In an interview with Art Blakey in 1987, the renowned drummer took a moment to ponder his brief yet momentous time on Earth: “Truth is stranger than fiction, and people are afrai…
If Dr.
In the bowels of The Stand’s New Town Theatre, an audience sweats in the clamminess of an overheated, cramped studio.
Known better for his kink-based comedy, John Pendal returns this year to the Fringe with a different angle to a similar style he employs, one that combines his witty sexual quips w…
When The Jazz Bar springs to mind, it is impossible not to think of the late legend Bill Kyle.
In a bar in Cambodia, a young Scottish tour guide is telling stories to travellers. There is a note of grief in his voice, hidden behind sarcasm that is concealed by a grimacing smile…
Roast Battle features a rotating lineup that changes daily, with a general showcase of at least four or five pairs of comedians taking to the stage to rip sizeable chunks out of their respective egos...
Technical issues hampered the comic on more than one occasion, and one occasion too long to forget.
Area 51, Brexit, holding midfielders and bouncy castles. There is an odd pattern here against the political backdrop of this show, tied together by the toothy grin of a cheery, well-travelled Irish comedian...
There is something very reminiscent of Bill Murray in Matt Duwell: the optimistic sarcasm is the overlying note in his voice; he produces easy crowd-pleasing material, imbued with the subtle undercurrents of political fascination; his versatility is self-explanatory in his peerless audience interaction; and there is an innate likeability about his grounded persona...
With success in the likes of Shitfaced Shakespeare and Shitfaced Showtime, Magnificent Bastard Productions return to the Fringe with their take on Lionel Bart’s 1960 musical. With a smorgasbord of pop-culture references, and with audience engagement to the nth degree, the performance – never the same as the previous night due to an ever-changing rota on who is scheduled to perform the drunk's role – is earmarked as an inebriated triumph...
I’ll begin by noting that this particular viewing was unfortunately tarnished by a very inconsiderate audience, where both latecomers and six mid-show phone calls bombarded the five actors with distractions...
You first descend into a low-ceilinged basement. There is a distinct aroma of oak smoke, and the air feels heavy as though tempered with the vigour of a pre-industrial past life, harkening you back to the workmen who built this little chamber beneath the Royal Mile...
To say that Paul Mayhew-Archer is not afraid to poke fun at himself would be the understatement of the last decade. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 at the age of 58, Mayhew-Archer forwent self-pity in lieu of stand-up and charity work...
To fully appreciate Curse of the Mummy, one cannot take it seriously as a musical or a drama, which may have been a source of contention amongst some audience members on the night I viewed, who were under the strong impression that it was a fully-fledged recreation of the original 1964 film...
It did not take long for Sunil Patel to win me over. His mirthful observations are simply all too relatable, for the better and the worse. A sardonic mood prevails, where Patel’s swaggering pretentious charm delivers with unnerving ease a slew of neurotic, dry witticisms that permeate down to the core...
Produced by Connie Stride and co-directed by Emily Ashbrook and Elizabeth Bailey, The Tinder Tales excels in making genuine experiences appear visceral.All eight actors make great use of the space afforded to them...
The superfluous orations of Joe Sellman-Leava see his one-man act deliver strong discourse aimed at unboxing the confines that social tags put upon our species. He does not seek to take on the world for its many faults as much as he implores it to conform to a unilateral standard...
Halfway through David Tsonos’ tedious and rambling show, a former boyfriend, one of the many trotted out as a manifested recollection from the trio of bridesmaids, appears before…
I’ll start off by saying that the lack of an audience on this particular viewing did not afford much opportunity to the performers. Some adapted better to their vacant surroundings than others...
Kai Humphries delivers in style a Fringe spectacle with amusing stories of his hometown Blyth and of his life which led him into the world of comedy, aided a poignant slideshow. We begin with the jingling rhythms of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky before our smiling host appears to welcome us...
Henry Ginsberg spent most of his adult life envious of his male friends scoring on the weekend.
