Pat Cahill | The Pub/Zoo | Tue 24 May | 7pm | £5/3
Before it’s Edinburgh Fringe Preview season kicks off in earnest XS Malarkey welcome one of the big hits of last year’s festival in Pat Cahill with a ‘mini-preview’. In last year’s ‘Panjandrum’ he mixed old war songs with new age nonsense to great effect, Cahill comes across as your hilarious and weird pal that you’ve managed to finally get on stage and the result is often glorious, and always frightfully inventive.
www.wegottickets.com

Brennan Reece | The Kings Arms | Wed 25 May | 7.30pm | FREE
Fresh off the back of a ludicrously successful tour of Australia and its various comedy festivals with his newly crowned status as ‘English Comedian of the Year’ Brennan Reece now launches a steam attack on the Scottish capital with his first hour long show. Impossibly likeable and very quick witted, Reece goes a long way to making millenials palatable as he explains his close family upbringing and his romantic misadventures with awkward delight. Catch him now whilst he’s still doing a free show.
@BrennanReece

The Invisible Dot | The Opera House | Thu 26 May | 7.30pm | £22-38
For all those that missed out on Adam Buxton when he did his two night Bowie tribute stint at The Albert Hall last month there’s another chance to see ol’ Buckles himself as he headlines this ace night from London comedy powerhouse The Invisible Dot. Also along for the ride are sardonic poet laureate Tim Key, cock rock enthusiast Nick Helm and mistress of ceremonies Aisling Bea. Any of which would be worth seeing on their own this is an embarrassment of riches for comedy fans. See our full preview.
www.theinvisibledot.com

Mark Steel | The Lowry | Thu 26 May | 8pm | £18
In this none more personal story Mark Steel goes through his own history starting with his adoption and subsequent search for his birth mother. In ‘Who do I Think I Am’ Mark takes a look at the nature of parenthood and his own amazing story that casts a light on a man best known for his work on Radio 4 and television. For comedy with a lot of heart, look no further than Steel’s tour de force.
www.thelowry.com

Craig Campbell | The Lowry | Fri 27 May | 8pm | £18
Not quite so personal but no less an impressive storyteller Canadian comic Craig Campbell sets his latest show at base camp of Everest. A highly acclaimed globetrotting comedian Campbell’s adventurous style echoes his real life travails and makes for pant wettingly funny stuff. So much so that at a recent show a woman’s water broke whilst laughing so hard. So maybe steer clear if you’re in your third trimester. Or have a particularly weak bladder.
www.thelowry.com

Mon 23 May - Fri 27 May
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Sun 22 May 2016