2016 Edinburgh Fringe
External press features
Counting House venue returns to Laughing Horse
The Counting House venue is to be a part of the Laughing Horse's Free Festival again for the Edinburgh Fringe 2017.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st December 2016Bob Slayer increases Edinburgh Fringe venues
Promoter extraordinaire Bob Slayer has added another venue to his Edinburgh Fringe empire.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st December 2016Reports of an attempted coup within the Free Fringe
A couple of days ago, I got a message from someone I shall call Captain Bird's Eye. The good Captain told me something I knew and something I did not know. He told me: "PBH was unfortunately poorly and in hospital for a short while." I knew this. Then he told me something I did not know: "Whilst PBH was out of action one of his leading team members Kate Smurthwaite took over the reigns immediately ousting Paul B Edwards and then appointing Chris Coltrane as comedy director. PBH is now out of hospital."
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 9th November 2016Scottish kids to inspire Fringe's 70th programme
2017 sees the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (EFF) celebrating an amazing 70 years. Plans have been recently announced by the Society (EFFS) for the relaunch of the annual Fringe Schools Poster Competition, again supported by Virgin Money. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the competition invites school pupils across Scotland to provide artwork that will inspire for production the historic 2017 Fringe Programme cover.
Irene Brown, Edinburgh Guide, 1st November 2016Why Richard Gadd failed to win a Malcolm Hardee Award
"When I visualised the show, there was only one room in the whole of Edinburgh I visualised - the Banshee Labyrinth Cinema Room. I needed a screen that was bigger than me. I needed a screen that would engulf me and engulf the audience. I thought: What do I do? Do I sacrifice audience numbers and money for artistic gain? And the answer was: Absolutely. I didn't do it to create a buzz or as a cunning stunt or anything like that. It was a genuine artistic decision that I made."
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 12th October 2016America's Got Talent: home to UK's Fringe favourites
After the success of Tape Face and Piff the Magic Dragon, purveyors of overlooked artforms might do well to swap panel-heavy British comedy for the States.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 5th October 2016Fringe Whistleblower survey results / the future
We received 35 responses to our working conditions survey. 9 were performers or show workers, 1 was a journalist, and the rest were venue staff (technicians, front of house, flyerers, and so on). These numbers are not high enough to be statistically significant, of course, but they are a starting point and a guide to further research.
Fringe Whistleblower, 29th September 2016Will Franken explains his Defining The Norm Awards
The reason for the proliferation of the disparate and incorrect theories about the motivation behind the DTN Awards is as follows. To the average contemporary comedian whose limited outlook can only think in terms of careerist exposure or financial gain, the actual explanation, simple though it may be, is one that such business-minded sorts would never (and could never) consider: I did it because I wanted to do it.
Will Franken, Beyond The Joke, 27th September 2016The 1996 Edinburgh Fringe
Clearing out this week, I unearthed the 1996 Edinburgh Fringe programme and some flyers So for no other reason than nostalgia, here's how the festival has changed in 20 years.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 21st September 2016Is the Edinburgh Fringe racist?
Chris O'Neill says black acts are VERY underrepresented.
Chris O'Neill, Chortle, 19th September 2016Do Fringe acts screw themselves by advertising?
The target audience is not the punters. It is the advertising industry itself.
John Fleming, John Fleming's Blog, 12th September 2016Revenge porn, social media, and tech take centre stage
Sick of the Fringe performers hope to inspire new ideas on health research.
Lucy Orr, Arstechnica, 3rd September 2016Edinburgh Diary: festivals, satire and Brexity Britain
The FT Weekend editor takes his first trip to the Fringe and visits the grand old man of Scottish politics.
Alec Russell, The Financial Times, 2nd September 2016Defining the Norm winners announced
Will Franken reveals the winners of the first-ever Defining the Norm Awards.
Will Franken, Spiked, 31st August 2016A reviewer's code of conduct
Thoughts on a more constructive reviewing environment at the Fringe.
Robert Peacock, TV Bomb, 30th August 2016Three Weeks Editors' Awards presented
As the Fringe reaches its grand finale, earlier today we presented this year's Three Weeks Editors' Awards, celebrating the ten people, productions and shows that, in our opinion, made this year's Edinburgh Festival particularly special.
