FESTIVAL COMEDY | Day Planner Needing laughs from high noon til midnight? Brian Donaldson helps map out your itinerary between the unsociably early and the fashionably late
NOON
Rosie Wilby Reflecting on her 1990s studying in York and helping create a radical student mag: among her pals there was fellow future comic Zoe Lyons. Voodoo Rooms, 226 0000, 2–24 Aug (not 11), 12.05pm, free. Julia Sutherland Sadly, just the one date this Fringe from the stand-up described (hopefully by herself) as a ‘comedy strumpet’. The Stand, 558 7272, 5 Aug, 12.50pm, £10 (£9). 1PM
Liam Williams One of last year’s emerging acts eschews the city centre for his new show, Capitalism. He’ll be worth the trek all the way out to Argyle Place, so tell your feet to stop moaning. The Cellar Monkey, 221 9759, 31 Jul–25 Aug (not 11), 1.15pm, free. Wishful Thinking: Jen Brister Is it possible to be politically active and find time to fit in a trip to IKEA? Just one of the dilemmas troubling Jen Brister. Whistlebinkies, 226 0000, 1–24 Aug (not 12), 1.30pm, free.
2PM
Ruby Wax Is it possible to stay sane in this mad old modern world? The Waxster isn’t too sure, but she’s doing a show to explore such things. Assembly Rooms, 0844 693 3008, 1–7 Aug, 2.05pm, £15 (£12). Eric and Little Ern One for true fans of Morecambe and Wise as this theatrey- comic hit returns. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1–25 Aug (not 6, 13, 20), 2.40pm, £14–£15 (£13–£14). Previews 30 & 31 Jul, £10.
3PM
Mark Cooper-Jones One-third (formerly one-quarter when they were a foursome) of WitTank breaks out of that sketchy straitjacket to reflect on his days as a geography teacher. Globe Bar, 226 0000, 2–24 Aug (not 11, 18), 3pm, free. Kieran Hodgson One-half (formerly one-third when they were a trio) of Kieran and Joe (for the record, they were Kieran and the Joes, but to point that out would spoil the rhythm of this entry which cleverly harks all the way back to the Mark Cooper-Jones one) breaks out of that sketchy straitjacket to reflect on his days on a French exchange visit. Voodoo Rooms, 226 0000, 2–24 Aug (not 13), 3.40pm, free.
4PM
Hi, Hitler One of the finest puns of the Fringe tells of Lucie Pohl’s upbringing and her strange childhood fascination with the nasty Führer. She’s related to Bertolt Brecht, you know. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 2–25 Aug (not 11), 4.15pm, £8–£9 (£7–£8). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £5. Robin Ince Nothing nasty about Mr Ince, one of the most delightful chaps on the comedy circuit. Here, he gives us a clever show about the brain. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, 1–12 Aug, 4.25pm, £10 (£9). Preview 31 Jul, £9 (£8). FanFiction Comedy A return for the cult show that delves further into pop culture fantasy than you might want to go. Assembly George Square, 226 0000, 2–24 Aug (not 12), 4.40pm, £8–£10. Previews 31 Jul & 1 Aug, £6.
48 THE LIST FESTIVAL 31 Jul–7 Aug 2014
11), 8pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8.50–£9.50). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £5. Dan Clark Love, death and solitude are playing on DC’s mind. Me, My Selfie and I is the result of all that pondering. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 2–24 Aug (not 13), 8.20pm, £8.50–£12.50 (£7.50– £11.50). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. Mark Nelson Could this be the year one of our favourite Scottish stand-ups finally breaks out? That’s partly up to you lot. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 2–25 Aug (not 11), 8.45pm, £10–£12.50 (£7.50–£10). Previews 31 Jul & 1 Aug, £6. 9PM
Eddie Pepitone A couple of years back, Eddie hit the papers because a door-guy refused Hugh Grant entry to his show. This year, he’ll be making headlines for just being darn funny. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–24 Aug (not 11), 9pm, £12–£14 (£10–£12). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £7. Tiff Stevenson An act who can pick out a reviewer at her gigs from around 20 paces, Tiff claims to be an Optimist this year. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 2–23 Aug, 9.15pm, £8.50–£10 (£7–£9). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. George Ryegold A welcome return to the stand-up stage for Toby Williams’ graphic medic character. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 2–25 Aug (not 11), 9.40pm, £9–£10 (£8–£9). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. 10PM
Simon Amstell Ahead of his latest self-effacing tour, the guy we all loved taking the rise from music types in Popworld does his sensitive comedy thing. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 4–12 Aug, 10pm, £12 (£11). Alun Cochrane An unsung heroes of British stand-up. Will he be decked out in double denim this year? The Stand, 558 7272, 1–24 Aug (not 11), 10.10pm, £10 (£9). Preview 30 Jul, £9 (£8). Ennio Marchetto The man of a million papier mâché-related impressions returns with Obama, Gaga and a cast of many others. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–15 Aug (not 11), 10.30pm, £12.50–£14 (£11.50– £13). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £8.
