Laugh Out London recommends some more of our favourite comedy acts heading to the Edinburgh Festival this year.

We’ve already brought you our favourite stand-up shows and and our favourite free comedy shows, but this time it’s our favourite sketch and character comedy at the Fringe.

Last year saw a very healthy resurgence of acclaimed sketch comedy, including several shows among the big award nominees, and this year is looking equally promising. Here are 20 to watch out for.

Cassie Atkinson and Oh Standfast

Comedy In Progress

We’ve got to know Cassie very well in the past year as she has emerged as a stand-out performer in our experimental collaborations with Weirdos where she has perfected not just one, but two characters from Harry Potter to terrifying specificity. We’re not familiar with Oh Standfirst but we trust Cassie to pick a partner for this double-hander that’s suitably brilliant.

Cassie Atkinson and Oh Standfast: Comedy In Progress
Southsider
8-29 August, 12.55pm
FREE

Beard

The Grin of Love

A relative new act to us, Beard is a female double act who like to keep things joyfully odd. And just a bit twisted and black. Think League of Gentlemen mixed with old time freak show and that forensic scene in a BBC1 crime drama.

Beard: The Grin of Love
Sneaky Pete’s
8-29 August, 1.15pm
FREE

Goose

Kablamo

This one-man sketch experience has been getting a lot of attention among comics this past year for his sweaty, ambitious and energetic shows. We’ve yet to see him live. We’ll put that right this August.

Goose: Kablamo
Assembly George Square
6-30 August, 3.20pm
£9-£10

Anna Morris

It’s Got To Be Perfect

We first got to know Anna when she starred in an episode of Bad Bridesmaids as an uptight ‘friend’ of the bride determined to make things as awkward as possible for the rest of the bridesmaids. For this show, she’s the one getting married as Georgina. She wants it to be perfect. We imagine it somehow won’t be.

Anna Morris: It’s Got To Be Perfect
Voodoo Rooms
8-30 August, 3.55pm
FREE

Lolly Adefope

Lolly

After a split bill in 2014 this is Lolly’s debut hour. And it is very hotly anticipated, considering Lolly’s standing among both the Invisible Dot and Bearpit Comedy Podcast meaning you can be sure she’s on the cutting edge of barminess.

Lolly Adefope: Lolly
Pleasance Courtyard
5-31 August, 4.30pm
£7.50-£9.50

Sad Faces

Presents The Dawn Chorus

Maybe the three loveliest men in sketch comedy (and there are a lot of lovely men) this trio have an amazing pedigree, from regular Radio 4 writings to Cartoon Network to Rocky Horror sequels. This show sees them attempt to turn a heartbreaking novel into an hour-long comedy sketch show. Can they do it?

Sad Faces Presents The Dawn Chorus
Underbelly, Cowgate
6-30 August, 4.40pm
£9-£10

Twisted Loaf

Present Stale Mate

Cabaret clowns with a keen eye for the absurd and the foolish. This show will be fun.

Twisted Loaf: Present Stale Mate
Just The Tonic @ The Caves
6-29 August, 5pm
£8

Marny Godden

Flap ‘em on the Gate

Watching Marny Godden is like watching the best bits of Shooting Stars all wrapped up in one person. It’s rather joyous blur. This is her first solo year after a successful 2014 with story-telling trio The Grandees. We expect similar over-the-top yarns and just a touch of insanity.

Mary Godden: Flap ‘em on the Gate
Underbelly, Cowgate
6-30 August, 5.20pm
£9-£10

Holly Burn

I Am Kirsty K

Holly can do no wrong in our eyes. A charming clown of a character comedian, Holly replaces her usual mixed selection of screwed up creations to focus on Kirsty K, a geordie sweetheart who’s using this Fringe to celebrate her nan. It’ll be glorious and silly and probably a bit messy.

