Comedy and Hitlist

Comedy Hitlist

26 Aug 2009

Brendon Burns In years gone by this mouthy Aussie could have started an almighty battle in an empty room. He doesn’t have that problem anymore given the number of dates he’s added to this sold-out run. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 25–29 Aug…

Wau Wau Sisters' Last Supper bribe The List

With a magnet, thong, tea towel, fridge magnet and hip flask

12 Aug 2010

We received this bribe bounty at the very last minute, so unfortunately didn’t have time to track down a spokesperson from the show, but we think the bribe speaks for itself. The Wau Wau Sisters sent us a bundle including: a pair of pants, a thong, a…

Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw set challenge with Fringe comedy show

Champion of new music finds comedy feet

6 Aug 2010

Radio 1 returns to the Fringe following last year’s Scott Mills The Musical. DJ Nick Grimshaw was set the challenge of writing a one-man show, with five weeks to prepare. Here, he explains the show he’ll perform this week. ‘Don’t get me wrong – I…

Jeremy Lion answers questions from kids

The children's entertainer answers the questions that popped into our mailbox

5 Aug 2010

Bumbling children’s entertainer Jeremy Lion has taken time out from being near-permanently soused to explore some pressing environmental issues in his new show. He’s still got time for the kids, however, and was more than happy to answer the questions…

List picks: Comedy

4 Sep 2008

The Mighty Boosh They're sold out to heck, so if you have a precious ticket, hold it as tightly to you as you would were it the Ruby of Kukundu. That's a Boosh reference right there for you. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 11 & Fri 12 Sep; Pavilion…

Camille O’Sullivan – Chameleon

Dramatic re-imagining of Nick Cave, Tom Waits and David Bowie

30 Jul 2010

Not for nothing has this Irish charmer’s raunchy raw set and dramatic performances led to sell-out shows since she first took to the Fringe in 2004. Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Radiohead and David Bowie are all dramatically re-imagined here in showstopping…

The List's top five alternative activities for the royal wedding day

25 Apr 2011

1 Off With Their Heads Susan Morrison hosts an afternoon of music and comedy at The Stand, Glasgow, with proceeds going to liberal publication Scottish Left Review. As if the title wasn’t anti enough. 2 Heart Buchanan The kindly folks at the Byres…

Easter Revelry event at Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle hosts a weekend of family events this Easter

21 Apr 2011

The Easter Revelry event at Edinburgh Castle takes place on Sat 23 - Mon 25 April, and includes historically-themed activities that'll appeal to all the family. Kramis the wizard will perform magic tricks to amuse and amaze you, while Sir Hugo Sofboiled…

Stewart Lee’s Silver Stewbilee!

The stand up will launch his new book at the one-off night

6 Aug 2010

He’s not letting us reviewers in again this year, so we can only assume that he’s doing a mime show in Swedish or something. With this one-off night, he’s launching his excellent new book, a series of musings and full scripts from his last few stand-up…

Five hirsute gents tickling our fancies (and chins) this month

Look out for these bearded men at this year's Festivals

5 Aug 2010

Phil Kay Furry Fringe veteran Kay makes no fewer than four fuzzy-faced appearances this year. His kids’ show Gimme Your Left Shoe makes a welcome return; there’s a solo show in the evening called In Tweed; a late-night radio show titled RadioFree; and…

Fringe 2010 cabaret offerings are as colourful as ever

Smoke & Mirrors, Alan Cumming and The Crack

30 Jul 2010

From pared down to jazz-hands up, this year’s variety and cabaret offerings are as colourful as ever. Anna Millar meets the makers to find out why we just can’t get enough It’s a certain man who can shimmy from club door whore to straight-talking…

Lady Carol - Malady

We asked the singing, ukelele playing, dark-humorist five questions

30 Jul 2010

This ukelele lady has an inky-black sense of humour, and can turn the sweetest of love songs into a creepy stalker anthem. Just, please, keep her away from bright light and cakes. Five words you’d use to describe your show Sad songs, silly…

Lady Carol – Malady

Comedy singer returns to festival after sell-out shows in Sydney

30 Jul 2010

With her dark vocals and unimaginable covers this intoxicating comedy singer returns to the festival following a sell-out show in Sydney. Expect possibly some of the most enjoyable renditions of Love is a Battlefield and Running up that Hill and you…

Limmy and Rab, welcomed onto TV

3 Feb 2010

Are we actually in the midst of a halcyon period for Scottish telly comedy? Or is it easy to get carried away when, to use the vernacular of their main figureheads, two current shows aren’t actually pish. Ringing in the new is Limmy’s Show (BBC2, Mon…

Hitlist: Comedy

A fortnight of laughs

15 Oct 2009

Alun Cochrane The daydreaming Yorkshire lad who was born in Glasgow gives us the kind of blistering show that earned a mighty five stars from us in August. The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 26 Oct; The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 27 Oct. Daniel Kitson He…

