Reviews & features: Reviews
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101
(8 Aug 2011)
Group hugs, cult chants and it’s all your fault- 2401 Objects
(8 Aug 2011)
Remarkable neuroscience story - 3D Hamlet: A Lost Generation (12 Aug 2011)
Strong acting secures the Bard a place in the 21st century - 3rd Ring Out: the Emergency (23 Aug 2011)
An intelligent audience-led thriller - 4.3 Miles From Nowhere (14 Aug 2011)
Good performances and brilliant live folk band but no dramatic stakes - 7 Day Drunk
(23 Aug 2011)
Shallow attempt at drunken creativity
101
A
- A Celebration of Harold Pinter (8 Aug 2011)
Pinter wonderland manages not to sink beneath the hype - Adam Crow - Ashton Kutcher's Dead Girlfriends (22 Aug 2011)
Well-written but overly clever soul-baring stand-up - The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik (19 Aug 2011)
Poignantly Pixar-esque underwater adventure - Ahir Shah (7 Aug 2011)
Stars in his eyes - Aidan Bishop (14 Aug 2011)
The New York-based Irishman takes sweet revenge on his childhood torments - Alice in Wonderland and Other Adventures With Lewis Carroll
(8 Aug 2011)
Badly sung songs, ill-fitting costumes and stilted delivery - Ali Cook (23 Aug 2011)
Old-fashioned with homage to TV magic shows - Alison Thea-Skot (24 Aug 2011)
Delightfully batty character affair - Alistair Green: Outpatient (8 Aug 2011)
Entertaining riffs in illness-themed show not for the squeamish - Allotment (11 Aug 2011)
Sweetly observed play taking place on a real allotment with free cup of tea - Alma Mater (8 Aug 2011)
Immersive, lovely look at childhood innocence and loss - Alun Cochrane: Moments of Alun (23 Aug 2011)
A reliably hilarious hour - Andi Osho: All the Single Ladies (8 Aug 2011)
Confidently breezing through hour of self-deprecating enjoyable comedy - Andrew Doyle's Crash Course in Depravity (14 Aug 2011)
A full-on assault on the borders of taste - Andrew Lawrence - The Best Kept Secret in Comedy Tour (18 Aug 2011)
Mirthful and delicious kamikaze comedy - Andrew Maxwell (12 Aug 2011)
Blistering set from the mercurial Dubliner - Andrew O’Neill (14 Aug 2011)
Alt comedian is slightly amusing but fails to deliver big laughs - And the Birds Fell from the Sky (23 Aug 2011)
Striking multi-sensory experience - Andy Zaltzman: Armchair Revolutionary (23 Aug 2011)
Political comic never short of a dad-style gag - An Evening with David Sedaris (23 Aug 2011)
Bona fide literary superstar reads from his works - Anil Desai (8 Aug 2011)
Fantastic audience rapport and likeable charm, but unchallenging - An Instinct for Kindness (17 Aug 2011)
Dignitas tale told with dignity - Anton Henning: Interieur No. 493 (5 Aug 2011)
Curious and bemusing conceptual art salon at 2011 Edinburgh Art Festival - Anton's Uncles (11 Aug 2011)
Chekhov remixed as a highly entertaining divertissement - Are You Happy Now? (14 Aug 2011)
Pessimistic two-hander about dysfunctional relationships - Armageddapocalypse (14 Aug 2011)
Loving pastiche of action movies from Footlights crew - Asher Treleaven: Matador (23 Aug 2011)
Fresh, exciting and energetic - A Slow Air (8 Aug 2011)
Nationhood explored and deplored - At The Sans Hotel (8 Aug 2011)
A sophisticated exploration of the form/content dichotomy - Audience (11 Aug 2011)
Ontroerend Goed slip out of the major league with cynical show - Auntie Netta And The Trouble With Asian Men (17 Aug 2011)
Show of two halves from East is East producers
B
- The Baby Diary (23 Aug 2011)
Wry play featuring couple soon to be parents - Bagpuss
(7 Aug 2011)
Stage adaptation that’s just about purrfect - The Ballet Ruse (11 Aug 2011)
Sneaking a cheeky peek at the secret lives of ballerinas - Bane 1, 2 and 3 (16 Aug 2011)
Superior noir-influenced multi-character comedy - Barry and Stuart (8 Aug 2011)
Showing and telling their magical mysteries - Bash (19 Aug 2011)
Utterly convincing and compelling - Beckett & Smith (24 Aug 2011)
A genuinely funny 60 minutes - Belleville Rendez-vous (11 Aug 2011)
Inventive adaptation of Gallic animated classic - Belt Up’s The Boy James (8 Aug 2011)
Well-executed drama based on JM Barrie's childhood - Belt Up’s Twenty Minutes to Nine (14 Aug 2011)
Compelling performance with uncertain audience-actor dynamic - Ben Brailsford (16 Aug 2011)
Self-confessed geek let down by repetitive material - Benny Boot: Set-Up, Punchline… Pause for Laughter (12 Aug 2011)
The secrets of comedy remain a mystery here - Beowulf – A Thousand Years Of Baggage (17 Aug 2011)
Postmodern interaction with a classic - Best of the Fest Cabaret (14 Aug 2011)
The Noise Next Door, The Twoks and Briefs offer good package - The Beta Males (14 Aug 2011)
Good scripting and coming timing from the funny foursome - Bette and Joan - The Final Curtain (23 Aug 2011)
Witty other-worldly ode to Hollywood starlets - The Billie Holiday Story (8 Aug 2011)
Enjoyable insight into a unique talent - Biscuit and Brawn (15 Aug 2011)
Strong chemistry but weak laughs from the comedy duo - Blood and Roses (11 Aug 2011)
Multi-sensory journey with history’s courageous women - Bob Downe: 20 Golden Greats (8 Aug 2011)
Lively hour of high camp, but with only a handful of gags - Bones (11 Aug 2011)
Honest examination of real life on the dole - The Boom Jennies: Blowout (18 Aug 2011)
An exhilarating and surprising blowout - The Boy with Tape on his Face (19 Aug 2011)
Line up early for a mime with universal appeal - Brett Goldstein Grew Up in a Strip Club (8 Aug 2011)
Endearing personality wins over crowd despite lacklustre material - Bridget Christie (7 Aug 2011)
