September 1, 2023    Chortle

Review of Sid Singh: Table For One

Singh’s subject matter clearly fires him up. An eagerly friendly guy, his delivery is energetic and slick. He slightly overuses some techniques with many sentences sharing the same punchy rhythm and him constantly insisting: ‘This shit is crazy,’ to convince us that it is.

He’s prone to putting the politics over the comedy, submitting to the occasional sloganeering, but his enthusiasm is infectious. Liberals are often portrayed as being po-faced, but Singh shows you can be on the side of the angels and still have a good time.... Click Here For Review

September 1, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of Emotionally Unreasonable

The songs in Emotionally Unreasonable - in particular the titular number - are the best part of the set, to the point where we start to look forward to the next song as each one ends. DeCotis has a very strong voice and the power that she possesses is incredibly impressive. She performs these big numbers that you’d expect to find on Broadway or in a speakeasy in the 1920s, and are great examples of comedic and musical dexterity.

This stand-up routine is very entertaining. It lacks some energy, but this is mostly due to the style that DeCotis employs that utilises more outrage in her delivery than clear cut comedy. The songs themselves are incredible and this is where her strength lies.... Click Here For Review

September 1, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Dr. Bonk's Macarbaret

The show, hosted by Edinburgh’s only living plague doctor, Dr. Bonk (played by Eliott Simpson), is a cabaret that promises “laughs, scares, and gore galore in this madcap hour of madness.” Dr. Bonk is a plague doctor who has been working for over 400 years with a terrible track record, leading to many jokes about the deaths of his patients and some hilarious gags involving body parts. A voice is given to him through an unseen narrator, as it’s a bit difficult to speak with a plague mask on! Dr. Bonk is constantly jumping around, sometimes even “taking care” of audience members with a stethoscope and other medically-themed props. Click Here For Review

September 1, 2023    Chortle

Review of Eleanor Conway: Talk Dirty To Me

Outspoken, and by British standards, bracingly candid about sex, Conway has the wit, relatability and physical skills to fully convey the ridiculousness of the act and the preliminary farce of modern dating. Initially at least, the darker aspects of the patriarchy overwhelms her comedic intent though. And she's better equipped to tackle the bigger picture when she puts her own experiences front and centre.... Click Here For Review

September 1, 2023    The List

Review of Eric Rushton: Not That Deep

Eric Rushton is a comedian that sneaks up on you. Not literally, which is a blessing considering he’s performing in one of the more dungeon-like rooms around town. Instead, his unassuming demeanour hides a wealth of cleverly-crafted gags and well-written witticisms. Rushton is a meek individual, a fact that he doesn’t shy away from here. At one point it’s difficult to hear what he’s saying due to another show in the venue blasting out ‘Gangnam Style’. But Rushton handles this, as well as a near constant stream of latecomers, with ease.

Not That Deep centres around Rushton’s claim that he has ‘no opinions’ aside from being ‘the only openly dolphin-hating comedian’ on the circuit. But this chronic apathy is merely a launchpad for a series of hilariously offbeat observations from the Birmingham-based comedian. A little more variation would not go amiss across an hour and there are a few clunky bits of material, but the audience certainly doesn’t lose interest at any point.

Rushton is definitely one to watch, and comedy industry insiders clearly agree; he recently won the inaugural Sean Lock Comedy Award from Channel 4 and is a past Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year. Click Here For Review

September 1, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

Eliott Simpson: (A)Sexy and I Know It is an hour of standup from Eliott Simpson, whose style of standup is unrelenting jokes. There is not a single second wasted as Simpson launches into joke after joke, sometimes with props, other times with audience interaction. Within minutes, it feels like you have known Simpson for years. They are not afraid to get personal quickly, especially in a show themed around sexuality. Simpson’s explosive energy grew a bit overwhelming at times in such a small venue, but I would rather have someone have an overflow of energy than not enough.... Click Here For Review

August 28, 2023   British Comedy Guide

Article about Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe 'n' Stuff

British Comedy guide-Feature/Review

An anarchic clowning act more developed and skilled at working her room in the face of initial pessimism and confusion is Cheekykita. An Octopus, The Universe 'N' Stuff often feels like dress up madness taken to the edge. Like last time you visited your eccentric aunty's house you had a bit of a giggle mucking around in the laundry basket and this time she has arranged and prepared a full scale production of misappropriated fabrics and elaborate costumes... and you were only meant to lend her your dad's drill and get back home for your tea. A fly who will haunt your dreams. A shark trying to be a nice fun guy until the Jaws theme kicks in. An octopus being stalked by a smitten documentary maker.
The wonder is experiencing over an hour the audience gradually binding. From a few couples bolting out the door when they realise what they've have walked into during the opening sections... morphing into a conclusion where all those who committed are unified into being an active part of a makeshift cosmos and singing uninhibited at the top of their lungs. We started in chaos and doubt, a strange woman mucking around in her sofa comfies, then we work our way up from irritating insects to intelligent sea creatures, and keep expanding into the infinity of creation. Like stepping through 2001: A Space Odyssey's stargate, only the portal is above the Three Sisters meat market mega pub. It is a journey. The ultimate trip where someone spends five minutes with a dotty bra over their eyes.
Dada. Punk. Cheekykita. Click Here For Article

August 27, 2023    Theatre and Tonic

Review of Character Building Experience

I had the absolute joy to watch Sasha Ellen’s Character Building Experience, Sasha is a talented comedian, actor, writer and professional DM and her show, Character Building Experience, is a great introduction to those unfamiliar with tabletop top role-playing games to see first hand just how quickly they become unhinged ramblings as opposed to controlled, linear narratives.

This, of course, isn’t entirely the fault of Sasha, but as usual, the blame lies at the feet of her players, in this case, a cast of fantastic comedians and actors who take great joy in doing anything but actually progress the story where possible.

Sasha and her cast take us on a short, self-contained adventure through the medium of (a rules light) Dungeons and Dragons game where the focus is very much on improv, comedy and storytelling as opposed to dice rolling. In fact, there is only one dice in use and it is rolled by Sasha to determine the outcomes of any given action. From what I understand as well, the story presented by Sasha is different for each show (which is no mean feat with a new show each day) and while the narrative is simple, it is still structured and interesting, highlighting her talent as a writer and the casts as improvisers.

A massively enjoyable microcosm of the D&D experience as the DM struggles in vain against the whims of their players who ultimately tell the best story possible because it’s the one they created as a group. You can tell the cast is genuinely enjoying the show as well, which makes it easy to sit back and be immersed in the chaos. My only complaint is that I could have watched them for another 2 hours, so I’ll just have to try and catch the show again.

A fantastic show for both those familiar or otherwise with D&D, check it out if you can. Click Here For Review

August 27, 2023    Theatre Weekly

Review of Sid Singh: Table For One

Sid Singh: Table for One played to a sold out crowd (which is always impressive for the Free Fringe) making us chuckle from the off as he himself was corralling the crowd and ensuring everyone had a seat. “It’s just an hour of me seating people, really” he good-naturedly quips as we sense the time to begin is near.

Then we get a truly remarkable set. Living up to the promise that he’s not going to make his show a ‘fish out of water’ tale about being of Indian heritage, instead leading us amusingly around the comedy streets of his life; from family life growing up in super liberal California to having to balance his love of comedy with his fierce desire to engage in politics and law.

Halfway through Sid Singh: Table for One my brain tricked me into thinking I was watching a commissioned Netflix show, he was that slick, that sharp, that in-flow with his material (not that he wasn’t capable of tangents – he had some genius moments off piste) and that tuned in to the comedic zeitgeist that I could imagine him successfully filling much, much bigger venues.

Singh somehow has mass appeal and yet gets away with swearing like a trooper and positioning most of his material in a place that’s openly courting the disdain of anyone too right wing.

There’s a strong message here too; also perfectly pitched. You don’t feel bashed over the head with his plea for us to “do the bare minimum” to make the world a better place but you do hear it loud and clear.

Non-stop laughs from a comedian who is destined for big things. Sid Singh: Table for One is the highest quality comedy show I’ve ever seen on the Free Fringe. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    World Magic Review

Review of Tangled d'Illusions

A talented French-Irish edfringe newcomer, Yvan Zim presents his Tangled D’Illusions show in a pleasantly central basement bar. He’s a skilled magician and presents new interpretations of many classics. If there’s no real theme, most of the audience is too awestruck to notice.

There are many highlights in the magic that Zim performs. If rope tricks are often considered less inherently interesting, Zim’s incorporation of his software development background and inclusion of other props makes his a bit more fun. The audience participatory element is especially well handled, he gently teases and encourages those who help him trim his rope. An effect involving eggs also gets a lot of the audience involved from their seats, although ethical vegans may want to avoid lending Zim any possessions. And anyone who has ever been vaguely disappointed by the lack of violence usually involved when magicians “cut” a deck of cards will be overjoyed by how Zim concludes his show.

Some of Zim’s tricks could be benefitted by a bit more care going in to maintaining the illusion of magic. There’s the occasional point where Zim appears to be examining chosen audience cards before he places them back in the deck, or where he seems to be tipping himself off to the location of his special item within supposedly randomized envelopes. It’s not every trick, and his skills are still impressive enough, but it’s something that might be worth working on.

A lunchtime show at a venue that evidentially does not have an age restriction, Zim has plenty of young children in the audience. He’s great at getting them involved on their terms, choosing children to join him onstage who actively volunteer. A young participant for a card trick at the reviewed show was adorably enthusiastic. Zim had her climb up on a stool (after getting her grown ups’ permission) so she was about the same height as him. They had a great rapport as she helped him shuffle the deck and find her friend’s card.

Tangled D’Illusions is a pleasant way to spend an hour. It’s not especially designed for kids but is definitely family friendly, and Zim himself is great with all ages of participants. As part of the Laughing Horse festival it’s easy to turn up without a ticket, a great option for those who find themselves looking for entertainment around lunchtime. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Absolute Chaos

There has never been a more fitting name for a show in the history of shows. Chaotic Scotsman Stuart uses his infectious energy to encourage audience members to heckle his varied lineup. While the lineup is mostly comedians, there is the occasional clown or musician. This is a show for the audience member who’s just been itching to heckle—the comedians love it … and they might even heckle you back. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of PG Hits!

A comedy show for kids? The Edinburgh Fringe is one place where that’s a possibility. This show invites parents to bring their kids for some “PG” comedy. While some performers have kid-friendly sets under their belts, others are trying their hardest to keep the comedy above board, which is funny in its own right. Both parents and kids love the show; with a different lineup every day, it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Raul Kohli: Kohl and The Gang

Geordie comedian Raul Kohli picks his favorite comics at the Fringe to give their best ten-minute sets, and audiences will not be disappointed. Raul’s demeanor and charm open the audience up to whatever they might see, and his ability to crowd work can’t be understated. If you’re looking for a good laugh at a reliable comedy show, this is the show for you. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Sid Singh: Table For One

Sid is a master at the craft of comedy—unlike many other shows that are just an amalgamation of jokes, Sid's show has a direct throughline that even ties into his bucket speech. He's an expert in writing jokes that call back to one another, telling a story, and sheer silliness all while being a "political comedian." The audience ate up everything Sid served at his "Table for One" and at the end, we learn that half of all payment will go to the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Europe's Most Wanted!

Likable hosts Oleg Denisov and Igor Mondae set up a safe and welcoming room for Europe’s most coveted comedians. Set at the Raging Bull, an impressive cocktail bar on Lothian Road, Europe’s Most Wanted! brings a hilarious lineup of comedians who can typically only be seen in continental Europe—a fun change from the more well-known comics of London, New York, and Australia. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Not My Audience!

Not My Audience! is a panel show unlike any other. Hosted by the lovable Ollie Horn, the show is exactly what YOU, the audience, make it! Three Fringe performers join Ollie to pitch unlikely national holidays, try their hand at improvised stand-up comedy, and interact with the crowd in a way that puts no pressure on any specific audience members. It's easily a crowd favorite that will keep you coming back repeatedly. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of The All Irish After Party

John Spillane's immediate likability creates a warm ambiance in the room, which makes it safe to play with the audience and his internal dialogue. The self-described Irish madman knows how to draw on the audience's energy and follow through with whatever game or theme the show could become. Having been three times, I cried with laughter every time. John may be the most talented and naturally funny performer at the Fringe ... and he's at the top of his game. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Gremlin Head

Andy Casper is a delight in his debut hour, which has consistently wowed audiences throughout the Fringe. Through hilariously weird bits, Andy depicts what it's like to deal with intrusive thoughts and OCD in a way that's both relatable and unexpected. He does what comedians do best—by playing with the audience's expectations, he's able to say the scary thoughts we've had out loud and make us all feel a little less alone. Andy is easily one of the best rising talents who can't be missed. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of 101 Psychos: We turn Insanity into Hilarity

Host Moni Zhang puts together an expert lineup of unabashed and unashamed comedians who are ready to share their deepest darkest secrets. Every show has a different lineup, but that doesn’t stop Moni from creating a safe and welcoming energy in the room for anyone who wants to feel a little less alone in their own insanity. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of AI Jesus – Peter Bazely with Special Guest(s)

Peter Bazely is keen to lower any expectations, but this evening is playing to a packed house – albeit one of the smallest on the Fringe. You may be expecting some AI. Or Jesus. Fear not, despite being burdened by smart jokes, Peter is committed to keeping us disappointed in a way that’s oddly funny.

A subtly self-knowing misanthrope, who’s either playing a part or very good at being himself, he occasionally checks in with the audience to see if anyone fancies him. The answer is always no. But if anyone was too enthusiastic it would spoil the whole premise – something that Peter is clearly aware of as he masterfully ensures that no one, including himself, gets too enthusiastic.

As audiences for other shows traipse by outside and smile through the window -- “always happy”, Peter tells us – there are brilliant moments where the show teeters on the edge of becoming a full-scale exploration of the desire to compete in comedy, or put on “a show” at the Fringe when it used to be about just trying things out.

Needless to say, these ideas aren’t developed. That would really defeat the point, but despite this it would be a good to see him try. Although obviously not too hard. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Sam's Scriptz!

Sam Jacobsen tells us he’s known for writing award-wining scripts for the three Ss: stage, screen and school assemblies.

Now, he’s here, at the Free Fringe trying out some new ideas. They’re currently in sketch form, in what turns out to be the kind of anarchic one-man sketch-based comedy, with lots of costumes, props and audience participation, that constitute a classic Fringe show delivered at the top of a winding staircase – a bit rough around the edges, but the kind of silly fun that you can’t really experience anywhere else.

Loosely structured around surreal pastiches of popular TV shows, where the familiar genres of daytime, gameshow and film criticism are mashed together with daily life elsewhere – Wilkos, Weatherspoons, BBC cuts – it provides occasional commentary on life and inequalities in 2020s Britain.

Sam, who’s perhaps more confident as a writer than a performer, but is nevertheless giving it a good go, has the air of a young Noel Fielding, as well as a similar taste for weird juxtapositions. Jason Protractorfingers is a highlight. “I think you liked it,” Sam says speculatively at the end of it. “Some of you looked confused, but that’s how I like it.” Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    One4Review

Review of Ron Placone – Balding is Punk Rock

The title of this unbelievably free show suggests Ron is a balding Punk Rocker and the show is going to be based on Punk music but it’s not, Ron is a stand up enthusiastic American Comedian who jumps between comedy and true story events.

To begin with, Ron discussed the grave sites of Jimmy Hendrix and Marilyn Monroe and some of the strange things people do when they visit.
He discusses his thoughts on Cannabis and the time he got some from his friend but when his friends mum catches him with it, the outcome is rather humorous. He further divulges having his 1st Cannabis cookie with his mum and the consequences when his mum took a few of the cookies to work!

Ron then talks about America and how things are so different to here. When CNN sent a reporter to cover Cop 26 climate change in Glasgow, the reporter doesn’t quite arrive on time. Then there’s the time Cocaine was found in the White House, but whose was it and what was the outcome? Comparisons are then made between voting in the UK and presidential elections.

