They 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 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 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 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 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 ReadingRoyal Lyceum, EdinburghObehi Janice’s one-woman show collects her adventures in the dating game but they don’t lead anywhere that interestingObehi Janice had friends at school who, like her, were academic and nerdy. She fancied boys at an early age – a…
Continue ReadingPregnancy is a privilege but is also weird, awkward and difficult. The cathartic nature of standup helps us consider the confusion of imminent parenthoodAt the start of the year, when I booked to perform my comedy show at the fringe, I was laughing in …
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