Where comedy gets serious coverage.
Hasan Al-Habib is an immediately intense stage presence. He can jump between accents and voices, slipping fully into the construct that comedy historian Oliver Double calls “instant character”, where a…
This show is ostensibly based around how trans people relate to watching football, though that framing device is used lightly (to the point where I wished it had come up…
Flight of the Conchords, 30 Rock, Bob’s Burgers, The Daily Show, What We Do in the Shadows, Bojack Horseman – Kristen Schaal has been in everything good, but if your…
Adam Riches: The Critics’ Way – 15:10 at Underbelly Cowgate, Cow Café A character show on the subject of comedy reviewing is a fun meta-concept that didn’t have quite enough…
This is Ahir Shah’s first finished show since his well-deserved win of the Edinburgh Award, with Ends in 2023. It’s a tough act to follow, but he achieves that beautifully.…
John-Luke Roberts told us that this year, he’s going to eschew his absurdism and experimental stuff in favour of straight stand-up. I assumed that would be misdirection of some sort,…
This show won Phil Nichol the Perrier Award in 2006 (actually, he was the first person to win it after it was no longer called the Perrier Award, but it…
Rosie Jones: I Can’t Tell What She’s Saying – 16:00 at Pleasance Courtyard, Cabaret Bar This felt like Rosie Jones Unplugged – the version of her from TV, but a…
Eleanor Morton: The Mermaid – 13:00 at Monkey Barrel, Cabaret Voltaire 1 Eleanor Morton’s previous hour, Haunted House, was notable for its elaborate sets and costumes, and for starting the…
I started the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year with a five-show day, and enjoyed them all. Here’s a run-down: Will Adamsdale: AI, AI, Oh… (or how I wrote a hit…
Sarah Stringer