This is the 2008 news archive - click here for the 2009 Reviews & Press Page

Sep 08 - Three Weeks - Craig Shaynak - Well my brothers, it must be said that George WWIII, had my 'shizzle' with his funny little jokes and strange ironies. This man, despite being unmistakably American, sure knows how to play to the international crowd, regardless of ripping off every single nationality. The idea of a training session worked very well, keeping the audience tentative yet not overbearing. Mr G WWIII points out the simplest inconsistencies between nationalities and has the crowd in stitches, and that, my friend, is a true skill. Although perhaps some of his work is a little risky, the fact that America is subject to the same ridicule as every other place makes it all ok…? One funny dude that was cramped by his venue. The Counting House, 1 - 24 Aug (not Mon), 10.40pm (11.30pm), free, fpp 42

Sep 08 - Three Wees - The Umberella Show - The miserable weather doesn’t mean we all have to be pathetic wet drips. This is not a criticism of the comic trio up from Brighton; it was the lukewarm audience who put a damper on proceedings. Comedy is like sex - if you're not paying you surely expect to do some work. Thrice the audience refused the offer of dry wit under the umbrella. First up Sam Stone had to use all her energy and rapport skills not so much to warm-up as to start defrosting the room. Dan Allen’s dry humour had little effect on the wet audience, his carefully delivered jokes disappearing over their heads. Paul McCaffrey just about finished the defrosting. The comedy was alive and well, too bad the audience weren’t. Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 10 -25 Aug, free ticketed, fpp 107

2/9/08 - Chortle - The Best things in life (and the Fringe) are Free http://www.chortle.co.uk/correspondents/2008/09/02/7340/the_best_things_in_life_are_free

Aug 08 - Three Weeks - Shaker (Re-stirred) Where else are you going to stage this wonderful play than in a cocktail bar? Shakers is the story of cocktail waitresses, down in the dingy corners of Espionage these four brilliant women will capture the essence of the service industry uncannily well. Taking on different roles deftly and easily they became the punters as well as staff, the girls out for a 21^st birthday, the men too scared to ask for a ‘slow comfortable screw’ (that’s a cocktail, for those not in the know), the men very unafraid to ask for a screw of any kind. This was a fast-paced, hilarious hour and a half in the company of some fully believable, ballsy waitresses. Bravo ladies.

Aug 08 - Three Weeks - Laughing Cows   Oh god, there’s a hen party in, the traditional kind of screaming dunken women who came onto my friend like they were 20 all over again and heckled to their hearts content. But Jojo Sutherland’s Laughing Cows can certainly deal with that, and then some. From the plain ignoring to the shouting back at them, the hen party was not quieted, but at least quelled for a while. Having spoken to Jojo about her ideas for the event, I knew that she wanted people to not consider the evening as ‘female comedy’ just good comedy that happens to be female. And that’s what it was, great comedy and good fun, I’d trust anyone on the changing line up, so go along and see what laughing cows you’ll find.

Aug 08  - STV - Lynn Ruth Miller http://video.stv.tv/bc/search/Lynn+Ruth+Miller

26/8/08 - Three Weeks - Free Festival - the only way to do the Fringe - http://edinburgh.threeweeks.co.uk/feature/4309

26/8/08 - Three Weeks - Gill Smith answers the Quick Quiz - http://edinburgh.threeweeks.co.uk/feature/4215

22/8/08 - Three Weeks - Hot Box Three single American gals out for good time seek young male audience member to harass (in a nice way). Must have GSOH and beer money. Hot Box is one of those little gems of the Free Fringe, featuring a refreshing international brand of humour - it's good to hear jokes about Kansas and Texas as opposed to say, Glasgow. The stand-up elements, which comprise the majority of the show, are genuine and funny, particularly Claudia's analysis of a personals ad. They do suffer from a lack of audience; this is, after all, the Argyle Bar on a soggy Monday night. The sketches are excellent, however, and reminiscent of the highlights of 'Smack The Pony'. You should check these girls out, if you ever have the chance.

25/8/08 - The Scotsman - The Curious case of the missing Millions - How Fringe acts loose money at the big venues, with Free Fest Comic Barry Ferns http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/The-curious-case-of-the.4424572.jp 

22/8/08 - Three Weeks - Life in 2D With their wit far more developed than their facial hair, these youthful comedians commanded their audience with raw talent. It seems that comedy is following suit with sport, music and acting where the stars all seem to be getting younger; at twenty-one I feel I've missed my chance. He may have been skipping school, but Daniel, only seventeen, gave the show its spark. While the others showed signs of nerves, he looked most comfortable on stage and seemed fully aware of his precociousness, poking fun at the fact that he's unable to buy himself a drink. However, I'm sure plenty of the audience would have been willing. Very Scottish, very funny and very impressive, I just wish it had been longer.

24/8/08 - The Guardian  - Are Free shows now starting to worry the big venues? "What should worry [fringe director] Morgan and, indeed, the Big Four, not entirely smiling all the way to the bank, is the continuing growth of the Free Fringe, where punters pay what they wish at the end of a show; some comics report they have made more from the collection bucket than they ever did at the main venues."

