Daft as a Brush IT’S ON

Capital fun from Craig Ferguson’s return and Eddie Izzard’s Dickens to physical comedy and improvisation

Boom boom! The time has finally arrived for everyone’s favourite fox Basil Brush to storm the Edinburgh Fringe with little more than charm and a waistcoat. He has a children’s show early in the day, but Unleashed (Underbelly, Bristo Square, July 31 to August 25) will have the wily old entertainer riffing on everything from reality TV to the surreal nature of British politics.

There are plenty other (human) household names kicking around Edinburgh in August, including Two Doors Down’s Arabella Weir in the rather clever (if you’re a Fast Show aficionado) Does My Mum Loom Big In This? (Assembly George Square Studios, August 12 to 25), Reginald D Hunter with his Brand-New FullThroated Adventures (Pleasance Courtyard, July 31 to August 25), Clive Anderson with a one-man show entitled Me, Macbeth And I (Assembly George Square Studios, August 3 to 25).

In addition, Eddie Izzard will take on Great Expectations as only he can (Assembly George Square Studios, August 7 to 25).

Plus, there’s Fifer Daniel Sloss, now very big in America, marking his spot with X (Edinburgh Playhouse, August 15 to 17), Omid Djalili tries out some new material (The Stand’s New Town Theatre, August 3 to 10), Ed Byrne tells some home truths in If I’m Honest (Assembly Rooms, August 1 to 25), while Parks And Recreation star Nick Offerman drops in with All Rise (Assembly Hall, August 24).

He may have made America his home, but Scottish wag Craig Ferguson is returning to his Fringe roots, albeit playing in a more luxurious venue than he would have

done back in the 80s (Edinburgh Playhouse, August 11), while Pop Idol’s Michelle McManus delivers some comedy and cabaret (The Stand 3, August 2 to 25).

Last year’s victor of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, New Zealand’s Rose Matafeo, returns with a short run of that winning hour, Horndog (Pleasance Courtyard, August 20 to 24).

Other former winners include Tommy Tiernan (Gilded Balloon Teviot, August 15 to 24), Al Murray in Landlord Of Hope And Glory (Assembly George Square Gardens, August 2 to 11), Adam Riches whose show is an innovative whodunnit (Pleasance Courtyard, July 31 to August 26), Irish musical comic David O’Doherty with Ultrasound (Assembly George Square, July 31 to August 26), and Frank Skinner with his first new show in donkey’s (Assembly George Square, July 31 to August 18).

Those seeking out some potential rising stars could do worse than check out the twice Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated Ahir Shah (Monkey Barrel, August 1 to 25), Australian Alice Fraser with another of her innovative shows about truth and beauty (Gilded Balloon Teviot, July 31 to August 26), excellent musical comedy from real-life sisters Flo & Joan (Assembly George Square Gardens, August 1 to 25) and dark Canadian wit Bobby Mair (Monkey Barrel, August 1 to 26).

Insightful social comedy is on offer from Ireland’s Catherine Bohart (Pleasance Courtyard, July 31 to August 25) and spot-on rabblerousing from Garrett Millerick with Smile (Just The Tonic At The Tron, August 1 to 25).

More stars of the future include last year’s Best Newcomer winner Ciarán Dowd returning with his Don Rodolfo character (Pleasance Courtyard, July 31 to August 25), Scottish stand-up Christopher Macarthur-Boyd tears it up with Dreamboat (Gilded Balloon Teviot, July 31 to August 25), while there’s some character clowning from Courtney Pauroso (Underbelly, Cowgate, August 1 to 25).

The only female winner of the Scottish Comedian Of The Year Daisy Earl (Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, July 31 to August 26), Mash Report correspondent Desiree Burch (Heroes @ The Hive, August 1 to 25), Bathgate’s own Fern Brady (Monkey Barrel, August 1 to 25), physical comedy from Garry Starr (Underbelly, Cowgate, August 1 to 25). And cabaret duo Frisky & Mannish light up the month (Assembly George Square Gardens, August 1 to 25).

For improv, there’s the human jukebox Abandoman (Underbelly, George Square, July 31 to August 25), Austentatious create a new novel inspired by the Pride & Prejudice author (Underbelly, Bristo Square, August 16 to 25), Paul Merton’s Impro Chums (Pleasance Courtyard, August 8 to 17) the Whose Line Is It Anyway? gang (Underbelly, Bristo Square, July 31 to August 26), and US adlibbers Baby Wants Candy (Assembly George Square Studios, July 31 to August 25).