Ron moves on to language barriers and discusses the translation App Dua Lingo with some hilarious outcomes. He also discusses his love for the word ‘Knackered’ and how it’s used in Scotland, however when trying to use the same word in the USA with the assistance of Spell checker, it can somewhat have a completely different meaning with a hilarious outcome!

Ron delivers a worthy and enthusiastic performance that deserved a bigger venue, those that attended this show thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Chortle

Review of Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade

Sasha Ellen is surely bang on the money when she identifies the cognitive dissonance at the heart of modern hook-ups. A generation raised with the internet and stark warnings about steering clear of strangers becomes sexually active at a time when the best way to meet someone is randomly through a dating app, complete with all its filtered, distorted reality.

Though statistically unlikely, it's a serial killer's fantasy made manifest. And that's the nagging thought and subtext underlying all of Ellen's romantic encounters. No doubt there are some absolute psychos out there, like the comedian who set a date for the break-up of their long-term relationship with their ex, right after the 2022 Fringe, and well, really made a date of it. She only has to look in the mirror for that.

There's a fine balance struck here between Ellen’s lived experience of aggressive male behaviour, and her self-mocking side, foregrounding her regrets and rueful accounts of the rough and tumble of meeting weirdos and eccentrics with the hope that they might just be the love of her life.... Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of Comedians and (Similar to but Legally Distinct from) Dragons

Barcelona-based Scottish comedian Stuart Kennedy brings his “thematically similar to Dungeons and Dragons but legally distinct Comedians and Dragons” to Edinburgh for the first time. On Day 1, the show did not get the audience it deserves — with three hilarious comedians, Stuart tries to guide them on a magical quest. But can they do it? Or will they simply use their queefing powers to inflate some “titties”? Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of What Would You Do If That Was You?

To say that WWYDITWY is unlike any other show would be an understatement. Andy Casper takes his contestants on a confusingly hilarious and absurd ride as they compete to win the ultimate prize of … who knows? But we promise it’s worth it. With his charm, snake, top hat, original songs, videos, and even computer games, Andy makes the show a gem not to be missed. Click Here For Review

August 26, 2023    Distractify

Review of 666 Black Widows: The Web of Dark Comedy

Moni once again knows how to compile a lineup. From women who sing songs about sleeping with your ex’s best friend to Jewish women making Holocaust jokes, this show had the perfect balance of femininity and profanity. Every comedian had their own style and experiences, which made this show a hoot for the full room it drew in. Click Here For Review

August 25, 2023    Entertainment Now

Review of Yes-Ya-Yebo!

When tourists from all corners of the globe descend on Edinburgh for the Fringe, the city becomes a hub of the world. There’s no exception in the distances the acts travel to perform their shows. From the from the southern tip of Africa, Yes-Ya-Yebo! bring a troupe of teenage performers who had never flown on a plane before.Once the audience settles, we hear the bellowing voice of a woman singing. Her voice reverberates, welcoming us into into the space.

The troupe fills the stage with a boundless energy, dancing to an upbeat tune of elation. What follows are a series of dances, vocal duets, and some seamlessly presented information on the country they call home, South Africa. The show ended up delivering much more than I could have never imagined. The talent was infinitely prevalent in every single cast member. They each brought a charisma that elevated the show to make it memorable. There was humour, cheekiness and a whole lot of entertainment. There was never a dull moment.


The audience is brought on a passage through the various dialects, sounds and dances of South Africa. With a personal touch at the end, some audience members are brought up to their feet to join in on the party. It is obvious no one wants it to end. The show is brought to Edinburgh by The Imibala Trust, the charity runs a programme in which donors can sponsor an individual through school for seventy pounds. The show is a direct product of the potential the charity has to enable these young kids that possess the ability to take the world by storm. This hour was one most definitely well spent. Click Here For Review

August 25, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Emotionally Unreasonable

This is a rare discovery: a terrific hour of stand-up from a truly gifted comedian and it's not even in the Fringe programme. Maria DeCotis is a New York-based performer who also stars in the effective psychological drama Before the Drugs Kick In at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall. She's very good in it too but it's not her material, this is and you can feel the sheer joy and supreme confidence she has in it.

It's tough to garner a big crowd for an afternoon show - even on the Free Fringe - tougher still to perform comedy to a small audience but when you're as talented as DeCotis you make it work.There's a lovely consistency to her material as it keeps returning to matters of gender - even in foreign languages. She keeps prodding curiously at sexism as if it's some amorphous blob she's just discovered washed up on the beach. It's clearly important to her as she was once stuck in an unfortunate marriage to an Italian man - "still abusive, but in a metrosexual way" - but never, ever forgets to be funny about it. "He would gaslight me - but while moisturising."

All her material carries the ring of truth as she's clearly driven by an endless intellectual curiosity. If this makes for stray observations that might prove uncomfortable for some it just makes them all the funnier for others. There's a constant quizzical quest to push at the boundaries even if it means resorting to musical comedy ("hacky, I know").

Hell, even her songs are good - Lin-Manuel Miranda is a fan - and give the show a neat structure. DeCotis is the best new American stand-up I've seen since Michelle Wolf. Do whatever you can to see her because the next chance you get she'll be starring in her own Netflix special. She's seriously funny and seriously that good. Rory Ford Click Here For Review

August 25, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Martha McBrier: Story-tastic

I am sitting in the Dragonfly enjoying one of their fabulous cocktails and the great privilege of having one of Scotland's greatest gifts to comedy and storytelling create wonder and laughter and sadness and memories just for me. While that is a never-to-be-forgotten experience for me, it is a massive fail for everyone else in Edinburgh who wants to laugh, to care, to wonder and – as a special treat – to judge. This latest hour of enchanting taletelling has a clever twist.

At the end of each of the five stories Martha tells, we, the audience get to adjudicate on whether she behaved, in the story, like a "Good Person”, or a “C***”. The stories are vintage, glorious McBrier, and, as such, all absolutely true. They range through the moral dilemma faced in a battle between Kate Bush and a memory foam mattress, accidental budgicide, Satanism, and death threats from a unhinged student in her lifeskills class.

Some of the stories are harsh, because the times they come from were harsh. I almost felt sorry for Johnny Consequences, even though he was probably a Satanist. You have to listen to the woman herself to hear the music she makes with language. There is a laugh pretty much in every line she utters, and not one of them comes in traditional ‘joke’ form.

This is comedy in its natural habitat, running free through stories and random thoughts. Any one of the tales is worth getting to the Dragonfly to hear, and be prepared for tears as well as laughter. Anyone who knows Cumbernauld is in for some very special moments here. Martha McBrier makes you believe that Thalia actually existed, and that she came from Glasgow. Kate Copstick Click Here For Review

August 25, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Ageing Folks Telling Jokes

Who knew the most glamorous stage on the Fringe is at the Three Sisters? If you want a warm, fun, relaxed and frequently very funny lunchtime show, then this would be it.

MC Mel Byrun is welcoming, friendly, funny and feels comfortably in charge of things. Must be to do with being a grown-up. Leslie Gold breaks new feminist ground with smart, pointed laundry and pocket-based inequalities. Surreal comedian Stylophobia is a revelation. He is utterly delightful, a lovely mix of cleverly inept and unexpectably strange. Yes there is Stylophone-playing involved. But there are also puns aplenty, farmyard impressions and an adorable Rock'n'Roll Rampage that wipes Jimi Hendrix from your memory.

Adam Reilly is a superbly laconic comic. And a receding ginger. Everyone in the room from the wrinklies, through a party of glamorous Horsham Girls, to a couple of fifteen year olds (and their parents) loved his wonderfully “balanced on a sexual razor edge” material. His crafting of each joke, whether a two-liner or longer is superb. I don't think anyone saw his mum's passport coming. Seriously impressive. And all you want to know about smart toilets you will hear from Sharon VS, who closes the hour.

I went to Ageing Folks Telling Jokes because the show I was supposed to see was not on. And this is the joy of the Free Fringes. I just popped in to the next one along and had a fantastic hour. Kate Copstick Click Here For Review

August 25, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Overthinking It

I’m probably overthinking it, so I take the question to a show called Overthinking It. Here, comedians Francesco Kirchhoff and Ori Halevy create jokes from topics anonymously suggested by the audience. After questions on Israel/Palestine, women’s football and identity politics, there’s one about writing a review. However, I’d forgotten that comedians famously hate reviewers and so this sparks a search to find “him”, before my anonymity is eventually shattered and I reveal that I’m a she/her. Why do reviewers have to make things all about themselves, they ask. Who am I? Kate Copstick?

Playing with the mood like the flickering light in the dimly lit bar, and incorporating pretty much every subject the audience suggests, Francesco and Ori construct witty comebacks and improvised asides. As questions repeat, the show becomes a barometer for what’s on people’s minds, as well as which subjects are worth discussing and which aren’t in a way that’s often very funny but also thought provoking. I’m given a job shouting ‘next’ when the jokes run out. It tests my comic timing. Sometimes I’m successful, sometimes I aren’t. Our time together is designed to look conversational, but isn’t, as Francesco points out. It requires creativity that they don’t have every day. I know the feeling. Click Here For Review

August 24, 2023    

Review of Sam See: Government Approved Sex

Sam See: Government Approved Sex – Review

Sam See is not here to make lewd jokes about privates at a public Fringe event. He’s here to educate. So while sex jokes are aplenty, See knows his stuff about the complications of a basic, innately human activity. Us humans know very little about something we call the source of life and pleasure.

A self-proclaimed nerd, See plays to his strengths as a sex educator. He’s a sex nerd in other words. Accompanied by a power point presentation, See interacts with the audience in rounds of sex trivia, that doesn’t hinge on the personal. It’s about statistics, and cold hard facts we don’t normally get in sex oriented stand up. The personal aspect to the show, however, is not non-existent. We get acquainted with See’s personal sexual experience in hysterical detail, as he interlinks fact and advice with anecdote.

This show is certainly a shining example of the excellent quality of free fringe shows. See is an entirely unique character who breathes life into his act that is as hilarious as it is educational. You get the sense See has chosen to educate the masses about sex and relationships because of the genuine desire to promote the happiness and well-being of the people around him. From Singapore to Edinburgh, See has travelled far to share his talent for breaking down a subject that’s easiest to joke about, rather than get to the crux of why society misunderstands something that seems so instinctual.

Thoroughly engaging, the comedian or rather, stand up educator, also manages to maintain a safe-space. One in which we explore love languages, myths and mind-blowing statistics. Though the venue is hotter than hot, I wouldn’t be surprised if See’s warmth and care radiating off of him is the main source of heat. An unexpected gem of the fringe, See provides what we didn’t know we needed after having gone through the awkward health classes of our adolescent pasts. Click Here For Review

August 24, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Under the Mirrie Dancers

Brother and sister Vaila and Ewan are waiting for a delayed ferry back to Shetland for their mother’s funeral. In this play by young Shetland writer Juliet Mullay, the delay becomes a space to work out some tough questions about their relationship with each other, their mother, Evie, and the islands where they grew up.

Mullay and Sam Austin-Eames lead a cast of six in this Free Fringe production directed by Tom McGoldrick which also incorporates short pieces of film and Shetland music. It is an uneven piece. Some scenes work better than others, but in the best – at Ewan’s job in the care home, for example – the play truly comes alive.

As well as a place to explore complex feelings – what does it mean to grieve for someone who doesn’t deserve it? – it is about the vexed question of home. Shetland comes across vividly, less in the film clips than in Vaila and Ewan’s love-hate relationship with it. And even once they’ve stripped away the romanticism for the remoteness, starry skies, eccentric locals, the islands are still there, drawing them home. Susan Mansfield Click Here For Review

August 23, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of AL! The Weird Tribute (And How Daniel Radcliffe Got Mixed Up in This Nonsense)

Combining two of his great loves – Weird Al Yankovic and Harry Potter – Steve Goodie creates an all-out musical performance with some killer lyrics and accordion skills. A show for children and adults alike, AL! The Weird Tribute is one you can sing along to, and get a bit raucous at a pre-noon showing.

Stretching Microsoft PowerPoint to its absolute limit, Goodie engages with the cartoon versions of Weird Al and Potter, controlling the slides in just his socks with remarkable pacing.

What results is an incredibly charming show, made all the more intimate by Goodie’s positive energy and rapport with his first-name-basis crowd. Even if you arrive not knowing Goodie, you’ll leave as friends, warmed by his playful energy and musical talents – but don’t let him fool you, he’s a wizard on the accordion as well as the guitar.

If you’re a fan of either Weird Al or Harry Potter – or God forbid both – you’ll love this hour of high-energy entertainment. And while the content depends a little on your knowledge of Yankovic’s back catalogue, Goodie’s performance ensures the songs are kept current with references to TERFs and Twitter.

Goodie can be found promoting AL! The Weird Tribute and his earlier kids’ show Vampire's Ball: Ultimate Halloween Party! across town and is a genuinely lovely guy who deserves Fringe recognition. Click Here For Review

August 22, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Sid Singh: Table For One

Sid Singh, Table For One is a hysterical and uplifting Human Rights informed-comedy, exploring the good which can be done, when embracing a multitude of collective personal skills. Singh is extremely eloquent, ethical and refined in International Politics, exploring the American Administration with astute conclusions.

Singh’s show link describes him as an ‘Award-winning lefty comedian and human rights advocate’ and we see the truth of this, as he is bright and knowledgeable, talking the audience through his formative years studying and surviving across California, New York,and his dedication to world-wide visits for tours, with his connection to his UK life beginning with his post graduate study in Oxford.

One of Singh’s strong messages is not being categorised. He is ok with being a comedian with a strong human rights ethos, working towards supporting the work in distressing immigration cases, as his life experience has given him the necessary resilience. We gather insights into his supportive family life and build up a picture of his upbringing and social network all to hilarious effect.

Singh is a natural comedian, weaving intricate tales of his mission to fight the good fight to support The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, with a mission to “champion the most challenging cases, fights for due process, and promote policies that deliver safety and justice for refugees.” Singh proves it is possible to achieve the seemingly impossible and be ridiculously entertaining all at once. Click Here For Review

August 22, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Best In Class

Founded by Sian Davies in 2018 after she was dropped by an Edinburgh Fringe promoter for having to crowdfund the £1800 audition fee, Best in Class seeks to promote the working-class voices that have historically been kept out of the comedy scene by extortionate costs (and, at times, exclusionary attitudes).

Scores of hopeful comedians auditioned to make the 2023 roster but only a handful were selected; crucially, none of them paid a fee to participate.

Best in Class is wonderfully funny and a true celebration of working-class comedy in the UK and seeks to do just that.... Click Here For Review

August 22, 2023    Gonzo Magazine

Review of Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade

Her one hour show involves stories about an ex-boyfriend and using dating apps, watching serial killer documentaries and giving tips to single men about how they should decorate and furnish their flats, there’s also some funny bits about her bits, and trying to mount her Uber driver, the list is endless! No stone or subject is unturned here, despite it being mid-afternoon! The jokes and gags and quips and add-ons (if there was such a thing) keep coming, and coming, and for every one that misses, well, they’re quickly forgotten about by the two to three that hit the mark right after. Everyone is giggling and groaning with laughter.

When Sasha mentioned at the beginning of her show that she resembled a grown-up child actor (allow me to bring my Haley Joel Osment observation into your conciousness again), or a Primary School teacher, well, she was as right as rain in more ways than one with the latter, because she basically gave us all a one-hour lesson in comedy gold. Yes – comedy gold! The only disappointment was that those sixty minutes went insanely fast. I honestly think we (the audience) could have stayed all day and night to listen to her jest about pretty much anything. She holds your attention like a naughty CBeebies presenter let loose in the wild, and throws in punchlines without obviously telegraphing them. Her show is a par-excellence in the art of making people laugh.... Click Here For Review

August 21, 2023    One4Review

Review of Ian Stone Will Make It Better

Ian Stone has been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe since 1995 so has plenty of experiences in his locker. He has always been a much sought after guest for panel shows both on TV and radio ever since. He obviously has a huge following and long queues outside his venue each day testify, he is very much in demand as a stand-up as well.
Stone effortlessly takes control of the room from the start. His wit on display from the off, audience interactions throughout, and a whole raft of well written and impeccably delivered material, liberally laced with belly laughs, keeps everyone gagging for more.
A lot of his material has a political slant, well there is so much scope there isn’t there, but it’s not just the government who get a pasting, the opposition come under scrutiny.
Uber Arsenal fan Stone has to talk a little football too of course, but religion, AI, his upbringing, daft things that youngsters do, Nicholas Witchell, and US politics also crop up in the all to short hour.
This is a show not to be missed. As part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival, entry is free, however donations at the end should be made. Dig deep you would pay a lot of money elsewhere for inferior fsre. Click Here For Review

August 21, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Yes-Ya-Yebo!

