Underbelly Cowgate, EdinburghThis mix of acrobatics, feverish monologues, high-altitude accidents and apocalyptic physical comedy doesn’t need to have a rationale – does it?It is probably best not to ask too many questions. I mean, you could imagine Lo…
Continue ReadingUnderbelly, George Square, EdinburghMadeleine Rowe’s physical comedy, deft vocal work and twinkle-eyed charisma takes the relationship between man and steed to extremesAcademic texts have been written about the bond between knights and their steeds in …
Continue ReadingPleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe sometime Mr Swallow sidekick’s hour of interiors improv is a skilful, unshowy treat‘Shall we give ourselves a night off from being funny?” There are unassuming performance styles, then there’s David Elms. At a festival…
Continue ReadingPleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Maintaining a remarkable mood of spontaneity and joy, Tothill sweeps his audience through unexpected history and cruise-ship hellBoth his previous shows having almost killed him, the bar for success is set low for John To…
Continue ReadingFrom a Polish prince of Denmark to pickled vegetables and tributes to Billy Connolly and Marilyn Monroe, our photographer explores the many worlds of the festival Continue reading…
Continue ReadingPleasance Courtyard, EdinburghWith a mischievous smile, the comic who shot to fame for roasting Donald Trump mixes the personal and politicalIt’s seven years since Michelle Wolf addressed the White House correspondents’ dinner, but she still gets a rou…
Continue ReadingThe actor and writer has turned JM Barrie’s story into the hedonistic nightclub musical Nvrlnd – but his talents are also showcased in a one-man thriller and a queer classicThe room is hot, sticky and covered in trampled confetti. A mashup of noughties…
Continue ReadingPleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe comedy newcomer delivers an expertly constructed set with chutzpah – but not all the jokes land with precisionThere’s a bait-and-switch to begin newcomer James Trickey’s show, which starts with our host in sunglasses r…
Continue ReadingSummerhall, EdinburghRuxandra Cantir’s cast of gherkins, onions and carrots is conceptually funny but lacks biteWe can agree that a cabaret involving pickled vegetables is conceptually funny. The stars of a variety night do not normally count gherkins,…
Continue ReadingAs Jena Friedman, Michelle Wolf and Sam Jay perform at the fringe, they discuss the threats to freedom of speech in the era of Donald Trump In April, comedian Jena Friedman had a strange encounter in Vancouver airport. She had just performed a Ted talk…
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