Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Jake Lambert / Bella Hull / Jack Harris

JAKE LAMBERT / BELLA HULL / JACK HARRIS Seeking a friend, Gen Z laid bare, teaching teachers

Searching for a friend, Gen Z laid bare, and teaching teachers

Jake Lambert, Pleasance Courtyard 

Jake Lambert warms up the audience by describing how much he enjoyed lockdown (despite a relationship break-up), and he suspects that football players enjoyed playing for a season without spectators too – “Whose job wouldn't be improved by removing thousands of people calling you a wanker?”

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Ania Magliano / Leo Reich / Chloe Petts

ANIA MAGLIANO / LEO REICH / CHLOE PETTS Bisexuality, a stunning debut, and acting like a lad

Bisexuality, a stunning debut, and acting like a lad

Ania Magliano, Pleasance Courtyard 

Ania Magliano is debuting at the Fringe with Absolutely No Worries If Not, an hour that explores her sexual awakening. She has only recently realised she's bisexual, which means she still likes straight culture. “I think All Bar One is a great space,” she say drily.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Sara Barron / Jayde Adams / Sophie Duker

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022 SARA BARRON / JAYDE ADAMS / SOPHIE DUKER Scathing judgments, expressive dance and lesbian cruises

Scathing judgments, expressive dance and lesbian cruises

Sara Barron, Pleasance Courtyard 

Sara Barron is known for her no-holds-barred comedy style – or “American energy” as another mum at her son’s school calls it – but in her fast-paced new show she pushes even further, addressing as she does her fertility treatment and a miscarriage.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Kiri Pritchard-McLean / Lou Sanders / Snort

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022: KIRI PRITCHARD-MCCLEAN / LOU SANDERS / SNORT Exploring Welsh identity; rollerskating diaries; New Zealand improv

Exploring Welsh identity; rollerskating diaries; New Zealand improv

Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Monkey Barrel 

Wearing a heavily sequinned leotard - she thought this was how we’d all dress after “living in trackies during lockdown” - Kiri Pritchard-McLean wants to address some very serious subjects, such as racism, imperialism and white privilege. But first she wants to deliver some funnies, and there are lots of them in Home Truths, a show bursting with energy and ideas.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Colin Hoult / Nick Helm / Susie McCabe

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022: COLIN HOULT / NICK HELM / SUSIE MCCABE A sad adieu, a pandemic experience and the awfulness of hen dos

A sad adieu, a pandemic experience and the awfulness of hen dos

Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann, Pleasance Courtyard 
 

Anna Mann – actress, singer, welder (you’ve got to have a back-up in this business, darling) – is the monstrous creation of Colin Hoult.

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Tiff Stevenson / Seann Walsh / Rosie Holt

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2022 Tiff Stevenson / Seann Walsh / Rosie Holt

The world's biggest and best arts festival begins

 
Tiff Stevenson, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★
 

Tiff Stevenson doesn’t like labels, and is particularly irritated by how the once mildly mocking insult “Karen” is now just another misogynistic slur. So she invented a label for herself, Sexy Brain, which is the title of her show, and over the hour she explains how she arrived at it

Sikisa, Soho Theatre review - a confident debut

★★★ SIKISA, SOHO THEATRE Gags range from dick pics to feminism and immigration law

Gags range from dick pics to feminism and immigration law

Sikisa is a new name on the comedy scene, but trust me you'll hearing and seeing a lot more of the south Londoner with Barbadian roots. Twerk in Progress, her in-progress version of her debut show Life of the Party, is a winning mixture of autobiography and social comment.

Joe Lycett, Eventim Apollo review - prankster goes long-form

★★★★ JOE LYCETT, EVENTIM APOLLO Prankster goes long-form in entertaining tale well told

Former Sewing Bee host tells a complicated tale

Joe Lycett’s career was on an upward trajectory when he took on hosting duties on The Great British Sewing Bee, and the crafting show delivered a whole new audience for his live comedy. But anybody thinking that his sweet-natured wit was all there was to Lycett might be taken aback by some of his stand-up material.