Comedy: Brighton Fringe

Victoria Nangle looks at some of the comedy highlights of this year’s Fringe

OMG! Brighton Fringe starts next week. It feels like only last month that we had creatives offering up fab shows in every nook and cranny that could house one around Brighton and Hove, and now it’s come back again, with even more venues filled to overflowing with original, remarkable and hysterical shows.

On the comedy side of things – which, let’s face it, is what we’re interested in – there are big names, small names, and medium names with buzzes all around them implying they may be getting big any moment now. From the collection of more established acts there are solo shows from the delectable Isy Suttie (as seen in C4’s Peep Show as Dobby), the bonkers Susan ‘The Calminator’ Calman (as heard all over BBC Radio 4), fab Phil Kay (as seen on BBC2’s QI etc) and brainy Helen Keen (BBC3 and C4) all listed in the Fringe brochure. Not forgetting the smorgasbord of regular treats on at Krater this month, including Nick Helm, Carl Donnelly, Mark Olver and our favourite, Stephen Grant.

For those of us on a tight budget, the word ‘donations’ next to a show cost can brighten your day. With this in mind – and a fascination with giants – I’m looking forward to catching 6 Foot Silly, a double header with Mark Diamond and Darren Walsh, as well as Lou Sanders’ new show A Nice Evening With Wallan, and the good friends of Sarah Millican that are Hanks & Conran, a female double act that have been hitting the Manchester comedy scene with a bit of force. All in that very affordable bracket, but equally ones to watch out for as they start to ruffle a few feathers.

Other random favourites that have returned to Brighton include the award-winning Crimes Against Humanities Teachers, bright hip young thing Chris Mayo, a double-header of award-winning female comics Sajeela Kershi and Suzy Bennett in Funny Fillies, musical frolics with Horse & Louis and frankly much more. Plus there’s the regular shows in Brighton getting that Fringe twist.

I frankly can’t wait to see what joys The Humble Quest For Universal Genius turns up as Mark Allen bravely takes the helm of that brilliant ship of fools in this most anarchic of times. Plus there’s Pappy’s, The Great Puppet Horn, Jimeoin and Mark Steel returning to the seaside.

So, pick your shows now and mark them in your diary. Or before you know it, it will be the Brighton Fringe 2013 and you’ll be hovering over a brand new brochure all over again.

Brighton Fringe 2012, Saturday 5–Sunday 27 May, 01273 709709, www.brightonfringe.org