Back In 2012, host of the Edinburgh Fringe showcase ‘Pick of the Fringe’ Mervyn Stutter raised money at his Gala for this charity Imibala – an organisation serving children from impoverished backgrounds in the Helderberg Basin for over two decades. The money raised has made a dream come true for the cast members of this dynamic and vibrant show.

All from the township areas of Lwandle/Nomzamo and areas from Macassar outside Cape Town. Yes – Ya – Yebo! consists of five girls and four boys all around the age range of 16 -24. Not one of these members have ever been abroad or on an aeroplane.

Through the power of song and dance, this performance celebrates the 12 official languages of South Africa; Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.

Through each language comes a different style of song and dance which resonates with the language and area. Afrikaans is clearly effected by Dutch and German influences and seems more upbeat and contemporary, whereas the isiXhosa has a more traditional, folk sound such as such as "The Click Song" which was famously sung at weddings to bring good fortune. As the group meander through the various languages and music; we imagine South Africa; the Rainbow Nation at its heart – a unity of all cultures under one sky living in peace together full of colour and energy.

The highly rhythmic music and use of percussion matched with gentle melody and harmonies spiral and reflect the inner feelings of each part of the country. From duo, romantic melodies sung euphoniously and with a sweet-tone by 19-year-old Sphumeze Gwayana and 16-year-old Goodwill Beliwe to dramatic upbeat group performances of all 8 performing big dance numbers. As the show dynamically moves, we can’t help but sway on our seats with a big smile.

A particularly impressive moment when the three boys (all 16/17 years old); Ahlume Ndonegi, Dondre Colberg and Goodwill Beliwe do a gumboot dance which was originally a means of communication amongst miners who were forbidden from talking to one another. This is an example of the subtle subtext to each episode of this show. The three utilise the concepts of polyrhythm and total body articulation with every movement making it a spectacle to watch.

Director and choreographer, Mnayemezeli Sylvester Magqabaza entwines the various high energy dance sequences with thoughtful speeches with references to going from rags to riches and Nelson Mandela.

Yes – Ya – Yebo! is not just an ode to a beautiful country and its people but it is an example of the life changing power of theatre. All ten of them are natural born performers, it is a moment for a group of young adults to use their voice and bodies to express themselves and experience the world.

This is a celebration of something much bigger than just a show and will give you a spring in your step when you leave. Click Here For Review

August 21, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of One Night Stand Baby

Thor Stenhaug’s Grateful For The Opportunity is a brief overview of his life in Norway and the United Kingdom as he comments on his relationships and the culture shock that he has experienced in this country.

Stenhaug dissects the cultural differences and living standards between the UK and Norway, remarking upon them with the occasional mock outrage and playing the part of someone acclimatising to the country. In this way, he takes a step back and analyses the UK cultural and social context whilst poking fun at inconsistencies and ridiculous experiences that he has had in both countries that encapture the cultural zeitgeist of the time. Throughout the show he compares life in the UK and Norway, constantly rehashing the numerous differences between the two and making fun of the difference in living conditions and standards within the two countries. He plays it quite safe with his material, and although he does share a couple of embarrassing stories, he doesn’t reach too far outside of his comfort zone for inspiration. Taking on a deprecatory tone, Stenhaug very much follows the ‘write what you know,” maxim in his comedy show. The segues between bits need a little work, as the material doesn’t always connect together. It’s held together by the appearance of an introduction to who he is, but doesn’t always flow together as a cohesive narrative.

Grateful For The Opportunity is a measured comedy show that is suitably entertaining as we laugh at the difference between Norway and the UK that Stenhaug light-heartedly mocks in an altogether very real way. This show is a bit of much-needed light relief. Click Here For Review

August 21, 2023    The Edinburgh Reporter

Review of Sam's Scriptz!

Jacobsen’s audience interactions were excellent, with some nice impromptu stuff. There was genuine wit in some of his off the cuff remarks. One highlight was his absurdist take on superhero films: Deliveroo Man – half man, half takeaway. Dressed in a deep pan pizza suit, this was a particularly entertaining segment. Another successful part involved us creating prime minister’s questions, trying to reproduce the guttural noises used in that political bear pit. That was perhaps the most effective part of the show. Click Here For Review

August 20, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Daniel Muggleton: How The Whitey Have Fallen

Dryly sardonic Australian comic Daniel Muggleton is invariably a safe booking at the Fringe, with his roguish observations and candid anecdotes the basis of some supremely strong, waggish stand-up, even if he can't quite sustain the quality over a full hour. With a take-me-as-I-am insouciance, he opens by casually relating the passive activity he recently took cocaine for and gets good mileage out of noting the awkwardness of staying in budget accommodation as you creep towards middle-age, leading into some unapologetic musings on masturbation that are almost whimsical. Having previously lived in the UK, he finds the much-touted British pride in queuing risible, not least as it belies our historically impatient rapaciousness. But he’s satirically sly on the limits of Australian reparations to its indigenous population too. Fond of a provocative wind-up, his tongue-in-cheek suggestions for improving the gig economy and tackling the homeless problem are wittily ingenious, his cynicism bracing. He overreaches with a routine about pole dancing being cultural appropriation, though, the bit feeling forced and a crunching gear change after his relation of some exceptional racism on the US public transport system. Aware of his privileges, Muggleton nevertheless has the daring to play with them and explore sensitive subjects with artful intelligence and confidence. Click Here For Review

August 20, 2023    One4Review

Review of 101 Psychos: We turn Insanity into Hilarity

Comedy show, part of the Free Fringe, showcasing a selection of comedians with diagnosed mental health conditions. They bravely discuss their condition, how it affects them daily but making it fun to listen to.

The compère, Moni Zhang, was fun and energetic throughout. She advised she had recently changed the name of the show due to comments, that the show made people feel bad when they came out. That was certainly not my experience.

The venue provided a very hot, snug atmosphere where there is no where to hide from being involved in the show. I found it inspiring to those suffering from anxiety performing as this would indeed be a triggering experience. However, each performer delivered their material well.

The comics covered a wide range of mental health conditions – anxiety, OCD, ADHD, bipolar 1 and depression. They spoke about medication and treatments, putting funny spins on their experiences. Suicidal thoughts covered very delicately through certain material and all from personal histories.

Not once was it felt that the show was being disrespectful to these conditions. It was peoples own experiences and coping strategies that made the show stay away from being viewed as offensive. The show was full and people turned away at the door. So get in early if you want to see people with mental health diagnoses turn their experiences into comedic material. Click Here For Review

August 20, 2023    Entertainment Now

Review of Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out Of My Head

Olaf Falafel entertains the audience through a series of silly and witty jokes. It is a wonderful muddle of stories, jokes and games that fall out of his head.

Falafel is a great comic and you can tell he’s got his multiple years of experience on his side. He knows what Fringe audiences want and he consistently provides through the show. This show goes above and beyond and you can tell just how much passion Falafel has for his shows throughout. With an audience game of pass the parcel, an interactive guitar hero style game there are many ideas to keep the audience engaged and entertained.

Throughout the show there are some very funny moments, biscuit horoscopes, mic mindreading and some little jingles to name a few. However a few of the one liners and jokes are ones I’ve heard before. However Falafel is a very compelling performer and this shows layout and concept really helps to bring that out even further.... Click Here For Review

August 19, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of The Church of Princess Cassandra

Is it a secret meeting or a show? A piece of comic theatre, or a call to an action that you might later regret? At the start, it feels like a classic Free Fringe performance: we’re putting on fake moustaches and sunglasses. By the end, we’ve been transported from the golden gloom of an underground bar to somewhere significantly darker. It begins, like all great comedy, with a speech delivered from behind a lectern. Its charismatic orator is comedian-turned-playwright Lucy Frederick who, wearing blue eye shadow like war paint, rallies us to seek revenge for the treatment of Cassandra, a woman who isn’t believed for the things that she says and a figure that you may be familiar with from Greek mythology, or real life. This is after all, not so secretly, a piece about eradicating prejudice, including in ourselves.

Joined by Robyn Perkins and Alice Frick, who you’ll perhaps recognise from the world of stand-up, and Emma Berryman, who risks stealing the show from the side-lines as Patrick Swayze, there’s tea, biscuits and opportunities to share in what could be a self-help group, a cult, or a franchise – like an Avon party but with more blood. Just when you think you know what to expect, something that feels disconcertingly like a verbatim monologue pops up. And then another one. They’re excellent – moving and macabre, like Alan Bennett meets Tales of the Unexpected. Calls for help regarding a wayward son are unanswered by “the social” in a touching piece delivered by Mr. I Had the Time of My Life, and some ornamental fish risk becoming the victims of a vigilante violence. Can such behaviour ever be justified? What if nothing else is working? By the end of the show, the venue has melted away and it’s not just laughter but tension that fills the room. Sally Stott Click Here For Review

August 19, 2023    Ed Fringe Review

Review of Sascha LO: Brat

This is an excellent evening of comedy, and one which left me feeling altogether empowered, thoughtful and truly laughed out. Click Here For Review

August 18, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of James Cook: Anonymously Viral

A huge amount of fun and laughs are to be had with James Cook’s new stand-up show, Anonymously Viral. I consider myself to be a bit of a comedy snob, having consumed far too much of the stuff over the years, and now only the best and cleverest jokes really tickle me. But I was treated to a genuine laugh every ten seconds for one speedy hour while watching this routine.

What I particularly love about Anonymously Viral is how very focused it is on the one bizarre event in Cook’s recent past. He introduces us to a single satirical tweet he posted in September 2022, and then gives us a hilarious tour of its journey to becoming a viral sensation.

With the help of the screen behind him, we get a visual story that navigates a world of internet trolls, thieves, and snipes from commenters who simply did not get the joke. James Cook has struck gold with this theme and it makes for rich ground upon which he crafts a vast array of brilliant comments on the nature of social media and the funny differences between the platforms. The audience was loving it and we were rarely free from lingering giggles.

If you’re not well-versed in the ways of Twitter, Facebook or TikTok, never fear. A brief explanation of every internet phenomenon is woven seamlessly through the jokes so no one feels left out. And if you tend to get nervous at the prospect of a comedian picking on you or making fun of you, you can rest assured that James Cook’s comedy stylings are friendly and welcoming, and you won’t get put on the spot. As a very down-to-earth performer, he has an appealingly medium-dry wit that pairs well with the subject matter.

Anonymously Viral is a stand-out show of excellent quality that I highly recommend you catch before it goes viral. Click Here For Review

August 18, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Henry Ginsberg: Cuddle Slut

Henry Ginsberg is an interesting performer. His hour spends comedy time in unexplored areas, and when he does hop on the well-trodden pathways, he does it differently. This is an impressive hour. Henry is heteroflexible (he will explain) with a clever and fresh load of funnies on the subject of sexuality, just at the point in the Fringe when one feels there is nothing more to be said.

His hour mixes terrific, fresh short-form material with some longer form. But all of it is really good, solid, smart stuff and Henry is an endearing performer. Health and 'inventive bullying', a delightful section about working at Wembley (with a serious killer two liner to top it) and quite a lot about porn create that lovely feeling of giggling your way through an hour. Click Here For Review

August 17, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Sex and Drugs and Getting Old

Andy Zapp is a bit of a revelation. His Sex and Drugs and Getting Old offers gloriously daft, old school laughs on the subject of all three, with harmonica breaks. Andy shares the bits he can remember of a life lived to the full. We get a load of fun and jokes, marvellous 'confessions' (pissing in the sink, boys?) and tales of his adored wife Barbara, crammed into an hour and delivered with an energy and zest that normally would suggest a gift from Columbia. But Andy has been straight for decades. This is all natural joie de vivre, and it is utterly adorable. Click Here For Review

August 17, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Can You Put This in the Bin For Me?

Can You Put This In The Bin For Me? is a mixed bill, international comedy show. It is advertised as a foursome of international comics at their best. I subsequently learn that it has, since the programme went to print, lost a comic and is more of a work in progress compilation. It is most definitely worth seeing. We get Ori Halevy who is an Israeli Jew now living in Germany, an Italian-German called Francesco Kirchhoff, and an intriguing mystery woman called Magdalena, of indeterminate origin. It is an unexpected mixture and a fascinating show.

Ori Halevy is a commanding presence onstage. And closer to the edge of racist than any comic I have seen in a long time. But he is only having a go at Germans, and he is Jewish, so that seems to make it all ok. He tells me later that the Germans themselves love his material. He is like no comic I have seen, and, despite myself, I want to see more.

Francesco does not start well but really gets into his stride with smart, risky but proper comedy about fascism. Francesco has done his history homework and fans of Julius Caesar will be thrilled. We also get yodelling as a weapon in the war against Nazis, TikTok and Gen Z. This is an impressive set. Our special Guest is Magdalena the Fortune Teller. This is unexpectable, clever, ridiculous but great stuff, crystal ball and all. I have laughed more in an hour, but I am so glad I saw this show. Click Here For Review

August 17, 2023   The Scotsman

Article about Old Jewish Jokes

Back in the maelstrom of Bristo Square, a lone, dedicated Fringe legend swims against the tide of commerce to offer passers by three jokes for £1. Proportionately, nowadays, that is rather a good deal. Especially as the joker is Ivor Dembina. It is an absolutely delightful experience and set, as it is, against a background of eye-watering expenditure in the Underbelly Megabar, Dembina's show gives its audience not just laughs (three at least, more if Ivor does some crowd work to kick things off), but the wonderfully quasi-subversive frisson that comes from knowing that you are part of the fight to Make Edinburgh Fringe Again. Click Here For Article

August 17, 2023   BBC Radio 4 front room

Article about Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe 'n' Stuff

BBC Radio 4 Review

Its Brilliant Click Here For Article

August 17, 2023   Edinburgh Evening News

Performers will be honouring a stalwart of Laughing Horse’s “Free Fringe” this Thursday following the death of Lydia Mason at the age of 40.

The comedy producer was known as director Alex Petty’s “vice-admiral” due to her involvement with its venues and performers over the last decade.

Petty, a close friend for 30 years, described her as a champion of mental health support for acts across the Fringe landscape.

Close friends Vladimir McTavish and Jay Sodagar will be hosting a tribute edition of The Early Late Show from 2.35pm, which will also feature guests including Mike Shepherd and Katharyn Henson, with all proceeds going to the UK Sepsis Trust. Click Here For Article

August 16, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of Eleanor Conway: Talk Dirty To Me

Conway is a vivacious performer who does not shy away from the grotesque. Her style borders on absurdist, but she does nothing but ‘keep it real’. Amongst the craziness is some poignant feminist commentary that is earnest and insightful. Her unhinged persona is very fun to watch, and the unpredictable nature of her material works to her advantage by catching the audience off-guard with uninhibited sexual content.... Click Here For Review

August 16, 2023    Chortle

Review of Eric Rushton: Not That Deep

Birmingham-based Rushton is an inspired, offbeat writer and a comic who knows his craft. His work is often rooted in the mundane or the deconstruction of everyday tropes such the ‘preaching to the choir’ cliché, insisting that phrase should not evoke an easy crowd at all.... Click Here For Review

August 16, 2023   Entertainment Now

Love for Lydia: Free Festival Performers To Hold Memorial Gig

Performers at the Free Festival are organising a benefit in honour of comedy producer Lydia Mason, who died on August 11, aged just forty.

Mason had been involved with the Free Festival since 2019 and had been a close friend of organiser Alex Petty for thirty years.

