lithe thought of Fringe ticket prices is making you clutch your empty wallet with fear, then worry not dear reader, for the £5 previews approach. This is your chance to catch some of the most anticipated shows for a fraction of the price, as well as presenting the opportunity to see them before the masses descend. Behold our pick of the bunch . . .
Tom Allen A Voyage Round My Mother sees the witmer of the B BC New Comedy Award look at ‘history. identity and his mum'. apparently. (iilded Balloon Tet'ittl. Wed 30 Jul-Fri I Aug. ().-I5pm. [5.
Dan Atkinson Scruffy nonsense in The ( 'redit ( 'runch and ()ther Biscuits with the increasingly renowned l)an Atkinson. Sense and coherence not guaranteed. I’Ieasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 9.30pm. [5.
Best of So You Think You’re Funny. A selection of stand-ups who‘ve recently featured in the classic competition for new comedians. (ii/(led Balloon Ti't'iot. Wed .i()«-Sat 2Aug. [0.30pm. [5.
John Bishop If you‘re having a whimsy overload at the l’ringe. a visit to Scouser John Bishop will see you right. He looks at his hometown in ( 'ultural Amlmssador. I’Ieasance ('ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul - Sat 2 Aug. 8.45pm. [5.
Simon Brodkin. Brodkin’s show this year is dedicated to his tuost infamous creation. l.ee Nelson -- chav extraordinaire. He was on The Wall but don‘t hold that against him. I’Ieasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 8.30pm. [5.
Ed Byrne See caption. Assembly Hall. Thqu Jul A'- I’ri I Aug. 10.20pm. [5. Brendon Burns Burnsy returns after a triumphant l-‘ringe last year. with pan four of his ever-growing series of shows. (‘harntingly offensive. Assembly Rooms. Thu .t’I Jul ((- I'ri I Aug. 8.55pm. [5. Jason Byrne It wouldn't be Byrnc without a stupid show title. So sit back. relax and enjoy ( 'ats Under Mats. IIat'ing ( 'hats With Bats. The energetic Irish favourite will undoubtedly pack ottt Assetnbly Hall for another year. x’lssembly Ila/I. Thu 3/ Jul A'- I-‘ri IAug. 7.30pm. [5. Alun Cochrane Down-to-eanlt musings from Mr (‘ochrane. with his latest show ()wner ofa Son. And a Shed. Thinks the World is ll’onky. Title says it all really. Assembly Roottts. Thu .il Jul it’- I’ri I Attg. 7.30pm. £5.
The Comedy Zone There are a million compilation shows but this one's consistently impressive. This year stars Tom Deacon. lillis James. Nat l.uurtsema and Henry Paker. I’Ieasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed .i’UJul»-Sat 2 Aug. I 0.45an [5.
Tom Fitzhigham He rowed the channel in a bath. What tnore do you want'.’ Highly imaginative comedy in l-‘itzhigham's self titled show. I’leasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul—‘I’ri I Aug. ()pm. [5.
Janey Godley In Dottiestie (;()(II(’_\'. Scotland’s darling talks about her lack of domestic skills in more straight-from-the- bean comedy. I’Ieasance Dome. Wed 30 Jul--I"ri I Aug, 7pm. [5.
Kerry Godliman. You‘ll have seen her on those bloomin’ lottery and bog roll adverts but (iodliman returns to her talented. lovely stand-up with This Isn 'I What I Was Expecting. I’leasance I )onte. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 5pm. [5.
Jeff Green (‘ircuit veteran Jeff (ireen always oozes professionalism. so see what he has to say about fatherhood in Life Ache. Assembly Roonts. Thu 3/ Jul & I't'i IAug. 7.50pm. [5.
Matt Green ()ne of last year's ( ‘omedy Zone stars Matt (ireen presents his first solo show (it-ow (."p (ireen. about how the baby-faced one gets treated like a child. Aww. I’Ieasance Dome. Wed _i’() Jul & I"ri I Aug. 7pm. [5.
Steve Hall He's the wee one from We Are Klang that‘s not Marek l.ttnvood and he's here with an hour of solo stand-up. The show‘s called Vice-( 'aptain Loser. the doting name thought up by his dad. I’leasance ( ‘ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 8.30pm. [5.
A bargainous opportunity to see Ed Byrne, one of the set
of cheeky Irish comedians who has long secured his place in the comedy hall of fame. Expect a whirlwind tour through the conundrums of daily life. With six sell-out Fringe runs and three sell-out UK tours behind him, you might want to book early. Assembly (0) Assembly Hall, Thu 37 Jul—Fri I Aug. 10.20pm, £5.
