After 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 …
Continue ReadingNo one-liner list would be complete with Olaf Falafel. He’s here alongside nine other standups with great quips from this year’s festivalOlaf Falafel: Getting mythology wrong is my Hercules ankle.Leila Navabi: I have an unconscious bias. I’m biased fir…
Continue ReadingA writer on The Daily Show who has been compared to Barbra Streisand, the New York comic has an unashamedly attention-seeking show at the Edinburgh fringeIn the musical fringe comedy Sophie Sucks Face, an attention-seeking young woman hooks up with her…
Continue ReadingZoo Playground, EdinburghInspired by the work of Nobel-winning Belarusian journalist Svetlana Alexievich, this is a disturbing but blackly funny pieceEvery performance of The Last of the Soviets by the Czech company Spitfire is dedicated to Belarusian …
Continue ReadingAssembly George Square, EdinburghSeventies spy novels, sexually frustrated poultry, an April Fools’ Day breakup … it’s all here in the sophomore show from Rosie Nicholls and Sullivan BrownDo you need some framing device or overarching concept to sell a…
Continue ReadingAssembly Roxy, EdinburghThe US writer, comedian and actor’s cabaret show includes potent songs about sexuality, identity and police violenceTriple-threat doesn’t begin to describe the abilities of Larry Owens, a writer, singer, comedian, Broadway star …
Continue ReadingAssembly Checkpoint, EdinburghPerformers Olivia Porter and Jarred Dewey bring this inventive show to (after)life with their dark, messy and often astonishing physical comedyIt begins like a children’s Halloween party, the lights low with figures clad i…
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