23/8/08 - Three Weeks - Jojo Sutherland on teaching stand-up http://edinburgh.threeweeks.co.uk/feature/5304

22/8/08 - Three Weeks - Grim Not all of us lose our virginities in brothels, but evidently some do. And so begins one of 'Grim's' cautionary tales - the one about the girl who wanted too much too soon. Loosely based on stories by the Brothers Grimm this play mixes the pseudo-feminist with the macabre to demonstrate some of the problems us lassies face in the modern world. Remember when you worked as a morgue technician and you fell in love with the dead guy, so you stole his heart? No? Just me then? Anyway, fair play to the enthusiastic and unconventionally good-looking cast of this odd little number, for at least managing to keep straight faces while discussing the unsavoury details of deflowering a girl.

22/8/08 - Three Weeks - Jay Gees Jamboree Another late night comedy pick of the Fringe, and one that promises a laugh at least every 10 minutes with the fantastic Andy White bringing articulate wit to his compère duties. It's all too easy to go from the sublime to the sorrowful when there are two of those wee small hours to be filled. You may be treated to the best Finnish comedian in Edinburgh right now, Tomi Walamies, or you may get some strange Dutchman who doesn't know why he's there. Certainly worth a risk if the Fringe hasn't got to you by one in the morning.

22/8/08 - Three Weeks - Jay Gees Jamboree This show has gone for the Roald Dahl method of entertaining kids, which generally involves being as creepy and weird as possible and seeing who blinks first. It works reasonably well, but it's hard to tell if the children are intrigued or confused. The poems lack the vivid imagination of Dahl but there are some, like the tale of the boy who continually picked his nose and his snot-monster friend, which hit the mark for giggles. A few of the younger kids seemed perturbed by the whole thing, not quite old enough to keep up and understandably freaked out by Ms Googiepants' ability to pull some very scary faces. It'll keep the easily befuddled quiet for 45 minutes though.

21/8/08 - Three Weeks - Mental - Free I was initially wary of the prospect of attending a mind-reading show - thoughts of being dragged up on stage and having my deepest secrets extrapolated and exposed to the audience ran through my head. Fortunately, Pete Wells is approachable, sincere and not out to humiliate anyone. Although evidently nervous, Wells demonstrated some impressive Derren Brown-esque exercises of the subconscious, culminating in a mind-boggling trick that left me genuinely confused as to how he had done it. His jokes weren't of the same calibre as his illusions and there were one or two tricks that didn't quite go according to plan, but with a bit more showmanship and a larger repertoire of material this could be something mighty impressive.

21/8/08 - Three Weeks - Chris Brooker Chris Brooker is a particularly juvenile 32-year-old. He's still living like a student, avoiding mortgages and anything resembling a real job, and is overly proud of his XBox 360. So begins eighty minutes (apparently he's not organised enough to buy a watch) of familiar jokes: fighting over the best mug, who took the bins out last and how, eventually, all of us will start talking to our cats in a slightly creepy way. There's a huge jump in tone towards the end when, in reflecting on the death of a close friend, Chris conveys the realisation that he should probably get off his arse and do something. This was poignant and strangely inspiring.

21/8/08 - Three Weeks - Maureen Younger It takes a certain kind of woman to perform stand-up in front of her mother - or a certain type of mother - and I think in this case the word for both might be 'feisty'. This is only a short show, billed at half an hour, but with about ten minutes devoted to welcoming stragglers into the fold, perhaps to the detriment of the show, but to the benefit of the friendly atmosphere. Maureen tells of her mother's escapades with muggers and her own devious ploy to get seats on buses, as well as the "gentleman caller" who made her "howl like a hound". For all that this show deals primarily with Maureen's sex life, it's not crude, just engaging and funny.

20/8/08 - The List - Waxing Cynical http://hairline.org.uk/2008/08/20/waxing-cynical/

20/8/08 - The List - Lynn Ruth Miller http://www.list.co.uk/article/12168-another-side-of-the-mirror/

20/8/08 - Times Educational Supliment - Kevin McCarron on teaching and stand-up http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6000902

20/8/08 - Three Weeks - Journey Central Comedy Club It's sometimes easy to forget that there are venues beyond Prince's Street, but this show is proof positive of worthy events occurring outside Fringe central. Compere Lainey Mclean should admittedly review her jokes and technique, but she clearly knows how to network. These are acts who never let the pace drop once, unsurprising from a line-up featuring headliners such as Andy White and Vladimir McTavish. With some brilliant quick-fire lyrics from Ashley Frieze and shocking fashion advice from Annette Fagon, there was an incredible variety of comedy styles provoking the laughter. If this high calibre of acts is maintained throughout different line-ups it'll definitely be worth the trek, and if you live in Leith, you've no excuse not to see it.

20/8/08 - Three Weeks - This show belongs to Lionel Ritchie The people at the Lionel Ritchie cult sure know how to put on a show. We were treated to a selection of fine comedians with crazed compère Barry Gibb in between, anxious to get us applauding to the point of hysteria - though he didn't have to try hard. All three comics got plenty of laughs and Tom Goodeve was especially successful with his sharp observational humour. Darren Kisner, however, gets an honourable mention for his routine claiming that Ikea is a Nazi plot. The biggest highlight, however, was the Tape Measure Extension competition which, to me, was about as exciting as it gets when it comes to sporting events. Forget watching the Olympics - this is what everyone should be watching.

20/8/08 - Three Weeks - Dan Willis Dan Willis is doing four shows a day at this year's Fringe, so he can be forgiven for a having a dodgy throat. What hasn't been damaged by such a heavy workload, however, is Willis's spirit for the festival, and you'd be hard pressed to find a more friendly comedian in the whole of Edinburgh. Willis leaves any cynicism at the door, and only shows passion in his performance and an all-embracing attitude towards the audience. With topics chosen from a velcro covered board, Willis jokes adeptly with amusing anecdotes about violent hecklers and the fear of flying. Probably the only stand-up show at the Fringe where you can leave for the toilet without fear.

