Issue #11 - Monday 15th August - FREE

Scotland’S leading HiV cHaRitY » The Real MacGuffins extract TMI from Matt Green

» Befuzzled Brains » Today’s Top Tweets

WaVeRleY caRe laffS off Stigma of HiV

“To waTch me,Tim Vine, 4 Poofs and a Piano, chris cox, idioTs of anTs, imran Yusuf, ouT of The Blue, sTuarT GoldsmiTh, TerrY alderTon and Tom sTade. ToniGhT aT Pleasance.”

Comedy has always been an important part of Waverley Care’s fundraising during the

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, thanks to their unique 20-year

relationship with Pleasance. It all started with bucket

shaking, which is still ongoing in 2011.

Tonight’s benefit gig is a flagship

fundraiser of the charity’s year.

[Cont. Pg. 2]

#laff11

“TarTan riBBon comedY BenefiT

needs

“taRtan RiBBon

needS YoU”

You”

MATT GREEN PROVIDES TMI FOR ThE REAl MAcGuFFINS

in the audience last night.J: You talked to a chemistry teacher, a doctor and some science students.D: [Ahem] Sorry, bad pun.MG: Audience interaction is what keeps Edinburgh Shows fresh and exciting, avoiding the danger of becoming stale.M: When did you buy the prop that features in your show?MG: Relatively recently. About April. I walked past it in one of London’s new Olympic shops a few times (I won’t spoil the surprise for readers!) M: You didn’t fancy featuring any other props or visuals?MG: Since my show is about distraction, I want to maintain some focus. Unless you can utilise it properly (as people like Dave Gorman and Alex Horne can), visuals often end up being a distraction. I do like having that one object, though...

Matt Green: Too Much Information, Pleasance Courtyard, 3-28 Aug 20:30 / The Real MacGuffins: Skitsophrenic, Pleasance Courtyard, 3-29 Aug 16:30

The Real MacGuffins’s Dan, Jim and Matt extract too much information from comedian Matt Green. D: We saw the show last night and loved it. There’s a hell of a lot in there. Where does it come from?MG: I tried to pack the hour full. Spending days ‘writing’ material reminded me quite how easily I can be distracted; by books, the radio, the internet. The show’s about all that information as distraction, which I think is quite a strong metaphor for our times; distraction by information overload. D: I can sympathise with that. I go onto google, then forget what I was google-ing and end up wasting time on random searches. MG: Then three hours later you end up watching something on YouTube and thinking ‘How did I get to this point?’ So that’s how the show got it’s name, but this year I’ve worked hard to talk not just about my life (although there are some ‘TMI’ moments) but also about the wider world, especially in the current climate of genuinely interesting politics and economics.D: The riots have come at a perfect time, then!MG: Ha, yeah, thank God for the riots.

Thankfully I haven’t made the show too specific, otherwise I would have been forced to do a complete re-write last week. I’ve written material about economics, the internet, the banking crisis-D: -No-one’s ever done a comedy show about economics before!MG: Yeah, and why not? Because it’s clearly not funny! I did a few previews which turned into dull lectures. Since then I’ve boiled down everything towards the core jokes, which often provide the clearest explanations of the topic too. D: There’s more audience interaction this year too, more banter. We had some nice chemistry

[...continued from cover.]Always astounding, this year’s gig

features 4 Poofs and a Piano, Chris Cox, Idiots of Ants, Imran Yusuf, Out of the Blue, Terry Alderton, Tim Vine and Tom Stade, hosted by the consistently charming Stuart Goldsmith.

Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading charity providing care, guidance and support to people living with HIV or Hepatitis C.

#laffoffstigmaCan you write

something funny enough for Fringe fame? Tweet an original joke with the hashtag #laff11. If you can make Pleasance’s Comedy Programmer Ryan Taylor laugh, you’ll be in with a chance of winning £100 of Amazon vouchers.

The #laffoffstigma campaign shows solidarity with those who are living with HIV. Every entrant (on either Twitter or Facebook) will

have their avatar added to www.laffoffstigma.com in recognition of their support.

“#laffoffstigma is an unusual and exciting way to encourage people to stand up against HIV stigma” said Ryan Taylor. “I’m hoping that Fringe-goers will be creative, imaginative and prolific in sending in their gags.”

Tartan Ribbon Comedy Benefit, Pleasance Courtyard, 15 Aug 20:00 / Collection buckets at Courtyard /

www.laffoffstigma.com/ Tweet jokes to harshtag #laff11

@ThePleasance#pleztimes

RT @DanielTaylor247Just saw Sheeps at the @ThePleasance. weird. surreal. bizarre. And f’ing brilliant. Couldn’t stop laughing. Well done chaps.

RT @CleverTheatreDave Gorman is looking good! Check out this photo of @DaveGorman with our flyers - it’s hilarious. #edfest #pleztimes (BELOW)

RT @laffoffstigmaSuper excited about our tartan ribbon benefit @ThePleasance monday night. If you’re there this wknd pick up tickets. Ace line up!

