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56 shows to see at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe

An introduction:

This is a very arbirtary list. It panders to my personal tastes (the comedy festival and some of the drama) and - representing just 2% of what's on offer during August - there are many more shows I could have included, more I will later regret omitting and some - owing to a mixture of scheduling, 'fate' and plain stupidity - that I'll tragically never see, remaining forever ignorant of just what I missed out on. However, within those parameters, it's as full and fair a list as I can manage, and one which has not been commercially manipulated by anyone. I hope you feel able to put your normal life on hold for a few days this summer and be part of something inspiring. William

• Links to the official Edinburgh Fringe site are the best to check daily show times, prices and venue contact details, especially for shows that aren't in any of 'supervenues' (Pleasance, Guilded Balloon, Assembly.)
• Chortle is most useful for looking up the history of any performer (their previous Edinburgh and touring shows) and getting an idea (but no more than that) on how they're rated.
• Where there's an official site I've linked to that (or alternatively Facebook or MySpace pages.) There's generally a lot more online (reviews and Youtube clips) if you search for it.
• Many of the performers on this list have a 'Marsha Meets...' link. This is Marsha Shandur's extraordinary XFM podcast. Meticulously researched, unhindered by time constraints and without gimmicks, it is rapidly becoming an invaluable audio record of the comedians of our time, which perhaps goes some way to explaining why many of the best of them have accepted the invitation to take part.

1. A Betrayal of Penguins: Don't run with scissors (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2.45-3.45pm, 4-30 August)
   An Irish comedy duo that garnered good reviews in 2009 - this year's show is in the guise of a failing children's TV programme. One of two penguin based shows you'll find in this list.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Facebook page
2. Adam Hills' mess around (Assembly Hall, 7-8pm, 5-29 August)
   This is an unscripted and entirely improvised show. Be aware that Adam, Jason [Byrne] and Friends (so good last year I went twice) is being rested in 2010. If you've not seen a show in the main Assembly Hall (The Mound) venue, prepare to be impressed. It's vast (making the near claustrophobic heat of many of the small rooms elsewhere seem a distance memory) but also with incredibly comfortable seating, good sound and a large crowd generates a great atmosphere.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview
3. Alex Horne: Odds (Pleasance Courtyard, 8.30-9.30pm, 4-30 August)
   In his 2008 show Wordwatching (which he's since turned into this book) Horne really pushed the limits of Powerpoint whilst, brilliantly, compiling a dictionary of audience-suggested words which was typed up and printed during every show, ready to be handed to people on the way out.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview
4. Andrew Collins - Secret Dancing (Bannermans, 12.30-1.30pm, 7-21 August)
   An unexpected delight of the opening night of Robin Ince's 2008 Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People was the sight of Andrew Collins emerge nervously onto the stage, clutching the wooden boat he made at the age of ten to celebrate his love of The Poseidon Adventure, a film he spent the 10 minutes deconstructing to demonstrate it would be suitable Christmas viewing for Professor Richard Dawkins. Since then it's been a pleasure to watch his various routines, including the eponymous Secret Dancing, evolve into this debut show.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
5. Andy Linden: I kid you not (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4.30-5.20pm, 4-30 August)
   He's been in plenty of TV and stage productions, but I'm listing this on the strength of a one minute item I saw him do on The RDA (John Gordillo's BBC Choice show) nearly a decade ago.
   Edfringe | Chortle
6. Andy Zaltzman swears to tell the truth, the half truth, and everything but the truth (The Stand, 4.20-5.30pm (except previews), 4-29 August)
   His previous work (numerous radio, the Bugle podcast, even a column on CricInfo) speaks for itself.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview
7. Best of Popcorn Comedy (Pleasance Dome, 11.30pm-12.30am, 5-28 August)
   Holly Walsh and Jon Hunter weren't content with producing numerous great short films of their own, but also created a comedy night to celebrate the art. Highly acclaimed, its spread from an occasional London gig to venues around the country, and now Edinburgh.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
8. Bridget Christie/A Ant (The Stand, 4.15-5.15pm (except 5th: 4.40-5.40), 5-29 August)
   Watch her Derek Acorah impersonation if you've not seen her before.
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
9. The Boom Jennies: We Want Action (Pleasance Courtyard, 2.10-3.10pm, 4-30 August)
   The Boom Jennies are a promising three-woman sketch group (one of whom, Catriona Knox, also has her own solo show this year)
   Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
10. Chandrika Chevli: Where's my bike? (Royal Mile Tavern, 1.30-2.30pm, 7-28 August)
    Listed on strength of the intro in the Fringe programme: "40 hours before her Edinburgh show opend last year, actress and Radio 2 newsreader Chandrika was left in a critical condition after being hit by a taxi. An utterly true story."
    Edfringe | Chortle
11. Collings and Herrin podcast live (The GRV, 3pm, 11-22 August)
    You'd think this had no chance of success. Yet, despite being recorded on the internal microphone of Collins' ageing laptop, in Herring's loft, with a running time dictated by the default Garageband settings, entirely unsubscripted and subsidised by nothing other than a a mixture of goodwill and donations of partially filled Cafe Nero loyalty cards, it's risen to become one of the highest charting UK podcasts with well in excess of 30,000 listeners.
    
