London's Edinburgh Fringe Previews

By AndrewT Last edited 141 months ago
London's Edinburgh Fringe Previews


In the run up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, comedy acts will be road testing their sets throughout the city. Often taking place at small venues, previews are a great way to catch upcoming and established acts before they head north with their material.

Here we look ahead to some of the previews taking place at a range of venues including the Pleasance Theatre, Downstairs at the King's Head and the Hen and Chickens. This is just a quick selection as there are far too many for us to feature in detail. If you know of any great Edinburgh previews coming up that we haven't mentioned, please suggest them and we will add them to the list.

Jigsaw – Gettin' Jiggy @ Riverside Studios and Pleasance Theatre

Sketch troupe Jigsaw – featuring the surreal stylings of Dan Antopolski, Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema were a stand-out hit at Edinburgh in 2011. Gettin' Jiggy is their second show as a group and it's well worth catching at a small venue as they are an act on the up.

If you want to get a bit more laughter for your money, then why not catch Jigsaw as part of a comedy double bill alongside musical comic and best newcomer nominee at Edinburgh 2011, Gareth Richards. All for just £10.

Jigsaw are at Riverside Studios Hammersmith on 6 June, 8pm. Tickets cost £7
And Pleasance Theatre on 18 July, at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 for a double bill with Gareth Richards

Matthew Crosby is Matthew Crosby in Matthew Crosby (The Show) @ The Pleasance Theatre

Rocking a brilliantly preposterous title for his show, Matthew Crosby tries out new material on a London audience. You may know him as one third of the off-beam sketch troop Pappy's, but he's also a fine stand-up. If you like your comedy with a geeky but accessible edge then Crosby might just be the act for you.

Matthew Crosby is at the Pleasance Theatre on 19 June at 8pm. Tickets cost £5

Helen Keen and Richard Herring @ the Pleasance Theatre

This is a brilliant two-for-one comedy bargain in the form of the quirky and inventive Helen Keen, who has become known as the creator of Radio 4's 'It Is Rocket Science,' and the ever consistent Richard Herring.

In this, his 25th Edinburgh year, Herring is reviving a past show – Talking Cock – to create Talking Cock: The Second Coming. It's his answer to The Vagina Monologues and is likely to be Herring at his smutty best.

Keen and Herring are at the Pleasance Theatre on 15 July at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10.

Josie Long @ Hen and Chickens

The ever popular and irrepressibly quirky Josie Long tries out material from her upcoming sixth Edinburgh show. If you like your comedy to be kooky, passionate and have a political dimension – why not pop along to  Hen and Chickens to catch Josie Long?

Josie Long is at Hen and Chickens on 16, 17 and 18 July, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8.

Sean Hughes Stands Up @ Etcetera Theatre

UK comedy veteran and former Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain Sean Hughes explores subjects such as whether David Attenborough really likes animals, whether his own hair is a metaphor for the Syrian uprising and much else besides.

A fantastic opportunity to catch a stalwart of the comedy scene in the 40 seater Etcetera. It's a bargain too, with tickets at just £9.50 a piece!

Sean Hughes is at the Etcetera Theatre on 9, 24 and 25 July, at 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Tickets cost £9.50

Paul Sinha @ Downstairs at the King's Head

Paul Sinha is a Hindu ex-GP and ranked within the top 20 UK quiz players. He is also one of the finest stand-ups working on the UK circuit today. He holds audiences in the palm of his hand with his confessional and thoughtful style. Highly recommended.

The ticket gets you in to see Paul Sinha and one other act who, at the time of writing, was still to be confirmed.

Paul Sinha is at Downstairs at the King's Head on 31 July, at 8.30pm. Ticket's cost £7.

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Last Updated 06 June 2012