England & Son review – Mark Thomas’s funny and ferocious telling of a lost childhood

Roundabout @ Summerhall, EdinburghPlaywright Ed Edwards frames the story of a juvenile offender through the lens of colonialismIn his 2018 play The Political History of Smack and Crack, Ed Edwards made the connection between government policy and the 1…

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England & Son review – Mark Thomas’s funny and ferocious telling of a lost childhood

Roundabout @ Summerhall, EdinburghPlaywright Ed Edwards frames the story of a juvenile offender through the lens of colonialismIn his 2018 play The Political History of Smack and Crack, Ed Edwards made the connection between government policy and the 1…

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Let’s start the show: Edinburgh festival 2023 kicks off – in pictures

Photographer Murdo MacLeod presents his view of the opening week’s Edinburgh festival and fringe shows – from a show for one to a giant dinner party• See all our Edinburgh festival 2023 coverage here Continue reading…

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Edinburgh festival fringe acts outraged by censorship of ‘provocative’ posters

Performers and producers say arts are being ‘sanitised’ amid more sensitive attitudes towards swearing and sexual politicsAn annual “poster war” has raged between rival promoters for as long as the festival fringe has been filling Edinburgh’s small the…

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Ramalama Ding Dong review – engaging tales of cultural crossfire in Swansea

Summerhall, EdinburghWelsh-Iranian musician Roshi Nasehi spins her heritage into standup that is most impressive when she works the stories into sound piecesHaving established herself as a musician – or, more precisely, a proponent of experimental Wel…

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‘If you break even that’s a bonus’: what it costs to perform at the Edinburgh fringe

Theatre and comedy acts at this year’s festival break down their expenses and consider the financial risks“The big, difficult cost this year is accommodation,” says RoguePlay’s artistic director Kim Wildborne. The physical theatre company is heading to…

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Happiness! Ken Dodd exhibition to open at the Museum of Liverpool

The comedian, who died in 2018, will be remembered in a new exhibition that brings together props, costumes and an interactive ‘giggle map’Tickling sticks, a Dicky Mint puppet and a Yorick skull complete with protruding teeth will go on display in Sept…

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Here’s what venues can do to become fat-friendly spaces – and spare a lot of pain

Making seat measurements readily available and providing alternative options would enable everyone to have a nice time at theatres, cafes … and any place with chairs and peopleI have to call places before I visit them. I never know if I should say “I’m…

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Conner O’Malley review – Silicon Valley parody delivers standup solutions

Soho theatre, LondonAn AI comedian cracks jokes tailored to the audience’s internet search history in this spoof corporate presentationStreaming platforms increasingly tailor content to our own, unique tastes. Imagine if a standup could do the same? Th…

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Edinburgh festival 2023: 50 shows to see

Cracking comedy, an eclectic mix of theatre – and aerial dance in an ice rink. Our critics share their picks for the August arts extravaganzaRhod Gilbert: Work in Progress Gilded Balloon Teviot Continue reading…

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