Comedy Day Planner

This article is from 2009.

Idiots of Ants

Not sure what do you with your time, but really want to see some good comedy? Brian Donaldson helps sketch out your mirthful itinerary between lunchtime and the witching hour, from The Early Edition to Late ‘n’ Live

Noon

The Early Edition
The never unintelligent Marcus Brigstocke gets up early-ish to scan the papers with Andre Vincent and guests, no doubt piercing pomposity and satirising silliness all along the way. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug, 12.25pm, £10–£12.50 (£8–£11.50). Preview 7 Aug, £7.

Elaine Malcolmson & Niall Browne
Two jesters from the north of Ireland take a sideways trip into their homeland. The Stand II, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug, 12.30pm, £7 (£6).

Helen Keen
Last year the excitable Ms Keen put on a sweet and lo-fi show about science and this year she’s at the same malarkey but on the subject of Arctic survival. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 8–31 Aug, 12.45pm, £9 (£8). Previews 5–7 Aug, £5.

1pm

Thankless Child
Freya Slipper and Liz Black are said bairns who deliver sketches which offer advice and warnings about the tribulations of youthdom. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 18, 25), 1.15pm, £7.50–£8.50 (£6–£7). Previews 5–7 Aug, £5.

Richard Sandling’s Perfect Movie
The less than marginally obsessive film buff from Southend takes his fandom to new lengths and breadths by inviting Fringe comics to perform their favourite movie scenes. The Canon’s Gait, 226 0000, 8–30 Aug (not 19), 1.15pm, free.

2pm

Russell Kane’s Fakespeare
The Essex boy who grabbed an if.comedy nomination last year for his excellent stand-up has also gone down a storm with some ye olde mirthful stuff. Here’s more, forsooth. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–31 Aug (not 17, 24), 2.10pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews 5-8 Aug, £5.

The Apocalypse Roadshow
Comedy arsonists and part-time provocateurs The Dog-Eared Collective poke the coals of panic in an explosive sketch show about the end of the world. Well, blimey. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug (not 19), 2.30pm, £6.50–£10 (£8–£9). Previews 6&7 Aug, £6.

3pm

At Home with Holly
A site-specific wander around the gaffe and mind of a comic actress. Holly’s House, 226 0000, 8–31 Aug (not 17, 24), 3.07pm, £5. Previews 6&7 Aug, £2.50.

Jason Cook
Following up his genial Joy, the Geordie lad drops Fear in our laps. The Stand III&IV, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug (not 17), 3.20pm, £7 (£6).

4pm

Wilson Dixon
More silly tunes and sombre wisdom about the C&W life from a man who happens to be an actual Kiwi offstage. Come on, you didn’t think he was real, did you? The Stand III&IV, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug (not 17), 4.45pm, £9 (£8). Preview, 4.20pm, £8 (£7).

Brian Gittins
Ricky Gervais seems to like this roadside café owner character, so if you take his advice like it came straight outta the bible, then head down here for some fun. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 12, 19), 4.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews 5-7 Aug, £5.

5pm

Two Episodes of MASH
Diane Morgan and Joe Wilkinson return with more oddball sketches and semi-real routines. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–31 Aug (not 17), 5.45pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Previews 5&6 Aug, £5.

Tiffany Stevenson
Co-creator of the acclaimed Old Rope night with Phil Nichol, Stevenson gets her own show which considers predators and their prey. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 7–31 Aug (not 18), 5.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews 5&6 Aug, £5.

6pm

Keith Farnan
Last year, this fine Irish fella delivered a set about the death penalty, and this time around is kicking about notions of racism in No Blacks. No Jews. No Dogs. No Irish. All Welcome. But with funnies in there. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug (not 18), 6.30pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£8–£9.50). Previews 6&7 Aug, £6.

Anna & Katy
Crilly and Wix have been off doing various TV things but happily merge once more to plop some surrealism into your sorry lives. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–31 Aug, 6.40pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Previews 5-8 Aug, £5.