20/8/08 - Three Weeks - The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly, self-proclaimed 'Russian dolls of comedy', are three men with three very different comedy styles. In a back room in Meadow Bar, Sion James bases his set around interaction with the audience and reminds us what stand-up should be as he riffs expertly and even makes fat jokes that are endearingly funny. Paul Harry-Allen is Russell Howard meets Rob Brydon, and is a joy to watch. His infectious energy has the audience in stitches and his interpretation of his 'favourite' records is hilarious. Finally, the dry, droll Mike O'Donovan is a complete contrast, laid-back and almost monotone; perhaps too slow-paced to follow Harry-Allen. These are three funny men, but Harry-Allen is the one to look out for.

20/8/08 - Three Weeks - Festival of Football 2 As Tony Cowards points out, you need a sense of humour to follow a football team, and in comedy the sport seems to be a somewhat overlooked well of material. Football apathetics need not apply here; there isn't a lot for anyone who is impartial about the beautiful game, but this should prove to be an entertaining hour for anyone who knows their Rotherham United from their Ronaldo. Cowards is likeable as a sincere eccentric and obviously knows his stuff, his observations and anecdotes far superior to his run of the mill joke making. It's interesting, but there's certainly room for improvement - with a bit more spit and polish this could be a championship-winning performance (Sorry, I couldn't resist).

20/8/08 - The Scotsman - Shaggers http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Comedy-review-Shaggers.4412822.jp

20/8/08 - The Scotsman - This show belongs to Lionel Ritchie http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Comedy-review-This-Show-Belongs.4412840.jp

20/8/08 - The Scotsman - Hollywould - interview in the Scotsman http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Sell-us-your-show-Hollywould.4413703.jp

19/8/08 - The Scotsman - Ivor Dembina http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Comedy-Review-This-is-Not.4406792.jp

19/8/08 - Three Weeks- Nick Pettigrew - Obsessive, Compulsive, Disordered My hands and feet go numb sitting on the floor in this jam-packed venue, but pins and needles are a small price to pay to see this friendly, free funny-man, and he has some suggestions for numb hands too. Nick proves a lovable guide to the problems of OCD, turning his troubles into lots of laughs. An accomplished gag-smith with an eye (ear?) for puns, his seemingly shy act develops into some quite bold banter with the audience. The act adapts amusingly to allow for the assertive girl in the front row, who, Nick discovers, is single. Numb hands, by the way, are a great for spicing up masturbation, but this super stand-up leaves me with little need to amuse myself.

19/8/08 - Three Weeks- Afternoon Men 'Afternoon Men' was definitely an enjoyable hour in the company of some very talented comedians. Sara Pascoe's slightly ditzy persona heightened the humour of her everyday observations, particularly her indignation at inanimate objects (how dare a carton of audacious orange juice tell her to 'concentrate'?). Bringing new life to the humour of misunderstandings, she could well be one to watch in the future. James Everett was a crowd-pleaser of similar proportions, with puns and gags that were so groan-worthy they were hilarious. Both were perfectly charming, and were the highlights of the show. The line up differs from day to day but judging by this afternoon's performance, this is a brilliant way to sample some decent free comedy.

19/8/08 - Three Weeks- Derek Ryan: Mongrel At his first ever Fringe show, Derek Ryan was under-prepared, hadn't done any flyering and had a video which we all had to huddle around his laptop to watch. But, his chat about animals and humans made up for the shortfalls. Tales from his travels in Africa were funny and his stories always linked back to the theme of the way animals and people are intertwined. He discussed everything from dressing your dog to what direction a rhino can travel in, and in doing so he gently tickled my funny bone. This show will get better as his run goes on and I'm hoping he won't have to refer to his set list in future shows. It's free and worth a peek.

19/8/08 - Three Weeks- Secret Midnight Gig "We have absolutely no idea who will be on," claim the organisers. So how should I review an ever-changing line-up that can even be a mystery to those behind the show? No, I don't know either. What won't change, I dare say, is just how inebriated the audience, host and performers all are, and it's this alcohol-soaked edge that does encourage a relaxed atmosphere, as banter is rife and each act is brave enough to expose their most daring material. It's not unlikely that some big names will appear in future line-ups: I was treated to fifteen minutes of Alan Carr.  A good night of cheap laughs.

19/8/08 - Three Weeks- Aging is Amazing - Lynn Ruth Miller - A one-woman musical is a daunting prospect at the best of times, but when the woman in question is only a few years off a Zimmer frame, it becomes positively terrifying. Fortunately, Ohio born Lynn Ruth Miller pulls it off with more style than most people half her age, and the result is a funny, touching and original performance. Singing 40s style lounge songs, Miller covers inappropriate subjects such as drug abuse, sex for the over seventies and stripping, encouraging a willing audience to sing-a-long. Aside from a couple of weaker songs, there's nothing here that won't endear you to the 75 year old; to be honest, it's worth it alone to see an OAP in nipple tassels crooning about crack.

