When you’re an Edinburgh local, it’s easy to get caught up in negativity about the Festival; too crowded, too expensive, too diluted by major acts. All those things are true to varying extents, but this multifarious season of films, books, comedy, theatre, and offbeat art also harbours plenty of reasons for hope and contemplation. 

The Stand’s project to bring Palestinian comics to the Fringe is one of those glimmers of positivity, a reminder that many people are using their platform to highlight important issues in dark times. When an almost incomprehensible genocide is taking place, a first-hand glimpse of the value and diversity within Palestinian culture is always welcome. Let's hope it's a sell-out. 

Also in this edition, the Book Festival shows us what’s between its covers, Keep It Fringe launches its pilot project, a remake of a cult classic is added to EIFF’s bill, and an Australian comic posits that despair is beneath us. 

Edinburgh International Book Festival launches programme…

… with the central theme of ‘repair’ and more than 700 events featuring writers from across the globe. Taking place from Saturday 9 – Sunday 24 August, the festival will return to the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) for a second year, welcoming a line-up that includes Yellowface author RF Kuang, Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre and more. 

Check out our full article on EIBF here. 

The Stand brings Palestine Stands Up to the Fringe…

…. The Stand Comedy Club have announced a new strand of shows with The Palestine Comedy Club (PalCom), a Palestine-UK collective developing comedy unique to the Palestinian experience. Taking place as part of its Fringe programme, Palestine Stands Up will provide a platform at the Fringe for Palestinian artists to share their stories in Palestine and beyond, and will feature debut Fringe shows from Alaa Shehada (Jenin), Diana Sweity (Hebron) Hanna Shammas (Haifa) and Sami Abu-Wardeh (London), each bringing a distinct and unexpected perspective on living and laughing under occupation. As well as a trio of shows at the Fringe, PalCom will also visit Stand venues in Glasgow and Newcastle.

Read our full news piece on Palestine Stands Up here. 

Keep It Fringe announces recipients of US fund…

… who’ve each received bursaries of $2,500 to perform in Edinburgh throughout August, as well as support from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society’s artist services team to aid audience and career development, including marketing, screen development and industry networking opportunities.

The recipients are (deep breath) innovative clown act A Drag Is Born, musically minded theatre piece Driving In Circles, brutal drama I See You Watching, a one-woman parody of the Titanic called Leo Still Dies In The End, and whip smart sketch show Simple Town (and exhale). 

Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘We look forward to welcoming the Keep It Fringe US artists to Edinburgh this August to experience the unmatched atmosphere and opportunities the Fringe offers.

‘2025 is a pilot year for Keep it Fringe US. We are keen to continue offering this opportunity to US artists. If you would like to find out more about supporting the initiative, please get in touch with the Fringe Society team.’  

The Toxic Avenger remake added to EIFF bill…

… as another feather in the cap for its Midnight Madness strand. Starring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon and Julia Davis, the tongue-in-cheek precursor to superhero movies follows a down-at-heel janitor (Dinklage) who’s exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident and transforms into the crime-fighting Toxic Avenger. If it can match the blueprint of the 1984 cult favourite, it’ll be uncomplicated screw-loose fun. The remake’s being helmed by Macon Blair, who made waves in 2017 with the oddball comedy I Don’t Feel at Home In This World Anymore. 

Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF, has said ‘We are absolutely over the moon to be hosting the UK premiere of The Toxic Avenger, which will bring our Midnight Madness strand this year to an extravagantly gory and hilarious close. Peter Dinklage’s terrific reimagining of this iconic character in Macon Blair’s genius film, together make for an absolute blast of cult cinematic energy. Bring it on!’

The Toxic Avenger joins Ben Wheatley’s BULK on the Midnight Madness bill. Expect more news from EIFF’s parish very soon. 

Four stars or more 

Despair Is Beneath Us, according to Australian cult comic Laura Davis, whose new show promises to be a ‘rapid-fire uproarious expedition from despair to hope, between sex and death, through winter to spring, from duck ponds to the dentist, bagels and daydreams.’ We were head-over-heels with last year’s Albatross, awarding it four stars. ‘Sporting a shaggy birds-nest of hair, the now Edinburgh-based Australian comic offers a “sea-captain energy,”’, wrote our critic Eddie Harrison, ‘and while her tall tales don’t reflect on piracy or anything quite so adventurous, Albatross speaks the international language of firmly-observed quirk.’ Read the full review here. 

Catch Despair Is Beneath Us at Monkey Barrel from Thursday 31 July – Sunday 24 August.