FestBuzz

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Welcome to FestBuzz, the Edinburgh Festivals rating site with a difference. We make the traditional Festival word-of-mouth digital by listening in on what the audiences were saying about events, shows and performances.

Our database is fresh for 2010! (Check out last year's, too.)

Search or browse to a show to find out what the word on the tweet is. No need for need hash-tags, @s, DMs or any fancy trickery - we scour Twitter to find out what people were saying, conduct some wizardry to understand it, and assign it to shows.

Our engines are starting, so for now you can browse the listings and wait for magic to happen!

Find out how FestBuzz works and why it's different.

Found an error? Let us know on oops@festbuzz.com.

The FestBuzz Blog features regular exclusive show reviews and other exciting information - don't forget to visit!

Festbuzz recommends
Top 5 shows

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Free

For the fifth year running Scottish-Aussie comic cowboy and PBH's Free Fringe stalwart Ro Campbell hosts an awesome showcase of professional comics from the UK and international circuits. Over the last few years this gig has achieved cult status amongst top level acts who are happy to play a great gig for free in return for promoting their own shows. 2009 acts included Comedy Store headliners and stars of 'Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow', 'Mock The Week' and 'Live At The Apollo'. 'Effortlessly brilliant' (List); 'Top notch!' (Scotsman); 'Funny as hell **** (Skinny); 'Very wrong, rather funny' (Chortle.co.uk).
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Boy with Tape on His Face

The silent comedy show that has created a lot of talk finally comes to Edinburgh. Stand-up with no talking, this show combines absurdity with genius. Through clever and charming humour; 'The Boy' creates a world of possibilities where the only certainty is laughter. You'll laugh, you'll scream and ultimately end up like 'The Boy' - lost for words. This Boy has to be seen to be believed. ***** (Advertiser, Australia); best established comedian, 2009 - Adelaide Fringe; nominated best newcomer, 2008 - Melbourne Comedy Festival.
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I, Claudia

Charting the raw but beautiful interior life of a misfit adolescent, Claudia suffers the triple afflictions of puberty, unpopularity and her parent's divorce. Using four astonishingly expressive masks, writer/performer Kristen Thomson casts a spell of rare, bewitching power. Triumphantly packing houses and receiving standing ovations, it's an award-winning Canadian gem. 'Blissfully funny, unexpectedly touching, 'I, Claudia' is a must see.' (Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star) 'Go and see it!' (Calgary Herald). Directed by Chris Abraham.
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Colin Hoult: Enemy of the World

Chortle Award nominee Colin Hoult returns with a shockingly different character sketch show; a nightmare of paranoia, prejudice and general pissing about. Praise for 2009 sell-out 'Carnival of Monsters': 'Lewis Carroll meets 'The League of Gentlemen'... will draw out laughter from the deepest recesses of your soul' **** (Time Out); 'Comic genius' (Stage); 'A magical, awe-inspiring hour' **** (Daily Express); 'Tear-inducingly funny' **** (Chortle.co.uk); 'Haunting and hilarious' ***** (ThreeWeeks); 'Demands to be seen. Fest Top Ten Tee Hee Acts for 2010' **** (Sun). Must see!
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Man Who Was Hamlet

In his seventh solo show, George Dillon (Herald Angel Award winner: Berkoff's 'Graft') reveals the tragical, comical and utterly scandalous history of the man behind 'Hamlet' - not the illiterate merchant of Stratford, but the real 'William Shake-speare', Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. 'It's easy to see why Dillon's performances have made him the toast of Edinburgh ... direct and absorbing ... A virtuoso display of dramatic range' (BritishTheatreGuide.info); 'An exciting piece of writing, witty and sharp, ironic, comedic and sometimes philosophical and, as usual, a masterclass in delivery and individual performance' (FringeReview.co.uk).

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Five Clever Courtesans

Meet Five Clever Courtesans. Veronica Franco: the Venetian vixen of erotic verse. Nell Gwynn: the saucy orange seller who became a royal mistress. T'zu-Hsi: the concubine, fifth class, who seduced her way to the throne. Cora Pearl: the grande horizontal who dazzled Paris. Skittles: the Victorian filly who set society a-quivering. Find out what happens when these delicious divas meet to swap stories, trade insults and share secrets of seduction! Vibe London sell-out. 'Seduction and satire with wit... close to perfect' (RemoteGoat.com); 'Witty, sexy - a great way to spend an evening' (Evening Standard).
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Chris Ramsey: Aggrophobic

Rising stand-up star Chris Ramsey embarks on his debut hour with a show about avoiding confrontation. Star of the Comedy Zone, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2009 nominee and a finalist in the Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Awards 2008, Chris has this year supported Al Murray, