Edinburgh Fringe picks 2012: former best newcomers
Printer-friendly version
Newcomers of days gone by who are heading to Edinburgh this summer...
The Edinburgh Fringe brochure is, no matter how you slice it, a thumping information overload of a tome. It's hard to even know where to begin – so we've done the work for you, slicing August's bible up into 30 easy-to-consume guides. From the all-important first hours to Fringe favourites, and from the Free Fringe to the best flyers, these are intended as starting points to help you snaffle out the best shows. They're not exhaustive, instead picking out the shows that caught our eye in given categories, but when your brain can't process another flyer we're pretty sure this is the best way to work out what to see.
We're running these all through July, and today we're doing former Edinburgh Comedy Award best newcomers. They were young, once. Now they are old hands/people you haven't heard of. Here's all of them...
INDEX | First hours | Young guns | New Reliables | Solid sorts | Comedian's comedians | TV stars | New TV faces | Double headers and team efforts | Podcast folk | Radio 4 sorts | Free Fringe and free gigs | former Edinburgh Comedy Award winners | former best newcomer winners | former panel prize winners
2011
Humphrey Ker is...Dymock Watson! Nazi Smasher!
(Also on our New Reliables list)
Pleasance Dome, 7-14 August, 23:10
What we say
One more week to see last year's best newcomer award-winning show, following the rooted-in-reality tale of Ker's grandfather heading to Romania to blow up an oil refinery in the war.
The history buff is charm personified; read our chat with Ker from earlier this year here.
What they say
Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award winner 2011 (Best Newcomer). In 1943 Dymock Watson was parachuted into Romania on an extremely dangerous secret mission. In 2012 his grandson Humphrey Ker gives his story hilarious life. Following sell-out runs in Edinburgh, the West End and Los Angeles, Humphrey Ker (BBC2's Fast and Loose) returns to Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a triumphant final short run. Early booking recommended. ***** 'A gag-a-line show from a star-in-the-making'. (Telegraph).
A video
Humph on history:
2010
Roisin Conaty: Lifehunter
Pleasance Courtyard, 1-26 August, 20:40
What we say
Chat chat chat, chinwag chinwag chinwag – the words DON'T STOP. Conaty is very much a stand-up anchored in the present, which carries the risk of teetering between hackneyed subjects and original takes. But her stand-up tends to be engaging because she's so amiable, and can throw in asides as she goes with the best of them.
What they say
Foster's Comedy Award Winner 2010 for Best Newcomer and star of Russell Howard's Good News and Dave's One Night Stand, Roisin returns to Edinburgh with her brand new solo show. Everyone in life is looking for something - to belong, to love, to forget, and also keys. People spend a lot of time looking for their keys. Poxy things. 'A seriously talented rising star' (Time Out). 'A fast-paced, refreshing and exciting talent with an engaging and original world view' (Sunday Times). 'Her initial success was no fluke - blending gag-packed, self-deprecating stories and neat observational humour' (Guardian).
A video
RuHo:
2006
Josie Long: Romance and Adventure
(Also on our New Reliables list)
Pleasance Courtyard, 1-27 August, 18:00
What we say
An old hand by 30, Long still retains the charity shop vibe that helped her make her name – but time and politics do seem to have given her more bite in recent years.
Title alone suggests we're heading towards 'life' more than 'politics', bit either way, if you want to hear the intellectual hipster class made eloquent (and funny) it'll doubtlessly be a good show.
She's also doing a joint Free Fringe show with newcomer Sam Schafer, if you're feeling tight.
What they say
Josie Long returns to the Pleasance following last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show. The Guardian said 'strikes an adroit balance between fun, moral outrage and indignant mockery of our hideous powers-that be'. What will this year bring?
A video
Here's Josie being introduced at a show in Hackney by Chris Moyles, improbably:
Josie Long and Sam Shafer's Awkward Romance
(Also on our Free Fringe list)
Mood Nightclub, 13-17 August, 13:45
What we say
One of two forays into the Free Fringe for Long this year, joining up with a newcomer who tweeted at her after he failed to secure open mic spots (dangerous Twitter precedent alert...) There's a intriguing interview with Sam about it and the show in The Portsmouth News.
What they say
Edinburgh award-nominated Josie Long is joined by brilliant newcomer Sam Schäfer to share tales of loves lost, loves won and loves made-up. This is an idle threat: If you don't come we'll wreck your knees.
A video
Here's Sam on his (in)ability to talk to girls:
2004
Wil Hodgson: Kidnapped by Catwoman
The Stand, 2-26 August, times vary
What we say
Punk – actually, he's not got the hair any more, is he a former punk now? - ageing punk Will Hodgson returns. The Westcountry storyteller brings more laconic nerviness about maladjustment. He's also got a highlights show from the previous few years on the Free Fringe, if you're interested.
What they say
From Catwoman to Samantha Fox Strip Poker via Frenchie's slumber party and Hattie Jacques Bed Bath, the crushes, fantasies and desires of a geeky 80s/90s childhood explored in a confessional new show by Chippenham’s cult storyteller. As heard on Radio 4 and seen on Russell Howard’s Good News. ‘He is an inspired storyteller and his words are full of fire and beauty … He's a sort of urban warrior on behalf of all those who don't fit in’ (Scotsman). ‘This is punk rock, this is how it should be’ (Mark Thomas).
A video
Confusing trailer alert:
1995
The Tim Vine Chat Show
Pleasance Courtyard, 1-27 August, times vary
What we say
Vine's been in the business long enough that he's got a contact book bulging with good acts to chat with – and of the many chat show hosts, no-one is going to have more puns to fit between the talk. This may fit at the 'let's entertain the middle-aged' end of the market but on this one they might have a point.
What they say
The 2011 sell-out show returns! Everyone has a story to tell. Come and see a totally ridiculous hour packed with Tim's silly jokes and the guests' incredible anecdotes that seem to finish before you expect them to. One by one the gifted storytellers step out of the crowd and into the spotlight. Sit back and watch Vine spin comedy gold from tales like 'I sold my roller-skates to a murderer' or 'A bat got into my handbag.' 'The man's a marvel' (Scotsman). (That last one is a quote not a story.)
A video
Like we were ever going to put anything in here but Whittle:
And not going up this year...
2009 Jonny Sweet
2008 Sarah Millican
2007 Tom Basden
2005 Tim Minchin
2003 Gary Le Strange
2002 The Consultants
2001 Garth Cruikshank and Eddie McCabe
2000 Noble and Silver
1999 Ben n Arn's Big Top
1998 The Mighty Boosh
1997 Arj Barker
1996 Milton Jones
1994 Scott Capurro
1993 Dominic Holland
1992 Harry Hill
INDEX | First hours | Young guns | New Reliables | Solid sorts | Comedian's comedians | TV stars | New TV faces | Double headers and team efforts | Podcast folk | Radio 4 sorts | Free Fringe Picks | former Edinburgh Comedy Award winners | former panel prize winners | former best newcomers | Antipodeans | North American stars | Musical comedy | Story tellers | Character comedy | Sketch acts - old hands | Sketch acts - newbies | Chat shows | Political cuts | Formats | Multi-hatted comedians | Late shows | Best flyers | Fringe standards | Awards
Person(s):
Humphrey Ker
Person(s):
Roisin Conaty
Person(s):
Josie Long
Person(s):
Tim Vine
Person(s):
Wil Hodgson Groups:
- Printer-friendly version
- Login or register to post comments
- Send to friend
PDF version
