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BRIEFS
THE ASSEMBLY ROOM’s Body Gossip show now has two additions to its line-up in the shape of Mike McShane and Lizzie Roper. Funnyman McShane is a regular with Paul Merton and his Improv Chums. THE SCOTSMAN reported this week that plans for an Assembly Rooms refurbishment could cause yet more rows among the Fringe set, following reports from Edinburgh City Council that they plan to go ahead with a £12 million facelift plan for the venue, despite the fear that it may put the Fringe venue out of commission for up to two years.
AND FINALLY, The List team are delighted with the news that the first Archangel award went to Universal Arts for their
programme at New Town Theatre, St George’s West and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
HIGHWAY ANTICS ■ Two of the Stand’s finest Aussies were arrested trying to hitch hike on the M8 coming back from Pick of the Fringe gigs in Glasgow. Ro Campbell and Marcus Ryan were shocked to discover that their usual practice of cadging a lift on the freeways down under was not acceptable in Caledonia. They avoided charges through the gift of the gab and the promise of tickets to see their show, The Wild Colonial Boys at Stand 2, every night at 11.35pm.
CUMMING IN TOWN Alan Cumming returns to the capital this month following his role in the EIF’s production of The Bacchae,in 2007. The actor’s in town as part of his appearance in a new portrait exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland to mark the Year of Homecoming 2009.
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Beano bonus As if The List’s recent cover star Emmanuel Jal wowing his audience wasn’t sufficient, the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year
welcomed another star in the making in the form of a new Beano character, created specially for a one-off EIBF event. Former writer Morris Heggie, BeanoMax editor Euan Kerr and illustrators Jim Petrie and Gordon Tait were all on site to bring the new character to life, as the audience played a major role in creating the comic’s latest recruit. Josh Wilson, aged ten, from Edinburgh, won the ballot to have a new character in the Beano named after him. Posh Josh will appear as Minnie the Minx’s arch enemy in future stories.
■ Has the recession killed off our economy? Does the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurialism that once defined us still exist? Why do we top the league tables for violent crime and premature death? This and a
■ Bad boy ex-Blue Peter presenter, Richard Bacon, is set to brave the Fringe masses and try his hand as a stand up comic. The BP-turned radio presenter will perform his first attempt at live comedy at the Udderbelly, as part of a performance to be broadcast live on Bacon's BBC Radio 5 Live show. The presenter will be given tips by established comedy glitterati such as Brendon Burns, Lucy Porter, Richard Herring, Barry Cryer, Justin Moorhouse and Stephen K Amos, the night before his stage debut. Regular listeners will be able to suggest jokes and material to be used in the ten-minute set. Bacon said his show would be an opportunity to find out ‘once and for all if I am indeed funny.’ Check him out on Thu 27 Aug. 4 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 20–27 Aug 2009
host of other questions provide the foundation for The Sunday Times Debate on Sat 29 Aug at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Panelists include Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats; George Foulkes, Labour peer and MSP; Michael Forsyth, former Conservative Scottish Secretary and Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish National Party’s Education Secretary.