Catherine Bohart – Again, with Feelings 5*****

So many feelings! The Fringe welcomes back the animated and delightfully queer Catherine Bohart. She’s here with stacks of steamy gossip and wanting to rake through yours too. Mid thirties now, and so she navigates us through a narrative of … Read More

Phil Ellis : Come On and Take the Rest of Me 5*****

The Monkey Barrel 4 has never seen a more magnificent uproarious introduction and entrance to the stage than Phil Ellis this lunchtime. He has a side kick in Hype Man who lives up to his name and hypes the audience … Read More

Pierre Novelli – Must We 5*****

Pierre Novelli is an exceptional stand-up show that expertly blends humour with sharp social commentary. Dressed in a smart powder blue suit that complements his confident and refined stage presence, Novelli immediately commands the audience’s attention and holds it effortlessly … Read More

Yuriko Kotani : The Meanings of Life 4****

Yuriko Kotani returns to The Fringe with her new show; The Meanings of Life. The theme of the show is mainly Yuriko’s unique perspective and observations on certain phrases and words that can have very different meanings in Japanese and … Read More

Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit On The Poster 5*****

Amy Gledhill is well established across comedy, winning awards, being part of The Delightful Sausage and Gein’s Family Giftshop, and also as an excellent stand-up with wonderful stage presence, so this review could stop right there but that is not … Read More

Sara Barron – Anything for You 3.5 ***

On entering Monkey Barrel 1 the overwhelming first impression was a monitor showing a mature woman’s face, who could have been, and turned out to be Sara Barron’s mother. Barron originally from Chicago, has lived in the UK for 15 … Read More

Eleanor Morton – Haunted House 4.5****

In a dark basement, part of the Monkey Barrel group, the stage is set with an impressive old dolls house, spookily lit with lights, and then Eleanor Morton appears, dressed in a white Victorian style dress and questions the audience … Read More

Larry Dean – Dodger 5*****

Way back in in 2013 I was invited to attend the final of Scottish Comedian of the Year and first heard the name Larry Dean, who even in those distant times had stardom written all over him. He won the … Read More

Tom Ballard : Good Point Well Made 4****

Tom Ballard is a very loud, very opinionated Australian who clearly harbours a lot of rage. He bounds on to the stage, and in the compact venue of the Monkey Barrel 2, you wonder if the microphone is entirely necessary.

… Read More

John Luke Roberts: John-Luke-A-Palooza! 5*****

John Luke Roberts starts his show, after a bit of ‘business’ to get his audience into the mood he needs, by proposing that Edith Piaf regretted five things.

The show has no storytelling or narrative arc, being fundamentally about innumerable … Read More