Articles by Gordon Johnston

Slaughterhouse Live

A series of skits performed by three of what have to be the maddest performers on the Fringe (any madder and they’d be locked up).

Sean Hughes - Ducks and Other Mistakes I've Made

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
11th Aug, 2010

Maybe it was the accidental bang on the forehead he gave himself before coming on stage, maybe it was the sparse Sunday night crowd, or maybe it was the higher than usual quota of …

Edward Aczel: Do I Really Have To Communicate With You?

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
11th Aug, 2008

Disembodied voices are not what you need to hear in a venue that’s already as spooky as the Old Town’s Underbelly, but that what you get at the start of Ed Aczel’s comedy set as he…

Jim Hensons Puppet Improv Adults Only

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
16th Aug, 2006

OK, this is not, repeat, not a kids’ show.

Addicted to Danger!

Steve McNeil & Sam Pamphilon transport you from a gloomy room in Edinburgh’s Pleasance Courtyard to a whole variety of imagined scenarios, all of them worth a giggle, and many cont…

Justin Moorhouse - Who's the Daddy?

Justin Moorhouse’s unusual style grabs you from the off.

Andrew Maxwell's Supernatural

Andrew Maxwell’s been around a bit, and is here to tell us about it in his new show.

Sin!

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
21st Aug, 2006

The Horny Devils are a local foursome, performing sketches, songs and poems set around the theme of Sin and mostly written as part of an Edinburgh University course.

Patrick Monahan - I Walked, I Danced, Iran

From the entrance where he’s carried on stage á la Lady Gaga, to the grand finale involving the most unusual boy-band line-up you’ve ever seen, Patrick Monahan is a non-stop bundl…

Natasha Wood: Rolling with Laughter

Billed as comedy in the Fringe programme, this engaging show would be equally at home in the drama section.

Dan Willis RadioHead

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
21st Aug, 2006

Dan Willis wants to talk to you about the songs that he loves; about the feel-good music in his collection that takes him back to his happy memories.

Luke Toulson: There Are So Many Things I Can't Do

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
19th Aug, 2008

Bouncing on stage with a declaration that he’s always wanted to play the smallest gig at the Festival, Luke Toulson is quick to establish a rapport with his small but perfectly for…

Jerry Sadowitz - Comedian, Magician, Psychopath

Scotland’s answer to, well just about every other magician you’ve ever seen, sets the tone of the show from the opening line of Good evening, you’re all a bunch of c***s, and i…

Josh Howie: Chosen

Josh Howie has an interesting past to say the least, which he shares which us to great comedy effect.

That Canadian Guy

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
16th Aug, 2006

Glen Foster is ‘That Canadian Guy’ even in Canada apparently, where he’s been a headline stand-up for over twenty years, but he’s happy enough if you can’t…

Nathan Caton - Breakfast at Stephanie's

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
18th Aug, 2010

Tall, skinny and full of nervous energy, West Londoner Nathan Caton is here to entertain us with an hour of laughs.

Des Clarke - Destiny

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
23rd Aug, 2007

Des Clarke is one of the few indigenous Scottish stand-ups performing at the Fringe.

Robin Ince Isn't Waving

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
15th Aug, 2006

Robin Ince has had a bad month: after a major flood left his house and record collection full of human sewage, he talks to us about claiming compensation from Thames Water; about …

Laurence Clark: Spastic Fantastic!

Laurence Clark sets out in his wheelchair to reclaim the word ‘spastic’ from its prejudiced past, armed only with slides, some secret camera film work and a wicked sense of humour.

Josie Long: Trying is Good

Former if.

Literally

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
9th Aug, 2008

Paul Parry, PowerPoint and a projector all combine to tell us why misuse of the word ‘literally’ is so wrong that an entire Fringe show must be given over to the topic.

Scott Capurro: Yankee Dog-Pig

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
15th Aug, 2006

OK, let’s get this out of the way; Scott Capurro is a gay man who stands on stage with the mike and goes for the jugular – no target is spared and he will be offensive ab…

Loretta Maine: I'm Not Drunk, I Just Need to Talk to You

The Caves on the Cowgate certainly can’t be accused of over-selling itself as a venue - you get exactly what it says on the ticket as you’re ushered into their dingy cellar, alread…

Natasha Wood: Rolling with Laughter

Billed as comedy in the Fringe programme, this engaging show would be equally at home in the drama section.