Slapdash slapstick sloppy stand-up - Bring Me the Head of Adam Riches (8 Aug 2011)
Provocative onstage antics not for the faint of heart - Brotherly Love (14 Aug 2011)
Tensions high and voices loud feels uncomfortable - Brown and Corley: Born in the 80s (8 Aug 2011)
Like bad school drama production - Bubblewrap and Boxes (15 Aug 2011)
Mayhem in the mail room - BUG Hosted by Adam Buxton (26 Aug 2011)
Entertaining but unchallenging music video presentation
C
- Carey Marx (12 Aug 2011)
The thinking man’s shock jock - Carl Donnelly 3: Carl Donnelier! (12 Aug 2011)
Meandering tales that finally pay off - Carmen Sylva (11 Aug 2011)
Established artists take on a new and exciting identity - Casablanca: The Gin Joint Cut (21 Jul 2011)
Morag Fullerton's stage adaptation is a charmingly chaotic classic - Casual Violence (14 Aug 2011)
Versatile cast perform cherfully absurd sketches - Catie Wilkins: A Chip Off the Odd Block (8 Aug 2011)
Enthusiastic and wry story about parents - Catriona Knox (8 Aug 2011)
Signs of promise but dialogue lacks punch - Chat Masala with Hardeep Singh Kohli (24 Aug 2011)
Glaswegian chef's chat show lacks spice - Chris Cox (14 Aug 2011)
Odd-looking comic successfully combines magic and comedy - Chris Coxen’s Space Clone Audition (14 Aug 2011)
Accomplished character-based comedy show - Chris Martin (14 Aug 2011)
Run of the mill show from the man who definitely isn't in Coldplay - Chris Mayo's Panic Attack (23 Aug 2011)
An engaging stress-related show - Chris McCausland (14 Aug 2011)
Disappointingly unoriginal set from the London comic - Chris Ramsey: Offermation (23 Aug 2011)
Enthusiastic natural wit is impossible to resist - Christmas for Two: Friends With You (12 Aug 2011)
Variable sketch show of audacious surrealism - The Chronicles of Bitter and Twisted (8 Aug 2011)
Charming and cheeky fairy tale sequel - Circolombia: Urban Intimo (14 Aug 2011)
Impressive circus showcase that leaves you wanting more - Clare Plested: Vegas, Jesus and Me (8 Aug 2011)
Nicely observed impressions from adorable lady but comedy is patchy - Claudia O’Doherty (14 Aug 2011)
Refreshingly different character comedy performance - Cloud Man (14 Aug 2011)
Delightful puppet show with its head in the clouds - Colin Hoult (8 Aug 2011)
Talented and energetic performer targets UK provinces - Colm O’Regan: Dislike! A Facebook Guide to Crisis (8 Aug 2011)
Funny and informative social networking guide to Irish history - Comedy Club 4 Kids (8 Aug 2011)
Heckle-happy crowd nearly stump the pros - Conor O’Toole (14 Aug 2011)
Good material let down by awkward delivery - Constantinople (23 Aug 2011)
Completely ridiculous and unexpectedly educational - Conway's Time of the Month (24 Aug 2011)
Hardeep Singh Kohli, Andi Osho and Imran Yusuf guest at free Edinburgh show - Craig Campbell (8 Aug 2011)
Natural observational storytelling - Craig Hill (15 Aug 2011)
Strong performance from the seasoned Fringe comic - Croft and Pearce - Funnier Than It Sounds (23 Aug 2011)
Flashes of brilliance lost in a melee of mundanity - Crunch (17 Aug 2011)
Cunning manipulation of attitudes to money - Cul-De-Sac (23 Aug 2011)
Capable garden-fence comedy - The Curse of Macbeth (8 Aug 2011)
Great staging, shame about the acting - Cutting the Cord (11 Aug 2011)
Tragicomedy exploring immigration via young Japanese woman in London
D
- Dana Alexander (15 Aug 2011)
Great comedic flair but average material from the Canadian - Dan Canham: 30 Cecil Street (23 Aug 2011)
A theatre's story told through unusual interpretation - Dance Marathon (8 Aug 2011)
Sweat-slicked endurance test - Daniel Sloss - The Joker (12 Aug 2011)
Ridiculously talented young comedy buck - Danny Bevins (15 Aug 2011)
Muscular comedy from the former soldier, jailbird and redneck - Danny Pensive’s Map of Britain (15 Aug 2011)
Wonderfully odd character comedy - The Dark Philosophers (17 Aug 2011)
Dark Welsh classic given a postmodern twist - Dave Gorman's Power Point Presentation (8 Aug 2011)
Inspired PowerPoint presentation from the genial everyman - David Mach: Precious Light (5 Aug 2011)
Edinburgh Art Festival exhibition of biblical proportions by Fife-born artist - David Morgan: Triple Threat (8 Aug 2011)
Show taking in musical theatre, childhood bullying and homophobia - David O'Doherty is Looking Up (19 Aug 2011)
Immaculate content delivered with furious enthusiasm - David Reed: Shamblehouse (8 Aug 2011)
Great lines but lots of filler - DeAnne Smith (5 Aug 2011)
Boys want to be her, girls want to sleep with her - Death Song (8 Aug 2011)
Intense story of loss and secrets - Delete the Banjax (15 Aug 2011)
The sketch group appear to be having fun, but the audience isn't in on it - Des Bishop - My Dad Was Nearly James Bond (8 Aug 2011)
Largely funny, tender and acutely observed ode to late father - Des Clarke - Des Comedy Jam (8 Aug 2011)
Hilarious patter will leave both locals and out-of-towners in a good place - Devotion (23 Aug 2011)
Incredible performances hindered by weak story - Diane Spencer: All-Pervading Madness (8 Aug 2011)
Don’t judge a comic by their gentle demeanour - The Dipper (8 Aug 2011)
Utter nonsense misses the mark completely - Doctor Brown (8 Aug 2011)
Silent and vulgar tedium - Do Not Take Advice From This Man - Jim Smallman and Friends (23 Aug 2011)
Four comedians try to sort out your life - Don’t Trust Salmon (15 Aug 2011)
Unfunny surrealism that falls short of Boosh-y aspirations - Doris Day Can F**k Off (23 Aug 2011)
Musical one-man experiment - Dr Apple’s Last Lecture (8 Aug 2011)
