Training for Cutlery Users – Level 1 Southsider, 23–29 Aug, £free Small Town Heroes Southsider, 8–22 Aug, £free Just the Tonic Comedy Club Just the Tonic at The Caves, 7–29 Aug, not 18, 26, £8—£10 Lost Property Cowgatehead, 8–22 Aug, not 19, £free Patrick Monahan – The Disco Years Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Jarred Christmas is Hotfoot Papa Gilded Balloon , 19–23 Aug, £10 Joseph Morpurgo: Soothing Sounds for Baby HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10.50

Joel Creasey: The Hurricane Assembly Roxy, 18–29 Aug, £10—£11 Greg Proops: The Smartest Man In The World Gilded Balloon , 24–26 Aug, £12 Cocaine and Potatoes Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 22–30 Aug, £free

20:20 Improvabunga: Funny Side Up theSpace on the Mile, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £8 Rhys Nicholson – Forward Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, £6.50—£11.50 Corey White: The Cane Toad Effect Assembly Hall, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Max and Ivan: The End Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£12.50 Viv Groskop: Say Sorry to the Lady HH The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8 Kate Smurthwaite: The Wrong Sort of Feminist Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free

20:25 ONEymoon Liquid Room Annexe, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 24, 26, 29, £free Eric Davidson – It’s a Wrong Way to Ukulele theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £10

20:30 Phil Kay MegaBusy Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 13–23 Aug, £7

❤ Alex Edelman: Everything Handed to You HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£12 Archie Maddocks Ain’t Got No Behaviour Cowgatehead, 7–29 Aug, not 17, £free Testify Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free

Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 23, £free

Sarah Bennetto: Fritters Away an Hour of Your Life... Mmm, Fritters HHH Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £free The Old Fella theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 25, £9

20:35 Peablossom Cabaret Thistle King James Hotel, 7–23 Aug, £free All Our Friends Are Dead Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, 24, £6—£10

Andrew Watts – How to Build a Chap Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Chris Ramsey: All Growed Up Assembly George Square Theatre, 20–30 Aug, £12.50—£15 Conor Drum – Adult Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, £free Peter Dobbing: Armchair Futurologist Kilderkin, 8–28 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

Eleanor Tiernan – Don’t Cry for Me Eleanor Tiernan Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 6–30 Aug, not 24, £free

20:40 Charlie Baker: Just the One Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

Femmetamorphosis Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, £6—£8

Shaun Buswell’s Random Orchestra Challenges Cafe Camino, 8–29 Aug, £free

John Robertson – The Dark Room: Symphony of a Floating Head Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£10.50

Jacobs and von Jones: Best of the Fest! Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 6–30 Aug, £free

Daniel Sloss: Dark Venue150@EICC, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 25, £8.50—£17.50

Some Like It Thea-Skot Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free

The Heist theSpace on the Mile, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £9

20:50

❤ James Acaster: Represent HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£12 Pun-Man’s Pun Party Frankenstein Pub, 8–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free ONEymoon George Next Door, 24 Aug, 29 Aug, £free Darren Walsh: Punderbolt Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9 Tom Toal in Sunshine on Bexleyheath Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10.50

Jamie Kilstein: Sober Song Rants and a Cat Story Stand in the Square, 18–31 Aug, £12

WinstonsWow The Boards, 5–29 Aug, not 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 23, £10

Jimmy McGhie – Winged Goddess of Victory HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

HHHH

Rory McSwiggan Wants Nothing to Do With Himself Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, £free

Craig Campbell: Don’t Look Down The Assembly Rooms, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10

Martin Mor: Away Gallivanting The Stand Comedy Club 2, 7–30 Aug, not 17, £8

Pajama Men: 2 Man 3 Musketeers HHH Assembly Roxy, 7–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £10—£15

❤ Natasia Demetriou and Ellie White are Mother and Baby

Carl Donnelly: Jive Ass Honky HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Lloyd Griffith: Great Grimsby’s Big Turn On Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10.50

Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman Chiquito, 23–29 Aug, £free

20:45 Clusterf**k Movement, 8–29 Aug, £free Stuck! Gilded Balloon , 17–30 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Prey Liquid Room Annexe, 24–30 Aug, £free Chris Martin: This Show has a Soundtrack HHH Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £free

Maxine Jones: Full Circle Cabaret Voltaire, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free Bobby Mair: Filthy Immigrant Heroes @ The Hive, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £5 Desperately Seeking Attention Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 7–29 Aug, not 11, 16, 23, £free—£8

21:00 Jason Byrne: 20 Years a Clown Assembly Hall, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £8—£19.50 Burt Lancaster Pierced My Hymen (When I Was 11) Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 11, 15, 18, 25, £5

Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho Assembly George Square Gardens, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £10—£14 Sam Simmons: Spaghetti for Breakfast Underbelly Potterrow, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £7.50—£14

❤ Felicity Ward: What If There Is No Toilet? HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£12

Nina Conti: In Your Face Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £9—£15.50 BlundaBus: RoadShow Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, £5 Harmon Leon in Porn, Corn, and Body Slamming For Jesus Banshee Labyrinth, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Chris Fitchew – Ooops! Sin, 7–27 Aug, not 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, £free Funmbi Omotayo: Legal Immigrant HH Gilded Balloon , 6–30 Aug, £5—£9.50 Spencer Jones Presents: The Herbert in Proper Job HHH Heroes @ The Hive, 6–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £5 Bodell and Maxwell’s Chromatic Character Menagerie Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 17, 25, £free Künt and the Gang – Künt’ll Fix It Laughing Horse @ New Empire Bingo, 28–29 Aug, £6 Laughing Horse Free Pick of the Fringe Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–29 Aug, £free Savage and Ralph: Joyful Erotica Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 19, 26, £free Ben Fairey: Floe-Joe’s Faces Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free—£5 Alex Kealy and Friends Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, not 19, £free Blind Mirth Paradise in The Vault, 8–22 Aug, not 16, £6

Comedy

Joel Dommett: Conquer HH Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–29 Aug, not 28, £free Gay Furnish Flirt Coach Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£12 Super Shaggers Laughing Horse @ New Empire Bingo, 21–22 Aug, £free Queens of Comedy Sin, 14–30 Aug, not 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, £free Sunshine and Lollipops (and a Creeping Sense of Existential Terror) Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 21–30 Aug, £free Fresh Blood Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£10 Ed Byrne – Outside Looking In Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, 27, £10—£15 Latex and Roses Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £free—£5 Julian Deane Just the Tonic at The Tron, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free Will Franken: Who Keeps Making All These People? The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8

21:10 Carl Hutchinson: Learning the Ropes

HHH

The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10

Scotland’s Pick of the Fringe Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £5 Bob Doolally Football Legend The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 17 Aug, 25 Aug, £10 Stephen K Amos: Work in Progress The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–29 Aug, not 17, 18, 24, 25, £10 Kieran Hodgson: Lance Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 19, £free

21:15 Sean Nolan: The Retrospective Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free Neel Kolhatkar: Truth Be Told Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£11 Al Porter Is Yours Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £5—£9.50 Bafflesmash Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £free

21:05

Tom Ballard – Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred

Jamie MacDonald: Oblivious Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£10

Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11

HHH

Mae Martin: Us

HHH

Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free

Christian Steel – Gloom Hunter Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free Mark Simmons – Laugh Yourself Thin Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£9.50 Alasdair and Nick: Dangerous as Milk – Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Glenn Moore: Nephew to Three Gorgeous Uncles Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free Mark Nelson: Older than Jesus Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12.50

21:20 Ian D Montfort: Under Sciencey Conditions Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£14.50 Pappy’s Live at the Cabaret Bar! Pleasance Courtyard, 27–29 Aug, £9

❤ Glenn Wool: Creator, I am but a Pawn HHHH Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6.50—£12.50 Zoe Coombs Marr: Dave Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£11 Rob Beckett: Mouth of the South Pleasance Courtyard, 19–22 Aug, £12—£13

The Secret of My Failure theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £7.50 Alex Lacey is Killing Jim Sweet Grassmarket, 6–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £8 Ally Houston: Shandy

HHH

Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free—£4

21:25 Garrett Millerick: A Selection of Things I’ve Said to Taxi Drivers Underbelly Med Quad, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11 Jerry Sadowitz: Comedian, Magician, Bawbag! The Assembly Rooms, Various dates from 20 Aug to 30 Aug, £16 Church Night theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £5

21:30 James Hamilton Is So Lonely – Free Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £free Waking Up in Trees and Trucks Cowgatehead, 7–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Calypso Nights: Juan, Two? Assembly Roxy, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 WeddingBingo – Free Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 16–23 Aug, £free

❤ Brett Goldstein: Burning Man HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

Pierre Novellie is Anxious Peter Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

Baby Wants Candy: The Completely Improvised Full Band Musical Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, £10—£15

❤ Phil Nichol: I Don’t Want to Talk About It

❤ Tats Nkonzo: The African With Wifi

HHHHH

The Stand Comedy Club 2, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, 19, £7—£8

James Loveridge: Funny Because It’s True Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 24–30 Aug, £free The Pleasance Comedy Reserve Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£9.50 Gabriel Bisset-Smith Tells the Most Original and Funny Joke in the Universe! HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£10 Aaaaaarrgghhhh! It’s the Monster Stand-Up Show – Free Show Laughing Horse @ Dropkick Murphys, 6–30 Aug, £free A Ward Winning Storey Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 12, 20, £free

❤ Marcus Brigstocke: Why the Long Face?