Belfast comic Micky Bartlett is here to deliver a message. A message of tolerance and inclusivity. After all, what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding? Surprisingly quite a lot, unless you happened to drive to the show in a Bentley...
The varied and chancing comedy of Jason Byrne sees his fringe expose arrive as largely hit and miss. The night is a mixed affair, dampened by an excessive use of the f-word that is eventually dulled by over usage...
An endearing display that demonstrates both exceptional vocal and instrumental talents. Beginning by apologising for the state of politics in his home country (a jibe at both Clinton and Trump), tenor Tom Randle takes to the stage with a sonorous take on the traditional American folk song, The Boatman...
There is no doubt that Nick Revell is an amusing and witty comic whose capabilities are evident from both long line of positive past reviews and his catalogue on YouTube. He carries with him a thespian-speaking style that helps him articulate his streams of consciousness into lurid, pretty tales of wonder and fascination, wherein lies the breadth of his comedy...
Igor Stravinsky once said ‘what gives the artist real prestige is his imitators.’ David Patrick and his octet do this statement great justice, where their take on the Russian-French composer’s renowned The Rite of Spring is reanimated through the lively tempo of an eight-piece jazz band...
A grandad may have passed on, but he wasn’t the only thing that died on stage. Toad Pit Theatre have committed murder with this lurid, self-indulgent drama and weak allegory on the outcome of the EU referendum...
Ed Patrick arrives with fresh comedy that, though tepid in parts, is generally pleasing as the Oxford comic delves into his past to reveal some highly amusing anecdotes relating to the NHS and the practise of medicine...
If you think you have seen and done it all, try John Pendal on for size. The former champion of Chicago’s International Man of Leather, the equivalent of the fetish Olympics, regales you of his life and what led him into the world of kink through a well-seasoned blend of comedy and narrative...
Rondo comedy show Head Sets features a rotating line up daily, so you cannot be certain of what to expect. All performers stick their heads through a cut-out hole in a black plastic wall to give off the impression of levitation, as well as rely upon only their noggin for comedy...
Masai Graham has assembled an act so far from risky that it is bubble wrapped in woefully predictable innuendos, presumably to retain its innocence. Sadly, the outcome produces a lacklustre show...
If you find it in your heart to forgive the failings of Masai Graham’s previous show, Aaaaah! It’s 101 Clean Jokes in 30 Minutes, and stuck around for the follow-up, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what he has in store...
A short and sweet performance that makes use of popular romantic tracks to tackle the trials and troubles of online dating and the accompanying creeps who come with the app, Love Me Tinder happily pokes fun at 2016’s most infamous dating service through a blend of music and comedy...
Kate Bush may well have adopted a new receptacle in the form of a skimpy harlequin from down under. Self-professed ‘eco-sexual’, Betty Grumble’s surrealist, circus-themed burlesque shatters the barriers of conventional cabaret to bring a unique exhibition to the Fringe...
Playwright Anthony Maskell’s Fringe debut is as student as they come. I say that lightly, but for the first five minutes, the impression you get is of a hastily arranged, lazy first-year drama class’s take on life experience, through rose-tinted glasses and clichéd tropes regarding the human condition...
There is only one bar in Edinburgh that is fit for a man possessing such talent like James Lambeth: the Jazz Bar. The Oklahoma singer accentuates the blissful tonalities that bring together the music of Rodgers and Hart in such a way as I have never heard it before, earning himself unilateral applause...
Is this poetry? Yes. Is it impressive? Not really. Andrew Blair and Ross McCleary’s poetry exposé did not possess a refined style of wit nor an inventive touch, flinging together a show of limp aesthetics and clichéd delivery methods...
Of course there would have to be a torrential downpour on the day I viewed Sunshine on Leith, sadly only adhering to the typical fickleness of Scottish weather that betrayed the name of the musical...
There is no doubt that Mary McCarthy is a talented pianist whose style of play reflects years of expertise. Her show comprises of her playing renditions of several composers, many of whom are Serbian, with McCarthy’s only companions being the ten skilful fingers manipulating the keys in front of her...
