Fringe ideology
Fringe ideology
BREAKING NEWS: sources close to me say I'll be in Edinburgh for the next couple of weeks! More as it happens
I am once again spending an insane amount of money to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It’s worth it though, because this is my one big holiday of the year; to me, it’s like Burning Man and Woodstock and Yom Kippur and October 7th all rolled into one. A magical time.
I’ll be in Edinburgh from tomorrow (Monday 12th) to the end of the Fringe.
Do with this information what you will.
If you’re a stand-up and I haven’t yet alienated you by making an ill-judged remark about neurological problems (I meant the fake ones like ADHD and bisexuality, not what you have), and you have a spot you think I could do, please get in touch (you can just reply to this email).
If you’re a fan of me - like maybe you’re one of the nice lads who saw me do the Stand Glasgow a couple of years ago and then came to the Fringe last year and saw me by complete chance and remembered my stuff and we chatted afterwards (I hope I actually managed to sign you up to this list, you were staying up all night to avoid paying insane Edinburgh hotel prices and I think you were all pretty fucked on vodka and Red Bull, so odds are you didn’t manage to type in your email addresses, but I hope you’re reading this) - please consider coming to one of the below gigs and stay tuned for more.
Here are some gigs featuring me that I anticipate are going to be happening to the best of my knowledge, information correct at time of going to press, no backsies:
Monday 12th August (TOMORROW)
Heckling Masterclass, with Diploma - 21:45 at Bar 50 (The Alcove), 50 Blackfriars St, EH1 1NE
Ben Clover teaches the audience how to heckle constructively and then I do my act and they heckle me. I think. (tickets here)
Wrong Comedy - 23:00 at Globe Bar (Arch 1), Niddry Street, EH1 1LG
This is supposed to be a dark comedy show so my intention is to go in hard and not be asked back. (here’s a link but I’m not sure you can actually buy tickets in advance, just show up).
Tuesday 13th August (also 15th-17th, 19th-20th, 22nd-24th)
Adventures! Journey Through Dungeons with Dragons - 13:30 at The Three Sisters (Maggie’s Front Room), 139 Cowgate, EH1 1JS
A children’s show where we play a very simplified form of Dungeons & Dragons. If you don’t know what Dungeons & Dragons is, it’s like a videogame powered by the most amazing computer of all: a child’s soul. This is a great show because the things the little angels come out with are cray cray. Strongly recommended. You don’t need to bring a child to attend. (tickets here)
Wednesday 14th August
#1 All-Time Best Comedy Champion: War of the Flags - 19:00 at Kick Ass Cowgate (Fringe Room), 37-39 Cowgate, EH1 1JR
It’s some kind of international battle royale concept, except the country I’m representing is Generation X. I think. (tickets here)
The Prince Andrew Tate Appreciation Hour - 23:00 at Bar 50 (The Alcove)
You only need to see the poster for this show to know whether or not it’s for you; it probably is if you’re on this list. (tickets here)
Friday 16th August
1k Comedy Presents: Toby Shure and Friends – Love Ireland! - 19:30 at The Three Sisters (The Wee Room)
I will be aiding and abetting Peter Bazeley in his act of colonial violence and cultural erasure, by doing my act where I dress up as a dog and do stand-up from the point of view of a dog. Yes, Rover is back, motherfuckers! (tickets here)
Sunday 18th August
Absolute Chaos Heckle Show - 23:30 at 32 Below (Little Cellar), 32b W Nicolson St, EH8 9DD
Fuck knows why I signed up to do this. (tickets here)
That’s it so far but I’ll keep you updated.
Bonus content
I wrote a short story without using the letter ‘i’ at all for a competition:
The Ego Death of Agent Thea Claudette
It’s only short, so check it out. Writing a piece that doesn’t contain a particular letter (a lipogram) isn’t easy. Georges Perec wrote a whole novel without the letter ‘e’ called La Disparition, but obviously he wrote it in French, which is cheating. The great and very underappreciated English writer Gilbert Adair translated it into English as A Void which I recommend.
I hope my story will win the $500 first prize so I can put that towards the insane cost of going to Edinburgh.