Avalon announce the full line-up for their 26th year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with the chance to see: FRANK SKINNER performing stand-up at the Fringe for the first time in seven years, limited runs from established and award-winning comics AL MURRAY, CHRIS RAMSEY and RUSSELL KANE, a follow-up hour from 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee CARL DONNELLY, a first solo UK appearance by US comic TOM SHILLUE and a host of other debut shows, musical, sketch, political comedy and theatrical productions for a fully-charged 26th anniversary at the Fringe.

Tickets for all shows are available to buy from Tuesday 13th May on www.edinburghsbestcomedy.com.

During the last 26 years, Avalon has promoted more Edinburgh Comedy Award winners and nominees than any other company including: CHRIS ADDISON, GREG DAVIES, DAVE GORMAN, HARRY HILL, RUSSELL HOWARD, RUSSELL KANE, THE MIGHTY BOOSH, CARL DONNELLY, AL MURRAY, KRISTEN SCHAAL & KURT BRAUNOHLER, ROISIN CONATY, GARTH MARENGHI and FRANK SKINNER and two of only four female winners of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award; JENNY ECLAIR and LAURA SOLON.

Avalon’s line-up for 2014 includes:

AL MURRAY THE PUB LANDLORD – One Man One Guvnor – Work in Progress
AL MURRAY THE PUB LANDLORD – The Pub Landlord’s Summer Saloon
ALEX HORNE – Monsieur Butterfly
ALEX HORNE – The Percentage Game
CARL DONNELLY – Now That’s What I Carl Donnelly! Volume VI
CARL HUTCHINSON – Here’s Me Show
THE COMEDY ZONE
CHRIS RAMSEY – The Most Dangerous Man on Saturday Morning Television
ED GAMBLE – Gambletron 5000
FRANK SKINNER – Man in a Suit
HAYLEY ELLIS – We Need To Talk About Kevin
THE HORNE SECTION – Milk The Tenderness
IAIN STIRLING – Everything
KATIE MULGREW – Happily Ever After
LUCY BEAUMONT – We Can Twerk It Out
MATT FORDE – 24 Hour Political Party People
PAUL McCAFFREY – Paul or Nothing
RAY PEACOCK – Here Comes Trouble
PHIL WANG – Mellow Yellow
RICHARD HERRING – Lord of The Dance Settee
RICHARD HERRING – I Killed Rasputin
RUSSELL KANE – Smallness
RUSSELL KANE – The Closure of Craig Solly
RUSSELL KANE – The Kaneing
TIFF STEVENSON – Optimist
TOM CRAINE – Thoughts On Love (By A Man With None Of The Answers)
TOM SHILLUE – Impossible
TOMMY ROWSON – Down and Out in Powys and London
WITTANK – Old School Secrets

Follow @livecomedy for news and ticket info. For further information, interview requests or images please contact the Edinburgh press team at edinburghpress@avalonuk.com or phone: Lottie Doran or Charlotte Davidson on 0207 598 7222

STAND-UP

AL MURRAY THE PUB LANDLORD – One Man One Guv (Work in Progess)
‘A national treasure’ The Daily Telegraph

The nation’s favourite publican celebrates 20 years at the lager top with a glimpse of his brand new 2014 stand -up tour. Not to be missed – place your orders now!

ALEX HORNE – Monsieur Butterfly
“One of the most inventive comics on the fringe” The Observer

Stupidly ambitious, logistically problematic, potentially disastrous, this is the show ALEX HORNE has wanted to make for a decade. Finally, he will be Monsieur Butterfly. One flap of his delicate wings, and mayhem may prevail.

CARL DONNELLY – Now That’s What I Carl Donnelly! Volume VI
“Gripping, unmissable stand-up” The Guardian

Join 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee CARL DONNELLY for another “ludicrously funny hour” (The Skinny) of stories and observations from his life since last August. This “cuban heel boot wearing hippy” (Broadway Baby) has spent part of the year travelling around India and the rest of it going through a divorce so has plenty to talk about. Sit back and enjoy an hour in the company of “a complete natural” (Chortle) and an “observational genius” (The Guardian). “Another superb display of stand-up from Donnelly” (Edinburgh Is Funny).

