This is the first time in seven years of the Embra festival that I’ll be there as a visitor. Given the scarcity of vacation, I only have 17-22 August to see shows.
The good news is that I have the afternoons free, meaning at last I can see some proper theatre and that.
So I need you to post, via the magic of comments:
- what is good.
- what you have booked.
My zygotic edfringe.com wish list so far contains the traditional Richard Herring and the Dunc-recommended Fuerzabruta.
I’m kind of curious about Jon Richardson from the Russell Howard slot on BBC 6 Music (always excellent for hungover Sundays). Probably not enough to book him though.
I did manage to catch half a dozen London previews; kind of a proto-Edinburgh. Of those I would recommend Glenn Wool, Robin Ince and our man Stewart Lee, taking the art of repetition to dizzying extremes. I would mention Daniel Kitson but he sold out long ago.
09-Aug-07 at 6:59 pm | Permalink
My friend’s daughter is coming over from Harvard (*splutter*) with the Rembiko project. The performances are [let me know the URL and I'll fix - ed.] and she’s doing The Trojan Women, Elements of Style and some jazz singing.
I would go if I could get time off, but I cannae, which is a shame as some of them appear to be totty – http://www.hw.com/students/edinburgh/
10-Aug-07 at 2:34 pm | Permalink
OK, I’ve booked me and a +1 for:
• Fuerzabruta, 19:00 Sat 18th
• Richard Herring, 20:20 Tues 21st
If you fancy coming to either let me know.
10-Aug-07 at 2:42 pm | Permalink
So far I’ve seen:
1. Stewart Lee
Absolutely hilarious, takes joke-repetition to a whole new level. Natalie can vouch for this one too but I’m sure everyone who reads this knows how good he is.
2. Casey Marx
A spur of the moment decision to go see an unknown (to me anyway). He’s ditched the idea of doing a ‘topical show’ in favour of one hour of jokes. Obviously it’s going to be a bit hit and miss but he was a likeable chap and had me chuckling away at the more vulgar ones he came out with.
Tonight it’s Richard Herring and next Thursday it’s Jerry Sadowitz. Metro has a 5 star review of Jerry, complete with a quote:
“‘Are you a fucking journalist, ya fucking cunt?’ he growls at the bloke in the front row.”
Turns out the bloke was American. Should be fun.
13-Aug-07 at 4:31 pm | Permalink
I have already seen Amanda Palmer at the Spiegel tent and The Spoils, a SERIOUS PLAY which was OK.
I want to see Phaedre at Duddingston Castle, but it was sold out for tonight.
Of course I am going to see Fassbinder’s Berlin Alexanderplatz from 16th to 22nd Aug, which severely limits what else I can do for a whole week, and is beginning to seem like a damn pain seeing as EVERYONE is visiting that weekend.
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players tomorrow (this one for Paul).
And I really am curious about that German comedian.
Now I’m off to the pub, which seems to be the best option.
14-Aug-07 at 5:42 pm | Permalink
I’m SO coming with you to Fuerzabruta! You like me best. You know it. Smith Bob Sue has been and says it’s wonderfultastic.
14-Aug-07 at 5:51 pm | Permalink
Been to see:
So You Think You’re Funny
Seven comedians. 1 terrible, 3 mediocre, 3 very good.
The Best of So You Think You’re Funny
Pish.
The Sound of Music in Drag.
Underwear soilingly hilarious. Brilliant slant on the origianl
Tracers
The most memourable thing i’ve ever seen at the festival. I was catching flies for most of it, as were Emily and Sarah. Physical theatre. Utterly, utterly excellent.
Some cuban dance pish
It was ok as I was with hot girls.
16-Aug-07 at 1:54 pm | Permalink
Look look films:
• I’m a Cyborg but it’s OK from the Korean Vengeance trilogy guy, Wed 17.30
• Stardust i.e. the Neil Gaiman tale, Tues 18.45 (which actually clashes with Herring, baws)
Anyone up for Cyborg?
17-Aug-07 at 10:25 am | Permalink
Are there more tickets for the Cryborg Musical Soultheft extravaganza, then? Damn, it was hell of sold out when I checked ages ago. Damn my eyes! Stupid Milne has no moneys, now! Stupid Milne craves swift death!
Stupid Milne really just wants to sleep and avoid answering phones.
I notice Simon Amstell is rocking the same orange bowling bag as last year.
That’s all I have in relation to festival fun. I am financially barren.
17-Aug-07 at 10:36 am | Permalink
> Anyone up for Cyborg?
Aren’t you going to see Smashing Pumpkins on Wednesday?
Simon Amstell is completely sold out by the way.
17-Aug-07 at 12:50 pm | Permalink
Absolutely not fringe related, but if anyone is in London this weekend, the Trafalgar Square Festival is well worth checking out. My friend Celine is dancing, hanging from scaffolding, looking very graceful and pretty, alongside the other members of Les Passagers. The show is really impressive and it’s free too.
17-Aug-07 at 1:33 pm | Permalink
It’s interesting to note that in his show 41st Best Stand Up Ever, Stewart Lee completely rips off my duck rape story that I wrote a few years ago. I was going to mention it to him at the time but decided against it as I was humbled that such a great comic mind would plagiarise my work.
I think there is a strange Lynchian thing going on between the two of us, maybe the similarity of our names means our minds are somehow interconnected, just like Harry and Voldemort. He seemed strangely drawn to to me last night as I sat in the Udderbelly sipping my pint, walking close by before going away and then coming back, this time closer.
Stewart Lee, Stuart Low, Stewart Low, Stuart Lee…
28-Aug-07 at 8:56 pm | Permalink
I am still too wrecked to write up the holiday meaningfully, but I can tell you how you can listen to the festival chat ‘podcast’ (urgh) from Jon Richardson and Russell Howard.
My preferred method is to wield the superb Google Reader and copy in this URL:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/6music/rh6m/rss.xml