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TAKE THE MIC For Take the Mic, some of the finest comedy talent in Scotland battle it out for £12,000, the single biggest prize in UK stand-up. The show is the culmination of over 200 auditions and five regional sell-out shows, where the audience voted the finest acts through. Only six remain as they battle it out in the world famous Caledonian Brewery. One of Gus Tawse, Pearse O’Halloran, Mikey Adams, John Scott, Scott Agnew and the sketch group How Do I Get Up There? (pictured) will win the big prize after performing six nights of stand-out stand-up and sketch comedy. ■ Caledonian Brewery, 226 0000, until 22 Aug, 7pm, £9.50 (£8). 5QUESTIONS
Hitlist FESTIVAL COMEDY *
✽✽ Tommy Tiernan The Irish icon (above) returns to the Fringe with stories that will make you laugh and think. See interview at list.co.uk/festival. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 20–30 Aug (not 26), 8pm, £14–£15 (£12–£13). ✽✽ Bo Burnham The sharpest kid in the Fringe toolbox delivers a pitch-perfect slice of music and comedy. See review, page 36. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, until 29 Aug, 9.35pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). ✽✽ The Boy With Tape On His Face A mime show? Oh dear, that won’t be very good will it? Prepare to be utterly flummoxed. See review, page 28. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 29 Aug, 10.30pm, £9–£10 (£8–£9). ✽✽ Dr Brown An uncomfortably memorable comedic ride from the bearded guy who’s creating some disconcerting waves. See review, page 34. The Caves, 556 5375, until 29 Aug, 11.10pm, £7–£8 (£6–£7). ✽✽ Magnus Betnér Could this be Scandinavia’s year for stand-up? If so, then this daring figure will lead the pack. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, until 29 Aug, 10.20pm, £8 (£7). ✽✽ Ross Sutherland An unexpectedly moving ‘live literature’ event from the former Aisle 16 member with The Three Stigmata of Pacman. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, until 29 Aug, 4.40pm, £9–£10.50 (£6.50–£9.50). ✽✽ Jonny Sweet The 2009 Best Newcomer brings us another innovative multi-media extravaganza with Let’s Just Have Some Fun (And Learn Something for Once). Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 30 Aug, 7.30pm, £10.50-£12 (£9-£10.50). ✽✽ Keith Farnan The Irish joker with the conscience delivers a funny yet thought-provoking show about the perils of being a woman. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, until 29 Aug, 6.20pm, £9–£10.50 (£6.50–£9.50). 19–26 Aug 2010 THE LIST 27
Rhod Gilbert is popping our way for a week of The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst. Here he licks away at our milky Q&A What five words best describe your show this year? It’s last year’s show . . . again. Which comic should be more famous by the end of August? Ricky Gervais. I think The Office is being re-made in the Amazon in August, with a not very self-aware try-hard tribal leader who has to reconcile the dual roles of being a credible leader with his desire to be liked. The dance scene is even funnier when there’s the added danger of his leaf riding up. What bugs you most about Edinburgh in August? The cheap rents. When oh when are you Edinburgh people going to catch on to the fact that there is money to be made from this festival? Which dead comic do you wish was still alive and working today? Does it really matter? What are you going do: see which dead comic tops the list, dig them up and stick a show on at 11.30 at night in venue 456,000,000? Is there a rumour you’d like to start about yourself? No. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) ■ EICC, 08448 471 639, 21–29 Aug (not 23), 8pm, £18.50.