Energetic acting, but ultimately without a point - Dream Pill (8 Aug 2011)
Poignant insight into the unsettling reality of sex work in the UK - Dregs (8 Aug 2011)
Character-based sketches maintain constant audience engagement - Dust (17 Aug 2011)
Mining a rich seam of anger among Thatcher and coal industry - Dürer’s Fame (21 Jul 2011)
Tribute to the German woodcut and engravings master Albrecht Durer
E
- Edinburgh Tonight with Joe Simmons and Lorraine Chase (24 Aug 2011)
Charming chat show double-act - Eight (23 Aug 2011)
Eight beautifully-written stories impressively told - Elegy (8 Aug 2011)
Moving story of a flight from persecution - Elizabeth Blackadder (3 Aug 2011)
Brilliant retrospective of work by one of Scotland’s major artists - Emergence (17 Aug 2011)
Death becomes the Pachamamas - Enclosure 99: Humans (18 Aug 2011)
Are we human or are we dancer? - Eric Lampaert (12 Aug 2011)
An engaging but ultimately flat Eric - Evelyn Evelyn (19 Aug 2011)
Adorable freakshow from Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley - Example (24 Aug 2011)
Picture House, Edinburgh, Mon 15 Aug 2011
F
- The Fall Children (22 Aug 2011)
Weak storyline made up for by macabre, colourful underworld - Fear of a Brown Planet (8 Aug 2011)
Audience-friendly jovial banter about Islam, Michael Jackson and Barack Obama - Federer Vs Murray (17 Aug 2011)
Geopolitics, war and tennis - Fiona O'Loughlin: Spirited (Tales from an Angel in a Bottle) (8 Aug 2011)
Bloody funny, just don’t show her the Bloody Marys - Footlights in 'Pretty Little Panic' (23 Aug 2011)
One moment of surrealist brilliance can't compensate for lack of comedic guile - Ford and Akram: Humdinger (8 Aug 2011)
Yin and yang do silly and surreal - Forgetting Natasha (11 Aug 2011)
Multimedia memories with excellent choreography - Francesca Martinez (8 Aug 2011)
A charmingly caustic look at ‘normal’ - Fred Cooke (15 Aug 2011)
The Irishman's musical talent is overshadowed by his over-stretched observations - Fred MacAulay: Legally Bald (8 Aug 2011)
For straightforward traditional stand-up, MacAulay’s your man - Free Run (8 Aug 2011)
Heavily padded parkour spectacle - Free Time Radical (14 Aug 2011)
Wryly humorous evocation of mid-life crisis falls short of expectations - Frimston and Rowett (15 Aug 2011)
A collection of decent comic coceits that overstay their welcome - Frisky and Mannish: Pop Centre Plus (8 Aug 2011)
Wry ribbing of pop culture - From the Fire (14 Aug 2011)
Tightly directed show based on New York’s Triangle Factory Fire of 1911 - Futureproof (17 Aug 2011)
A fairly unshocking freak show
G
- Gareth Richards (15 Aug 2011)
A lack of confidence on the comedian's part undermines the good-quality material - Gavin Webster: All Young People Are C**ts (12 Aug 2011)
Likeably profane and bitter hour - Gemma Goggin (15 Aug 2011)
Comedy show that fails to develop - Generation 9/11: So Far / So Close (8 Aug 2011)
Captivating and quietly profound one-man show - The Gentlemen of Leisure (15 Aug 2011)
Lit-loving sketch comedy - (g)Host City (18 Aug 2011)
Edinburgh audio tours from spoken word performers - Giants of Comedy – Darren Walsh, Leo Kearse & Lindsay Sharman (26 Aug 2011)
They might be giants, and they're definitely tall - The Ginge, the Geordie and the Geek (15 Aug 2011)
Feel-good comedy from the sketch-happy threesome - The Girl With The Iron Claws (11 Aug 2011)
A fairytale for grown-ups - Glenn Wool: No Lands Man (8 Aug 2011)
Hobo comic’s killer dispatches - The Golden Dragon (12 Aug 2011)
Global stories to take away - Guilt and Shame (8 Aug 2011)
Sketches which get increasingly filthier and funnier
H
- Hal Sparks - Evolution Overdrive (8 Aug 2011)
Impressive delivery with theme of humankind’s ongoing evolution - Hannah Gadsby - Mrs Chuckles (23 Aug 2011)
A mistress of the subtle one-liner - Haroun and the Sea of Stories (16 Aug 2011)
Enthusiastic but amateurish adaptation of Rushdie’s novel - Hayashi Takeshi: Haku-u (White Rain) (3 Aug 2011)
Impressive hand-carved sculptures - Hedda Gabler (23 Aug 2011)
Stark and surprising modern adaptation - Henning Wehn / Otto Kuhnle: Das Very Best Of German Humour (17 Aug 2011)
Tuetonic titters from two of the Fatherland’s finest - Henry Paker (15 Aug 2011)
Original, whimsical stand-up - The Hermitude of Angus, Ecstatic (15 Aug 2011)
Absurdist comedy that starts well but quickly deteriorates - High Jinks with the Hamiltons (24 Aug 2011)
Bizarre yet mundane chat show from Neil and Christine - Hiroshi Sugimoto: Lightning Fields and Photogenic Drawings (25 Aug 2011)
Breathtaking exploration of both photography and science - Hitch and Mitch – Genisis (14 Aug 2011)
Shambolic sketch comedy about comedy - Hit Comet (22 Aug 2011)
Office keyboard comedy - Holly Walsh - The Hollycopter (17 Aug 2011)
A brave and bittersweet recollection - The Horne Section (15 Aug 2011)
Toe-tapping jazz-and-comedy combo from Alex Horne and friends - Hotel Medea (15 Aug 2011)
A killer night out - Hotel Methuselah (23 Aug 2011)
Stunning and inventive multimedia production - How I Invented Hip Hop. . . And Other Faux Pas (14 Aug 2011)
Overly styled idea taken too far - How to be Awesome (15 Aug 2011)
Lou Sanders' high energy can't save a set of lacklustre jokes - Humphrey Ker is Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher! (16 Aug 2011)
Swashbuckling success story - Hurry Up and Wait (22 Aug 2011)
Clown show that fails to live up to potential
I
- Iain Stirling and Sean McLoughlin (18 Aug 2011)
The star signing lets down the team - Ian D Montfort - Spirit Comedium (23 Aug 2011)