HHHH

Assembly Hall, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £10—£14

❤ Aisling Bea: Plan Bea HHHH Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 19, £7—£12

HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

Gary Little: Just Trying to Be Friendly The Stand Comedy Club, 7–30 Aug, not 17, £10 Paris Communal Shower Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Shazia Mirza: A Work in Progress The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8 Mark Forward presents Mark Forward Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 27, £5—£12 Hal Cruttenden: Straight Outta Cruttenden Pleasance Courtyard, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £16

21:35 Goodbear Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10.50 Shit-Faced Shakespeare Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, £7—£14.50 Nick Doody: T’ai-Po Canons’ Gait, 8–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

21:40 Ben Russell: The Tokyo Hotel Pleasance Dome, 5–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11 John Hastings: Marked from the Start Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10 Follow the Faun Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, £8.50 Australia is F*cked Cowgatehead, 19–29 Aug, £free Jess Robinson: The Rise of Mighty Voice Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6.50—£12 Abnormally Funny People Stand in the Square, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10 Tom Stade: You’re Welcome! The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £14—£15

❤ Nick Cody – Beard Game Strong HHHH

festmag.co.uk

Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12.50

Matt Reed – Stalked Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£10 Big Value Comedy Show – Late Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£10 Ben Champion: Don’t Look Down – Free Liquid Room Annexe, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, 28 Aug, 30 Aug, £free St George is Cross Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

Mancunian Rhapsody C venues – C cubed, 6–29 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Oh It’s That Guy! Comedian Matt Henry Freestival St Mary’s, 7–31 Aug, £free

zazU: A Fête Worse Than Death Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10 Sex, Hugs and Gender Roles: A Panel Show About Sexuality Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £free

❤ Trygve Wakenshaw: Nautilus HHHH

Pleasance Courtyard, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 17, 24, £7—£12

Foil, Arms and Hog: Skiddlywup Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £7—£12

Jem Brookes: Punisment Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free

If Men Ruled the World – Free Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey, 6–30 Aug, £free

❤ Adam

The Barry Delusion Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 7–30 Aug, not 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, £free

Riches is Coach Coach

HHHH

Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, £7—£14

Chris Betts: Social Animal Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50 Bronston Jones: God Bless ‘Merica – Free Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–30 Aug, £free Stephanie Laing: Nincompoop Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Joshua Ladgrove Talks at You for 52 Minutes in Exchange for Some of Your Money Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 16–25 Aug, £5

21:55 ❤ Mat Ewins: Day Job HHHH Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5

21:45 Luke McQueen: Double Act Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

Confessions of a Peculiar Mind Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–31 Aug, not 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, £free

Tim Key: Work-inSlutgress Pleasance Courtyard, 15–31 Aug, not 17, £10

Listings

Henry von Stifle’s Enter the Dragon Cowgatehead, 7–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

22:00

Chris Turner: XXV Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£10

Honky Bonk History of The Beatles Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 27–31 Aug, £5

Elliot Steel and Jake Lambert: Lark! Kilderkin, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free Chortle Student Comedy Award Final Pleasance Courtyard, 24 Aug, £8.50

Joy is the Enemy of Progress Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–26 Aug, not 11, 18, £free The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society Heroes @ The Hive, 9–27 Aug, not 14, 15, 21, 22, £5 BattleActs! Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 7–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Aunty Donna HHH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£12 Immigrant Diaries: Sajeela Kershi and Guests The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10 The Shuffle Show

Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£12

Daniel Sloss: Dark: Extra Shows! Venue150@EICC, Various dates from 14 Aug to 29 Aug, £14.50—£17.50 Failure Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £free Instant Sharma Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 19, 26, £free

22:05 Your Aunt Fanny Just the Tonic at The Caves, 19–29 Aug, £7—£8 Female Personality of the Year C venues – C nova, 16–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Nick Revell: Feminist Porno Jihadi The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£8

22:10 ❤ Kyle Kinane: Ghost Pizza Party HHHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£12

Free Comic: Volume Two Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, £free

22:15 We Are Goose Present Complimentary Gin! Sweet Grassmarket, 29–30 Aug, £5 Stuart Black – Lemsip and Cigarettes Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Hell To Play Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free Die Roten Punkte – Haus Party Assembly Checkpoint, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, £10—£12 Angus Brown: Get Ready. Get Set. Ahhh F*%k It C venues – C south, 6–31 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Joke Thieves Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 28, £free Kevin J: Council Estate of Mind HHH Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 19, £5—£11 James Acaster: Represent Pleasance Dome, 20–21 Aug, £10—£12 Dysfunctionally in Order Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free Anil Desai – Impressions of a Hindude Sin, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Aatif Nawaz: Muslims Do it 5 Times a Day Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 7–29 Aug, not 19, £free

The Best of Scottish Comedy The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6, 7–30 Aug, not 17, £12

Jonny Awsum: Everything is Awsum Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£8.50

Samantha Pressdee: Consume Shit and Die Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 6–30 Aug, £free

Miss Behave’s Gameshow Assembly Checkpoint, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, £8—£15

Stand Rising The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 7–30 Aug, £8

22:20 Mick Ferry Is Just a Bloke Just the Tonic at The Tron, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £3.50—£6 Good Kids Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–23 Aug, not 18, £4—£8 Barry from Watford’s Bingo Bonanza Pleasance Courtyard, 13–29 Aug, not 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, £10—£12

Jokes About Things (Redinburgh Fringe) Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 6–30 Aug, £free Cassandra: Mary Canary Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–29 Aug, not 10, 18, 24, £free Trevor Noah: Lost in Translation Assembly Hall, 28–30 Aug, £15 Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre – Minging Detectives Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, £5—£11

Omar Hamdi: In the Valleys of the Kings Assembly George Square Studios, 5–30 Aug, £6—£12

Andrew Maxwell – Yo Contraire Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £7—£15

Mixtape Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£10

Fairy Tale Theatre: 18 & Over Assembly George Square Studios, 9–30 Aug, not 17, £10

2 Girls, 1 Cup of Comedy Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5 The Shambles theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 16, £6—£8

22:25 Dead Funny Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, £free

22:30 ❤ The Story Beast HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£9.50

Diane Chorley: Duchess of Canvey

HHH

Underbelly Potterrow, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £7—£12.50

Fright Bus Service Necrobus, 5–31 Aug, £9

The Man The Assembly Rooms, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £9—£10 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £10—£15 Titty Bar Ha Ha: Club Titticana Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Frenchy: Live’n’Lanky Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£11

22:40 The Horne Section’s Questions Sessions Gilded Balloon , 15–29 Aug, £13—£15 Ro Campbell: Exercise Ze Demon The Stand Comedy Club 2, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £7—£8 Chaos Theory Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£10.50

Piff the Magic Dragon – Breakfast at Piffany’s Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 14–29 Aug, £12.50—£13.50 Imaginary Porno Charades Sweet Grassmarket, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £7 Franks and Skinner Present: Myself and Myself Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £5—£7 Qyeen sweeTs: NorthernXposure The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, 18–30 Aug, £8

22:45 Josh Widdicombe’s XFM Show Live! Assembly George Square Studios, 22–25 Aug, £15 The Jest: The Five Humours HH Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£10

aLOne – Loren O’Brien Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£11 #BlurredMinds – Free Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 15, 22, £free Chris Stokes: Altruism in Birds Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£9.50

Brickhead: Yeah Yeah Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 17, 23, £free

Folie à Deux Pleasance Courtyard, 19–23 Aug, £9—£10

Seymour Stiffs – The Undertaker Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free

Princes of Main Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

22:50 The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £7—£14

Jarred Christmas and Hobbit: The Great Comedy Beat Box Party Gilded Balloon , 19–23 Aug, £10

Lights! Camera! Improvise! - The Improvised Movie Live on Stage Pleasance Courtyard, 28–30 Aug, £15