19/8/08 - Musical Theatre Matters - Lynn Ruth Miller http://www.musicaltheatrematters.org.uk/aging-is-amazing/

19/8/08 - Chortle - World Record Attempt -news of Paul foots record breaking attempt a 25 gigs in a day, starting and finishing at Free Festival venues http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/08/19/7259/foots_feat; more mentions in press: Evening News http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/festival-news/Joan-buttons-herself-up-with.4407056.jp

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- Lynn Ruth Miller - Mirror This woman is an adorable gem; her stories are warm, touching and true whilst her delightful attitude and charisma make her a real joy to watch. Despite her age, Lynn has a vivid and sharp memory combined with fantastic command of the English language, and she unashamedly discusses her view of the world as a child, bringing out the child in all of us. Lynn is also doing other shows in the festival that I will be checking out to see if this lady can please a stubborn comedy crowd as well.

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- Comedy Sportz Everyone knows rules are no fun, right? So you would understand my concern when I was first introduced to the 'rules' of ComedySportz, the competitive version of improvised comedy. I shouldn't have worried. The simple and familiar rules were thus: two teams of comedians must each come up with an improvised sketch based on an initial topic suggestion from the audience. Sounds risky? Indeed, but the gamble definitely paid off as this group proved themselves skilled and funny with a remarkable ability to think on their feet. They were clearly enjoying themselves, and it was obvious that this delight rubbed off on the audience. Surprisingly funny, more than a little bizarre, and a good afternoon of fun for all the family.

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- Tania Edwards Tania Edwards and some guest star comedy friends entertain the audience with witty stories, some good jokes and just generally hilarious chit-chat. The audience took some time to become properly involved - Tania herself being totally under appreciated - but after some very admirable hard work, the performers eventually managed to tease those big, hearty, belly laughs out of the audience. The last performer, Pat, literally talked for 10 minutes without taking a breath: he was very, very funny. The fact that this show is free makes it even better, so get yourselves on down to Leith and have a good old chortle.

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- Mac's Lyrical Mac is a straight talking poet from Northern England who doesn't let his energy lapse as he tells stories about his childhood, puberty, and involvement with the army. This is not laugh-out-loud comedy though; there are some witty lines, but most of the humour comes from empathising with his experiences as the last boy to have pubes when he was growing up, or his realisation that he looks like his father. I enjoyed the informal atmosphere of this event, as it made me feel as though I was just a friend listening to his story, not an audience member at a comedy gig. Mac delivers his material without too much sentimentality (except for the slide show) and is certainly worth the trip to Leith Walk.

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- The Bavarian Tradition Show On a cold, rainy, Edinburgh night, you could do a lot worse than joining in the fun with Vroni and her busty friends at the Counting House. Let your wonderfully dead-pan and rather likable German host guide you through all things Bavarian, from the art of beer drinking, to German-style dating. I thoroughly enjoyed clapping, yodelling and whooping along to traditional Bavarian songs, all played on Vroni's accordion. If there's one thing us Brits have in common with the Germans then it's a love of beer, so there really is no excuse for not indulging in this free show. Prepare to link arms with your partner, jump on seats and get down with the Bavarians!

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- Homework For Heroes In this show four comedians take to the stage to talk about everyday events they have found heroic, before placing their hero on their 'hero scale', based on the audience reaction. The two girls of the group were considerably funnier than their male counterparts; particularly the compere, whose tales of singledom and monkeys were terribly funny, if ever so slightly sad (but it's okay, she has a man now). That's not to say the men were not enjoyable to watch, but their acts could certainly do with a bit of polishing. With an interesting theme, plenty of crowd interaction and, most importantly, a great attitude from the quartet, this is one of the better free shows at the Fringe.

18/8/08 - Three Weeks- Answering the ThreeWeeks Quick Quiz today... Jane Hill from the Lunchbox Files

1. What is your 2008 show all about? Three talented new comics tell jokes about life, love and lunch.

2. Why should we come and see it? See the comedy stars of the future for free - at lunchtime.

3. If your show was an olympic sport, what would it be and why? Rhythmic gymnastics. No particular reason - we just like the patterns they make with their ribbons.

4. What are you most looking forward to about this year's Festival? Flyering - it's the most fun you can have handing out pieces of cardboard to reluctant punters.

5. What are you least looking forward to about this year's Festival? Being flyered.

6. What advice would you have for someone trying to navigate the Fringe? Support the Free Festival - loads of great comedy for no cost.

7. What advice would you have for someone trying to survive the Fringe? There are healthy and nutritious foodstuffs available in Edinburgh that aren't kebabs.

8. Describe your show in three words Funny, free, lunch-y.

18/8/08 - Chortle - Nik Coppin - Stuff http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2008/n/16068/nik_coppin%3A_stuff/review/

18/8/08 - Black Lion - Rob Deb http://www.black-lion.co.uk/node/784

17/8/08 - One4Review - OCD: My Family and other Anals http://www.one4review.com/Comedy_/comedy2008/ocd_my_family_.htm

17/8/08 - Scotsgay - Shelley Cooper: Britishness (Review and Interview) http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/pdf/sg83.pdf

17/8/08 - Fringe Guru - Lunchtime Life Lessons http://www.fringeguru.com/editorial/reviews-08/lunchtime-life-lessons.html

16/8/08 - The Stage - Waxing Cynical http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/132

16/8/08 - The List  - Judi Dench Video http://www.list.co.uk/article/11808-dench-or-how-dame-judi-got-her-groove-back/

16/8/08 - The Guardian - Dodgy Posters, but free PR from the Guardian:

Dan Willis: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2008/aug/08/edinburgh.festival.posters?picture=336339963; Donald Mack: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2008/aug/08/edinburgh.festival.posters?picture=336339988; Topical Scurvy: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2008/aug/08/edinburgh.festival.posters?picture=336339994; Kevin Hayes: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2008/aug/08/edinburgh.festival.posters?picture=336340018

16/8/08 - Hairline - Topical Scurvy for Lunch http://hairline.org.uk/2008/08/11/topical-scurvy-for-lunch/

16/8/08 - The Scotsman - News of Alan Carr saving the Day for Shakers http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Comedian-Carr-steps-in-to.4402627.jp

16/8/08 - Chortle - News of Alan Carr saving the Day for Shakers   http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/08/16/7243/carrss_a_star...

