Comedy: on your marks…
Fill your boots with treats as Brighton Fringe opens its doors.
OMG – it’s actually starting this week! The Brighton Fringe and the Brighton Festival are kicking off this weekend and the possibilities of entertainment are veritably overflowing with variety and potential.
We are lucky enough to have a whole array of talented comics in this town already, but this is a chance for them to shine and luxuriate with a full hour (or half hour) of material that’s purely them – more intellect and funny and less crowd-grappling. Under this umbrella you’ll find plenty of quality, from the magnificent Zoe Lyons (as seen on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow), to Sam Savage (Funny’s Funny winner 2013), James McDonnell (Musical Comedy Awards quarter finalist 2015), and other talented folk currently residing in the BN postcode. Must be something in the water.
However, it’s also worth looking out for a few shows that break the mold and come from further afield. Miss Behave’s Gameshow is returning for a short run over at The Marlborough Theatre, and Guruguru promises much (a lot of it a tantalising surprise) over at The Warren. I caught Miss Behave’s Gameshow last time it visited and the closest thing I can liken it to is 70s weekend TV sensation Tiswas, but without the annoying TV screen stopping you from joining in.
Plays are also worth exploring if you’re out looking for a laugh, as is cabaret, and sketch shows. Broaden your search criteria and you broaden your mind. Point & Shoot, Sh*t-Faced Shakespeare and Hurricane Michael have all piqued my interest mixing narrative with laughter, while the Beta Males and Do You Mind offer interesting sketch ideas.
Plus (and who can forget!) it’s the General Election next week. Fancy a little help deciding who to vote for? Then why not pick one of the handily located satirical shows you’ll find at the Komedia, the Rialto and scattered throughout the Laughing Horse Comedy programme. You know, to liven up those dull and forgettable (especially by politicians, it would seem) manifestos.
To be honest, there’s loads to pick from and you don’t need to break the bank on tickets. Mix up free shows with higher cost tickets, maybe stay in the room after your show’s finished and just take a punt on what’s coming up next in that venue, and widen your cultural experience. It’s what a Fringe and Festival are for, after all. www.brightonfringe.org
