Edinburgh Festival Previews: Mon 30th June - Sun 6th July

By london_chrisc Last edited 189 months ago
Edinburgh Festival Previews: Mon 30th June - Sun 6th July
2008_joey_page.jpg

Here's week four of our Edinburgh Festival preview recommendations. This isn't just a random list of events scraped from listings magazines and press releases - this is a genuine list of acts we adore, and that you should definitely see, especially while the price is nice. If you go to just one of these shows this week, we guarantee you'll come away feeling happy.

Monday 30th - The Free Fringe has hosted hundreds of shows in Edinburgh over the years. The audience get in for free, and the comics don't have to pay for the venue. There's a preview of some Free Fringe shows tonights, which includes two very wonderful acts, the playful Richard Brophy and the immensely surreal Joey Page (pictured, right). Fans of the Boosh, Vic and Bob and Harry Hill will have a lot of fun watching them. (Richard on YouTube) Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall Market, EC3V. Free entry, 7pm.

Tuesday 1st - Isy Suttie previews her latest show. She's a whimsical twee musical character-comic, whose shows always leave us beaming with joy. Fans of feel-good comedy like Josie Long/Pappy's Fun Club will be in character comedy heaven, if you can imagine such a place. (Isy on YouTube, as Dobby on Peep Show) Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High St, NW1 7.30pm, £7.50.

Thursday 3rd - Upon hearing the news that Daniel Kitson is performing within a 200 mile radius of you, the correct response is to immediately buy a ticket. This master raconteur is playing a series of gigs in Battersea to warm up for Edinburgh. If you can't make it tonight, for the love of beards try to make it another night! (Daniel on YouTube) Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London, SW11. £5, 9pm. Tickets: 02072232223.

Friday 4th - Idiots of Ants perform in Camden tonight. Their ideas are remarkably strong and keenly absurdist, and every sketch will have you laughing from your belly. If they're not nomiated for an award this year, then it will be THE GREATEST injustice of the 21st century. (Idiots of Ants on YouTube) Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High St, NW1. £7.50, 9pm.

Saturday 5th - A double-bill of previews in Islington tonight from husband-and-wife Stewart Lee and Bridget Christie. Lee will be experimenting with stand-up material for his Edinburgh show "Scrambled Egg", which in itself is a practice-run of material for an upcoming TV series. How very meta! Meanwhile, character act Christie will be performing an hour of stand-up as King Charles II. Definitely book in advance for this epic comedy night. Hen & Chickens Theatre, 109 St Paul's Rd, Highbury Corner, N1. 7pm, £7. Tickets: 020 7704 2001.

Photo of Joey Page is by Hannah Jeffery. Used with permission.

Last Updated 30 June 2008