Not sure just what do you with your time, but really want to see some comedf? Well, here’s a neat guide of show in little time zone titbits. it is possible to see about ten shows a day if you really wanted to. But would you?
2pm
The Bicycling Comedian‘s One Man Show We all love those daft road signs don't \y‘e'.’ 'l'om Snyder's has snapped plenty of them on his l3(l.()()(l miles ol riding across the l'S. (,‘iliIeiI Blllltttnl 'IiIi-iut, 668 I635, 7 28 :lug (nut I4). 2.45pm. [7.50 [8.50 ([650 [7.50). I’ri't'ietrs until 6 Aug. [6.
3pm
John Shuttleworth 'l‘lie speccy songsmith gives its a short. hut no douht [Xtignillll r11". I’lmxunt'i' (‘uurty'unl 556 6550. 8” I2 xlue. 5.30pm. [8 [10.50 ([6.50—~[‘)). I’n't'ii'tt' 7.-lue. [5.
Gwynn Williams We all need a ‘domestic goddess' in ottr life. hut is this datne really up to the joh'.’ Buliy lie/Ir. 0870 745 3083. 728 Aug (nut I5. 2/). 5.30pm. [8 [I0 ([7 [9). Previews 5&6 Aug. [5 ([5 ).
Bill Hicks: Slight Return (‘has liarly’s rendition of the finest young dead comic of our generation. l’lmsunu' (‘uurty'unl 556 6550. 7 2‘):lug (nut I0. I7). 3.45pm. [8.50 r~[</.50([7 [8). I’I't't'it'lt‘s 4- 6 :luL’. [5.
4pm
Radioplay Don’t you just hate it xx hen those overnight hus driyers yack on and on ahottt stuff"? This is a comedy from the point ol' \ iew oi the )‘ils‘ls's'l'. ( 'niIi'rlu'lly'. 0870 745 3083. 6 28 .-lug (nut I6. 25'). 4.40pm. [8.50 [9.50 ([750 [8.50). I’ret'u'tiis 4&5 slug. [5.
Danny Hurst: Uneasy Rider lle‘s heen knocked down. hut he's got hacls tip again. Making lun otit of adyersity. Iiulty' Belly; 0i’70 745 5085’. 6 28 .lug (nut I6). 4.45pm. [7-[8 ([6 [7). I’t't't'it’tt‘s 4& 5 slug. [4.
6pm
Tim FItzI-ligham Here's a titan ys ho desperately needs a hath. It only to tray el across land in. Weird. huh'.’ I’lmwmw (‘uurty‘unl 556 6550, 7 2‘lxlug (nut I6). 6/2»). [7.50 [8.50 ([6 [7). I’I‘i't‘u'u's until 6 Aug. [5.
Tony Carter The most inept (ieot‘tlie since (iaua's hehayioural therapist gets his act together and taps into our inner Child. The 81(qu II. 558 7272. 5 28 Aug (nut I5). 6pm. [6 ([5).
Jeremy Lion A kids' entertainer in an almost permanent state of" inehriation: it couldn't happen. Could it'.’ I’Imsuni'e ('uurty‘unl. 556 6550. 6 2‘) Am: (nut I0. I7). 6.25pm. [850 [9.50 ([7 [8). Previews until 5 Aug. [5.
7pm
The Bicycle Men The odd things that happen when an American tourist gets stranded in a weird lirench outpost. l'nili'rlu'lly, 0870 745 3085K 6 28 Aug
(nut 22). 7.20pm. [9 [I0([8 [9). Previews 4&5 slug. [5.
Boothby Graffoe .\'ot tnany men are named alter l.inco|nshire \ illages. hut this dude is. ('omedy and music from a yy holly it'rey'et'ent cat. The Stitiul. 558 7272. 6 28 slue (nut I5. 22). 7.50pm. [8
([7). I’i‘i't'ii’ti's until 4 slug. ‘Ipnt. [6 ([5). 8pm
Cab Happy! .\ fun trip in a tasi. What. in lidinhurgh'.’ mm.) l-jgu, 0870 24/ (“57). 8 .t’llxlug (nut I4. 2I. 28). 8pm. Ill/mt. [I0. I’i‘i'i'ii'u's 5&6 glue. [I0 ([8). Ava Vidal A single nnttu and a former prison \y'arder'.’ She's got to haye a tall tale or ten to tell. l'nili'rln'li’y'. 0870 745 5085’, 6 28 .'\IIL’ (nut I7). 8.]0pnt. [8 [‘I ([7 [8). Previews 4&5 Aug. [4.
Kevin Brennan The xx inner ol' the Aspen ('omedy liestiyal's stand-up aysard \yill he aiming to keep on hitting paydirt. \Vliatcy er that actually means. .-ls_\('tttltl\' Ruunts. 22/) 2428. 7 2‘) due (nut I5 ). 8.I5/nn. [II/.50 [1/50
([950 [II/.50). I’ri't'ii'tt'y 5&6 slug. [5. Pam Ann lligh escitement lot" the airline hostess \y ith the yotll-lsnoyy \yhalest as she's jetting oil during the l‘estiyal to perform lot‘ lilton John at his \y edding. Wonder il~ Boh l)oolally \y ill also get an my ite'.’ I’Ii'usunu' (‘uurtuml 556 6550. 7 2‘l.-lue ()Iut I5. 2/). 8.50pm. [III [II ([850 [9.50). I’rei'u'tits until 6 glue. [5.