11PM
Adrienne Truscott Last year she won the prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards that is neither the main gong nor the best newcomer, for a show about rape culture, performed naked from the waist down. Here the Wau Wau Sister reprises that underground hit. Bob & Miss Behave’s Bookshop, 226 0000, 6–16 Aug (not 10–12), 11pm, £8. This is Your Trial Not one of those awful comedy roasts, but a celebration of something or someone ‘on trial’. There are judges and wigs and a rotating cast of Fringe folks. Assembly George Square, 226 0000, 2–23 Aug (not 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18), 11.20pm, £8.50–£10.50. Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. MIDNIGHT
Late with Kate One of those fun-packed late-night compilation shows hosted by the redoubtable Kate Smurthwaite. Canons’ Gait, 226 0000, 2–23 Aug (not 3, 10, 17), midnight, free. The Room The worst movie in cinematic industry? It’s certainly up there, but this has only eased its passage into the cult classic canon. Four cringeworthy chances to see what the fuss is about. Assembly George Square, 226 0000, 3, 10, 17, 24 Aug, 12.15am, £8.
VITAMIN
A man who believes he was once a dog. A nun in a closed shopping centre. This is the kind of thing you can expect from this ‘dancer- priest-accordionist-caterpillar man’ who trained at Ecole Philippe Gaulier and is merrily giving us the benei t of those studies with an expert clowning show. ■ Assembly George Square, 226 0000, 2 & 3 Aug, 6.30pm, £12. Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £8.
5PM
John Kearns A wild success on the free roster last year to the point where he won the Best Newcomer award, Kearns lays more of his Shtick on us. Voodoo Rooms, 226 0000, 2–23 Aug (not 13), 5.05pm, free. Seymour Mace If he’s still best known to you as the guy who played creepy twins in Ideal, it might be time you got out more. And saw him live. The Stand V, 558 7272, 1–24 Aug (not 11, 13), 5.30pm, £8 (£7). Preview 30 Jul, £7 (£6). Phil Wang Another of last year’s impressive newcomers, Wang is back with Mellow Yellow, almost certainly another wry set of observations and stories. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–24 Aug, 5.50pm, £8.50–£10 (£7–£9). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. 6PM
Susan Calman ‘The wee lassie with a big future’ we dubbed her many years ago. And, incredibly, we weren’t wrong. Lady Like is a show about ‘a lot of things’. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 2–24 Aug, 6.30pm, £12.50–£13.50 (£11.50–£12.50). Previews 31 Jul & 1 Aug, £7. Nina Conti If ventriloquism is your bag for an early evening out, you need
to cop a load of Conti. Assembly Roxy, 623 3030, 2–17 Aug (not 12), 6.55pm, £10. Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. 7PM
Jo Caulfield Want a surefire recommendation for a funny Fringe night out? This is it now. If you don’t like her, it’s almost definitely your fault. The Stand, 558 7272, 1–24 Aug (not 11), 7.05pm, £10 (£9). Paul Foot A real opinion-divider is Mr Foot. If you want a gauge of his thing, Noel Fielding really likes him. But experiencing Foot in the flesh is the only true way to shape a verdict. Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 2–24 Aug (not 11), 7.30pm, £10.50–£12 (£9.50–£11). Previews 31 Jul & 1 Aug, £6. Oh My Godley! Still the godmother of Scottish comedy, Janey Godley will be giving it both barrels to an array of targets. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 2–25 Aug, 7.55pm, £11–£12 (£10–£11). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £7.
8PM
Celia Pacquola This never unpopular Aussie comic has a request: Let Me Know How it All Works Out. A show about the future and how not to plan for it. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 2–25 Aug (not