Thursday 20^th April 2017

Avalon announce the full line-up for their 29^th year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with the chance to see runs from established and award-winning comics including AL MURRAY, SAM SIMMONS and LEE NELSON, the return of 2016 Spirit Of The Fringe award winning Australian trio DOUG ANTHONY ALL STARS, a follow-up hour from 2016 Edinburgh Comedy Award Newcomer nominee BILAL ZAFAR, two live performances from the team behind the smash hit podcast MY DAD WROTE A PORNO and a host of other debut, musical, political comedy, sketch and theatrical shows for a fully-charged 29th anniversary at the Fringe.

During the last 29 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, THE MIGHTY BOOSH, FRANK SKINNER, AL MURRAY, RUSSELL KANE, ALEX HORNE, ROISIN CONATY, CARL DONNELLY, KRISTEN SCHALL & KURT BRAUNOHLER, GARTH MARENGHI, LUCY BEAUMONT and BILAL ZAFAR and two of only four female winners of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award; JENNY ECLAIR and LAURA SOLON.

Avalon’s line-up for 2017 includes:

AL MURRAY – Pub Landlord’s Saloon

BILAL ZAFAR – Biscuit

CARL DONNELLY – Nutter On A Bus

DEADPAN THEATRE – Third Wheel

DOUG ANTHONY ALL STARS – Near Death Experience

DRENNON DAVIS – The Imaginary Radio Programme

ED GAMBLE – Mammoth

FLO AND JOAN – The Kindness of Stranglers

HARRY & CHRIS – The Harry and Chris Show 2

IAIN STIRLING – U Ok Hun?

LEE NELSON – Serious Joker

MATT FORDE – Political Party Podcast

MATT FORDE – Eat. Sleep. Political Party. Repeat

MATT RICHARDSON  – Slash

MATT WINNING – Filibuster

MY DAD WROTE A PORNO – My Dad Wrote a Porno: Live

NAZ OSMANOGLU – The Naz Show

PHIL WANG – Kinabalu

RICHARD HERRING – Oh Frig I’m 50

ROB AUTON -The Hair Show

SAM SIMMONS – A-K

THUNDERBARDS -Thünderbards: 4nd

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 Victoria Wedderburn, Nathan Dean or Florrie Sheehan on 0207 598 7222

STAND-UP

BILAL ZAFAR – Biscuit

‘Catch him before he hits the mainstream’

Guardian

Diving into the world of Muslim romance in 21st century Britain, 2016 Edinburgh Best Newcomer nominee and Hackney Empire New Act of the Year winner Bilal Zafar has been going on dates – online, casual, speed, and many more – in an attempt to find love and keep his mum happy in spite of precarious career choices. He has appeared on Channel 4, BBC Three, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Asian Network, and has written for the Independent. ‘Fascinating and hilarious in equal measure’ i-D. ‘Endearing, relaxed and naturally funny… hilarious’ ★★★★ Ed Fest Mag. ★★★★ Skinny.

CARL DONNELLY – Nutter On A Bus

‘Observational genius’

Guardian

Join double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Carl Donnelly on the top deck of a bus for his all new show about spiritual awakenings and letting go of your past. ‘A touching and hilarious account of embarrassment and the fragility of modern masculinity’ ★★★★ Sunday Times. ‘This man is a rare creature – he is inherently funny, and his stand-up feels natural and free flowing… proper tears-in-the-eyes, laugh-out-loud funny’ ★★★★★ Broadway Baby. Donnelly can provoke laughter out of anything ★★★★ The Scotsman.

ED GAMBLE – Mammoth

‘A master of unlocking the humour in everything ★★★★’

The List

After a sellout success in 2016, Ed Gamble is back with a brand new lumbering beast of a comedy show.  Off of Mock the Week (BBC2), Drunk History (Comedy Central), Conan (TBS), Almost Royal (E4), Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central (Comedy Central), Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live (BBC3), Man Down (C4) as well as countless other things (3 other things).  ‘Creative and clever humour that leaves the audience in stitches.’ ★★★★ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine.