Acts including Vladimir McTavish, Jay Sodagar and Katharyn Henson will be performing at a memorial gig on Thursday August 17 – with more events planned later in the festival.

Free Festival founder Alex Petty said: “I’ve been devastated for the past few days and so have many acts.

“Lydia had the ability to instantly connect with people, empathise and support everyone. She was brilliant, kind and supportive of everyone she met.”

Lydia Mason, along with Dave Chawner, was instrumental in securing funding for mental health support for performers at the Free Festival and the wider Fringe.

She helped develop the Free Festival and was involved with many aspects of its running – and was due to take part in this year’s Fringe when she was taken ill.

Alex Petty said: “I’ve had a number of acts in tears when they found out. Lydia has been such an important part of the Free Festival in Edinburgh and only a few months ago we were working together on the Brighton Fringe. I can hardly believe it.’

The gig – The Early Late Show – in honour of Lydia Mason will be at the Three Sisters in Cowgate on Thursday August 17 at 14:45. It will raise money for the UK Sepsis Trust, with all money raised being matched by a donation from Laughing Horse.

Further events are being planned, both in Edinburgh and London in honour of Lydia, for friends, performers and family.

Show information:

The Early Late Show

Thursday 17th August

2.45pm-3.45pm in Maggie’s Front Room @ The Three Sisters, Cowgate

Tickets – Pay what you can: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/early-late-show Click Here For Article

August 15, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Disabled Cants

There are many reasons for handing out stars. And with a show that changes every day it can get tricky. The comedy here – from a revolving lineup of disabled comedians and friends – is not the slickest you will see and it does not push many comedic boundaries. But the atmosphere in this little room is wonderfully relaxed and friendly, and that is a huge plus in a Fringe that is frequently neither. The comedy is honest stuff and MC Benny Shakes' crowd work – especially with the carees and their carers in the front row – will not find its like anywhere else in Edinburgh. The material here is personal, sometimes darkly so, and that gives it heft.

Emerson Young is sweet and occasionally filthy, which is a killer combo, Ian Younghusband is a mine of information on how to have sex with a broken neck and “stupid hands”. Fans of Miley Cyrus will never see her the same way again. Mark Nicholas has impressive skills with audience interaction and carves laughs that you don't see coming out of incest. The hour you spend with these guys is fun as well as funny and its relaxed approach is, I believe, the way forward for differently abled comics to go. I hate to quibble with a carefully thought-through title, but these guys definitely can. Kate Copstick Click Here For Review

August 15, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Rizal Van Geyzel: Arrested

This is an impressive hour from a genuinely engaging performer. It is a clever mix of politics, Islam, storytelling and a slew of funny and fascinating stuff about South East Asia in general (and Malaysia in particular). Van Geyzel is a terrific comic and a wonderful storyteller, warm and so likeable that you cannot imagine why he would be arrested and his hugely successful comedy club shut down. So he tells you. And it is quite the tale. Although it does involve being charged with sedition and spending time in the cells. However, in Rizal's comedy hands, it is much less traumatic than you might think. Rogue swingers and trending on Twitter lighten the drama. Open mike nights, you will learn, are more dangerous than they look. This is probably the most genuinely international show you will see. We get a comparative analysis of audiences Chinese, Indian and Malay and we learn about the Fillipino problem with the letter 'f', the Malay problem with mixed race marriage and Rizal's problem with toilet roll. His account of, on his first trip to London, going to mosque and hearing the Koran read in cockney Arabic is lovely. The entire show is fresh and funny. Kate Copstick Click Here For Review

August 15, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Comedians and (Similar to but Legally Distinct from) Dragons

3.8 stars

Comedians and (Similar to but Legally Distinct from) Dragons is a D&D improv comedy show in a bar basement in front of a live audience. The show relies on the audience’s agency and the power of the imagination, rather than fancy tech, to create a truly immersive experience. This makes it one of the best RPG-structured improv comedy shows I’ve seen this year.... Click Here For Review

August 15, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade

he primary school teacher vibes don’t end here,” Sasha Ellen jokes lightheartedly at the start of When Life Gives You Ellens, Make Ellenade. This show is filled to the brim with dry mockery presents a bleak picture as Ellen pokes fun and speaks to hard truths about the heterosexual dating scene.... Click Here For Review

August 15, 2023    The Scotsman

Review of Deage Paxton: Impersonable – Free

The room is absolutely rammed, which is marvellous to see, and pretty much none of the audience opt to hear clean jokes (we are asked which we prefer). Deage is, he says, from Newcastle, a middle child and, as if that wasn't bad enough, a ginger. His show is packed with nice one-liners, kicking off with opera, cotton buds and masturbating in the shower, just to get us warmed up before getting stuck in to Poundland, weed and a fearless dig at fat children. He is an engaging presence and the comic energy here never flags, which is impressive, in a Fringe where so many have opted for the much less labour-intensive monologue about their inner selves. Paxton offers up Wetherspoons and yoga, algorithms and women's football, orgasmic births (yes, this is a thing) and aliens. This is a straightforward, fun hour of funny, and there is less of that about than you might think. Paxton does not give anyone a hard time to get his laughs except perhaps Biggie Smalls. And he is already Notorious. Impressively, pretty much the entire room has come along because they were flyered by the man himself. And I don't think any one of us is disappointed. Kate Copstick Click Here For Review

August 15, 2023    Ed Fringe Review

Review of Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out Of My Head

Though the performance has a set structure, revealed to the audience at the beginning, Olaf Falafel is able to improvise when things go wrong or an audience member messes up The Blue Danube Waltz (yes Jeanette, I’m talking about you). There is lots going on, with clever one-liners and outside-the-box gags and puns for all ages to appreciate; indeed, not one joke failed to land, with at least some of the audience bound to know who Angela Lansbury is. It’s pure silliness -- make sure to arrive early to make sure you get in and maybe you can have your mind read by Olaf too.... Click Here For Review

August 15, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out Of My Head

Do you like puns and terrible, terrible dad jokes? You’re in for a treat. To quote Olaf himself, “You’ve groaned at every single one [joke] but you love them, don’t you?” Indeed, not matter how cheesy they may be (sometimes literally, as seen in a few rounds of “Cheese of Truth”), Olaf’s jokes never failed to make me laugh, even if a few jokes made me groan as well.

...

Ultimately, Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out of My Head is a fun show that will have you obsessed with Olaf’s absurdist humour and maybe leaving feeling just a little bit better about the world around you. ... Click Here For Review

August 14, 2023    The Wee Review

Review of Best In Class

The brilliant Best in Class initiative was founded by Sian Davies in 2018 as a means of combatting the systemic difficulties facing working class acts trying to break into the industry. Working on a crowd-funding basis, Davies and her team have set up a yearly revolving line-up (Pandemic permitting) of acts to take to the Fringe – the apotheosis of this inequality – as a showcase. Previous acts have included Tom Mayhew, Lindsey Santoro, Jordan Grey, and Tamsyn Kelly. This evening sees three of the class of 2023 take to the stage, and providing a very fine show.... Click Here For Review

August 14, 2023   British Comedy guide

Article about Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe 'n' Stuff

longlist (ish)Edinburgh comedy awards

An Octopus, The Universe n stuff long listed with 19 shows for new comedy award! Click Here For Article

August 14, 2023    Everything Theatre

Review of SECTIONED

On the dot of 12:15 Poppy Radcliffe bursts into the room and commands the space both physically and emotionally. Sectioned for the first time several years ago, she is here to tell her story, reclaim her narrative, get her life back on track and make some pertinent observations about mental health services along the way. A published poet, Radcliffe slips into rhyming couplets easily and is moving and composed. Her tale is littered with touches of black humour, which bring well-timed relief.... Click Here For Review

August 14, 2023    The Guardian

Review of Cerys Bradley: Not Over Thinking Things 2019

Bradley throws a kids’ birthday bash full of nostalgic fun as they discuss their parents’ recent split, deftly immersing the audience in games and stories... Click Here For Review

August 13, 2023    One4Review

Review of Eleanor Conway: Talk Dirty To Me

Spending an hour with Eleanor Conway is like spending an hour with your (slightly unhinged)
mate. The full house at Laughing Horse was up for an hour of relatable comedy, mostly
aimed at the ladies in the crowd – but I am more than sure the gents went away with a flea in
their ear and maybe some tips on how to put a smile on their missus’ face.... Click Here For Review

August 13, 2023    one4review

Review of Our Place in the World

Our Place in the World ****

a lovely stage presence

awesome Click Here For Review

August 13, 2023    Chortle

Review of Cerys Bradley: Not Over Thinking Things 2019

For their charming debut hour Sportsperson, Cerys Bradley was apparently criticised in some circles for not being mean enough to the audience. But that would be anathema to this performer who always strives to cause as little social offence as possible, and often finds themselves in thought spirals, worrying that they’ve somehow blacked out and sent a text that will ruin their reputation.... Click Here For Review

August 13, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Dorks 'n' Orks – Live!

Despite the risk of swearing, perhaps because it is, I think Dorks ‘n’ Orks is an excellent show to take tweens to. If you have D&D curious kids, then this is a critical hit.

Also, despite my apprehension, The Three Sisters is a fine venue for a tabletop RPG show.

Feeling dorky? I think you consider levelling up and multi-classing to Dorks ‘n’ Orks.... Click Here For Review

August 13, 2023    One4Review

Review of Our Place in the World

If you ever have trouble with transitions from one topic to the next, please seek advice from Luke Connell. We started with rodeos in Texas, ended with an initially underrated 1980s classic pop track, and did so via Wetherspoons, pickled eggs and maths, and the slide from one topic to the next is so seamless you almost don’t realise we’ve moved on until you look back to see where we’ve been.

Mr Connell’s a lovely stage presence, dapper in his jacket and jeans, calm and unperturbed by an audience in a venue smaller than most front rooms. He manages to capture something fundamentally British in his set, but the good bits of that, not the rubbish bits. Solicitous of the audience, explaining bits for the non-natives, and with an easily facility for words and for smoothly connecting ideas and images, he delivers an understated and unassuming set of quiet delight.

We do indeed have lots of ways to say that it’s okay, it’s fine, it’ll do. They’re not appropriate here: this one’s awesome. Click Here For Review

August 12, 2023    One4Review

Review of Rizal Van Geyzel: Arrested

Very few comedians would dare tell the same joke four times (at least!) in the same show, let alone do so successfully, and get funnier each time. Mr Van Geyzel, comedy club impresario, convict, and utter delight, achieves this and delivers an all-round fabulous show.

The thing Mr Van Geyzel has is his energy: both in the sense that he did not falter in that energy or enthusiasm or commitment at any point during the show, but also in the sense of the vibe he has: an authority and control that means you can relax, and leave it to him. This is perhaps unsurprising, given he’s run a comedy club in Malaysia for the last eight years. That comedy club’s the thing that got him arrested.

Rizal tells us he sees comedy as a way of connecting people, and of building bridges, and you certainly get that sense in this show: he’s open and curious and passionate about comedy, as well as having integrity and principles. He’s also got the skills to back that up. He knows how close to walk to whatever line he’s currently flirting with and is willing to take risks – like getting a bit philosophical and meaningful – for justified reward. Great stage presence, engaging performer, and a fascinating story. Click Here For Review

August 11, 2023    One4Review

Review of 101 Naughty Jokes in 30 Minutes

A short but jam-packed performance with a lot of laughter and the use of some interesting props that assist Masai deliver a confident and hilarious in your face 45 minutes of down to the bone naughty jokes. Beware, if you go to the toilet during his show, you will be timed and asked exactly what you were doing whilst in there on your return!

The show has no barriers and Masai lets loose on everyone and anyone, no one stands in his way. Without spoiling the show, his sketches regarding the autobiography’s, his 3 favourite films and the found missing cat were extremely funny albeit at the expense of those involved.... Click Here For Review

August 11, 2023    Chortle

Review of Kevin Precious: The Reluctant Teacher

Determining at the outset that maybe a fifth of his audience are in the teaching profession, like he was, Kevin Precious nevertheless pitches his hour as if he’s doing the entertainment slot at an NUT corporate. It’s an approach that pays out, surprisingly.

At times, his set delivers the very particular pleasure of taking a peek inside a niche meme community – the ins and outs of a very specific topic, as expressed through familiar joke formats. You get the hit even though the concepts of key stages and Ofsted may not mean as much to you as they once did. We haven’t all been teachers but we’ve all come into contact with them, and Precious’s show offers a glimpse behind the curtain.... Click Here For Review

August 11, 2023    Dark Chat

Review of Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe 'n' Stuff

four star review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We are left (perhaps) with a feeling of the importance of silliness in the world with an eye to being kind to it and all who dwell on it.
Catch it if you can, as she is a performer who is funny, warm and engaging, and VERY silly. Click Here For Review

August 10, 2023    Ed Fringe Review

Review of Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror

...Kunze shifts seamlessly from character to character, changing his voice and mannerisms as easily as he changes his costume to match. His performance shifts between that of the central figure – Hollywood actor ‘Mitch’, who is blissfully (and hilariously) unaware of his own ridiculousness – and portrayals of the myriad film roles held by Mitch over the years, which are shown as ‘clips’ throughout the show. Kunze solicits audience interaction where he needs it, either to transform an audience member into a character in Mitch’s life, or to provide a prompt for an improv film clip (on this day, a horror movie called Danger Canyon). However, his engagement with the audience is always on his own terms and for his own purposes, and all happens without Kunze breaking character or losing his flow.... Click Here For Review

August 10, 2023    Ed Fringe Review

Review of Sid Singh: Table For One

...Singh’s delivery is masterful, giving his audience just enough time to make assumptions about what he’s going to say before he turns around and proves them wrong. His jokes are self-deprecating enough to be funny without crossing the dangerous line into pitiful self-flagellation, and his political commentary is in equal parts biting and uplifting.... Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    Three Weeks

Review of Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror

It’s hard to embrace your true self but Michael Kunze has embraced his as a great sketch comedian. In ‘Infinity Mirror’ he plays Mitchell Coony, a famous actor being asked to be more of his authentic self on a podcast. He discusses the roles he’s played, with highlights being Lil Sneezy, a cowboy (our improv character) and the final surprise. Compared to other sketch shows, it stands out with its iconic characters and Michael’s excellent portrayal.... Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    The Edinburgh Reporter

Review of Michael Shafar - Well Worth the Chemo

Free-flowing and irreverent, his humour is imbued with a warmth and approachability that makes it relatable to more than just the millennials who made up a goodly proportion of his audience. By the time he ended his set with a self-deprecating itchy-bum joke – another niche area – Shafar had them in the palm of his (hopefully clean) hand. Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    Ed Fringe Review

Review of Child of Sunday

Riddington’s moving portrait of her family and community shows us exactly what religion should be: a helping hand to those in need, a source of hope and guidance, but never a source of oppression or opprobrium and never an instrument of exploitation. This is absolutely not a show I would have seen had I not been assigned to review it, but I am very glad I did. Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Eleanor Conway: Talk Dirty To Me

4.8 stars

This was my first time seeing award-winning standup Eleanor Conway, so didn’t really know what to expect – but by the time I left, she was my hero.

...

Despite the hot pink publicity photos, there’s nothing Barbie about this anti-patriarchy message from Eleanor Conway – instead, it’s real, visceral, and a bit nasty in places. Highly recommend! Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    The Wee Review

Review of Eleanor Conway: Talk Dirty To Me

Eleanor Conway's return to the Fringe is a triumph, built upon the call for equality in and out of the bedroom.

...

