British Comedy Guide

2023 Edinburgh Fringe

Courtney Pauroso: Vanessa 5000

  • Comedy (absurdist / clown)
  • 9pm (60 mins)
  • 2-15 & 17-27 Aug 2023
  • Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
  • Free
Courtney Pauroso: Vanessa 5000. Courtney Pauroso
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Venue

33: Pleasance Courtyard
Room: Beneath

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Pleasance

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Recommended by Comedy.co.uk

This "demonstration of a sex robot" is an incredible physical comedy performance, but it is also full of great writing and adventurous audience interaction.


As seen on Reno 911, Key & Peele, and Jackass 4. After a sold-out run of her debut show Gutterplum in 2019, LA clown Courtney Pauroso returns as sex robot Vanessa 5000, who - over the course of her product demonstration - grows increasingly conflicted about technology, modernity and her own existence. Artificially intelligent. Genuinely stupid. ChatGPT ain't got nothing on Vanessa 5000's sweet synthetic ass. 'Flights of ridiculousness you can't believe you are seeing' (New York Times). 'Hilarious and unsettling' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Highly original and fairly strange' **** (Skinny). 'You have to see this show' **** (Scotsman).

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Reviews

Press articles

AI took the stage. Here's what happened

A clown, a comic and a computer scientist walk into the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Can AI deliver a satisfying punchline?

Katie Collins, CNET, 2nd September 2023

'Like a naughty Siri': friendly sex robot Vanessa 5000 asks audiences to test her powers

In her Edinburgh festival show, LA comic and clown Courtney Pauroso plays a latex-clad humanoid pleasure device. But are fringegoers ready to restart her?

Kate Wyver, The Guardian, 8th August 2023

Is this the future of comedy? The AI acts taking to the stage at the Edinburgh Fringe

From Courtney Pauroso's invention, Vanessa 5000, which pokes fun at the emerging technology, to improv led by AI, artificial intelligence is having an impact at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

Katie Spencer, Sky News, 7th August 2023

Courtney Pauroso on the best and worst of the festival

"Each Fringe is a little time capsule of memories, inside jokes and fun drama."

Chortle, 3rd August 2023

Courtney Pauroso returns to the Edinburgh Festival as sex robot Vanessa 5000

Raising questions of sexuality, technology, femininity, artificial intelligence and society, comedy performer Courtney Pauroso is back from LA for another season at the Fringe, this year as robot Vanessa 5000.

British Comedy Guide, 29th July 2023

Edinburgh 2023: Courtney Pauroso Q&A

BWW caught up with Courtney Pauroso to chat about bringing Vanessa 5000 to the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Natalie O'Donoghue, Broadway World, 23rd July 2023

Edinburgh Fringe 10x10: Ten shows that touch on AI

Technology might prove to be the downfall of all mankind, but here are ten Edinburgh Fringe shows featuring AI and other robots to keep you laughing as it does...

Chortle, 15th July 2023

Performances

Date Time Venue
2nd Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
3rd Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
4th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
5th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
6th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
7th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
8th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
9th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
10th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
11th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
12th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
13th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
14th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
15th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
17th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
18th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
19th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
20th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
21st Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
22nd Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
23rd Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
24th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
25th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
26th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)
27th Aug 2023 21:00 Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath)

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