Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe nerdy comic takes his standup in a new direction with this partly participatory show but it doesn’t exploit his strengthsHe may be making his 10th Edinburgh appearance, but you can’t accuse Ivo Graham of coasting. He’s…
Continue ReadingThey might be ‘edgy, queer’ comics by night – but by day Shelf are children’s entertainers, and they’re not the only fringe act with a sideline in making kids laughWhen the comedy duo Shelf were asked to perform a show for children, they balked. “We’re…
Continue ReadingAttachment: The Leech Show is a merry romp about an influential reviewer and sums up the industry’s paradoxical attitude to theatre criticismAdvice has been circulating among fringe companies about how to appeal to theatre critics. The idea is to dig u…
Continue ReadingMonkey Barrel Comedy, EdinburghA clown by trade, Masli here sets about tackling the audience’s problems. Her leftfield efforts to ease them are one of this fringe’s true tonicsAt any given fringe, a show will emerge that crystallises the festival spiri…
Continue ReadingFor all but the biggest names, handing out flyers in the street is still essential. That doesn’t make it any less awkwardThe key to performing standup is to convince your audience that you don’t want their attention or approval as much as you obviously…
Continue ReadingMonkey Barrel @ the Tron, EdinburghAsh’s audacious conceit dares to find the funny side of tragic events, and partly succeeds, until this rawly emotional show slips comedy’s mooringsIf you thought trauma-comedy reached its limit with Hannah Gadsby’s Na…
Continue ReadingAfter the pain of the Covid years, the festival has returned with a roar. It can make a new standup’s career – if they are willing to sleep in a nuclear bunker and expose their own traumaSomebody is crying themselves famous. Somebody has been forced to…
Continue ReadingMonkey Barrel Comedy, EdinburghShowing off an impressive range of facial expressions, the comic takes us on a whistle-stop tour of his life with songs and sketchesI’ve seen Adam Flood tell the joke about his haircut, which appears in his debut hour, ab…
Continue ReadingMagic and mentalism abounds at this year’s festival. But how are the tricks done? Some of the best performers remain tightlipped – while others reveal all“That feeling you have right now,” says Colin Cloud, putting his cards down, “it’s wonderful, righ…
Continue ReadingTheatre Royal, GlasgowDelivering his own ‘origin story’, with interruptions encouraged, Acaster skilfully pieces together big-yield routines from inauspicious beginningsWe all learned something during lockdown, says James Acaster, and he learned that …
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