Conway is an animated, commanding figure, brandishing impressively shiny black stilettos matched only by the glint in her eye. She is an infectious presence, but also a powerful storyteller, able to shift her scenes from obscene (but great) jokes to something more sincere without hitting a bung note. There are guffaws and belly laughs aplenty, especially when Conway turns to more risque and outlandish punch lines – situations where too many other comics would fail to rouse a reaction from the crowd.... Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    The List

Review of The Spanish Gentleman Juggler

Children are a tough crowd to please but a wonderful barometer for how entertaining, engaging and well-structured a 45-minute performance really is. In this Free Fringe family show, Kiki Vita’s slick manoeuvres elicit audible gasps and manic screams in both children and guardians alike, proving traditional juggling and object-manipulation routines can still land with 21st-century youngsters.... Click Here For Review

August 9, 2023    Fest

Review of Eric Rushton: Not That Deep

There's far more invention and daring originality in Eric Rushton's best routines than many of his more celebrated and high-profile peers approach in an hour. The Midlander recently won Channel 4's inaugural Sean Lock Comedy Award for embodying the alternative comedic spirit of the late stand-up. And the lineage that implies isn't too wide of the mark.

Rushton perhaps isn't as capable of the cheeky chappie crowd-pleasing that latter Lock was so effortlessly accomplished at. Yet framed by his bespectacled, everyman appearance, working-class horizons and near-deadpan delivery, cracked with an endearing grin whenever a bit truly lands, he's a veritable poet, reconstituting the mundane and commonplace with some truly audacious flights of fantasy.

As part of that lyricism, he's also – despite his show title and more playful, superficial observations – seemingly in direct correspondence with his soul, the abiding routine of this hour relating to his joke-writing, with the bleak conceit that the success or otherwise of his creativity is inextricably linked to his will to live. Whether reinvestigating platitudes like “preaching to the choir” or cliches like swimming with dolphins from oblique perspectives, Rushton's wit tends to be inflected with just a dash of dark insight into his mental health.

Meanwhile, you get the sense of a frustrated romantic, so that even when he inhabits the mindscape of Nicki Minaj or makes a self-consciously awkward analogy between comedians and porn stars, it's reconcilable with him opining on love and the human condition. Understatedly delightful stuff. Click Here For Review

August 8, 2023    Entertainment Now

Review of Ian Stone Will Make It Better

Ian Stone quickly announces that the theme for this show is “basically trying to bring people together” because he feels that we’ve all become a bit polarized.

Cobblers, say I. The theme of this show is basically a stand-up on top of his game being bloody funny.

...

As he says, “Laughter makes it better.”

He’s not pushing any boundaries or reinventing comedy, he’s just being hilarious but that said, I think he might be on to something with his proposal for a food-based immigration policy. Click Here For Review

August 8, 2023    The Wee Review

Review of The Opera Comedy Show

The pleasant strains of Wagner‘s Der fliegender Holländer (The Flying Dutchman, with all due credit to both Shazam and Standard Grade German) sets the tone for the Opera Comedy Show, a fun and accessible introduction to the artform performed by professional soprano Steph DePrez.

If opera is regarded as a niche concern in this country, then a comedy show about opera is niche squared. In other words, pure Fringe. DePrez is seeking to demystify opera, and strip away the thick crust of elitism and pretension which most people assume surrounds it. The charming, voluble singer performs (beautifully) a selection of famous arias from the likes of Tannhäuser, La bohème, and La forza del destino, while breaking down their context and the emotions being experienced by the character she’s embodying.... Click Here For Review

August 8, 2023    Broadway World

Review of Child of Sunday

...There are some genuinely heartfelt and even educational moments within the show: as someone also brought up in the church, it was nice to hear more about the slightly mysterious art form of flag-waving worship – with the key flag colours and manoeuvres outlined to those in attendance, along with Riddington’s humorous alternative names for this cloth-based choreography.... Click Here For Review

August 8, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade

4.2 stars

Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade is part of the free Fringe, and after the gig, I contributed £10 to the show.

Count that as the executive summary if you want because sometimes cash is more elegant than words.

... Click Here For Review

August 8, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Aaaaargh! It's the One-Liner Show

Aaaaargh! It’s the One-Liner Show is a cosmopolitan blend of comedians and quick-fire gags. It’s worth seeing if you want to boost your chances of hearing, live and in person, some of the top ten jokes of the Fringe. Click Here For Review

August 7, 2023    The Edinburgh Reporter

Review of Thorns

Three women on a stage covered in foliage, one dressed in green, one in blue, one in brown. This is the story of Sleeping Beauty, right? So one of them must be the princess who was woken with a kiss and lived happily ever after with her handsome prince.
Well yes and no – but mostly, no.

This is what really happened... Click Here For Review

August 7, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of The Witching Hour

3.2 stars

The Witching Hour wasn’t a scary encounter with some supernatural horrors or women drawing power from dark forces. It felt homely, inclusive and welcoming.

It was funny! The whole line-up brought something to the stage, and the pace we went through each set ensured the audience’s attention was held.

The Witching Hour, I think, is a success and a great way to spot talented comedians to find and watch a whole show with. Click Here For Review

August 5, 2023    Chortle

Review of Ian Stone Will Make It Better

Laudably, Ian Stone says his show might be about bringing people together, given there’s more that unites us than divides us. Except, of course, those selfish bastards like Tories or people who play music on buses without headphones.

Turns out Ian Stone Will Make It Better isn’t especially about unity, or indeed about much at all. But that doesn’t matter a great deal. What the stand-up veteran lacks in depth he more than makes up for in breadth, with a show taking on politics, religion, royalty and many of the other major news stories of the past 12 months – all covered with an insightful directness that cuts straight to the point. Click Here For Review

August 5, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe 'n' Stuff

Five stars review woo!

Birdy didn’t know what to expect from this surreal comedy show from multi-award winning comedian Cheekykita – apart from the fact it involved an octopus! An absolute delight
Quite a large crowd had gathered in Maggie’s Front Room of The Three Sisters in the Cowgate, and my first thought was ‘this bodes well’ as I managed to secure a seat in the front row.
This was my first time seeing the critically acclaimed Cheekykita, and didn’t really know anything about her humour, or what the show was about – effectively, I was going in blind. In fact, when the lights were turned down and we were all told to shut our eyes, I was literally going in blind, too!

Before I obediently shut my eyes, I did see Cheekykita coming out on all fours with some swimming goggles on, as she whispered in a raspy voice to turn out the lights, shut our eyes and ‘shut the door’ all in her English Northern accent. It just got wilder from there, really.
Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe ‘n’ Stuff is hilarious, bizarre and endearing all rolled into one absolute delight of a show. I laughed A LOTThe characters Cheekykita presented to us – and the way they were presented – was a whole lot of fun; my favourites being the octopus and the shark. One of the biggest highlights for me was her use of an audio excerpt from Netflix‘s My Octopus Teacher but telling the octopus’s side of the story.
The other highlight was when the shark came out and was absolutely fabulous with just a hint of JAWS.I say these were highlights, but Cheekykita’s humour and storytelling style meant I was laughing out loud throughout the show, with lots of unexpected moments that left me feeling somewhat like ‘I don’t know what she’s going to say next, but I 100% want to hear it‘.
There was an element of audience participation in the show, but only if you wanted it. And one man very much wanted it! He found himself not only swatting a bee, but also being the octopus documentary filmmaker.parently there was a younger person in the audience, and perhaps a little bit of (debatable) age-inappropriate humour for that person – which was dealt with professionally and humorously, with some diplomatic explaining that yes, holes are for things to disappear into.
The show takes you from the sea, to Cheekykita’s front room, to SPACE!!! And back again. The whole thing was just a little bit mesmerising, and put me in a fantoosh mood for the rest of the evening.
What a whirlwind! I’d highly recommend this show to anyone who likes their comedy more on the bizarre side.
Cheekykita: An Octopus, The Universe and ‘n’ Stuff is a wild, bizarre journey of laughs, octopus thoughts and whimsy.

 Click Here For Review

August 5, 2023    One4Review

Review of Simon Jay: Permacrisis

It’s not permaculture! Not wanting to disappoint any gardening enthusiasts at this year’s Fringe, but you might want to listen up if you don’t wish to have a desert as a garden.

This is Permacrisis, a series of topical stories told by the stand-up satirist Simon Jay from the hilarious 2016 show Trumpageddon. They are back to invite you into their world of what it is to be an autistic, bipolar, non-binary, left wing, queer vegetarian with a side of filthy but eloquent British humour. ... Click Here For Review

August 5, 2023    One4Review

Review of 10,000 Ideas

This show definitely delivers on the title...
There’s no narrative arc to this show – there couldn’t be – but it doesn’t need it because all her stories are worth hearing and her enthusiasm is contagious. She also makes some excellent noises when arguing with technology and this alone was enough for laughter. There is audience interaction here, but as Ms Perkins says, it’s not in her interest to make folk uncomfortable – so she doesn’t. But if you do ask the question, or if the topic comes up, I’m sure you’ll agree, she looks fabulous in that dress. Click Here For Review

August 5, 2023   Chortle

Article about Nathan Cassidy: Amnesia

Dark Comedy

Talk about irony. Midway through a stand-up show called Amnesia last night, all the lights went out.

Nathan Cassidy then had to spend the rest of his Edinburgh Fringe show illuminated only by the torch on his mobile phone. Click Here For Article

August 4, 2023    Edinburgh Reviews

Review of Aaaargh! It's the Monster Stand-Up Show!

A fun, lighthearted show that’s a revolving door of comedians. Aaaargh! It’s the Monster Stand-Up Show provides a great taster of some of best comedy acts of the Fringe. Click Here For Review

August 4, 2023   The Skinny

Article about BattleActs!

Kiell Smith-Bynoe returns to the Fringe

Several improv groups and a stint at an improv-led drama school later, he came to the Fringe with BattleActs! who he’s rejoining this August... Click Here For Article

August 4, 2023    All Edinburgh Theatre

Review of CeilidhKids at the Fringe

CeilidhKids at the Fringe ★★★★★ Perfection

CeilidhKids at the Fringe
August 3, 2023 | By Torya Hughes
★★★★★ Perfection

Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (Venue 170): Thurs 3 – Sun 27 Aug 2023
Review by Torya Hughes

CeilidhKids return to the Counting House with their popular family dances, aimed at providing the youngest audiences with a taster of traditional Scottish dance.

Compere Caroline Brockbank has been running CeilidhKids for around 16 years, after finding a lack of accessible ceilidhs when her own children were young. The company operates in and around Edinburgh throughout the year, even branching out into seated ceilidhs for the elderly and special events for those with dementia. This emphasis on accessibility makes for a very welcoming atmosphere, with no pressure to take part and an emphasis on fun.

CeilidhKids in action. Pic: CeilidhKids

The Counting House Ballroom is a good size for a busy group of dancers, with around 60 children and grown ups in attendance. The suggested age range is 3-7yrs, but there are some young teenagers who are happy to join in, and several babies who seem to enjoy just bouncing along to the music. Although there are some seasoned dancers in attendance, there are also first time participants from as far as China and Philadelphia.

Caroline leads her audience through a series of simple rhythm games to get started, clapping and stamping at first, then patting their bottoms in time to the beat – cue much hilarity from the younger ones! After a warm up, it’s time for the only ceilidh dance using the original steps, a traditional Gay Gordons. As with all of the dances, there are modifications to allow one adult to dance with two children, or to accommodate smaller children who might get tangled up with the original moves.
Giants, Trees and Frogs

There are plenty of other traditional dances included, but in much simpler arrangements to allow everyone to join in. The Swedish Masquerade becomes Giants, Trees and Frogs, with some freestyle jumping at the end, while a Flying Scotsman leaves out some of the more complex moves but retains the basic shape of the dance. The whole thing ends with a variation of the Circassian Circle, thankfully without any of the progression of the original!

Caroline tailors the set perfectly to her young audience, including plenty of water breaks and taking the time to walk every dance through before starting. The music is recorded, but the lack of a live band does not detract from the atmosphere. I took my 5yr old, who said that she liked jumping and spinning the best, and wants to go back again. This is the perfect way to introduce young children to ceilidh. Click Here For Review

August 1, 2023   Fest

Article about Yes-Ya-Yebo!

Top Picks – Cabaret and Variety

Meet a troupe who have never been to the Fringe, or on an aeroplane, as they fly in courtesy of the Imibala Trust – a South African non-profit that works with children in impoverished circumstances. The show celebrates the 12 official languages of South Africa with energetic and authentic song and dance. Click Here For Article

August 1, 2023   Fest

Article about Eric Rushton: Not That Deep

Top Picks – Comedy

For his sophomore show, expect thoughtful stand-up with exquisite one-liners (and, apparently, quite a bit about dolphins). Click Here For Article

July 19, 2023    Broadway Baby

Review of Sam See: Government Approved Sex

Sam See: Government Approved Sex

[REVIEW OF THE SHOW'S PREVIEW AT LONDON'S KING'S HEAD THEATRE]

Relationships, and break-ups in particular, are a common focus for stand-up. The prevalence of the subject has become something of a joke in itself. Sam See’s Government Approved Sex is a new twist, interspersing personal anecdotes with teachable moments, We’re not just hearing about his experiences, but learning more about the subject matter and its applicability to our own lives.

Government Approved Sex is the perfect mix of fun and education. See takes us through a series of panels on love and relationships that he was asked to lead by the Singapore government, using the topics explored to signpost the development of his own. He does this again with the love languages, creating a structured storyline that is entertaining in its twists and turns. Although the show contains often dreaded audience participation, with the rapport that See establishes from the beginning, he puts us at complete ease. We find ourselves wanting to engage with him throughout the show.

The set is a great example of wit and wordplay. There is a gentle rhythm to See’s storytelling, carefully crafted within the hour. Tangents follow a logical path and are often used to expand on certain topics through the data shown. We are able to learn something as See provides commentary that is both insightful and highly funny.

If time passes quickly while you’re having fun, listening to Sam See’s jokes breaks all records. His easygoing, friendly persona makes his set a true escape. It’s easy to forget yourself and get lost in the comedy. He is a very inviting narrator. We see this especially in the moments where he talks about more difficult experiences, but is still able to make us laugh as the tone that he sets from the start does not leave any room for negativity.

Government Approved Sex genuinely tries to teach and inform whilst making light of a difficult topic. See’s good naturedness informs the tone of his comedy and this set is a clear example of his wit and ability to craft a narrative within a comedy show. Sam See is right in saying that Government Approved Sex will make you sore from laughter. Click Here For Review

July 16, 2023    All That Dazzles

Review of Sam See: Government Approved Sex

Review: Sam See: Government Approved Sex

[REVIEW OF THE SHOW'S PREVIEW IN LONDON'S KING'S HEAD THEATRE]

Review by Harry Bower

When the Singapore government commissioned a comedian to write about sex education for television back in 2020, someone somewhere must have guessed it might end up as a stand-up show at some point. Now, Sam See brings his witty learnings and razor-sharp observations to the King’s Head Theatre as part of their Queer Futures season, programme by David Cummings.

The house opens with the performer stood in the space, welcoming people, in a somewhat awkward but gently endearing fashion. A microphone and a projector screen are all that accompany the pint of beer on the stage. By Sam’s own admission, Government Approved Sex is not a traditional stand-up show with one bloke, a microphone, and some jokes thrown in. Instead, this is more like a comedy lecture, though with none of the stuffiness or boredom you might associate with that word.


The structure of the performance is very clever. Sam talks the audience through his time creating content for the Government-commissioned work, and his research and observations about sex and love. Slides are presented revealing the five love languages, and audience members are invited to participate in a Price is Right style higher or lower guessing game about the average age of virginity lost around the world. I love it when reviewers are accidentally chosen for the interaction (I wasn’t far off with my guessing). These facts and figures are really the bedrock which underpin the comedy, and act as grounding. They’re also genuinely interesting, which adds a whole different layer to the performance. By weaving the five love languages between different stages of a story of Sam’s own experience, meeting and falling for Blonde John in Singapore, he adds the deep feeling and emotion required to elevate a comedy routine.

Great observational comedy is relatable, and with the topic of sex, See has struck gold. The hour-long routine is performed with the precision of someone who knows this material inside out, and has honed the timing perfectly. Every self-deprecating joke lands to a reception which ranges from content chuckle to unhinged belly laugh, the performer earning every decibel with his unwavering commitment to this unusual blend of confidence and vulnerability. Despite the audience and space being intimate, See connects with everyone. Queer representation in the piece is exists woven into the fabric of the routine.