Neil Edmond - Knocker

Anorak comedy as a market researcher tells us about his (none too exciting) life on the doorsteps of Britain, reports back on his survey in a random part of Edinburgh designed for …

Jason John Whitehead - The Joker

Coming on the the strains of the Steve Miller Band’s ‘The Joker’, Jason John Whitehead confesses that only a few day’s into his run, it’s already beginning to piss him off.

Phil Nichol

Presumably one of the few stand-ups to be appearing at Edinburgh with his own three-piece backing band, Phil Nicol returns to the Stand with a shaggy-dog story of a set, involving …

Bunny Galore Live and Sedated

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
7th Aug, 2008

Join Bunny Galore in a cabaret set of red plush and fairy lights as she regales the audience with details of her life and career.

Lick & Chew - The World Is Just Enough

Lick and Chew are a boy/girl duo taking you through a whirlwind series of sketches held together nicely by an underlying travel theme.

Josh Howie: Gran Slam

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
17th Aug, 2010

Forced by economic circumstances to live with his 87 year old granny for the last 4½ years, Josh Howie has done what any good stand-up would do, and turned it into a Fringe show.

The Tommy Sheridan Chat Show

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
21st Aug, 2007

For those Broadway Baby readers unfamiliar with him, Tommy Sheridan is a Scottish left-wing politician who successfully sued the News of the World for suggesting that he’d taken pa…

Shappi Khorsandi - Asylum Speaker

Shappi Khorsandi is the daughter of an Iranian asylum seeker who came to the UK in the 70’s.

The Adventures of Pink Peter

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
13th Aug, 2008

Former Blue Peter presenter Stuart Miles gives us this three-woman show in which he plays all of the parts, in their full cross-dressed finery.

Stephen K Amos - More of Me

After last year’s storming Edinburgh performance in All of Me, Stephen K Amos returns with another great comedy outing in More of Me.

Danny Robins Dannyfest

Get the whole summer festival experience over with in just an hour as Danny Robins takes you through all you need to know from the Dance Tent, to the Main Stage to the drugs and…

Phil Nicol: The Naked Racist

Pay attention – you’re going to have to focus carefully to keep up with the Canadian comedy whirlwind that is Phil Nicol, but it will be worth it.

Jim Jefferies: Alcoholocaust

Staid old Edinburgh University’s McEwan Hall is unexpectedly pressed into service as a Fringe mega-venue for several hundred punters, like one of Morningside’s blue-rinse ladies li…

Wil Hodgson - Straight Outta Chippenham

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
21st Aug, 2007

For a chunky, 30ish, punk-rocker bloke, Wil Hodgson has a rather strange obsession with My Little Pony, confessing to having been a collector of these wee lumps of pink plastic and…

Jason Byrne - Sheep For Feet and Rams For Hands

OK, he just has to get the five stars.

Comedy Haircuts The Show (sort of)

We’ve all had them hairdressers who give you constant patter and banter whilst you’re trapped in their chair, but Giovanni Monica - a professional barber from Wiltshire - decide…

Jason Byrne - Shy Pigs With Wigs Hidden In Twigs

Jason Byrne is a lucky man when it comes to unearthing material before his very eyes.

Stephen K. Amos Weekend Chat Show

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
6th Aug, 2008

Steven K.

Jeremy Lion Goes Green

Before I got there I really expected to hate this act I’ve seen dozens of ‘comedy characters’ over the years, and very few of them can carry it off convincingly.

Zoe Lyons - Fight or Flight

Zoe Lyons spends an hour discussing common phobias, finding some fun in analysing what scares us all and why.

Stephen K Amos - All Of Me

One of the top stand-ups at the Fringe, Stephen K Amos crafts a fine hour of comedy based on some deep self-contemplation.

Zoe Lyons: Mangled Mantra of the Messed up Modern Mind

Zoe Lyons hits the stage running with an immediate gag about the messed up ticketing system at this year’s Fringe and from there it’s straight into her set about how she focuses on…

Jason Byrnes Telly Idea, Which May Also Work On The RadioShow!!

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
14th Aug, 2007

In an increasing trend amongst the big-name comics, this is Jason Byrne’s ‘other show’, and this year involves grabbing four guest celebrities as panellists for the top table, a co…

Amused Moose Comedy's Hot Starlets

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
6th Aug, 2008

Six acts are drawn daily from a rotating pool of stand-ups who seek to entertain in this talent spotting showcase.

Craig Hill's Kilty Pleasures

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
15th Aug, 2006

Craig Hill has a fabulous gay entrance.

