Australians at Edinburgh Fringe 2022

The 75th Edinburgh Fringe Festival begins this week and, after a bit of an enforced break, there will be a strong contingent of Australian acts (as well as Aussie Expats and adopted Aussies) back in Auld Reeky town raring to tread the boards again. Here is a list of those we could find along with any reviews we have previously written.

Our British Correspondent Ron will be seeing a whole slew of shows and reviewing them for us.

To all those performers in Edinburgh, Chookas from The Squirrels and have a wonderful Fringe.

Adam Knox, Luka Muller and Peter Jones – 3’s Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3-s-comedy-adam-knox-luka-muller-and-peter-jones

 

 

 

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars (Sean Choolburra, Janty Blair, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aboriginal-comedy-allstars

 

 

 

AC/DC: Australian Comedians / Dope Comedy (Hosted by Daniel Muggleton)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ac-dc-australian-comedians-dope-comedy

 

 

 

Adelaide vs Edinburgh: The Clash of the Fringes
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adelaide-vs-edinburgh-the-clash-of-the-fringes

 

 

 

Adults Only Magic Show (Sam Hume and Justin Williams)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adults-only-magic-show

 

 

 

Aidan Jones – Looking for Work
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-jones-looking-for-work

 

 

 

 

Aidan Jones – Taco
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-jones-taco

 

 

 

 

Alcohol Is Good For You
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alcohol-is-good-for-you

 

 

 

 

Alice Fraser: Chronos
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alice-fraser-chronos

 

 

 

 

Ange Lavoipierre: I’ve Got 99 Problems and Here’s an Exhaustive List of Them
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ange-lavoipierre-i-ve-got-99-problems-and-here-s-an-exhaustive-list-of-them

 

 

The Anniversary (Claire Barthomew & Daniel Tobias)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anniversary

 

 

 

Anthony Jeannot: The Middle Bit
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anthony-jeannot-the-middle-bit

 

 

 

 

An Aussie, African and Englishman Walk Into a Bar…
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aussie-african-and-englishman-walk-into-a-bar

 

 

 

Beak: Cocktail Boys (previously part of Burger King Illuminati)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/beak-cocktail-boys

 

 

 

 

Best of Adelaide’s Fringe Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/best-of-adelaide-s-fringe-comedy

 

 

 

 

A Bookish Comedy Show
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bookish-comedy-show

 

 

 

 

Comedy Boxing
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-boxing

 

 

 

 

Comedy Hour: Prue Blake, Peter Jones and Sonia Di Iorio
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-hour-prue-blake-peter-jones-and-sonia-di-iorio

 

 

 

Comedy Striptease (Hosted by Kyle Legacy)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-striptease

 

 

 

Dan Rath: Cockroach Party
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dan-rath-cockroach-party

 

 

 

 

Dan Wills: Australia: A Whinging Pom’s Guide
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/australia-a-whinging-pom-s-guide

 

 

 

Daniel Muggleton: Oh, More Mr White Guy?
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-muggleton-oh-more-mr-white-guy

 

 

 

Danielle Walker: Nostalgia
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/danielle-walker-nostalgia

Here is what Bren Carruthers thought of it at MICF 2022: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=15297

 

David Boyle: Stranded
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stranded

 

 

 

 

Dean Misdale: Life’s a Drag
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/life-s-a-drag

 

 

 

 

Dolly Diamond’s Hi T
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-diamond-s-hi-t

 

 

 

 

Dolly Diamond’s Bosom Buddies
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-diamond-s-bosom-buddies

 

 

 

 

Erin Fowler: EGG
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/egg

 

 

 

 

The Eric Tinker Experience
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/eric-tinker-experience

 

 

 

 

Gabbi Bolt: I Hope My Keyboard Doesn’t Break
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gabbi-bolt-i-hope-my-keyboard-doesn-t-break

 

 

 

Garry Starr: Greece Lightning
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/garry-starr-greece-lightning

 

 

 

 

George Dimarelos – 3am Brain
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3am-brain

 

 

 

 

Geraldine Quinn: BROAD
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/geraldine-quinn-broad

 

 

 

 

Grant Busé: SentiMENTAL!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/grant-buse-sentimental

