Fringe Comedy Review

Highland hilarity

admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:33:16 +0000

The down time between Edinburgh Fringe Festivals could easily see most comedians and comedy fans slip into a kind of torpor; doing nothing until August approaches and we can start planning, with military precision, our comedy viewing schedule for that year’s event. But that doesn’t take into account the dozens of other comedy festivals which take place around the UK throughout the year. OK, none of them are as big as Edinburgh and they don’t tend to attract the sheer range of big-name comedy stars, but many are a great showcase for up and coming local talent – while some of the better known stand-ups use these events as a warm-up for Edinburgh, trying out new material that might never see the light of day again…

The Aviemore Comedy Festival in the Scottish Highlands has always been a favourite of mine. Not only do they usually manage to attract a surprisingly star-studded line-up for such a small event in such a remote location, but the Highlands are always a great spot for a holiday. I usually stay in a hotel or Bed and Breakfast in the town or one of the surrounding villages, but as a few friends were coming with me, we decided to save some money and rent a cottage. Well, we would have saved some money if the local red diesel suppliers hadn’t spotted the tourists a mile off and seemingly doubled their prices!

Luckily I only found that out after we got back to town,so it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the gigs themselves. A planned line-up featuring Craig Campbell, Andrew Maxwell and Ed Byrne was more than enough to be getting on with, but the rumours started flying early on Saturday that a certain Frankie Boyle had been spotted in town. Was he here as an audience member or would he be putting in a surprise experience? The great news for everyone who had made the effort to head north was that it was the latter; unbelievably I’d never managed to see Frankie live before – tickets sell out within minutes up here – so I was tremendously excited to see what all the fuss was about. And I certainly wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it just made me even more determined to secure tickets to one of his full-length shows when he’s next on tour.

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How soon is too soon?

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:33:58 +0000

The tragic death of footballer Gary Speed has upset me (and many of my friends) in more ways than one; firstly, the fact that a young man with so much to live for could decide to end it all is pretty grim, but worst of all are the cruel jokes that are already circulating on the internet. I know that comedians – whether they’re on stage or in the pub – have always cashed in on tragedy. There’s something quite gleeful about sitting in a crowded comedy club and giggling at something that you know would horrify most right-thinking people. Think back to every disaster or celebrity death over the last few years, and I bet you can remember the sick jokes that were doing the rounds. My concern is how soon is too soon?

After all, poor Gary probably hasn’t even been laid to rest and already the people who make these jokes up (who are they, by the way?) have been busy creating and circulating their rather sick efforts, most of which are about as welcome as an emergency fuel delivery in the middle of a heatwave. Don’t get me wrong; I love offensive comedians. The more offensive the better, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve sat crying with laughter at some Fringe shows while the rest of the audience were stampeding for the door in disgust. I guess my problem isn’t just that 48 hours is too soon to be cracking the funnies, but also that a decent bloke like Gary Speed isn’t much of a target, so a lot of the “jokes” just aren’t very amusing. Unlike the Amy Winehouse ones that were doing the rounds a while ago – they were hilarious.

So I’ll end with a plea to the mystery joke writers, whoever and wherever they are; can we leave Gary Speed and his family alone, at least for a few more weeks? Trust me; your efforts will be much more appreciated and less reviled if you give us all a while to digest the tragedy. At the moment, you’re just not funny…

More to offer than the Fringe

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:03:13 +0000

Well, that’s the Fringe over for another August; but that doesn’t mean that all you tourists should instantly forget all about visiting beautiful Edinburgh. After all, the city has lots more to offer, whether the Festival is in full swing or not, and is a great place to take a wee weekend break any time of the year. Just come prepared for any kind of weather, no matter when you visit. After all, we’ve just enjoyed a boiling hot late-September after a July and August that felt more like autumn and saw red diesel prices soar. The Scottish weather definitely likes to play tricks on tourists!

Luckily there are lots of interesting tourist attractions that are well and truly indoors. Edinburgh’s tourist bosses aren’t daft and have spent a lot of money investing in warm and dry things for visitors to the city to enjoy. Five art galleries, including two devoted to modern art, along with a newly renovated Museum of Scotland will keep culture vultures happy, while the city’s Royal attractions always have a good crowd of foreign tourists. From Edinburgh Castle, down the Royal Mile to Holyrood house and the Abbey and further into Leith, where the magnificent Royal Yacht Britannia is moored; a feast of regal venues and all connected by one regular bus route.

A bus trip is a great way to see the whole city if your time is a bit limited. Many of the open-top bus tours have a “Plan B” in case of bad weather. Mind you, that usually just involves rolling a leaky plastic cover over the top deck, so I’d still stay downstairs if I were you! If you’re lucky enough to enjoy an Indian summer in the city, and have got plenty of energy, a stroll to the top of Arthur’s Seat is a must. Not only is there an amazing view once you make it to the top, but you also get a real sense of achievement when you realise that the end is in sight! If you’re not quite fit enough to tackle the extinct volcano, then Calton Hill provides an easier alternative and the view is just as stunning.