IAIN STIRLING – U Ok Hun?

‘Provides an intriguing twentysomething perspective on the current state of his nation’

 Guardian Guide

Edinburgh’s BAFTA-winning comedian returns to the Fringe after narrating ITV2’s Love Island and performing five consecutive sell-out runs with a show about how this new world of instant gratification has affected our ability to find long term happiness.  As seen as host on CelebAbility (ITV2), Virtually Famous (E4), Drunk History (Comedy Central) and The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC).‘One of Scotland’s hottest newcomers’ The Scotsman . ‘Possesses all the born-with-it-or-you’re-not-qualities associated with the world’s leading comics’  The List . ‘Lovely satirical description’  Chortle.

LEE NELSON – Serious Joker

‘Comedy legend’

The Sun

You’ve seen him sneaking into places he shouldn’t be, now come and see him where he most definitely should be: live on stage with his sensational new tour. ‘You should be ashamed of yourself’ Sepp Blatter. ‘Comedy genius’ Mirror. ‘Get him out!’ Donald Trump. All profits from the show will be going to Lee.

MATT FORDE – Eat. Sleep. Political Party. Repeat 

‘Possibly the best political comedy show on the Fringe’

The Telegraph

Find the funny side of the worldwide shitstorm with the UK’s leading political comedian and star of Dave’s Unspun. Now with added Trump. ‘Forde is a first-class comic’ The Guardian. ‘Singlehandedly fulfilling comedy’s brief of taking our political masters to task. Combining spot-on impressions with up-to-the-minute observations’ ★★★★  Mail on Sunday

MATT RICHARDSON – Slash

‘High Wattage Charisma’

Guardian

A lot has happened to host of Virgin Radio’s Drive-time show Matt Richardson since his last tour. A lot of it is quite strange. Most comedians hope to win accolades and make people laugh, very few end up with Heat Magazine’s Weird Crush trophy. From interviewing millionaire dogs in LA, to having his phone nicked by Kate Moss – it’s been an odd, but fun, few years. Now Matt can finally tell people about it, as well as talking about everything else on his mind in a debut month-long run at the Fringe. ‘Hilarious and charming’ Mirror

MATT WINNING – Filibuster 

‘Offbeat one-liners, strange observations and pure silliness’

Time Out

A show about climate change from comedian and environmental economist Matt Winning (‘Lightweight stuff’, The Guardian) describing how global warming is destroying both the planet and his life. Matt gives a presentation on how a world which is ‘sick of experts’ may not be about much longer. For fans of An Inconvenient Truth and also for fans of watching a strange man have a breakdown. ‘Charming and accomplished’  ★★★★  List.  ‘The son of Robert Mugabe’  ★★★★ Skinny. ‘Clever gags… esoteric routines’ Scotsman.

NAZ OSMANOGLU – The Naz Show

‘Particularly magnetic’

The Guardian

Heavyweight sketch maestro (WitTank) and award winning stand-up veteran, Naz charges back to the Burgh to punch out his first solo sketch show with everything he’s got. Characters grotesque, sketches inspired and laughs aplenty. Star of BBC2’s Inside No. 9, Flat TV and Plebs (ITV2). ‘A high energy, no-holds-barred hour from the consistently funny Naz’. The Telegraph, ★★★★★Three Weeks, ★★★★★ Broadway Baby, ★★★★ The List, ★★★★ Edinburgh Festivals, ★★★★ Arts Award Voice

PHIL WANG – Kinabalu

‘Certain belly laughs’ ★★★★

 The Sunday Times

Phil Wang is a son of the British Empire. But in a world suddenly intent on building walls and bolstering borders, what is a Commonwealth man to do? A blistering new hour of comedy gold – that’s what. Phil is a laidback Eurasian stand-up comic with cerebral charm and a dorky swagger. He has been on Have I Got News For You (BBC One), Live At The Apollo (BBC Two), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4) and the short-lived but much-loved BBC3 sit-com Top Coppers. ‘Brilliant… His technique is flawless, his observations astute’ Chortle

RICHARD HERRING – Oh Frig I’m 50

‘A gloriously infantile delight in mischief, provocation and inspired rudeness’

Guardian

‘I only regret the people I didn’t have sex with….. And 60% of the people I did have sex with.’