16/8/08 - Three Weeks - This is not a subject for Comedy - Ivor Dembina As the title indicates, subjects such as the Holocaust and suicide bombings in Israel don't make for light entertainment, even if they do come from anti-Zionist Jewish comic, Ivor Dembina. When I first saw Ivor this Festival in 'Shaggers', I remember through my drunken haze that he was funniest of the four comedians. In this performance he masterfully weaves together Jewish humour, storytelling, and cleverly offensive jokes about Christians, Jews, and Muslims to brilliant effect. His material is intelligent and clever; embedded with truth and honesty. He didn't resort to circumcision jokes, instead relying on the predictable references to Jews and money. This is the best comedy show from the Free Festival I've seen: thought provoking humour for any schmuck.

16/8/08 - Three Weeks - Bit Sized, Improvised The basis for this show is that two Irish comedians take suggestions from the audience and then dub these over short film clips, and it works quite well. Their ability to improvise and bounce off each other really keeps the show together and their carefully selected film clips are good for messing around with. Audience interaction didn't go as far as picking on people and they weren't rude, but then they could have said anything with their accents and got away with it. The two comedians work well together and tell some funny stories of their own, for a free show it's good and although the film clips may be repeated, the commentary will be different each night.

16/8/08 - Three Weeks - The Comedy Cartoon Story What would you do if your reflection got caught in a mirror? What happened to the Princess when she had to Pee? Phil Sheppard explains through his cartoons in this hour of storytelling. Reminiscent of storybook television shows, the format cleverly kept the interest of even the smallest children by having one story in four parts, and shorter ones interspersed between. The energy generated by Shepherd when telling the stories was massive, and there was quite a bit of shouting, but the effort to bring it all to life was admirable. Unusual and exciting, with beautiful cartoons and cleverly crafted stories, this was brilliant fun for the kids, but outside, it was also the parents who were raving about it.

15/8/08 - Three Weeks - I Kissed a Frog This is a thoroughly enjoyable slice of life about the tribulations of a young woman in search of Mr Right amongst random shags, heavy drinking, and terrible day jobs. We can all relate to this story; more so because of the deft handling and energy of the two actors who utilise the confined space well, despite being hidden when seated. Some poetry and half-hearted guitar are also interspersed throughout as the actors switch between playing a character, re-enacting an event, and narrating the story. This is a short, enjoyable package that should be sampled because it is relevant, quirky, and free. There's also a community health message thrown in for good measure.

15/8/08 - Three Weeks - Topical Scurvy for Lunch It may be in the dingy back room of a football club, but what emanates from this room is nothing but quality. 'Topical Scurvy' embodies what the Fringe is about: talent showcased in obscure venues, discovered by unwitting punters. This show combines timeless stand-up material with topical issues of the day, including a rap between John McCain and Barack Obama, and whatever happens to be in the newspapers that day. A special mention must go to Tony Dunn, who manages to pull off dressing up as a crucified, blacked-up Jesus, without inciting a riot. The costumes are hilariously bad and the show is unpolished, but the raw talent is enough to give the audience an excellent lunchtime show.

15/8/08 - Three Weeks - Grab your coat Love, It's Helm and Taylor With Taylor's trademark headband and Helm's trademark hip-thrusts, this pair is out to tickle funny bones with the help of flashing electronic drumsticks and a dose of surreal madness at lunchtime. It's not exactly intellectual or complex, but their gleeful and insistent silliness should get anyone smiling. They have a talent for repeating anything until it becomes funny, as well as being perfectly willing to return their heckles. Their partnership is based more on the concept that two hairy men are funnier than one hairy man than that opposites attract, but with low budget slideshows, games such as 'happy tag' and a peculiar interest in animals, you couldn't ask for much more from free comedy in the afternoons.

15/8/08 - Three Weeks - Fine Sketchup I found the perfect way to hide from the rain, and its name was 'Fine Sketchup'. With three different acts every day, it's a nice little taster session. One of the acts was missing today because they "discovered they were soluble", but the two remaining, 'Will & Greg' and 'Mould & Arrowsmith' more than made up for it. Both duos have appeared on Channel 4, and I can see why. The sketches were professional, well-written and flawlessly performed without the crudeness and vulgarity of some of the comedy that I've seen so far, which I found completely refreshing. I recommend 'Fine Sketchup' not just as the best way to hide from the temperamental weather, but as the best way to see some great sketch comedy.

15/8/08 - Three Weeks - Club Sandwich I have a feeling that I saw a reduced version of this show - the advertised 'chunky handful of rising stars' amounted to only two comics. Mike O'Donovan is a relaxed Australian with fairly mainstream material featuring jokes about smoking, fat kids and predictive text. Occasionally it's a bit filthy and sometimes close to the bone, but he's a stand-up who gets the job done. Hannah Dunleavy has some slightly more interesting, well-paced material which ranges from John Prescott's bulimia to hardcore pornography. With a steady stream of laughter throughout, but no new territory explored this was a good quick shot of comedy to kick the night off.