ThreeWeeks, 29th August 2016Dark comedy gives Edinburgh winners the last laugh
Never has stand-up been such a serious business. Shows about surviving a sexual assault and a young man's experience of an aneurysm have won the most celebrated prizes in comedy.
Mike Wade, The Times, 29th August 2016Clare Plested chooses her perfect playlist
Nothing better than seeing the straight man lose it.
Chortle, 28th August 2016Interview: Mervyn Stutter
Mervyn Stutter interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 28th August 2016Interview: John Flemming - Malcolm Hardee Awards
John Flemming interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Lily Bevan
Lily Bevan on her fringe show, Talking to Strangers.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Taylor Glenn
Taylor Glenn talks about her new show, A Billion Days of Parenthood.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Yianni
Yianni interview.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Desmond O'Connor
Desmond O'Connor talks about his new show, Royal Vauxhall.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Pippa Evans
Pippa Evans talks about her new show, Same Same but Different.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Bella Younger
Bella Younger's talsk about her new show, Deliciously Stella.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Amée Smith
Amée Smith talks about her new show, Relax, It's Not About You.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: John Robertson
John Robertson talks about his Fringe show, The Dark Room.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Haley McGee
Haley McGee talks about her new show, I'm Doing This for You.
The Herald, 28th August 2016Edinburgh 2016 - the year that comedy got less funny?
2016 may well go down as the year that comedy got serious.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 27th August 2016Susie Youssef picks her comedy faves
'I've been singing Kristen Schaal Is A Horse for 8 years'
Chortle, 27th August 2016Joey Page on his most memorable gigs
I say 'stage'... it was a door on house bricks
Chortle, 27th August 2016Making kids' comedy funny for parents
Seeing children's shows can be a slow painful death for parents. Often you can see jokes coming a mile away and someone will be kicked in the balls.
Malia Walsh, Chortle, 27th August 2016TV Bomb Award nominees announced
The nominees have been announced for the inaugural TV Bomb Fringe Awards.
Robert Peacock, TV Bomb, 27th August 2016+3 interview: Price (still) Includes Biscuits
"I also involve the audience in range of ways - but it's always safe on the front row!"
Dan Lentell, Edinburgh49, 27th August 2016The Sitcom Trials - the verdict
The Sitcom Trials: So You Think You Write Funny Grand Final took place at the Gilded Balloon on Tuesday August 23.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 26th August 2016Interview: Ben Van Der Velde - Barbarians
Ben Van Der Velde interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Goodbear pick their perfect playlist
Joe Barnes and Henry Perryment choose their comedy favourites.
Chortle, 26th August 2016'I performed on a yacht for Kim Kardashian'
Ben Hanlin recalls his most memorable gigs.
Chortle, 26th August 2016Chris Turner freestyle raps in the WOW Wagon (Link expired)
Ever wanted to watch a guy impromptu rap about Indiana Jones and sneezing? Now's your chance.
WOW247, 26th August 2016Interview: Evelyn Mok and Katehrine Ferns
Evelyn Mok and Katehrine Ferns interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Katharine Ferns - Faking It
Katharine Ferns interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Richard Todd
Richard Todd interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Giacinto Palmieri - Nietzsche, Women and I
Giacinto Palmieri interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Arielle Dundas - Moppet of Chaos
Arielle Dundas interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Mark Dolan interview
Mark Dolan craves a simpler time.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Pierre Novellie interview
Pierre Novellie interview.
The Herald, 26th August 2016James Meehan interview
James Meehan interview.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Three to see on 27 Aug
Three to see at the Edinburgh Festival tomorrow...
ThreeWeeks, 26th August 2016We joined a Silent Disco Walking Tour of Edinburgh (Link expired)
If you've noticed a group of people dancing happily around the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town, it's probably one of two things: Hibernian/Hearts have won, or Guru Dudu is in town with his Silent Disco Walking Tour.
Alex Watson, WOW247, 26th August 2016Laugh Out London's Edinburgh Fringe comedy awards 2016
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is almost over and it's award season already, so to misqoute the Sex Pistols nevermind the if.comeddies it's the Laugh Out London Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Awards 2016 (or LOLlies as they are affectionately known)!
