Festival COMEDY

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HITLIST THE BEST COMEDY EVENTS

The Pin Alexander and Ben (no, not Armstrong and Miller) follow up last year’s

scintillating sketch narrative with a looser hour of inspired daftness. See feature at list.co.uk/ festival. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–25 Aug (not 11, 18), 6pm, £9–£11 (£8–£10). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6.

Ivo Graham Posh spice proves that he’s still something of an Eton mess as he aims to deliver another corking Fringe hour. See preview, page 44. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–24 Aug (not 11), 8.15pm, £7.50–£10 (£6.50–£9). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6.

Adam Riches The 2011 Edinburgh

Comedy Award winner returns for a full run of character-led and, brace yourself, audience-involving mayhem. See feature, page 28. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 2–24 Aug, 9.45pm, £10–£14 (£8–£12). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £7.

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One Man Breaking Bad Definitely a show for hardcore fans of Walt, Jesse,

Saul and co as Miles Allen impersonates his way through all 62 episodes of the hit drama. See preview, page 46. Famous Spiegeltent, 0844 693 3008, 1–11 Aug, 7pm, £15 (£12).

Bridget Christie The current holder of the Edinburgh Comedy Award crown turns

out be something of An Ungrateful Woman. Purely for the purposes of pioneering comedy, though, you understand. See feature, page 14. The Stand, 558 7272, 2–25 Aug (not 11), 11.10am, £10 (£9).

847 1639, 6–9 Aug, 9pm, £20 (£18).

Alan Davies See preview, left. EICC, 0844 What Does the Title Matter Anyway? Clive and his gang bring their improv magic to the Fringe for the very first time with a revolving cast of all the adlibbing talents. See feature, page 34. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 6–19 Aug, 9pm, £16–£17.50 (£14.50–£16).

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ALAN DAVIES Jovial jester refl ects on childhoods past and present A lan Davies recently announced that twinkle in his eye.

his forthcoming Edinburgh gigs will contain no material whatsoever on the independence referendum. Unless people want to have a show of hands, that is. Given the right royal stooshie that occurred when he previously made some public comments about the Hillsborough disaster, Davies is more than wise to try and keep controversy to a minimum. None of which is to say that he can’t be a challenging comedian. During the publicity rounds for Life is Pain, the 2012 set which marked his return to stand-up after a whole decade away, he discussed family tragedy and his time in therapy. But when it came to being back up on stage, he reverted to type as the jovial jester with a laddish streak and a

As for Little Victories, his new touring show which alights upon the Conference Centre for four dates, he’ll be reflecting on his existence as a fortysomething dad of two young children, as well as going further back to his own childhood. There, he’ll dredge up recollections of a thoroughly memorable (though not for all the right reasons) school trip to Italy and the often extortionate price of tennis balls in the 1970s. And unless he happens to be popping by the EICC of an early August evening, at least there’ll be no Stephen Fry around to tell him off. (Brian Donaldson) EICC, 0844 847 1639, 6–9 Aug, 9pm, £20 (£18).