From rubbish magicians to rude thespians, the pick of Edinburgh’s comedy is heading our way
THE bins may have been overflowing because of the strike by refuse workers but Edinburgh was also overflowing with laughs this summer. The Festival Fringe had everything, from magic shows going pear-shaped to transgender superheroes. Now the cream of the crop is coming south. Here’s the pick of the bunch.
Thanyia Moore
The former hip-hop dance champion doesn’t stress too much about having themes to her shows, she just wants to concentrate on being funny. Expect stories about growing up in New Cross and sky diving for a TV programme. Moore is joined by guests for her September special.
• Soho Theatre, W1, Sept 3. Also full solo show, Nov 24-26. sohotheatre.com 020 7478 0100
Joz Norris
Before the pandemic, Norris had been carving out a reputation for intriguing experimental shows. In Blink he plays an arrogant magician whose tricks keep letting him down. Go for the rabbit in a hat, stay for the existential crisis.
• Soho Theatre, W1, Sept 12-15.
Liam Farrelly
This skilful young Glaswegian storyteller might as well get used to being called the next Kevin Bridges because he is going to hear it a lot in the coming years. He is that good.
• Soho Theatre, W1, Sept 16 and 17.
Jordan Gray
Full-frontal entertainment from transgender comedian Gray. You might remember her from The Voice back in 2016, but she is reborn here in Is It A Bird? as a phenomenal package of singer/songwriter and stand-up.
• Soho Theatre, W1, Sept 19-Oct 1.
Stewart Lee
Last time, this comedian’s comedian performed two different shows back-to-back on the same night. Now he is returning to a one-showone-man-one-mic (plus another mic backstage in case the first one breaks) format for this stripped down stand-up show, Basic Lee. • Leicester Square Theatre, WC2, Sept 20-Dec 17. leicestersquaretheatre.com, 020 7734 2222.
Sikisa
Immigration lawyer by day, comedian by night, this Londoner’s full-length debut, Life of the Party, recreates the ultimate house party onstage. And Sikisa is the perfect host, sharing vivid tales of her family and friends.
• Soho Theatre, W1, Sept 22-24.
Leo Reich
This year’s Fringe breakout star, without doubt. Nobody captures the tone of the self-fixated Gen Z twentysomething with as much hilarity. Some might see his narcissistic persona as a zippy zeitgeist send-up, younger fans might view it as fly-on-on-the-wall reality. Either way, Reich will go far.
• Soho Theatre, W1, Oct 10-15.
Colin Hoult
Hoult, who you may recognise from Ricky Gervais’s After Life, has been playing spoof thespian Anna Mann for a few years but hits the sweet spot in this show where she reminisces about her years on the stage, drops names of showbiz chums and insults audiences for poor taste in trousers. • Soho Theatre, W1, Oct 11-15.