15/8/08 - Freshair - Shelley Cooper Interview http://www.freshair.org.uk/2008/08/06/interview-shelley-cooper/

15/8/08 - Freshair - Steve Day http://www.freshair.org.uk/2008/08/10/review-steve-day-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go/

15/8/08 - Scotsman - A Borad Abroad http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/THEATRE-A-BROAD-ABROAD.4393924.jp

15/8/08 - Freshair - Festival of Football 2 http://www.freshair.org.uk/2008/08/10/review-festival-of-football-2/

15/8/08 - Freshair - Andy White http://www.freshair.org.uk/2008/08/10/review-andy-white-i-think-therefore-i-am/

14/8/08 - You Tube - Video turned up of... Alan Carr at Espionage at the Secret Midnight gig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLLT0pIPLN0  

14/8/08 - The Stage - A Cold Slap Down Under http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/206

14/8/08 - The Stage - The American, Coloured and Me http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/177

14/8/08 - The List - Free Comedy Rebeliion http://www.list.co.uk/article/11570-free-comedy/ Our shows breifely reviewed are Turonimo Numpty, Hollywould and Fine Sketchup

13/8/08 - One4Review  - Race Off http://www.one4review.com/Comedy_/comedy2008/race%20off.htm

13/8/08 - BBC News - Free Shows at the Fringe - Alex Petty, Donald Mack and Lee Grant Interviewed. Online and audio. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7559754.stm. Diredct Link to audio: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7560013.stm

13/8/08 - Three Weeks - I Need your Love An experience of unparalleled randomness, as yet this is not a show. It once might have been, before the guy doing it pulled out and put his slot up for grabs. Enter Andrew J. Lederer, a ball of energy from Brooklyn, who intends to use the slot to write a show called 'I Need Your Love' before the Fringe ends. Today he tested some possible excerpts on his audience - autobiographical material about sleeping in a TV studio, and brief appearances on 'Fame'. I mentioned it was random, didn't I? The show I saw will probably be nothing like the show you see - he may even add in that dance number - but be prepared to volunteer your opinions. It's a work in progress, after all.

13/8/08 - Fringe Report - Dean Scurry http://fringereport.com/0808laughwithdeanscurry.php

12/8/08 - Fest - Another side of the Mirror http://www.festmag.co.uk/article/43702-another-side-of-the-mirror

12/8/08 - Three Weeks - Steve Day Steve Day was effortlessly funny, and very refreshing to watch, his story telling hilarious, and his material of a kind that us normal folk can relate to. We, the members of the average Joe audience were in stitches with Steve's painstakingly detailed descriptions of a BT call centre's inherent office politics, and the difference between the street cred of a value biscuit and a McVities. These tales were delivered with poetic hyperbole, giving Steve a sweet child-like charm. He approached the fact that he is almost fully deaf with flair and style, plus a tiny pinch of the anti-PC salt that Britain craves just now. So should he stay or should he go? I really hope he stays.

12/8/08 - Three Weeks - Laughing Horse Pick of the Fringe No 'Pick Of The Fringe' will feature all the acts you should see at the Festival, but this line-up featured some excellent free talent, and the bombastically liberal Rick Molland is perfect for the role of compère. Of the six comedians plugging their shows, the highlight of them all was Ismo Leikola, a faux Finnish stand-up who uses language difficulties to great effect, making even porn jokes sound quite innocent. If you want a free taster of the Fringe, this will give you plenty to dip into.

11/8/08 - Chortle - Phil Buckley's Edinburgh Stories http://www.chortle.co.uk/about/2008/07/28/7131/edinburgh_stories...

11/8/08 - RichardHerring.com - Anthology http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/warmingup.php?id=2109

10/8/08 - The Scotsman - Andrew Furgesson Diary http://living.scotsman.com/13855/Festival-blog-Diary-of-a.4383333.jp

10/8/08 - Fringe Report - Phil Ellis http://www.fringereport.com/0808philelliswhyibatheinajax.php

10/8/08 - Fringe Report - Dog Day King http://www.fringereport.com/0808dogdayking.php

10/8/08 - Fest - I kissed a Frog http://www.festmag.co.uk/article/43673-i-kissed-a-frog-and-it-gave-me-herpes

9/8/08 - Sunday Herald  - Comedy Finance is no Joke - "...Instead I spent a damp Wednesday afternoon seeing what the Free Fringe festival was like. Where's Yak is a two-woman show about the fantasy lives of Wimpy burger-flippers. The performers really had star quality, though they were let down by some weak material. Hurricane Katrina turned out to be a leggy stand-up with a multiple-personality routine who was quite funny, and Dean Scurry, a scurrilous Dublin comic, was a hoot.

You do pay, of course - a bucket is waved in your face as you leave. They ask for a fiver and most people seem to give two or three quid, on average, which sounds poor, but makes commercial sense for the performers. They don't pay for the venues and so don't end up with huge debts. Even on £50 a show, they can eat.

I think this could be the future. It's certainly truer to the original idea of the Edinburgh Fringe. Whether the army of festival reviewers will agree is another matter - they get their tickets for nothing from the big venue promoters. But at free shows, well, you just can't walk out without donating something, can you?"

9/8/08 - Three Weeks - Rob McCulloch Rob McCulloch is a talented singer-songwriter who really deserves an audience.. Although obviously influenced by other northern indie artists such as Arctic Monkeys, and with a voice not dissimilar to that of Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics, he is not simply a mimic. His songs have both grit and charm, and avoid becoming too self-indulgent. However, his performance often lacked dynamism, at times becoming simply a barrage of sound. McCulloch is a young talent, who has laid the foundations for future success.

