Eventually you hear enough about a certain act that you just have to go see it. This was the case with The Boy With Tape On His Face. I was concerned. Why? The usual doubt when going to see a Fringe comedy act in which you don’t know the disposition of the comedian – audience […]
Comedy in Edinburgh
Edinburgh boasts a vibrant and deeply-rooted comedy scene that thrives throughout the year, anchored by legendary venues such as The Stand Comedy Club, a proving ground for countless famous comedians, alongside the multi-award-winning Monkey Barrel Comedy and the ever-popular Just the Tonic, which all provide a consistent programme of top-tier stand-up.
However, this thriving year-round culture is merely the prelude to the comedic explosion that occurs each August during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The city transforms into the undisputed global epicentre of comedy, as thousands of performers—from household names testing new material to ambitious newcomers seeking their big break—descend upon the capital, turning every conceivable space from grand theatres to cramped pub basements into a performance venue. This month-long comedy marathon creates an unparalleled atmosphere of creative energy, solidifying Edinburgh's reputation as the ultimate destination for performers and fans of live humour.
Review of Adam Hills: Happyism, Fringe 2013
I wonder if it is possible to have dual cult and mainstream success? Adam Hills would seem to suggest it is. The popular, international, TV comedian has a devoted core following of hardcore fans. The name of the show is the clue – Happyism. Hills isn’t normally mean or negative. Each performance loans some of […]
Review of Tim Vine Chat Show, Fringe 2013
This was my first live encounter with Tim Vine after only been able to experience him crack jokes from panels or interviews. As a fan of the one liner cheesy pun this show had gold. This is a show of two parts, though, and one part worked far better than the other. I really enjoyed […]
Review of Rich Hall, Fringe 2013
There’s a lot to love in Rich Hall’s gravelly voice and deadpan delivery. If you’re not familiar with the comedian you might be forgiven for wondering what you’ve let yourself in for as you take a seat in the Speigeltent Palazzo and spy a guitar on stage. Hall enters looking not that far removed from […]
Review of the Piff the Magic Dragon Show, Fringe 2013
I think this is my third year watching Magic Dragons at the Edinburgh Fringe. Piff has a certain style that would, at a glance, suggest it would be easy to second guess the magician and workout where he’s going with the trick. It’s a trick. This year there are extra catches and surprises that’ll catch […]
Review of Rich Hall’s Hoedown, Fringe 2013
I’m a fan of Rich Hall’s dry, somewhat dark and straight up humour. I leapt at the chance to see him in the Hoedown in the Spiegeltent Palazoo. This is a comfortable but close venue. You don’t often get the chance to get this close to the big names in the Festival. I was gobsmacked […]
Review of Omid Djalili Live, Fringe 2013
If you type [Iranian Comedian] into a search engine the chances are high that Omid Djalili will pop up top of the list. When Omid asked the audience where they were from a shout from the balcony in the Music Hall in the Assembly Rooms replied, “Lebanon, we came all this way just to see […]
Review of Festival of the Spoken Nerd, Fringe 2013
For the second year in the row Festival of the Spoken Nerd has been one of my favourites. Presented by the impressive trio of Matt Parker, Helen Arney and Steve Mould the FOTSN takes the audience through some impressive and hilarious science. We had fire tornadoes. We had demos that used flying beads to illustrate […]