Edinburgh Fringe – Day Three

If you’re wondering what to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2009, this may help, but it may all be sold out. Sorry.

0930 – Gorged myself on another hotel buffet breakfast. This time added waffles into the mix. Scrummy.

1100 – Went for a stroll in Princes’ Gardens and the heavens opened. Making me very very soggy.

1200 – Walked to the Scottish Parliament to look around the press photo exhibition. It was not open on a Sunday. What a fool.

1230 – Instead I stumbled upon a very jolly hour of free comedy. Cool Fun is on at The White Horse pub on the Royal Mile. Four stand ups, with four refreshingly different styles. Ed Gamble was a cracking compere, warming up the crowd nicely and giving the whole room a warm glow. Witty poet Tom Neenan did funny verses delivered in a brilliantly dry style. Clever, but not pretentious. Jez Scharf up next was really likeable, with humour edged with pathos. Completing the foursome was Nish Kumar, who was confident, bubbly and a great conclusion to a very funny gig. And free! I even almost got my Irn Bru from the barman for free because it was just such a nice place…

1410 – To the Pleasance Courtyard once more to see Russell Kane’s Fakespeare: The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel, down in the cellar. It was an intimate venue and we sat right in the front. It was an unnerving experience as the play unfolded almost in your lap. Very cleverly written, with the style and panache of Shakespeare, but with references to Kerry Katona and Richard and Judy. Great juxtaposition which worked to very funny effect. I was really impressed by Russell Kane, the performance and the script. Last year he took his show to the RSC and this one deserves to go too.

1600 – One farewell look around the shops in Grassmarket and then it was back on a budget plane home. A very fine festival and I wish to return for a second helping next year.

Edinburgh Fringe – Day Two

If you’re wondering what to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2009… well, most of this will be sold out. Sorry.

0930 – Woke and ate an enormous amount at the Novotel breakfast buffet. Mmm haggis for breakfast. Plus pain au chocolat, yoghurt and toast.

1200 – Met some family friends and wandered round the Royal Mile dodging flyerers and street entertainers. Found a quiet spot at the National Gallery.

Nicola's free show at the Fringe

1510 – Saw my little sister Nicola Bolsover perform as part of Banterland – a comedy troupe of four. It was their first gig and they had a decent crowd. It’s part of the free fringe so perfect if you’re counting your pennies. There’s gigs on all over the city, usually in bars and pubs. Banterland takes place at the Rat Pack, a piano bar just at the end of Princes Street near House of Fraser. It felt slightly odd being in a dark underground bar in the middle of the day, but I soon adjusted. The foursome are all quite young (in their 20s) so the comedy was skewed a bit young for the older, local crowd the gig had drawn. The gig goes from killer Furbies, to tv theme songs, plus an unhealthy obsession with Sean Bean. (The last one’s my sister. The sci-fi loving goon.) A great giggley hour.

1945 – Was a bit late getting to The Stand Comedy Club due to the Bolsover traditional monster meal at dinnertime. Ended up jogging to the venue and almost being sick. Due to tardiness, we were at the back of the queue and had to stand for Stewart Lee. Well worth the achey legs and indigestion, as the Morrisey/Terry Christian/Edwin Collins lookalike* got into his flow. He probably only covered three topics (moving to the country, Richard Hammond and pear cider) but it didn’t feel that way. Very accurate and brilliantly scathing.

2200 – The Udderbelly pasture was heaving with Saturday night revellers but made for a nice place for a few drinks before Rhys Darby. Famous now for Murray in Flight of the Conchords, Darby’s show showed what a great character comedian he is. I was really pleasantly surprised as I’d (very wrongly) assumed his set would end up re-doing bits of the Conchords. He has some great Kiwi characters and mixed in with funny anecdotes about his new filmstar status. Plus, the man does some amazing sound-effects. My sister and I were it tears at the end after the Vietnam song and the bit with a fly. That will only make sense if you’ve seen his set but it was very good.

