As we start yet another bumper sized Fringe, billed, in the words of its own website, as “the world’s greatest platform for artistic freedom”, I wonder if anyone ever worries that the words ‘fringe’ and ‘freedom’ are being stretched, like old knicker elastic to encompass things which just do not come within their scope. Like old knickers. Everywhere the Fringe is heavily curated. So much for freedom. And, by definition, a ‘fringe’ is the raggedy bit around the edges. 3000 shows cannot be that.
But thanks be to those who cling to the raggedy edge, who take pride in being sui generis, who risk the walkouts and the incomprehension. Who know that a headline spot on Live at the Apollo will not be theirs. Praise be to the weirdos of the Fringe. We need them, and I love them.
Pretty much all my fondest Fringe memories are of performers like Wil Hodgson – all tattoo and skinhead vibe treating us to an hour on his passion for Care Bears. I miss Wil now, but am so grateful that others remain.
The genuinely iconic Twonkey has been creating glorious, hilarious holidays away from reality for Fringe-goers for a decade or more. This year he is taking a Zip Wire to Zanzibar. The mind boggles with anticipation. The dedicatedly unsmiling Mark Dean Quinn regularly takes himself and his audience to the darker side of weird, this year, risking his personal well-being, for your edification, with every bite of the several kilos of cheese that he consumes over the course of his late night hour.
Malcolm Hardee Award winning Kunt and the Gang have returned for a relentless musical(ish) tirade of unbridled profanity and fun. I was about to say “not for the easily offended but, in truth, not for the offendable at all. Talking unbridled, and even musical(ish), the fabulous Cheekykita – a woman whose comedy has provoked more outrageous similes than you could fit onto a double-sided press release, is back.
Joining the effortlessly foul mouthed on the real Fringe, we also find Nerd Comedy (my own classification), including a return visit to the Thermos Museum (does exactly what it says in the brochure) and one man’s attempt to remember 10,000 Digits of Pi (with forfeits when he gets it wrong). It is such a joy to find these oddball intellectuals swimming in the sea of silliness that is more expectable here in August. Having said which, not all oddballs are intellectual. I refer you to be brilliantly dim Duncan Brothers. Be aware, you may find them so sweet you will want to take them home with you.
Of course, in the outer reaches of entertainment, there is always, I am delighted to say, sex. For a few years, with growing popularity, we have been advised to Ask A Stripper and this year our lovely ladies will be doubling down (no that is not a much requested position) with the Strippers’ Advice Bureau. Every day is a school day at The Fringe. Talking of which Stories from fhe Office of a Sex Dungeon (all true) promises fascinating fun from …er … top to bottom of the hour.
Please don’t judge me but I cannot wait to get to get a peek at The Foreskin Diaries. Have a look at the … er … entry, and you will be fascinated too. I have to get away from all these double entendres.
Being a bit weird is no barrier to being, quite simply, hilariously funny. Olaf Falafel is definitely what my gran would have called “a right character” but he also manages to pack more laughs into an hour than many comics do into their entire career.
But please, do go and find your own weird. These are the shows you will treasure long, long after the memories of ‘him off the telly’ doing a work in progress have faded.
You will thank me for the advice.
Even better: all the shows I have recommended here are free. But make sure you put something in the bucket on your way out. Not to do so would be just … weird.