Felix Dexter - Multiple Personalities in Order

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
18th Aug, 2010

Old-school stand-up Felix Dexter presents himself and three characters for our comedy tonight.

Jim Jeffries - 30

Jim Jeffries is a rude man.

DJ Danny - Music Therapy

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
15th Aug, 2006

High-school teachers by day, DJ Danny and his glamorous assistant (the P.

Markus Birdman: Sympathy for the Devil

Markus Birdman wants to let us know that swearing CAN be big and clever after all, though as an ex-teacher he admits that it may not be appropriate in every job.

What The World Needs

Review
★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
13th Aug, 2007

Oh Dear.

The Gadabouts

Cheery performers Matt Rudge, Luke McQueen and Joe Bor seek to rid the world of glumness in this afternoon hour of quick-fire comic sketches.

Tim Minchin So Rock

An hour of intelligent comedy mostly set to song from this Aussie comic.

Chris McCausland - Emotional Retard

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
17th Aug, 2010

Blind Liverpudlian stand-up Chris McCaulsland gets off to a good start with a gag about the portacabin hut that we’re sitting in at the Pleasance Courtyard.

Charlotte Hudson & Leila Hackett: 'Two Left Hands'

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
21st Aug, 2007

Hudson & Hackett are two young women with an established entertainment background (Hudson presents Brainiac, whilst Hackett has written for ‘Smack the Pony’), and they come togethe…

Also, Comedy and Me

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
16th Aug, 2006

Don’t get me wrong, Sabrina George is a very likeable person.

Ladies In Waiting: Brownie Re-union

Review
★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
11th Aug, 2008

Set in what could be an authentic Guide hut in the Pleasance, this show is built around a 25th reunion of an 80’s Brownie troop as Brown Owl looks back at her girls and we get to s…

Paper Monkeys: Legends

Paper Monkeys are a group of four young actors performing a hilarious tea-time sketch show.

The Jonny and Joe Show

Jonny & Joe are couple of young lads with an inventive and interesting series of sketches.

Karen Dunbar

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
16th Aug, 2006

The mainly Scottish audience were warmly appreciative of the wee funny lassie from the BBC’s Chewin’ the Fat sketch show.

Brendon Burns: Y'Know - Love 'n' God 'n' Metaphysics 'n' Shit

Nicely addressing the growing Fringe problem of how to keep an audience entertained during entry to a several-hundred seat mega-venue, Brendon Burns has adopted Dave Eastgate as a …

Rhod Gilbert - Who's Eaten Gilbert's Grape?

With a decidedly down-beat, complaining style, Rhod Gilbert’s stand-up is - paradoxically - a pleasure to watch.

Jason Byrne: Cats Under Mats, Having Chats With Bats

I’m sure that Jason Byrne comes to Edinburgh every year with something in mind to talk to us about, but he always seems to find more madcap comedy in his punters than in any pre-pr…

Andrew Lawrence - Social Leprosy for Beginners and Improvers

It takes a lot of guts for a relatively unknown, strange-looking young comic to wander out on stage and challenge the audience from the off, but that’s what Andrew Lawrence does.

Tom Wrigglesworth's Nightmare Dream Wedding

Starting with a video of him in distress in the worst hotel room ever, Tom Wrigglesworth spends an entertaining hour spinning us a complex yarn about how his wedding day came to en…

Nick Mohammed Is A Character Comedian

Man of a thousand voices, Nick Mohammed certainly delivers on his promise of both characters and comedy in this well-written sketch show at the Pleasance.

20 Years - And Still In The Pink

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
9th Aug, 2006

Mervyn looks back on two decades of performing at the Fringe in this one-man-and-his-guitar show, playing some of his favourite comic songs from previous years, mulling over change…

Andrew Lawrence: The Too Ugly For Television Tour 2010

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
18th Aug, 2010

Andrew Lawrence is an angry man with a lot to get off his chest this festival.

Stephen K Amos - Weekend Talk Show

Review
★★★
Gordon Johnston
Edinburgh Fringe
19th Aug, 2007

Stephen K Amos joins the chat show brigade, setting out his sofa in the Teviot Ballroom.

Jim Jeffries: Hammered

If you like your comedy served crude, then Jim Jeffries is the man for you as nothing is taboo in his hour long swear-fest: rape, race, religion, disability and Kelly Osbourne all …

Laurence Clark - 12% evil?

This show is all about stereotypes: why they matter, why they hurt, and why they can be strangely and yet compellingly funny at times.

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