The King of Edinburgh (the List) makes a triumphant return on the 30th anniversary of his first Fringe, with his 40th show in his 50th year. Older and wiser? Or just older? And more stupid. Following on from Oh F***, I’m 40! , this is the second (and let’s face it, almost certainly penultimate) instalment in Herring’s once-a-decade examination of ageing.

ROB AUTON -The Hair Show

‘A genuine original. Poetical, philosophical, humane, completely charming and funny to boot.’

Guardian

This show is a comedy/theatre/spoken word show about hair and hairs. This show is suitable for people who have, or have had hair and hairs. ‘A genuine original’ Guardian. ‘I haven’t seen anything else quite like it, or him’ Stage. ‘One of my absolute favourites’ Daniel Kitson. ‘His absurd brand of stand-up and poetry is exactly what the country needs right now’ Huffington Post. ‘Charming, eccentric and uplifting, Auton is a talent to watch’ Independent.

SAM SIMMONS –  A-K

‘If you can imagine someone combining the rage of Basil Fawlty with the lunacy of Spike Milligan you are getting somewhere close to Simmons’

 The Evening Standard

Winner Best Show 2015 Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Awards

Winner Barry Award 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Winner Best Comedy Performer 2014 Helpmann Awards

Forty year old dickhead sits on stage and reads the phone book.

G Jones 08 323 7261

I wonder what he’s up to these days.

2016 saw Sam completely sell out seasons at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the West End and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with his huge popularity seeing him do return seasons in both Melbourne and London. Most recently, Sam was invited to perform in the latest series of Live at the Apollo (BBC Two). Don’t miss this brand-new offering from a unique, once in a generation comedian.’★★★★★’ Time Out. ‘This show both demands your attention and deserves it. ★★★★★’ The Times

 VARIETY, THEATRE, SKETCH, MUSICAL COMEDY & PODCAST PRODUCTIONS

AL MURRAY – Pub Landlord’s Saloon

‘A supremely polished performer ★★★★★’

Mail on Sunday

The nation’s favourite pub landlord turns pop-up publican and invites you to his raucous saloon. Comedy, music and variety are all on tap in this headline show led by the ringmaster of rabble rousing. The guvnor returns for a strictly limited run so ladies and gents place your orders now!  ‘Wickedly witty stuff’ Daily Telegraph

DEADPAN THEATRE  – Third Wheel

‘Quickfire, zinger-filled scripting ★★★★’

The Scotsman

Polly (Eliot Salt) and Eve (Jude Mack) are driving around the UK with their best mate Dylan in a Wizard of Oz lunchbox. At his funeral, they are handed the box along with posthumous instructions to take him on the trip he never got to go on. Set to witty Sondheim-esque narration from the onstage band, ‘Party in the Sky’, this is a story about grief, love and facing up to both. ‘Hilarious…Laughs at every turn ★★★★’ The Sunday Times.

DOUG ANTHONY ALL STARS – Near Death Experience 

‘Packed full of raw belly laughs★★★★★’

 Chortle 

The Monster Gods of comedy and winners of 2016’s Spirit of the Fringe award return to Edinburgh. Paul McDermott, Tim Ferguson and Paul “Flacco “ Livingston drag their unsuspecting audience screaming down memory lane. Their unique brand of musical comedy is more wicked and dangerous than ever. Wracked by illness and age this trio has no time to waste! ‘One of the greatest things I have ever witnessed’ The Scotsman

WARNING: Violence, Horror Themes, Sexual References, Mature Adult Images and Hypnotism

DRENNON DAVIS – The Imaginary Radio Programme 

‘He epitomizes a true artist’