9/8/08 - Three Weeks - Two Americans loose thier shirts... Free doesn't always guarantee quality, but this particular show is well worth a visit. The main act, Liam McEneaney, is an experienced comic cast in a similar mould to Kevin Smith: American, geeky and very funny. The material is simple, focusing mostly on his childhood, his relationships and therapy with 'Death of a Salesman', but his take and delivery are exquisite. The show suffers from 'Edinburgh Problems' - an awkward room half full of noontime stragglers - even so, the show is seriously funny. Not quite a celebrity yet, but if he gets the audiences I can't wait to see his name in lights - if Brendon Burns or Glen Wool are too much for you give Liam and his chums a try.

9/8/08 - Three Weeks - Lynn Ruth Miller Quick Quiz

1. What is your 2008 show all about? I have three shows and each one is about how it feels to be an old lady.

The first one is 'Granny's Gone Wild', a comedy show discussing some of the unexpected challenges of approaching 75, such as remembering your name or forgetting your teeth. It also discusses the changes in society from when I was a girl.

The second is a storytelling show for grown-ups, part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival programme. It is called 'Another Side Of The Mirror' and is offered at 3.55 pm at the Argyle. I believe that everyone loves a good story about what it was like in the thirties and forties when a loaf of bread cost 5p and the policeman was your friend. I talk about antiquated customs like wedding nights, and when women didn't have nipple rings.

The third show is 'Aging Is Amazing', also a Laughing Horse Free Festival show at the Argyle. This is a series of songs glorifying old age. After all who can do it better than I? I am there and loving every minute of it (as long as I don't look in the mirror).

2. Why should we come and see it? This might be your last chance to see someone who is almost 75 take off her clothes, remember a joke and tell a story while throwing nappies at the audience all at one festival.

3. If your show was an Olympic sport, what would it be and why? It would be an endurance contest and the prize would be a resuscitator.

4. What are you most looking forward to about this year's Festival? Seeing everyone again and proving to my audiences that aging really can BE amazing if you want it to be that way.

5. What are you least looking forward to about this year's Festival? One of those unending rainstorms that start at dawn and do not end for two days. This year I intend to bring my flippers and an inner tube.

6. What advice would you have for someone trying to navigate the Fringe? Take one minute at a time.

7. What advice would you have for someone trying to survive the Fringe? Breathe.

8. Describe your show in three words Edgy, inspirational, outrageous.

9/8/08 - Three Weeks - Lional Ritchie Stand-up Star Injured
One from the Fringe emergency room, and news that one of performers of 'This Stand-Up Show Belongs To Lionel Richie' had to be rushed to A&E this week after an on-stage Tape Measure Extension injury.

This story possibly requires some background information. Presumably aware that there's a lot of sporting events to compete with during the Fringe this year, the cast of this show have developed a sport all of their own which has apparently caught the imagination of both London and Edinburgh audiences. As I understand it contenders role out a metalic tape measure into the air and continue to do so until it bends. The winner is the extender who gets their tape highest in the air, so to speak.

The dangerous part of this sport, in case you wondered, is when the tape snaps back into its box. It's then, as TSUSBTLR's Joe Baker will tell you, that you need your wits about you. Baker: "It all happened so fast. One minute I was 5cm from the world record. The next I was flat on my back in agony". The tape had hit Baker's eye as it snapped back down to earth.

The good news is an impromtpu whip round among the Free Festival audience raised enough cash to get Joe to hospital where his injured eye was treated, and doctors advised use of goggles at all future TMW events. Baker concluded by telling ThreeWeeks: "I'm not going to let this put me off. I'm just eager to get back TME-ing as soon as possible".

Audience members at the Lionel Richie stand-up show are invited to participate in the TME championships. Presumably we don't need to tell you - mind your eyes.

8/8/08 - Three Weeks - Including features with Andrew J. Lederer and Anna Victoria http://threeweeks.co.uk/edinburgh/3wks2008_week1.pdf

8/8/08 - Independant - Andrew J. Lederer Quted in the Edinburgh Diary http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/features/julian-halls-edinburgh-festival-diary-887019.html

8/8/08 - Three Weeks - Bringing in the Sheep 'Bringing In The Sheep' is something of a contradiction. With its barrel-bottom scraping puns, broad, repetitive jokes and ramshackle tomfoolery it should be awful, but its flaws (self-conscious as they are), are all cancelled out by the overwhelming energy and charm of Milligan and his accomplices. My initial scepticism was lost somewhere between throwing plastic axes at a werewolf stand-up and being asked to judge the purity of someone's beard whilst ringing a giant bell. I began to find myself chuckling in places that I wouldn't normally. In short, it was cracking good fun. Comedy purists need not apply, but if you're looking for cheap thrills with buckets of enthusiasm then look no further.

8/8/08 - Three Weeks - Stranger than Fiction In a world with a surfeit of girls with guitars, it's refreshing to find a talented performer such as Kayla Kavanagh. Playing a variety of instruments in addition to singing in a sweet clear voice, Kavanagh uses technology to become a 'one woman band'. This use of technology is extensive, and while slightly distracting, the end results are impressive. These songs of love and longing are built into harmonies with a multiple layering of sound, both vocal and instrumental and the result, certainly in the case of 'Colour Me In', is beautiful. The formal layout of the venue doesn't do this show justice, though; an outside venue would fit better and contrast the acoustic versus live technology of her performance skills. She fully engages with her bright, breezy manner, however.

