Edinburgh Fringe 2012 Comedy Reviews and Listings

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Mark Thomas, Bravo Figaro!

Mark Thomas, Bravo Figaro!. Mark Thomas. Theatre starring Mark Thomas which was performed at Traverse Theatre @ 10am for 1 hour, on the following days during August 2012...
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Price Guide: £18 - £20

Note: Times vary. 3rd at 19:00; 4, 8, 12, 15, 19, 23rd at 10:00; 5th at 13:30; 7, 11, 14, 18th at 20:45; 9, 16, 24th at 13:15; 10, 17th at 18:15; 21, 25th at 18:00; 22nd at 20:30; 26th at 20:15.

Show Details

How to put on an opera in a bungalow in Bournemouth. Mark Thomas tells us about his dad - a full-on rough, but hard-grafting working-class Methodist, Thatcherite builder from south London - and the difficult relationship he has with him. This has been a fertile ground for comics of late, most notably Russell Kane, but it's never been covered as expertly as this. This powerful story was packed full of emotion, taking the audience on an incredible ride through the contradictory, complex feelings he had for this brusque character. 'Absolutely superlative stuff' (Chortle.co.uk).

Website: www.markthomasinfo.co.uk   Twitter: @markthomasinfo

Full Press Release

After walking the wall in the West Bank, becoming Guinness World Record holder for political protests, and chasing arms dealers around the country, one of Britain's most acclaimed comics and influential activists, Mark Thomas, turns his attention to matters closer to home with a show about his father.

First commissioned by London's prestigious Royal Opera House, Bravo Figaro! is the true tale of Mark's father, a self-employed builder with a passion for opera, his degenerative illness, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Mark's attempt to put an opera on in a bungalow in Bournemouth. It is about love, death, fathers and sons, and the search for peace in an imperfect world, with a few gags thrown in for luck.

Mark's biography is simply too long to list in detail on one little press release, so let's sum up... six series on Channel 4, numerous awards, several television documentaries, three books, a Guinness World Record, sell-out tours, a published manifesto, a series on Radio 4, writing for various publications, producing charity benefits, a Medal of Honour, secretly filming torturers, stinging arms dealers, battling multinational corporations, exposing abuses of civil liberties and corporate skulduggery, and succeeding in changing some laws. These are just a few of the things that have kept him mildly busy over the last few years.

2012 Features

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Best Fringe Shows

A list of the comedy shows which got the best reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012. Read

Malcolm Hardee Awards

Malcolm Hardee Awards

The Rubberbandits, Stuart Goldsmith and Trevor Noah are the winners of the Malcolm Hardee Awards 2012. Read

Aisling Bea wins SYTYF

Aisling Bea wins SYTYF

Aisling Bea has been named the winner of this year's So You Think You're Funny? stand-up competition. Read

Comedy Awards reaction

Comedy Awards reaction

Anna Lowman gives her thoughts on the nominees for the Edinburgh Comedy Award 2012: Read

Video: Mark Steel in Leith

Video: Mark Steel in Leith

To celebrate the Edinburgh Festival, Mark Steel visits the city's infamous suburb - Leith. See the show: Watch

Voodoo Varieties Podcast

Voodoo Varieties Podcast

Podcast in which Mat Ricardo talks to three Edinburgh Fringe acts who started as street performers. Listen

Tim FitzHigham

Tim FitzHigham

Tim FitzHigham discusses 'gonzo journalism comedy' and how story-led shows risk having no ending. Read

Watch 'Spank!' gigs online

Watch 'Spank!' gigs online

The organisers of late night gig Spank! has been recording some of the shows. See the videos here. Watch

Jonny and the Baptists

Jonny and the Baptists

An interview with comedy blues band Jonny and the Baptists. They talk about the 'song a day' project. Read