This was an hour of very funny comedy with some education and creative storytelling thrown in, by a comedian I am now desperate to see again. It is wonderfully crafted, seamless in its playful blurring of lines between fact and joke. Performer and routine are one, with boundless energy perpetually driving the piece forward to its not altogether predictable ending. Government Approved Sex is back at the King’s Head on 21 July, before an Edinburgh Fringe run. When Sam See makes the move to London in 2024 I will be at the front of the queue to buy tickets for that first gig, and you should be too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Click Here For Review

June 23, 2023    The TVolution.com

Review of Shagadelic: The Origins of Slang Words for Doing It

Shagadelic Review

RECOMMENDED

Dear Professor Richard Fondler (aka Michael Blaha),

Well, that was . . . interesting.

I’m referring, of course, to your one-hour lecture/performance with the catchy title Shagadelic: The Origins of Slang Words for Doing It. When I say “interesting” – which of course in the theater world is an often cringe-worthy word, depending on the tone by which it is delivered — I actually, really, truly mean Shagadelec wasinteresting. I learned so much about the etymology (the study of the true meaning of words) of the many, many, many slang euphemisms for sexual acts. And I like that you delivered your presentation with clever puns, witty asides, and occasional bad jokes.

Through your deep dive lecture, I learned that this unique slang family has roots in many countries and languages, sometimes dating back many centuries. Germany seems to rank high in countries of origin (given the hard “f”s in the language, this comes as no surprise). But you also pointed out the French bon mots —what other culture, but the Gallic, could come up with “la petite mort” (“little death”) for orgasm?

I wish I could go into detail on all your clever asides, your wry jokes, but because this is a public letter, I am restrained by vague notions of “decency,” whatever that means. However, I will share with you two of my favorite moments in your lecture.

For example, you say, to “nail” actually came from sailors’ payments to Tahitian sex workers with, for those in the South Pacific the much-prized Western piece of hardware. But, as you noted, that practice eventually stopped because the ships were falling apart. (Ba-da-boom.)

And the poetic, so-very-British phrase “amorous congress,” used primarily by the Georgian era upper crust when in public, reminded you of what could have been a love letter between Kevin McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Greene. (Ba-da-boom again.)

I must say, Dr. Fondler, that you looked professorial indeed with your bow tie and jacket, which lent you an air of gravitas on a subject that lends itself to anything but. And you appropriately reminded us of the origin of “Shagadelic” – as in, Austin Powers’ “Shagadelic, Baby!” (Whether it was a party, a fun situation, or meeting beautiful women, the Mike Myers character loved to say this phrase.) Click Here For Review

June 8, 2023    Perth Fringe World Fringe Feed

Review of Ew Girl, You Nasty

****1/2
Review by Stu Moore | 11 February 2023
Lewd, crude and depraved but very funny.

Leave your sensibilities at the door and let Katharyn Henson, sassy motormouth from New York City, shock and regale you.

The stories she tells are delivered with smart, energetic wit and seem to derive largely from her life experience, although surely her Dad can’t be that bad?

Among the many topics Katharyn entertained us with were:

A novel suggestion for keeping women safe;
Some ‘highlights’ from her time working in a sex dungeon;
What went through her mind when she first met her husband; and
How she coped with being a Melbourne and then a UK covid lockdown victim.
Some of the material is so shocking you don’t quite know whether it’s ok to laugh but it’s best to put aside any temptation to be offended and simply roll with it, and then laugh some more.

There weren’t any hecklers but judging by her performance I would bet on Katharyn being able to rip any such interrupter to shreds.

A strange thing with Katharyn is that while the material is offensive, the delivery is certainly not nasty (in the traditional sense of the word), despite the show’s title. A times various groups were faced with hilarious but awkward questions, yet somehow it was done with affection, New York City style.

The 6.40pm start time is surprising considering the material, which is definitely of the after-dark variety, but Katharyn just gets on with it. Nothing is sacred or off-limits – dogs, fists, fetishes, perversions all get a crack and invariably crack us up, or if not, Katharyn merely rattles on to the next topic.

It is a privilege for us to get high quality international comedians like Katharyn here in Perth for FRINGE WORLD, so if you like a bit of filth, this show is highly recommended. Click Here For Review

June 6, 2023   The Play's the Thing UK

Article about A Little Killing Hurts No One

 Click Here For Article

June 1, 2023    Chortle

Review of A Little Killing Hurts No One

Debut Solo Review

 Click Here For Review

May 31, 2023   

Article about Filthy Funny Females

Review for Filthy Funny Females Perth FRINGE WORLD 2023

 Click Here For Article

May 30, 2023    EdFringeReview.com

Review of Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

Eliott Simpson: (A)Sexy And I Know It

(A)Sexy and I Know It is an essential show for the Fringe. Eliott Simpson brings audiences originality and authenticity in a comedic scene that is more saturated this year than ever. His show treats the subject of asexuality, and Eliott has joke after joke lined up at an impressive pace in a performance that touches on the endearing and plunges into the hilarious. His show explores what it is to be an asexual man in the current world, a world that, at times, seems to think about little else other than sex. (A)Sexy and I know It is a stand-up comedy show that combines the informative with the wacky and is a refreshingly different addition to your must-see comedy list.



Eliott is such a likeable comedian, and from the moment he comes into the room, he makes it clear that he has his audience’s enjoyment and ease at the top of his priorities. Although some of his jokes touch on potentially tricky topics, Eliott handles them gracefully in a way that makes them funny rather than abrasive: something that not all comedians so successfully achieve. Sometimes stand-up comedy can be uncomfortable to watch, and as an audience member, you feel pressure to laugh, becoming aware of your role in the show’s progression. This is not the case for (A)Sexy and I Know It, as Eliott guides his audience to laugh in a way that’s natural and easy. Moreover, any moments that feel uncomfortable, Eliott uses to his advantage and either bounces off them into another joke or expertly takes them in his stride.



I feel slightly as if Eliott’s venue worked to his disadvantage. Anyone who knows the Hollywood room at Laughing Horse @ City Cafe will know how small it is; if you don’t, think university kitchen size: genuinely tiny. This means that Eliott’s vibrant energy is almost bursting out of the room and because he doesn’t have much space to move around, I felt he had to hold back on his physicality for fear of overwhelming his audience. A larger stage and a little more space would improve this show. Mark my words, Eliott’s energy and vibrant personality could reach the corners of a much larger room.



The true strengths of (A)Sexy and I Know It come when Eliott tells his jokes as his true authentic self, and with a little more practise in terms of pacing (and maybe a room in which he can breathe), this show will become polished in a way that makes it even more fun to experience than it already is. I enjoy Eliott’s style of humour; he uses clever wordplay, and the simple one-liner jokes are hilarious due to their masterful delivery. Come to this show for laughs, learning and everything in between. Click Here For Review

May 30, 2023   Binge Fringe

Article about Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

A Digital Pint With… Britain’s Foremost Asexual Comedian, Eliott Simpson

Welcome back to the Binge Fringe Digital Pub for another pixelated pint with a Fringe star. Today we’re joined by someone who seems to have covered his face in cake… No doubt there’s something to be explored there! Sit down with me and Eliott Simpson for an 8-bit beverage, over which we discuss asexuality, queer intersectionality, perceptions and baked goods.

Eliott is performing (A)Sexy and I Know It at the Brighton Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe this year. Click Here For Article

May 30, 2023   On the Mic

Article about Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

Eliott Simpson Interview

Please tell me about your 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show:

Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know It is the UK’s first ever comedy show about Asexuality, one of the most overlooked branches of the LGBT+ Community. Asexuality is defined as the lack of sexual attraction, and through the show I use stories, puns, props and all manner of absurd silliness to fully explain every funny facet of this little-known orientation. For all my life I’ve been ridiculed for never wanting or having sex, so the show is also about dissecting the misunderstandings and prejudices surrounding asexuality, both in and out of the Queer community. At its core, it’s a heart-warming, silly, but important show about loving yourself for who you are, and just how you survive as an asexual in a sex-obsessed world. Also, there’s cake, because cake is better than sex.



What is the attraction of performing at the Edinburgh Fringe? What do you think of Edinburgh?
The Edinburgh Fringe is one of the best times of the year because an entire beautiful city becomes a playground for both artists and art lovers alike. It’s basically like a theme park, but instead of rides, it has comedy, dance, and music shows! There’s no other time of year where you can literally spend weeks seeing the best creative minds performing their work in every corner of a city at every time of day. Thanks to the Free Fringe, it’s also one of the most accessible spaces to see brilliant live performances for every audience and every genre! That being said, as much as I love Edinburgh, I am convinced that it was built by ableists given just how many steep ramps and stairs there are haha. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful city with a rich history and a plentitude of unique spaces, eateries and locations and it’s a sheer joy to work in it for the best event of the year.



Who inspires you?
Mostly my favourite comedian, Eddie Izzard. She’s always been my biggest inspiration, not just because she proudly doesn’t conform to societal standards of gender, sex, or appearance, but also because she masters the wondrous art of spreading education through comedy. From a young age I was fascinated by how much I learnt about history, politics, and language through watching her stand-up, and all the while seeing it from someone who didn’t conform to conventional standards of how people should act or look. She inspired me to not only embrace my own identity but to use comedy to spread awareness of it to others. I’m also just generally inspired by any comedian who delves into the surreal and the absurd with surefire confidence and courage. The world needs more weird, and I’ll always thank the likes of Harry Hill, Bob Mortimer and Joz Norris for inspiring me to be my best weird quirky self!



Are there other shows you want to check out during the Fringe?
As always I’m definitely going to check out Joz Norris’ new show, “Blink”. In my opinion he’s the master of surreal comedy and his shows are always ceaselessly hilarious and genius.
I’m also going to watch “Soup Group” as they are masters of clowning who can make any audience laugh without saying a single word.
I’m also going to check out Sooz Kempner’s new show “Playstation” as she’s guaranteed to always deliver a fantastic show for Gaming nerds everywhere.
I’m also certainly going to check out Tom Mayhew’s show “Trash Rich” as I’ve loved his BBC Radio series and he is a poignant and important voice for all working-class performers.

And as ever as part of my Fringe traditions I will definitely make time to see “Mr. Thing”, one of the most enjoyable times anyone can have at the Fringe. A late-night comedy talk show with guests, violence, chaos, ping pong and puppets? You’d be a fool not to go!
Those are just off the top of my head but there are hundreds of shows that I’ll try to go and see. My favourite thing to do is to just wonder around the Free Fringe and just see whatever looks bizarre or fun and then just try it out! More often than not I discover a new performer that I end up loving!



Finally, ask and answer a question of your own.

So how would you describe Asexuality?

The dictionary definition is just “the lack of sexual attraction”, but I find it much more fun to say it’s being really into people, just not really in people. I often use a useful beverage analogy where I simply say that I like my partners how I like my Tea: Warm, sweet, and nowhere near my trousers. People misunderstand asexuality because they think it means a fear or hatred of sex, but that’s not true, if anything it’s just indifference (I feel the same way about sex as I feel about Special K). That’s why I sometimes prefer the term ‘shagnostic’. There’s a lot of variations of identities under the Asexual umbrella, but you’ll have to come to the show to learn more about those haha. Click Here For Article

May 30, 2023   Arts York Webzine

Article about Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

Eliott Simpson: (a)sexy and I know it

Comedian Eliott Simpson brings his show (a)sexy and I Know It to the Great Yorkshire Fringe prior to a run at the Edinburgh Fringe next month. The (a) is aptly placed, as Simpson’s show centres around his asexuality, and society’s response to this oft forgotten and misunderstood minority.

Simpson is an instantly likeable figure, bounding on stage enthusiastically in an Austin Powers style violet suit and waffle bowtie, and from that moment on the audience feels relaxed in his self-deprecating yet simultaneously self-assured company. Complete with props to aid his cheesy yet well-placed one-liners (plus running commentary of how much they set him back), and PowerPoint which largely serves to project various ‘dick pics’, the laughs just keep on coming. A section on the new-found gay romance between the Babadook and Pennywise the clown is a highlight.

As with any work in progress there are a couple of jokes that fall a bit flat (I’d skip the one about the Glaswegian comic’s advice), but by this point the audience are so in tune with Simpson that it doesn’t matter. Overall, he succeeds in finding the right balance between being both informative and hilarious, personal and universal, with a fominute show that is accessible and inclusive to members of the LGBTQIA community and its allies. Worth checking out in Edinburgh – with this ace show you can have your cake and eat it too.

(a)sexy and I Know It previewed at The Basement, York on the 23rd July 2019 as part of the Great Yorkshire Fringe. Keep up with Eliott and his gigs calendar here. Click Here For Article

May 28, 2023   FringeFeed

Article about The Confessional

Immersive comedy experience where the audience confesses their deepest darkest secerets!

Daniel Delby and Cam McLaren present The Confessional; an immersive comedy experience where the audience confesses their deepest and darkest (sometimes ethically questionable) secrets. The concept itself is a good one; you write your confession anonymously on a slip as you enter and place it in a box.

Everyone’s confessions are read on stage by McLaren and Delby and it is unanimously decided whether the confession is worth forgiveness. If you own up to your confession, all your sins are absolved are you are rewarded with a Tim Tam and a shot of goon to wash it down. No matter how ridiculous or wild, there’s no judgement here.

Improvisational humour is tricky to grasp, and the pair nailed it. They generated humour from unpredictable sources, whilst maintaining consistent audience engagement and high energy. Notably, there was very little reliance on preprepared material, which is a testament to their talent. There were no awkward silences and pretty much everybody owned up to their confession—including myself!

This particular show interluded with UK hailing Jon Pinder who was a delight to watch. Some people are just effortlessly funny. That’s exactly how I would describe Jon. He was the perfect addition to the show, and I would highly recommend checking out his other show SINGLE.

Cam McLaren has a fantastic stage presence, and just comes across as an all-round genuine guy. He can hold a crowd extremely well and has a good knack for encouraging audience members be involved without forcing it. McLaren is relaxed and easy going in his comedic style but injects his delivery with moments of unexpected sharp wit, which left the audience in fits of laughter.

Dan Delby, one of McLaren’s close mates is a sensational addition to the show. It almost seems necessary for the concept of the show that two comedians present it, and the pair bounced off each other extremely well. Delby should be commended for his comedic recall and timing, and also might I add, his rapping skills.

Grab a drink and be prepared for some solid laughs, get something off your chest and perhaps leave feeling a little lighter. Click Here For Article

May 23, 2023    The Voice UK

Review of A Little Killing Hurts No One

Brighton Fringe 23 Review

 Click Here For Review

May 18, 2023    FringeFeed

Review of The Confessional

Immersive comedy experience where the audience confesses their deepest darkest secerets!

Daniel Delby and Cam McLaren present The Confessional; an immersive comedy experience where the audience confesses their deepest and darkest (sometimes ethically questionable) secrets. The concept itself is a good one; you write your confession anonymously on a slip as you enter and place it in a box.

Everyone’s confessions are read on stage by McLaren and Delby and it is unanimously decided whether the confession is worth forgiveness. If you own up to your confession, all your sins are absolved are you are rewarded with a Tim Tam and a shot of goon to wash it down. No matter how ridiculous or wild, there’s no judgement here.

Improvisational humour is tricky to grasp, and the pair nailed it. They generated humour from unpredictable sources, whilst maintaining consistent audience engagement and high energy. Notably, there was very little reliance on preprepared material, which is a testament to their talent. There were no awkward silences and pretty much everybody owned up to their confession—including myself!

This particular show interluded with UK hailing Jon Pinder who was a delight to watch. Some people are just effortlessly funny. That’s exactly how I would describe Jon. He was the perfect addition to the show, and I would highly recommend checking out his other show SINGLE.

Cam McLaren has a fantastic stage presence, and just comes across as an all-round genuine guy. He can hold a crowd extremely well and has a good knack for encouraging audience members be involved without forcing it. McLaren is relaxed and easy going in his comedic style but injects his delivery with moments of unexpected sharp wit, which left the audience in fits of laughter.

Dan Delby, one of McLaren’s close mates is a sensational addition to the show. It almost seems necessary for the concept of the show that two comedians present it, and the pair bounced off each other extremely well. Delby should be commended for his comedic recall and timing, and also might I add, his rapping skills.