Witty send-up of hand-wringing mediumship - I, The Dictator (14 Aug 2011)
Enjoyable one-man performance on encounter between Charlie Chaplin and Hitler - If That's All There Is? (26 Aug 2011)
Eccentric study of a banal relationship - I Hope My Heart Goes First (8 Aug 2011)
Remarkable young company delves into matters of the heart - I, Malvolio (22 Aug 2011)
Revisiting Shakespeare’s maligned steward - Improvised Plays from Austin, Texas (15 Aug 2011)
None-more-Fringe performance from American improv quartet Parallelogramophonograph - Imran Yusuf (14 Aug 2011)
Religious perspectives on universal issues - The Incredible Book Eating Boy (11 Aug 2011)
Quirky five-minute adaptation of much-loved children’s book - Indoor Fox Hunting (8 Aug 2011)
Some lovely ideas, but tightening up of content and delivery required - The Infant (8 Aug 2011)
Absurdist comedy with a Gothic feel - Ingrid Calame (5 Aug 2011)
Water water everywhere with only a doodle to drink - Interpretive Dances to My Diary! (72% Non-Fiction) (23 Aug 2011)
100% total cobblers - Isy Suttie (15 Aug 2011)
Cute, clever music-based comedy from the Peep Show comedian - It’s Uniformation Day (8 Aug 2011)
2001: A Space Odyssey got weird
J
- Jack Mink (15 Aug 2011)
Theatrical improvisation from the absurdist clown - James Acaster: Amongst Other Things (8 Aug 2011)
Mixing up the comedy flavours - James Galea: I Hate Rabbits (12 Aug 2011)
High on production values, low on magic - Jason Cook - The Search for Happiness (8 Aug 2011)
An hour of pleasant company, although lacking memorable friction - Jason John Whitehead (15 Aug 2011)
Turning romantic failure into comedy gold - Jay Foreman: We're Living in the Future (23 Aug 2011)
Exploration of pop-culture future-shock via acoustic ditty - Jeff Leach: A Leach On Society (8 Aug 2011)
Energetic gross-out comedy with possibly divisive material - Jen Brister is British(ish) (12 Aug 2011)
Wonderfully madcap look at identity - Jessica Fostekew: Luxury Tramp (8 Aug 2011)
Observational humour with a confessional edge - Jigsaw (19 Aug 2011)
Accomplished but light sketching - Joanna Neary: Youth Club (14 Aug 2011)
A period piece with confusing threads - Joe Bor: In Search of the Six Pack (23 Aug 2011)
Limp hour saved by supporting cast - Joe Fairbrother: Characters (14 Aug 2011)
Gentle audience-teasing character comedy - Joel Dommett: Neon Hero (8 Aug 2011)
Celebrity crush tale an from assured and skilled performer - Joe Wilkinson: My Mum's Called Stella and My Dad's Called Brian (8 Aug 2011)
Underpowered affair from BBC Three’s Him & Her - John Byrne: Moonlight and Music (17 Aug 2011)
Major exhibition of works by much-loved Scottish artist - John-Luke Roberts and Nadia Kamil (15 Aug 2011)
The comedy duo present the new, adjective-less Behemoth show - John Lynn (15 Aug 2011)
Affable comic story-telling with a neat turn of phrase - John Peel’s Shed (8 Aug 2011)
Intimate musings on the joy of radio - John Robertson - Blood & Charm: Disturbing Stories for Disturbing Bedtimes (8 Aug 2011)
Tightly-scripted surreal monologue full of fascinating true stories - John Robins: Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (23 Aug 2011)
Prosaic anecdotes told with gusto and irresistible affability - John Scott: Totally Made Up (30 Aug 2011)
Exemplary observational material worked hard in stifling venue - Josh Howie: I am a Dick (16 Aug 2011)
Patchy quest with dodgy material - Josh Widdicombe: If This Show Saves One Life (14 Aug 2011)
Steering away from the dangers of blanding out - Josie Long: The Future Is Another Place (19 Aug 2011)
Stand up for the left - Jus’ Like That! (16 Aug 2011)
Recreates Tommy Cooper's final performance - The Just So Stories (8 Aug 2011)
Colourful and engaging adaptation of Kipling’s well known tales
K
- Katherine Ryan: Little Miss Conception (8 Aug 2011)
An edgy story of pageant culture - Katri Walker: North West (8 Aug 2011)
Intriguing exploration of Scottish/Wild West links - Keeping the Captain Warm (15 Aug 2011)
Faltering sketch comedy with moments of greatness - Keith Farnan: Money, Money, Money (12 Aug 2011)
Well-informed monologue about money - Kerry Godliman - Wonder Woman (23 Aug 2011)
Laugh-a-minute routine with warm charisma and attitude to match - Kieran and The Joes: Teampowered (5 Aug 2011)
Teambuilding seminar with more laughs than cringes - King Lear (14 Aug 2011)
Engaging spectacle gives Shakespeare a Jingju interpretation at 2011 EIF - King of Scotland (12 Aug 2011)
Strong presentation of Iain Heggie’s second best monologue - Korean Drum: Journey of a Soul (8 Aug 2011)
Dance to the rhythm of life
L
- Lady Garden (8 Aug 2011)
Successful series of standalone and recurring sketches - The Last Circus (20 Jun 2011)
Spanish black comedy/horror takes in clowns, circus life, love and madness - Last Orders (18 Aug 2011)
Contemporary retelling of cannibal tale fails to set the blood pumping - Late Night Gimp Fight! (12 Aug 2011)
Fast-paced sketches are more smutty than obscene - Laurence Clark: Health Hazard! (8 Aug 2011)
Uncovering the truths about US health care - Lee Camp Is: Yet Another American Mistake (12 Aug 2011)
Rabble-rousing American gets mad at current affairs - Le Gateau Chocolat (17 Aug 2011)
Moreish cabaret feast - The Life Doctor (8 Aug 2011)
Channelling of the most irksome of TV lifestyle gurus disappoints - Lights! Camera! Improvise! (23 Aug 2011)
Invention, energy and singing show where audience chooses the theme - Lineage: Michael Craig-Martin, Ian Davenport and Julian Opie (5 Aug 2011)