    Radio academy event: "Are you both doing this until something better comes along?" Andrew Collins: "No."
    
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
12. Comedy Countdown (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 12.15-1.30am, 10-25 August (6 nights))
    Hugely enjoyable (and unpredictable) each time I've seen it. Dan Atkinson hosts, with guest comedians as contestants and Paul Sinha on hand (as Carol Vorderman) to demonstrate his knowledge of the more arcane rules.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Grainy Youtube clip from 2008
13. Dan Antopolski: Turn of the Century (Pleasance Dome, 8-9pm, 4-30 August)
    Not just talented when it comes to writing and performing. but equally at ease handling small and large rooms and making everyone feel relaxed and included. Make sure you watch his superbly written (and edited) Sandwich Rap video.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview
14. Dan Willis: Ferris Bueller's Way of.. (Laughing Horse at Espionage, 5.45-6.45pm, 6-29 August)
    Dan Willis did a great show about the history of computers (with some great props) last year, so I have high hopes for this reprise of his celebration and deconstruction of the 1986 movie. He's also doing a brand new show about Michael Jackson if that's more your thing.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
15. Daniel Kitson: It's always right now, until it's later (Traverse Theatre, 10-11.30am, 10-29 August)
    Much as I love Kitson's stand-up, I think his plays take his work to another level. But is his latest show stand-up or theatre? I'm not 100% sure, but regardless, Kitson is the living embodiment of everything Seth Godin has written about the art of giving gifts, and it has one of the most fabulously uplifting descriptions I've ever read: "I wanted to put something amazing where you wouldn’t expect to find it. To take the first moments of the morning and fill them with something silly and sad and wonderful. Something audacious in its scope and scale. Something to make you laugh and cry and wonder before the world even knows you’re awake. Something to stuff your hearts full and send you out, into the day and into the world, wet eyed and open mouthed." (Book early.)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
16. Danny Robins - DJ Danny (Downstairs at the Tron, 10.20-11.20pm, 12-13 August)
    Danny has been fortunate to get all sorts of TV and radio projects over the years (The Museum of Everything, Music Therapy, shows on BBC3 and recently the Party Anthems strand as part of Newsnight's election coverage), but I'll mostly remember his parody of The Shamen ("Cheese is Good") and the attempt to crowd surf over an audience of 16 in a portakabin in the Pleasance car park.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
17. Doc Brown: Unfamous (Pleasance Courtyard, 7-7.55pm, 4-29 August)
    He was there too (see above.)
    Edfringe | Chortle
18. Edward Aczel: Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No Matter. Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better. (Underbelly, 7.35-8.35pm, 6-29 August)
    I've seen a preview of this and it looks promising. Make sure you watch this short clip from Jimmy Carr's Comedy Idol.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
19. Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog (Pleasance Courtyard, 9.45-10.45pm, 4-29 August)
    Debut show by the tall one from We are Klang.
    Edfringe | Chortle
20. Helen Arney: Songs for Modern Loving (Just the Tonic at The Caves, 7.35-8.35pm, 5-29 August)
    Helen's songs are painstakenly written, beautifully performed, and, through a both a clever and generous piece of marketing, available to download for free from her website. She also runs an excellent London comedy night.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
21. Helen Keen: It is Rocket Science! V2 (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 1.15-2.15pm, 6-30 August)
    I saw version 1 two years ago - a well researched show with delightful shadow puppetry. Helen's also doing three science 'chats' during the first weekend of the festival with Dr Sophia Khan from NASA.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
22. James Acaster and Josh Widdicombe: Amusements (Laughing Horse, Meadow Bar, 7.45-8.45pm, 6-29 August)
    Lembit Öpik got plenty of media attention when he did his first stand-up gig recently, but the many newspaper reviews were notable in their unanimous praise of fellow performer Josh Widdicombe.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Myspace pages: James, Josh
23. Jessica Ransom - Ransom's Millions (Pleasance Courtyard, 4.45-5.45pm, 4-30 August)
    I really wish Girl and Dean were doing a show together, however Jess Ransom is very talented and it will be fascinating to see her first solo show.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
24. John Bishop - Sunshine (Udderbelly's Pasture (Bristo Square), 9.05-10.05pm (except 27th: 9.50-10.50), 4-30 August)
    Sudden rises to fame can be difficult to explain, but this couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Also adept at ending his standup with a great video. The very first show I saw when I went to Edinburgh for the first time.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
25. John Luke Roberts distracts you from a murder (Pleasance Dome, 8.10-9.05pm, 4-30 August)
    There's a real buzz about this show, apparently. Familiarise yourself by listening to the Boo hoo it's the news podcast (co-written with Gareth Gwynn) and (if you're lucky) the occasional repeat of Spats on BBC7.
    Edfringe | Chortle
26. Jon Richardson: Don't happy, be worry (Pleasance Courtyard, 7.40-8.40pm, 4-30 August)
    Edfringe | Chortle
27. Kevin Eldon is Titting About (The Stand, 2.30-3.20pm (except 5th: 1-1.50pm), 5-30 August)
    Star of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle, and, if you remember it, This Morning with Richard Not Judy.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Marsha Meets... interview
28. Laura Solon: The Owl of Steven (Pleasance Courtyard, 5-6pm, 4-29 August)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview
    