Grab a drink and be prepared for some solid laughs, get something off your chest and perhaps leave feeling a little lighter. Click Here For Review

May 18, 2023    FringeFeed

Review of 33 Years Single

Attractive, Witty +. Bad Choices

Daniel Delby has been single for most of his life, but at least he has managed to create a career out of it with this hilarious show. If you have seen his previous show 30 Years Single, it is worth coming to this one as it is entirely new material that focuses on his most recent years of single life and short relationship.

Delby is attractive and witty, yet he appears to make some bad choices in women and uses some questionable pick up lines. Delby shares stories about being rejected repeatedly and how his girlfriend of a few months tried to change him. He also has the audience share some of their stories and engages the room well.

Another great topic discussed during the show was red flags in dating. This got a lot of laughs and also resulted in a brilliant rap about random bad traits that could be turned into positives. Delby also shared a fantastic rap about the differences between men and women, again using his freestyle approach and having the audience contribute to the lyrics.

The always charming Delby promises non-stop laughs as he talks about gender stereotypes and the struggles of dating in his inclusive stand-up performance. His casual and relaxed manner makes it feel like a group of friends hanging out at a bar and sharing stories. So buy some tickets, grab a drink and sit down for an hour of laughs. Click Here For Review

May 11, 2023    The Wee Review

Review of Story Builders

the wee review - Story Builders

Canny storytelling skills shared with children
The Interactive Storytelling Collective are busy hothousing young minds. From ‘once upon a time’ to ‘happily ever after’, children are discovering the essential building blocks to create their own ingenious tall tales and small stories.
Some like to keep it in the family but this particular family enthusiastically share their storytelling expertise with us all. The Interactive Storytelling Collective consists of actors, storytellers, imagineers, engineers (and in this case), brother and sister Hess and Alex, and their dad – Jim Bryce Hill.
Story Builders has a story within a story of course. The audience is challenged to find a replacement tale for King Hans, whose mandatory bedtime story has been stolen by a grumpy troll. The audience embark on a journey to build a new ‘arc’ of a story for the King, experiencing the joyful (sometime arduous!) process of creative storytelling whilst sitting on a comfy cushion.
The team skilfully encourage everyone to contribute in an inclusive manner. A perversely enigmatic and slightly vicious comedic troll keeps interrupting the show, providing a shot of energy when ideas are flagging. Hess finally brings it altogether beautifully. She is quite astounding in her ability to remember the twists and turns of a complicated, sometimes illogical plot line. She ties it all up nicely with a pretty bow on top to present to the King.
Less of a show, more of a workshop – it is intimate, interactive and for lively imaginations willing to contribute, highly rewarding. …...Bring your creative juices.
 Click Here For Review

April 25, 2023    Upside Adelaide

Review of Marmalade

Adelaide Fringe Review: Marmalade, The Griffins, 2023

Thao Cao’s Marmalade is stripped down stand-up comedy at its very best.

Without the benefit of even a soundboard operator to announce her, Thao had us laughing from the get-go by poking fun at her bare bones production.

Unphased by the intimate huddle of punters in the front two rows, Thao effortlessly dispelled any awkwardness with her relaxed and affable manner.

In a show that was always surprising, Thao laced cheeky one-liners through poignant moments with ease.

A compelling story teller, Thao recounts such adversities as her family’s treacherous journey to Australia, a life-threatening illness and a menacing encounter with racism in a Berlin train station.

While that might not seem like good fodder for comedy, she naturally intersperses these tales with humour and warmth and it works.

On the flip side, there’s a healthy dose of embarrassing anecdotes, cheesy puns and immense pride in being able to cook the perfect hard boiled for a food critic.

These moments feel like having a chat with an old friend and the laughter flows freely.

My personal favourite moment: poking fun at the inherent misogyny of the male dominated stand-up circuit, was a perfect demonstration on how Thao definitely doesn’t need comedy mansplained to her.

Catch Marmalade this weekend at the Griffins, at the very reasonable time of 5.45.

Grab your tickets HERE

4 stars

By Louise Duncan Click Here For Review

April 2, 2023   Theatre Travels

Review: Burton Brothers Vegas Residency at the Chinese Museum - MICF

The Burton Brothers, Josh and Tom, have seriously outdone themselves with Vegas Residency! Fresh off the back of their Adelaide Fringe run, their MICF opening night was slick, in sync, and hilarious.

The Vegas setting is perfect for the Burtons' latest hour of sketch comedy. Vegas is all about the glitz, the glam, being cheesy and sleazy — all areas in which the Burtons and their characters thrive.


A musical number opens the show, transporting us to Vegas and setting the tone. They're Siegfried & Roy with the vocal stylings of Elvis, Tom Jones, and a splash of Sinatra. They’ve got quite the set of pipes, especially for this style.


Each sketch works as its own piece, but they’re woven together wonderfully. The overall structure and pacing is well balanced. They also balance being the straight man and the funny man, each brother having their fair share of both.

I think this is good for two reasons. One: when I perform, I know I like both roles - so it satisfies me in a personal way to see the role types shared. Two (more importantly): it keeps the audience on their toes and keeps each sketch fresh, as you don’t know exactly where the dynamic is going to go (until each scene is established).


The heart at the core of the Burton Brothers’ work is their brotherly love. There are 'adult' jokes and content for sure, but the Burtons don't rely on vulgarity. This wholesome feeling stops it from becoming totally blue.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s still an 18+ show. But there’s something refreshing about it. Maybe it reminds me of my relationship with my own brother? It’s dumb and silly and gross and loving at the same time.

I think the ‘sibling magic’ is an important ingredient in their recipe for synchronicity. Knowing someone for your whole life (or most of your life, for the older sibling) gives you that extra edge in reading them. Assessing body language and those small cues becomes second nature.


However, it’s not actual magic. You’ve still gotta put in the work to turn that innate connection into a show. And the Burtons do. This is a polished, well rehearsed show. But they leave enough flex in to riff with the audience and have fun with each other.

Tom clearly loves to try and make Josh break. And he succeeded a few times. But it’s not a huge distraction. It’s just enough to make the audience feel like they’re experiencing something unique to that night. There’s something so exciting and intimate about that – the special bits only that audience got to see.

When the performers are having fun and keeping it fresh for themselves, the audience feels it. And the opening night audience was super into it! The laughs were loud, the room was buzzing. The little bits of audience interaction were golden.


So, if you need a trip to the glitz and glam, get on down to the Chinese Museum (and then up the stairs to the Silk Room) and settle in to be wowed by the Burton Brothers. Click Here For Article

March 21, 2023   British Comedy Guide

Article about Alvin Liu: First World Eyebrows (Work in Progress)

Bobby Carroll's Glasgow Comedy Festival Diary

Eyebrows.

Every time I go to my Turkish Barbers, he offers to "do" my eyebrows. I have no idea what he wants to do with them. And being the rare two parts of my body I have zero hang-ups about, I'm pretty sure I don't want my eyebrows fucked with. Then I saw a Korean film this week where a baby-for-sale's eyebrows are the main negotiation point for any potential buyer. And here is Chinese stand-up comedian Alvin Liu, who has a whole routine about eyebrows that I couldn't get my head around. Is this the cultural difference that is going to hold me back from being a true global citizen? Just what are the rest of the world's males doing with their eyebrows that I'm not noticing?

Liu's eyebrows routine was not the only time where his comedy of Shanghai origin (but English language) lacked full context. Maybe the unique pleasure of watching him was that, for every national difference he did explain in the set-up, there was another where the Glasgow International Comedy Festival attendees had to pull their weight and join the dots. His opening routine about the rude questions people will ask you in China if they think you have an unusually attractive girlfriend had a lot more clarity than later stuff.

There were also definitely moments over his fledgling 30-minute set when you could feel the liberal British audience's collective arsehole audibly tighten. His best bit, about the benefits of child labour, deserved more laughter. Sure, it could do with beefing up even more; I'd say there's more mileage to it as a subject than he's mapped out currently. But what he has is potent in its imagery, authenticity, perverse logic and volatility.

There are many points where he treads the line of offence with heavy boots. It is easy for newer act to confuse shock with what will work away from open mics and ex-pat gigs. But Liu evidences a decent toolkit, all the gadgets needed to become a circuit comedian of note. His long form stuff always reaches a laugh at the end, and he sells his weirdest material unusually, with his entire torso bent 90 degrees forward, practically crowd surfing the front two rows. Most importantly, and you can't fake this, he is likeable.

Embracing an unforced outsider perspective and being free of the censorial shackles of his homeland, the more credible stage time Liu finds on the London circuit the better he'll be at evolving the best 10 minutes he had here into quite a memorable club 20. Click Here For Article

March 20, 2023   British Comedy Guide

Article about Michael Herd: Deep Shanghai'd

Bobby Carroll's Glasgow Comedy Festival Diary

Eyebrows.

Every time I go to my Turkish Barbers, he offers to "do" my eyebrows. I have no idea what he wants to do with them. And being the rare two parts of my body I have zero hang-ups about, I'm pretty sure I don't want my eyebrows fucked with. Then I saw a Korean film this week where a baby-for-sale's eyebrows are the main negotiation point for any potential buyer. And here is Chinese stand-up comedian Alvin Liu, who has a whole routine about eyebrows that I couldn't get my head around. Is this the cultural difference that is going to hold me back from being a true global citizen? Just what are the rest of the world's males doing with their eyebrows that I'm not noticing?

Liu's eyebrows routine was not the only time where his comedy of Shanghai origin (but English language) lacked full context. Maybe the unique pleasure of watching him was that, for every national difference he did explain in the set-up, there was another where the Glasgow International Comedy Festival attendees had to pull their weight and join the dots. His opening routine about the rude questions people will ask you in China if they think you have an unusually attractive girlfriend had a lot more clarity than later stuff.

There were also definitely moments over his fledgling 30-minute set when you could feel the liberal British audience's collective arsehole audibly tighten. His best bit, about the benefits of child labour, deserved more laughter. Sure, it could do with beefing up even more; I'd say there's more mileage to it as a subject than he's mapped out currently. But what he has is potent in its imagery, authenticity, perverse logic and volatility.

There are many points where he treads the line of offence with heavy boots. It is easy for newer act to confuse shock with what will work away from open mics and ex-pat gigs. But Liu evidences a decent toolkit, all the gadgets needed to become a circuit comedian of note. His long form stuff always reaches a laugh at the end, and he sells his weirdest material unusually, with his entire torso bent 90 degrees forward, practically crowd surfing the front two rows. Most importantly, and you can't fake this, he is likeable.

Embracing an unforced outsider perspective and being free of the censorial shackles of his homeland, the more credible stage time Liu finds on the London circuit the better he'll be at evolving the best 10 minutes he had here into quite a memorable club 20.


Michael Herd
His partner in this themed two-hander is Michael Herd. They met in East Asia and clearly have continued their gigging friendship back over to Herd's native Scotland. Feeling very much like a teacher who knows his lesson plan down to the very last PowerPoint slide, Herd was less of a natural onstage. His storytelling stuff on Glasgow and East Kilbride life, however, shows a bit more promise. It comes across as less rigid and clearly is the work of an act who has gotten a bit more comfortable whilst on the job.

You can see why he and Liu, who emerged on the People's Republic English speaking circuit together, have shared an hour. Two acts with insider knowledge of the most powerful state in the world should churn up enough interested punters to fill a room. It is a good hook, and it was a good hook. Now this show is done and dusted, Herd probably needs to mothball a lot of his earlier China related material and cut everything down to a solid 10 that will wow in middle spots.

With only two years on stage to develop their craft, and two very particular years of disruption for these toddler comedians containing Covid and across the world upheavals, both acts have ages to find their feet on the UK circuit. Taking these hour slots at festivals is a fine way to stretch the muscles and gift yourself a more generous stage time than a five here or a ten there. And I knew I was taking a blind risk booking in to see two unknowns but they both exceeded my expectations based on what I predicted from their brochure blurb. The show I saw took place in an atmosphere-free room, next to an active pub kitchen, on a wet afternoon, with a 14 year-old kid front and centre... So, hands up, it possibly wasn't the best showcase for either of them... but all acts have to start somewhere on the festival scene. They stuck to their guns and played a less than ideal room professionally and with enthusiasm.

Watching a new act do longform can be a bit like settling into a barber's chair for the first time. You have to sit there and watch them hack away at your head for what can feel like an eternity, hoping they do something not too embarrassing, praying your face doesn't betray too much confusion or horror. I'd definitely give Liu a second chance to play around with my greying temples... but he'll need to stay away from my eyebrows. Click Here For Article

February 25, 2023    Upside Adelaide

Review of Marmalade

Adelaide Fringe Review: Marmalade, The Griffins, 2023

Thao Cao’s Marmalade is stripped down stand-up comedy at its very best.

Without the benefit of even a soundboard operator to announce her, Thao had us laughing from the get-go by poking fun at her bare bones production.

Unphased by the intimate huddle of punters in the front two rows, Thao effortlessly dispelled any awkwardness with her relaxed and affable manner.

In a show that was always surprising, Thao laced cheeky one-liners through poignant moments with ease.

A compelling story teller, Thao recounts such adversities as her family’s treacherous journey to Australia, a life-threatening illness and a menacing encounter with racism in a Berlin train station.

While that might not seem like good fodder for comedy, she naturally intersperses these tales with humour and warmth and it works.

On the flip side, there’s a healthy dose of embarrassing anecdotes, cheesy puns and immense pride in being able to cook the perfect hard boiled for a food critic.

These moments feel like having a chat with an old friend and the laughter flows freely.

My personal favourite moment: poking fun at the inherent misogyny of the male dominated stand-up circuit, was a perfect demonstration on how Thao definitely doesn’t need comedy mansplained to her.

Catch Marmalade this weekend at the Griffins, at the very reasonable time of 5.45.

Grab your tickets HERE

4 stars

By Louise Duncan Click Here For Review

February 20, 2023    The Student

Review of No Name Show

Fringe 2022: Life’s A Drag Review

Life’s A Drag is a hidden gem of the Fringe. A must watch show filled with comedy and musical talent by an Australian star. Click Here For Review

February 10, 2023   British Comedy Guide

Article about Best In Class

Best in Class 2023 Line up announced

The line-up for Best In Class, the award-winning profit sharing show that champions working class comedians, has been revealed.

Here are the biographies of the comedians taking part this year.

Leroy Brito

Leroy Brito
A breakout star from Wales, Leroy is a regular on the UK comedy circuit and has had 4 sold out solo shows at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre. Leroy has previously starred in the BBC One sitcom Tourist Trap, is a regular on BBC Radio Wales and has presented on 6 Nations Sin Bin, Wales Big Kickoff and Wales Live. In demand as a writer, Leroy co-wrote a BBC Radio Wales sitcom, was a writer on Late Night Football Club and has recently written episodes for television and radio on the award winning Cbeebies preschool show JoJo & Gran Gran.

Ashley Gorman

Ashley Gorman
Ashley Gorman is a comedian and writer born and bred in Burnt Oak, North West London. He recently emigrated to Forest Hill in South East London to become a pub landlord. Ashley is an exceptional storyteller who mines his own life for comedy gold. His anecdotes of outlandish misadventures leave audiences in hysterics.

Lee Hudson

Lee Hudson
Lee's brand of personal storytelling and self-deprecation has seen his reputation rise on the UK comedy circuit and beyond, having also performed in the US, Canada and around Europe. He's opened for Dan Soder and Tom Stade and is part of the Ian Edwards Soccer Comic Rant podcast on Bill Burr's All Things Comedy network.

Dani Johns

Dani Johns
Born and bred Bristolian Dani Johns is described as a "smart, clever pocket rocket of a comedian" whose "sassy delivery captivates every audience member". With an energetic mix of storytelling and serious over sharing, she's been named as one of the best new comics on the scene and is taking the circuit by storm.

Katie Mitchell

Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell is a queer working class comic who grew up on a council estate and began comedy in sixth form in 2016. She is alternative yet pervasive, revelling in main-stream comedy environments where her infectious, joyful and silly work is a delight on any line-up.