CARL HUTCHINSON – Here’s Me Show

Uniquely stubborn, outright impractical and undeniably hilarious. Geordie comic CARL HUTCHINSON returns to the fringe fresh from touring the country supporting CHRIS RAMSEY with another brilliant hour of stand-up. An old man in a young man’s body, he possesses the uncanny ability to both irritate and be irritated in a charming and endearing manner. Described as “The Larry David of the North East” CARL’s energetic, articulate and dynamic performance makes this his best show yet.

CHRIS RAMSEY – The Most Dangerous Man on Saturday Morning Television
“Frighteningly talented. . . tearing up every stage he lands on” GQ

Following a sell-out tour, Celebrity Juice (ITV2) regular and star of BBC Two’s Hebburn comes to Edinburgh for 9 nights only!
After being “sent off” the Soccer AM sofa last year for misbehaving, CHRIS wonders whether he really is the Most Dangerous Man on Saturday Morning TV. Find out what happens when you say the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

THE COMEDY ZONE
“The Fringe’s leading stand-up showcase” The Times

The Fringe’s funniest, most prestigious and longest running showcase is back! DAVE GORMAN, RUSSELL HOWARD, AL MURRAY, RUSSELL KANE, STEWART LEE, HARRY HILL, JOHN OLIVER, FRANKIE BOYLE, CHRIS RAMSEY, NOEL FIELDING, JULIAN BARRETT and CHRIS ADDISON were all first seen in The Comedy Zone. This year we are proud to introduce: JACK BARRY (James Acaster Tour Support), STEVE BUGEJA (BBC Radio New Comedy Award winner 2013), ALEX SMITH (Live At The Electric) and ADAM HESS (Chortle Student Comedy Award Winner 2011).

ED GAMBLE – Gambletron
“incessantly hilarious” The Guardian

GAMBLE wops out his debut solo effort. Essentially it’s a great guy (ED) delivering funny humour through a pretty sweet microphone/speaker set up.
You may have seen him as one of the idiot double act & iTunes chart toppers PEACOCK & GAMBLE, but this time it is just him (GAMBLE.) He’s supported GREG DAVIES on tour loads and he’s been on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three) twice and Sweat the Small Stuff (BBC Three), so drop by if that’s your bag. Star of Almost Royal (BBC America) and Chortle Award winner 2014.

FRANK SKINNER – Man in a Suit

After a UK tour and sell-out London run, FRANK SKINNER brings his acclaimed new stand-up show Man In a Suit to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a full month.

“Man In A Suit sees the crown prince of laddism grow up” Metro

“Beautifully crafted return to stand-up” Evening Standard

“Exquisite and surprising… highly accomplished and very funny” Independent

HAYLEY ELLIS – We Need To Talk About Kevin
“Destined for comedy greatness” XFM

Join loser at life and winner at losing, HAYLEY ELLIS, as she presents her debut hour of stand up about love, loss and a little Lhasa Apso dog called Kevin.
Fresh from supporting ROISIN CONATY on tour, award-winning ELLIS lets you in on her loves, losses, and life-lessons learnt from a little Lhasa Apso dog.
A regular MC around the UK, HAYLEY’s warmth and girl-next-door charm make her impossible to dislike. And then there’s KEVIN. We really need to talk about him.

IAIN STIRLING – Everything
“One of the best joke writers on the circuit” GQ

Edinburgh’s very own BAFTA nominated IAIN STIRLING is back with his third show following two successive sell-out runs. An hour of stand-up from one of Scotland’s “Hottest newcomers” The Scotsman. A show about heart-break, immigration and meeting Jedward. As seen on Russell Howard’s Good News and Sweat the Small Stuff (BBC Three), The 50 Funniest Moments of 2013 (Channel 4) and as heard on Comedy Live Lounge (BBC Radio 1).

KATIE MULGREW – Happily Ever After
“An absolute natural stand-up, unpretentious and hugely likeable, and a great writer. . .”
London is Funny

KATIE MULGREW kinda thinks she’s a real life Disney princess. She even found her Prince Charming and married him in a massive frock. Now according to Disney philosophy, she’s found her happily ever after. Brilliant! NOW BLOODY WHAT? WARNING May contain high levels up optimism, cynicism and some foul-mouthed enchanted objects.