Comedy, Craft Beer and Curry: Live at V Deep V Deep, Various dates from 6 Aug to 29 Aug, £10

Pajama Men: Pterodactyl Nights Assembly George Square Studios, 14 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, 22 Aug, £12.50

Best of So You Think You’re Funny? Gilded Balloon , Various dates from 7 Aug to 30 Aug, £10

22:55

Adam Blampied: I am Mr Children Man Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £free The Wow Wow Show! with Dan Clark Assembly George Square Studios, 27–29 Aug, £12—£14 Dave Callan – A Little Less Conversation 2: A Little More Less Conversation Gilded Balloon , 6–30 Aug, not 18, 19, £5—£10.50

Afterhours Comedy Assembly Roxy, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, £14 Alex Edelman: Everything Handed to You Pleasance Dome, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, 22 Aug, 27 Aug, 29 Aug, £10—£12

Anarchy Cabaret (Return of the Tight Six) Ciao Roma, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

The Labour Of Laugh Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, £5—£8

Late Night Bedlam Theatre, 7–30 Aug, £7

Gein’s Family Giftshop: Volume 2 Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50

Liz Fraser’s Podlaughs... Live! Gilded Balloon , 24–26 Aug, £7.50

Lee Nelson: Suited & Booted Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £10—£15

Marcus Brigstocke: Why the Long Face? Assembly Hall, 25–26 Aug, £13

The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast Live Black Medicine, 16–29 Aug, not 19, £free

23:00 Simon Slack – The Fantasist Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 19, £free Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrghhh! It’s the Increasingly Prestigious Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards Show – and It’s Free! Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 28–29 Aug, £free Alternative Paradise in The Vault, 24–30 Aug, £5 Hof With His Head Laughing Horse @ The White Horse, 15–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

AAA Stand-Up Late Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£11 Brendon Burns and Colt Cabana Sit in a F*cking Yurt at 11pm and Provide Comedy and Commentary to Bad Wrestling Matches Stand in the Square, 6–31 Aug, not 9, 16, 18, 23, 30, £9—£10 Molotov Cocktail Party Globe Bar, 7–31 Aug, not 17, £free Yo Mama Battle! Laughing Horse @ New Empire Bingo, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, £free BBC: Jazz on 3 BBC@POTTERROW, 24–25 Aug, £free BBC: BBC Presents... Edinburgh 2015 BBC@POTTERROW, 29–30 Aug, £free

Edinburgh Comedy Allstars Underbelly, George Square, Various dates from 7 Aug to 30 Aug, £10.50—£16 Gilded Balloon 30th Anniversary Comedy Walk Gilded Balloon , 24–26 Aug, £12.50 I am, I am Gilded Balloon , 26–27 Aug, £9 Giving Head Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £8 Cariad & Paul: A Two Player Adventure Pleasance Courtyard, 25–29 Aug, £8—£11 Vegas Nocturne Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Ari Shaffir: This is Not Happening Pleasance Dome, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £6—£12 Best of HUB Pleasance Dome, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, £5 Maff Brown – On Demand, Live Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–29 Aug, not 15, 22, 23, £free The Kinsey Sicks: America’s Next Top Bachelor Housewife Celebrity Hoarder Makeover Star Gone Wild! Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £6—£12

23:10

Bombs, Booze and Haggis Strikes Back Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 7–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Voices in Your Head Assembly George Square Studios, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £6—£10

Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net The Stand Comedy Club, Various dates from 9 Aug to 30 Aug, £12.50

Aisling Bea: Plan Bea Pleasance Dome, 27–30 Aug, £11—£13

Augustus and the Holy Grail Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free Bob Slayer: Fat Jockey Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus, 7–29 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £5 BBC: BBC Presents… BBC@POTTERROW, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 25 Aug, 26 Aug, £free Lydia King: A Date with Density Underbelly Med Quad, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9

Phil Nichol’s Cray Cray Cabaret The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 18, 19, £10—£12.50

23:15 Dark Side of the Mime Assembly Roxy, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£12 Luke Stephen: Peace, Love and Not Understanding Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 18, £free Mark Watson: Flaws Pleasance Courtyard, 28–29 Aug, £15.50 Feminazi Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £5—£12

Late Night Dark Show Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–31 Aug, £free Rotating Bill Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 6–30 Aug, £free Casual Violence: Om Nom Nom Nominous Pleasance Courtyard, 20–23 Aug, £12.50 Shaggers Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, £free Generation whY? Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free Digest TV: The Temp Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 24–29 Aug, £8 A to Z Improv Comedy Kilderkin, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

23:20 Foil, Arms and Hog: Skiddlywup (Extra Performances) Underbelly, Cowgate, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £12 Best of Scottish Comedian of the Year Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, £6—£13.50

23:25 Satan’s Cocaine, Miscellaneous Fellatio Dragonfly, 8–29 Aug, £free

23:30 Magners Comedy Festival Winner – Jim Brewsky Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 22–30 Aug, £free Bearpit Podcast (Podcast) Gala Show Just the Tonic at The Caves, 26–27 Aug, £5 The Assembly Rooms Very Best of the Fest The Assembly Rooms, Various dates from 14 Aug to 29 Aug, £15 Nathan Cassidy: Back to the Future II Gilded Balloon , 5–29 Aug, not 16, 17, 18, £6—£8 Hate ‘N’ Live Sin, 7–29 Aug, £free This Is Your Trial Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12.50

❤ Richard Gadd: Waiting for Gaddot HHHH

Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, not 17, £free

23:40 Kinetic Comedy – Edinburgh Special Underbelly, Cowgate, 27–29 Aug, £10 Iain Stirling: Touchy Feely HH Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 14 Aug to 29 Aug, £10

23:45 The Stand Late Club The Stand Comedy Club, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £15 Mimi Goes East Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Comedian! Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6–30 Aug, not 19, 26, £free Alistair Williams and Edd Hedges – The Late Show Cowgatehead, 18–30 Aug, £free Laughter with Njambi McGrath and Guests Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £free Jayde Adams’ Kahuzzi! Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £free

23:55 Pappy’s Presents...The Secret Dudes Society Pleasance Dome, 11 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 25 Aug, £7 Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £12.50 Fright Bus Service Necrobus, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £9

Comedy

00:00 I Went To A Fabulous Party... C venues – C too, Various dates from 15 Aug to 30 Aug, £11.50

09:00 Traverse Breakfast Plays: (in search of) Tomorrow Traverse Theatre, 18–30 Aug, not 24, £14

festmag.co.uk

09:05 Cracked Tiles Spotlites, 18–31 Aug, not 21, 22, 23, £6.50

The Red Chair Summerhall, 24–30 Aug, £12

10:05 A Haggis Queen Abroad theSpace on the Mile, 18–22 Aug, £8

10:10 The Maids theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £8

10:15

Tissue theSpace on Niddry St, 25–29 Aug, £7

10:20

The Money City Chambers, 27–28 Aug, £10

Traverse Theatre, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £20

Shakespeare for Breakfast C venues – C, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £7.50—£9.50

Current Location Summerhall, 17–30 Aug, not 20, £11

❤ The Christians HHHH Big Bite Size Breakfast Show Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £7.50—£12.50 Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour Traverse Theatre, 18 Aug, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £14—£20

❤ Swallow HHHH Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £14—£20

11:00 Sunshine! Japanese Rakugo Comedy in English! Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £6

Spur of the Moment C venues – C nova, 17–22 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

The Taming of the Shrew C venues – C south, 17–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Othello C venues – C too, 17–22 Aug, £7.50—£8.50

Wilde Without the Boy Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£10

A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride Traverse Theatre, 12 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, £20

Hamlet (A One Man Play) Spotlites, 6–22 Aug, £8 Sanctuary theSpace on Niddry St, 17–22 Aug, £8

11:10

Closing Time The Jinglin’ Geordie, 14–21 Aug, £free

Re:member theSpace on the Mile, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £6—£8

11:20

Music for Dogs Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 18–29 Aug, £free

Rebounding Hail Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£10

11:15 ❤ A Gambler’s Guide to Dying HHHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £18

❤ How to Keep an Alien HHHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £18

Some People Talk About Violence

Sequamur The Assembly Rooms, 18–24 Aug, £10

Summerhall, 5–23 Aug, £7—£10.50

Open ZOO, Various dates from 8 Aug to 28 Aug, £6—£8

Avicide SpaceTriplex, 17–22 Aug, £7

Cheque Please ZOO, Various dates from 7 Aug to 31 Aug, £6—£8

❤ The Communist Threat HHHH Zoo Southside, 7–31 Aug, £7—£9

Bump Gilded Balloon , 16–31 Aug, £7—£8

Pirates and Mermaids Scottish Storytelling Centre, Various dates from 10 Aug to 31 Aug, £10

