Gein’s Family Giftshop | Mon 4 Jul | 7.30pm | FREE
There’s never too much to cheer about on a Monday evening. Especially now even the distraction of a football tournament is down to just three more sporadic games, but once a month comedy non more dark aims to brighten up the dawn of a new week. Gein’s Family Giftshop are quite frankly sensational. Intelligent, honest and razor sharp sketches play out with all manner of social commentary hidden behind Northern accents and references to blood and bumholes. It’s a free night of excellent sketch comedy plus a chance to see Kiri Pritchard-McLean’s new Edinburgh show. Monday’s are the best.
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Sofie Hagen | The Pub/Zoo | Tue 5 Jul | 7.30pm | £5/3
Winner of best newcomer at last year’s Fringe, the Danish Westlife erotic fiction writer and stand up comedian is a hot pick for this year’s fest and perhaps even the big prize. Sofie’s seeringly honest accounts of her life as a depressive teen obsessed with the Irish boy band was simply one of the best shows of last year and so much is expected of her follow up, initially entitled ‘Poop’ but now going by the less scatological ‘Shimmer Shatter’. Hagen is excellent company for an hour and leaves you wanting to spend so much more time listening to her.
www.wegottickets.com

Steve Bugeja (pictured) | The Castle Hotel | Tue 5 Jul | 7.30pm | FREE
Another of the comedy scene’s rising stars, Steve Bugeja had one of the best reviewed shows of last year’s Fringe and here he replays that story ‘Day Release’ and his new hour ‘Unpronounceable’, all for FREE. A fantastic writer and performer his debut show seemed almost like a Richard Curtis romantic comedy without all those insufferable upper middle class folks, and there are high hopes for his follow up.
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Norris & Parker | 3MT | Wed 6 Jul | 8pm | £7
Yet another Edinburgh preview as August rears its terrifying head, as part of the Greater Manchester Fringe dark sketch and song duo Norris & Parker launch their follow up to last year’s successful ‘All Our Friends Are Dead’ with yet more of a bleak outlook in ‘See You At The Gallows’. The pair have an unmistakable rapport that veers between love and hate, but mostly hate. A terrifying joy to watch.
www.ticketea.co.uk

Cheekykita | 3MT | Fri 8 Jul | 7.30pm | £8/5
The finalist of the prestigious ‘Funny Women’ competition Cheekykita looks like a Kaidan that has escaped the television set in Ringu, only to make your face contort with laughter rather than ghost murder. This clown has a mind full of characters and with this Edinburgh preview invites you to spend time with the unhinged inhabitants of Tittitutar town. A sprawling cast of weirdos and oddballs this is one for the stranger comedy fans out there.
www.threeminutetheatre.co.uk

Mon 4 Jul - Fri 8 Jul
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Mon 4 Jul 2016