LUCY BEAUMONT – We Can Twerk It Out
“She’s got the timing of Les Dawson. . . an absolute natural” Johnny Vegas

The winner of The BBC New Comedy Award and star of BBC Three’s Live at the Electric, LUCY BEAUMONT presents her hugely anticipated debut show. Spend an hour in LUCY’s universe, with her unique blend of surreal, off-beat humour and big, big belly laughs.

MATT FORDE – 24 Hour Political Party People
“A first class comic” The Guardian

Following a sell-out run in London, MATT comes back to celebrate the great and the good (and Ed Miliband). See his brand new show as the countdown to Election 2015 starts here.
As seen on Have I Got News For You (BBC One) , This Week (BBC One) and 8 out of 10 Cats (Channel 4). As heard on The Now Show and The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4), 5Live and talkSPORT. MATT also writes The Last Leg (Channel 4) and Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three).

PAUL MCCAFFREY – Paul or Nothing
“Ruthlessly funny” The Times

Star of BBC Three’s Impractical Jokers and as seen on Russell Howard’s Good News, major UK comedy club regular PAUL MCCAFFREY returns with a new hour of top quality anecdotal stand up marveling at how different his life has become. From tales of becoming an un-official post office for his neighbours to a cat interfering in a long-running feud, MCCAFFREY is a guaranteed good time.

PHIL WANG – Mellow Yellow
“Very promising up-and-comer” The Independent

Following his “astonishingly assured debut” (✮✮✮✮ – The Sunday Times) in 2013, confident nerd and feminist creep PHIL WANG returns with his wry outlook and laid-back style to talk about Chinese people, “the ladies”, and Batman at one point. PHIL continues to cement his reputation as “an intelligent, attuned observer” (The Scotsman), with his thoughts on love, race, and yum-yums. As seen on BBC Radio 4’s Fresh From the Fringe and as heard on BBC Radio 1’s Comedy Live Lounge.

RAY PEACOCK – Here Come’s Trouble
“Unrestrained silliness, uninhibited childishness” The Independent

RAY PEACOCK has been a very naughty boy recently and it’s time to find out why. Join the quadruple Chortle Award nominated comedian and best bit of PEACOCK & GAMBLE as he takes you through a myriad of mischief and misdemeanours in an attempt to get to the bottom of what drives a grown man to such infantile behaviour.

RICHARD HERRING – Lord of The Dance Settee
“Dependably funny” Chortle

After covering weighty issues like death, love, religion and spam javelins, “The King of Edinburgh” (The List) is in a frivolous mood with this show about daftness, whether the term “cool comedian” is an oxymoron, bouncing joyously on the sofa and how HERRING’s whole career is a failed attempt to top a piece of visual slapstick comedy he came up with at 16. Can he revisit the joke thirty years on or will it smash his old bones?

RUSSELL KANE – Smallness
“A seriously good comedian.” The Times

What is it with us and smallness? We Brits love it – being tiny but fierce, close but distant. The multi-award-winning RUSSELL KANE returns to Edinburgh with his sell out big – small show that will have you popping with laughter.

TIFF STEVENSON – Optimist
“Hilarious, beautifully written” ✮✮✮✮ Metro

On cloud 9 one minute and battling your inner critic the next? TIFF STEVENSON (Nevermind the Buzzcocks BBC Two, Next Week’s News RTE Two, 7 Day Saturday BBC Radio 5Live) searches for optimism in a world of Kardashians, guns and Everyday Vodka. Winner “Stutter’s Spirit of Fringe 2012”

TOMMY ROWSON – Down and Out in Powys and London
“A distinctive voice. This Welsh weirdo creates a quirky, oddball world – but one with which the rest of us can still easily identify. The anecdotes are full of detailed aside and delivered with perfectly-judged timing” Steve Bennett, Chortle

So You Think You’re Funny winner 2011 and BBC New Comedy Finalist 2012, TOMMY ROWSON brings his debut show to Edinburgh. Join TOMMY as he tells tales from Wales and London featuring bordello belles, vagabonds, vagrants, swindlers, bindlers, drunks, drifters, drug dealers and Jesus. Warning: Contains poetry.

