Edinburgh Fringe 2018: What to see at the Big Four
With the release of the 'big four' Edinburgh Fringe venues' full programmes, we've picked a recommended comedy and theatre show each from Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly
Four comedy shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2018
Beard: Baby Come Back
It's three years since oddball double-act Beard last played Edinburgh. This year they are part of a strong roster of acts produced by Liam Williams's Fight in the Dog company. From cleverly written sketches to the most fleeting facial expression the pair find comedy in every moment of their shows.
Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker One), 1-26 Aug, 3.30pm, £7-12
Demi Lardner: I Love Skeleton
They'll be everything from props to poetry and an appearance from the titular skeleton in Demi Lardner's new hour – though what purpose the skeleton serves is harder to ascertain. Her rapid fire absurdism often conceals more intricate ideas under the surface; or perhaps we're searching for meaning as she goes about creating chaos.
Assembly George Square Studios (Four), 1-26 Aug (not 13), 8.05pm, £7.50-11
Demi Lardner, returning to the Fringe with I Love Skeleton
Luisa Omielan: Politics for Bitches
Although she rides back into Edinburgh with several years of tours, screen appearances and a book released, this is the first all-new Fringe run from Omielan since 2014. She had to suspend it last year and her subsequent family bereavement is likely to make this hour as personal as it is political. Indeed, the show is running in association with Helena's Hospice.
Gilded Balloon, Teviot Row House (Debating Hall), 1-26 Aug (not 14 or 23), 9pm, £9-15
Steen Raskopoulos: Stay
Raskopoulos has a certain skillset: he can turn the most serious of front row dodgers into enthusiasts for audience participation. In Stay, he isn't resting on his laurels. It partly revolves around a prison interrogation and both new and old characters make an appearance, but as the hour continues we're anticipating a rawer Raskopoulos to emerge.
Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Button), 2-26 Aug (not 13), 8pm, £7-12.50
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Four theatre shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2018
Angry Alan
The new play from Penelope Skinner (Fresh Meat, How I Live Now) this darkly comic and provative new play explores modern masculinity, and the Mens Rights Movement through the eyes of Roger, a man in crisis until he stumbles across a man named Alan; an online activitist who says all the right things.
Underbelly Cowgate (Big Belly), 2-26 Aug (not 13), 3.20pm, £6.50-12.50
Aye, Elvis
Written by Morna Young, this two-hander – which premiered as part of A Play, A Pie and A Pint earlier this year – follows a working class woman who acts as her mother's sole carer, as she finds escape in a world created by her love of The King.
Gilded Balloon, Rose Theatre (Basement), 1-26 Aug (not 13), 7.30pm, £7.50-13.50
Janis Joplin: Full Tilt
The award-winning, sell-out show from the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe returns. From the powerhouse directing and writing team of Peter Arnott and Cora Bissett, and starring Rachel Darcy, this one-woman show celebrates the music, life and legacy of a era-defining musician.
Assembly Rooms, Assembly Ball Room, 2-26 Aug (not 6, 13, 20), 7.45pm, £17.50
No One is Coming to Save You
A hopeful tale about fighting back after being raised in a climate of social, political and economic fear, this piece explores what we're waiting for and why we wait.
Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Two), 1-27 Aug, 12.30pm, £6-10.50
The Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly joint brochure is released in print on 5 Jun; the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes place from 3-27 August