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Well, as the weather all day was pretty poor and the money had run out (that and the fact work called telling me to get my arse back to Newcastle and fix the computers I’d left on Friday lunch time in a less than fully-working state), we headed home mid-evening.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the last few days. I honestly hadn’t expected so much from the Fringe festival. I didn’t anticipate the number of street performers, musicians and artists dotted around all the streets. It really made it that much better. The other festivals going on also seamlessly seemed to integrate together and made it a wonderful overall experience.
I’d love to have stopped more, or even return this coming weekend or next, but I suppose that depends on how much beer money can be mustered together!

Wyoming student Matt Shepard was crucified for being gay, his family tormented in the name of God. His sexuality inflamed small-town prejudice, his murder still scars a nation. A hard-hitting true story that no community can ignore.

Something a bit more serious and sombre, though with some bits of comedy in from the performers. Taken from hundreds of interviews from people actually involved in this true story from a few years ago, it was very powerful. It’s worth going to see, just to open your mind up and get the different opinions of people and try to understand exactly what went on.

My word, last night, well, yesterday in it’s entirety, didn’t happen. It can’t have. Except I woke up around 6A.M, somehow having managed to squash myself into a sofa far to small for a man of my size, looked up as Cora walked through the door and simply commented “Oh fuck, that big yellow umbrella was real”.
Can’t really comment much more on that fact, for fear of ending up being questioned by the police. Was all harmless fun, honestly officer, and I’m sure it can be returned if necessary. Oh shit, shut up, you’re saying too much! Nothing like confessing your sins over the Internet, eh?!

Where comedy legends are born. The ultimate comedy competition. Previous winners include Peter Kay, Rhona Cameron, Phil Kay and Dylan Moran.

Well, it was the heats, but there were some good up and comedians in it. It went on much longer I expected, well gone 12.45A.M before we got around to leaving, though it didn’t seem too much really. The eventual winner (I forget the name of the young lady) is one to watch in the finals.

Nice venue too - quite big, but still felt quite close the stage. Not much I can say in terms of recommending going to see, as the acts (obviously…) change each night, and it’s more a case of going along to get a good variety of comics and possibly catch some of the stars of the future - just look at the list of winners!

“Award winning comics Marek Larwood (’A blast of unadulterated comedy’ [url=http://www.chortle.co.uk)]www.chortle.co.uk)[/url] and Greg Davies (’Engagingly manic’ Evening Standard) present an enchanted world of sketches, song and stupidity. A magical slice of life-giving comedy magic (contains no actual magic).”

Another set of freebies here, tempting us to join in the fun. To be honest, we were actually looking at buying tickets for this one, but as Marek (I think) offered us tickets in the bar, we tagged along for the ride!

By this point, 8 hours or so of straight drinking with no food or much of a break in between was beginning to take it’s toll, and I can simply remember laughing a lot! They were a great duo, with excellent help and timing from a ’special’ helper (not wanting to spoil the fun)!

“Cheap drinks and two headline acts performing half an hour each. Karen’s comic timing is rarely less than brilliant’ www.chortle.co.uk, Susan has the mentality of a spiteful 14 year old boy. Fantastic’ Arthur Smith.”

We got offered these tickets having (more) drinks before the Rosie Wilkinson gig. Karen was trying to get us to come along, and recognising we were slightly inebriated, explained how if we came to her show, it was happy hour at the bar. It most certainly was…

Working with Susan, you got two quality comedians for one with this gig!

“Brilliant new character comedy. Discover what’s wrong with Rosie, with you and with everyone else.”

Having started drinking at 12 noon today, polished off 5 glasses of wine, 2 double vodka + oranges’, a glass of amaratto and two bottles of Smirnoff Ice (well, it was the Smirnoff Underbelly venue, of course!) before actually entering the stage area, pretty much anything would have been funny in fairness. But, Rosie really was something else. Just as funny as Jo Caulfield last night, except no-one seems to have heard of her!

I saw Jo at the Hyena Cafe in Newcastle about a year ago or so, and when I saw Jo on at the fringe, just had to get tickets. The venue is great, but don’t go to the Pleasance Courtyard! Most of the people in the queue we talked to whilst waiting to go in made that mistake - the Pleasance Dome is about 10 minutes walk away and is part of the student’s union within the university grounds.

“Citizen’s arrest! Bite the Egg summons you into the dark recesses of underground Edinburgh for the ultimate sketch show experience. Villains, victims and vigilantes collide in this pitch-black comedy of sketches, songs and serial killers.”
Performed by Bite The Egg - Rhul

Well, we got lured into this one whilst wandering along the Royal Mile. One of the actors in the show was explaining what it was about, how this was their first show, and wanted people to go along and have a laugh.

If you go to this venue, Caves I, II and III really are in caves, quite deep in them! It’s great fun, and completely different to most other places. Quite compact, so not going to get more than 30-40 people in really, but all the more interesting.

The sun is shining, we’re set and ready to walk in town, and looking forward to a good day.
I’m a bit unsure what to expect, having being told by David that the streets were packed with street performers and people handing out leaflets as he walked home from work last night, but it should be good fun!

I should point out that all the writings and reviews are done offline and put up here whenever I get a chance. So, expect reviews to appear in groups. I’ll try to put images up associated with the shows too, as I’m finding it tough to hear people talking about acts and tie that to a poster or leaflet I’ve seen!

Well, here we go - let’s see what today brings!