It’s (finally) sweltering, we’re firmly into school holiday time (which is fundamentally a mindset that everyone takes with them into adulthood, yes?) and it’s 31st July which can only mean one thing – Edinburgh Fringe Festival Time Baby!! August’s gig guide is exclusively (and hopelessly) devoted to Edinburgh Show recommendations from your friendly Funny Women Team – we’ve got it all, from fresh debut stand up acts to fantastic seasoned pros, with some variety thrown in for good measure – all lined up with dates, location and times like a practical and logistical love note. So strap in, read on, and bag a ticket or two.
1. FRINGE DEBUTS
© Hannah Platt, Abi Clarke
HANNAH PLATT: DEFENCE MECHANISM
Thurs 1-25 Aug @ 8:10 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker Two
Funny Women finalist 2023 Hannah Platt brings her fantastically dry humour and questions such as ‘Are you really a people pleaser if no one is pleased?’ to Edinburgh this year. Her debut hour show has been so far nominated Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival, and she’s also a BBC New Comedy Awards Finalist and seen on BBC3 and heard on BBC Radio 4. If that’s not enough to convince you, I don’t know what is
You can nab your tickets here!
ABI CLARKE: (ROLE) MODEL
Thurs 1-11, 13-25 Aug @ 7:40 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Beneath
You might know Abi Clarke from her viral Tik Tok videos in lockdown (including the colourful characters that make up ASOS HQ), and has since risen to superstardom online. Clarke brings her debut stand up hour show to the Fringe this year and frankly, you would be silly to miss. As seen on Comedy Central, Channel 4 and ITV2.
You can nab your tickets here!
© Katie Norris, Katie Green
KATIE NORRIS: FARM FATALE
Thurs 1-13, 15-25 Aug @ 8:30 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Below
Katie Norris bagged first place in the Musical Comedy Awards in 2023, which gives an indication of her talent and style of comedy (…musical and really very good). Norris conveys a hyper feminine self-confidence similar to that of Cat Cohen – self-assured, fame-fatale-esque, and seamless. You can read our review of the Musical Comedy Awards here.
You can grab your tickets here!
KATIE GREEN: AY MIJA!
Weds 31 July – 25 Aug @ 9:35 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Baby Grand
A Funny Women alum (Award Finalist 2020), Katie Green’s feel-good brand of comedy covers identity, terrible dating choices and throwing the best party ever. Previous tour support for Jonathan Van Ness and seen on Comedy Central Live, you can catch Green’s much anticipated debut hour at the Pleasance this year.
You can grab your tickets here!
©Amy Mason, Dee Allum
AMY MASON: FREE MASON
Weds 31 July-26 Aug @ 8:00 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Cellar
Another Funny Women alum (Award Finalist 2017) Amy Mason’s straight-faced satirical humour is very hard not to find funny – you may know some of her million-hit Tik Toks about the 4 types of Bristol Mums already. Mason’s debut show covers coming out in your 30s, encountering homophobes and the struggles of parenting.
You can grab your tickets here!
DEE ALLUM: DEADNAME
Thurs 1-12, 14-25 Aug @ 4:30 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Below
Dee Allum’s affable stand up comedy is a must see – seen on Comedy Central Live and as a finalist on BBC New Comedy Awards, Allum’s show covers reconciling with the past, coming out and the joys of going through two puberties (ha!)
You can grab your tickets here!
© Amy Annette, Sophie Duker
AMY ANNETTE: THICK SKIN
Thurs 1-25 Aug @ 4:25 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker Two
Funny Women Industry Award winner 2023, Amy Annette brings her stand up debut show to The Pleasance this month, and I for one can’t wait. Expect quick wit, storytelling and downright hilarity.
Grab your tickets here!
2. FRINGE TOUR SHOWS
SOPHIE DUKER: BUT DADDY I LOVE HER
Thurs 1-13, 15-25 Aug @ 7:00 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Cabaret Bar
The legendary Sophie Duker, AKA: series thirteen champion of Taskmaster, Funny Women Awards finalist, Live at the Apollo alum, is back with a brand spanking new debut hour. Beg borrow or steal a ticket to this show, you shan’t regret it.
You can grab your ticket here
©Patti Harrison, Hannah Gadsby
PATTI HARRISON: MY HUGE TITS HUGE BECAUSE THEY ARE INFECTED NOT FAKE
Thurs 1-11 Aug @ 7:30 PM, Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance One
Patti Harrison’s telly and film credits include: Shrill, I Think You Should Leave with Tom Robinson, and Big Mouth, so it’s safe to say she’s a big deal. As you may be able to tell from the title, Harrison’s brand of comedy is less traditional stand up and more surrealist mischief with some filth, songs and rants thrown in.
