Batshit review – grandma’s moving story highlights pathologisation of women’s mental health

Traverse theatre, EdinburghLeah Shelton plays her grandmother, incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital, in this one-woman show that draws on research, recordings and videos to link 1960s Australia to todayMrs Gwen Couper is having “delusions” about leav…

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Yurts, a cruise ship, my flat: all the city’s a stage at the Edinburgh fringe

From the backseat of a moving car to a swimming pool, what constitutes a venue at Scotland’s sprawling arts festival never fails to surpriseOf all the extraordinary things about the Edinburgh fringe, the easiest to take for granted is that performances…

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A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First review – scouting out for America

theSpace @ Niddry Street, EdinburghCult clown duo Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland play muddy-kneed boy scouts in this knockabout comedy with an emotional punchAt the fringe, despite the predominantly bare stages, some performers transport you to another …

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Margolyes & Dickens: The Best Bits review – the nation’s favourite foul mouth

Pleasance @ EICC, Edinburgh There’s more Margolyes than Dickens here, but her gift for florid characters is on fine display and suits the Victorian master perfectly“Guaranteed to offend and delight,” says the publicity. Really? It’s rare now to hear th…

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Weather Girl review – apocalyptic comedy gives chilling forecast for a burning planet

Summerhall, EdinburghJulia McDermott is captivating as a presenter whose all-American smile cracks in the face of environmental nightmareScorchio! The Fast Show’s persistently sunny forecasts from Caroline Aherne have got nothing on the flaming reports…

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Digested week: Liz Truss’s unintentional comedic turn at Edinburgh fringe | Brian Logan

A crowing flash-in-the-pan PM and Jimmy Carr’s life lessons from the Oompa LoompasA tale of two powerful women as the Edinburgh fringe enters its opening week. Nica Burns is a West End producer and the impresario behind the Edinburgh comedy awards. The…

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Natalie Palamides: Weer review – an outrageously entertaining one-woman romcom

Traverse, EdinburghPlaying both partners in a sordid three-year relationship, the bold LA clown delivers another unforgettable showFew fringe trajectories have been as joyful to trace these last few years as that of Natalie Palamides. From best newcome…

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Dylan Mulvaney: Faghag review – sparky musical comedy turned redemptive rally

Assembly George Square, EdinburghShe was chewed up and spat out by the US, but now the TikTok sensation gets to tell her story in this slick productionWith her TikTok series a smash during lockdown, and after a chat with President Biden no less, Dylan …

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Dylan Mulvaney: Faghag review – sparky musical comedy turned redemptive rally

Assembly George Square, EdinburghShe was chewed up and spat out by the US, but now the TikTok sensation gets to tell her story in this slick productionWith her TikTok series a smash during lockdown, and after a chat with President Biden no less, Dylan …

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Louise Atkinson: ‘Billy Connolly could tell me a story about a mayonnaise jar for two hours’

The comic on starting the career her ex was planning, how Jaffa Cakes help you judge people and why standups need TupperwareHow did you get into comedy?
I was dating a comedy nerd who wanted to try standup, so I researched comedy courses for them as a…

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