10:45

❤ Tomorrow HHHHH

Stan C venues – C nova, 16–21 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

HHH

DNA Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 17–22 Aug, £8

10:30

Theatre Uncut Roundabout @ Summerhall, 24–30 Aug, £12

Women of the Mourning Fields Paradise in The Vault, 8–30 Aug, not 16, 23, £5—£8

10:40

Playback Impro Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

Real Life Becomes a Rumour theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £7

Listings

theSpace on the Mile, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £7

10:00

old man’s Gift Venue 13, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £8

❤ The Beanfield HHHH

Cinema HHH Northern Stage at Summerhall, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £8—£10

❤ The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven

HHHH

Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, £7—£12

Traces - 7 Fingers The Guardian

Fest

ThreeWeeks

Assembly HAll 6 – 31 Aug, 18:00

Shazam! theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £7.50 Crash HHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 12 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, £12—£18

Traverse Theatre, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £20

Oliver Twist theSpace on Niddry St, 24–29 Aug, £7

Richard III Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 24–29 Aug, £9

❤ Fake It ‘til You Make It HHHH

You’re Not Like the Other Girls Chrissy Pleasance Courtyard, 22–29 Aug, £9—£12 Edmund the Learned Pig Summerhall, 24–30 Aug, £10

11:30 As Is Bedlam Theatre, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7—£10 The Happiness Project Summerhall, 26–30 Aug, £8—£10 Blood Wedding Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 24–26 Aug, £7 Have a Heart Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5—£9 Female Transport C venues – C, 16–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Nudity, Free Beer, Good for Kids Venue 13, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 17, 18, 25, £8

11:05

Traverse Theatre, 11 Aug, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £18

The King of Monte Cristo theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £8

Pardon / In Cuffs Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £18

11:35 Macaroni on a Hotdog theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £6—£8

Graham Clark Reads the Phonebook The List

ThreeWeeks

Assembly GeorGe squAre 5 – 31 Aug, 17:20

䤀一䄀匀匀伀䌀䤀䄀吀䤀伀一圀䤀吀䠀

吀䠀䔀

䰀䄀䰀倀䠀䄀䈀䔀吀䰀

䜀椀刀䰀

䀀㜀琀栀 ⴀ ㈀㤀琀栀䄀甀最甀猀琀㄀㜀㨀㄀ ⠀攀砀挀攀瀀琀㄀㘀琀栀 ☀ ㈀㌀爀搀⤀ ꌀ㄀⼀ ꌀ㤀挀漀渀挀⸀ ⠀ꌀ㠀瀀爀攀瘀椀攀眀猀⤀ 䀀嘀攀渀甀攀㌀㤀漀爀䘀爀椀渀最攀䈀漀砀漀昀昀椀挀攀

Deadly Dungeon Murder Mystery! A thrilling Fringe return from Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction 2014. Last year’s sell out show returns with a brand new mystery to solve!

Join the Secret Society of Scottish Scoundrels on 7th, 12th, 14th, 19th, 21st, 26th & 28th August Limited tickets available – book now!

thedungeons.com/Edinburgh 11:40 Boys SpaceTriplex, 25–29 Aug, £8

11:45 A Very British Childhood HH Pleasance Dome, 7–30 Aug, £6—£9 The Sea Child Gilded Balloon , 18–30 Aug, not 25, £8—£9 I, Elizabeth Assembly Roxy, 7–31 Aug, not 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, £8—£13

11:50 Mrs Shakespeare Paradise in The Vault, 8–30 Aug, not 16, 23, £10 Confirmation Summerhall, 22–29 Aug, £15

11:55 Can’t Spell Right theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £7 Raymondo ZOO, 24–29 Aug, £10

12:00 Paradise: Lost theSpace on Niddry St, 17–22 Aug, £8—£10 Jo Romero Scenes of a Sensual Nature Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free Angel in the Abattoir

HHH

Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £5—£12

The Tell-Tale Heart C venues – C nova, 16–22 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Wild at Heart Thistle King James Hotel, 19–31 Aug, £free Chopping Chillies Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £free A Matter of Life and Debt Paradise in Augustines, 24–29 Aug, £8 Pip Utton: Playing Maggie The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10 Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free The 56 HHH Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 16, 17, £5—£10 The Wedding Reception B’est Restaurant, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 23 Aug, £39 Fiction HHH Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £7—£13.50 Twelfth Night C venues – C too, 6–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50

❤ Tar Baby HHHH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £5—£10

A Little Respect theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £6

Cartography C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50 Fake It ‘til You Make It Assembly Hall, 24 Aug, £16 Eggs Sin, 7–30 Aug, not 18, 25, £free

12:05 Plain English theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 25–29 Aug, £10 The Kitchen Sink by Tom Wells theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £6 Kafka’s Ape Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 24, £5—£10 Portraits in Motion

12:10 Islands HH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10.50 Can’t Spell Right theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £7.50 Big Bite-Size Lunch Hour: Lunch in Cairo Assembly Checkpoint, 9–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £8—£12 Umrao – The Noble Courtesan Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 18, £10—£12 One Above theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £7

12:15

Wasted Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£11

❤ Tony’s Last Tape HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 7–30 Aug, not 13, 20, 27, £7—£12

The Escapade of the Burmese Burglary Gilded Balloon , 18–30 Aug, not 24, £8—£9 The Comedy of Errors C venues – C, 16–22 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 Wojtek: The Happy Warrior New Town Theatre, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £7—£11 The Stolen Inches C venues – C nova, 5–26 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

12:20

Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£10

Charolais Spotlites, 6–30 Aug, £5.50—£8

17 C venues – C, 23–30 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

Two Thirds C venues – C nova, 16–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

My Name is Saoirse Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£10

The Jennifer Tremblay Trilogy Part II: The Carousel Assembly Roxy, Various dates from 7 Aug to 31 Aug, £10—£14.50

This Language theSpace on Niddry St, 25–29 Aug, £7

A+E Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, £6—£9

Pilgrim Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£10

Beethoven in Stalingrad Spotlites, 16–31 Aug, £9

The Jennifer Tremblay Trilogy Part I: The List Assembly Roxy, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £10—£14.50

The Norman Conquests theSpace @ Venue45, 14–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £5—£8 Consumption theSpace on the Mile, 17–28 Aug, not 23, £9

Vanity Bites Back Gilded Balloon , 16–30 Aug, £10—£12 Polyphony Roundabout @ Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £12

We This Way HH Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £8—£10 Dead Man’s Cell Phone

HHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–23 Aug, £6—£9

Pope Head (The Secret Life of Francis Bacon) Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 13, 20, £12

12:30 How I Became Myself (by Becoming Someone Else) Cowgatehead, 8–29 Aug, £free Romanovs theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £8 What Would Spock Do? HH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £6—£12

Shazam! theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £7.50

HHH

12:25

Scaramouche Jones Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£11

Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free A Midsummer Night’s Dream theSpace on Niddry St, 8–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £5—£9

❤ Valiant HHHH

Othello: An All-Female Production HHH Underbelly Potterrow, 6–31 Aug, not 13, 20, £6—£11.50

C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

A Divine Comedy Valvona & Crolla, Various dates from 10 Aug to 30 Aug, £15 Ross & Rachel Assembly George Square Theatre, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

BOX assemblyfestival.com OFFICE 0131 623 3030 /AssemblyFestival

AssemblyFest

@AssemblyFest

Theatre

The Night Watch C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 The Free Meditation Class Laughing Horse @ Moriarty’s, 10–24 Aug, £free Current Location Summerhall, 30 Aug, £11 Key Change HHH Northern Stage at Summerhall, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £10—£12 Scarlet Shambles: It Used to Be Me Just the Tonic at the Caves (Salvation Rooms), 6–26 Aug, not 10, 18, £free

Bismillah! An ISIS Tragicomedy Just the Tonic at The Caves, 10–21 Aug, not 18, £5

❤ Girl from Nowhere HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, £6—£11

The Wild Man of Orford Sweet Grassmarket, 10–23 Aug, £7 The Soaking of Vera Shrimp Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50

12:35

Buckle Up SpaceTriplex, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £8

Labels Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

12:50

Let England Shake SpaceTriplex, 17–22 Aug, £7 Reclaiming Vietnam Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £8

festmag.co.uk

12:45

...and This is My Friend Mr Laurel HH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £7—£12 Madman Marathon Man theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £9 Two Sore Legs Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £8—£13 The Flying Ship Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 17–22 Aug, £9

