July. The month that marks the countdown before the Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes over Scotland (as well as the comedy and Arts scene/world in general) in August, and so plays host to all the acts’ preview shows, where comics perform work in progress material before bringing the slick finished product to the Fringe. Think of it as the exciting practice run to the ‘Edinburgh Fringe Show Season’, a bit like the season in Bridgerton, except instead of 50 balls and Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, there are 3000 live shows and HRH Jordan Gray. In aid of this, our monthly gig guide will naturally be, exclusively, Edinburgh work in progress shows.
1. EDINBURGH WORK IN PROGRESSES:
© Alice Fraser, Helen Bauer
ROSE MATAFEO: WIP
Thurs 13 July @ 6:30 PM, The Bill Murray
If you’ve not heard of or seen Rose Matafeo, I am shook and you need to rectify that. Gracing our screens many times herself on Taskmaster, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, and starring in and writing her own show Starstruck, Matafeo is hilarious, telly mainstream and officially a big deal. Not to mention Fringe royalty, having won the Edinburgh Award for Best Show in 2018 with Horndog. You can catch her WIP at The Bill Murray this month.
Nab a ticket here!
ALICE FRASER: TWIST WIP
Sat 8 July @ 5:30 PM, The Bill Murray
Alice Fraser is probably the fastest wit about. If you like quick and clever comedy, with some profound messages thrown in, this is the show for you. In her own words, Fraser’s show is about the surprise twists and turns that life can take you on, or is it….?
Nab your tickets here!
HELEN BAUER: GRAND SUPREME WIP
Mon 3 July @ 9:30 PM, The Bill Murray
About to embark on a UK and Europe Tour of her new solo show ‘Grand Supreme Darling Princess’, after performing said show at this summers’ Edinburgh Fringe, you can catch the WIP in July (and read our very own Q&A with her here). Bauer talks about rescue complexes, Disney and dictators (which, in Bauer’s own words, are her ‘twin flame passions’).
You can find tickets here!
© Liz Guterbock, Kirsty Mann
LIZ GUTERBOCK: WIP
Thurs 6 July @ 7:30 PM, The Pen Theatre
You can catch Liz Guterbock’s hotly anticipated Fringe debut show at The Pen Theatre in July. If you’re into such topics as women getting older, reality TV and silly voices, sprinkled in with some sincerity (but not too much), then you should get involved.
You can nab your tickets here!
KIRSTY MANN: SKELETONS WIP
Mon 24 July @ 7:00 PM, Camden Comedy Club
Kirtsy Mann is a Funny Women Awards finalist, so frankly, you shouldn’t need to know any more info to get a ticket. Kirsty Mann’s debut show is about her secret; that she’s actually a doctor disguised as a comedian. Intrigued?? So am I.
You can grab your tickets here!
© Robin Tran, Amy Matthews
ROBIN TRAN: DON’T LOOK AT ME
Weds 2 August @ 6:25 PM, Assembly George Square, The Box.
Not technically in July, but forgive me, I’m giving you a sneak peek at August. The brilliant Robin Tran is, as she puts it, half professor, half clown and half woman, with sparkling credits such as Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018. Tran is debuting at the Fringe this year, after doing a run in Canada and the US. Not one to miss!
Grab your tickets here!
AMY MATTHEWS: I FEEL LIKE I’M MADE OF SPIDERS WIP
Sat July 15 @ 2:30 PM, The Camden Head
Amy Matthews, previously tour support for Jess Fosteskew and Rachel Fairburn, brings her new stand up hour to the Fringe, and you’d be silly to miss it. Her show is about the thrill that anything can happen and the anxiety that nothing is certain. So naturally, she feels like she’s made of spiders. Quirky and animated, Matthews’ show is also directed by none other than Elf Lyons (Clown comic and Edinburgh Best Show Award nominee 2017).
Grab your tickets here!
UROOJ ASHFAQ: OH NO! WIP
Tues 25 July @ 9:15 PM, Soho Theatre
Get yourself down to Urooj Ashfaq’s show at Soho Theatre (running from Tues to Sat 29th) before she heads to the Fringe. It’s so good they’re putting it on for a whole 5 nights. Ashfaq’s show is about her, her family, things that annoy her, and things she loves.
Grab your tickets here!
2. FUNNY WOMEN LIVE!
Not that we’re biased or anything, but we also have some of our famous and spiffing live shows this month. So, here’s the low down:
Funny Women Live in Brighton! – Sat 29 July @ 7:30 PM, Komedia Brighton. Tickets here!
3. VARIETY NIGHTS:
SHARIHAN HADWEH & MANAL AWAD: COMEDY FROM PALESTINE
Sat 1 July @ 7:00 PM, Soho Theatre
Sharihan Hadweh performs her show No Cheri, after a run in Palestine last year, before Manal Awad, the award winning stand up and director, performs her show Mia Chara, back to back in this stand up special. Hadweh’s show is about barriers, how a person can put up obstacles that stop them from achieving their dreams. As a blind person herself, this hasn’t got in the way of Hadweh’s success performing on stage in multiple countries to 4000 people. Beg, borrow or steal a ticket.
Grab your tickets here!