8/8/08 - Three Weeks - Waxing Cynical Initially this show resembled a poorly-organised rehearsed reading: the performers were badly lit, looked uncomfortable in the space, and seemed partially drowned out by over-enthusiastic air conditioning. However, the two actors warmed to their piece, which was nicely written and had some fairly funny moments. Anna Victoria is very watchable onstage, and this felt like it should be a one-woman show; it seemed odd that every so often 'her' story was taken over by a male, until half-way through when she begins to rehash an old relationship, and having the other actor on stage begins to be justified. The play definitely improved as it went on, and Victoria's writing, which first found acclaim at last year's Fringe, still shows great potential.

8/8/08 - The Groggy Squirrel - Shelley Cooper http://www.thegroggysquirrel.com/articles/2008/08/03/2008-edinburgh-fringe-reviews/shelley-cooper---britishness/

7/8/08 - The Scotsman - Free Festival Football match http://news.scotsman.com/theguide/Festival-footy-is-game-for.4366393.jp

7/8/08 - Edinburgh Evening News - Free Festival Football match http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/theguide/Festival-footy-is-game-for.4366393.jp

7/8/08 - The Scotsman - Waxing Cynical http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Theatre-review-Waxing-Cynical.4365363.jp

7/8/08 - Three Weeks - Lunchtime Laughs From the friendly opening by avuncular Harold-from-Neighbours-alike Rycroft, it's clear that this isn't going to be the slickest show in the Festival. The rough edges are easily made up for, however, by the warmth of Rycroft and his colleague, the posh (voiced) Saville. The pair enthusiastically analyse their own work and convey the impression that they are thrilled just to have an audience. In a festival where some jaded comics deliver mediocre, over-familiar routines and charge a fortune for a ticket, genuine grassroots comedy is precious and should be nurtured; perhaps acts like this are the solution to surviving the credit crunch in Edinburgh. Go on: brave the road works to bask in free comedy sunshine in Leith.

7/8/08 - Three Weeks - Abandoman - A Hip Hop Comedy If you've ever wanted someone to write a folk hip-hopera about your life, now's your chance. Be prepared to participate as Rob Broderick chats charmingly to his audience, and then uses the juiciest bits to improvise a rap with a folk music soundtrack. While his rhymes may falter occasionally, his quick wit spits out fantastical, funny tales that veer off in all sorts of imaginative and surprising directions. And there are psychedelic hand-puppets to finish. With a tiny audience of just three people, the performance I saw was clearly even more bizarre and intimate than usual, yet Broderick still had bags of confidence that proved infectious. With a deservedly larger crowd, this free show could be a winner.

6/8/08 - Hairline - I Kissed a Frog and it gave me herpes http://hairline.org.uk/2008/08/05/i-kissed-a-frog-and-it-gave-me-herpes/

6/8/08 - Three Weeks - Return of the Mousketeers
Down in the basement of a wonderfully creepy bar, three comedians will try and keep you entertained, sadly not in mouse costumes. Henry Ginsberg's self-deprecating humour had us laughing from the go, pretty good for a man who has been likened to "the fat guy from Lost". Sadly, the same cannot be said for our second offering, Richard King, who read off a sheet of paper and seemed confused as how to order a gig in a coherent fashion, some jokes being desperately obscene rather than funny. Tommy Mack, the final comedian made up for the failings of Richard, though I got the sense nerves had kicked in for the first gig. Maybe they should go for the mouse costumes.

6/8/08 - Three Weeks - The FreeThree With the eager, grinning, wide-eyed mania of Andrew Wallace, the ice-cold dead-pannery of Julian Deane and the 100mph character ramblings of Imran Yusuf, 'The Free Three' make a satisfyingly diverse cocktail of style and substance. Subject matter ranges from the absurd and surreal to the very political, and the laughs are strong and steady. Each comic is not without their flaws, though; Wallace is prone to overkill in parts, Deane's set loses direction on occasion and Yusuf's terrorist material and race jokes sometimes feel tired and done-to-death. Nevertheless there are three bright comics here, and plenty to please a wide palette of tastes - a bit like Neapolitan ice-cream, really.

6/8/08 - Three Weeks - Phil Ellis Looking at pictures of your own family might just about be interesting, but can someone else's be funny? Stand-up Phil Ellis thinks so, and his show explores his frankly bonkers family tree as he tries to discover the root of his OCD. It's amusingly accompanied by a slide-show of grainy snaps featuring sports days, Blackpool, and dodgy seventies moustaches. The comedian's family provides him with plenty of material: he directs his casually cutting humour at anything from his aunt getting strangled by a tramp to his father's foster-care trauma. Ellis is a likeable figure, and this show is reminiscent of listening to a mate - albeit your funniest mate - just talking about their family. But like that experience, it is also free.

6/8/08 - Three Weeks - Answering the ThreeWeeks Quick Quiz today... Dave Bloustein

1. What is your 2008 show all about?
Roughly, it's about Africa, religion and the charity industry. Specifically, it's about an hour.

2. Why should we come and see it?
Because it's free, it's your best hope of feeling morally superior about global inequality without doing anything about it and because every night you don't, I will personally maim a puppy.

3. If your show was an Olympic sport, what would it be and why?
Solo Synchronised Swimming: it's funny to watch, yet surprisingly few people know about it.

4. What are you most looking forward to about this year's Festival?
It's my very first Festival, I'm going it alone and have no idea what to expect.