My Edinburgh: Dan Skinner on the wonderful, glorious, unholy mess that is the Fringe

Dan Skinner

The Edinburgh festival is like the Death Star. You can try and escape, but you are eventually, inevitably, dragged back in by its powerful magnetic force. I am preparing to ‘go up’ again, to use the industry parlance. I decided two years ago that I wouldn’t for a good long while, but I went up last year as a punter and I’m going up again this year to perform in a show called Classic Entertainment Starring Mr Winchester and Tommy! Since you’re asking. It’s on at The Pleasance at 8.20. Since you’re asking.

It’s fairly traumatic taking a show to Edinburgh which is one of the reasons I decided to lay off for a while, the other reasons include, the lack of sleep, the weather, the poor food, the weather, the lack of a proper August and the weather. But this year I had a brainwave! I bought a raincoat. I’m a quick learner.

I’m being a bit cliched here. I love the Edinburgh festival. It’s a wonderful, glorious, unholy mess. Full of things you might have a chance of seeing on the television in the future and most things which don’t have a hope in hell.

Mr Winchester: Classic Entertainment, Pleasance Dome, 19 to 25 August, 8.20pm (0131 556 6550)

Dan Skinner's Must-Sees:

The Wrestling II was magnificent. If you fancy some female stand up see Aisling Bea (Gilded Balloon, 6.30pm) . If you fancy some female comedy acting see Olivia Lee in Touched... Like a Virgin (Le Monde Hotel, 8pm). If you fancy some male tape-related mime see The Boy with Tape on his Face (Pleasance Courtyard, 9.40pm)