Edinburgh Festival Guide

Listings: Comedy

  • Filtered by:
  • Comedy
  • Art Festival
  • Book Festival
  • Children's Festival
  • Edge Festival
  • Film Festival
  • Forest Fringe
  • Fringe
  • Fringe by the Sea
  • International Festival
  • Jazz & Blues Festival
  • Mela
  • Middle East Festival
  • Military Tattoo
  • Festival of Politics
  • Science Festival
  • Festival of Spirituality
  • Turing Festival
  • Hitlisted
  • Free events

Sorted by popularity / rating / date.

Gyles Brandreth: Looking For Happiness

Just A Minute/One Show Gyles won multiple five stars for his last Edinburgh sell-out. Now the award-winning raconteur and ex MP explores the secrets of How to Be Happy. 'Incredibly funny, wildly indiscreet' (Daily Mail).

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

£10 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

Thu 1 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

…and 22 more dates

Amused Moose Comedy Awards Showcase

Grab your top tickets to talent-spot this year's stellar crop of industry approved breakthrough comedians, plus some who are already rather famous! Every showcase is different, so keep coming back.

Just The Tonic at the Caves, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

£8 / 0131 556 5375

Sun 4 Aug

£8 / 0131 556 5375

Wed 7 Aug

£7 / 0131 556 5375

…and 13 more dates

Ian D Montfort: Psychic Fayre

After a triumphant Radio 2 series, the New Age guru, psychic and medium returns; passing on messages, making predictions and telling fortunes. 'Fantastically original and funny enough to kill you from asphyxiation' (Magic Circle Magazine).

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

£6 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

Thu 1 Aug

£6 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£6 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

…and 23 more dates

Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre: In Space

Songs, sketches, falsetto and violence, laced with a sci-fi theme from the ever popular Sock Puppets.

Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

Prices to be confirmed / 0131 622 6552

Thu 1 Aug

Prices to be confirmed / 0131 622 6552

Fri 2 Aug

Prices to be confirmed / 0131 622 6552

…and 21 more dates

And They Played Shang-A-Lang

Number one hits from the era accompany this tale of growing up in 1970s Edinburgh.

The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

Fri 2 Aug

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

…and 21 more dates back to top

Ed Byrne: Roaring Forties

Observational humour from the Dublin-stand-up and actor about reaching middle age.

Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£19.50 / 0844 847 1639

Sat 3 Aug

£19.50 / 0844 847 1639

Sun 4 Aug

£17.50 / 0844 847 1639

…and 19 more dates

Pekka and Strangebone's Comedy Showpiece

Dark, chaotic comedy from the twisted talent agency Pekka and Strangebone.

The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

Free / 0131 556 7060

  • 17:30 – 20:30

Sun 4 Aug

Free / 0131 556 7060

  • 17:30 – 20:30

Mon 5 Aug

Free / 0131 556 7060

  • 17:30 – 20:30
…and 19 more dates

The Stand Late Show

For when you just can't face going home yet – the Stand provides a bumper showcase of Fringe acts to keep you entertained until the wee small hours.

The Stand, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

Over-18s only

£15 (£13) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

Over-18s only

£15 (£13) / 0131 558 7272

Fri 9 Aug

Over-18s only

£15 (£13) / 0131 558 7272

…and 5 more dates

Alan Hudson: Magician or Superhero?

Super strength, X-ray vision and lightning fast speed can be fantastic fun if used for personal gain, without saving the world. 'Hudson is an astounding comic, magician and mind reader' ★★★★ (ThreeWeeks), ★★★★ (Metro).

Just The Tonic at the Caves, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

…and 21 more dates

Alexei Sayle

Doyen of the alt.comedy scene gracing the Fringe with his presence for the first time in ages.

The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, Edinburgh

Tue 13 Aug

Over-18s only

£12 / 0131 558 7272

Wed 14 Aug

Over-18s only

£12 / 0131 558 7272

Thu 15 Aug

Over-18s only

£12 / 0131 558 7272

…and 9 more dates back to top

The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society

A host of comedians who provide something more anarchic than your typical comedy evening, busting out their best comedy moves, with a line-up that change each time.

The Stand, Edinburgh

Tue 6 Aug

Over-18s only

£10 / 0131 558 7272

Wed 7 Aug

Over-18s only

£10 / 0131 558 7272

Thu 8 Aug

Over-18s only

£10 / 0131 558 7272

…and 6 more dates

Amused Moose Laugh Off Final

Scotland's funniest follow in the footsteps of previous winners Sarah Millican, Jimmy Carr and Kevin Bridges, and pack their best jokes into a 10-minutes sketch to see who will be crowned king or queen of comedy.

theSpace @ Symposium Hall, Edinburgh

Sun 11 Aug

£10 / 0845 508 8515

Bacon Face: It's all Bacon

Not Sir Alex Ferguson (no, we didn't know he was called that either), but our favourite mysterious cult 1980s Canadian stand-up who wears a Mexican wrestling mask instead.