Richard Herring. Ah. Mr Hen‘ing. After laying his fears on the line last year in ()h I’i‘i‘k I'm 40. he returns to relive his past as The Headmaster's Son. I InderIu'I/y. Thu 3 I .luI & I-‘ri I Aug. 7.30pm. [5. Maeve Higgins (‘heery lrishjapes front the chipper Higgins in Kitten Brides to brighten up your evening. (ii/ded Balloon 'Iet'iot. Wed 5’0 JuI- Sat 2 Aug. 7.45pm. [5. Will Hodgson (‘hippenham‘s favourite comedy export returns. apparently with an extra ‘l' on his name. with tnore quirky stories of dolls. punks and his hometown. I’Ieasance ('ourlyard. Wed 5’0 Jul Sat 2 Aug. 9pm. [5.
Alex Home A master of the gentle. charming comedy set. Perrier nominee Alex Horne returns to the Fringe with Illirdti'atching. I’leasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 7.40pm. [5.
Ginger and Black Musical fun from the duo who pttt their stamp on the festival last year - whimsical treats courtesy of liri Jackson and Daniel Taylor. I’leasance Dome. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 7.30pm. [5. Miles Jupp (ienteel comedy frotn the terribly good Miles Jupp. Drilling promises to cover everything from procrastination to the French Horn. (ii/(led Balloon ’Ieviot. Wed .i’UJul ((- I’ri I Aug. Spin. [5.
Andrew Lawrence Weird. wonderful and very unpredictable. Don't Just Do Something. Sit There looks at the dangers of hard work and ambition . I’Ieasance ('out'tyard. Wed 5’0 Jul ~I"ri I Aug. 8.20pm. [5.
Learn to Play the Ukulele in Under an Hour (How George Fornby Saved My Life) (‘hirpy. uplifting comedy with a difference. with audience instruments provided. (‘o-written by Sally Phillips of Smack the Pony fame. Gilded Balloon 'Iet'iot. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 5.45pm. [5.
Josie Long. Utterly charming chat from Lady Long. with All oft/1e Planet's ll'onders (Shon'n in Detail). which promises to be a look at big and small things. I’leasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed 30 A'- Thu 3/ Jul. 9.45pm. [5.
Lunch with the Hamiltons. A return for the wildly successful show which sees the ludicrous pair chat with random
guests. You know you want to. I’Ieasance Dome. Sat 2 Aug. I .(lem. [5. Martha McBrier A We Bit About a 1.0!
ot’Things is the latest show from the rapier
mind of the teeny McBriei‘. a consistent festival favourite. (ii/ded Balloon Ti't'iot. Wed .i’l) .Iul» Sat 2 Aug. 8pm. [5.
Sarah Millican Apparently Sarah :l'Ii/Iit‘tlll 's Not Nice. Find out why the apparently lovely. smiling (ieordie flower is pure evil and shouldn‘t be allowed near kids. At least she’s funny. I’leasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed .i’UJuIr-I-‘ri I Aug. 7. I 5pm. [5.
Nick Mohammed. He did pretty damn well last year. and now Mohammed returns with more character creations in Nick Mohammed Is a ( 'Itaracter (‘omediatr We do like a nice factual title. I’leasance ('ourtyard. Wed .i’i).IuI -I"ri I Aug. 7. I 0an [5.
Liam Mullone. A surreal combination of
deadpan and imaginative flights of fancy. as In a Dead Man 's Ila! tells the tale of being stranded in a desert. (ii/(led Balloon 'Iet'iot. Wed 30- Fri I Aug. 6.30pm. [5. Joanna Neary linter into Joanna
Nearv 's .‘l/Iagic Ilole to witness a fantasic journey through splendid characters and stories aplenty. Assembly Rooms, Thu .i’ I Jul Sat 2 Aug. 5pm. [5.
Chris Neill ('Itris Neill ‘s (To! a Bttn in the “WW. apparently. and he wants to tell you all about it. With live cooking in his onstage comedy kitchen. Assembly Rooms. Thu 5 Aug. 6.20pm. [5.
Daniel O’Donnell (‘oming front the minds behind The (‘ongress of ()ddities. head to Real Daniel ()‘Dottell SIIUH' Presents: The (lock Hour for manic comedy and suchlike. NB: Does not feature scary singer Daniel O'Donnell. I’leasance ( 'ourtt'atd. Wed 31) Jul- Hi I Aug. Ilpm. [5.
