SUNDAY 31 JULY 2016 | THREEWEEKSEDINBURGH.COM | ||
SARAH HEHIR: ZEROING IN ON ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS There are always shows at the Edinburgh Festival that draw on topical issues and social ills, and 'Zero Down' - whilst not taking a heavy-handed approach - does just that, exploring the uncertainty and difficulties faced by those on so called zero hour contracts. The play is a three hander focusing on three women working in a care home, and has been written by up and coming playwright Sarah Hehir. I spoke to Sarah to find out more about the piece. Read the interview here. 'Zero Down' is on at Pleasance Courtyard from 3-29 Aug. SHAZIA MIRZA: WHY TEENAGERS ARE ALWAYS MORE INTERESTED IN SEX THAN RELIGION OR POLITICS Renowned stand-up Shazia Mirza is no stranger to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, so probably doesn't really need much introduction from us. Though we can tell you that she's back with her latest show 'The Kardashians Made Me Do It', in which she discusses - among other things - why teenage girls from the UK might run away to join Daesh. Here's a taste of what you can expect from the show. Read Shazia's exclusive column here. Shazia performs 'The Kardashians Made Me Do It' at The Stand from 4-13 Aug. |
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ThreeWeeks Co-Editor Caro Moses recommends shows at this year's Edinburgh Festival, in handy sets of three. THREE UNLIKELY TOPICS FOR COMEDY >> John Hastings - Integrity | Pleasance Courtyard | 3-29 Aug Just to be clear, it's not the integrity element that I'm claiming is an unlikely topic for comedy. I mean, I am not saying for a moment that comedians don't have integrity. What's unlikely about this show is that John Hastings will be covering, amongst other things, the murder of his godmother, and yet, this is a comedy show. But I have every faith that he can be very, very funny, even against those odds. Paul McMullan - Alcopop | Pleasance Courtyard | 3-28 Aug (pictured) This sounds like a pretty grim story. Paul McMullan talks about his alcoholism, how he lost his job and his wife, and how he ended up homeless with three young children. Yet, not really surprisingly, this accomplished raconteur tells his fascinating story of coming up after hitting rock bottom with hilarious candour. This is his debut hour, and he's not been doing stand-up for that long, but he's already proving himself on the live circuit so I reckon he is one to watch. Life And Death (But Mainly Death) | theSpace @Symposium Hall | 5-27 Aug Actual NHS doctor Phil Hammond has been a bit of a fixture for years and years now in the world of comedy TV and radio, and it's not his first time in Edinburgh of course. He's back this year for a full festival run of a show about - obviously - life and death, in which he ruminates on the death of his forbears, and his own death, asking the question of whether it's possible not to kill yourself before your time, yet die gently when your time comes? THREE THEATRE SHOWS WITH PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT >> Bricking It | Underbelly Cowgate | 4-28 Aug A show in which an actual father and daughter actually swap jobs sounds interesting, doesn't it? Pat is a 73 year old builder, his daughter Joanna is a 29 year old writer and performer, and for the sake of creating a piece of theatre, he's going to learn how to be a comedian and she's going build the stage for his debut. It's not just a gimmick though, the intention is to examine just how much what you do affects who you are, and the result should be compelling and hilarious. Sweet Child Of Mine | Gilded Balloon Teviot | 3-29 Aug And if you thought that sounded appealing, this one might end up on your to-see list too. Australian Bron Batten performs live with her parents, as they discuss art, theatre and what exactly she does for a living. The ensuing show is funny, touching and honest, and has already won awards and provoked glowing reviews at home down under. E15 | Northern Stage at Summerhall | 6-27 Aug Okay, so this one doesn't quite fit with the theme, really, because it's about the action of a group of mothers, and doesn't really involve any children, but it's an excellent verbatim piece on how 29 single parents united against London's Newham Council to fight the gentrification of their home town and avoid being forced to relocate away from it. Important and timely. |
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