 

 

 

 

Haus Party with Otto & Astrid
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/haus-party-with-otto-astrid

 

 

 

 

He Huang : Crazy Broken Chinese
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/crazy-broken-chinese

 

 

 

 

How to Converse
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/how-to-converse

 

 

 

 

Matt Harvey : I Got Bit by a Monkey Once
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-got-bit-by-a-monkey-once

Here’s what Peter Newling thought of this show at MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13806

 

The Importance of Being Earnest as Performed by Three F*cking Queens and a Duck
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/importance-of-being-earnest-as-performed-by-three-f-cking-queens-and-a-duck

 

 

Jimeoin: The Craic!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jimeoin-the-craic

 

 

 

 

Josh Glanc: Vrooom Vrooom
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/josh-glanc-vrooom-vrooom

 

 

 

 

Karen from Finance is Out of Office
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/karen-from-finance-is-out-of-office

 

 

 

 

Late Show Great Show (Featuring 3 mystery Australian comedians!)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/late-show-great-show

 

 

 

Laura Davis: If This Is It
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/laura-davis-if-this-is-it

 

 

 

 

Liars and Clowns: A Late Night Comedy Show (Presented by Kyle Dolan)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/liars-and-clowns-a-late-night-comedy-show

 

 

 

Life Drawing With a Comedian
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/life-drawing-with-a-comedian

 

 

 

 

The Listies: Hamlet – Prince of Skidmark
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/listies-hamlet-prince-of-skidmark

 

 

 

 

Lloyd Langford: DILF
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lloyd-langford-dilf

 

 

 

 

Maryellen : Call Me Me
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/call-me-me

 

 

 

 

Michelle Brasier: Average Bear
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/michelle-brasier-average-bear

Here’s what Lisa Clark though of it at MICF 2022: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=14941

 

Mick Neven: Nevolution
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mick-neven-nevolution

 

 

 

 

Nikki Britton: One Small Step
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nikki-britton-one-small-step

 

 

 

 

Oliver Coleman: Sublime
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/oliver-coleman-sublime

 

 

 

 

Olivia McLeod: PASH
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/pash

 

 

 

 

OZmosis: The Great Australian Variety Pack  (Hosted by Dane Simpson)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ozmosis-the-great-australian-variety-pack

 

 

 

Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/randy-feltface-alien-of-extraordinary-ability

 

 

 

Ray Badran: Sweet Baby Ray
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ray-badran-sweet-baby-ray

 

 

 

 

Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/reuben-kaye-the-butch-is-back

 

 

 

 

Rhys Nicholson – Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-rhys-rhys-rhys

 

 

 

 

Sam Campbell: Comedy Show
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-campbell-comedy-show

 

 

 

 

Sam Taunton: Yoho Diabolo
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-taunton-yoho-diabolo

 

 

 

 

Tim Ogborne : The In-Laws
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/in-laws

 

 

 

 

Tina del Twist: Caravan in the Sky
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tina-del-twist-caravan-in-the-sky

 

 

 

 

Tom Walker: Javelin
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-walker-javelin

 

 

 

 

Troy Kinne : Live
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/troy-kinne-live

5 Good reasons to see Clare Bartholomew & Daniel Tobias: The Anniversary

1) Clare & Daniel are known for creating the loudest rock band at MICF (Die Roten Punkte), but this year they’re hardly saying a word!

2) The Anniversary is one of the few comedies in the theatre genre for MICF and is being performed in the beautiful Beckett Theatre at Malthouse, it’s a theatre comedy sandwich!

3) There are fake stabby knives galore!

4) They’re a multi award winning team who’ve toured the world with their irreverent brand of comedy.

5) The show involves a party! Who doesn’t want to come to a physical comedy slapstick party?!

Clare Bartholomew & Daniel Tobias perform The Anniversary at The Malthouse Mar 31 – Apr 17

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/the-anniversary

Josh Earl and Daniel Tobias – Josh Earl’s Festival

By Colin Flaherty
Josh Earls Fest

Josh Earl’s Festival condenses spending a day at a music festival into an hour using songs, sketches and even interpretive dance. It is at times nostalgic, derisive, kooky and hilarious. All that’s missing is the dirt/mud, sweat and Tinnitus.

