Cowboys, puppet witches and toilet humour: joyously queer Edinburgh fringe shows

Coming-out tales, ventriloquism, a musical set in a public loo and glamorous late-night cabaret are among the festival’s uplifting LGBTQ+ showsNo one ever pays attention when you’re handed a flyer at the fringe. It’s only when I take a proper look that…

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‘It’s a zeitgeist-capturer’: climate crisis and trans rights are talk of Edinburgh festival

Walkout by authors over fossil fuel links plus controversies about identity, racism and sexism are hot topics at politically charged eventWhen Jessica Gaitán Johannesson led a mass walkout at an Edinburgh book festival event last weekend, she told the …

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Graham Linehan show staged outside Scottish parliament after second venue cancels

Makeshift outdoor show held after two venues cancel booking of comedian known for his gender-critical beliefsA comedy event featuring Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was staged in the open air outside the Scottish parliament on Thursday evening, afte…

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Graham Linehan mulls legal action against Edinburgh arts venue

Leith Arches cancelled scriptwriter’s comedy show after complaints from customersThe scriptwriter Graham Linehan is considering legal action against the Edinburgh venue that cancelled his comedy show after complaints from customers.On Tuesday morning L…

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Barry Humphries: Melbourne comedy festival says tribute is in works after criticism

Organisers exploring ‘a fitting tribute’ after friends say performer was hurt by decision to rename festival award after comments he made about trans peopleGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailThe Melbourne international comedy festival has denie…

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Julia Scotti: Funny That Way review – transgender comedian is cracking company

Uplifting documentary allows its funny, flawed and likable subject to tell the poignant story of how she came to realise who she wasIn 2016, the comedian Julia Scotti auditioned for America’s Got Talent and brought the house down. Once the applause had…

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Jay McBride to release “Daddy’s Girl” on March 17th via The Laugh Button

The Laugh Button is happy to announce its latest stand-up release from NYC-based comedian Jaye McBride. The special, Daddy’s Girl… MORE
Jay McBride to release “Daddy’s Girl” on March 17th via The Laugh Button appeared…

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Dave Chappelle attacked by man with replica gun at LA comedy festival

Incident raises further questions over comedian safety after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at OscarsThe comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked during a performance in Los Angeles, according to witnesses and videos of the incident posted online.Footage sh…

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Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Home Truths review – a comic and her country

South Street, ReadingThe standup reflects on returning to her native Wales in a show that lacks the purposefulness of her earlier campaigning routinesKiri Pritchard-McLean made her name with consciousness-raising comedy drawing on her own experiences –…

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‘I’m literally an X-Man’ – is trans comic Jordan Gray the next stage of human evolution?

She sings naked, had an epiphany chopping wood in Sweden, came out dressed as a cat, is making a sitcom with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and is helping Matt Lucas to be funny. Meet comedy powerhouse Jordan Gray‘I decided that I wanted to be a comedian o…

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