Hitlist: Comedy

It's a funny old fortnight

2 Oct 2009

Billy Connolly, Tim Minchin, Glasgow Kids Comedy Club, AListair McGowan, Reginald D Hunter, Ennio Marchetto,

Comedy Hitlist

The events bound to raise a smile

17 Sep 2009

Billy Connolly, Daliso Chaponda, Fred MacAulay, Iain Heggie, Mark Nelson, Miles Jupp, Scott Agnew, Scottish Comedian of the Year Grand Final, Stand Up For Myeloma,

Hitlist: Comedy

3 Sep 2009

Billy Connolly The legend that is the Big Yin drops by to do a sold-out tour taking in several dates in the capital before doing his thing in Glasgow come October. He once did a joke about jojoba sounding a bit like October. Brilliant, it was. Usher…

Comedy hitlist

23 Aug 2009

Alun Cochrane, Anna & Katy, Brendon Burns, Jonny Sweet, Kim Noble, Pappy's Fun Club, Phil Nichol, Richard Herring,

Comedy Hitlist

The best comedy from the festival

9 Aug 2009

Pappy’s Fun Club A supersonic jaunt through a ludicrous yet hilarious number of sketches in a mere 60 minutes. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug (not 17), 7.20pm, £12-£14 (£10.50-£12.50). Hans Teeuwen The Dutch comic-actor breaks…

Kids Hitlist

Our pick of shows for the little festival goer to enjoy

30 Jul 2009

Andy and Mike's Big Box of Bananas, Giraffes Can't Dance,Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom, Room on the Broom, Wind in the Willows, Patrick Monahan's Stories and Fables for Kids that like to sit at Tables!

Comedy Hitlist

Who's making us laugh at the Fringe?

29 Jul 2009

Die Roten Punkte - Robot/Lion Tour, Janeane Garofalo, Laura Solon: Rabbit Faced Story Soup, Mark Thomas: The Manifesto, Rhys Darby: It's Rhys Darby Night, WitTank

Hitlist - Comedy

19 Feb 2009

● Craig Hill There’s a fair chance that this might be a bit camp as the lad Hill glams up our tedious comedic lives. Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 21 Feb. ● Russell Brand The walking controversy tries to set aside his 08 woes by getting back to…

Hitlist - Comedy

13 Nov 2008

● Hairy Watt Comedy Club Joe Heenan, Wendy Wason (pictured) and Bill Dewar help take the students’ minds off their educational endeavours for a couple of hours. Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, Tue 25 Nov. ● Jason Cook The confessional comic aims…

Festival comedy hitlist

14 Aug 2008

Barry & Stuart, Louis CK, Pajama Men, David O'Doherty, JL Roberts & Nadia Kamil, Jon Richardson, John Pinette, Russell Howard

Hitlist: Festival comedy

7 Aug 2008

Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler ‘Bona fide kooky monster’ Schaal offers more of her surreal blend of the dark and the utterly wholesome in the company of comedy partner Braunohler.

Hitlist - Festival comedy

31 Jul 2008

David O’Doherty The Irish muso-comic delivers more ribald whimsy with a tiny keyboard and giant talent. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, 1–24 Aug (not 11), 9pm, £9.50 (£8.50). Previews until 31 Aug, £8.50 (£7.50). Sarah Millican The north-east…

Comedy List picks

17 Jul 2008

Raymond Mearns Big man Mearns (who you may have seen in Ken Loach’s It’s a Free World last year) crops up for some top notch compering and a bit of sketch stroke stand-up stuff in Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 17–Sat 19 Jul; The…

Hitlist - The best comedy

1 Nov 2007

• Bill Bailey The self-proclaimed hippie materialist part-troll guy worms his way back into our affections with more daft musical musings. SECC, Glasgow, Wed 7–Fri 9 Nov. * Ian Rankin's choice • Mark Watson The most energetic (yet unhealthiest…

Hitlist - The best comedy

18 Oct 2007

• Jim Tavare When can a bald guy with a double bass ever be funny? When he’s Jim Tavare, that’s when. The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 23 Oct; the Stand, Glasgow, Wed 24 Oct. • Brendon Burns This year’s if.comeddie victor laps it up with a sort-of, though…

Hitlist - the best comedy

4 Oct 2007

Raymond Mearns You may have seen the big man in Ken Loach’s It’s a Free World recently, but don’t hold that against him. Here he’s back to what he does best; shooting the breeze in front of his adoring public. Jongleurs, Edinburgh, Thu 4–Sat 6 Oct; the…

Hitlist - The best comedy

20 Sep 2007

• Fred MacAulay The star of telly and radio also happens to be a truly inspiring stand-up performer and this show is one of the main draws of the Merchant City Festival. The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sat 22 Sep. • Debra-Jane Appelby The former…

Hitlist - The Best Comedy

6 Sep 2007

Ross Noble Everyone’s favourite Geordie japester, above (unless you retain a soft spot for the bearded teacher in Byker Grove), offers up Nobelism, his latest freeform extravaganza. Playhouse, Edinburgh, Sat 8 Sep; Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sun 9 Sep.