Edinburgh Art Festival 2010 - Printmaking, but not as we know it - Little Matter (23 Aug 2011)
Charming, dark puppetry - Lloyd Langford: The Cold Hard Facts of Life (23 Aug 2011)
Relaxed and honest hour with pub-quiz enthusiast - Llwyth (Tribe) (22 Aug 2011)
Overlong play with little to say about contemporary life - Lol (16 Aug 2011)
Touching humour in suburban comedy, but no new ground broken - Lord of the Flies (10 Aug 2011)
William Golding’s classic novel slightly adjusted for modern times - Lounge Room Confabulators (11 Aug 2011)
Aussie troubadours paying home visits - Luke McQueen (16 Aug 2011)
Off-the-wall randomness with a smile - Luke Wright's Cynical Ballads (8 Aug 2011)
Wonderful slices of fractured Britain - Lunch with Quattro Formaggio (23 Aug 2011)
Lovely conceit of Italian waiter on the verge does the job nicely
M
- Mabbs & Justice: Love Machine (23 Aug 2011)
Joke on characters’ thespian shortcomings tragically bypasses irony - The Magical Faraway Tree (8 Aug 2011)
Multi-character comedy not really based on Enid Blyton tale - Man of Valour (8 Aug 2011)
Mime and punishment - Marcel Lucont Etc (24 Aug 2011)
Barbed wit from the deadpan Frenchman - Margaret Cho (8 Aug 2011)
San Franciscan in town to have lots of sex, please - Mark Dolan (23 Aug 2011)
Genial bumbling and his confident stage presence is charming and droll - Mark Nelson (16 Aug 2011)
Straight talker whose profanity is utterly charming - Mark Thomas: Extreme Rambling (Walking the Wall) (12 Aug 2011)
Following a dangerous tourist trail - Mark Twain Abroad (11 Aug 2011)
Dramatic recreation of a lecture by the famous author lacks panache - Markus Birdman: Dreaming (16 Aug 2011)
Acutely funny observations on our dreams of living happily ever after - Mary Christ - The Unmusical! (23 Aug 2011)
Crude, unfunny innuendo from excitable drag queen - Matt Forde: Dishonourable Member (23 Aug 2011)
Ill-judged hagiography of Tony Blair and Brian Clough - Matt Green: Too Much Information (23 Aug 2011)
Perfectly-paced hour with affable and intelligent Green - Matthew Crosby: AdventureParty (8 Aug 2011)
A safe and hilarious haven for geeks and nerds - Matthew Highton's Shadowed Vagary (16 Aug 2011)
Warm, intelligent and beautifully written tall tale - Matt Kirshen (16 Aug 2011)
Embarrassing moments humour slightly wooden - Matt Rudge (8 Aug 2011)
Natural warmth let down by meandering dialogue - Max and Ivan are Holmes and Watson (23 Aug 2011)
Slick but over-the-top, confusing and largely gag-free tale - Maybe if you Choreograph Me, You Will Feel Better (23 Aug 2011)
Solo show with a unique personal experience - May I Have the Pleasure . . . ? (19 Aug 2011)
Champagne, slow dancing and loneliness - McNeil and Pamphilon (15 Aug 2011)
Enjoyable sketch comedy from two chaps who should know better - Medea (23 Aug 2011)
Modern-edged take let down by cast - Medea's Children (17 Aug 2011)
A cautionary tale for divorcing parents - Men of War (23 Aug 2011)
Scene after scene falls flat for talented quartet - Meryl O’Rourke - Bad Mother (16 Aug 2011)
Some funny and moving material on mixed heritage - Michael Winslow (23 Aug 2011)
Mad voice skills boggle the mind - Michael Workman - Humans Are Beautiful (16 Aug 2011)
Surreal, meditative show from philosophical, esoteric intellect - Milton Jones (16 Aug 2011)
There more to the week mocker than one-liners - Minute After Midday (8 Aug 2011)
Pared-down performance based on Omagh bombing - Mirazozo (15 Aug 2011)
Inflatable world of fun and relaxation - Mission Drift (8 Aug 2011)
The TEAM achieve the huge, soaring size of their ambitions - Movin' Melvin Brown: Just Singing and Dancing ... You Can Do It! (1 Sep 2011)
Slick foot-stomping but too much audience on show - Mr Benn (5 Aug 2011)
Tall Stories bring iconic 70s children's animation to Edinburgh festival - Music Box (16 Aug 2011)
Mash-up improv troupe never hit a true stride - My Name is Hannibal: The Hannibal Montanabal Experience (8 Aug 2011)
Intelligent dissections of comedy and life - Mystics or Rationalists? (17 Aug 2011)
Elegant conceptual works bend associations of the ordinary
N
- Nathan Caton: Get Rich or Die Cryin' (8 Aug 2011)
Glimmers of brilliance from likeable comedian - Nathan Dean Williams (8 Aug 2011)
Twisted pick ‘n’ mix - Neil by Mouth (7 Aug 2011)
Energy and whimsy but far too many groans - Neil Delamere: Divilment (23 Aug 2011)
Confident, mischievious anecdotes - Neil Hamburger (22 Aug 2011)
Anti-comedic filth, hate and fury - New Art Club: Quiet Act of Destruction (23 Aug 2011)
Comedy-dance due don't do their talents justice - The New Conway Experience (23 Aug 2011)
Bringing hilarity to the masses - Nick Helm - Dare to Dream (12 Aug 2011)
Shouty Marmite musical act - Nick Pynn (8 Aug 2011)
One-man folk orchestra - Nobody’s Home: A Modern Odyssey (8 Aug 2011)
Powerful portrayal of mental illness - The Noise Next Door – Their Finest Hour (16 Aug 2011)
A delightfully unpredictable hour with some knock-about funsters - No Pants Thursday (16 Aug 2011)
Massively underwhelming with air of painful youth theatre production - Norman McBeath & Robert Crawford: Body Bags / Simonides (11 Aug 2011)
Mournful collaboration between photographer and poet - The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein (3 Aug 2011)
Compendium of works inspired by the Renaissance innovator - Nourish (25 Aug 2011)
Thought-provoking suffragette drama
O
- The Oh Fuck Moment (8 Aug 2011)
Uneasily entertaining afternoon of reflection on human frailty - Olver: Portrait of a Serial Killer (16 Aug 2011)