Abracadabra: German Humour Goes Global
Can the Germans be funny? Apparently so, as Herren Kuhnle and Wehn so ably prove. Underbelly’s Hullabaloo, 08445 458 252, 8–31 Aug (not 18), 6.50pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£7.50–£9.50). Preview 7 Aug, £6.

7pm

Janey Godley
The filthy godmother of Scottish comedy lets us dip into her pleasantly twisted world. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug, 7pm, £11–£12 (£9.50–£10.50). Previews 5-7 Aug, £5.

Alistair Barrie
Could Happiness be the show to finally force this dandy comic out into the comedy stratosphere? Downstairs at the Tron, 226 0000, 8–30 Aug (not 19), 7.40pm, £5. Previews 6&7 Aug, £2.50.

Celia Pacquola
Fresh from some glorious success in Oz, this cheeky lady asks Am I Strange? Well, if you have to ask … Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 7–31 Aug (not 17), 7.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews 5&6 Aug, £5.

8pm

Craig Hill
More camp doodlings from the local lad who is pondering his age in 40, Love … ? Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 8–31 Aug (not 16, 23), 8.15pm, £12–£14.50 (£10.50–£12.50). Preview 7 Aug, £7.50.

Idiots of Ants
Is there a better young sketch team on the Fringe? Show me where, then. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 17&18, 24), 8.15pm, £9–£10 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews 5-7 Aug, £5.

Jon Richardson
And is there a better young stand-up doing the rounds in Edinburgh this August? Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–31 Aug, 8.30pm, £11–£12 (£9.50–£10.50). Previews 5-8 Aug, £5.

9pm

Andrew Maxwell
Not one to disappoint his public, the jovial gent embarks on a tale about, we think, a lamp. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 12, 19), 9pm, £14–£15 (£12.50–£13.50). Previews 5-7 Aug, £8.

Foil Arms and Hog
A trio of Dublin-based comics (Sean, Sean and Conor) bring us routines which have impressed their compatriots. The Caves, 208 0882, 8–30 Aug (not 18), 9.40pm, £8–£9 (£7–£8). Previews 6&7 Aug, £5.

Tim Key
Is The Slutcracker the best/worst pun in the Fringe programme? Whatever, it could well help propel Mr Key into the big time. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–31 Aug (not 17), 9.50pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Previews 5&6 Aug, £5.

10pm

Matt Kirshen
Short in stature, tall in talent, the boyish comic has some kind of Napoleon complex going on this year. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 18), 10.20pm, £10–£12 (£9–£11). Previews 5-7 Aug, £7.

The Dark Party
If you like your comedy physical with a hint of danger, raise your glasses to The Dirty Brothers. Underbelly’s Hullabaloo, 08445 458 252, 8–29 Aug (not 18), 10.40pm, £9–£12 (£8–£10). Preview 7 Aug, £6.

Alun Cochrane
Full of ‘Cochranian’ wit comes young Alun, as he breezes in to chat about his daydreaming ways. The Stand III&IV, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug, 10.50pm, £9 (£8).

11pm

Die Roten Punkte
Unleashing their Robot/Lion Tour upon us, this pair of not-real German rockers are set to have a bulldozing Fringe. As long as they don’t kill each other first. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 17), 11.11pm, £10–£11 (£8.50–£9.50). Previews 5-7 Aug, £5.

Love and a Colt 45
Bethany Black continues to please her fans and intrigue the uninitiated with witty tales of personal strife. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug (not 17), 11.35pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£8–£9.50). Previews 6&7 Aug, £6.

Midnight

Take The Empire
Subtitled ‘The Great Big Marvellous Victorian Game Show’, this promises devious questions and impossible challenges. There’s a party on afterwards to soothe your stretched mind. Carlton Hotel, 0845 260 1234, 8–30 Aug, midnight, £6.50–£8.50 (£5.50–£7.50).

1am

Late ‘n’ Live
The Fringe institute keeps on rolling with the brave and foolish facing the most uppity punters in town. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 7–31 Aug, 1am, £12.50–£15 (£10–£12.50).