You can find tickets here!
HANNAH GADSBY: WOOF!
Sun 18-25 Aug @ 5:20 PM, Underbelly, Bristo Square – McEwan Hall
Obviously (probably hopefully) you have heard of legendary Hannah Gadsby, Edinburgh Award winner 2017 with Nannette, which went on to sell out internationally, be put on Netflix and then win an Emmy, Gadsby is back at the Fringe this year with a brand new show, covering everything from the irrelevant to the existential, in classic Gadsby fashion. So naturally, it’s called Woof. This show is not to be missed.
You can nab your tickets here!
© Rose Matafeo, Chloe Petts
ROSE MATAFEO: ON AND ON AND ON
Fri 9-16, 18-25 Aug @ 5:30 PM, Pleasance Courtyard – Forth
Creator and star of star-crossed lovers sit-com Starstruck and winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2018 with her show Horndog, Matafeo is hilarious, telly mainstream and a big deal (royalty really). Need I say more?
You can nab your tickets here!
CHLOE PETTS: HOW YOU SEE ME HOW YOU DON’T
Thurs 1-13, 15-25 Aug @ 7:00 PM, Pleasance Courtyard – Forth
Not only was Chloe Petts’ 2023 Fringe show If You Can’t Say Anything Nice completely sold out and nominated for the Award, she’s also appeared on Hypothetical, Pointless Celebrities, and co-founded the LOL word – a collective of queer, non-binary comedians. The question how Petts has had time to do all this comes to mind. But also, so does the question: where can I get a ticket?
You can nab your tickets here!
© Lou Wall, Erika Ehler
LOU WALL: THE BISEXUAL’S LAMENT
Weds 31 July, 1-14, 16-25 Aug @ 12:00 PM, Pleasance Courtyard – Beneath
Melbourne based comic Lou Wall returns to the Fringe this year, where you can expect Wall’s characteristic combination of comedy songs, multi media (incredible power point-ery, if I do say so myself), all packaged in a ludicrously fast paced power hour. You can read our (5 star) review of Wall’s 2023 show Lou Wall Vs The Internet here.
You can nab your tickets here!
ERIKA EHLER: I GOT SOME DOPE ASS MEMORIES WITH PEOPLE THAT I’LL NEVER F*** WITH AGAIN
Thurs 1-25 Aug @ 6:10 PM, Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive) – Hive 2
Ehler’s dead pan delivery, quick wit and blue humour will quite frankly have you in bits. She tows the line in a way that leaves you squriming and laughing, thinking ‘I’m allowed to laugh at this right?’ Seen on Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Comedians Giving Lectures and Comedy Central Live, don’t miss this stand up comedian’s debut hour of stand up
You can nab your tickets here!
3. FRINGE VARIETY SHOWS:
© Natalie Palamides, Emma Sidi
NATALIE PALAMIDES: WEER
Mon 5-11, 13-18, 20-25 August @ 9:30 PM, Traverse Theatre – Traverse 1
Edinburgh Comedy Award best Newcomer 2017, clown and character comedian Natalie Palamides performs her new show Weer this year, which follows the story of 2 lovers (both played by Palamides), on what will be their last day together on June 19th 1999.
Nab a ticket here!
EMMA SIDI: IS SUE GRAY
Thurs 1-6, 8-13, 15-16, 18-25 Aug @ 4:15 PM, Pleasance Courtyard – Upstairs
Actor, writer, comedian and character comic, with previous credits including Starstruck, Stath Lets Flats and Ghosts, Emma Sidi brings her newest (and 4th) character comedy show to Edinburgh. With politician anecdotes and some hilarious flirty email back and forth, Sue Gray is a hilarious addition to Sidi’s character roster.
Grab your tickets here!
© Lorna Rose Treen
LORNA ROSE TREEN: SKIN PIGEON
Weds 31 July – 12 August @ 9:50 PM, Pleasance Dome – 10 Dome
Unique character comedian Lorna Rose Treen (Dave’s Joke Of The Fringe winner 2023, Best Newcomer Chortle 2023 and finally and most importantly Funny Women Award winner 2022) brings her sold out 2023 Fringe show Skin Pigeon back this year. Expect 9-year-old Brownie girl guide and a Richard-Curtis-Movie Female Protagonist. You can read our review of Treen’s hour here.
Grab your tickets here!