Alex Williamson possesses the confidence and charisma necessary for performing for large crowds, a man who grasps the essence of comedy with a promising career ahead of him. Williamson goes for what you won’t expect him to say with brash one lines that come out of the blue, a trademark of the show...
The overriding resonance of Ponción de Fe can only be described as dynamic. The seven-piece band consists of Jed Potts on lead guitar, Tom Pickles on saxophone, Tom Wilkinson on bass, and Matthew Hawke on trombone, with drums and percussion being covered by Davide Rinaldi and Simon Gibb respectively...
C’s Fringe Film Festival is a smorgasbord of productions shuffled neatly into one come-and-go styled theatre. Calling it hit and miss would be putting it lightly, and it certainly doesn’t help that there is barely any listings of what time each individual film runs at...
This comedy showcase features a rotating lineup that changes daily, and is available both during the day and at midnight. The performance I attended was a midnight show that runs longer than its daytime counterpart...
From Fine Mess Theatre comes Kyle Ross’ play Islands, an insight into upper-middle class marriage which typifies the lifestyle of the ‘rah’. Starring Eva Tausig as Sophie and Kyle Ross as Magnus, who take to the stage in naught but their underwear, Islands offers a revelation into the complications of maintaining marriage and good communications in the twenty-first century...
Jazz Bar Music is an event which shows off the musical skills of several different performers, making each night different. This particular viewing saw Ruaridh Pattison on saxophone, Brodie Jarvie on double bass, David Patrick on piano, Steve Pretty on trumpet, and event organiser Bill Kyle on drums...
Flagstaff returns to the Fringe this year with a rusty, broken bottle blues feel that takes you down south and out west. The band adheres to their bluegrass roots whilst diversifying their setlist to provide a night of country-western, honky-tonk and southern boogie...
A blend of music and comedy, Cabaret Nova exhibits some of the Fringe’s up and coming stars. C Nova’s Studio 5 is small, almost to the point of being cramped, but this makes for a more intimate atmosphere, whilst Tessa Waters, who has the stage charisma of Elvis, presents the show as the host of the night...
Hips, tits and glamour galore. Ivy Paige has taken the Underbelly hostage and you’d better pray you’re one of her captives. Strutting her way onto the Belly Button stage, the kiss-and-tell burlesque queen leaves a heart-shaped imprint upon her audience as she dazzles you through a mixture of singing, comedy and eye candy...
With over 70 craft brewing companies across Scotland, craft beer now contributes close to £63 million to the British economy. Consequently, Edinburgh is but one of many cities to have experienced a surge in new bars catering towards craft beer fans...
James Lambeth returns to the Fringe for the third year running with companions Steve Hamilton on piano and Mario Caribe on the double bass. The Oklahoma-born musician delivers an inviting evening of jazz that ranges from soft voiced blues to powerful swing...
Dressed for the part, Melissa Western welcomes you in a friendly and feisty manner as she takes you through a journey into the realms of jazz and the great female vocalists of a not-so-distant generation that is rekindled in the embrace of Edinburgh’s own Jazz Bar...
Frankenstein celebrates its 13th year of The Rocky Horror Picture Show party. Expect to see a lot of hairspray and fishnets in this delicious night of debauchery in the perfect location...
William Luce’s 1984 play comes to life in this rendition by the Thespis Studio that is made vivid by the solo acting of Loana Pavelescu. With the direction of Liana Ceterchi, Zelda - The Last Flapper documents the life and decline of Zelda Fitzgerald...
Luke Benson hosts 99 Club's pick of the Fringe with a free hour of comedy that shows off the talents (and faults) at this year’s festival. A show that throws together the good and the bad, the Laughing Horse’s selection is worth a watch...
Sid Wick sports a variety of wigs and props to aid his free fringe comedy show. A lively and enthusiastic man who lost my interest after 5 minutes and had me checking my watch for most of the show, Sid Wick doesn’t bring out the big guns this summer...
