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HOLLY BURN For her previous Fringe shows, Holly Burn has tunnelled into the mind of the Angel of the North and invited people into the flat she was living in last August for a site- specific experience, which our reviewer described as ‘torturously exasperating but totally compulsive’. This time around the idiosyncratic comic-actress is Living and Dying with a ‘renegade’ character-sketch affair that aims to ‘break all the rules’. Judging by her past record, chances are we’ll all find it quite hard to argue against that statement. (Brian Donaldson) ■ The Caves, 556 5375, 7–29 Aug (not 17), 3.35pm, £6.50 (£5). Previews 5 & 6 Aug, £5 (£4). 5QUESTIONS
Hitlist FESTIVAL COMEDY *
✽✽ Jonny Sweet The 2009 Best Newcomer whittles up another innovative multi-media extravaganza. See online interview, list.co.uk/festival. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–30 Aug (not 16), 7.30pm, £10.50–£12 (£9–£10.50). Previews until 5 Aug, £6. ✽✽ Kevin Eldon You’ll have seen his face on the box in everything from Jam to Black Books and now he’s Titting About. See page 26. The Stand, 558 7272, 6–30 Aug (not 16, 23), 2.30pm, £8 (£7). Preview 5 Aug, 1pm, £7 (£6). ✽✽ Charlyne Yi Expect some oddball weirdness from a comic pitched somewhere between Demetri Martin and Andy Kaufman. See page 20. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, 7–30 Aug (not 17, 24), 7pm, £12–£13 (£11–£12). Previews 5 & 6 Aug, £5. ✽✽ Jim Jefferies Expect a torrent of knuckle-close gags and a swathe of twisted tales in Alcoholocaust. See page 24. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 08445 458 252, 6–30 Aug (not 16, 27), 10.30pm; 27 Aug, 11.20pm, £14–£17.50 (£12–£15). Previews until 5 Aug, £10. ✽✽ Delete the Banjax The quartet in possession of 2009’s sketch show sleeper hit returns with higher expectations. See page 30. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–30 Aug (not 17), 5.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews until 6 Aug, £5. ✽✽ George Ryegold Hear how the good doctor got into hot water with his profession as he unfurls more butt-clenching stories of medical mischief. See page 42. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 7-30 Aug (not 16), 10pm, £9-£9.50 (£7.50-£8). Previews until 6 Aug, £5. ✽✽ Magnus Betnér Could this be Scandinavia’s year for stand- up? If so, then this daring figure will lead the pack. See online interview, list.co.uk/festival. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, 6–29 Aug (not 16), 10.20pm, £8 (£7). Preview 5 Aug, 6.40pm, £7 (£6). For Festival Index see page 128.
5–12 Aug 2010 THE LIST 19
Last August, Phil Nichol unveiled his new creation Bobby Spade and we gave him five big ones. Here, he repays the favour by chucking us some answers to our Q&A What five words best describe your show this year? Dark poetic theatrical jazz silliness. Which comic should be more famous by the end of August? Carey Marx is consistently one of the most progressive-thinking, hardest-working and under-rated joke writers in the business. He is quite simply a very funny man. What bugs you most about Edinburgh in August? There should be fairer, cheaper rents for the performers. Which dead comic do you wish was still alive and working today? George Carlin. He was someone with something to say in an industry full of observational lightweights. Is there a rumour you’d like to start about yourself? I hold the Guinness World Record for the longest note held on a tuba: 7 minutes 42 seconds. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) ■ The Stand, 558 7272, 6–30 Aug (not 16), 6.50pm, £10. Preview 5 Aug, 7.40pm, £9 (£7).