You Bury Me 4****

A rehearsed reading of You Bury Me presented by Paines Plough, Ellie Keel Productions and 45 North at the Royal Lyceum Theatre as part of the International Festival. The play is set in post-Arab-Spring Cairo and features six distinct characters, … Read More

Paul Currie: TEET 4****

A bearded man in a blue velour catsuit and a pair of stylish ankle boots leads an audience whose collective accent is both creepy and vaguely Liverpudlian through a show equal parts anarchy, cult, and giddy delight. Mr Currie’s comedy … Read More

Esther Manito #NotAllMen 4****

The delightful Ms Manito greeted us at the door and said goodbye from there at the end, and the bit in between was accomplished and smoothly delivered and not at all like a sixth-ever performance, performed without the benefit of … Read More

Bacon – Pip Utton 5*****

This year’s fringe is blessed with another stand out performance by Pip Utton. On a sunny afternoon in the Pleasance Rear Courtyard venue, Pip enthralled his audience with his fascinating portrayal of Francis Bacon. As the audience arrived at the … Read More

The Red – 4****

A new play by Marcus Brigstocke, his writing and directing debut, and very much a personal piece of work, given his own past addictions. The setting is the interior of a wine cellar into which enters Benedict, played by Sam … Read More

So You Think You’re Funny 2019 Grand Final

It was back in the mists of time, well 1988 actually, that Gilded Balloon Grande Dame Karen Koren instigated what is arguably the premier comedy competition for new acts and over the years it has grown in stature. The alumni … Read More

Ben Pope: Dancing Bear 4****

Ben Pope seems like a lovely, warm fellow, without a cynical thought in his head or malice for anyone. He didn’t even have anything particularly negative to say about the sassy, nonchalant ghost, just accepted it, decided to find it … Read More

Matt Forde:- Brexit Pursued by a Bear 4.5 ****

For many years now TV and radio political funny man has been stunning his audiences at Edinburgh Fringe with his no nonsense style of satire pointing out the events, flaws and foibles of a whole raft of British and overseas … Read More

Joey Page: Afterlife (An Idiot Considers a Series of Distractions Before Death) 3***

I have seen Joey Page a few times over the years, either being a compere or doing a slot on a compilation show, yet this was the first time I ventured to see a whole hour. On entering into the … Read More

Rocket Girl – 4 ****

The cast, in ‘NASA’ boiler suits, ask the younger audience members to draw what they want to be when they grow up.

Then the lights dim, and with a few simple props and a puppet, we’re transported back to 1969, … Read More