The Stand Comedy Club II, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

Over-14s only

£5 / 0131 558 7272

Sun 4 Aug

Over-14s only

£5 / 0131 558 7272

Mon 5 Aug

Over-14s only

£5 / 0131 558 7272

…and 19 more dates

Brendon Burns and Colt Cabana Sit in a Fifty-Seater around Midnight and Provide the Commentary to Bad Wrestling Matches

Rarely has there been a title that more accurately describes a show than this one.

The Stand Comedy Club II, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 / 0131 558 7272

Sun 4 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 / 0131 558 7272

…and 18 more dates

Brendon Burns Hasn't Heard of You Either

The cult Australian comedian, not for the faint of heart, brings another show brimming in foul-mouthed rants and questionable taste to the Fringe.

The Stand, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£12 (£11) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

£12 (£11) / 0131 558 7272

Sun 4 Aug

£12 (£11) / 0131 558 7272

…and 18 more dates back to top

Bridget Christie: A Bic for Her

Presumably inspired by those ridiculous Bic For Her biros the internet went crazy for this year, Christie's latest show also looks at the sensuality of a good mac and getting all up in the patriarchy's grill. Good stuff.

The Stand, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

Over-14s only

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

Sun 4 Aug

Over-14s only

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

Mon 5 Aug

Over-14s only

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

…and 19 more dates

The Colour Ham

Magical comedy sketch group comprising Colin McLeod, Gavin Oattes and Kevin McMahon, making good use of absurdity, magic and mentalism. Member Gavin Oattes allegedly once licked Paul Daniels' face, so anything could happen, really. Over 18s only.

Just The Tonic at the Caves, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£8 (£7) / 0131 556 5375

Sat 3 Aug

£8 (£7) / 0131 556 5375

…and 13 more dates

Dana Alexander: Is This Really Happening?

Feisty and outspoken humour as the Canadian stand-up presents new material about the absurdities of everyday life.

The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

Fri 2 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

…and 21 more dates

Daniel Sloss: Stand-Up

After a massive year of live touring, television, his debut DVD release and parties comes the new stand-up show from comedy’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning half-man-half-Xbox. ‘Hysterical … A stunning show’ (Sunday Express). ‘Genuinely funny’ (Time Out). www.danielsloss.com.

Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£10 / 0844 847 1639

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£14.50 (£10) / 0844 847 1639

Sun 4 Aug

£12.50 (£10) / 0844 847 1639

…and 20 more dates

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience

Basil, Sybil and Manuel open for their sixth Fringe. Always a sell-out, only a third of the show is scripted, so everything stays fresh. ‘Best comedy show I've ever seen' (Sunday Express)

B'est, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£46.50 / 0131 556 4448

Fri 2 Aug

£43 / 0131 556 4448

Sun 4 Aug

£43 / 0131 556 4448

…and 20 more dates back to top

Gary Colman: GRIND

Once he was a hedonist. Now he's married with kids and an ulcer, which is just as fun. (It's probably not.) Gary talks about the ways in which life has slowly but surely ground him down.

Whistlebinkies, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

Free / 0131 557 5114

  • 14:45 – 15:35

Gavin Webster: Don't Give Any Money to Comic Relief and Other Opinions

Oh, the controversy. Gavin Webster has opinions and by God he's going to share them whether you like it or not.

Gaiety Theatre, Ayr

Tue 23 Jul

£10 / 01292 288235

  • 20:00

The Stand Comedy Club II, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

Fri 2 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

…and 21 more dates

The Ginge, the Geordie and the Geek

A night of comedy madness from this highly-acclaimed sketch show featuring surreal characters and 80s power ballads.

Just The Tonic at the Caves, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£14 (£13) / 0131 556 5375

…and 19 more dates

Jason Byrne's Special Eye

A brand new high-energy show for 2013 from the Dublin-born stand-up.

Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

£10 / 08445 458252

Preview

Thu 1 Aug

£10 / 08445 458252

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£19.50 / 08445 458252

…and 21 more dates

Jimeoin: Yes,Yes, Whatever…?!

One of live comedy’s masters. Hilarious star of Live at Apollo, Ch4's O2 Comedy Gala, Royal Variety etc… No gimmicks, just great craic! ‘Awesome!’ (List). ‘Inspired!’ (Independent). ‘Classic nonsense… Stand-up comedy at its best’ (Scotsman). www.jimeoin.com.

Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh

Fri 9 Aug

£17.50 (£15) / 0844 847 1639

Sat 10 Aug

£17.50 (£15) / 0844 847 1639

Sun 11 Aug

£15 / 0844 847 1639

…and 7 more dates back to top