29. Lewis Schaffer: Free until famous (Laughing Horse at The Counting House, 7.30-8.30pm, 5-29 August)
    New York political comic (who lives in Nunhead) I've been meaning to see for ages.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
30. Long Nose Puppets: Penguin (Pleasance Courtyard, 11.20am-12.20pm, 4-29 August)
    Polly Dunbar's children's book is adapted into this full length show. I love the story because of how dark it is under close examination - the protagonist toddler (Ben) essentially embarks on a horrendous episode of cruelty, by terrorising the mute penguin. He mocks it, prods it, shouts abuse, ties it to the side of a rocket(!) before becoming bored and attempting to feed it to a lion. Yet the penguin chooses to forgive him and saves him from death himself, before summarising the entire book, in picture form (recursively) on the penultimate page.
    Edfringe | Official site
31. Marcel Lucont: Encore (Underbelly, 9.30-10.30pm, 5-29 August)
    Alexis Dubus' misanthropic French creation. One of the shows I wanted to see last year but ran out of time.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Myspace page
32. Mark Watson's Unusually Enjoyable Book Launch (Meet outside Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 2pm-5pm, 11 August)
    Only 10 3 hours long this year, and timed so that if you're really keen you can go and see other shows both before and afterwards. (Don't though.) More to the point, Watson's existing books are all wonderful reads; funny, poginant and constantly engaging - don't take my word for it, ask Stephen Fry... Watson is now writing a daily blog, which he's committed to for the next 10 years, apparently.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview | New book - 'Eleven'
33. Miles Jupp: Fibber in the Heat (a cricket tale) (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 8-9pm, 4-29 August)
    Like many, I discovered Miles Jupp owing to his hosting of The Guardian's daily Live at the Gilded Balloon podcast (no show this year.) Wonderfully delivered faux middle-class rants.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Myspace page
34. Mike Wozniak Egg and Spoon (The Stand, 9.10-10.10pm (5th: 1.40-2.40pm), 5-29 August)
    Mike Wozniak seemed (deservedly) to be everywhere in 2009 (including the enjoyable Five Pound Fringe sketch group Superclump.)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
35. Mould and Arrowsmith in 3D (Pleasance Courtyard, 4.30-5.30pm, 4-29 August)
    Mould and Arrowsmith's Inventions was my most anticipated show in 2009. It didn't disappoint. Geeky yet accessible with incredible attention to detail (as their many short films demonstrate.)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Youtube trailer
36. Nick Mohammed is Mr Swallow (Pleasance Courtyard, 6-6.55pm, 4-29 August)
    Character comedy. His previous show, Apollo 21, was a highly praised, well researched and touching spoof documentary about the moon landings, which deservedly got a commision from Radio 4.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
37. Nina Conti: Talk to the hand (Pleasance Dome, 8.30-9.30pm, 4-30 August)
    You have to see the puppets (there's three new ones, including an owl) close up to appreciate just how beautiful and lifelike they are.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
38. The Noise Next Door - Chaos Control (Pleasance Courtyard, 7-8pm, 4-30 August)
    An improvised comedy group formed from graduates of Play it By Ear (University of Kent), they've been honing their skills in Brighton for a while now.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
39. Oompah Brass: The A to Z of Oompah (The GRV, 4.20-5.20pm, 5-28 August)
    Another one that was sold out by the time I tried to get tickets last year.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
40. Papa's Got a Brand New Wigbag (The Canon's Gait, 4.55-5.50pm, 7-29 August)
