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11 character comics to see at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Wigs, wigs and more wigs! Our pick of the comedians who don't like being themselves

Written by
Ben Williams
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Adam Riches is Coach Coach
© Idil Sukan Draw HQ

Adam Riches is Coach Coach

Character comedy. Award-winner.

Four years after scooping the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award, Adam Riches is still one of the most exciting character comics out there. This year he’s fronting an ambitious sports comedy show, featuring a cast of 11 and plenty of Riches’s trademark audience interaction.

9.45pm, Pleasance Dome.

Ali Brice presents: Eric Meat Has No Proof, Only Memories of Pasta
© Steve Ryan

Ali Brice presents: Eric Meat Has No Proof, Only Memories of Pasta

Character comedy. Second show. Free.

Joyfully stupid character comedy in this performer’s second solo show. Eric Meat – Brice’s central character – is a sweet, romantic, heartbroken fool, and he’s joined by a host of idiotic pals.

1.30pm, Heroes @ The Hive.

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Diane Chorley: Duchess of Canvey
© Rob Greig

Diane Chorley: Duchess of Canvey

Character comedy. Musical comedy.

Looking for a taste of Essex in Edinburgh? No? Well, head to Diane Chorley’s show anyway. This ex-con and former Essex nightclub-owner sings heartfelt ballads and recounts the story of her club’s ’80s heyday (before things all went spectacularly wrong). This is her comeback gig, backed by her band The Buffet, and it’s a party you won’t want to miss.

10.30pm. Underbelly Potterrow.

Goose: Kablamo

Goose: Kablamo

Sketch comedy. Character comedy.

Goose describe themselves as a ‘sweaty one-man cartoon’, and we can’t really beat that description. Despite being solo on stage, Goose are a two-man team, made-up of Adam Drake (who performs the high-energy, multi-character skits alone) and his co-writer Ben Rowse (unseen). It’s loose and fluid with a high gag rate – impressive stuff.

3.20pm, Assembly George Square Theatre.

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Holly Burn: I am Kirsty K

Holly Burn: I am Kirsty K

Character comedy.

Now, this’ll be interesting. Holly Burn – madass character comic – is bringing just one of her creations to Edinburgh this year. But Burn isn’t becoming Kirsty K for just an hour a day, she’s spending the entire festival in character – 24/7. Why not give her a ring to keep her company? She’s on 07948 403980.

6.20pm, Just the Tonic at The Mash House.

John-Luke Roberts: Stdad-Up

John-Luke Roberts: Stdad-Up

Stand-up. Character comedy. Free.

Last year smart absurdist John-Luke Roberts tackled break-up comedy shows in his ‘not-a-break-up-show’ comedy hour about breaking up with his girlfriend. This year, he’s both performing and subverting the award-judges’ favourite comedy genre – family bereavement – in a silly show about the death of his father.

6.55pm, Voodoo Rooms.

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Joseph Morpurgo: Soothing Sounds for Baby

Joseph Morpurgo: Soothing Sounds for Baby

Character comedy.

One of our favourite character comics on the circuit. Morpurgo’s Lynchian-style multimedia shows are inventive, imaginative and stupidly funny. This year he’s taking found vinyl records and using them as the inspiration for his strange skits.

8.15pm, Pleasance Courtyard.

Lolly

Lolly

Newcomer. Character comedy.

We’re dead excited about Lolly Adefope’s debut hour. This character comic performs stand-up routines as her various alter-egos. Gemma, for example, is a confident-yet-hapless first-time comic whose co-workers have all told her she’s hilarious. And she is, just not for the reasons she thinks…

4.30pm, Pleasance Courtyard.

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Marny Godden: Flap ’Em on the Gate
© Mark Dawson Photography

Marny Godden: Flap ’Em on the Gate

Newcomer. Character comedy. Clowning.

Marny Godden’s long been a Fringe favourite as part of oddball sketch troupe The Grandees. But this year she’s going solo with a mix of silly character comedy and absurdist clowning. She’s always been an enchanting performer in The Grandees’s shows, so we can’t wait to see what she comes up with all on her lonesome.

5.20pm, Underbelly Cowgate.

Tom Neenan: The Andromeda Paradox
© Idil Sukan Draw HQ

Tom Neenan: The Andromeda Paradox

Character comedy. Storytelling. Second show.

Dapper storyteller Tom Neenan could have a real hit on his hands here. From what we’ve seen, his riveting sci-fi adventure ‘The Andromeda Paradox’ is full of whip-smart jokes, intricately woven plotlines and surprising twists. We can’t wait to see the finished version.

6.40pm, Pleasance Dome.

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Zoe Coombs Marr: Dave

Zoe Coombs Marr: Dave

Character comedy. International.

We love a bit of comedy about comedy. Aussie favourite Zoe Coombs Marr’s show is a proper parody of lazy stand-up. She plays Dave, a generic male comedian who likes beer, sex, women and football. Bad stand-up, done well.

9.20pm, Underbelly Cowgate.

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