Josh Earl and Daniel Tobias (and a mystery guest) do a brilliant job in lampooning all aspects of the music festival experience. From the quirks of the eccentric performers (an indecipherable Dylan-esque song was especially brilliant) to the annoying punters you encounter (I still don’t understand the recent phenomenon of dudes wearing flag capes!) to the frustrating logistics of a large event, all of their targets are hit perfectly.

Structured as a series of vignettes, Earl navigates the site while keeping in contact with his friends by phone. Each call provides a cue for an amusing song involving an act on one of the festival stages. A number of musical genres are sent up including young indie bands in over their heads, anonymous DJs, poorly treated female acts and poe-faced serious artists. All the songs are distinctive Josh Earl songs, even when Tobias is singing, but don’t rely so heavily on the densely spoken lyrics Earl is known for. These tunes aren’t parodies of specific songs instead they make fun of the situations the characters find themselves in using an appropriate musical style and plenty of witty ideas.

Earl plays the downtrodden festival punter perfectly with his beautifully escalating exchanges with characters presented in voiceover. Tobias is always up for dressing up, so he dons many wacky outfits to portray a number of larger than life creations. Josh Earl’s Festival is a brilliant showcase for their years of musical comedy experience and radiant talent.

The audience on this night unfortunately lacked energy for the extravaganza that Josh and Daniel have created. These punters paid attention and laughed at the right places but didn’t really liven up until some Flaming Lips styled audience interaction at the end. This theatrical production put some distance between the characters and the audience even though we could relate to the situations. This was amplified by the polite seated theatre set up, the lack of excessive volume and a noticeably older crowd (possibly some of Josh’s ABC fans).

This is a fun and hilarious piece of theatre about a collective experience which many are nostalgic for or still look forward to every summer, it deserves a big crowd of music comedy fans ready to have a ball. This is one festival within a festival you should attend.

Josh Earl’s Festival is on at Malthouse Theatre (The Tower) until April 23
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/josh-earl-s-festival-1

RECOMMENDED AND PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED SHOWS AT MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2017

By Lisa Clark & Colin Flaherty

The 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back bigger than ever and the Squirrels are here to help you chose which shows to spend your money and time on. There are shows that we have already seen and also some intriguing shows that have piqued our interest.

PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED

A number of MICF shows have run prior to the festival and we have already reviewed some of these. We’ll give the usual disclaimer that Festival shows are ever evolving beasts, so the show’s we have covered may have undergone changes (hopefully for the better!) since we saw them.

Alanta Colley Parasites Lost

Alanta Colley
Alanta Colley

Lisa reviewed her at the 2016 Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10549

You can book at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/parasites-lost

Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night

This is Lisa’s review from last year: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9937

Book your tickets at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/ali-mcgregor

ApocOlympics

Here’s Colin’s review from the 2016 Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10580

Booking details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/apocolympics

Cindy Salmon’s Empowerment Hour by Hayley Tantau

cindy-salmon-empowerment-hour
Cindy Salmon

Here’s Elyce’s review at the 2016 Meloburne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10575

Booking details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/cindy-salmon-s-empowerment-hour

Cull

Read Colin’s review from the 2016 Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10470

Bookings details can be found at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/cull

Gabe Hogan:  Making Life a Double

Lisa’s review from the 2016 Melbourne Fringe is at https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10491

Bookings details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/making-life-a-double

Isabel Angus Presents Bliss

Here’s Lisa’s review of the 2016 Melbourne Fringe performance: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10515

Bookings can be made at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/isabel-angus-presents-bliss

Late Night Letters and Numbers

This late night show was reviewed in 2013 by Lisa: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3846

Booking details can be found at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/late-night-letters-and-numbers

Mighty Little Puppet Show 

Mighty Little Puppet Show
Mighty Little Puppet Show

The 2016 MICF show was reviewed by Lisa is: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9929

Book your tickets at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/the-might-little-puppet-show

Political Asylum 

A now annual fixture of MICF, Elice’s review is here: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3785

Bookings can be made at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/political-asylum-s-late-night-riot

Soothsayers: Completely Improvised Shakespeare

Lisa’s review from the 2015 Melbourne Fringe is here” https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9433