Jen Nolan

Jen Nolan
Jen Nolan is a working class comedian and won't let you forget it! Telling (not so tall) tales of life growing up on the breadline, she has been told she is one to watch, even if that was by her Nan with dementia.

Jacob Nussey

Jacob Nussey
Jacob Nussey unassumingly draws in audiences with his deadpan style, sharp jokes, and ill-fated anecdotes with clever punchlines. Jacob won West Didsbury Comedy Festival New Act of the Year and was a finalist of Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year in 2022. After reaching the semi-finals of British Comedian of the Year and semi-finals of So You Think You're Funny in 2021. Jacob has been named by Chortle as one to watch for 2023. He's seriously funny and well worth seeing in person!

Katie Tracey

Katie Tracey
Kate has been performing stand-up across the UK for over a decade. Her down to earth observations and cheeky humour has made her a favourite with audiences and acts alike. Katie aims to challenge people's perception of middle aged working class women, with her infectious charm and razor sharp wit.

The Best In Class scheme was started by stand-up Sian Davies in 2018 after she had become "fed up with class, money and social status being used as a barrier to performing".

Alumni from the scheme include Tom Mayhew, Lindsey Santoro, Jamie Hutchinson, Tamsyn Kelly and Jordan Gray.


Sian Davies
Best In Class has grown in tandem alongside Davies' comedy career, and she will now take more of a behind-the-scenes role in the showcase. She explains: "I used to MC the show daily during the fringe. But now I have my own solo shows to concentrate on, I'm happy to hand the show over to the squad. They are a talented bunch who I know will have everything covered. I'll be around if they need me, but Best In Class is about the acts having ownership of their show."

The 2023 Best In Class season starts with a showcase at Leicester Comedy Festival this Saturday (11th February), before heading to VAULT Festival (18th March), Brighton Fringe (5th May) and London's Soho Theatre (18th April), before a run at the Edinburgh Festival in August.

Donations to the 2023 campaign can be made via GoFundMe Click Here For Article

August 24, 2022    Indiependent

Peter Fleming - EdFringe 2022 Show

As a comedy character, Peter Fleming is a one-off. The unholy union of a Doctor Who DVD extra and a Harry Enfield parody, old-school kids TV producer Fleming is here to take us through the history of the BBC in its centenary year. What emerges from Tom Burgess’ finely judged Edinburgh Fringe show is something both hilarious and heartfelt, a Pæan to the Reithian vision of the BBC whilst at the same time mocking its eccentricities and failures. Take a bow sir: it’s the most fun I’ve had at the Fringe.

An hour mixed between stand-up and one-man sketch show, Fleming takes us through the Shakespearian origins of the Beeb to its mid-60s heyday (featuring the BBC bar and poorly judged concepts) and then into the unstable modern period. Surprisingly, at times it feels genuinely like a well-observed history of the Corporation but with added jokes and, whilst for television fans of a certain vintage much is familiar, Burgess manages to drop in some genuine ‘fun facts’ alongside the hilarity.

Humour comes from all directions, ranging from parodies of programmes, satirical jabs at the permissive culture of mid-century Beeb and jokes about a child traumatised by a regenerating Doctor Who. Fleming also explores his own shows, most of which have been wiped (probably deliberately) and which had fabulous titles like ‘Professor Zany’s Mad Laboratory’. These offer plenty of quickfire jokes (the sheer speed and intensity of this comedy is genuinely impressive) but could at times be spun off further: we want to see more of Fleming’s output, rather than Biddy Baxter’s. Regardless, Fleming ably and hilariously carries us along on his exploration of television history.

What is surprising is the genuine affection and pathos within the show. Burgess obviously has a deep love for what the BBC has and still could offer, and the destruction of Television Centre and the BBC’s current impermanence raise genuine emotion amongst the audience. Brief notes of Fleming’s own unsatisfactory life add to this: his is a yearning for a lost golden age of personal and professional success. These add greater depth to the character, meaning that Burgess can both explore other styles of comedy within the show, but also create a genuine connection with the audience. All this, and then immediately followed by quickfire shots at Blue Peter presenters.

‘Peter Fleming’s Woefully Inaccurate History of the BBC’ is a television and comedy fans dream. Combining top-class stand-up, parody and sketch with TV in-jokes and a genuine love of its subject material, Burgess has crafted a truly unique crowd pleaser. After all, how many comedies reference The Quatermass Experiment?

Words by Issy Flower Click Here For Review

August 24, 2022    Indiependent

Review of Peter Fleming Meets Doctor Who!

Peter Fleming; EdFringe 2022 Review

As a comedy character, Peter Fleming is a one-off. The unholy union of a Doctor Who DVD extra and a Harry Enfield parody, old-school kids TV producer Fleming is here to take us through the history of the BBC in its centenary year. What emerges from Tom Burgess’ finely judged Edinburgh Fringe show is something both hilarious and heartfelt, a Pæan to the Reithian vision of the BBC whilst at the same time mocking its eccentricities and failures. Take a bow sir: it’s the most fun I’ve had at the Fringe.

An hour mixed between stand-up and one-man sketch show, Fleming takes us through the Shakespearian origins of the Beeb to its mid-60s heyday (featuring the BBC bar and poorly judged concepts) and then into the unstable modern period. Surprisingly, at times it feels genuinely like a well-observed history of the Corporation but with added jokes and, whilst for television fans of a certain vintage much is familiar, Burgess manages to drop in some genuine ‘fun facts’ alongside the hilarity.

Humour comes from all directions, ranging from parodies of programmes, satirical jabs at the permissive culture of mid-century Beeb and jokes about a child traumatised by a regenerating Doctor Who. Fleming also explores his own shows, most of which have been wiped (probably deliberately) and which had fabulous titles like ‘Professor Zany’s Mad Laboratory’. These offer plenty of quickfire jokes (the sheer speed and intensity of this comedy is genuinely impressive) but could at times be spun off further: we want to see more of Fleming’s output, rather than Biddy Baxter’s. Regardless, Fleming ably and hilariously carries us along on his exploration of television history.

What is surprising is the genuine affection and pathos within the show. Burgess obviously has a deep love for what the BBC has and still could offer, and the destruction of Television Centre and the BBC’s current impermanence raise genuine emotion amongst the audience. Brief notes of Fleming’s own unsatisfactory life add to this: his is a yearning for a lost golden age of personal and professional success. These add greater depth to the character, meaning that Burgess can both explore other styles of comedy within the show, but also create a genuine connection with the audience. All this, and then immediately followed by quickfire shots at Blue Peter presenters.

‘Peter Fleming’s Woefully Inaccurate History of the BBC’ is a television and comedy fans dream. Combining top-class stand-up, parody and sketch with TV in-jokes and a genuine love of its subject material, Burgess has crafted a truly unique crowd pleaser. After all, how many comedies reference The Quatermass Experiment?

Words by Issy Flower Click Here For Review

August 18, 2022    Neurodiverse Review

Review of Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

Eliott Simpson: (a)sexy and I Know It

★★★★

Asexuality isn’t a subject that is covered much, if at all. In our ever increasing queer alphabet, ‘A’ doesn’t even stand for a group of over 7 million people worldwide. Erasure such as this is nothing new, even from within our community. Eliott Simpson has taken it upon themselves to educate an unknowing public about their sexuality.

Simpson’s show is silly and very, very funny. They pack the hour with so many gags and one-liners, they are unrelenting. Coupled with an unhinged delivery that is hypnotically unsettling, they have the audience in the palm of their hand. It’s great to see an out and proud autistic comedian, pepper their routine with references to their autism, without having to explain it, it’s representation like this autistic audiences crave, the knowledge that we are visible.

Eliott’s persona can be overwhelming at times, perhaps not for an Edinburgh Fringe audience, who, bombarded with so many comics, need something bold and brash to stand out and keep their attention. I wished I’d brought my noise-cancelling headphones as the audiences raucous laughter in such a crowded room can be a sensory nightmare.

Eliott is a fully-formed stand-up. Usually you see acts on the fringe that are, to put it kindly, rough around the edges. Eliott is ready to go onto a much wider audience. I would be surprised if they don’t get snapped up by one of the big comedy promoters sooner or later. I am sure these early audiences know this too, from the huge enthusiasm and thunderous applause, they know they’ve witnessed something and someone very special.

 Click Here For Review

August 17, 2022   The Guardian

Article about Best In Class

Edinburgh festival’s funniest performers for 2022 are revealed

Both of the top prizes for being funny at the 2022 Edinburgh fringe festival have gone to foreign talent. The Australian comedian Sam Campbell is the winner of Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award, the prestigious competition that celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer.

Campbell, 30, from Queensland, is the fifth winner of the best show award to come from Australia, overtaking winners from Ireland, who have scooped the prize four times.

And this year’s Edinburgh newcomer award went to Mexican-born American Lara Ricote, for her show GRL/LATNX/DEF. “You are being so nice to me. This is crazy!” said the 25-year-old, who has impaired hearing and talks about her disability on stage.


Ricote’s show tackles her “multiple minority status”, as well as the fact hers are not all visible categories. “Being a minority is very in now,” she joked after winning her award. “I’m a girl, young, a Latina and have a disability, so I tick a lot of boxes. But I have to be very vocal about the minorities I’m in. I’m in an interesting place and in a very privileged place.” Ricote also won the funny women award for stage performers last year.

The show that earned Campbell the £10,000 main prize is the more simply titled Comedy Show. “I deserve the award and I was expecting it,” he told the crowd, before correcting himself. “No. It was a big surprise. It’s insane.” The comedian added that he was going to use the prize money “to be taller”.

Campbell’s midnight show, which ran only for the second half of the festival, came with a special “warning” from the comic: “I want to be a worldwide performer. I hope you do not mind but this show will pretty much just involve me going up there and being nice.”

A former award winner at the Melbourne international comedy festival, Campbell beat nine other fringe contenders, including Alfie Brown, son of Dead Ringers star Jan Ravens, Seann Walsh, the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, and Jordan Gray, the competition’s first transgender nominee.

Lara Ricote receives her award
Lara Ricote, who has impaired hearing and talks about her disability on stage, receives her award in Edinburgh yesterday. Photograph: Euan Cherry/Getty Images

Among those applauding the judges’ verdicts was Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright, who tweeted how much he enjoyed Ricote’s festival show. Campbell, he added later, is a “total lunatic”.

The support organisation Best in Class, which helps performers from working-class backgrounds, won the prize for spirit of the fringe, an award that is not made every year. Pointing out the difficulty of funding a fringe show, Sian Davies, who runs the organisation, said: “People can’t afford to live at the minute, let alone come up here. Best in Class is a sticking plaster at best. The fringe is full of systematic bias.”

Her message met with approval from Campbell, who said: “It’s fucked when people can’t afford to do this. I’m not an expert, but for anyone who loses money here, that stinks.”

Davies explained that in 2018 she had been asked to audition for a fringe showcase. When she succeeded she was told she would need to pay £1,800 to secure her place.

“When I tell people this, they roll their eyes. They can’t believe it,” said Davies. She was dropped by her promoter as a result, despite her friends’ efforts to raise the money. At first she said she “got angry”, then decided to bring up her own showcase for working-class comics. “I don’t charge anyone for the privilege of coming and they’re paid,” she added. “When you give us a seat at your table, we can do this.”

Saturday’s ceremony in the city’s Dovecot Studios art gallery was introduced by the award’s producer, Nica Burns, who argued the festival doors were “open to all” and said: “Together we have built the best comedy industry in the world. Our doors are open to everyone. All they need to be is super-talented and, above all, funny.”

This year the panel for the award, formerly known as “the Perrier” and now sponsored by the comedy TV channel Dave, was chaired by Sky Studios comedy producer Adnan Ahmed, and included Dave’s channel director, Cherie Cunningham, and Channel 4’s commissioning executive, Joe Hullait Click Here For Article

August 11, 2022    The Scotsman

Review of Sid Singh: Table For One

It should be pointed out that this hour in the Cabaret Voltaire is not just about thinking and laughing and enjoying a great show (it is all that) but that 50% of the bucket is going to the Centre for Gender and Refugee Studies, so you will be laughing and doing something good.

And you will laugh. Sid Singh has been a pretty good, smart comic for a while now, but in this show, it somehow all clicks. He owns the stage, but he is relaxed. And the hour is rammed with good stuff. He is Indian American and has enjoyed a chequered history involving homelessness, visa problems, sibling envy, law school, a degree that never was, time at Oxford and a mantra for living a life on the side of the good buys that I think we can all get behind.

The show flies by and the fairly disparate parts of Sid's hour somehow have a cohesion that you might not expect. BTW, look out for Sid's friend Jeff (quite the character) and Sid's family (also probably a show on their own) popping up to break up the political stuff. But this is a man (Sid, not Jeff) who helped defeat Trump twice in court (using money from Fringe buckets), who has stood up to the threat of jail for doing political comedy where it is no longer permitted, who knows the difference between a New York Liberal and a California Liberal, has interesting thought on non-binary pronouns and who knows his Refugee Law.

You will get Beyonce, Covid and stupid judges from Sid, and I will let him share his advice for the real way forward with you. But he is, quite possibly right. He is also very, very funny.

Kate Copstick Click Here For Review

May 10, 2022   GScene Magazine

Article about Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know it

FRINGE REVIEW: (A)Sexy and I Know It

In sharp purple suit with frilly cuffs, Brighton Fringe comedian Eliott Simpson tells us right off : “let’s get one thing straight: I’m not”. And Eliott is of course an anagram for toilet, so prepare for lots of excruciating dick jokes in this quick fire hour, with more one-liners than he or we can count.

Oh and he’s also autistic, which accounts for some of the frenzy in his non-stop performance. But Eliott has a serious mission- to educate us abut the nature of ascxuality – both what it is and what it isn’t, and to maybe make the world more tolerant to this group which he says are too small to be a recognised minority.

Asexuality, he asserts, is like being Gay, but not as fashionable, going on to add: “an asexual comic is a gap in the market but not one you can fill”. His bedroom fantasy is getting 8 hours of sleep, and he also points out that if we don’t laugh at his autism, it’s a hate crime. And it’s a hate crime if we do laugh.

I’m guessing by now you’ve picked up on Eliott’s technique – to self-deprecate but also explain why. As he says: “I sometimes go on Pornhub just to admire the wallpaper”.


And he points out that you can’t really come out as asexual, pondering whether asexuality – the lack of interest in sexual activity – is proper sexuality at all. “It’s not a low sex drive- it’s just that I don’t care,” he tells us. But he adds that globally 78 million identify with it – making them truly the 1 per cent.

But it’s within the safety net of sarcasm that Eliott’s show works best: “pornography gives you an unhealthy expectation of how quickly a plumber will come to your house”, he says. And he wonders if the name of the nature should be changed to “ shagnostic”

But in the end he gives us – appropriately – a serious anti-climax: “ we are a real community. We are real people and we don’t need to be fixed”.

Eliott’s show had a very short run at the Walrus in Ship Street. Click Here For Article

May 24, 2019   The Reviews Hub

Article about 50% Canadian, 100% Crazy, Let's Laugh

Brighton Fringe - 50% Canadian, 100% Crazy, Let's Laugh - Sweet @ The Welly

 Click Here For Article

July 31, 2018   All Edinburgh Theatre

Article about CeilidhKids at the Fringe

EdFringe shows for Children

Very basic but hugely fun Ceilidh dancing for all the family. Not strictly theatre, but a fabulous way to start the day and burn off energy for three to seven year-olds (and carers!) before sitting in dark room watching something more cerebral. Traditional music – but clever adaptations of the basic dances. Click Here For Article

July 31, 2018   All Edinburgh Theatre

Article about CeilidhKids at the Fringe

EdFringe shows for Children

Very basic but hugely fun Ceilidh dancing for all the family. Not strictly theatre, but a fabulous way to start the day and burn off energy for three to seven year-olds (and carers!) before sitting in dark room watching something more cerebral. Traditional music – but clever adaptations of the basic dances. Click Here For Article