9pm
Eugene Miman 'l‘hc surreal Rtissian- :\ltlc‘l‘lc‘;tll comes yy ith a hel'ty reputation and a hig hatch of yyeird anecdotes. (Ill/(‘I‘IH’IIM 0870 745 508.". 6 28 .'lI(L’ (nut I6). ‘l/nn. [‘1 [I0 I [7.50 [8.50). I’rt't'u'u'x 4&5 slug. [5.
Adam Buxton .\Iorosc character comedy of the most hilarious kind yy ith I. I’ttl‘t'l. I’lt’ttytlltt't‘ (.(IIII’IVUITI. 55’) 6550. 7 2‘/.'lue (nut I5. 22). ‘/.20/)))t. [(1.50 [II/50([8 [‘l). I’ri't'ii'n-s until 6 .‘lllL’. [5.
1 0pm
Janey Godley With her autohiography
just ottt. you can e\pect much in the \yay
of stories from this smart lady ‘s tough old life. (.II(I('I'I)('/[\_ ().s'.‘() 745 rust. i) fix slug. Ill/UN. £9.50 [/(I.5(I([8.50 10.5”). I’n't‘u’u's 4&5 glue. [5.
Scott Capurro 'l'he no-holds harred San l-‘ran tuan yy ill he letting rip lot' iust a ten days. ('atch his hile as hile you can. Iz'tltnlnu'g/t ('unu'ily' Ruuin. ‘I‘Iu' It'utt. 226 0000, 7 I.\’.-lue. I0..\'0/nn. [Ill Joy Gohring Another promising American comic. And a lady. no less. (ii/(It'd “(II/(Hill Ii‘t‘litl. 00:5 I055). 7 2)" .-lug (nut I5). I0.45/mi. [8.50 [9.50 ([750 [8.50). I’i‘i't’ii'ny until 6 glue. [5. DJ Danny ('an DJing he made to funnier than it actually already is'.’ l’l('(l\(lll('(’ (‘uurty'unl 556 6550. 5 29 :lug (nut 9. I6). I0.45/))n. [‘1 [I0 ([750 [8.50). I’ri't'imi \ until 4 slug. [4.
11pm
Frank Hovis 'l'he filthy old man from the halcyon days olxlltyuluti'ly' returns. (it/(It’tl Bill/(HUI Ii'l'iul. 668 I0.".". 7 2‘5 .vlue. Il/un. [8 [‘l ([7 [8). I’n't'ii'n \ until 6 glue. [5.
On Tuesday 23 August. ARTHUR SMITH will announce the winners of the first Fringe awards dedicated solely to the celebration of writing. THE WRITERS’ GUILD and THE LIST will be handing out three prizes. including one for best new comedy writing. and one for best newcomer. Here. the Guild’s DAVE COHEN introduces the scheme.
It‘s true that in recent years, comedy on the Fringe has been dominated by stand-up, and this has been reflected by the growth in awards for it, as well as competitions to find the best new acts. The Perrier Award tends to dominate the comedy arena for three weeks, but until now there has been little or no recognition of the exceptional quality of comedy writing on the Fringe. It’s also worth noting that while a comic may win the Perrier with a show featuring recycled material from previous years, many stand-ups who make the effort to do a different show each year put themselves at a disadvantage by refusing to fall back on their tried and trusted material.
Our award for best comedy could go to a stand-up with a whole new show, or to a sketch show, or a comedy play. So the winner could also be a performer. Some of the best writer-performers in the country continue to perform regularly at the Fringe, including Jeremy Hardy, Stewart Lee and Simon Munnery.
Rory Bremner first made a name for himself performing on the Fringe in the early 19805, and is delighted to see writing finally achieve some recognition during August. ‘lt’s about time,‘ he says. ‘The Fringe has so many awards for productions and performances, it‘s only fitting that writing should be equally recognised and celebrated.‘
More than 300 shows will qualify for these awards. As the Festival progresses we promise to keep you up to date with news of the best ones. This year also sees the launch of our first ever blogging site. Our army of reporters and judges will be reporting back instantly with news of the Festival’s hot tips. You may want to join in the debate as well, which you can do by logging on to www.list.co.uk/behindthefringe.
At this point, all speculation as to winners is just that, but among the established names who could be walking off with a comedy writing trophy are Jason Byrne, Daniel Kitson, Lucy Porter, Andy Parsons, Dara O‘Briain and Chris Addison. In the frame for the newcomer award are DJ Danny, Seymour Mace (pictured), Jason Manford, Ava Vidal, Rhod Gilbert and Kevin Brennan. Expect a firm but fair fight.
‘ is. : THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 29