Latest news with #EdinbughFestivalFringe
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Hot Tickets: Here are 31 four and five star comedians returning this August - from Garry Star to Amy Gledhill
It's very nearly August, which means it's time to scour the Edinbugh Festival Fringe programme for the best shows to see. The physical programme has over 3,350 shows across 265 venues, meaning it can be a daunting task to work out what exactly you are going to see. While it's fun to take a punt and hope for the best, it's sometimes nice to go for a known quantity - a performer who has delivered acclaimed shows in the past. At The Scotsman we review hundreds of shows every year, with the best receiving a sought-after four or five star rating. While previous success is no guarantee that they will deliver the goods again, it's as good an indicator as any - particularly since many of the shows in Edinburgh have never been performed before. So, here are all 31 returning comedians who earned a four or five review from us in 2024 - and what we said about their shows. 1 . Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit On The Poster Amy Gledhill is returning this year for two performances only of last year's Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning show. What we said: "Amy Gledhill is a woman in possession of a treasure trove of funny stories from her life – and boy, does she know how to animate them." (Four stars). | Contributed Photo Sales 2 . Amy Mason: Behold! What we said about last year's show: "A wonderful example of belated, begrudging self-acceptance channelled into a consistently very funny performance." (Four Stars) | Contributed Photo Sales 3 . Ania Magliano: Work in Progress What we said last year: "Ania Magliano has taken a huge step. She's moved in with her lovely boyfriend - the first time she's lived with someone. And it's going quite well. But this being an Ania Magliano show, there is more to this." (Four Stars) | Contributed Photo Sales 4 . Chloe Petts Chloe Petts has two shows at this year's Fringe - 'Big Naturals' and 'Miscellaneous'. What we said about lasat year's show: "The charismatic comic demonstrates her wide appeal with a range of great material, from her woeful school education about sapphic relationships to this being the golden age of the butch lesbian." (Four Stars) | Contributed Photo Sales
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe Free Shows 2025: Here are 11 must-see free shows at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe
August is fast approaching which means it's time to scour the Edinbugh Festival Fringe programme for the best shows to see. The physical programme has over 3,350 shows across 265 venues, meaning it can be a daunting task to work out what exactly you are going to see. It can be an expensive business too, with many shows at the bigger venues now costing over £20 for the first time. Luckily, there's a Fringe experience for all budgets, including hundred of free shows that just ask you to turn up early and queue to be sure of a seat. Of course, they're not necessarily entirely free - you'll be asked to check some money into a bucket (or increasingly make a contactless payment) on the way out, with £5-£10 being a ballpark figure for a show that you have enjoyed. Some shows also give you the opportunity to 'pay what you want' in advance to secure a seat. There are two main sources of free shows - the Free Festival and PBH's Free Fringe - both of which operated in similar ways and tend to take place in pubs around the Scottish Capital. The likes of Richard Gadd, Ahir Shah and Austentatious have performed for free in recent years, so there's plenty of quality on offer - you might just see the next big thing. Here are 11 that caught our eye. You can check out the programmes at the Free Festival's website here and PBH's Free Fringe here. Remember not all shows are included in the Fringe official programme. Here are 11 that caught our eye. 1 . Mark Simmons: His Latest Jokes Last year's winner of the Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award (I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it), Mark Simmons is back with more of the same. There's likely to be much in the way of structure of narrative arc here, but the laughs are all but guaranteed. He's on at the Liquid Room at 1.45pm from August 2-23. | Contributed Photo Sales 2 . Sooz Kempner is Ugly Known to many as the title character in multimedia scifi spinoff 'Doctor Who's Doom's Day', Sooz Kempner is back in Edinburgh with a show about "beauty, ageing, trolling and Barbra Streisand". Catch her at the Counting House at 4.15pm from July 31-August 24. | Contribited Photo Sales 3 . Tevor Lock Trevor Lock's shows merging the line between comedy and interactive performance art have been making the Fringe a more interesting place for years - and are a must for any visit to Edinburgh in August. This year he has a scripted show in the paid-for programme, along with two of his more esoteric shows at the PBH Free Fringe. 'Trevor Lock, an audience with', promises to "turn a bunch of strangers into an extended family" at Bannermans at 2.45pm from August 2-24. Meanwhile 'Trevor Lock - Let's Start Another Cult' sets out to do exactly what it says on the tin at 5.55pm in the Voodoo Rooms from August 2024. The Scotsman called it "funny moving and clever". | Contributed Photo Sales 4 . John Robertson: Plays With The Audience Aussie comedian John Robertson is a real Fringe favourite for his improv game show 'The Dark Room'. That's back this year, but he's also trying a new show at the Free Festival, offering "improv, mayhem, gaming comedy, crowd work and songs". Sounds like an action-palced hour at the Counting House at 7pm from July 31-August 24. | Contributed Photo Sales