12:40 Some Big Some Bang Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 The State of Concrete theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £5 The Backside Monologues Spotlites, 31 Aug, £5 Sea Wall Paradise in The Vault, 18–22 Aug, £5

A Matter of Life and Debt Paradise in Augustines, 17–22 Aug, £8 Dog Play Dead theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £7—£8 Piaf theSpace on Niddry St, 24–29 Aug, £7

12:55 Not the Horse theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £10

13:00 Rhapsody In Green by Mike Maran Valvona & Crolla, 12 Aug, 14 Aug, 19 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, £12 Face to the Wall theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £6 Hair Peace HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11 A Play, A Pie and A Pint Le Monde, 7–31 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, 29, £12.50 Daniel Cainer: 21st Century Jew Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£10 To She or Not to She

HHH

Listings

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

Ndebele Funeral Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £9—£13

What a Grimm Tale! theSpace @ Venue45, 17–22 Aug, £7

Gruesome Playground Injuries HHH Basic Mountain, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, 29 Aug, £10

Eating Seals and Seagulls’ Eggs HH Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£10

Fault Lines HHH Basic Mountain, 14 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, £10

Dendritical theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £7

Early Grave, Fashionably Late Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, 10–29 Aug, not 12, 16, 23, £8—£10

Talking with Angels: Budapest, 1943 Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 18, 24, £6—£10

Landline Out of the Blue Drill Hall: Outside, 29–30 Aug, £free Institute Pleasance Courtyard, 5–29 Aug, not 8, 12, 18, £8.50—£14.50 501 Things I Do in My Bedroom Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5—£8 Cleansed C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £8.50—£10.50 The Selkie and the River God Sweet Grassmarket, 10–23 Aug, £8 Filthy Talk for Troubled Times HH Basic Mountain, 9 Aug, 22 Aug, 31 Aug, £10 A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride Traverse Theatre, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £20

Complex theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–22 Aug, £7 Styx theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £4—£8

13:10

13:15 ❤ Tomorrow HHHHH Traverse Theatre, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £20

This is Mary Brown Paradise in The Vault, 8–30 Aug, not 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, £7

Romeo and Juliet theSpace on Niddry St, 17–22 Aug, £8

Hooray for All Kinds of Things The Assembly Rooms, 18–30 Aug, £10

13:20

Follow/Unfollow theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £8.50

Ten Pound Tale C venues – C, 23–30 Aug, £7.50—£9.50

Detached theSpace on the Mile, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £10

Giving Up the Ghost theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 25–29 Aug, £7—£8

Fest

ThreeWeeks

Assembly HAll 6 – 31 Aug, 18:00

Portrait HHH Pleasance Dome, 5–29 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11 I Gave Him an Orchid

Summerhall, 5–22 Aug, not 16, £6—£12

The Count of Monte Cristo Spotlites, 23–31 Aug, £5 Impossible HH Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £7.50—£15 Hannah and Hanna

HHH

Assembly George Square Studios, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

The Hideout C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50

The Double Life of Malcolm Drinkwater Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 23, £free Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free

❤ How to Keep an Alien HHHH Traverse Theatre, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £18 Don’t Say That theSpace on the Mile, 24–28 Aug, £5

❤ Swallow HHHH Traverse Theatre, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £20

Of Mice and Men Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£12

Chopin’s Last Tour ZOO, 7–31 Aug, £6—£9

Dylan Thomas – The Man, The Myth Assembly Roxy, 6–22 Aug, not 19, £10—£14

13:25

Downton Scabby Paradise in Augustines, 24–29 Aug, £8

The Diary of Thomas Pooler Cafe Camino, 16–29 Aug, £free

The Guardian

Lisa Gornick’s Live Drawing Show Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, £5—£10

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour Traverse Theatre, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £20

A Cinema in South Georgia HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12

Traces - 7 Fingers

Tomorrow’s Parties Summerhall, 24–29 Aug, £8—£12

HHH

Black Magic: Songs Unchained Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, £5—£10

RUN HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50

Tales from Ovid C venues – C, 16–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Broken Windows

Black is the Color of My Voice Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, £6—£10.50

Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free

13:05

Billy Through the Window Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

Doorbells Spotlites, 16–22 Aug, £8

Sanctuary theSpace on Niddry St, 24–29 Aug, £8

❤ Fake It ‘til You Make It HHHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 12 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, £12—£18

13:30 SpectreTown Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 17, 24, £8—£14 Under Milk Wood (Semi Skimmed) Assembly Roxy, 23–31 Aug, £13—£14 Some Thing New C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Be Better Bedlam Theatre, 24–30 Aug, £10 The Last Laugh The Assembly Rooms, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £9—£10

The Frantic Canticles of Little Brother Fish Bedlam Theatre, 17–22 Aug, £10

13:35 All’s Well That Ends Well theSpace on Niddry St, 17–22 Aug, £8 The Cupboard Paradise in The Vault, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £7.50

13:40 Oh Hello! Assembly Hall, Various dates from 7 Aug to 31 Aug, £7—£11 Can’t Care, Won’t Care Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 Aug, £free

Graham Clark Reads the Phonebook The List

ThreeWeeks

Assembly GeorGe squAre 5 – 31 Aug, 17:20

Birdland by Simon Stephens SpaceTriplex, 17–22 Aug, £8

The King of Monte Cristo theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £8

Grav HHH Assembly Hall, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £7—£11

Giant Leap HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

13:45

Iphigenia In Splott Pleasance Dome, 24–30 Aug, £13—£15

Sex Rated G Gilded Balloon , 5–30 Aug, £5—£11 Quiet Violence Zoo Southside, 16–30 Aug, £6—£8 One Day When We Were Young by Nick Payne Assembly George Square Theatre, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £7—£10

❤ Strictly Balti HHHH Gilded Balloon , 7–31 Aug, not 12, £6—£11

Sherlock and Watson: Best Friends Forever Sportsters, 8–29 Aug, £free Victoria Wood + Me Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £6—£10 Boris: World King Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£10.50

❤ The Christians HHHH Traverse Theatre, 16 Aug, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £20

Crash HHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £18 Pardon / In Cuffs Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £18

13:50 Bug Bite Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £10—£12 The Gambit Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £4—£8

13:55 Last Call for Providence Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5 Ventoux Summerhall, 13–30 Aug, £5—£10 Bathtime C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 So It Goes Underbelly, Cowgate, 24–30 Aug, £12.50—£14

14:00 Faulty Towers The Dining Experience B’est Restaurant, 7–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £45—£49.50 Skins and Hoods Institut français d’Ecosse, 7–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£12

❤ A Gambler’s Guide to Dying HHHH Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £18 ❤ Tether HHHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

The Jennifer Tremblay Trilogy Part III: The Deliverance Assembly Roxy, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, £10—£14.50 Richard III Just Festival at St John’s , 12–31 Aug, not 16, 17, 23, 30, £8

Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, 26, £10

May I Have the Bill Please? by Robin Mitchell The Boards, 5–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £10

The Hampstead Murder Mystery! Pleasance Dome, 7–22 Aug, £6—£9.50

Womenswear C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50

❤ A Reason to Talk HHHH

The Do’s and Don’ts of Online Dating C venues – C cubed, 6–31 Aug, not 15, 16, £7.50—£9.50 Scarfed for Life Just Festival at Central Hall, Various dates from 14 Aug to 22 Aug, £12.50 Fully Committed Starring Marcus Brigstocke Underbelly Potterrow, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £7.50—£15 The Money City Chambers, 27–28 Aug, £10 The Mountain Top Venue 13, 8–22 Aug, not 17, £8 To Sleep To Dream Summerhall @ Tom Fleming Centre, 22–23 Aug, £15 Cleansed in Blood Thistle King James Hotel, 7–31 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £free CUT Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £9—£13.50 Mill Girls On Tour Pilrig Studio, 28–29 Aug, £7 Teaset Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, £6—£9.50 Goodstock HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9.50 Titus Andronicus Spotlites, 24–27 Aug, £10 Births, Deaths & Marriages HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50 Mitch’s Movie Pitches Summerhall, Various dates from 6 Aug to 29 Aug, £5 Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free Marriage HH Assembly George Square Studios, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£13 Women’s Hour Summerhall, Various dates from 5 Aug to 30 Aug, £6

14:05 Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £7 Every Brilliant Thing Roundabout @ Summerhall, 8–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £15—£17 Stain theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £10 Wild Bill: Sonnet of a Bardsterd theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £9 Carapace theSpace on the Mile, 17–22 Aug, £5 The Intriguing Imagination of Arla Bell theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, 29 Aug, £6 My Name is Rachel Corrie theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, 28 Aug, £6 The Effects of Solitude Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, £7 Islands Summerhall, 22–29 Aug, £10—£15

