Punk battle cry for freedom
0 Pussy Riot’s show is angry and articulate about the state of modern Russia
of the country to take part in the tour.
Angry and articulate, they leave us in no doubt about the urgency of their concerns about the political situation in Russia, the rise and rise of Putin, the erosion of human rights, the close ties between the Putin regime and the Orthodox Church. And the
Summerhall audience is with them every step of the way, buoyed up on the wave of noise, rallying to every battle cry.
Alyokhina’s presence is crucial, a living testimony to having endured nearly two years of prison, including hunger strikes and solitary confinement, due to an unshakable
belief in the importance of freedom. Anyone who might be tempted to take their freedom for granted will find this angry, vital performance the best possible reminder that there are many places in the world where personal choices are also political. SUSAN MANSFIELD
Until 19 August. Today 7pm..
I like my coffee white and my comedy dark and I got both at Richard Brown’s reassuringly angry show above a coffee shop on the High Street. Few comics do world-weariness, frustration, fury and beautifully articulated bitterness quite like Richard Brown. He asks questions that make even the smuggest of the woke squirm. And only Stewart Lee can package bile so beautifully.
After a pointless attack on observational comics, he gets into his stride and his hour is like a comedy version of a Game of Thrones battlefield with Brown as Drogon simply aiming his fire at whom he choses: Lena Dunham and easily offended young people, the Winter Olympics, New Zealand, dietary fads, Michael Caine and the “revelations” around #Metoo.
He ruthlessly skewers our selfish attitudes to reports of icons being revealed as monsters and it is very funny because it is very true. I don’t know why he has it in for observational comics, he is an absolutely brilliant one when he decides to be. If you do not mind your comics a bit sweary and possessed of an unslakeable anger then Richard Brown is the comic for you. And I still cannot find an answer to The Lost Prophets Question…
KATE COPSTICK
Until 26 August. Today 7:30pm.