Stand-up show/theatre experience has potential to be brilliant - The One Man Show (5 Aug 2011)
Late-night high-tech deconstruction with Jaffa Cakes - One Night Stan (8 Aug 2011)
Excellent one-man show based on life of Stan Laurel - One Thousand and One Nights (22 Aug 2011)
Flagship EIF production feels like a rediscovery of a lost classic - One Under (8 Aug 2011)
Energetic piece of devised theatre based on London Underground - Orkestra del Sol's Top Trumps (12 Aug 2011)
Balkan, gypsy and polka sounds in a musical face-off - Orkestra Simbolika (22 Aug 2011)
Vibrant, rough-around-the-edges flamenco mash-up - The Overcoat (23 Aug 2011)
All-Scottish cast lead excellent classic satire
P
- The Pajama Men (19 Aug 2011)
Both brilliantly silly and brilliantly clever - Paper Tom (16 Aug 2011)
Effective piece of issue-based theatre dealing with UK treatment of soldiers - Pasta! Macaroni Puppet's Show (11 Aug 2011)
Children's show where pasta comes to life - Patrick Monahan: Stories And Fairytales Of Travels For Kids Who Dance Like Camels (15 Aug 2011)
Comic silliness with a disco beat - Paul Daniels (8 Aug 2011)
You’re going to like this . . . - Paul Foot: Still Life (16 Aug 2011)
Childish ingenuity and some laughs but feels like going through the motions - Paul Sinha: Looking at the Stars (16 Aug 2011)
Perfectly-judged swipe at celebrities, politicians and Twitter twats - Peacock and Gamble’s Emergency Broadcast (23 Aug 2011)
Childish mischief and stupendous invention - Pete Bennett's Tourette's and Stuff (17 Aug 2011)
Unpolished but candid and funny set from Big Brother winner - Pete Firman: Jiggery Pokery (8 Aug 2011)
Magic routines with an enjoyable line in potty-mouthed sarcasm - Phantasmagoria (23 Aug 2011)
Depressing, lazy and naïvely acted - Phase 7 (Fase 7) (16 Jun 2011)
Dark pandemic tale from Argentina - Phillipa and Will Are Now in a Relationship (16 Aug 2011)
A university relationship conducted via Facebook - Phill Jupitus - 'Made Up' (23 Aug 2011)
Whose Line is it Anyway?-style improv show is a riot - Phill Jupitus: Stand Down (18 Aug 2011)
An excitement-sapping hour of chat - Phil Nichol: The Simple Hour (16 Aug 2011)
Dumbed down silliness peppered with droll quips - The Phoenix: A Failure on a Mision (23 Aug 2011)
Natural performer let down by unchallenging material - The Phoenix: A Failure on a Mission (16 Aug 2011)
Daft sense of humour requires more envelope-pushing material - Piff the Magic Dragon (17 Aug 2011)
A laconic but jaw-dropping set - Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures (11 Aug 2011)
Adults-only retelling is decidedly not Disney - Pistol & Jack: SMASH*GLAM*SEX*MUSIC (23 Aug 2011)
Hyper, pop comedy lacks some focus - The Pleasure of Being: Washing, Feeding, Holding (26 Aug 2011)
A cure for loneliness? - Pope Benedict: Bond Villain (8 Aug 2011)
Provocative and brilliantly witty hour on religion and economic meltdown - Pop-Up! The Amazing Adventures of Moo-Dong (8 Aug 2011)
The art of entertaining - The Pretender (26 Aug 2011)
One man show about lying gets out of control
Q
- The Qatsi trilogy at the 2011 Edinburgh International Festival (15 Aug 2011)
Godfrey Reggio's film trilogy with Philip Glass Ensemble live score is a masterpiece - The Quotidian Revue (23 Aug 2011)
Interesting, absurdist comedy lacks cofidence
R
- Rabies (Kalevat) (17 Jun 2011)
An interesting twist on slasher movie conventions from Israel - Radio Deluxembourg (8 Aug 2011)
Parodic retro-kitsch with utterly unfunny script and weary cast - Randy is Sober (23 Aug 2011)
A puppet with incredible range and comedy timing - Ravi Shankar - Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 22 Aug (24 Aug 2011)
A mesmerising show of classical Indian music as part of 2011 EIF - Rayguns Look Real Enough: Balls Deep (8 Aug 2011)
Thematically-arranged medleys from emphatic performer with laboured set of puns - Raymond Mearns: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Stress But Were Afraid to Ask (16 Aug 2011)
Warm and engaging stress management seminar from Glaswegian - Ray Time in the Daytime: An Audience With Ray Green and Friends (8 Aug 2011)
TV presenter character halfway between Partridge and Brent - The Real MacGuffins: Skitsophrenic (5 Aug 2011)
Sketch comedy verging on madness - Remembering Annabel (8 Aug 2011)
Edgar Allan Poe adaptation feels messy despite flashes of humour - Reservoir Dogs (17 Aug 2011)
Unimaginative adaptation of Tarantino’s heist movie - Re-Triptych (2 Sep 2011)
Mesmerising epic journey of dance - Revolting Rhymes (22 Aug 2011)
Lively rendition of Roald Dahl tales - Richard Demarco and Joseph Beuys (17 Aug 2011)
An art world friendship under a Scottish sky - Richard Herring: What is Love Anyway? (23 Aug 2011)
The "King of Edinburgh" at his scintillating best - Rich Fulcher: Tiny Acts of Rebellion (16 Aug 2011)
Surreal and sedate show from the rambunctious Mighty Boosher - Rich Hall (23 Aug 2011)
Political bashings a definite highlight - Rich Hall’s Hoedown (16 Aug 2011)
Country and bluegrass gig from the gravel-voiced comedian - Roar (8 Aug 2011)
Stylish, sexy romp is frequently hilarious but not without emotion - Robert Burns: Not in my Name (8 Aug 2011)
Tracing the final years of the Bard - Robert Rauschenberg: Botanical Vaudeville (3 Aug 2011)
Sparkling post-industrial dance on gleaming surfaces - Ro Campbell: Uttering Bad Shillings (8 Aug 2011)
Some nice stuff from Scottish Comedian of the Year, but few genuine laughs - Rock the Ballet (7 Aug 2011)
Pop-rock ballet makes for pure entertainment from Rasta Thomas’s Bad Boys - Roisin Conaty (8 Aug 2011)
