The Stand at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011
Matt Wood takes a look at the shows on offer at The Stand comedy club this August...
The Edinburgh Fringe is upon us and the line-up at The Stand - arguably Edinburgh's finest venue for comedy - is looking better than ever...
In the room that Stewart Lee said is a contender for the best venue for stand-up in the world, the line-up is tremendous. Lee himself is presenting a work in progress show which is sure to be a Fringe favourite (it's already sold out), and Richard Herring presents a live podcast recording in the afternoon, which will also be released online via this website for free (download).
Northern joy Alun Cochrane is back at The Stand. Undoubtedly boosted by his TV appearances, this time he is in the big room of Stand One. Simon Munnery is back on the Fringe due to "habit", but it's great news for us as it appears he's going back to his shambolic roots after presenting a more polished and slightly disappointing set last year.
The headliner at Stand One this year is somewhat of a surprise. After a year of musical theatre, playing in both Spamalot and Hairspray, television's Phill Jupitus (pictured) is returning to stand-up with a brand new show called Stand Down. It's sure to be popular with Fringe goers.
Stand Two, the younger and smaller sister, has a good helping of surreal comedy, firstly from the absurdist powerhouse that is Tony Law and also from the brilliant Bridget Christie who, taking a break from being an ant, will be appearing in the form of a surrealist housewife.
Full listings for Stand One & Two
Up the road in Stand Three, Andy Zaltzman's back with his refreshing snooker-based political musings, along with a second helping of political comedy from the BNP disapproved Paul Sinha. Everyone's favourite hairy Canadian Craig Campbell also returns to the Fringe, although disappointingly not with any new material but strangely squeezing his current two hour touring show into one. The Stand's reputation is also emphasised by Omid Djalili, who is choosing to present his work-in-progress show in this venue, sharing the month with Fred MacAulay.
The baby of the group, Stand Four, has some real gems this year. Wil Hodgson, winner of the newcomer award in 2004 and a man who deserves a great deal more success than he's received so far, is downsizing this year, with an afternoon show in this fifty seater venue. Also of note is the wonderfully dry and intelligently filled set of Stephen Carlin, another comedian playing this little room who should be much more widely recognised.
Excitingly for The Stand this year they have a brand new venue too: Stand Five at the Metropolitan Hotel. This new location has attracted some big hitters, including Robin Ince with Michael Legge and some pointless anger; Ava Vidal with her dry, distinctive and gritty style; Francesca Martinez with an undoubtedly firey show about the nature of being normal; and Bruce Devlin with his daily chat show switched to the night shift. But a real stand-out part of the line up is Phil Nichol (pictured) headlining this new venue. After the brilliant poetical shows of Bobby Spade, Nichol returns to his roots with a show of pure energised stand-up and comedy songs, rectifying The Stand's premier position in Edinburgh.
That all said, perhaps the highlight of The Stand's programme every year is the countless number of slightly lesser known comedians scattered liberally amongst the schedule providing the biggest variety of real alternative comedy on the Fringe. Pick a comic you've never heard of before, buy tickets and strap yourself in. You never know what you might find!
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