Venue 33, Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance One,
3rd-24th Aug (not 15, 22), 1.30pm-3.00pm
"A vibrant, stimulating showcase of talent."
TUESDAY 15th AUGUST 2023
Pleasance One, Venue 33
12.40pm-2.10pm
Tickets: £15.00
Otto & Astrid's Joint Solo Project
Theatre (comedy, cabaret)
Berlin's prince and princess of art rock and Europop, Otto and Astrid, spent years arguing about which songs should appear on their much-anticipated fifth Die Roten Punkte album. Unable to reach a consensus, the dysfunctional brother/sister duo decided to tour separately with their own musicians. Unfortunately, nobody else wanted to play with them so they're stuck being each other's backing band in a... joint solo project. 'Pitch-perfect pop parody. If there's a fan club, I'm joining!' **** (Scotsman). 'The perfect musical comedy act. It should not be missed' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (ThreeWeeks). ***** (CBC).
Paddy Young: Hungry, Horny, Scared
Comedy (alternative comedy, stand-up)
He's hungry. He's horny. He's scared. He's in the gutter but he's looking down on all of you. Join Northern powerhouse Paddy Young, one of comedy's fastest rising stars, for his unmissable debut stand-up hour. 'One of the most exciting new comics I've seen for a long time' (Joe Lycett). 'Spontaneously witty with a distinctive line in absurdity' (Chortle.co.uk). 'Hilarious. One of the funniest men online' (Seann Walsh). As seen on Channel 4, ITV2, Sky and Stewart Lee's recommendation list. Over 10 million views online.
Wasteman
Theatre (drag, comedy)
A bin man swaps steel-toed boots for stilettos to chase his dream of becoming a drag queen. This raucous one-person comedy play combines monologue, song and (of course) drag in a love letter to hard-working Northerners and gender euphoria, based on writer Joe Leather's real-life experiences working as a Refuse Loader through lockdown. 'An irresistible, uplifting, Northern drag odyssey' ***** (ToDoList.org.uk). 'A show that you cannot help but fall in love with' **** (BroadwayWorld.com). OffFest Finalist 2023.
The Revel Puck Circus: The Wing Scuffle Spectacular
Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus (circus)
Balancing atop a giant wheel, courageously diving from 15ft in the air, and somersaulting out of the path of a swinging chainsaw, join The Revel Puck Circus for their exhilarating Edinburgh Fringe debut this August. Bringing a heartfelt, hilarious and dangerous edge, the brightest young talent of the East London circus scene showcase incredible acrobatics, ridiculous physical comedy and the dizzying heights of the UK’s only teeterboard trio. Jam-packed with riotous and mind-blowing moments, this alternative homegrown circus company are a must-see for thrill-seekers young and old.
Benji Waterstones: You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here
Comedy (stand-up, storytelling)
A fly-on-the-padded-wall account of the mental health world that also busts some myths (there are no padded walls). What's the secret to happiness? What's the best way to escape from a mental health hospital? And what's the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a psychic? Debut show from NHS psychiatrist, award-winning comedian and Penguin-published author Benji Waterstones. Twice nominated for the BBC New Comedy Award. 'Perfect and hilarious' (BuzzFeed.com). Directed by Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner Jordan Brookes.
Michelle Brasier: Reform
Comedy (musical comedy, character comedy)
Winner: Directors' Choice Award, Sydney Comedy Festival (2021). Nominee: Most Outstanding Show, Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2021). Reform is a cautionary tale of an online scam and the urge to empathise with, understand, and become the emergency contacts of those who have done us wrong. A theatrical hour of storytelling and music, backed musically by Tim Lancaster and Jordan White. Maybe the real Facebook Marketplace is the friends we make along the way. 'Howlingly funny, emotionally generous and, ultimately, profound... A miracle of a show' ***** (Sydney Morning Herald). ***** (Time Out). ***** (Chortle.co.uk).
Bonnie Bayou
Music (blues, world music)
The Jennifer Ewan Band performs a stirring mix of compelling original songs, Louisiana blues and old-time Cajun dance music with a Celtic tint. The band comprises singer-songwriter/guitarist Jennifer Ewan, accordionist and flautist Kim Tebble (Deaf Heights Cajun Aces), Jamie Hogg on bass and percussionist Paul Dennington. Jennifer has an unusually rich and distinctive Scots voice. Her personal ballads soar over grooves from the Louisiana bayous and an intricate interplay of accordion, flute, acoustic guitar, fretless bass and percussion. 'Just brilliant… music of the highest quality… a Scottish rising star' (Janice Forsyth, BBC Radio Scotland).
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