Punchline Recommends James Acaster – Reset

Words by Susan Ford Is it worth recommending a run of sell out shows? Yes, definitely when it comes to James Acaster, because it would be an absolute crime not to. This multi-award nominee has never put on a bad show, and is consistently the highlight of the Fringe.  James Acaster is an absolute genius

Punchline Recommends Sofie Hagen: Shimmer Shatter

Words by Suzy Romer Sofie Hagan is a comedy superhero and her power is dissolving contradictions. The self-proclaimed extreme introvert greets every single member of the audience on the way in. Prior to that, she has come out to the queue carrying a bundle of brightly coloured umbrellas to give to audience members in case

Punchline Recommends: Rachel Parris – Best Laid Plans

Words by Iain McLaren In “Best Laid Plans”, Rachel takes us for a walk through her adult life and discovers that it doesn’t quite add up to everything her six year old self thought it would be. She tells her story with a light touch, a few songs, and a lot of laughs. Come for

Punchline Recommends: Steen Raskopoulos – You Know the Drill

Words by Suzy Romer This is it. This is the adrenaline-charged, big-laugh, blow-away show I have been waiting to see like a storm chaser after a perfect storm. Steen Raskopoulos has a magic onstage presence which overtakes the audience right from the beginning. In fact he has a couple of us literally standing to attention

Punchline Recommends: “Help Us Tom Toal, You’re Our Only Hope”

Words by Susan Ford Punchline recommends joining Tom Toal as part of the Free Fringe, as he saves the whole of Edinburgh with his new show ‘Help us Tom Toal, You’re Our Only Hope’.  Tom Toal captivates his audience with a unique brand of narrative comedy, that is as delightful to listen to as it

Punchline Q&A – Andrew Ryan

What is the best advice for a new performer in Edinburgh? Expect nothing and it will be fun then. What is the best advice for a new festival goer? Go and see people you don’t know,  take risks on flyers and just be impulsive. What do you have to have in your fridge during August?

Punchline Recommends: Nish Kumar- Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout the Words Real Loud

Words by Suzy Romer Nish Kumar’s show is a joyous reunion with his Edinburgh audience; we have missed each other! It’s almost a rush of relief to hear someone talk sensibly about Brexit with unfettered intelligence. His enquiring mind and thorough research (think of Bridget Christie or Paul Sinha on History Revision, R4) combine to

Punchline Recommends: Birthday Girls – Sh!t Hot Party Legends

Words by Suzy Romer It is a truth universally acknowledged that April deadlines for Fringe Guide entries mean that show titles and contents usually bear no relation to each other. So it comes as a thrilling surprise that Sh!t Hot Party Legends is EXACTLY what you get and one hour is just not enough.  Complete

Steen Raskopoulos: You Know the Drill – Edinburgh 2016 Interview

We loved his Steen’s show in 2014 and BBC’s “Top Coppers”. Now we’re super excited he’s back in Edinburgh! These are Steen’s answers to Punchline’s burning questions…   What is the best advice for a new performer in Edinburgh? Lower your expectations and you’ll have the best time. What is the best advice for a new festival goer?

Punchline recommends: Max & Ivan – Our Story

Words by Iain McLaren Come one, come all and hear the tale of how our heroes met all those many years ago. Max and Ivan deliver an hour of perfect storytelling and comedic genius, with a bit of improv thrown in for good measure. Taking us back to their very early years at wrestling school