It’s another busy day so let’s take a look.
Here’s the schedule for August 15th.
12:00 – Joe Wells – Daddy Autism, PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
“Joe and his wife want to have a baby. He’s autistic so it’s quite likely the baby will be too. That’s ok, all he needs to do is solve ableism before it’s born. As seen on: Rosie Jones’ Disability Comedy Extravaganza, BBC Two’s Ouch Storytelling Live and Channel 4’s Jokes Only a Neurodivergent Can Tell. ‘Some of the most surprising and thought-provoking material coming from any comedian’ (Guardian). Over 20 million online views. ‘One of my favourite comics’ (Frankie Boyle). ***** (NeurodiverseReview.co.uk). **** (Chortle.co.uk).”
Go to the Edinburgh Fringe and not see Joe Wells’ latest show? Unthinkable! Even though his subject material is now much more concentrated on his neurodiversity than politics, he always gives us an hour packed with hilarious insights that help us all to make a little more sense of the world. As always – queue early!
14:15 – Lessons on Revolution, Summerhall.
“1968. Three thousand students occupy the London School of Economics, in the most significant act of protest in a generation. 2024. Two friends and flatmates try to work out what radical change means today, searching through archives, photos, and first-hand accounts. Following a sold-out Soho Theatre run, Lessons on Revolution comes to Summerhall. This five-star, ‘compelling and galvanising’ (James Graham) piece of documentary theatre takes you on a journey through global and personal history which asks: in a new age of inequality and injustice, how can the voices of the past give us hope?”
What is history if it’s not something we can learn from? Those daring days of 1960s protests seem a long time ago now, but it will be fascinating to see how the lessons of the past can help us make a better world today.
16:05 – Trawled – When Adventure Becomes Survival, theSpace @ Venue45.
“A jaw-dropping true story set on the Coral Sea, Australia. An Irish backpacker blags his way onto a prawn trawler. There he discovers a rarely seen world of hard labour and harder fishermen, where drinking, fighting, storms and hungry sharks are part of everyday life. His raw, exuberant story of adventure twists dramatically into survival culminating in an unforgettable moment of redemptive grace. Trawled is a one-man biographical drama. The actor plays himself 25 years younger! This is classic storytelling that plays out like a movie. Ready to come onboard?”
Eoin Ryan tells his own story, so this couldn’t be more authentic. I’m partly expecting a kind of modern Moby Dick, but I’m hoping for a gripping tale that seizes the imagination.
18:20 – One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven, Greenside @ Riddles Court.
“To commemorate the 175th anniversary of his death, immerse yourselves in two of Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre classics. Arguably Poe’s darkest tale, The Black Cat documents an alcoholic’s last confession on the eve of his death. A story not for the faint-hearted. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, as an elderly man laments the loss of his love, an ominous visitor is heard tapping on his chamber door… One Man Poe by award-winning storyteller Stephen Smith brings Poe’s words to life as never before.”
Stephen Smith’s idea of bringing the stories of Edgar Allan Poe to life in a small Fringe environment sounds fascinating to me; even though I studied English I’ve only ever read his Murders in the Rue Morgue, so I’m looking forward to plugging a gap in my literature general knowledge! We only have the chance to see one of his two shows, so I hope I’ve made a good choice.
20:30 – Pete Heat: Bogus, Pleasance Dome.
“Join magician, comedian and charlatan Pete Heat on a surreal journey into your own brain. Try not to break anything. ‘The constant oscillation between excellent jokes and superb wizardry really is a thrilling ride… very special indeed’ ***** (TheWeeReview.com); ‘Like David Blaine possessed by Noel Fielding’s sense of style and humour, with a show that’s exactly as mental and magnificent as that sounds’ ***** (FringeGuru.com); ‘Would have given Jesus a run for his money’ (Alex Horne, Taskmaster); ‘I have never seen a better magician than this lanky dude’ (Dawn French).”
I’m always up for a fresh approach to magic, and I’ve not seen Pete Heat before, but he comes with a great reputation, so I’m sure this will be a lot of fun – and full of how did he do that!
22:25 – Ryan Cullen: Cullen in the Name Of!, Underbelly, Bristo Square.
“If Milton Jones is the Obi-Wan Kenobi of one-liners, then Ryan Cullen is Darth Vader. He delivers with an economy of words, an unapologetic style and surgical precision. An act you’ll be talking about long after seeing him. ‘Big laughs, his material has the ruthlessness of a young Jimmy Carr and the sexual turpitude of Jim Jefferies at his most priapic. Extraordinary stuff’ (Kate Copstick, Scotsman). ‘Cullen is one of my favourite comedians. Hilarious and so dark you think ‘How the f**k did he end up like this?” (Daniel Sloss).”
Ryan Cullen is another name new to me – and these descriptions kind of defy belief, so it will be great to see him for myself!
Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!