Great Scots: Home-grown comedy talent at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe

The List picks out a few members of the comedic tartan army

This article is from 2012.

Jerry Sadowitz takes a laid-back approach to his appearance at the Fringe

Scott Agnew

With Tales of the Sauna, we can be guaranteed some bawdy material, blistering repartee and belly-altering laughs as the former Scottish Comedian of the Year reveals just about everything about the world of gay saunas.
The Stand III & IV, York Place, 0131 558 7272, 3–26 Aug (not 13), 11.40pm, £8 (£7). Preview 2 Aug, 8.25pm, £7 (£6).

Susan Calman

The bold claim we made years ago that Calman was a ‘wee lassie with a big future’ has been well and truly justified, what with her barely being off the telly and wireless. Live is where it’s at though, and with This Lady’s Not for Turning Either, she might even get all political on us.
Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 4–27 Aug (not 13), 6pm, £11–£12 (£10–£11). Previews 1–3 Aug, £8.

Stephen Carlin

No relation to George, but a close cousin to all that is sardonically funny. Are you a panda or a penguin? Should it matter anyway? In his trademark deadpan manner that reeks of total cultdom, Carlin tries to break down barriers of hate and tropes of oversimplification.
Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance, 0131 556 6550, 4–27 Aug (not 8, 14), 6pm, £11–£12 (£9.50–£11). Previews 1–3 Aug, £6.

Mark Nelson

Another full show from an ex-Scottish Comedian of the Year (the inaugural one, fact fans) as the Dumfries-born comic goes Under the Radar. Nelson has been broadening out his canvas by penning material for Russell Howard’s telly show, but expect a more, shall we say, frank approach to comedy here.
Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 4–26 Aug (not 15), 6.40pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10). Previews 2 & 3 Aug, £6.

Jerry Sadowitz

Two shows from Mr Happy this year, his lunchtime close-up magic affair and a late-night horse-frightening tirade against, well, you name it, he’ll be pummeling it with barbs. Yet the feeling still lingers that Sadowitz is his own worst enemy, which somehow gives the spite-soaked gags a sense of perspective.
Assembly Rooms, George Street, 0844 693 3008, 14–18 Aug, 12.30pm, £15.50; 17 & 18 Aug, 10.25pm, £17.50.

Daniel Sloss

The road to playing a venue like a conference centre for a full month should take comedians at least half a career to achieve. The Fifer Viking has got there in about half an hour. And he’s even stuck on some extra shows for his drooling masses.
EICC, Morrison Street, 0844 847 1639, 4–26 Aug (not 22), 6.30pm, £13.50–£15.50 (£10–£13). Previews 2 & 3 Aug, £8.50–£11.50 (£10); 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 24 & 25 Aug, 8pm, £15.50 (£13).

Iain Stirling

Where have I seen this guy before? If you have kids and simultaneously own a TV license, it’s probably as the jovial host of CBBC, where he exchanges banter with a puppet dog from Wigan. Which is better than it sounds. In his full Fringe debut, Happy to be the Clown?, he wonders out loud about the peculiar path his life has taken.
Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 4–26 Aug, 9.40pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews 1–3 Aug, £6.

David Whitney

A couple of Fringes back, Whitney hit the headlines by having an altercation with a punter which ended in a sharp fine. The good news is that he can now tell his own side to that story with Struggling to Evolve, a comedy lesson to all those who want to move on from something or someone.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, Bristo Square, 0131 622 6552, 3–27 Aug (not 14), 10.15pm, £10–£11 (£8.50–£9.50). Previews 1 & 2 Aug, £5.