Laugh Out London, 26th August 2016Young companies: don't be afraid of ambition
So the Edinburgh fringe is almost over for another year. Monday is the last day of the festival but many companies have already packed up and left. Some will be going home with accolades, possibly awards, and maybe even a transfer for their show.
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, 26th August 2016After Brexit, the fury of the Fringe
In Edinburgh, liberal comics' contempt for the masses has been laid bare.
Tom Slater, Spiked, 26th August 2016Doing mainstream character comedy at the Fringe
Creating a live character comedy show is challenging. Finding characters that engage an audience and create some recognition, creating a back-story without too much exposition, convincingly changing from one to the next if you're doing multi-character, without looking like you're showcasing your accents.
Anna Morris, Chortle, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Tort e Morte
Tort e Morte interview.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Rory O'Keeffe
Rory O'Keeffe interview.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Larry Dean
Larry Dean interview.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: John Robertson
John Robertson interview.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Sarah Callaghan
Sarah Callaghan talks about her new show, 24.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Pippa Evans
Pippa Evans talks about her new show Same Same but Different.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Giants
Giants talk about their new Fringe show.
The Herald, 26th August 2016Interview: Marysia Trembecka - The Singing Psychic
Marysia Trembecka interview.
Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Stephen Zappia and Courtney Powell
Jack & Karen interview.
Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Gary From Leeds - Garibaldi
Garibaldi interview.
Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Colin Hoult / Anna Mann
Colin Hoult interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: David McIver
David McIver interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Dan Simpson - Artificial Ineloquence
Dan Simpson interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Dani Cabs - Poncho Orange
Dani Cabs interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016Interview: Rajiv, Ollie and Anna - Fish Finger Fridays
Fish Finger Fridays interview.
Rosie Gillott, Fresh Air, 26th August 2016After Brexit, the fury of the Fringe
Five weeks before the start of the festival, comedians found all their material to be desperately, pointlessly out of date. Just as Brexit was a bloody nose to a complacent, aloof political establishment, the comedy set also got a knock this year.
Tom Slater, Spiked, 26th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Patrick Turpin
Patrick Turpin talks about his new show, To me, you are perfect.
The Herald, 25th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Joe Barnes and Henry Perriment
Goodbear (Joe Barnes and Henry Perryment) talk about their new show.
The Herald, 25th August 2016Fringe Q&As: Baby Wants Candy
Baby Wants Candy talk about their new show at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.
The Herald, 25th August 2016Charity Golf Match results
Golf-lovers from the UK, Australia and America took part in this year's annual Mackenzie Taylor Memorial Cup at Duddingston Golf Club in Edinburgh yesterday.
Beyond The Joke, 25th August 2016Mark Thomas wins The Stage Special Award
Mark Thomas has been awarded The Stage Special Award. The award, which will be presented to Thomas on Friday 26 August, honours his sustained excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
What's On Stage, 25th August 2016Don't ruin the Assembly Rooms as a Fringe venue
The Stand's director Kenny O'Brien has written an open letter, published exclusively below, to Assembly impresario William Burdett-Coutts about the situation, accusing him of running the site in a way that keeps audiences away from the New Town.
Kenny O'Brien, Chortle, 25th August 2016Nath Valvo picks his perfect playlist
'Louis CK makes me want to be a better comedian'
Chortle, 25th August 2016James Wilson-Taylor's most memorable shows
Worst gig? When a woman rose out of her wheelchair.
Chortle, 25th August 2016How feminist comics stopped women being the punchline
A couple of years ago, you'd have struggled to fill a long weekend in August watching female comedians strut their stuff. But not anymore.
Alice Barraclough, The Telegraph, 25th August 2016Fringe comedian's pride at 'surpise' nomination
A Scottish comedian has been nominated for the most prestigious award at the Edinburgh Fringe. Richard Gadd, from Fife, is one of eight comics shortlisted for the £10,000 Edinburgh Comedy Awards prize. The man behind the Monkey See Monkey Do show told BBC Scotland he is "surprised and very proud" to be the first Scot nominated in 23 years. The last Scots who made the shortlist were Phil Kay and Parrot in 1993.
BBC News, 25th August 2016