Liverpool on the Edinburgh Fringe

Heading up to the Edinburgh Festival? If you find yourself getting homesick, check out eleven of the best Liverpool talents who you'll find all over the show at a range of free and ticketed venues around the city. Anyone interesting we've missed? Leave a comment and let us know. 

JOLLYBOAT: NOT SEEN ON TV

Musical comedians and pirate fans Jollyboat are an established presence on the Fringe these days, and will be performing their latest show – complete with Disney Star Wars puppet show – at the Base Nightclub until August 24. They’ll be doing all sorts of other bits and bobs while they're there as well, including taking part in the Musical Comedy Awards, of which they are past winners. Check jollyboat.co.uk to find them and find MADEUP's review of the preview show here. 

SILKY: IT WAS THIS SHOW OR HAVE KIDS

“Laughing in the correct place avoids awkwardness all round”, says the blurb for our own Silky’s second full Edinburgh show (only second?). The Crosby-born, Leeds-based veteran comic is at the Stand Comedy Club II from today (August 10) until the 25th. More info here, and here he is in an ancient clip that brings a saucy new meaning to a currently topical phrase. 

THE GOBLIN MARKET

It's not all comedy on the Fringe. Liverpool University Drama Society take their adaptation of Christina Rossetti’s racy fairytale poem to the Surgeon’s Hall next week, having previously previewed segments of the show in the Kazimier Gardens. For more information, see edfringe.com. 

LEGION OF DOOM: SKETCHPOCOLYPSE NOW

Sketch trio Legion of Doom have whipped the best material of their last three Edinburgh shows and their monthly Mello Mello night into a comedy melee that is well worth a look see. Catch them at Why Not? on George Street from tomorrow (August 11) until the 24th, and read MADEUP's review of the preview show here. 

1000 SUNS

Gaffball Productions, a new company spearheaded by second year LIPA student Rhys Chamberlain, is taking this version of the, erm, post-apocolyptic folk musical to the Fringe with an 18 strong cast and crew in tow. He says: “It’s my first big production but I’ve got lots of support from my family and I’ve got a great cast and crew. It’s big and we stand to lose a lot. It could also be a hit at the Fringe; that’s the aim. Either way, though, the experience we’ll gain will be incredible. The atmosphere is amazing up there.” Find them at thespace@ the Surgeon’s Hall from August 12 to 24. 

SAM AVERY: ROCK 'N' DOLE (pictured, top)

By Jove, he's done it. One of Liverpool's top stand ups has finally taken his first full show up to Edinburgh after a few years of perfecting it at our own comedy festival. Rock 'n' Dole is the brilliant tale of Sam's teenage years as a member of Maghull's most famous export, 90s metal band DBH. A coming of age tale boosted with anecdotes of double page spreads in Kerrang! and touring with Motorhead, it's probably one of the best stand up shows to come from the city in recent times. Catch him at Opium as part of the Free Fringe (more info here). 

ROSIE WILBY: IS MONOGAMY DEAD?

London-based Rosie is actually from Aughton, so she makes the list. A stand up and musical comedian, with Is Monogamy Dead? she returns to a tried and tested formula of using science and research to back up her arguments about love and romance. She's at the Assembly Halls from today (August 10) until the 25th. 

JOE MUNROW: JAZZ MONKEY

Joe is a Liverpool playwright as well as stand up; his work includes the family melodrama Held, about two brothers caring for their mother with dementia, that premiered at the Playhouse Studio last year. But in Scotland, it's all about the lulz, and you'll catch him on the Free Fringe at Laughing Horse at the Three Sisters, with this new show about finding his comedy voice.

THE BRIEF AFTERLIFE OF REGINALD TANNER

A new show from Liverpool fringe company Shiny New, a solid performance from Alex Pardy excuses the plot holes in this entertaining satire of sorts about a man bought back to life after an embarrassing accident as part of a government initiative to privatise death. On at Cafe Camino until August 24, read the MADEUP preview review here. 

BEATING McENROE

Jamie Wood isn’t a Scouser but we’ll claim him anyway. A long-time collaborator with our own Spike Theatre, his solo show Beating McEnroe received its UK premiere at the Physical Fest this year. The show takes us back to the Wimbledon mens' final of 1981, and is described by Jamie as "about being a younger brother and a bad loser, about beating ourselves up for failing to live up to our youthful aspirations". He's at Summerhall for only a handful of shows from August 12 to 16. More info here. 

DOUG SEGAL: I CAN MAKE YOU A MENTALIST

Another performer with a Spike link, this show by comedy mindreader Doug Segal was directed by the Liverpool company’s artistic director and JMU lecturer Mark Smith. Doug performed some low key previews in the city to test out the material earlier in the year. He's at the Guilded Balloon Teviot until August 26.