WEDNESDAY 29 JULY 2015

PENNY ASHTON: WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MS AUSTEN
We've been covering this here Edinburgh Fringe for a long time, we may have mentioned that already. And over the last twenty years, thousands of performers have debuted, become Fringe regulars, and then, in many cases, moved on. But sometimes our former favourites pop back, and there is much rejoicing. ThreeWeeks favourite Penny Ashton hasn't appeared in these pages for quite some time, having not performed at the Fringe for a decade. But she's back, and with a brand new show developed during that time with just a little bit of help from a certain Jane Austen. We caught up with Penny to find out more.

ThreeWeeks' Chris Cooke chats to Penny about her 2015 show here
STEWART FRANCIS: STEW PENNED THIS
Stewart Francis will rock up at the Assembly Rooms this Fringe with his show 'Pun Gent'. In anticipation of what's to come, we handed him a pen and surveyed what followed. Needless to say, there was some tough self-questioning...

Check out Stewart's ThreeWeeks column here
THREE TO SEE: THEATRICAL COMEDY
It's ThreeWeeks Co-Editor Caro Moses again, this time tipping three theatrical comedy shows.

Tatterdemalion
I've noticed that lots of our review team are very into the sort of comedy that has a theatrical turn to it, and I've always been a bit of a fan of that kind of show myself. 'Tatterdemalion', which falls firmly into that category, comes from another company beloved of the ThreeWeeks team, Flabbergast Theatre, the creators of vaudevillian double act Boris and Sergey. It's a one man show from artistic director Henry Maynard, a touching and absurd piece of theatre featuring puppetry, physical comedy and mime, and I feel one hundred percent sure this is going to be great.
Assembly Roxy, from 5 until 31 Aug


Marny Godden: Flam 'Em on the Gate (pictured)

Marny Godden, also known as one third of comedy sketch trio The Grandees, is a fabulously funny, brilliant and endearing force to be reckoned with, and makes her solo debut this year with a tasty sounding melange of clowning and colourful character comedy, some scripted, some improvised, that promises to take you on “an uplifting, giddy, fun-packed interactive adventure which will transport you back to childhood”. I love being transported back to childhood, and I love Marny, so this one's definitely going on the list. Underbelly, Cowgate, from 6 until 30 Aug

Gabriel Bisset-Smith Tells The Most Original and Funny Joke in The Universe
If you're a regular partaker of Edinburgh Fringe comedy, you may be aware of Gabriel Bisset-Smith, one half of highly regarded sketch double act Guilt & Shame. Part stand-up, part sketch, and part theatre, this new one man show is Bisset-Smith's attempt to create something truly unique. “Like most 'artists' trying to make a name for themselves, I wanted to do something original,” he explains. “In comedy this is particularly hard as there's always some smartarse thirteen year old on the other side of the world who has beat you to it.”
Underbelly, Cowgate, from 6 until 30 Aug
 
THREE TO SEE: COMEDY ACTS WITH BOOKS OUT
ThreeWeeks Co-Editor Caro Moses delves into the comedy programme some more, picking three comedians with books out. Simple.

Bridget Christie: A Book for Her (pictured)
It's not really a question of just happening to have a book out (see the other two) for Bridget Christie; the show is, as you may have just noticed, when you read the title of this segment, called 'A Book For Her', which is the actual name of her actual, acclaimed, recently published book. So, a blatant sell, really. But do we care? Are we going to criticise? No, certainly not, because a) she's got fifty minutes of new material for you and b) Bridget Christie is utterly brilliant, a complete ThreeWeeks favourite, and as far as we are concerned, she can do whatever she wants, and it will be great. Get your tickets now.
The Stand Comedy Club, from 8 until 31 Aug


Gyles Brandreth: Word Power
Gyles Brandreth has been around for a quite a while, and has been frequenting this here Fringe not infrequently in recent years, and on occasion, really impressing our reviewers (five stars in 2013). The word fanatic's 2015 show is all about the power of language, and the new book, 'Word Play', is a "cornucopia of puns, anagrams and other curiosities of the English language". Not sure if he's particularly flogging the publication at the Fringe, but it's definitely out this summer, and the themes of the show and the book are vaguely connected. Well, in that they both have 'word' in the title.
Pleasance Courtyard, from 5 until 30 Aug


Jessie Cave: I Loved Her

And so to another recently regular Edinburgh performer who, since her Edinburgh debut in 2012 has swiftly established herself as a ThreeWeeks favourite, and indeed, an all round Fringe favourite. I think it would possibly be against the law not to mention her background as a screen actor - she's appeared in all sorts of stuff, but probably most notably the Harry Potters – but the fact is that we love her live work more and look forward to taking in this year's show. And, just to tie up the book connection, she recently released 'Love Sick', a collection of "brutally honest" daily doodles covering the thorny moments of dating, falling in love, breaking up, and friendship. I think I might go and find a copy right now.
Underbelly, Cowgate, from 6 until 30 Aug
 
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