‘Dickhead’ on a mission to achieve zen - The Room (11 Aug 2011)
Gloriously awful Rocky Horror-style particapatory film screening - Rory Sheridan's Tales of the Antarctica (30 Aug 2011)
David O’Doherty in very funny piece that risks becoming one-note in tone - Rose (16 Aug 2011)
Oblique drama on father daughter relationship partly successful - Ruby Wax: Losing It (19 Aug 2011)
A fevered and empowering comic monologue - Run, Deaf Boy, Run! (8 Aug 2011)
Engaging, heart-warming tale told with skill from deaf comedian Steve Day - Russell Kane (17 Aug 2011)
Caustic and hilarious self-flagellation
S
- Sally-Anne Hayward: DOn't Judge Me (23 Aug 2011)
A pleasant jaunt through middle-class concerns - Sammy J and Randy: Ricketts Lane (30 Aug 2011)
Extraordinary performances in an endearing show - Sam Simmons (15 Aug 2011)
High-octane comedic bizarrity from Australia - Sanderson Jones (8 Aug 2011)
Pleasingly foppish semi-shambles - Sarah Archer - Bumfluff and Brimstone (16 Aug 2011)
Occasional insightful jagged barb amid stale material and easy punchlines - Sarah Millican (17 Aug 2011)
Has the Geordie jester lost her bite? - Scary Gorgeous (8 Aug 2011)
Girls gone wild - Scott Agnew’s Scottish Breakfast Chat Show (24 Aug 2011)
Amicable but flat midday chat show - Scottish Ballet (1 Sep 2011)
An evening of contemporary classics - Scottish Sperm (16 Aug 2011)
Smartly scripted and well performed despite lack of character sympathy - The Seagull Effect (8 Aug 2011)
Enthusiasm and visual techniques let down by overdone score and direction - Seann Walsh: Ying and Young (16 Aug 2011)
A casual yet potent force - The Segue Sisters in … Jailbirds (17 Aug 2011)
Flippant harmonious fun behind bars - Seminar (23 Aug 2011)
Predictable but well performed self-help for the stressed - The Sexual Awakening of Peter Mayo (16 Aug 2011)
Quirky characters and quick-fire dialogue - Sex You (I’m Gonna) – featuring Nathan Phillips (8 Aug 2011)
More sophisticated than it advertises itself to be - Shane and Eddie: Picking up the Pieces (16 Aug 2011)
50-minute avant-garde nightmare beyond redemption - Sheeps: A Sketch Show (8 Aug 2011)
Confidence and skill ooze from Footlights alumni - Shhh: The Musical (8 Aug 2011)
Enthusiasm let down by unoriginal script and forgettable songs - Shlomo: Mouthtronica (14 Aug 2011)
Incredible noise-making skill from a loveable entertainer - Shylock (9 Aug 2011)
Gareth Armstrong and Guy Masterson take us behind the mask of Shakespeare’s Jew - Sideshow (8 Aug 2011)
Freakshow-themed one-man show lacks pay-off - Silent (8 Aug 2011)
Witty and moving portrayal of life on the streets - Silken Veils (23 Aug 2011)
Tenderly performed memories - Simon Callow in Tuesday at Tescos (8 Aug 2011)
Transgender monologue that’s dressed to kill - Simon Munnery: Hats Off for the 101ers, and Other Material (23 Aug 2011)
Fringe institution is ever-innovative - The Simple Things in Life (24 Aug 2011)
Five opportunities to meditate on what we should value - Sink or Spin (8 Aug 2011)
It’s gym life, but not as we know it - Slavery to Star Trek (8 Aug 2011)
Autobiographical show taking in Martin Luther King and Malcolm X - Slender Threads (11 Aug 2011)
Sensitive portrayal of a woman’s experience of cancer - Slim in Wonderland (23 Aug 2011)
Anecdotes amusingly and conspiratorially shared - Snails and Ketchup (11 Aug 2011)
Dynamic one-man Calvino adaptation - Snow Play (14 Aug 2011)
Fun and frolics in the snow - Soldier and Death (26 Aug 2011)
Soldier fable let down by tiny puppets - Some Small Love Story (23 Aug 2011)
A gem with a young but talented cast - Somewhere Beneath It All, A Small Fire Burns Still (8 Aug 2011)
Monologue that’s less than straightforward - So On and So Forth present 'Human Era' (23 Aug 2011)
A missing member, predictible hilarity ensues - Soweto Entsha (8 Aug 2011)
South African songs from the heart - Soy de Cuba (11 Aug 2011)
Song and dance spectacular a real feel-good Fringe show - Spent (8 Aug 2011)
Razor-sharp agit prop satire - The Star Child (16 Aug 2011)
Sweet piece of storytelling theatre - Steal Compass, Drive North, Disappear (23 Aug 2011)
Minimal and moving life awakening - Stephen Carlin: Guilty Bystander (16 Aug 2011)
Unsettlingly funny with flashes of greatness - Steve Gribbin: Laugh at First Sight (23 Aug 2011)
A gag-heavy and tack-sharp set - Steve Hall's Very Still Life (23 Aug 2011)
Surreal tales and batty antics - Stuart Goldsmith (8 Aug 2011)
A pleasant romp, amusingly delivered, this is easy, assured comedy - Suitcase Royale in Zombatland (8 Aug 2011)
Late-night, top-notch hour of blues music, B-list horror and slapstick - Sunday in the Park with George (23 Aug 2011)
Wonderfully presented look at the creation of art
T
- The Table (8 Aug 2011)
Puppet show silliness backed up by serious skill - Tales from Edgar Allan Poe (16 Aug 2011)
Ghost stories told with vigour and energy - Tamsyn Challenger: 400 Women (8 Aug 2011)
Stunning artistic memorial to victims of gender violence - Tea with Queenie (16 Aug 2011)
Very moving tragic-comic piece for three people, including tea and cake - Teechers (23 Aug 2011)
Fast-paced youth production despite large cast - The Tempest (14 Aug 2011)
Anarchic comedy showcases Korean theatrical traditions and retains spirit of the original - Ten Plagues (11 Aug 2011)
Intense, moving Marc Almond-starring plague musical strikes a chord - Terezin: Children of the Holocaust (8 Aug 2011)
Fictionalised account of a concert fails to convey emotional weight - Terry Alderton (16 Aug 2011)
