EDINBURGH FESTIVAL '98: Day Planner Your Hour-By-Hour Guide to What's Best at the Festival and Fringe

11 AM

THEATRE

11.30-12.15 Play Wisty for Me: The Life of Peter Cook. Few people could speak with the voice of EL Wisty as surely as Matthew Perret in this two- man show about Cook's life and work. It never outstays its welcome and individual gags are hilarious.

Pleasance Below, to 31 Aug, pounds 5-pounds 6 (pounds 4-pounds 5)

12 NOON

THEATRE

12.30-2.00 Richard III. Malachai Bogdanov's toddler version of the Shakespeare play may rob the characters of their full range, but the cast achieve the fusion of kindergarten and courtly intrigue with aplomb.

Pleasance, Venue 33, today and tomorrow, pounds 8 (pounds 6).

2PM

CHILDREN

2.00-3.30 The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky's ballet with spectacular giant puppets. South Leith Parish Church Halls (venue 180), Henderson Street. Until 29 Aug (not 23).

4PM

THEATRE

4.35-5.35 Tamogotchi Heaven. Adults-only tragi-comic tale of a woman and her cyberpet. Pleasance (venue 33), 60 The Pleasance (556 6550). Price pounds 6.50 (pounds 5.50). Until 31 Aug.

COMEDY

4.50-5.50 Peepolykus - Horses for Courses. Acclaimed surreal comedy thriller. Pleasance (venue 33), 60 The Pleasance (556 6550). Price pounds 7 (pounds 6). Until 31 Aug.

7PM

DANCE

7.20-10.30 Destino Tango. With Dutch maestros Sexteto Can-yengue and dancers Club Tango 5. Graffiti, corner of Broughton and East London Streets. Price pounds 8.50 (pounds 7.50). To 31 Aug (not 25).

8PM

COMEDY

8.15-9.15 Mark Doherty: Fascinating Things. Unique, surreal standup. Pleasance (venue 33), 60 The Pleasance (0131-556 6550). Price pounds 7.50 (pounds 6.50). 20, 23, 25-27 Aug.

9PM

COMEDY

9.00-10.00 Jason Byrne. Frenetic and lunatic humour from one of this year's serious Perrier contenders. The king of off-the-cuff, he takes look-at-me petulance to an art form. His first solo Edinburgh show. Pleasance (venue 33). Price pounds 7.50 (pounds 6.50). Until 31 Aug.

COMEDY

9.25-10.25 Al Murray: the Pub Landlord, Keeper of the Pint Cosmic. Cruelly denied the Perrier Award on two previous occasions, Murray returns for a third stint behind the bar with his acute observations on just what it means to be male and British. Not to be missed.

Pleasance (venue 33). Price pounds 8.50 (pounds 7.50). Until 31 Aug (not 25).

COMEDY

9.45-10.45 Junior Simpson. More up-to-the minute material from the popular stand-up who dares to tackle issues such as the fiasco surrounding the Stephen Lawrence trial. Assembly Rooms, to 30 Aug, pounds 9-pounds 10 (pounds 8-pounds 9)

10PM

COMEDY

10.15-11.15 The League Against Tedium. Simon Munnery's megalomaniacal creation - an antidote to middle-of-the-road comedy blues and an outside bet for this year's Perrier Award.

Pleasance Above (venue 33). Price pounds 8-pounds 9 (pounds 7-pounds 8). Until 31 Aug (not 25).

COMEDY

10.00-11.10 Mark Little: Spontaneous Combustion. From the suburban Australia of Neighbours (where he played loveable scamp Joe Mangel) via the Big Breakfast, to stand-up in the Georgian splendour of the Venice of the north. Mark Little, artifice stripper, comes to Edinburgh.

Assembly Rooms, to 29 Aug, pounds 9-pounds 10 (pounds 8-pounds 9)

11PM

THEATRE

11.15-12.25 Derevo. The Russian mime company returns to the Fringe with a new show.

Pleasance, to 31 Aug, pounds 7.50-pounds 8.50.