All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Monday, September 15, 2025

‘There’s magic, blood and gore!’ Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton on touring Inside No 9 – and being megastars in China by Brian Logan

As the show based on their cult TV hit goes on the road, the duo discuss haunted theatres, feeling like arthritic swans and what it was like being mobbed in Shanghai How do you make a shoppi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:24PM
Monday, September 8, 2025

Bill Posley: The Day I Accidentally Went to War review – veteran comic drops truth bombs by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe US comic and TV writer’s account of his military service in Iraq is exuberant, enlightening, and flies the flag for the plight of veterans At one point in Bill Posl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:36AM
Thursday, August 28, 2025

Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg and Caliban’s take on The Tempest: the best theatre, comedy and dance of autumn 2025 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

Andrea Riseborough and Sarandon deliver a decade-hopping drama, superstar standups hit the road and Shobana Jeyasingh rewrites Shakespeare • See the rest of our unmissable autumn arts prev…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:18AM
Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Edinburgh comedy award winner Sam Nicoresti: ‘Actually, this whole show is a monumental failure!’ by Brian Logan

The comic was determined to make a blockbuster standup show that didn’t address trans issues. Then she changed her mind – and scooped comedy’s biggest prize There’s efficiency, then …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:06PM
Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Glenn Moore: Please Sir, Glenn I Have Some Moore? review – a tale of two jokebooks by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghWith one book of classic gags and another that brings him shame, Moore delivers a show that’s heavy on the laughs if light on the charm Glenn Moore has a devi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM

Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Near Death review – laughs, gasps and blessings by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe Londoner delves into more personal territory in his new show, including the story of his heart failure while on stage several years ago Emmanuel Sonubi has …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:32AM
Sunday, August 24, 2025

Sam Jay: We the People review – a cool diagnosis of America’s ills by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghJay makes big concepts provocatively funny in an eye-catching set nominated for the Edinburgh comedy award In We the People, Sam Jay talks politics and culture …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Saturday, August 23, 2025

Sam Nicoresti’s Baby Doomer wins best comedy show award at Edinburgh fringe 2025 by Brian Logan

Playful set about Nicoresti’s life as a trans woman wins main award, with Ayoade Bamgboye named best newcomer The Edinburgh comedy award, the annual “Oscar of comedy” given to the best…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:54AM

Katie Norris: Go West, Old Maid review – unhinged comedy from the ‘cool governess’ to gen Z by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghOddball songs, surreal asides and a glorious persona combine in a show that reflects on the standup’s late father Since childhood, Katie Norris has been calle…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:54AM
Friday, August 22, 2025

Ed Night: Your Old Mucker review – a laconic, sharply observed stroll around south London by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel, the Hive, EdinburghThe Edinburgh comedy award nominee ambles through tales of debt, chicken shops and his eccentric grandad in a show that’s loose but brimming with intellig…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:12PM

Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Friends: Kool Story Bro review – eccentric improv antics by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghFrom a nude life-drawing class to a Colombian kidnapping, with help from his Ghosts co-star Lolly Adefope, Smith-Bynoe uses audience members’ stories to comic…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:36AM
Thursday, August 21, 2025

Dan Tiernan: All In review – crude comedy with a big payoff is standup’s best yet by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel, EdinburghThe Mancunian manchild shows wild commitment in a show about dyspraxia, drug use and internalised homophobia We say we want men to talk about their mental health, Dan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:12PM

As You Like It: A Radical Retelling review – an unbridled howl of rage and resistance by Brian Logan

Church Hill theatre, EdinburghA furious and unsettling Shakespeare reboot exposes colonial violence and demands accountability for crimes against Indigenous people ‘Aren’t you sorry you …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM

Elouise Eftos: Australia’s First Attractive Comedian review – fabulously provocative jokes by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghA wickedly amusing fringe debut considers the relationship between comedy, feminism and sexiness Can you be funny and good-looking? You’d think the question b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:54AM
Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Ivo Graham: Orange Crush review – comic riffs on his favourite colour, from Irn-Bru to Wotsits by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghAt 34, the comedian has ditched the shy self-abasement for diss tracks and politics – even if his set is inspired by his fondness for orange With Orange Crush…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24PM

Jamali Maddix: Aston review – bursts of brilliance and a wicked sense of humour by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel, EdinburghIn an uneven show, one of the most intriguing comic voices of his generation tackles sex, race and British identity ‘I used to be a cool young comic with cool young…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:06PM

Jokers in the pack: eclectic shortlist revealed for Edinburgh comedy awards 2025 by Brian Logan

Seven of the eight nominees for best show have not previously been nominated in the same category at the ‘Oscars of live comedy’ Standup about infertility, jokes about a Georgian gourman…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:06PM

‘Liam Gallagher is funnier than most standups!’: Is comedy the new rock’n’roll – or vice versa? by Brian Logan

Oasis’s tour gobbled up Edinburgh audiences while fringe comics put on shows about Britpop and Arctic Monkeys. The music industry and the funny business could be more entwined than ever �…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:12AM
Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Zainab Johnson: Toxically Optimistic review – US comic targets gun culture by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe slick standup’s fringe debut is full of searching questions about the right to keep and bear arms ‘I’ve got a gun.” Nice to be pitched, with that op…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:32PM

Liam Withnail: Big Strong Boy review – look back in laughter at misfit youth by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel, EdinburghThe standup’s tale of teenage travails, guilt and redemption borders on the sentimental but gets the balance right There’s trauma comedy, finding laughter in the …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:03PM

Bebe Cave: Christbride review – an irreverent romp through womanhood in the middle ages by Brian Logan

Pleasance Dome, EdinburghPity poor Batilda Bigbum as she navigates a failed courtship and flight to a nunnery, before being burnt as a witch in this uproarious comedy One of the great charac…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:24AM
Monday, August 18, 2025

Rachel Galvo: The Shite Feminist review – swaggering comedy about religion and privilege at an all-girls school by Brian Logan

Pleasance Dome, EdinburghIn an eyebrow-raising debut, Galvo shares not very fond memories of her education in Ireland Rachel Galvo ditched a career in business a few years back, fleeing Dubl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:32PM

Dan Rath: Tropical Depression review – misfit’s magical one-liners flip the world upside down by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel, EdinburghZero per cent alcohol? Ghosting? ADHD? Our self-flagellating host has a skewed take on them all You could write theses on comedy’s relationship with social maladju…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24AM
Sunday, August 17, 2025

Simple Town review – these Pythonesque jokers could be your new best friends by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe New York foursome’s freewheeling logic will have you laughing without knowing why in a fringe debut that’s smart enough to revitalise sketch comedy With…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24PM

Ayoade Bamgboye: Swings and Roundabouts review – commanding comic’s thrilling debut by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghDrawing on her experiences moving from Nigeria to the UK, this livewire standup delivers a multifaceted first fringe show The fringe is nothing if not a place w…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24AM

Jena Friedman: Motherf*cker review – political zingers and all-too-raw grief by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel at The Hive, EdinburghThe standup follows a first half of in-your-face jokes about American democracy with a palpably painful account of the loss of her mother Standup shows ab…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24AM
Saturday, August 16, 2025

Mr Chonkers review – you never know what’s going to happen next by Brian Logan

Summerhall, EdinburghFrom existential angst to dotty monk routines, US clown John Norris marches to the beat of his own drum With his show and persona Mr Chonkers, American clown John Norris…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24PM

Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer review – an ebullient hour with a sky-high joke count by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghDelivered with self-deprecating joyfulness, this is a big-hitting set exploring life as a trans woman ‘Sir, are you aware those are women’s clothes?” Even…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24AM
Friday, August 15, 2025

Josie Long: Now Is the Time of Monsters review – beauty in the beasts by Brian Logan

Pleasance Dome, EdinburghCandid family snapshots meet leftist politics and wondrous prehistoric megafauna in Long’s singular take on the state of the world ‘The old world is dying, and t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48AM
Thursday, August 14, 2025

David Elms Describes a Room review – a captivating exercise in collective imagining by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe sometime Mr Swallow sidekick’s hour of interiors improv is a skilful, unshowy treat ‘Shall we give ourselves a night off from being funny?” There are …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:18AM
Wednesday, August 13, 2025

John Tothill: This Must Be Heaven review – joyful look at earthly pleasures brings us closer to standup paradise by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Maintaining a remarkable mood of spontaneity and joy, Tothill sweeps his audience through unexpected history and cruise-ship hell Both his previous shows havin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:03PM

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