Hitlist - the best Festival comedy

23 Aug 2007

Stewart Lee Making a mockery of his low placing as the 41st Best Stand-Up Ever, the co-writer of Jerry Springer: The Opera has had everyone making a song and dance about this year’s show. UdderBELLY’s Pasture, 0870 745 3083, until 27 Aug, 7.30pm…

Hitlist - the best Festival comedy

16 Aug 2007

Kristen Schaal Winston Churchill roamed the Assembly Rooms last year in the guise of Mel Smith. He’s back for a ghost appearance in this superb show from one of America’s most delicate new comic talents. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 27 Aug (not 20)…

Hitlist - the best Fringe comedy

9 Aug 2007

Stewart Lee Still surfing on his own wave of post-Springer glory, the 41st Best Stand-Up Ever delivers a routine would rocket him further up that chart if they had another poll today. Hilarious and confrontational. UdderBELLY’s Pasture, 0870 745 3083…

Hitlist - The best comedy

16 Jul 2007

• Stewart Lee The 41st funniest stand-up is at the top of his game. See preview. The Stand, Glasgow, 30 July. • Comedy Club 4 Kids Will the grown-ups manage to not swear? How will they cope being shown up by the kids? It could get messy. The Bongo…

Hitlist - The best comedy

2 Jul 2007

• Improbabble The crazy gang brings us some more games and skits and general larking about in their own inimitable Whose Line Is It stylee. The Brunswick Hotel, Glasgow, Fri 6, 13 Jul. • Jo Caulfield One of the more solid performers on the circuit…

Hitlist - The best comedy

18 Jun 2007

Susan Calman The comic behind the Calmanator shows gives us four chances to see her do her thing this fortnight. She’s going to be big one day. In stature, that is, not in height. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 21, Wed 27 Jun, Tue 3 Jul; the Stand, Glasgow…

Hitlist - The best comedy

21 May 2007

Frankie Boyle This powerhouse comic is at the top of his game right now and these shows will be a fine indication about how massively he’ll be storming the Fringe come August time with Morons I Can Heal You. Brilliant, eh? The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 24…

Comedy Hitlist

The Best Comedy

7 May 2007

Hitlist

*Hitlist

Hitlist

23 Apr 2007

Tony Carter (pictured) We’ve recently seen Will Andrews twiddling the knobs and flicking some switches as a tech guy for other comics, but we love him most when he’s bounding on stage as his feckless Geordie jester alter ego. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Thu…

*Hitlist

Hitlist

9 Apr 2007

Glenn Wool According to this moustachioed Canadian geezer, you don’t go to hell for eating elephants. It’s certainly a reassuring theory, but what can it mean? This may be your chance to find out. Jongleurs, Glasgow, Thu 12-Sat 14 Apr.

*Hitlist

Hitlist

26 Mar 2007

Jo Brand She’s the 22nd greatest stand-up in the world ever, you know? According to Channel 4, anyway. Yes, we’ll be banging on about that poll for some time to come. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sun 1 Apr; Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 8 Apr.

*Hitlist

Hitlist

12 Mar 2007

Mark Watson Your last ever chance to see the superb I’m Worried That I’m Starting to Hate Almost Everyone in the World, inspired by the time the Bristolian was mugged by a young hoodlum type. The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 15 Mar.

*Hitlist

HITLIST

27 Feb 2007

Stewart Lee A brand new show from Mr Clever Trousers with more sacred cows being put to his savagely satirical and pleasingly postmodern sword. The Stand, Glasgow, Fri 9 Mar.

* Hitlist

Hitlist

12 Feb 2007

Comedy Academy 4 Kids Got a nipper at home who is just a little bit too quick off the mark for their own good? Send them to school on a Saturday as punishment. The workshop run by James Campbell might even do them some good. The Bongo Club, Edinburgh…

* Hitlist

Hitlist

29 Jan 2007

Stephen K Amos The genial and talented wag will be on Channel 4 soon talking about being both black and gay. Catch him now before he’s far too famous for the likes of us. The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 1-Sat 3 Feb.

* Hitlist

Hitlist

15 Jan 2007

Simon Brodkin A best of British for you, as one of the true finds of the last Fringe brings us some characters from this sceptred isle. The Stand, Edinburgh, Fri 19 & Sat 20 Jan.

* Hitlist

Hitlist

19 Dec 2006

Fred MacAulay The man off the radio gets up on stage to make a whole room dizzy with his mirthful ways. All of which sounds sarcastic, but it’s really not meant to be. Our Fred is one of the most reliably hilarious stand-ups on the circuit. The Stand…