Nevin of Edinburgh and MacKay Decorators Perth Ltd. present this traditional decorating exhibition that celebrates its third year running with decorators Margaret and Mark as hosts, a sign writer and a painter respectively...
Michael Fabbri delivers an evening of too much information that lives up to his title. A free fringe show at Cabaret Voltaire, Michael Fabbri: Oversharing is somewhat witty and moderately funny and a good act to see if you are low on cash...
In the bowels of Banshee Labyrinth lurk the most unlikely of creatures, and none more terrifying nor outlandish as Richard Tyrone. When he first came crawling into the room like a five-year-old pretending to be a dog with a sack over his head, the first thing that popped into my head was the advice from South Park’s Mr McKay: “Drugs are bad, mkay...
‘I do say, give us another!’ is the tragic cry of mediocrity from an improv show that is several decades too late for salvation. Marching out on stage in their matching red blazers, the campers deliver an abysmal performance that emerges as one of the worst Fringe shows this year in an act that is worse than Highlander II, and that’s saying something...
Clive Anderson hosts one of the best improv shows on the Fringe with a troupe of seasoned professionals at his side. Backing him up on sound is Philip Pope, while you are entertained by the rambunctious antics of four headliner acts: Steven Frost, Greg Proops, Marcus Brigstocke and Colin Mochrie...
If you’ve ever watched anything by John Robertson before you’ll know just how zany and energetic he can be, which is the perfect reason why he makes a great host for The Stand Late Show...
Ned Kelly look-alike Ryan Coffey arrives in the burgh with vocal looping and a Fender Stratocaster to deliver some songs about relationships. But that’s all before you reach the comedic aspect of his performance...
Canadian standup John Hastings peddles an incredibly original show that could easily be a contender for Fringe Festival Awards. Winner of the 2012 COCA Comedian of the Year Award, and the 2010 Homegrown Comedy Competition, John Hastings arrives to the fringe with talent, style and a homemade pharaoh crown on his head...
A pregnant 16-year-old who drinks too much; a gullible, ditsy hand model; a rambling geek with poor social skills; a meathead with too many STDs. At the centre of it all, a mother. Morgana O’Reilly, star of Neighbours, brings a fresh and original one-woman play to the table with her quirky, off-the-wall comedic acting...
Gus Lymburn hosts Scotland’s Pick of The Fringe in this hour long comedy romp that is funny, witty and refreshingly original. The lively, sardonic Scot is capable of entertaining an audience of several different ethnicities with a range of comedy, both local and international, that warms up for the arrival of the headliners...
For the second year running, Sex With Animals hits the Fringe in an outrageously hilarious fashion with solo star Ryan Good taking to the stage in a lion onesie. When the befitting introductory background music ‘Rocky Raccoon’ ends, Ryan Good prances out on stage dressed in an attire that looks like Dwayne Johnson in the recent Hercules movie, thrusting his furry lion muff into the front row whilst dancing in a provocative fashion to the sound of Michael Jackson in a manner that would give Russell Brand a run for his money...
‘These are my tits,’ says the woman on stage wearing nothing but a pair of black high heels and a red pillbox hat, ‘Feel free to look at them.’ Strutting her way from Tunbridge, Miss Glory Pearl takes to the stage with literally nothing else but her comedy...
Free fringe festival comedy Men With Nectar Points starts off the night with Phil Mitchell’s look-alike Jethro Bradley with a pair of tights over his head warming up the crowd for the arrival of Liam Sullivan...
Steen Raskopoulos turns up to the Fringe in style. Twice the style to be precise. Donning not only two suits but a basketball hoop, Raskopoulos is prepared to make you laugh, cry and dance to the sound of disco music, as he will have more than half the audience on their feet by the end of the night...
The poptacular London band started thirty minutes late for their three and half hour set, most likely due to technical difficulties or the arrangement of the room. But the loud band appears professional, making few mistakes and swiftly covering up any they make...
