Edinburgh 10x10

1. Billy The Mime (USA)

Billy – aka Steven Banks – is best known for his appearance in The Aristocrats and his blurb says: ‘Billy has rejuvenated an art form that has been justly ridiculed due to untrained and amateur practitioners performing pretentious and self-indulgent work or weak imitations of Marcel Marceau. He has restored its ability to entertain, amuse, shock, and move an audience.’As The Boy With Tape On His Face (not listed here as he’s in the UK so much these days) reinvigorates silent comedy another painted face on the block has to be welcomed. Just The Tonic at the Caves, 18:15

2. Felicity Ward (Australia)

Easily one of the best shows of this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival – where it was nominated for the Barry – firebrand Ward combines stupid performance with a poignant story about her problems with alcohol - and the terrible decisions that led to – to produce an energetic, feelgood hour. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 22:00

3. Trevor Noah (South Africa)

He’s had a couple of DVDs, was the first South African stand-up to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has opened for Russell Peters – so quite some pedigree. In his Edinburgh debut, he talks about coming of age in the post-apartheid nation in a show tantalisingly titled The Racist. Pleasance Courtyard, 19:15

4. Rick Shapiro (USA)

Shapiro’s stoner stream-of-conscious comedy can be astounding – or can be a car crash. So it’s with a bleak irony that he was in a real accident four years ago, just after his UK debit. The crash left him with amnesia and he’s since had to rebuild his career. This is a show about that rebirth... Assembly George Square, 18:10

5. Claudia O’Doherty (Australia)

Another talked-about show from Melbourne, O’Doherty’s The Telescope is an ambitious and slightly weird deconstruction of both comedy and ‘difficult theatre’. It doesn’t always land, but it is a fascinating, and often funny journey, and real ‘spirit of the Fringe’ stuff. Underbelly Cowgate 19:45

6. Michael Mittermeier (Germany)

Produced in part by proud Europhile Eddie Izzard, Mittermeier is a big deal in his native Germany, where he has been a comedian known for fast-paced delivery and elaborate storytelling for more than two decades. He even supported U2 in Berlin... but these shows might be a tad more intimate than that. Pleasance Courtyard 21:30

7. Hannibal Buress (USA)

He was a deserved nominee for last year’s best newcomer, now this former 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live writer is returning to build on that buzz with more of his laid-back but bitingly sharp insight. Pleasance Courtyard 21:45

8. Chris Brain (New Zealand)

Chortle last reviewed Chris Brain when he was here way back in 2002 – and we quite liked him even way back then. Since then he’s gone on to win the Billy T Award for comedy, for shows about his battle with depression and demons of booze, drugs, gambling and even exercise, all taken in excess. He’s one of three Kiwi acts Flight Of The Conchords star Rhys Darby and his wife Rosie are bringing over to Edinburgh this year, so let’s hope he proves a better producer in real life than the hapless Murray... Gilded Balloon 17:45

9. Kumail Nanjiani (USA/Pakistan)

One of the most promising new comics in the States, Kumail Nanjiani draws on his early years in Pakistan and losing his Muslim faith to become an atheist – as well as more conventional material. He always seems to make those ‘best emerging comedians’ lists; and was also a hit at Melbourne, even though he didn’t have his own show there. Assembly Roxy 20:00

10. Denise Scott (Australia)

‘Scotty’ is pretty famous down under, so it’s something of a surprise to learn that his his her Fringe debut – at 57 years of age and 30 years after becoming a stand-up. Though not ground-breaking her personal tales from middle-age suburbia are still a delight, thanks to her fresh, friendly delivery. Assembly Hall 18:30

Check back tomorrow for another Top Ten.

Published: 20 Jul 2012