    Worth a look given everything Carrie Quinlan and Gareth Gwynn have done in the last few years.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Carrie's site | Gareth's site
41. Paul Foot - Ash in the Attic (Underbelly, 7.40-8.40pm, 5-29 August)
    The sheer physical energy Foot puts into his performances is incredible. It's also fun to watch the inevitable subsection of the audience who are totally confused by him.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Resonance FM podcast
42. Paul Sinha: 'Extreme anti-white vitriol' (The Stand, 10.40-11.40pm (diff times for previews), 4-29 August)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
43. Pete Firman: Jokes and Tricks (Pleasance Dome, 7.10-8.10pm, 4-30 August)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
44. Political Animal: hosted by Andy Zaltsman (The Stand, 11.59pm-1.30am, 9-26 August)
    Political stand-up with a different line up every night.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
45. Radio Hoohah: McKenzie and McGuire (Pleasance Dome, 6.50-7.50pm, 4-30 August)
    Admittedly because I take an instant interest in anything with a broadcasting theme. This is a relatively new writing partnership, who seem to have got good reviews for their previous work.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
46. Richard Herring: Christ on a Bike - the second coming (Assembly Halls, 9.45-10.45pm, 5-30 August)
    This is a reworking of what Herring considers his best show. You can access the original scripts and an audio recording of how it sounded the first time around on his website.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview | Book: How not to grow up
47. Robin Ince and Michael Legge - Pointless Anger, Righteous Ire (The GRV, 2-3pm, 7-18 August)
    Both have long proven themselves as superb solo stand-ups, so it'll be fun to see what sort of dynamic this double act format generates.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Robin's site, Michael's blog
48. Sammy J: Skinny Man, Modern World (Underbelly, 9.50-10.50pm, 5-29 August)
    Amazing, with or without puppets.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
49. Sophie Black: A Sketch Show (Pleasance Courtyard, 4.30-5.25pm, 4-30 August)
    Not seen her solo but included on the strength of her past collaborations with the likes of Holly Walsh and Jon Hunter.
    Edfringe | Chortle
50. Stewart Lee: Vegetable Stew (The Stand, 5.15-6.25pm (diff times for previews), 4-30 August)
    Obviously.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site | Marsha Meets... interview | New book (launched during festival)
51. Terry Saunders: Six and a half loves (Pleasance Courtyard, 3.15-4.15pm, 16-30 August)
    A brilliant storyteller.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
    
52. Tiernan Douieb: Littlest Things (Just the Tonic at The Caves, 9.20-10.20pm, 5-29 August)
    Tiernan has brilliantly made his 2009 show available as a free podcast so you can decide if you like him (chances are you will.)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
53. Tim Vine - The Joke-amotive (Pleasance Courtyard, 8.43(yes)-9.43pm, 4-30 August)
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
54. Tom Alen Toughens Up (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 7.30-8.30pm, 4-29 August)
    On the strength of his brief 'Dictionary Corner' appearances on Channel 4's TNT show.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
55. Tom Binns in Ivan Brackenbury's Hospital Radio Remix (Pleasance Courtyard, 6.40-7.35pm, 4-30 August)
    Not only is this a brilliantly observed parody of hospital radio, but there are numerous comedy in-jokes for Fringe regulars. Note: it's a collection of previous year's highlights rather than all new material, *but* he has got a new character with an entirely new show.
    Edfringe | Chortle | Official site
56. Tony Law: Mr Tony's Brainporium (The Stand, 12.30-1.30pm (5th: 1.20-2.20pm), 5-29 August)
    Edfringe | Chortle