Adam Hills: Inflatable

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Assembly @ George Street

6-31 August (not 17) 8.50pm

The ever-reliable Australian returns to Edinburgh with a feelgood hour and then some that’s being dubbed his best ever. Hills will also be co-hosting Adam, Jason & Friends with Jason Byrne.

Alun Cochrane ... Is A Daydreamer (At Night)

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

The Stand Comedy Club III & IV

7-30 August 10.50pm

More offbeat observational comedy from the languid, lanky Yorkshireman whose whimsical-cynical outlook is currently inspired by his baby son.

Andrew Lawrence – Soul-Crushing Vicissitudes Of Fortune!

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Dome

5-30 August (not 19) 9.35pm

Probably the best insult merchant on the Fringe, the twice if.comedy award nominated Lawrence’s cup of bile runneth over as he ponders the wretched mockery of fate.

Andrew Maxwell – The Lamp

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-31 August (not 12, 19) 9pm

The wily Dubliner channels the spirit of Aladdin and his genie of the lamp to explore the concept of wishes, both personal and political. May contain dancing.

Anna & Katy

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-31 August 6.40pm

Currently developing their own character-led projects for television and radio, Anna Crilly (the unsmiling Magda in Jack Dee’s Lead Balloon) and Katy Wix (Al Murray’s Personality Disorder) present surreal, slightly touched sketches.

Dan Antopolski – Silent But Deadly

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Dome

5-31 August 9.20pm

A richly inventive wordsmith and bizarre scenario former, the man who played Jesus Christ in The Da Vinci Code has resurrected his live comedy career after a few years away and appears to be approaching his best once again.

We Are Gathered Here By Daniel Kitson

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

The Stand Comedy Club

9-30 August (not 14, 14, 21, 22, 28, 29) 11.59pm

The comedian’s comedian reflects on life, death and the dance in-between. A new stand-up hour from one of the world’s most accomplished about trying to find something meaningful “in an ocean of twaddle”.

Danielle Ward Lies

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-30 August (not 18) 9.45pm

Now something of a Fringe veteran, the multi-talented Ward turned to performing straight stand-up last year. Even then, it was as characteristically dark and cynical as you’d hope from one of the best up-and-coming comedy writers around.

David O’Doherty: David O’Doh-Party

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-31 August (not 17) 10.30pm

After a summer gigging with various bands around Ireland and some feverishly prolific writing, last year’s if.comedy winner promises “a bunch of things stuck together” and “unpredictable tangential moments” for his follow-up hour, so expect more brilliant lo-fi songs and unabashed whimsy.

Dead Cat Bounce ... Wired

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Gilded Balloon Teviot

5-30 August (not 17) 10.30pm

A musical sketch group who can truly play their instruments and have mastered all manner of styles, from barbershop to full-on, poodle-haired 80s rawk, this young quartet are damn funny too. Will Ferrell and Jon Snow are fans, Jeremy Irons and Neil Kinnock not so much.

Des Bishop: Desfunctional

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Assembly @ George Street

6-30 August (not 17, 24) 8.45pm

One of Ireland’s most popular comedians, the charismatic, New York-born Bishop talks openly about why some jokes make us feel uncomfortable, seeking the laughs of genuine empathy rather than giggling escapism.

Frank Skinner’s Credit Crunch Cabaret

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Assembly @ George Street

14-30 August (not 17, 27, 28, 29) 6.50pm.
27-29 August Midnight.

Cheery-filthy Frank is back, delivering the crowd-bantering compering and sharply observed smut that originally established his reputation. He’ll be introducing a rolling line-up of top comedians, musical acts and variety performers, all for a bargain £10 every night.

Glenn Wool: Let Your Hands Go

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Underbelly’s Hullabaloo

7-31 August (not 18) 9.25pm

The playfully philosophical, self-destructive Canadian has been trying to make it out in Hollywood over the last year, so ought to have plenty of strange behaviour to report back on, most of it his. Ask top comics which stand-ups they admire and Wool’s name crops up again and again.

Hannah Gadsby – Kiss Me Quick I’m Full Of Jubes

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Assembly @ George Street

6-30 August (not 17). 7.20pm

Completely unique, the quirky Tasmanian has a raft of great anecdotes about growing up an awkward lesbian in an isolated, inbred community with a homophobic, misogynistic mother, but she’s a fine writer too with some cracking lines.

Hans Teeuwen

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Udderbelly’s Pasture

13-15, 26-28 August 11.35pm

The Dutch master still baffles, delights and amazes in equal measure with his surreal flights of the imagination, demented storytelling, musical interludes and general refusal to be pigeonholed. For any dedicated comedy fan, he’s a true must-see at least once.

Hugh Hughes In ... 360

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-31 August (not 11, 17). 7.05pm

Fringe favourite and Welsh sage Hugh Hughes has been struggling with people telling him to “grow up”, so he decides to climb Snowdon with his best friend Gareth. Except their journey to the summit quickly descends into farce. Without props, costumes or multimedia this is naked storytelling from Hughes, an endearing reflection on honesty and friendship.

Ivan Brackenbury’s All New Hospital Radio Show

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-31 August (not 18) 6.40pm

If Charlie Kaufman penned a screenplay about Timmy Mallet after Wacaday, it might approach the multiple identity, existential crisis hospital radio DJ and his creator Tom Binns suffer in this first play for the former if.comedy nominee. This also features Looking For Eric’s Justin Moorhouse, Lady Garden’s Jess Knappett and the live simulation of a woman giving birth.

Jack Whitehall – Nearly Rebellious

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Pleasance Courtyard

5-30 August (not 11, 18, 25)

Already a familiar face from TV, having hosted Big Brother’s Little Brother, Whitehall makes his Fringe debut with a set about wanting to be a real man.

Jamie Kilstein – Revenge Of The Serfs

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Assembly @ George Street

6-31 August (not 17, 24). 9pm

Has the world changed since President Obama’s election? Is racism over? Angry liberal comic and radio host sets the world straight on a few issues. Fiercely intelligent and fluently articulate, Kilstein is one of the sharpest minds in Edinburgh this August.

Jarlath Regan – Man Of Very Little Mystery

Written by Jay Richardson | 03 August 2009

Gilded Balloon Teviot

5-31 August (not 17). 4pm

Comedian, greetings card cartoonist and sometime breakdancer fancies himself as a master salesman too. Still, you’d be hard pushed to disagree with the warmly chatty Jarlath Regan, a leading light amongst Ireland’s upcoming comedians. Has a track record of elaborate, amusing and over-ambitious introduction videos.