Holly Burn: I Am Kirsty K
Just The Tonic @ The Mash House
6-30 August, 6.20pm
£5

Sooz Kempner

Character Activist

Another act who we’ve grown to love through our regular Weirdos collaborations. Sooz was almost too perfect as Bellatrix Lestrange in our all new Harry Potter tale. She’ll bring that darkness and magic into this hour which introduces us to four women wanting to make their mark on the world.

Sooz Kempner: Character Activist
Just the Tonic @ The Mash House
6-30 August, 6.20pm
FREE

Massive Dad

Step Up 2 Massive Dad

One of our favourite shows of 2014, Massive Dad were an absolute revelation that again showed that the sketch genre is just as imaginative and fun as it ever has been.

Massive Dad: Step Up 2 Massive Dad
Pleasance Dome
5-31 August, 6.50pm
£8-£10

The Pin

10 Seconds With The Pin

Talented and young and hugely critically acclaimed. Big things beckon for this duo.

The Pin: 10 Seconds With The Pin
Pleasance Dome
5-31 August, 7pm
£10-£11

Katia Kvinge

140 Karakters

We’ll never forget Katia’s dazzling performance of Swimming In Shallow Water at the Weirdos pantomime last Christmas. She’s more than just a singing mermaid though. A lot more, as this multi-charactered show sets out to prove. Katia’s also just come back from a US experience performing with improv legends at UCB, Groundlings and Second City, where she has no doubt strengthened her already strong performing skills.

Katia Kvinge: 140 Karakters
Just The Tonic @ The Caves
6-29 August, 7.45pm
FREE

Lazy Susan

Double Act

One of several new sketch groups to make the breakthrough last year and another deserved nominee for Best Newcomer. They promise more wigs. We look forward to that promise being delivered.

Lazy Susan: Double Act
Pleasance Dome
5-31 August, 8.10pm
£8-£10

Joseph Morpurgo

Soothing Sounds For The Baby

Having had Joseph preview for us last month I have to say this will be the highlight of the festival. Playful, silly, smart and above all superbly funny, Morpurgo’s characters all come from the various vinyl records he chosen as his desert island discs, each one spawning a new character. If his name isn’t being mentioned come awards time there is no justice.

Joseph Morpurgo: Soothing Sounds For The Baby
Pleasance Courtyard
5-31 August, 8.15pm
£9.50-£10.50

Pajama Men

2 Man 3 Musketeers

Legends of the Fringe and deservedly so. Making sketch comedy an artform for years.

Pajama Men: 2 Man 3 Musketeers
Assembly Roxy
7-30 August, 8.20pm
£14-£15

Adam Riches

Coach Coach

The Fosters Comedy Award Winner returns with a show that is more play than his usual mixed bag of manic character creations and audience participation. Expect a similar layer of madness and a performance that has it all.

Adam Riches is Coach Coach
Pleasance Dome
5-31 August, 9.45pm
£12 – £14

Gein’s Family Giftshop

Volume 2

This northern sketch trio were a surprising nominee for Best Newcomer last year. However, it was fully merited recognition of a show that breathed new life into the sketch genre, with volume 1 proving to be a delightful and dark critique and breakdown of a three-way friendship

Gein’s Family Giftshop: Volume 2
Pleasance Courtyard
5-30 August, 10.45pm
£8.50-£9.50

Twins

Pret A Comedy

I can’t put my finger on it but Twins’ show title always makes me giggle. So I assume their show will too. Jack Barry’s also a very good comedian and he makes up this double act with Annie McGrath, who I’m sure is equally very good.

Twins: Pret A Comedy
Pleasance Courtyard
7-30 August, 00.00
£5

Karl Schultz

Matthew Kelly – Hypnagogia

Karl’s debut as Matthew Kelly still ranks among our top 5 Edinburgh Fringe experiences. He’s maybe not quite lived up to such standing with his subsequent Edinburgh shows, but we’ve got a special feeling about this one.

Karl Schultz: Matthew Kelly – Hypnagogia
Pleasance Courtyard
7-29 August, 00.10am
£5

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