14:10 C’tait la Nuit Paradise in Augustines, 17–22 Aug, £8 Lear Inc. theSpace @ Venue45, 17–22 Aug, £8 Bench theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–22 Aug, £7 Going Viral HHH Northern Stage at Summerhall, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £10—£12

14:15 Idiots HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 11, 17, £6—£11 The Terrible Tale of the Twiddly Widdlies HH Pleasance Courtyard, 6–21 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

❤ Heartbeats & Algorithms HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9

Around the World in 80 Days C venues – C south, 6–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50

The Adventures of Nellie Bly Cafe Camino, 8–22 Aug, not 17, £free

The Misfit Analysis Pleasance Courtyard, 23–31 Aug, £9—£11 The Art of Reduction and the Distillation of Humanity: Whisky Theatre Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@Jenners, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 30 Aug, £15 Boxed In HH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 20, £6—£11

Darkness Falls – John’s Gospel Palmerston Place Church, 21–22 Aug, £10 Disorder C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Noises Off St Ninian’s Hall, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £12

Scour Clouds & Soil, 8–29 Aug, £free

Hoors theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 9 Aug to 29 Aug, £6—£9

14:20 Crusoe ZOO, Various dates from 9 Aug to 28 Aug, £12 Mata Hari: Female Spy ZOO, Various dates from 7 Aug to 30 Aug, £6—£12 Invisible Woman Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £4—£8 Adam Long’s Dickens Abridged Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£13.50 Checkpoint 22 Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£10 12.10.15 Momentum Venues @ St Stephens, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £8—£10

14:25 The Fiery Path Spotlites, 27–31 Aug, £5 The Backside Monologues Spotlites, 23–26 Aug, £5

14:30 Whisky Galore South Leith Parish Church Halls, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £10 The London 2012 Games Closing Ceremony Closing Ceremony C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £8.50—£10.50

The Fairmer Wants a Wife Mayfield Salisbury Church, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, £10

The Girl Who Fell in Love With the Moon Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 PAN Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 9, 15, 17, 24, £10—£15 Raft Quaker Meeting House, 17–29 Aug, not 23, 24, £5—£7 Titus Andronicus C venues – C, 16–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Light Boxes HHH Summerhall, 22 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, 30 Aug, £17 The Pilgrim’s Progress Edinburgh Elim, 20–21 Aug, £11 Rossetti’s Women Spotlites, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £5 Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free Ernie Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Bold Girls theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 8 Aug to 28 Aug, £6—£9

14:35 Savage theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £7

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14:40 Unmythable Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 21, £6—£10 The Cherry Orchard: Beyond the Truth C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £9.50—£11.50

❤ Divas HHHH

festmag.co.uk

Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £7—£12

Captain Morgan 1: The Sands of Time Pleasance Dome, Various dates from 5 Aug to 31 Aug, £6.50—£11 Shh! It’s The Very Perry Show Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 19–30 Aug, £6—£7.50 Staircases theSpace on Niddry St, 23–27 Aug, £6 Captain Morgan 2: The Sea of Souls Pleasance Dome, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £6.50—£11

14:45 Cornermen Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10 Tonight with Donny Stixx Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £7—£12 High Torches Paradise in The Vault, 17–22 Aug, £6

Listings

Pramkicker HHH Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

Dear Cassandra and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 24–29 Aug, £5—£7 Frame Narrative theSpace @ Venue45, 25–29 Aug, £8

Joan, Babs & Shelagh too Zoo Southside, 7–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£8

Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free

Magdalen Paradise in The Vault, 8–30 Aug, not 16, 23, £7

❤ Circular - Strada Circolare HHHH Italian Cultural Institute, 7–21 Aug, not 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, £7

15:00

14:50 Tribute Acts HHH Assembly Roxy, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£10

Waitless Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 9–22 Aug, not 16, £12

Cross the Shifting Sands C venues – C nova, 9–31 Aug, not 18, £9.50—£11.50

The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny Inveresk Lodge Garden, 29 Aug, £7.50

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £10

Splitting Sweet Grassmarket, 24–27 Aug, £9.50

The Eulogy of Toby Peach HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

❤ Can I Start Again Please HHHH Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 10, 17, £8—£10

Miss Sarah ZOO, 7–31 Aug, not 17, 21, 24, £6—£9

14:55 The Cagebirds Paradise in Augustines, 25–30 Aug, £5 Manalive! Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £5—£10 For Queen and Country theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £7

We May Have to Choose Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 7–29 Aug, not 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, £free Mrs Tobit Tells All St Cuthbert’s Church, 20–31 Aug, not 22, 24, £free Leper + Chip HHH Assembly Roxy, 6–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £5—£10 Filthy Talk for Troubled Times HH Basic Mountain, 12 Aug, 20 Aug, 23 Aug, £12 Eat Me! Drink Me! Buy Me! C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £7.50—£9.50 Eau de Toilette Thistle King James Hotel, 7–29 Aug, not 11, 16, 17, 24, 25, £free

Traces - 7 Fingers The Guardian

Fest

ThreeWeeks

Assembly HAll 6 – 31 Aug, 18:00

I Am Not Mark Twain Basic Mountain, 21–22 Aug, £12 Corium Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 17–22 Aug, £8 Since You Went Away St.George’s School for Girls, 26 Aug, £10

❤ Trans Scripts HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£10

BED Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 7–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £6—£8 A Divine Comedy Valvona & Crolla, 26–28 Aug, £15 Derby Day Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £6—£10 The Private Ear Sweet Grassmarket, 28–29 Aug, £7 Ada Bedlam Theatre, 5–30 Aug, not 7, 12, 19, 26, £6—£8 Linking Rings Le Monde, 7–31 Aug, not 8, 15, 22, 29, £8—£10 Gruesome Playground Injuries HHH Basic Mountain, 10 Aug, 13 Aug, 16 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, £12

Fault Lines HHH Basic Mountain, 9 Aug, 27 Aug, 28 Aug, £12

The Also-Ran theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £8

The Garden Traverse Theatre, 18–30 Aug, not 24, £18

15:15

ménage Underbelly, George Square, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £10—£14

15:05

All the Nice Girls Sweet Grassmarket, 6–29 Aug, not 17, £7 Woodbine Willie Palmerston Place Church, 29 Aug, £11

❤ Bruce HHHH

The Wendy House Trilogy: Edmund Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 24–29 Aug, £10

Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£12.50

A Midsummer Night’s Dream C venues – C cubed, 16– 31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 The Wendy House Trilogy: Peter Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–22 Aug, £10

Comfort Slaves New Town Theatre, 6–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £7—£10 Oh Gumtree C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, not 13, £7.50—£9.50 The Man Called Monkhouse HH Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £10—£14

Wild Bill: Sonnet of a Bardsterd theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £9

For the Love of Chocolate Spotlites, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, 29 Aug, 31 Aug, £10

A Traffic Jam on Sycamore Street theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £7

15:10 Somebody Out There Loves Me theSpace on the Mile, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £6—£7 A Fine Line Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£11 The Lost Art of Lost Art Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£10.50

The Wonderful Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£9 A Glass Half Full Spotlites, 24 Aug, 26 Aug, 28 Aug, 30 Aug, £10

15:20 Much Further Out Than You Thought Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£11

Graham Clark Reads the Phonebook The List

ThreeWeeks

Assembly GeorGe squAre 5 – 31 Aug, 17:20

The Daily Tribunal

Alex Lacey is Killing Jim

Heartlands

Light Relief

The Stage FringeGuru ‘Thought-provoking and tightly performed’ TV Bomb

‘Real originality and highly entertaining.’ The Stage

Until 29th August 21:20 £8.00 / £6.00

Until 30th August 20:20 £8.00 / £7.00

Until 30th August 17:45 £8.50 / £5.00

subsist

101 Reasons Why I

The New Current ‘Brilliant, dark humour’ FringeReview ‘A surreally powerful image that will stay with you for months.’ The headline? Two homeless men start offering change deception, depravity and deceit!

Fringe Guru, ‘Five shows I saw in Edinburgh and you should see now! Jim. Must. Die. And you must help. Join our friendly sociopath as she recovers from heartbreak and plans revenge.

Until 30th August 16:30 £10.00 / £8.00

The Rhum Plants

A fast moving, award winning comedy show When things fall apart, you featuring original songs, sketches, satire, stand-up go back home. Intimate, inventive and provacative and a caption competition. to win an excellent bottle new writing. of wine!

