2011 Edinburgh Fringe

James W Smith: Living in Syntax

  • Comedy (stand-up / storytelling)
  • 6:10pm (60 mins)
  • 6-15 & 17-27 Aug 2011
  • Royal Mile Tavern
  • Free
James W Smith: Living in Syntax. Copyright: BBC
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 1 2

Venue

159: Royal Mile Tavern

Admin

You're going to die. So what do you have to say for yourself? Does it really matter? Language is a powerful thing. Some use it for good, some for evil. Others just use it to dick about. A bearded up-and-comer with an inadequate hairline, James W Smith is fascinated by what words can do and is keen on finding out if the pen really is mightier than the sword. 'Very good material' (Edinburgh Evening News), 'Shows lots of promise' (Richard Herring).

More details

Share this show

Featuring

Reviews

More details

You're going to die! We all are, of course. At some point, anyway, unless someone makes a major breakthrough before August but, eventually, we're all going to die. Bit of a bummer, isnʼt it?

What will you have to say for yourself when you do, though? Who will be there to hear it? And should any of that really matter? Up-and-coming comic James W Smith brings his first hour-long show, Living in Syntax, to the Edinburgh Fringe with the intention of answering these questions - and a whole lot more to boot, if you must know. Language is a powerful thing, you see. Some use it for good, some for evil. Others just use it to dick about. All of that tends to fade away into nothingness when you're just about to breathe for the last time, so whatever noises come out of your mouth better be good. That pressure, though... it might be a bit much, getting your entire life's work neatly summarised on a headstone.

That could be worth the effort, right? James isn't sure, so he's decided to take up an hour of your time to talk over the options in a much funnier fashion than the subjects of death and words might first suggest. Other subjects to be tackled include the controversial issue of ham, political spin, the sexual peccadilloes of George Osborne, Latin poet Catullus, apple bobbing, and the cripping lack of self-worth that can encumber a comic as he struggles to turn that which he loves into that which is actually a viable career choice.

James has "very good material" according to the Edinburgh Evening News, and Richard Herring says that he "shows lots of promise" and has "some great one-liners." Which is nice. Somehow, James was also named as the 48th most influential British comedian on Twitter, but that barely qualifies as an accolade even if it is getting mentioned in this press release. Someone on Twitter also said that he is 'really good' but that person couldn't remember James' name, which certainly diminishes the standing of the compliment but not enough to remain unmentioned.

Performances

Date Time Venue
6th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
7th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
8th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
9th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
10th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
11th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
12th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
13th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
14th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
15th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
17th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
18th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
19th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
20th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
21st Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
22nd Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
23rd Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
24th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
25th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
26th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern
27th Aug 2011 18:10 Royal Mile Tavern

Share this page