Mark Olver ln Ramble On. ()Iver discusses the ins and outs of his walk front hometown Bristol to Iidinburgh. He‘s ever so smiley. Underbelly. Thu .i’ I .Iu/ & I"ri I Attg. 9.10pm. [5.
One Night Stand. Bop along to the unadulterated pleasures of An lm/n'ot'ised Musical which is. shockingly. a different.
; joyous improvised musical every night.
I ’leasance Dome. Thu 3 1 -—Sat 2 Aug. 9.35pm. £5.
Pegabovine. If you fancy an afternoon in the Polite Club. you‘ll be treated to sketches and musical japery from this band of performers. l’leasance Courtyard. Wed 3()Jul-—l"ri I Aug. 1.30pm. [5.
Political Animal. It's now a deserved festival staple — Andy 7.alt7.man brings forth another mighty barrage of stand-ups delivering their best political comedy. fresh from the incubator of Radio 4. Underbelly. Sat 2 Aug. 10.30pm. £5. Jarlath Regan Lo-li mutterings. thoughts and videos from the sneakily successful Regan in his new show Relax the (at. Gilded Balloon Tet'iot. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. 4pm. [5.
Nick Revell. He's got a series of impressive writing credits to his name. such as Drop the Dead Donkey. but in new stand-up show Sleepless we‘re treated to an hour of his finest live comedy action. Hopefully. Gilded Balloon Tet‘iot. Wed .i()—-Sat 2 Aug. 6.45pm. £5.
Scratch lmprov Don't have enough time to see everything‘.’ The Reduced Iidinbutgh Fringe Improt' Show condenses the whole thing down to an hour of very funny ridiulousness. I’Ieasance Courtyard. Wed 30 Jul»-I-‘ri I Aug. 6.40pm. [5. Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre The Return of the Scottish I'alsetto Sock Puppet Theatre is another chance to see why socks talking and singing in high voices is way funnier than it sounds. Gilded Balloon Ti’t'iot. Wed 30 Jul-- Sat 2 Aug. 8.45pm. [5.
Rick Shapiro We‘re recommending his show ll’ildcard. although the title is pretty accurate. as lilvis only knows what'll happen. Unpredictable. electric truth. The (1‘le Wed .iUJuI--Sat 2 Aug. 7.45pm. [5. Count Arthur Strong Spitting character comedy that looks back at the past of (‘ount Anhur. with The Man Behind the Smile. Assembly Rooms. Thu 3/ Jul ((- I‘t'i I Aug. 7.27pm. £5.
Teddy ln Teddy Bares. Scottish circuit favourite Teddy lays details of his life before the audience as part of his lidinburgh solo debut. The Stand. Wed 30 .1141. 6.10pm. [5.
Danielle Ward Fringe goers from last year may recognise the award-winning Ms Ward as the star of the successful play l’sister Psycho. but this year she retums to stand-up in her first solo show. I’leasance ( 'out'tyard. Wed 30 Jul-Sat 2 Aug.
I 0.45pm. [5.
Mark Watson Well. it wouldn't be the festival without the wit and wisdom of Mr Watson. would it'.’ Enjoy his new show: All the Thoughts I We Had Since I Was Born. I’Ieasance ( 'ourtyard. Wed 30 .IuI--Sat 2 Aug. 8.00pm. [5.
Watson & Oliver (‘omedy treats from comedy duo Loma and Ingrid following on from their well-received sketch show last year. I’leasance Courtyard. Wed 30 JuI~Sat 2 Aug. 5. I 0pm. £5.
Rosie Wilby I Ant Nesia is a look at the human memory from the scientifically savvy Rosie. with many sidetracks promised. Intelligent stand—up for teatime. Sweet Ti't'ittt I’Iaee. T‘Ti I & Sat 2 Aug. 5pm. [5.
Will 8 Greg A new show frotn two of the stars of last year's hit Ugly Kid and (‘hannel 4‘s Blowout which promises to be a sharp addition to the plethora of sketch shows touting for business this year. I’Ieasance ('ourtyard. Wed 30 JuI--I"ri I Aug. 3.30pm. [5.
Steve Williams If you like your stand- up slick as an oil spill. then Mr Williams is set to present another polished performance with The Ultimate Worrier. I’leasance ('ourtyard. Wed 30 Jul—Sat 2 Aug. 7. l5pm. [5.
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