Venue 33, Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance One,
3rd-24th Aug (not 15, 22), 1.30pm-3.00pm
"A vibrant, stimulating showcase of talent."
SATURDAY 12th AUGUST 2023
Pleasance One, Venue 33
12.40pm-2.10pm
Tickets: £15.00
Larry Owens Live
Comedy (musical comedy, stand-up)
Original music and sharp stand-up comedy epically combust in this hour from comedian Larry Owens. Known to theatre-fans for his award winning performance in A Strange Loop, concert-goers for headlining Sondheim at Carnegie Hall and television-watchers for Abbott Elementary (ABC), Search Party (HBO Max), High Maintenance (HBO) and Life & Beth (HULU). 'A celestial object in human form' (New York Magazine).
Amusements by Ikechukwu Ufomadu
Comedy (absurdist, stand-up)
Winner: Vulture's Comedians You Should Know (2022). Winner: Drama Desk Award (2018). The Emmy-nominated actor and 'gentleman-scholar of alt-comedy' (Vulture, New York Magazine) makes his Edinburgh debut with a waggishly absurd exploration of such vital topics as 'The Alphabet' and 'Counting'. He can be seen in the Oscar-nominated film, Judas and the Black Messiah, Los Espookys (HBO), Three Busy Debras, Joe Pera Talks To You (Adult Swim) and has written for Ziwe (Showtime). 'You don't want to miss him before he becomes a household name' (Time Out New York).
Murder, She Didn't Write
Comedy (improv, theatre)
A classic murder mystery is created on the spot from audience suggestions in this ingenious and hilarious show from Fringe favourites, Degrees of Error. Lady Violet slain with a whisk at a bake-off? Madam Gold crushed by a mannequin during New York fashion week? You decide, but will you guess whodunnit? 'Outstanding performances delivered by a seriously talented cast!' ***** (ThreeWeeks). 'Absolutely fantastic... Incredibly clever... Laugh-out-loud funny... A truly entertaining and hilarious take on the murder mystery and absolutely not one to miss' ***** (VoiceMag.uk). 'Hilarious... The show is a riot' (Scottish Daily Mail).
The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality
Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus (circus, acrobatics)
This is circus on a whole new theatrical level. The world premiere of Duel Reality bursts into Circus Hub from The 7 Fingers, the company who created the hit show Passagers – 'wondrous acrobatics from Cirque du Soleil spinoff' **** (Guardian). Star-crossed lovers. Two opposing teams. The stage is an arena. Competition can be playful at times, but also dangerously serious. Which side will you choose? Originally produced by and created with Virgin Voyages. Artistic Direction and staging: Shana Carroll.
Kokoon
Cabaret and Variety (comedy, music)
Kokoon are a new kind of boy band, combining K-Pop with K-Comedy. After debuting with their TV comedy programme Comedy Big League, they released their successful first album What?!!. A Christmas digital single and a second album, Kitty (nyaongy) followed, and they are well-known on stages and screens throughout Korea and Japan. Singing, dancing, rapping and comedy – Kokoon have it all. Don’t miss this entertaining and unique show, a feast for the eyes and ears! Winner of the Best Music Award, Adelaide Fringe 2023.
Schalk Bezuidenhout: Keeping Up
Comedy (stand-up, storytelling)
Newly married, Schalk feels older, wiser and much more mature (possibly), but all he wants is to stay "hip with the youth". Can he do it? Can he Keep Up? As seen on Netflix and Comedy Central. 'Fast-rising talent' (Guardian). 'Definitely one to watch' (Evening Standard). 'His joke telling is superb... pure and simple stand up, expertly performed' (Chortle.co.uk).
Scherzo
Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus (musical comedy, family-friendly)
Mervyn Stutter's 'Spirit of the Fringe' Award winner Släpstick is back. Bringing their unique brand of mischief to Schërzo, a clown-esque concerto for the ages where a seemingly highbrow classical concert glissandos into a bacchanal of comical mishaps and absurdity. Neither floppy-wigged composers nor their magnum opus are safe from this Släpstick buffoonery. It's Chaplin meets Tchaikovsky, Buster versus Bernstein, and Groucho Marx does Mozart, all rolled up into one raucous show! Internationally renowned Släpstick presents Schërzo, a performance of classical music as you've never experienced it before. Language no problem.
Mervyn Stutter
Host and Compere
Mervyn has been in the entertainment industry since 1974. He started in theatre where he acted, wrote scripts, songs, and directed for around 14 years. In the 1980s, he became the 'regular topical song bloke' on the BBC TV's first ever daytime show, 'Open Air', fronted by a thin Irishman called Eamonn Holmes. Over the years he has performed weekly topical songs on many TV current affairs programmes and more of the same on radio. In the late 1980s, he took his comedy songs onto the Comedy Circuit and then touring theatres. Merv's first Edinburgh Fringe was in 1986 and he has been every year since. 'Pick of the Fringe' started life as 'Have you seen anything good?', a show to help answer the perennial Fringe-goer question. The title was changed to 'Pick of the Fringe' in 1994 and it he has built it up into one of the must-see Fringe shows.
“Mervyn Stutter is very, very good as compere of this chat show, for to make such a showcase work requires skill, talent and quick reactions. Stutter works the crowd like the showman he is.”
THE OBSERVER