The Princess and The Frog

Ed Spotlight #@%$ Katie Hopkins ‘A fast paced comedy from ‘Tightly written and Love her or hate her, she chilling in its plausibility.’ never fails to deliver a the dry seed of botanical fraud...massively energetic’ The world ended two years reaction. Join stay at home ago consumed by a plague mum, Lynsey Smiles for an WhatsOn-North The post-war scientific elite of the walking dead. Now, energetic one-women rant four strangers struggle suspect botanical fraud guaranteed to lead you on together to survive, but and want Professor an emotional rollercoaster. has that effort cost their Heslop-Harrison’s scalp Which four letter word suits own humanity at any cost! best?

TV Bomb ‘as perfect a moment of theatre as you’re ever likely to see’ With fantastic dancers, georgeous costumes and crystal clear storytelling. Perfect fairy tale ballet for children and their families.

Until 30th August 15:50 £9.00 / £7.00

Until 30th August 16:30 £7.50 / £6.00

‘great comedy!’

Until 30th August 15:30 £8.00 / £6.00

Until 30th August 18:35 £8.00

See a show at Sweet? Share your thoughts, tips, reviews and more on this year’s shows using #SweetGrassmarket across twitter, facebook & instagram!

❤ This Will End Badly HHHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, 25, £6—£10.50

Gomaar Trilogy Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £10 Acts of Redemption Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£10.50 I Am Beast HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£11

Blind Man’s Song

HHH

15:25

Pleasance Dome, 6–30 Aug, £6—£12

La Merda by Cristian Ceresoli, starring Silvia Gallerano Summerhall, 25–30 Aug, £10

Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking Pleasance Courtyard, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, 23 Aug, 27 Aug, 30 Aug, £10—£11

The Dream Sequentialists ZOO, 7–30 Aug, not 18, £9

The Rhum Plants Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, not 19, 26, £8

15:30

Wendy Hoose by Johnny McKnight The Assembly Rooms, 17–30 Aug, £15

Dust Never Settles in Torchlight theSpace on Niddry St, 23–27 Aug, £6

festmag.co.uk

The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Survival of (R)Evolutionary Theories in the Face of Scientific and Ecclesiastical Objections: Being a Musical Comedy About Charles Darwin (1809-1882) Pleasance Courtyard, 15 Aug, 19 Aug, 22 Aug, 26 Aug, 29 Aug, £10—£11

The Element in the Room: A Radioactive Musical Comedy about the Death and Life of Marie Curie Pleasance Courtyard, Various dates from 5 Aug to 31 Aug, £6.50—£10 Garden HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 Filthy Talk for Troubled Times HH Basic Mountain, 29 Aug, £12 Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free Back to Blackbrick Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£10 The Ghost of Sadie Kimber Spotlites, 6–22 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

LOTTO: Karma of the Alchemist Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £10—£14 Gruesome Playground Injuries HHH Basic Mountain, 31 Aug, £12 Attempts on Her Life C venues – C, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 The River C venues – C, Various dates from 5 Aug to 31 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 I Gave Him an Orchid

Listings

Elective Affinities Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s, 10–30 Aug, £8

❤ The Human Ear HHHH

Horrids Cafe Camino, 8–29 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £free

Roundabout @ Summerhall, Various dates from 6 Aug to 30 Aug, £9—£15

Lungs Roundabout @ Summerhall, Various dates from 7 Aug to 29 Aug, £9—£17 Savage theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 21–22 Aug, £7 Walking the Tightrope: The Tension Between Art and Politics

HHH

Underbelly Potterrow, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £11—£15.50

15:40 Sweeney Todd: The Panto theSpace on Niddry St, 7–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £4—£7.50

❤ Little Thing, Big Thing HHHH Assembly George Square Studios, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £10—£14

ménage Underbelly, George Square, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £10—£14

15:45 Bayou Blues Venue 13, 8–29 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £8

❤ Tomorrow HHHHH

Bette Davis Ain’t for Sissies The Assembly Rooms, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 17, £10—£12

15:50 Touched by Fire theSpace on the Mile, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £8 Beowulf Sweet Grassmarket, 10–23 Aug, £8 Subsist Sweet Grassmarket, 26–30 Aug, £9 Electric Dreams Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11

15:55 Clairvoyant C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

16:00 ❤ The Christians HHHH Traverse Theatre, 12 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, £20

Dark Lantern Just Festival at Central Hall, 24–31 Aug, £10

❤ Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons HHHH Zoo Southside, 7–22 Aug, £9

Double Bill Duddingston Kirk Manse Gardens, 11–22 Aug, not 16, 17, £6

Gagarin Way theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 9 Aug to 29 Aug, £6—£9

❤ Fake It ‘til You Make It HHHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £18

Elysium Fields Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 24–29 Aug, £8

Pardon / In Cuffs Traverse Theatre, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £18 Jack Rooke: Good Grief Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

❤ 1972: The Future of Sex HHHH ZOO, 7–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£9 ❤ The Solid Life of Sugar Water

HHHH

Pleasance Dome, 5–30 Aug, not 12, 17, 24, £6—£10

Dorian Gray Pleasance Dome, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £6—£9.50 RAZ by Jim Cartwright

HHH

Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 12, 24, £10—£13.50

Rowan James: Easy for You to Say Zoo Southside, 23–30 Aug, £10 A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride Traverse Theatre, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £20 Storytape Gilded Balloon , 11–28 Aug, weekdays only, £free

Hell Hath No Fury theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £5—£6 Dead Letter Office theSpace on the Mile, Various dates from 8 Aug to 28 Aug, £6—£9 Cross Wire theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £8—£10 My Friend Peter C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £8.50—£10.50 Mind the Gap HHH Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 7–21 Aug, not 16, £10

16:10 The Orchid and the Crow Assembly Roxy, 6–30 Aug, not 12, 24, £7—£12 Death Actually: A Necromantic Comedy Paradise in Augustines, 24–30 Aug, £9 Brute HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 19, £6—£11 Reunion Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 7–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £6—£10 Tension Square theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £7

Traverse Theatre, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £20

❤ Swallow HHHH

Soapy Smith’s Alaskana Extravaganza Church Hill Theatre, 18 Aug, 21 Aug, £5

❤ How to Keep an Alien HHHH Traverse Theatre, 6 Aug, 12 Aug, 18 Aug, 23 Aug, 29 Aug, £12—£18

Jane Austen’s Forgotten Stories Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 21–30 Aug, £free

16:05

The Times They Are a Changin’ Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 24–29 Aug, £7

Heads theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £7

16:15

15:35

Scattered C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £8.50—£10.50

Counting Stars by Atiha Sen Gupta

HHH

Academy of Risk SpaceTriplex, 24–29 Aug, £6

Assembly George Square Studios, 5–31 Aug, not 15, 16, £6—£10

Sweetness and Light SpaceTriplex, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £8

Hearts of Folk Paradise in The Vault, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 16, 23, £8

Fife Youth Arts Hub Fringe Picks The Edinburgh Academy, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, 22 Aug, £10

The Next Moon Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £8

Summerhall, 24–29 Aug, £12

The Kitchen Sink by Tom Wells theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £6 In The Company Of Women Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, not 7, £8.50—£10

Paradise: Lost theSpace on Niddry St, 24–29 Aug, £8—£10

These Troubled Times C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 The Accidental Adventures of Sherlock Holmes C venues – C, 16–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Traces - 7 Fingers The Guardian

Fest

ThreeWeeks

Assembly HAll 6 – 31 Aug, 18:00

Traverse Theatre, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £20

Descent Just Festival at Central Hall, 16–23 Aug, £10

I Am Not Myself These Days HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£11

Graham Clark Reads the Phonebook The List

ThreeWeeks

Assembly GeorGe squAre 5 – 31 Aug, 17:20

Phaedra’s Love C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £8.50—£10.50

❤ A Gambler’s Guide to Dying HHHH Traverse Theatre, 9 Aug, 15 Aug, 21 Aug, 27 Aug, £18 16:20 ménage Underbelly, George Square, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £10—£14

10x10x10 HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, £6—£12 Lunch Just the Tonic at The Community Project, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£7

16:35 CELL Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, £6—£11

16:40

Wil Greenway – For the Ground that Grew Me Underbelly Med Quad, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Family HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£11

16:25

Molly Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, 24, £6—£10

Edith in the Dark Momentum Venues @ St Stephens, 5–30 Aug, not 18, £8—£11.50 The Hobbit Church Hill Theatre, 21 Aug, £5