Hour of clever nonsense with surreal twist - Thirsty (9 Aug 2011)
Powerful physical evocation of the relationship between women and alcohol - Thom Tuck Goes Straight to DVD (16 Aug 2011)
Funny and heart-wrenching show on Disney films and painful break-ups - The Three Englishmen: Optimists (16 Aug 2011)
Straightforward and inspired hour of sketches - Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov (12 Aug 2011)
Depressing tale of decay of the upper classes in Russia - Tiffany Stevenson (22 Aug 2011)
Cuddly musings on Cockneys and kids - Tim and Light (12 Aug 2011)
An ode to friendship for all ages - The Tim Bat Trick Show (7 Aug 2011)
Slickness and silliness in equal measure - Tim Clare: How to Be a Leader (8 Aug 2011)
Frequently inventive show includes rousing series of raps about iconic women - The Time Out (17 Aug 2011)
Interactive theatre with a motivational aspect - Tim Key (22 Aug 2011)
A sublime and spirited Slut sequel - Toby - Lucky (12 Aug 2011)
Divisive duo spark a riot of tutting and scowling - Todd Barry (22 Aug 2011)
Every trivial matter is prey to the laconic American - Tom Allen's Afternoon Tea (24 Aug 2011)
Well-balanced chat show from the camp charmer - Tom Bell Begins (23 Aug 2011)
Tangent tales turn too often into ramblings - Tom Deacon (17 Aug 2011)
Slow-burning quasi hard-hitting hour - Tom Goodliffe (16 Aug 2011)
Lightweight autobiographical material, but with lovely rapport - Tom Green (8 Aug 2011)
Porn and meat-fuelled non-event - Tom Price: Say When (8 Aug 2011)
Torchwood actor ebullient, warm and thoroughly engaging - Tom Rosenthal: Child of Privilege (14 Aug 2011)
A very funny and innovative debut about privilege - Tom Stade: What Year Was That? (8 Aug 2011)
Whimsy and shock humour make for easy, if not entirely guilt-free, laughs - Tonight Sandy Grierson Will Lecture, Dance and Box (16 Aug 2011)
Cultural and political history piece leaves deep impression - Tony Cragg (3 Aug 2011)
Stunning showcase of sculptor’s poetic, monolithic output - Tony Law: Go Mr Tony Go! (8 Aug 2011)
Surrealist joyride is brash, loud and joyously raucous - Totally Tom (8 Aug 2011)
Impressive range of comedic prowess and accents - Toulouse-Lautrec: The Musical (8 Aug 2011)
Japanese one-man show dedicated but lacking in pace and musical gravitas - The Tour Guide (16 Aug 2011)
A tour guide going off the rails on real Edinburgh tour bus - The Translator's Dilemma (17 Aug 2011)
Dark, taut work about industrial negligence - Translunar Paradise (16 Aug 2011)
Moving portrayal of the pain of bereavement in dance, accordion and voice - Turandot (11 Aug 2011)
A radical completion of Puccini's unfinished opera - Two Johnnies Live Upstairs (16 Aug 2011)
Eccentric characters each nook and cranny of French family home - The Two Wrongies (14 Aug 2011)
Confused and confusing naked double-act
U
- Unanswered, We Ride (23 Aug 2011)
An emotional portrait of grief - Uncharted Waters (8 Aug 2011)
Homage to life on the waves told through aerial circus skills - Und (17 Aug 2011)
Tough play with the meaning stressed out - Under The Baobab Tree (8 Aug 2011)
Animal tales from Africa - The Unexpected Items (22 Aug 2011)
A largely threadbare and shallow show - Untitled Love Story (17 Aug 2011)
Stories of love and loss that fail to catch fire
V
- Viewless (19 Aug 2011)
Paranoid Orwellian bureaucracy has comically sinister effect - Vikki Stone & The Flashbacks: Big Neon Letters (16 Aug 2011)
Comedy songs in band format - Vinegar Knickers (5 Aug 2011)
A well-titled ‘sketchy beast’ - Vive le Cabaret (22 Aug 2011)
Fishnets, comedy and clowning share the bill
W
- Wade McElwain - The Littlest Hobo (23 Aug 2011)
Eloquently taste-busting lines - Washed Out (23 Aug 2011)
Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Sun 14 Aug 2011 - Wedding Band: A Comedy by Charlie Baker (7 Aug 2011)
Crooner delivers a gentle comic play - What Remains (8 Aug 2011)
Plenty of creep, not enough deep - The Wheel (11 Aug 2011)
Innocence lost in war-torn Spain - When Abel Met Cain (23 Aug 2011)
Middle Eastern music distracted by incoherant stories - Whistle (8 Aug 2011)
Extraordinary true-life tale - White Mink (22 Aug 2011)
The swingingest joint in town - Who Are The Jocks? (8 Aug 2011)
A multi-faceted tale of love and loss - Wilfredo: Erecto! (23 Aug 2011)
Bizarre and creepy cruise ship act - Wil Hodgson (16 Aug 2011)
Sharp comedy about life as he knows it - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (24 Aug 2011)
Haruki Marukami's novel is given multimedia stage adaptation by Stephen Earnhart - WitTank (12 Aug 2011)
A dazzling display of sketch genius - The W. Kamau Bell Curve – Ending Racism In About An Hour (14 Aug 2011)
Race-related comedy that avoids cliché - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (11 Aug 2011)
Children’s adaptation that’s hard to follow - Wondrous Flitting (8 Aug 2011)
Absurdist parable that doesn’t quite work - The World According to Bertie (23 Aug 2011)
A well performed, interestingly staged production - The Wrestling (18 Aug 2011)
Anarchic night of body-slamming action and comedy - The Wright Brothers (16 Aug 2011)
Conquest of flight given lively treatment
Y
- Young Pretender (16 Aug 2011)
Bonny Prince Charlie tale let down by performance - You Once Said Yes (12 Aug 2011)
Exhilarating interactive experience - Yours, Isabel (23 Aug 2011)
Strong script brings together romance and female independence - You Wouldn't Know Him, He Lives in Texas (23 Aug 2011)
An innovative concept that needs thinking through
