It’s here! It’s happening! The 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival has begun and here are our recommendations of what you should check out in between scoffing deep-fried Mars bars and tattie scones.
Voodoo Rooms (Venue 68b) @ 23:45
Join the 2014 Funny Women Award Winner Jayde Adams in Kahuzzi! A night chockful of laughter and featuring the hottest acts from around the festival, all month long.
Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88) @ 16:35
If you have young kids you might be able to tell the inspiration behind this new show. That Pair combine real life stories, sketches and songs for their cautionary tale of two kids’ party entertainers battling to convince the world they are real princesses. Which they are.
Twisted Loaf Present Stale Mate
Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88) @ 17:00
2013 Funny Women Awards winners Twisted Loaf are back in town. A year on from their last show Half Baked are they any the wiser? Probably not, this is Twisted Loaf after all, the pair will be mixing their signature dark stage style of clowning and physical characterisation for our entertainment.
Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88) @ 22:20
Funny Women Finalist 2014 Sam Baines and Helen Sorren round up a selection of the best comedians and TV personalities, so you can get the Fringe in one cup.
Abigoliah’s GoPro Comedy Talk Show!
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters (Venue 272) @ 12:45
NYC Comic, Abigoliah Schamaun has devised a talk show where even the back row aren’t safe! Armed with a GoPro Camera atop her head, Schamaun will film each show and upload it to the internet for you to share with friends and family!
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (Venue 170) @ 16:30
2006 Funny Women Award winner Suzy loves film, and recently realised she’s been playing the part of best friend in her own life when she wants to be the leading lady. Watch Suzy ditch the script, kill off a few surplus characters (metaphorically) and take the lead, all with a little thing called gumption!
Underbelly Med Quad (Venue 302) @ 16:05
Friend and facilitator for Funny Women Laura Lexx’s show is about finally coming to terms with being happy. Join ‘one of the most delightful performers you’re ever likely to see’ (GQ) on an expedition across continents with David Attenborough, to the depths of despair via Walt Disney and to sincere satisfaction courtesy of pesto.
Anna Morris: It’s Got To Be Perfect
Voodoo Room (Venue 68b) @ 15:55
Funny Women facilitator and critically acclaimed character comic, Anna Morris, returns after the success of last year’s sell-out hit show, Would Like to Thank. Georgina is getting married in Edinburgh and it’s got to be perfect. She’s having 22 rehearsals first, during the festival, and you are invited! A must RSVP.
Laughing Horse at The Counting House @ 12:05pm
Mel Moon somehow finds the humour in the debate over assisted suicide in her show Sick Girl. From the patient’s mouth, this is a great story of human interest, warmth and how against all the odds, this young lady is still in with a chance of her happy ending.
Gilded Balloon (Venue 14) @ 17:15
Take a walk on the wild side with comedian Lucy Frederick! An animal lover’s comedy dream! All are covered – ponies to porpoises!
Laughing Horse at The Newsroom (Venue 93) @ 14.30
Sajeela is concerned she’s become a cartoon version of herself. After a misspent childhood seeking religious loopholes, she’s sitting firmly on the faith fence. Now she has had her fill of Koran hijacking extremists, Dawkins spouting atheists and finger pointing social media to last a lifetime!
Sooz Kempner – Character Activist
Just the Tonic at The Mash House (Venue 288) @ 18:20
An Essex princess, a posh Soho vlogger, a mediocre athlete and a West End legend – following 2014s (minor) Edinburgh Fringe hit Defying Gravity, Sooz Kempner (Funny Women Variety Award 2012) is back with four characters, all women who believe they are making their mark on the world. Warning: will contain singing.
Viv Groskop: Say Sorry to the Lady
The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4 @ 20:20
Funny Women finalist, BBC broadcaster and Maestro Impro winner Viv Groskop has a new show about the challenges of everyday life when everything annoys you and yet you feel you must constantly apologise for yourself and for others. Includes ranting about being a reluctant authority figure to children and then lots of apologies for the ranting. Sorry.
Voodoo Room (Venue 68b) @ 16:15
Abi and her Labrador Al Qaeda invite you to pull up to the bumper and go downtown for tales of Welsh debauchery, the perils of singing karaoke in Moscow and an unfortunate incident with Jeremy Clarkson in Harrods. Find out what happens when your parents want you to be an opera singer and you end up tap-dancing in a pig costume, promoting a butchers.
Sarah Bennetto: Fritters Away an Hour of Your Life… Mmm, Fritters
Laughing Horse @ Bar 50 (Venue 151) @ 20:30
A new stand-up and character solo show by the London-based Melbourne comedian and host of Storytellers’ Club. ‘Self-deprecating, dark, honest and genuinely funny. One of the most enjoyable and original shows I’ve seen this year. It had me laughing out loud more times than I could count.
The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4 (Venue 12) @ 16:25
Funny Women Award Winner and star of Live at the Apollo, QI and The Jonathan Ross Show, one of our favourite Canadians is back to premier her brand new show. We can’t wait!
Gilded Balloon (Venue 14) @ 21:30
British Comedy Award winner for Best Female TV Comic 2014, Foster’s Best Newcomer nominee 2013 and avid avocado enthusiast Aisling Bea debuts her new show which, in March, was loosely supposed to be about childhood dreams, death, confidence and success.
BBC: Asian Network’s Big Comedy Night
BBC@Potterrow (Venue 25) @ 19:00
The BBC Asian Network return to Edinburgh for a third year, hosting an evening of the best Asian talent from across the festivals.
Gilded Balloon (Venue 14) @ 17:30
What do you regret? Bec only has one life regret and it haunts her. But now it’s time to change that…
Heroes @ The Hive (Venue 313) @ 16:20
Vyse is back and this time it’s personal! A bodacious and ballsy look at her battle with breast cancer. Hear the tale of her Stoke-on-Trent family The Waltons on Alcohol, her time with Nelson Mandela, acting and thieving at the Royal Shakespeare Company, settling down with Michael Jackson and finding cancer. Not to mention her producing two football teams from her womb. And all before the age of 30!
New Waverly Arches (Venue 462) @ 14:30
Comedian Bisha K Ali (Funny Women Finalist 2013, Laughing Horse Semi-Finalist 2014) takes you on a 40 minute journey through life, love, society and space. It’s stand-up comedy. It’s weirdly charming. It’s Ridiculous. Welcome!
Bridget Christie: A Book For Her
The Stand Comedy Club (Venue 5a) @ 11:00
A brand new show to launch Funny Women Awards Winner, Christie’s literary debut A Book for Her (and for him, if he can read). Come and enjoy 50 minutes of new material followed by a 10-minute book signing.