Booking details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/completely-improvised-shakespeare

RECOMMENDED

The Bugle Live

This is the first ever live version of Andy Zaltzman’s podcast. It promises live guests, people on screens, freshly-hewn satire, lies, puns and high-grade bullshit. Sounds like tonnes of fun. (You can see his own standup show too, sold separately)

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/the-bugle-live

Daniel Kitson… 

Daniel Kitson

The last time Daniel performed here in 2015 it was with his astonishing, gorgeous, experimental play Polyphony. It involved 20 pre-recorded characters (played by actors and comedians) on MP3players being played by audience members. I was lucky enough to see it towards the end of the run, on a night when it all ran beautifully and it blew my mind. If audience participation was the comedy trend, Daniel fashioned it into couture art. We’ve missed out on a lot of his finished shows in Melbourne over the past ten years but he’s making up for it by giving us Three types of Kitson, including a filmed show we never got to see.

1. Stories For The Starlit Sky with Gavin Osbourne

Actually 3 plays in one (of his 3 shows). It will be long, why not bring a packed lunch? 3 of his delightful heartwarming and funny stories from Daniel with Gavin on the Guitar.

Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne – 2nd to 23rd April
(Various Dates and Times) https://goo.gl/AVrCLX

2. Not Yet But Soon – A Work in Progress Stand up Show.

Well its another work in Progress, but having done it in Sydney before Melbourne it should be fairly well formed. An hour and a half, but knowing Daniel probably longer. Its mostly on late too, 10 pm so have a little nap during the day.

Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne – March 30th to April 16th  (Various dates and times)- https://goo.gl/bry3Tv

3. It’s Always Right Now Until It’s Later –  On Film

A 7 year old show we never got to see in Australia, but here it is preserved forever on film and Daniel will be there to introduce it.

 Palace Westgarth Northcote – April 18th, 19th  – 7pmhttps://goo.gl/jVA2N3

Infectious

A comedy night for charity produced by our own Erin Davidson and we can promise you she has organised a cracker of a lineup. Names she cannot name, but some of the top names in Australian comedy and this may be the only place during the festival you get to see some of them. Also you get to laugh for a good cause.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/a-night-of-infectious-laughter-2

Josh Earl's Festival
Josh Earl’s Festival

Josh Earl & Daniel Tobias: Josh Earl’s Festival   

Josh has hooked up with Daniel from Die Roten Punkte and they promise famous guest stars in this mini comedy music festival. I’ve had a bit of a taste of this one and it has got my mouth watering for more.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/josh-earl-s-festival-1

Michael Williams: Escape from a 90s Educational CD-ROM!

One of the recipients of this year’s Moosehead Grants, you can always be rely upon Williams to present an inventive and hilarious show. Last year he was one of our favourites, with the added Moosehead creative seal of approval, this is sure to be a doozy!

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/escape-from-a-90s-educational-cd-rom

Sammy J: Hero Complex 

Sammy J Hero Complex
Sammy J Hero Complex

Hero Complex was the Talk of Melbourne Fringe and the talk was: “Have you Seen it? You HAVE TO SEE IT!!!” We were so glad we did. It won Best Comedy Show at Melbourne Fringe 2016 and has just won the first Weekly Award for comedy at Adelaide Fringe 2017. It is side achingly hilarious, and face hurtingly joyous. It’s better to go in knowing as little as possible; yes it is about Sammy J’s love for The Phantom but also about much, much more.

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/hero-complex

A Visit With Nan In A Caravan

Five audience members ­– in one caravan ­– with three spiteful old grannies ­– for 15 minutes. These terrifying characters by Thomas Jaspers, Kyle Minall and Scott Brennan will be more so in such close quarters and sure to be hilarious.

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/caravan

Watson: Go To Hell!

After scaring the stuffing out of laughing audiences at the Old Melbourne Gaol during the 2015 Melbourne Fringe, Watson (Adam McKenzie, Liam Ryan and Tegan Higginbotham) return with a show of frights and laughs. Another Moosehead recipent so expectations are high.

Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/go-to-hell

View the entire Comedy Festival program at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017, so get out and start booking tickets!