Bella Hull: Piggie 4.5****

Bella Hull elicits more involuntary noises and facial expressions from an audience than I have experienced in a long time; not all laughter (though plenty of that), and pretty much continuous through the show. Her own facial expressions and body … Read More

Emma Holland 4****

I received an extra content warning email a bit before the show, and while some of Emma Holland’s material did poke at the limits of what some might find funny in a spirit of fun and subversion, it’s nothing like … Read More

Zoe Brownstone: A Bite Of Yours 3***

Zoe Brownstone is a self-described hopeless romantic, having grown-up in the 90s golden age of rom-coms, and she’s been searching for her own happy ending. Technically solid and well delivered, this show would perhaps benefit from a bit of refinement … Read More

Tamsyn Kelly: Crying in TK Maxx 4****

What starts out feeling like a medley of best bits from ten-minute club sets quietly morphs into a long-form narrative with diverting side-quests. It works well: Ms Kelly eases herself into the show with skills she can probably exercise in … Read More

Simon Brodkin – Xavier 5*****

I wasn’t too sure what I expected going into this gig. My knowledge of Brodkin’s back catalogue consisted of him showering Sepp Blatter with dollars and handing Teresa May a P45, oh and of course his alter ego Lee Nelson.

… Read More

Mary O’Connell: Money Princess 3.5***

Mary O’Connell came out strong, bounding on stage with attitude and verve. She’s got great stage presence and a lovely cadence to her delivery that she keeps up throughout the show. This, and a robust framing narrative keep potentially disparate … Read More

Matty Hutson: Don’t Hold Back 5*****

Matty Hutson achieves top marks in every aspect of the show. He’s an excellent musician (guitar, keyboard, electronic manipulation), and writes music that you wouldn’t be surprised to hear on a streaming service. It is melodically pleasing and harmonically sound. … Read More

Chloe Petts – If You Can’t Say Anything Nice 4.5 ****

Chloe Petts returns to Edinburgh for her ‘difficult’ second  show this year following the critically acclaimed sell-out run last year. She was thought of in some circles as being too nice. Is this show different? Well it certainly an angrier … Read More

Josh Weller: Age Against the Machine 4****

Josh Weller delivers an excellent hour of comedy about music, also involving musical comedy. He started life aiming for a successful music career, but it didn’t work out. A decade and a half later, Josh is able to find quite … Read More

Ivo Graham- Organised Fun 4****

It seems a long time ago that I first saw Ivo Graham at the Fringe as a young up and coming comic.

Obviously his star is still rising, Graham is always appearing on TV whether it is his stand-up … Read More