Edinburgh Fringe Guide 2018
Annual List of Shows I Think Deserve a Combination of Your Time/Attention/$$$
COMEDY:
Absolute, non-negotiable must-sees
Sam Campbell: The Trough
The king. Funniest man alive and IMHO it’s not even close. This show just won Best Comedy at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in the Spring and I reckon it very well could win it here, too.
Get around Sam:
Daniel Kitson: Work In Progress
My favorite stand up in the game right now. I have been playing his specials on loop since February. Phenomenal thinker with a mind that can be brilliant to a fault. His show is a work in progress so I can’t say much about it other than it will be super deconstructive, incredibly pensive, and deeply funny.
Can’t say for certain I know what his show is this year but last year’s show was a genuine thrill ride of an hour. The most unexpectedly amazing show I saw, very deserving of its nomination for Best Comedy last year. He tends to do high-concept multimedia laugh-a-minute show to totally blow you away with how good he is at structuring jokes, coding interactive games, and so many others. I hate the world multi-talented but this dude is so multi-talented
Natalie Palamides: Nate
Won Best Newcomer last year, new show looks to be super funny
John-Luke Roberts: All I Wanna Do Is [FX: GUNSHOTS] With A [FX: GUN RELOADING] And A [FX: CASH REGISTER] And Perform Some Comedy!
The show is literally called “All I Wanna Do Is [FX: GUNSHOTS] With A [FX: GUN RELOADING] And A [FX: CASH REGISTER] And Perform Some Comedy!” and has already gotten a 4.5 from Chortle. Need I say more?
Another Gaullier grad. I had a great deal of fun at his show last year. He had THE show with word-of-mouth buzz within the comedy community last year and I suspect this year will be no different.
Neal Portenza: Neal Portenza's Final Edinburgh Show Will Be a Bad Magic Show on a Bus
Crazy Australian character played by an otherwise mild-mannered engineer from Victoria called Josh Ladgrove. Semi-clown, mostly a hysteria-inducing, mayhem enthusiast. Huge influence on Zach and Viggo (especially Zach’s solo show). Portenza’s shows are known for being one of the “cult hits” of this universe, whatever that means. Regardless, they’re always among the most memorable shows I see each festival, he always makes it a blast. One of the best to do it and this is his last Fringe show ever!
Also it’s on a bus lol
Tom Walker: Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk
The show is called “Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk”. Need I say more?
Australian who went to Gaullier the same year as Jonny and Viggo. Did a show with Zach in Adelaide Fringe.MiCF 2016 called “Zach and Tom: Best Friends”. His show “Beep Boop” won him Best Newcomer at MICF last year. and his new show “Bee Boo” was nominated for the Barry Award (Best Comedy) at MICF this year. Currently on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia and one of my personal favorite performers. Often gets compared to Jim Carrey because of mannerisms/facial expressions, but is way more than that. Brings the mania of Portenza but you feel less unsafe.
All you need to know about Tom is the first impression he does in this bit.
ACMS: on at misc.nights throughout the festival
Always worth going to at least once because they tend to have some hidden gems. Crowd can be a bit of a circlejerk though.
People I just fuckin love:
Rhys Nicholson: Seminal
Lightning quick aussie comic with a Razor-sharp tongue that’s always a step ahead of the audience. Deliberately campy and a great deal of fun.
Demi Lardner: I Love Skeleton
Adelaide comic who won the Raw Comedy Competition in Australia in 2013 (Think American Idol but for Comedy, launches many of these people’s career). Last year’s show won Director’s Choice at MICF this year and is directed by Mark from Aunty Donna.
Not sure if they’re going but definitely see them if they’re there:
Spencer Jones
An hour of innocent, pure, childlike play and idiocy. He was nominated for Best Comedy last year and absolutely deserved it. Becoming somewhat of a fringe cult classic.
Guy Montgomery
Kiwi with dry super smart and subversive stuff
Stephen K Amos
Great stand-up and class act.
Do go if you’re there the whole festival:
Siblings: Acting Out
If Zach and Viggo were girls but less anarchy. One of them is my brother’s ex which is super funny to me.
Josh Glanc: Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Comedian
Another Gaullier aussie. And he’s jewish so your grandmother will be thrilled!
Jordan Brookes: Bleed
His show last year was nominated for best comedy. Didn’t think it was the best show I’ve ever seen but really crazy and in the same realm of Tom Walker, who predictably loved his show last year.
Laura Davis: Ghost Machine
I just think she’s very pleasant to listen to and a skillful storyteller
People I haven’t seen but am keen to:
Hot Brown Honey
Elf Lyons
She also went to Gaullier. Her show last year was nominated for Best Comedy
David O’ Doherty
Lauren Pattison
Lucy Pearman
Both Lauren and Lucy were nominated for Best Newcomer at Edinburgh last year
Garry Starr
Nominated for some cool awards in Adelaide and Melbourne this year. Has a bit of buzz in the clowning community.
VARIETY (aka not Comedy):
Thumpasaurus
Rock X Funk X Disco X Dance Party. Dance your fucking face off to the Book of Thump
Betty Grumble: Love and Anger (or Sex Clown Saves the World Again!)
Words can’t describe. Just go see her.
Gingzilla: Glam Monster vs. The World
Loved seeing this show in Adelaide last year. Ging is a 6’7 (7’0 in heels) queen that does burlesque X comedy X cabaret. Very fun show.
One-Night Only Events:
Max & Ivan’s Prom Night
The duo who previously launched The Wrestling at the festival – are this year staging a one-off, site-specific show called Prom Night, based on a 1950s American High School.
Dara O Briain, Rachel Parris, Marcus Brigstocke, Nina Conti, Angelos Epithemiou and Lazy Susan have joined the cast of the biggest comedy show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.