The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Take a walk on the wild side
From freakishly tall clowns to controversial comedy acts, this year’s Fringe programme is set to be the best one yet
When cultural historians reflect on the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe (to give it its full Sunday name), they’ll note that this was the year when the circus truly came to town.
Cabaret, burlesque, magic and clowning has long had its place in the Fringe but with the opening of the Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows and the Big Sexy Circus City in Fountainbridge, the ante has been royally upped.
Among the Big Top-style highlights are 360 ALLSTARS (Assembly Hall, August 6-31), featuring BMX bikes, basketball freestylers and break dancers, while Puddles Pity Party (Assembly George Square, August 6-31) is an unfeasibly tall clown with a glorious singing voice. Over at the Circus Hub are the fire-breathing and contorting LIMBO (August 7-29), aerial stars Ockham’s Razor (August 7-26) and America’s Got Talent sensation Piff The Magic Dragon (August 14-29).
Controversy is never too far away on the Fringe and it’s hard to imagine a show that will attract both the broadsheets and tabloids in equal rabid measure than An Audience with Jimmy Savile (Assembly George Square, August 11-22). Comedy impressionist Alastair McGowan takes on the role of the
shamed DJ in a play based on interviews and transcripts. Making his first Fringe appearance since his student days, John Hannah appears in The Titanic Orchestra (Pleasance Courtyard, August 5-31), a Beckett-esque piece in which he plays a man who claims to be Harry Houdini, while Pirates of the Caribbean star Kevin McNally transforms into an iconic 60s’ comedian in The Missing Hancocks (Assembly Rooms, August 5-30).
In dance, a Cuban extravaganza arrives in the shape of Balletronic (Pleasance Courtyard, August 5-31), while Canada’s Vertical Influences get their skates on at Murrayfield Ice Rink (August 8-29). There’ll be some messy kids’ fun in the Grossed Out Game Show (Assembly George Square, August 7-30) and the world-famous Globe Theatre arrive with Shakespeare Untold (Pleasance Courtyard, August 5-31).
Comedy continues to dominate the Fringe programme and with the legendary Gilded Balloon marking its 30th year, a gala show at the Playhouse (August 15) will feature Johnny Vegas, Tommy Tiernan and Gary Tank Commander.
Some highlights from the swathes of acts in town include semi-surrealist James Acaster (Pleasance Courtyard, August 5-30), rising star Katherine Ryan (The Stand, August 6-22; Pleasance Courtyard, August 12-13), pun merchant Stewart Francis (Assembly Rooms, August 6-30) and local hero Daniel Sloss (EICC, August 6–30).
The kids show for adults, Funz And Gamez (Assembly George Square, August 6-31) returns after scooping an Edinburgh Comedy Award last year and Trevor Noah, the new host of satirical American programme The Daily Show, pops by for an all-too brief visit (Assembly Hall, August 28-30).