BEATING BEFuzzlEMENTHow will your brain be holding

out at age 75? Will the white matter, nerve fibres and the inspired moments of genius still be sparking, or will it all grind to a weary halt?

Back in 1947, Scottish 11year-olds sat a test called ‘The Scottish Mental Survey’. Recently, between 2004 and 2007, over one thousand of them re-sat the test. The results, separated by a 60-year gap, uncover fascinating comparisons between thinking and the ageing process.

Still Life Dreaming - co-produced by theatre company Spare Tyre and

PReSented BY one of oUR comedY actS and featURing tHeiR SPecial gUeStS, inclUding:Joe Lycett, Matthew Crosby from Pappy’s, Jeff Leach, Katherine Ryan, Tom Price, Dan Clark, Kate Copstick and a regular daily message from Angelos Epithemiou. ePiSode 5 Jeff Leach, Katherine Ryan, Wrestling preview

ePiSode 6Benny Boot & Hannibal Buress

the survey’s instigator Wellcome Trust – marks this 75th anniversary by revealing human stories behind the survey. Working with original cohort members and scientists from Edinburgh University, the show reveals how humans form ideas and interact with each other.

Frederick Lowrie, an original cohort member, reflects that “sitting the test in 1947, I never imagined I would be here now, part of another study and also part of a play.”

Director Arti Prashar creates “an epic story about chance connections,

between one study and another, and between individuals, be

they subjects or scientists.” Whether illuminating your past, future, or both, Still Life Dreaming offers an inspirational dramatisation of fascinatingly unique

science.Still Life Dreaming,

Pleasance Courtyard, 15-19 Aug, 13:00

75 YeARS Of SCOTLAND’S BRAIN SuRVeY

FUNDRAISING FOR THE PLEASANCEYou can support us in a number of ways:

2. Become part of “Pleasance History”We would be delighted if you joined our celebrity alumni on this extraordinary 231-ft long ‘Bayeux-esque Tapestry’, charting the history of the world according to the Pleasance. You will also receive a very beautiful portrait. All we need is a passport photo! And if you don’t have one immediately, it doesn’t matter, because you can always send it to us later!

3. Simply donate your own amountTEXT: plez33 to 70070(for any amount up to £10)

BY TELEPHONE: Please call us on 0207 619 6868

ONLINE: Please visit www.pleasance. co.uk/islington/support-us

IN PERSON: Complete the Gift Aid form on the back of the Fundraising leaflet and drop it into Reception at any of our box offices in Edinburgh and London, or pop it in the post.

1. Adopt a Pleasance cobblestoneFamous for its cobbled courtyards, the Pleasance is the bedrock of great theatre and comedy. You can look after these very foundations by adopting your own pet cobblestone! We promise to provide you with regular updates on how it’s getting along.

MONDAY 15th

Please note that all line-ups are subject to change. Check the Box Office for the latest information.

cHoRtle PReSentS: faSt fRinge

Pleasance Dome 18:40ELIS JAMES - MC

HELEN ARNEYQUINCY

ED GAMBLEDAYNE RATHBONE

ANIL DESAIHAL SPARKS

LYNN RUTH MILLERYIANNI AGISILAOU

TRANSFORMERSJOSH HOWIETODD BARRY

HORSE & LOUIS

itcH: a ScRatcH eVentPleasance Courtyard 17:45

HATTIE HAYRIDGEJO CAULFIELD

SEYMOUR MACE (IDEAL, BBC)PIPPA EVANS & RUTH BRATT

(SHOWSTOPPER!)THE SEGUE SISTERS

CLOVIS VAN DARKHELM & MANY MORE

meRVYn StUtteR’S PicK of tHe fRinge

Pleasance Courtyard 13:00THE TWOKSBLACK SLAP

THREE ENGLISHMENHUMPHREY KER

LUKE WRIGHTBLUES BROTHERS

nicHolaS PaRSonS’ HaPPY HoUR

Pleasance Courtyard 14:30GYLES BRANDRETHLORRAINE CHASE

JOE SIMMONSKEV ORKIAN

taRtan RiBBon comedY Benefit

Pleasance Courtyard 20:00MC STUART GOLDSMITH, 4

POOFS AND A PIANO, CHRIS COx, IDIOTS OF ANTS, IMRAN

YUSUF, OUT OF THE BLUE, TERRY ALDERTON, TIM VINE,

TOM STADE

tHe WReStlingPLeASAnCe CouRTyARD, 23:00

RUSSELL KANE, PARTICK MONAHAN, PAC, ANDREW

MAxWELL, BRENDON BURNS, ANGELOS EPITHEMIOU, ADAM

RICHES, ABANDOMAN, RICH FULCHER, NICK HELM, FRISKY & MANNISH, HUMPHREY KER,

JESSICA RANSOM, COLIN HOULT, MAx & IVAN