CONTENTS

Cover story: Russell Brand There’s no middle ground with this guy. You either curl up into a cute cuddly ball at the yummy sight of his dreamy boho face, or else the slightest glimpse of him and that bloody facial hair makes your mouth foam and your toes curl with anger. But whichever side of the lunatic asylum you’re on, there’s no denying that Russell Brand is one of the talking points of the Fringe. It’s not only the fact that his every move is tracked by the paparazzi: it is also true that Russell Brand is a very, very good comedian. Honestly. Festival audiences demonstrated as much by making him the best-selling pre-Fringe show. As for all tabloid rumours, if you’re lucky enough, you can hear the schtick and

get a look at that beard close up, by entering our competition to win a priceless hour with our cover star. Find out how on page 18.

Highlights

10 Jeanette Winterson She's sexed the cherry and worked out that there are fruit other than oranges. Now. Winterson's written a trrne travel thriller for kids.

18 Russell Brand Meet the comedian who's all over the tablords and the telly. for the wrong reasons.

20 Comedy breakthroughs Two men you hadn't heard of before the Festrxal. who you‘ll be glad to know about afterwards.

40 They Might Be Giants The film directors who could have been brgger than Scorsese and Coppola. 60 Theatre breakthroughs Meet the cornpanres tak- rng the Fringe bg. storm.

8 Win tickets to see Troilus and Cressida

8 Win tickets to see Editors and Matisyahu at T on the Fringe 8 Win tickets to the Edinburgh Surprise Film

53 2 for 1 pints of Versa

Reader Offers

Thursday 17 Thursday 24 August 2006

Agenda 2 TOP 20 4 FESTIVAL NEWS 6 FESTIVAL LEECH

9 Books .

11 DAVID SEDARIS

20 COMEDY BREAKTHROUGHS

32 Dance

35 SCOTTISH BALLET

37 Film

38 ROSARIO DAWSON 4O THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS 42 DESTRICTED

47 Kids

48 COMEDY FOR KIDS

.‘ . $6. " 5.: ‘l':'x!vr”-'¢“1. _

52 MUSIC BREAKTHROUGHS

59 Theatre 71 Visual Art

72 TOULOUSE LAUTREC

75 Clubs

, 79 Escape -

For complete eight-day information about non-festival @ events in Glasgow

and Edinburgh, see this week’s regular edition of The List, published with this Festival supplement.