Saturday, August 24, 2013
Bridget Christie takes Foster's standup prize " the UK's most prestigious " with 'beautifully written, delightfully delivered' workIt was a stand-out moment for female standups. The feminist…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:46PM[SHARE]Friday, August 23, 2013
The StandWozniak has found himself a compelling alter ego: a would-be light entertainer at the mercy of his domestic and social angstOnce a standup staple, mother-in-law jokes went out with …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:20AM[SHARE]Comedians under starter's orders for the Foster's awards, as the 2013 So You Think You're Funny gongs are handed out. Plus: John Lloyd brings a Rotary Club vibe to the fringeScream if you wa…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:08AM[SHARE]Thursday, August 22, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardWhen Walsh lays off his throwback booze humour, he's good. Otherwise, his conservative material chokes his talentNominated for the Edinburgh comedy award this week, Seann …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:40AM[SHARE]Chicago Sun-Times shocked at 'deep-dyed socialism' and anti-American nature of the fringe; Humza Arshad makes his Edinburgh debut; and were last year's comedy award-winners not funny enough?…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AM[SHARE]Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Gilded BalloonFrequently as maddening as she is funny, the American comic is an expert and intriguing talent"This is something that's top secret and nobody's heard about," says US comic Tig …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:46PM[SHARE]Tig Notaro's games hold up crowd anxious not to miss next show; Gareth Ellis gives himself a black eye and wins awardClocked off on the Edinburgh FringeIn theatre circles, it's often said th…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:15PM[SHARE]Let Guardian reviewer Logan talk you through the shortlist of the biggest prize in UK comedy, act by actBrian Logan
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:59AM[SHARE]Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Underbelly, CowgateJohn Robertson's interactive comedy based on primitive computer games is ridiculous, illogical and weirdly addictive"You awake to find yourself in a dark room …" Austral…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:15PM[SHARE]Steve Coogan announces he's be back in town, on a unique special mission " and the intriguingly odd John KearnsKnowing me, knowing the winner of the Foster's Edinburgh comedy awardA coup for…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:43PM[SHARE]The top jokes of the Edinburgh festival fringe have just been announced, but there is no sign of the women who have provided the funniest and most creative shows this yearThe winner of the f…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:33AM[SHARE]Monday, August 19, 2013
Heroes @ Bob's BookshopThe moral high ground isn't so much taken as seduced in this show, which wins the rape-joke argument the way it should be won " with comedy"Anyone here been raped? Any…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:33AM[SHARE]Pornography is everywhere in this year's comedy programme " but not for the reasons you might think. Plus: awards week begins; and Andrea Dworkin, comedy heroineSex-drivenIt's porn. Some …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:23AM[SHARE]Sunday, August 18, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardThe hotly tipped comedian's best characters are richly imagined, his worst little more than excuses to behave outrageouslyUp-and-comer Jamie Demetriou's show has been…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:37AM[SHARE]Friday, August 16, 2013
Assembly HallMuppets? Improvising? For adults only? What's not to like? Quite a lot, as it happensMuppets? Improvising? For adults only? What's not to like? Quite a lot, as it happens, in th…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:17AM[SHARE]Predicting stars-to-be is a haphazard business " as I know only too well. Plus: a grizzled comic gives us a blast from the past, and Edinburgh gets a glimpse of the futureTomorrow's stars to…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:35AM[SHARE]Laughing Horse @ the Counting HouseBehind this talented musical comedian's wholesome, naive facade, a story emerges of a woman on the verge of cracking upIt's been a year of striking debuts …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:20AM[SHARE]Thursday, August 15, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardAcaster compensates for meaningless material with fine joke-writing and some lovely gagsJames Acaster's comedy couldn't be less important if it tried " although that's not…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:51AM[SHARE]Pleasance CourtyardIn terms of technique, Kane is at the top of his game " it's the so-so stereotyping that lets him downRussell Kane is not an obvious person to expound on the British prope…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:51AM[SHARE]One performer suggests that it's not always healthy to go for the gag above all else. Plus: dreams come true on the fringe, and a computer tries its hand at standupBeyond the jokeWhen people…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:11AM[SHARE]Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Laughing Horse @ the Counting HouseCharacters, plot and some very good jokes are conjured up in one of the most enjoyable 60 minutes on the fringeYou won't remember the Jane Austen nove…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:39AM[SHARE]Underbelly, CowgateAn improvised, eight-hour mime marathon was an often gripping celebration of the spirit of playThere's no orthodoxy for how to follow winning the Edinburgh comedy award. B…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:50AM[SHARE]The free fringe is beating some other comedians pants down " but can it last? Plus: is Scottish independence a huge joke?Free for all?I was at The Wrestling last night (see below). Joe Lycet…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:38AM[SHARE]Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghBrett Goldstein returns with another comic yarn about sex and society, but while there are some good laughs, it doesn't ring quite true enoughTwo years ago, Bre…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:22AM[SHARE]Assembly, George SquarePascoe's lively mind teases out big questions with intelligence, silliness and self-deprecation to make a near-perfect show"So, let's go over the lovely things we've l…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:58AM[SHARE]Liam Williams and Bo Burnham point the way to an anxious comic future. Plus: to sweat, or not to sweat?Anthems for doomed youthIs the age of anxiety upon us? Among comics, there's definitely…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:44AM[SHARE]Monday, August 12, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardFrom neuroscience to paedophile frogs, the creative profusion of this former YouTube star makes for an exhilarating showWow. Bo Burnham is back, with a full-frontal assaul…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:57AM[SHARE]Standup Brendon Burns suggests that putting comedians in pigeonholes doesn't make sense. Plus: old-school laughs on the Free Fringe, and comics have the last laugh on the football fieldNo al…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:30AM[SHARE]Sunday, August 11, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardSome of the best shows come when their creators stop caring about pleasing crowds, and make what they damn well please. Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen Volume 2 has that …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:30AM[SHARE]Friday, August 9, 2013
What's the right balance between thought-provoking and laugh-inducing? Plus: Jewish Mom jokes on the fringe and why money is the root of all evilComedy by focus group?"There's two ways you c…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:57PM[SHARE]Pleasance DomeThis ex-teacher needs to find a subject more worthy of his angry intelligence than disingenuous ad campaignsTV Burp meets Brass Eye, with added self-loathing. Interested, commi…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:57AM[SHARE]Loading more stories…