Chortle

Returning from America with a musical sketch show,
Drennon has made a name for himself as one of the most innovative minds in today’s comedy scene, Drennon has been featured in LA Weekly’s Top Ten Comedy Acts to Watch (2014), Comedy Central, NBC, MTV, and was a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing. Drennon has been described as “a bit of a genius” (The Times) and “high on concept and adept in execution” (The Guardian)

FLO AND JOAN – The Kindness of Stranglers

‘endlessly charming, catchy, and bloody brilliant‘

Stylist

Creators of viral hit ‘The 2016 Song’, which clocked up over 40 million views on social media, musical comedy sisters Flo & Joan (Amused Moose Comedy Award finalists, The 2016 Song) present an hour of their dark, witty songs.  ‘Hilarious’ (Glamour).  ‘If Flanders & Swann and Flight of the Conchords and Garfunkel & Oates…somehow mixed all their DNA, the offspring might end up sounding something like Flo and Joan’ (Chortle.co.uk).  ‘Flo & Joan are lyrical geniuses ★★★★★’ (FringeBiscuit.co.uk).  ‘A night that I won’t soon forget…an absolute must see’ ★★★★★ (AYoungerTheatre.com). ‘A triumph of lyrical creativity and sororal camaraderie’ ★★★★ (FringeGuru.com).  Amused Moose Comedy Award finalists 2016. Now Magazine Audience Choice Award 2017 (Toronto Sketchfest).

HARRY & CHRIS – The Harry and Chris Show 2

‘Unapologetically feel-good ★★★★’

Broadway Baby

After last year’s sell-out run of their debut show, Harry Baker  (Blistering wordplay ★★★★★ThreeWeeks) and Chris Read (Brilliant Evening Standard) bring back their unique mix of comedy, melody, poetry and best-matery. Ranging from pandas in crisis to Robot Wars, they bring love and laughter to a world that needs both more than ever. ‘Exhilarating and blissed out all at the same time’ The Scotsman

MATT FORDE – Political Party Podcast 

 ‘Best Comedy Podcasts’ pick

The Telegraph

Following 4 years of sell-out London shows Matt Forde’s Political Party returns to Edinburgh for a one off special! Previous guests include: Tony Blair, Nigel Farage, Michael Portillo, Liz Kendall, Alastair Campbell and Ruth Davidson. The Political Party Podcast has had over 400,000 downloads and was named one of the Telegraph’s ‘Best Comedy Podcasts’ and The Times ‘Podcast Of The Week’. The guest for the Edinburgh show will be announced shortly.

MY DAD WROTE A PORNO –  My Dad Wrote a Porno: Live 

‘With over 50m downloads and a Christmas special that topped the iTunes Album chart, this is a ‘cultural phenomenon’

Time Out

The team behind the hilarious smash hit podcast are coming to Edinburgh for two live shows. What would you do if your dad wrote a dirty book? Ignore it? Not Jamie Morton. He reads it to the world. Along with his best mates James Cooper and Radio 1 DJ Alice Levine, Jamie will debut a previously unheard chapter from his dad’s brilliantly notorious Belinda Blinked Series.

THUNDERBARDS –Thünderbards: 4nd

‘Brilliantly performed and hysterically written’

The List

Critically-acclaimed sketch duo Thünderbards return to Edinburgh with their 4^nd hour of gag-laden comedy, filled with their trademark off-beat jokes, fast-paced sketches and overwhelming politeness. With a potent combination of heartfelt absurdity, high-concept silliness and sweat-drenched toil, Thünderbards will stop at nothing to make your day great again. Stars of BBC Radio 4’s Sketchorama. ★★★★ The List, The Telegraph, Broadway Baby, ThreeWeeks. ‘Hugely entertaining’ (Daily Mail). ‘Laugh out loud funny’ (The Scotsman).  Without Question one of the funniest sketch acts on the Fringe’ GQ Magazine

SHOW DETAILS

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