16:30 The Rape of Lucrece Assembly Hall, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £5—£10 Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour Traverse Theatre, 22 Aug, 28 Aug, £20 Crash HHH Traverse Theatre, 8 Aug, 14 Aug, 20 Aug, 26 Aug, £18 Fourth Monkey’s Grimm Tales: Rapunzel theSpace on Niddry St, 7–29 Aug, £8—£11 Big Shot Bedlam Theatre, 5–30 Aug, £6—£10 Violence of the Lambs Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £free The Daily Tribunal Sweet Grassmarket, 17–30 Aug, £10 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

HHH

Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10

The Bad Arm: Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £5—£12

Awakening, Sweet and Sour Sensory Composition HHH Spotlites, 6–22 Aug, not 12, £7.50—£8.50

16:45 The Furies C venues – C nova, 16–31 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 I Got Dressed in Front of My Nephew Today

ZOO, 7–22 Aug, not 17, £5—£9

16:50 Le Gateau Chocolat: Black Assembly Hall, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £8—£12

16:55 Bedsocks and Secrets Spotlites, 23–31 Aug, £10 Nell Gwyn: An Epilogue Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, £9

❤ What I Learned From Johnny Bevan HHHH

Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£12

Inglorious Insinuations of Insanity C venues – C nova, 23–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

17:00 Titus Andronicus: An All-Female Production Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 13, 20, £6—£11.50 Filthy Talk for Troubled Times HH Basic Mountain, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, £12 Paintings and Cake C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £8.50—£10.50 Backstage in Biscuit Land Pleasance Courtyard, 24–30 Aug, £9—£11 Citizen Puppet HHH Pleasance Courtyard, 5–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£12 Stories, Told C venues – C, 23–30 Aug, £7.50—£9.50 The Wedding Reception B’est Restaurant, 11–23 Aug, not 17, £39 Allie HH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, £6.50—£12.50 To Space Summerhall, 10–30 Aug, not 18, 25, £6—£10 The Trials of Galileo New Town Theatre, 6–30 Aug, £9—£13 Gruesome Playground Injuries HHH Basic Mountain, 7 Aug, 22 Aug, 30 Aug, £12

Chicken Roundabout @ Summerhall, 7–30 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £9—£16

17:10 The Canterbury Tales theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–22 Aug, £7 John Lennon: In His Own Write Voodoo Rooms, 8–30 Aug, £free The Frida Kahlo of Penge West C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £9.50—£11.50 The Alphabet Girl HH theSpace on the Mile, 7–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £8—£10 Nelson: The Sailors’ Story ZOO, 7–31 Aug, £7—£10 Spillikin – A Love Story

HHH

Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 24, £6—£10

Jethro Compton’s Frontier Trilogy: Blood Red Moon HHH C venues – C nova, 5–31 Aug, £11.50—£13.50 The Society of Strange C venues – C, 18–30 Aug, £9.50—£11.50

17:15 Dark Matter Venue 13, 8–29 Aug, not 17, £8

The HandleBards: Secret Shakespeare Bedlam Theatre, 18 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 26 Aug, £18

Bad Boys: Whisky Theatre Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@Jenners, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, £15

To Sleep To Dream Summerhall @ Tom Fleming Centre, 27–29 Aug, £15

A Life With The Beatles Sweet Grassmarket, 6–30 Aug, £9

ménage Underbelly, George Square, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £10—£14 Holly and Ivy Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 14–23 Aug, not 18, £free

17:05 A Face That Fits theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 7–29 Aug, not 9, 16, 23, £5—£9

The Art of Reduction and the Distillation of Humanity: Whisky Theatre Valvona & Crolla Scottish Foodhall@Jenners, 11–29 Aug, not 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 24, 27, £15 A Walk on the Wild Side C venues – C nova, 23–31 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Faust Greenside @ Nicolson Square, 17–22 Aug, £7

Mr Poe’s Legendarium C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50

Façade theSpace on the Mile, 9–23 Aug, not 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, £7

17:20

The Paradise Project Northern Stage at Summerhall, 8–30 Aug, not 12, 19, 26, £10—£12

Do Not Go Gentle Church Hill Theatre, 16 Aug, 20 Aug, 21 Aug, £5

The Sunset Five

Forever House Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 24–29 Aug, £7

HHH

Pleasance Dome, 5–31 Aug, not 19, £6—£11

Man to Man Underbelly Potterrow, 5–31 Aug, not 17, £7—£12

17:25 Me, as a Penguin theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 Aug, £8

ménage Underbelly, George Square, 6–30 Aug, not 17, 18, £10—£14

Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 17, 24, £9—£16.50

17:45

The Titanic Orchestra

17:30 The Outsider New Town Theatre, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £8—£12 Echoes by Henry Naylor HHH Gilded Balloon , 5–31 Aug, not 19, £5—£12.50 Fills Monkey: Incredible Drum Show Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 17, 25, £8—£13.50 Be My Baby! theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £7

The Very Grey Matter of Edward Blank HH Assembly Roxy, 6–31 Aug, not 18, £6—£12 PiTH theSpace on the Mile, 25 Aug, 27 Aug, 29 Aug, £8

Houseplay theSpace @ Venue45, Various dates from 18 Aug to 29 Aug, £6

Waste of Time: 1985 and 2085 theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 24–29 Aug, £7 Rabbie theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 17–23 Aug, £10.50

Gary Busey’s One-Man Hamlet as Performed by David Carl Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 12, £6—£11

65 Days of Tracy the Marquis Mannequin Spotlites, 6–22 Aug, £7—£9.50

Love in the Time of Gilmore Girls Just the Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 Aug, not 18, £5—£7

Catalpa Paradise in The Vault, 8–22 Aug, not 9, 16, £3—£6

17:50

17:35

17:40

A Sudden Burst of Blinding Light Zoo Southside, 7–30 Aug, not 18, £6—£9

Forget About It Paradise in The Vault, 24–30 Aug, £6 The Worry Monster Paradise in Augustines, Various dates from 9 Aug to 29 Aug, £8.50 Five Drinks Paradise in Augustines, Various dates from 8 Aug to 30 Aug, £8.50

17:55 The Unknown Soldier Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, £6.50—£10 BLAM! Pleasance Courtyard, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 18, 24, £9—£16.50

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eeeee 3 for 1 ticket deals everyday bigsexycircuscity.co.uk 18:00 Trainspotting Assembly George Square Studios, 6–31 Aug, not 11, 18, 25, £10—£15 Playback Impro Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 6–30 Aug, not 10, 17, 24, £free

festmag.co.uk

CUT Underbelly, George Square, 5–31 Aug, not 18, £9—£13.50 Filthy Talk for Troubled Times HH Basic Mountain, 6 Aug, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, £free—£13 The Glorious Damnation of Eddie Small Bedlam Theatre, 5–22 Aug, not 12, £7—£10 Diary of a Madman ZOO, 7–30 Aug, not 16, 23, £10 Out of Darkness Buccleuch Free Church, 18–22 Aug, £free The Money City Chambers, 27–28 Aug, £10 Fourth Monkey’s Grimm Tales: Little Red Cap theSpace on Niddry St, 7–29 Aug, £8—£11

Listings

Midnight Cafe Paradise in The Vault, 17–30 Aug, not 23, £5—£6

Abacus Summerhall, 5–30 Aug, not 6, 11, 18, 25, £10—£15

18:05

18:15

Antigone on Antigone theSpace on Niddry St, 7–29 Aug, not 16, 23, £10

❤ How to Keep an Alien HHHH Traverse Theatre, 7 Aug, 13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug, 30 Aug, £18

If I Were Me HHH Underbelly, Cowgate, 6–30 Aug, not 17, £6—£10.50 The Wendy House Trilogy: Dorothy Greenside @ Infirmary Street, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £10 The Dolphin Hotel theSpace @ Jury’s Inn, 17–29 Aug, not 23, £6

18:10 The Edge Effect C venues – C nova, 16–22 Aug, £8.50—£10.50 Belfast Boy Spotlites, 6–31 Aug, not 17, £8.50—£10 Splitfoot C venues – C nova, 5–22 Aug, £9.50—£11.50 Dicing With Dr Death Just the Tonic at The Caves, 6–29 Aug, not 18, £5—£7.50

Gruesome Playground Injuries HHH Basic Mountain, 5 Aug, 9 Aug, 27 Aug, £free—£13

The Lonely Poet (or: The Pleonasm) Sweet Grassmarket, 6–23 Aug, not 12, 19, £5—£7

Fault Lines HHH Basic Mountain, 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 21 Aug, 26 Aug, 29 Aug, £13

The Letter: To be or to MBE HH Assembly George Square Theatre, 5–31 Aug, not 12, 24, £6—£12

The Garden Traverse Theatre, 18–30 Aug, not 24, £18