TOM CRAINE – Thoughts On Love (By A Man With None Of The Answers)
By arrangement with Avalon
“Wise, funny, lyrical” Observer

We’re all idiots searching for someone who’ll fail to notice. Award-winning stand-up from Jigsaw’s TOM CRAINE (BBC Radio 4, sell-out runs Edinburgh 2011-2013). As seen on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three), Live at the Electric (BBC Three), Fake Reaction (ITV2) and Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide (BBC Three). Sex and the Single Guy columnist (Cosmopolitan). Writer for British Comedy Award nominated The Last Leg (Channel 4).

TOM SHILLUE – Impossible
By arrangement with Avalon
“Flawless comedic retelling” theonion.com

One of the best comedy storytellers in the US, Time Out New York called TOM SHILLUE ‘a pioneer’ and named him ‘One of NYC’s comedy linchpins’. TOM put together Impossible especially for the Fringe. Surprised that TOM had never played in the UK, DANIEL KITSON recommended him, and here we are.

A former correspondent on The Daily Show, TOM has appeared in his own Comedy Central Special, and also made appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show, both as a stand-up, and as part of The Rag Time Gals, JIMMY’s own barbershop quartet. The Gals version of “Sexy Back” with JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and “Ignition (Remix)” have been viewed millions of times.

VARIETY & SKETCH

AL MURRAY THE PUB LANDLORD – The Pub Landlord’s Summer Saloon
“Wickedly witty stuff” Daily Telegraph

The Nation’s favourite pub philosopher turns pop-up publican and invites you to his jumped – up tent saloon. Serving up a host of special guests each night – comedy, variety and music are all on tap in this headline show led by the ringmaster of rabble rousing.

ALEX HORNE – The Percentage Game
“A beguiling blend of the smart and the stupid. . . a real delight” Sunday Times

Here’s the plan: exactly one hundred people come to the event. These people both watch and take part in the show. Remember, one of these people could be you. ALEX will conduct these people (possibly you) and an experiment to enlighten and entertain whilst exploring the always hilarious world of statistics. Part game, part social study, one hundred percent fun.

THE HORNE SECTION – Milk The Tenderness

ALEX HORNE and his marvellous musicians return to the mother-cow, hungrier, thirstier and a year older than in 2013, with a BRAND NEW SHOW featuring songs, guests, tenderness and milk.

“A riotous splicing of live music and comedy” Observer

“This is a thought-provoking, anarchic and wildly entertaining welding of stand-up comedy and big band music” Guardian

“The finest way to spend a late night at the Fringe” Independent

WITTANK: Old School Secrets
“Beautiful narrative sketch comedy. . . Masterful” Sunday Times

Sketch maestros WitTank (KIERAN BOYD, MARK COOPER-JONES, NAZ OSMANOGLU) invite you into the ostentatiously furnished corridors of The School; a splendidly twisted world, and an unsettling relic of Empire, where maniacal masters rub tweedy shoulders with sharp-tongued scoundrels, and mystery and misrule abound. Stage Directed by ADAM BRACE.

THEATRE

I Killed Rasputin – a new play by RICHARD HERRING

American Journalist EM HALLIDAY visits the aged Russian Prince and conspirator in the murder of Rasputin, FELIX YUSOPOV, improbably still alive in 1967. The former richest man in Russia, now reduced to making money from his tall tale, is haunted by the Mad Monk, who even 50 years on refuses to die. Will Yusupov finally reveal the truth? “I don’t know of an instant in modern history where so many reputable as well as disreputable historians have solemnly repeated such a patently improbable story as if it were gospel.” EM HALLIDAY.

The Closure of Craig Solly – a dark monologue by RUSSELL KANE

You, the audience, become the friends and family of this psychotic gangster’s victims. In this bleak and viscerally-twisted monologue, a fractured man attempts to explain himself. Craig Solly has taken a psychopathic delight in the vile things that he has done, yet he believes some of it can be reasoned to the loved ones left behind. Directly addressed to the audience, the piece takes the form of a ‘Victim Closure Session’. With very violent, explicit, and racial language throughout, the world of Craig Solly will leave you blasted.