*his words, not mine

Edinburgh Fringe – Day One

Don’t know what to see at the Fringe 2009? Well this probably won’t help you because most of these shows have sold out. Sorry.

0810 – Landed at Edinburgh airport, tired but grumpy. Waited for my parents to arrive on their flight an hour later in the Costa coffee with highly irritating lounge jazz type music playing. I became more grumpy.

1000 – Arrived at the Novotel courtousy of a slightly unintelligible, but very charming taxi driver. He’s really not in favour of the new tram system coming to the city.

1200 – Went to Ryan’s cafe and had a monster of a burger whilst waiting for my sister and the rest of her comedy troupe Banterland to arrive and say hello. It was very fleeting.

1440 – My first show of the Fringe – the very fabulous Superclump. A group of 7/8 young comedians perform some very funny sketches. The venue is the GRV, just off Guthrie Street, and it’s quite small so get a ticket early. The gang includes Elis James, Benjamin Partridge, Tom Crane, Sian Harris, Nat Luurtsema, Henry Parker, Henry Widdicombe, Josh Widdicombe and Mike Wozniak. The sketches are slightly surreal, and mix in a good dollop of physical humour with the clever wordy stuff. And you’ll never see party bags in the same way again.

1615 – The Hotel. Mark Watson has taken over an old hotel on George Street and filled it with very funny skits and bits and pieces. I really enjoyed wandering round the rooms, interacting with the hotel staff, whilst not really knowing what’s going on. Described as: “a comedy of sorts, with no script, no characters and no plots.” I was serenaded by a waiter, had a psychological test, was locked in a box, had lights shined in my eyes, heard wise words from a guru and a pep talk from a fitness instructor. Weirdly wonderful.

1730 – After all this hard work, time for a few beers in Brass Monkey.

1900 – Mmm battered haggis and chips from the chippy. What a revelation.

2045 – Rhod Gilbert @ The Pleasance Courtyard. Enraged about all the right things (washing machines and hoovers to name a few), Mr Gilbert disects his anger-management problems with very gigglesome effect. Whilst Iwas exhausted just watching him, the hour spent in his company completely whizzed by. He’s sold out but there are a few extra dates here.

2200 – More beers at the Pleasance courtyard and then bed.

Fringe frolics here I come!

Soon I shall be jumping on a plane, packing my jolly little self up to Scotland, to enjoy a very quick flit at the Edinburgh Fringe. Due to some fantastically organised friends and family, I’ve got tickets to see Stewart Lee, Rhys Darby (of Flight of the Conchords fame) and um, something else I’ve momentarily forgotten.

However I’m sure much of my pleasure will come from the surprises, the things I haven’t booked up. Along with everyone else at the Fringe, I’m there to find “the next big thing”, or act. Knowing me, I’ll massively miss the mark and see a batch of stuff, none of it will ever be “big”. But I’ll have a silly fun time doing it.

The REAL reason I’m going to the Fringe is out of loyalty to a group of exceptionally talented and hilarious friends/siblings.

First up, my little sister Nicola Bolsover, is in action as part of the Free Fringe, with a few of her comedy chums. They’ve all just graduated from Canterbury’s School of Funny aka The University of Kent’s MA in Drama and stand up comedy. Edinburgh can be a bit pricey so if you’re short on pennies, go to some of the Free Fringe’s events. Her troupe is called Banterland and they are doing their gigs at The Rat Pack. Go along and see some fresh new acts in all their weird and warped glory.

Next plug is for some pals from Cardiff. There’s a sketch group called Superclump, who the Guardian have descibed as “disgustingly talented”. I think. I can’t remember the exact quote. Talented was definitely in there. Well I’m sure they’ll be fabulous as they include the lovely Benjamin Partridge and the charming Elis James. Wowzers. Both lads also have their solo show so ch-ch-check it out. Plus, I’ll give a mention to the terribly chucklesome Mike Bubbins. He’s got a show n’all. It’s like a Welsh invasion.

I’ll be reporting back one I have immersed myself in all the delights. Taa raa…