Free fun at the Fringe

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:33:05 +0000

If you’re heading to Edinburgh for the Fringe this year, then you better make sure your wallet or purse is stuffed with plenty of cash for all the shows that you’re going to want to see. You can soon spend a hundred pounds or more on just a handful of shows – and once they’re over all you can afford to do is sit in the Pleasance courtyard, nursing your pint and hoping to spot a few celebrity comedians.
Or you could always head to one of the Free Fringe venues. The Free Fringe used to be one of the Festival’s best-kept secrets, with audiences that were mainly made up of locals who resented being over-charged for comedy shows in their own back yard. But gradually word of the Free Fringe has spread far and wide and most of their shows are “sold out” throughout their run. There are venues all over the city and if you are planning to attend one of their events, make sure you “buy” your ticket in advance.
And it’s not just comedy either – the Free Fringe venues put on plays, musical performances, kids'shows as well as some more risque late-night cabaret acts. However, most of the shows at the Free Fringe, which are held at pubs throughout Edinburgh, are stand-up comedians. Most of the performers are just starting out and many of them show some real promise. Just don’t expect to get any neck injury compensation if you end up laughing your head off at a Free Fringe show; these guys aren’t making any money… yet!

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The relationship between comedy and culture

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:03:09 +0000

Comedy, as a commentator recently put it, has gone beyond the ability to make people laugh; it is now a business. Comedians have grown to become rich men and women who sit over huge business empires built from the money they made through comedy. This is a mini summary of how comedy has evolved over the years. It is still developing and many comedians have adapted success stories from other countries into their culture and business. An example is the rise of stand-up comedy in western part of Africa. This has not only made many comedians rich, but they have also gone to become famous around the continent and even outside. The list of comedians has continued to grow in a country like Nigeria and almost every one of them has carved a niche or reputation in order to create a kind of uniqueness.

Comedy at times is culture specific. Some jokes are as universally accepted as a running shop is, but many others are not. This is why someone coming from Africa will find it hard to even giggle to a joke that is cracked in England. This is not necessarily attributed to anything offensive; it has more to do with context and culture. Comic acts and their stories are many times culture and country specific. This is why the use of PidginEnglish by West African comedians may be a hard nut to crack by a Western audience. Comedy is as diverse as its audience. What makes people to literally laugh their heads off in one culture or region may not have the same effect in another.

Physical Theatre for the Comedy Lover

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:33:30 +0000

Stand up is very popular at the Edinburgh Fringe, but it can get a bit boring. If you have been watching comedy for years, you may be ready to graduate to something a bit edgier and the fringe is the place to do it. I was lucky enough to get tickets to a preview of Fool’s Proof Theatre’s new show that they are taking up to the Zoo Roxy this summer. The new show It’s Uniformation Day begins with the premise that planet earth is collapsing due to overconsumption of everything from clothing to plastic to fossil fuels. Though it has an underlying eco message, it will still be funny to those gas oil suppliers in the crowd. Plastic is a prevalent image, as the three characters unravel a story of how the people that remained on planet earth after it was evacuated created a new and utterly bizarre culture. If you are used to seeing stand up that is all about words, it will be a delight to watch this show which unravels with only a minimal amount of words spoken by the performers. We meet them on a national holiday for the new civilization, which commemorates the ’big mistake'when the founders of the new society missed the escape rocket to outer space. The three main characters go through a ritualistic purging process that is part ceremony, part techno dance delight. It will be the next big thing, comedy is so last century. Catch them August 15 to 25.

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Comedy Gigs in July, UK

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:03:16 +0000

UK is host to a variety of comic gigs that have the potential to keep you in splits throughout. The British are known for nurturing some sense of humour (whether, it appeals to everyone’s tastes is a different question that we may not want to talk about). But, not all comedy is good comedy. If you want to experience some exceptionally good comic acts, we suggest that you save your dates for these comic gigs that are going to be held somewhere near you. A night of comedy will also give one a much needed respite from their daily Locum GP jobs or investment banking.

Daniel Sloss at Soho Theatre on July 29 and 30, 7 pm onwards

Watch this rising star on the UK comedy circuit entertain audiences with original mature material.

Fast Fringe at Leicester Square Theatre on July 5, 7.30 pm onwards

Want to get a taste of the Fringe Edinburgh Festival beforehand? Well, then head to the festival where you will 28 artistes performing 3-minute gigs that are going to be part of Fringe Edinburgh. You can experience various genres of comedy all under one roof.

Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog by Greg Davies at Apollo Theatre on July 2, 7 pm onwards

A solo gig by Greg Davies, this makes it to the must watch list. An actor, comedian and former teacher, he is renowned for his roles in We Are Klang and The Inbetweeners

Al Murray at The Wyvern Theatre on July 6

The British comedian is famous for donning the stand-up role of The Pub Landlord. The Observer listed him among the ’50 funniest acts'in UK comedy in 2003. In 2010, he stood 25th on the Channel 4’s list of 100 greatest stand-up comedians.

The LipSinkers at Bistrotheque on July 8

The LipSinkers consists of a group of members who dress up as drag queens and lip synch to songs. The group describes itself as ‘Performance Sl**ts'on a popular social networking site.

Funbags - Sketch Group Review

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:03:06 +0000

I don’t mean to be in any way sexist but I have always favoured the male comedian of the female. Now I can imagine that has opened up a whole can of worms there! This is not to say that I don’t find women comedians funny, quite the opposite in fact but I do strongly believe that when it comes to comedy our tastes are determined by what we can identify with. It seems natural then that I will prefer what a man has to say rather than what a woman has to say. Do you not agree? Or am I going to have to try and dig myself out of massive misogynistic hole I keep digging here?

Comedy sketch groups seem to be the thing at the moment and one that stands out in particular is all woman group FunBags. I first saw this rather delightful group of ladies about a year ago and I think what makes them stand out from the crowd of comedy groups out there is their daring to explore everything from the bizarre to the sexually repressed. Their devotion to furthering the popularity of their repertoire is shown by the fact that their preview shows are always a good ten sketches or so long enabling them to choose the best sketches for their actual performances. True professionals when it comes to comedy I say… and not bad looking either. Avoid any accidents abroad this summer and get along to see Funbags'next gig. You won’t regret it.

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Dream line-up

admin — Sun, 01 May 2011 11:33:12 +0000

It won’t be too long until the details of the performers at this year’s Edinburgh fringe Festival are announced, the usual weird and wonderful array of comedians, students plays, mime and music. Every year, there are certain comedians that I hope will make an appearance – and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Unlike my recent efforts to reduce my mobile roaming charges, which left me very disappointed indeed…
I was thinking about what my ideal Fringe line-up would be; the comedians or performers that would make this year’s Festival even more special than previous years. The most obvious choice, as far as I’m concerned, is Frankie Boyle. He hasn’t played the Fringe for years. I don’t know if it’s because he feels he doesn’t really need to promote himself any more, after all his TV success, or if it’s just the Edinburgh/Glasgow rivalry at work. Maybe he thinks you have to pay international roaming charges once you get past Falkirk on the M8. Whatever it is that has kept you away, Frankie, make an exception for 2011. Please?
Most of the big name comedians that I’d like to see at the Fringe 2011 have also made their name on panel shows or sitcoms. I would realy love to see one of the new top female comedians get themselves a long run, in a decent-sized venue. Women are often relegated to side venues or allowed to play at the Assembly or the Pleasance for only a few days. I think the huge success of Miranda Hart, Sarah Millican and Josie Long means that festival organisers everywhere, not just in Edinburgh, can no longer ignore funny females. Let’s hope the bosses at Fringe 2011 are working hard to persuade these girls, and others, to grace us with their presence come August.

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Local knowledge

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:03:08 +0000

Many locals clear out of Edinburgh when it comes to festival time. I used to live there and know how annoying it can be to fight your way through crowds and crowds of tourists when you’re just trying to get to work or buy a sandwich for lunch. Of course, all the negatives are far outweighed by the positives of having some of the biggest names in comedy performing on your doorstep – and you could easily end up spending a fortune making sure you don’t miss the top-rated shows. I once went straight from a one-man Star Wars show to a feminist sketch show and then onto a comedy magician. All the jokes about light sabres, cheap liposuction prices and rubbing magic wands kind of blended into one in the end and I had some very strange dreams that night!
Locals tend to try and avoid the big shows; after all, it’s not cool for a resident to be spotted queuing up with the visitors at one of the cavernous venues like the conference centre. We want to be the ones who discover a great new comedy talent, preferably Scottish, and preferably playing in a church hall basement or the broom cupboard of a pub on the Sighthill estate. If someone else has seen the show and is raving about it, then we’re just not interested…
Now that I don’t live in Edinburgh any more I really enjoy going back to the Fringe, but I’ve still kept many of my “local” traits. Loitering the Pleasance courtyard in the hope of picking up free or cheap tickets to poorly selling shows, scouring the reams of leaflets handed out on the Royal Mile for the stand-ups who are playing to a crowd of ten at 2am, taking in as many of the street performances as possible. Next time you’re in the crowd at one of those outside shows, listen out for the accents of those around you. You might be surprised to hear more Scottish folk than you’d think!

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