Alex Stringer: Happy Hour 3.5***

Alex Stringer: Happy Hour is proof that stand-up can be tender, mischievous, and deeply entertaining all at once. From the start she’s chatty, comfortable and quick-witted, with smirks and laughter rippling around the room, as she paints vivid pictures of … Read More

Carl Donnelly – Another Round 4 ½ ****

Carl Donnelly certainly knows how to entertain an audience. He has a vast array of experiences in doing so and boy is that evident.

He has everyone at ease from the get-go, he is achingly funny, full of jokes and … Read More

Anja Atkinson : She Thinks She’s People – 4****

Anja Atkinson doesn’t so much take the stage at The Stand as commandeer it, striding in with the unruly force of someone who has no time for artifice. A Sunderland native with a voice that cuts through the room like … Read More

Matt and George: Legalise Marinara – 4****

It takes guts to throw your own comedy showcase together at the Fringe. But that’s exactly what Matt Macdonald and George Leeson have done, curating an hour of stand-up that doesn’t just hold its own — it occasionally shows up … Read More

Singin’ I’m No a Billy Jr, He’s a Tim Jr – Young Offenders 4****

Before a single line is spoken, the tone is set like a derby day kick-off. Rob McLean and David Tanner appear on screen like Sky Sports pundits, parsing the stats and stakes of the evening ahead. Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s … Read More

Just To Be Close To You – 3***

In this late-night cabaret of music and comedy, Cam Poter portrays lounge singer Carl Poteraychke.  Crooner from another era, living on the success of his hit “Just To Be Close To You”  There’s a hidden tale throughout that all … Read More

Kai Humphries – Kaibosh 4****

The first time that Kai Humphries name came to my attention was way back in 2010 when I saw his first Edinburgh show and was more than a little impressed.

Since then Humphries has been a regular performer at the … Read More

Dru Cripps : Juicy Bits – 4.5****

I was asked to review Dru Cripps show “Juicy Bits” by a good friend of his who he works with on the Fringe hit, “Sophie’s Surprise 29th”.  And boy am I glad I did, what a recommendation.  At first … Read More

40 Years of Fringe : Doon Mackichan and Kieran Hodgson 4****

Gilded Balloon marks four decades at the Fringe with a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats. Today Kieran Hodgson interviews fellow Two Doors Down star Doon Mackichan.

The show starts with Doon fully in character of Two Doors Down … Read More

Russell Hicks – WIP – 3.5***

I’ve been a fan of Russell Hicks and his brand of comedy for a while now, and watching his “Work in Progress” show was superb.  It gives a proper insight into how clever comedy is crafted into what will … Read More