And The Stand expands its programme... including another controversial booking

More Edinburgh Fringe shows have gone on sale – including a new theatre piece from Daniel Kitson.

The Summerhall venue has announced its festival line-up, with the comedian’s latest project, First Thing, being presented as a work in progress.

Being performed at 10.30am for the duration of the festival, the show is described thus: ‘A few days ago I saw a little boy slapping a wall. He wasn't angry. There was no aggression in it. It felt more like he was enjoying the existence of the wall. Finding comfort in its solidity. Giving it a slap. After a minute his mum called and he went to leave. Then he stopped, turned back, gave it one more slap and ran off. I reckon he gets it. Anyway, this show won’t be about that incident. Or that boy. Or walls. But it will definitely be over by noon.’

Summerhall has also announced shows by veteran comic poet John Hegley and avant-garde comedian Ben Target.

Meanwhile, The Stand has announced another controversial ‘in conversation with…’ session  with Martin Rowson, the cartoonist at the centre of a racism storm over his depiction of departing BBC chairman Richard Sharp,, which was widely condemned as antisemitic.

It comes after the venue cancelled a planned appearance by SNP MP Joanna Cherry – who has been critical of increasing transgender rights to allow self-identification  – after staff refused to work at the event.

Author Dave Rich, who has written on antisemitism, said Rowson’s illustrations ‘falls squarely into an antisemitic tradition of depicting Jews with outsized, grotesque features, often in conjunction with money and power’.

The Guardian apologised and removed the cartoon from its website as it ‘did not meet our editorial standards’, while Rowson published a lengthy apology, saying that through ‘carelessness and thoughtlessness I screwed up pretty badly’.

Rowson is booked for three talks at the Stand’s New Town Theatre on August 12, 13 and 14 entitled Giving The Gift Of Offence.

Also being added to The Stand’s roster are shows by Mark Thomas, Simon Munnery, Eleanor Morton,  Dave Hill and Bruce Fummey plus The Judy and Duncan Murray Show – featuring  Chris Forbes’s alter-ego and the famed tennis coachm The Gargle: Live podcast with Alice Fraser, and an Indonesian comedy showcase called (Far) East Meets West.

The Stand’s marketing officer Louis Cammell said: ‘I can confidently say that the programme this year is quintessential Stand; quality comedy that ranges from the hard-hitting, to rousing, to jaw-achingly silly.’

All The Stand’s newly announced events  are on sale now from the venue’s revamped website.

More shows from other major festival operators are expected to go on sale tomorrow, while Thursday marks the Fringe’s final major on sale date, with hundreds of shows becoming available via the official box office.

Published: 8 May 2023