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Hot Tickets: Here are 31 stars of Live at the Apollo with shows you can see this August
August is fast approaching which means it's time to scour the Edinbugh Festival Fringe programme for the best shows to see. The physical programme was launched earlier this month, with 3,352 show across 265 venues, and some are already selling out. It can be a fairly daunting prospect to narrow those down when organising your Fringe . It's always nice to take a chance on something, hoping to be the first to see a hot new act - but sometimes it's just nice to see somebody familiar from television . Since 2004 the BBC's Live at the Apollo has been one of the most popular small screen showcases for standup comedians - acting as a rite of passage for those on their way to fame and fortune. Those appearing on early episodes included the likes of Jo Brand, Lee Mack, Jimmy Carr, Jason Manford, Russell Howard, Sean Lock and Dara Ó Briain. And, while it's not watched by as many people as in its heyday - when everybody in Britain seemed to know Rhod Gilbert's 'lost luggage' routine - it's still seen to be one of the most prestigious TV bookings for both up-and-coming and established comics. Here are 31 who have made the grade and are appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. You can buy tickets for all the shows here. 1 . Dan Tiernan: All In "Following two sold-out, award-nominated years at the Fringe, Dan's back and he's giving you everything he's got. No bluffing." Money Barrel, July 28-August 24. | Contributed Photo Sales 2 . Andy Parsons: Please #@!$ Off to Mars "Life is hard – come and have a laugh about it." Pleasance Courtyard, July 30-August 10. | Contributed Photo Sales 3 . David O'Doherty: Highway to the David Zone "A new opus from the hairy Enya, the Ryanair Bublé, the nine-volt battery-powered Beethoven. Talking, songs, talking during songs, talking while walking around – it's got the lot." Assembly George Square, July 30-August 2. | Contributed Photo Sales 4 . Jonny Pelham: Is It Me? "Award-winning comedian Jonny Pelham is newly single, he's moved to London and is being encouraged by the government to take speed everyday. Is It Me? is a hilarious new stand-up show looking at what it means to be diagnosed as 'neurodiverse,' what constitutes normality and how to find happiness in a world that's falling apart." Monkey Barrel, July 28-August 25. | Contributed Photo Sales
Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Hot Comedy Tickets: Here are 17 of the biggest comedians with shows
August is fast approaching which means it's time to scour the Edinbugh Festival Fringe programme for the best shows to see. The physical programme was launched earlier this month, with 3,352 show across 265 venues, and some are already selling out. It can be a fairly daunting prospect to narrow those down when organising your Fringe. It's always nice to take a chance on something, hoping to be the first to see a hot new act - but sometimes it's just nice to see a couple of familiar faces from television. Edinburgh has been the launching pad for a host of household names - everybody from Emma Thompson to Graham Norton started out with shows in the city. Many enjoy returning with their latest show in August - or to try out a work on progress in front of a comedy-literate crowd before heading out on a nationwide tour. Here are 17 of the biggest, most famous, names performing this year. 1 . Jenny Eclair Jenny Eclair became the first woman to win the Perrier (now the Edinburgh Comedy Award) in 1995 for her show 'Prozac & Tantrums'. This year, she'll be appearing for two shows only to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gilded Balloon. She'll be talking about her career, which as seen her branch out into acting, writing and presenting, at the Gilded Balloon from August 8-9. | Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Rosie O'Donnell First finding fame in a television talent show in 1984, Rosie O'Donnell became one of the most famous faces on American television, winning mumerous Emmy Awards for her daytime talk show that saw her nicknamed the 'Queen of Nice'. She's now a prominent gay rights campaigner who is also a successful actor and author. See her at the Gilden Balloon from August 1-10 where she'll be performing new show 'Here and Now'. | Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . Nish Kumar Former Mash Report host Nish Kumar brought work in progress show to Edinburgh last year. Now he's back with the finished product, 'Nish, Don't Kill My Vibe' at Assembly George Square from August 1-10. | Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . Smack the Pony Emmy Award winning sketch trio Smack the Pony - Sally Phillips, Fiona Allen and Doon Mackichan - will be reforming for four shows only, entitles 'Back in the Saddle'. They'll be chatting to Kirsty Wark and "having a gallop through a few favourite sketches" at the Gilded Balloon from August 17-20. | Channel 4 Photo Sales
