The Edinburgh Festival 1994: Comedy & Cabaret

Best of the Fest 1-3 (Playhouse, 031-557 2590, 27 & 29 Aug). A trio of shows featuring the stars of the Off the Kerb stable: Julian Clary, Lee Evans, Jeff Green, Hattie Hayridge and Mark Thomas; then Jack Dee, Mark Lamarr, Rhona Cameron, Richard Morton and Mark Thomas again; then Jo Brand and special guests.

Bib & Bob (Acropolis, 031-226 5138, Aug 19-21). Blink-and-you'll-miss-it variety spectacular featuring Logan Murray and Jerry Sadowitz.

Arnold Brown . . . and Why Not? (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, 24 Aug-3 Sept). Sly 1987 Perrier winner: 'Not so much hip . . . more hip replacement.'

Scott Capurro - Risk Gay (Southside, 031-667 7365, 14 Aug-3 Sept). Fresh from Mrs Doubtfire, the stand-out attraction in what looks like a below-strength American contingent.

Alan Davies (Gilded Balloon, 031-226 2151, Fri-3 Sept). Rising star with naggingly Izzard-esque delivery.

Jenny Eclair's Bad Behaviour Show (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Wed-3 Sept). A miscreant with a mission: 'If equality means more women pissing on the street, then so be it.'

Lee Evans (Music Hall, 031-226 2428, 22 Aug-3 Sept). Last year's Perrier Award-winner returns.

The Fabulous Lypsinka Show (Assembly Rooms, 031-226 2428, Fri-3 Sept). Drag diva John Epperson lip-synchs his way across the USA.

Marga Gomez - Memory Tricks (Assembly Rooms, 031-226 2428, Fri-3 Sept). Comedy and drama blend in unique style in this acclaimed reminiscence of a Harlem upbringing.

Boothby Graffoe (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Fri-3 Sept). 'The only comedian in the country,' it says here, 'to be named after a Lincolnshire village.' Where does that leave Roy Walker?

John Hegley - Love Cuts (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Sat-31 Aug). Winsome banjo minstrel walks a daring line between the whimsical and the annoying.

Harry Hill Pub Internationale (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Fri-29 Aug). Hill appears with his pub band, his adopted son - the bearded, three-year-old Alan - and 'media celebrity' Al Murray. Not to be missed.

Dominic Holland (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Thurs-3 Sept). 1993 Perrier Best Newcomer Award winner, unfairly stigmatised as the comedian who has already met your parents.

Phil Kay (Gilded Balloon, 031-226 2151, Fri-3 Sept). Ebullient and likeable Glaswegian with a hint of the young Billy Connolly about him.

Mandy Knight - Some of My Best Friends are Ginger (Gilded Balloon II, 031-225 6520, Fri-3 Sept). Anti-ginge prejudice rears its ugly head.

Lea De Laria - Queer Brat (Acropolis, 031-557 6969, 25-29 Aug). A flying visit with a new show from the unassuming lesbian superstar who leaves her audiences begging for mercy.

Stewart Lee (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Wed-3 Sept). First solo show for sassy young buck of Fist of Fun and Lionel Nimrod renown.

Donna McPhail (Gilded Balloon, 031-226 2151, Fri-27 Aug). Acerbic commentator with a hard act to follow, having chosen last year's festival as the venue for on-stage coming out.

Woody Bop Muddy (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Wed-3 Sept). Riotous bad- record destruction act, based on crowd-pleasing premise that it is more honourable to destroy than create.

Old Farts 2 - The Musical (George Sq, 031-650 2001, 15-29 Aug). Barry Cryer and Willie Rushton. Lock up your aunts.

Perrier Pick of the Fringe Award Shows (Music Hall, 031-226 2428, 2-3 Sept). They're on the pitch, they think it's all over . . . Winner and shortlist get together for gloating and recrimination.

John Shuttleworth (Pleasance, 031-556 6550, Sat-28 Aug). A unique insight into top-flight showbusiness, courtesy of Shuttleworth, his wife Mary and sole agent Ken Worthington.

Steady Eddy - Quantum Limp (Gilded Balloon, 031-221 2651, Fri-3 Sept). The fearless Australian disability taboo-buster.

Young, Gifted & Green (Gilded Balloon II, 031-225 6520, Fri-3 Sept). Irish talent on the march, with Ardal O'Hanlon, Dermot Carmody and Kevin Gildea.