PODCAST

RUSSELL KANE – The Kaneing

Russell Kane hosts The Kaneing, a topical comedy podcast where a panel of guest comedians pitch the stories of the week for a fictional magazine, recorded in front of a live audience.

SHOW DETAILS

AL MURRAY
THE PUB LANDLORD
10th-14th, 17-21st, 24th August
One Man, One Guvnor
Work in Progress
Palazzo, Assembly
19:20

AL MURRAY
THE PUB LANDLORD
8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd August
The Pub Landlord’s Summer Saloon
Palazzo, Assembly
19:20

ALEX HORNE
Monsieur Butterfly
30th July – 24th August
Pleasance Two
20:10

ALEX HORNE
The Percentage Game
12th August & 19th August
Nightclub, Gilded Balloon
15:00

CARL DONNELLY
Now That’s What I Carl Donnelly! Volume VI
30th July – 23rd August
except 13th August)
Upstairs, Pleasance
20:30

CARL HUTCHINSON
Here’s Me Show
30th July – 24th August
Bunker, Pleasance
20:20

THE COMEDY ZONE
30th July – 24th August
Cabaret Bar, Pleasance
22:45

CHRIS RAMSEY
The Most Dangerous Man on Saturday Morning Television
16th August – 24th August
Pleasance One
22:30

ED GAMBLE
Gambletron 5000
30th July – 24th August
This, Pleasance
21:45

FRANK SKINNER
Man In A Suit
1st August – 24th August
George Square Theatre, Assembly
20:45

HAYLEY ELLIS
We Need to Talk About Kevin
30th July – 24th August
Wee Coo, Underbelly
16:10

THE HORNE SECTION
Milk the Tenderness
7th August – 24th August
Udderbelly, Underbelly
22:45

IAIN STIRLING
Everything
30th July – 24th August
Upstairs, Pleasance
19:15

KATIE MULGREW
Happily Ever After
30th July – 24th August
except 12th August)
Turret, Gilded Balloon
20:00

LUCY BEAUMONT
We Can Twerk it Out
30th July – 24th August
(except 12th August)
That, Pleasance
17:45

MATT FORDE
24 Hour Political Party People
30th July – 24th August
Cabaret Bar, Pleasance
14:30

PAUL McCAFFREY
Paul or Nothing
30th July – 23rd August
The Box, Assembly
20:40

RAY PEACOCK
Here Comes Trouble
30th July – 24th August
Clover, Underbelly
21:25

PHIL WANG
Mellow Yellow
30th July – 24th August
Bunker, Pleasance
17:50

RICHARD HERRING
Lord of the Dance Settee
30th July – 24th August
George Square Theatre, Assembly
22:45

RICHARD HERRING
I Killed Rasputin
30th July – 24th August
George Square Theatre, Assembly
15:35

RUSSELL KANE
Smallness
20th, 21st, 22nd August
McEwan Hall, Underbelly
21:00

RUSSELL KANE
The Closure of Craig Solly
18th August – 24th August
Clover, Underbelly
13:30

RUSSELL KANE
The Kaneing
6th, 12th, 19th August
Checkpoint, Assembly
15:00

TIFF STEVENSON
Optimist
30th July – 23rd August
Turret, Gilded Balloon
21:15

TOM CRAINE
Thoughts On Love (By A Man With None Of The Answers)
30th July – 25th August
(except 12th August)
Bunker, Pleasance
19:05

TOM SHILLUE
Impossible
30th July – 24th August
(except 31st July, 11th August)
Studio 2, Assembly, George Street
21:00

TOMMY ROWSON
Down and Out in Powys and London
30th July – 24th August
(except 12th August)
Clover, Underbelly
18:45

WITTANK
Old School Secrets
30th July – 24th August
Above, Pleasance
19:40

Notes to the Editor:
Avalon Edinburgh Comedy Award winners include:

1991 – FRANK SKINNER
1995 – JENNY ECLAIR
1999 – AL MURRAY
2001 – GARTH MARENGHI (MATTHEW HOLNESS, RICHARD AYOADE)
2005 – LAURA SOLON
2010 – RUSSELL KANE

Avalon Edinburgh Comedy Award – Best Newcomer winners include:

1992 – HARRY HILL
1998 – THE MIGHTY BOOSH
2010 – ROISIN CONATY