The first impression I got of Itai Erdal was of a man far too self-absorbed, verging upon vanity instead of showmanship; a man who proclaims he has travelled far and wide to some of the remotest parts of the world; a man who professes to know every capital city in the world, and will challenge the audience to prove him wrong; a man who claims to have been in love 23 times yet has no partner...
From the critically acclaimed SU Drama company comes a double play performance that combines Brien Friel’s Afterplay and an original piece named The White Peacock. One play is brilliant; one play is terrible...
If Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carroll had a love child, the result would be a grinning 5ft Scot with an arsenal of absurd pun-studded songs wielding a double bass and a pocketful of anecdotes about Oz...
Equipped with his electro-acoustic guitar, Paul Gilbody promises for a magical evening of hearty tunes and ripping beats to drive home a funky Fringe show full of imagination. Accompanying Gilbody is his talented backing band, comprised of Andy Farquhar on drums, Jules Philip on vocals, John Need on bass and Mat Clements on percussion, who brings to the stage a plethora of instruments that include maracas, triangle, tambourine and table drums...
Ian Saville, a self-professed ‘socialist magician’, takes you through the history of money and communism by the medium of magic in a free show that pulls off some rather exquisite tricks...
From the Crafty Moon Theatre company comes the tale of two sisters named Alizon and Jennet, caught in a relationship culminating in hedonism, jealousy and betrayal. At the centre of this bizarre play are the Pendle Witch Trials that, through a mix of acting, music and video, are portrayed through the lens of a modern interpretation...
The Mockingbirds Theatre Company serves up a delicious performance in the form of Meal Ticket, a play which examines the problems with perfectionism and informality within high society in a comedic story set in a bustling, star-struck venue...
The Rothko Quartet meets the critically acclaimed Yelian He in a professional performance of some of Schubert’s best known works. Expect to see a lot of avid facial expressions from the instrumentalists and hear some remarkable chamber music in the Royal Overseas League with a set of some delightful numbers that recall the Austrian music halls of the 19th century...
When an uncertain young American was experiencing the fallout of the sixties in the form of psilocybin, he learned one very valuable lesson he would not forget in a hurry: buckle your seatbelt for the long run because you are now a passenger on one hell of a trip...
I probably should have guessed from the name, but there was nothing that could have prepared me for what Frank Sanazi’s musical comedy had in store. (Warning: this show is NOT for those who are easily offended, particularly by Second World War references...
As the name would suggest, this is great Scottish comedy at its best. If you are only at the Fringe for a couple of days, this is one of those must-see shows which will guarantee you are laughing from start to finish (and perhaps all the way home)...
Born Australian, with Ghanaian heritage, Matt Okine does a great job at poking fun of racial stereotypes and racial epithets within society, drawing upon a wide range of topics for his act...
Paul McDaniel and David Callaghan’s free show hits the Fringe in a less than impressive style with a low quality humour that does little in the way of entertainment. McDaniel’s drawl and monotonous personality does not do his comedy any favours, whilst he attempts to mask awkward silences with a series of bizarre, guttural grunting sounds...
If you are over 35 or simply want to hear how middle-aged life is a going to be a blood-stained nightmare, then this is the show for you; for anyone else, sit tight for an uncomfortable hour...
In the midst of a New York snow storm, a working girl named Julia is drinking an icy margarita on a makeshift beach in her two-piece, whilst shy Jeffrey, an inventor of some bizarre and wonderful sex-toys, is fumbling with suntan-lotion and an inflatable palm tree...
Paul Chamberlain, professional accordionist and accomplished musician in the field of classical music, brings a fresh performance to the Fringe Festival with his accordion music, all classical pieces and all performed solely by himself...
You’ve just received the news that the capital has been struck by a horde of flesh-eating limb draggers, with the power to infect and eradicate the human race from existence. The streets are littered with dead bodies, abandoned cars and ransacked ambulances, whilst the supermarkets have become a jam packed haven for the panic driven, self-preservationist mob...
For the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the Fringe’s epicentre, Iain Donald provides a truly remarkable performance with The Voices of Lions, a choir group of students from Hampton School in London...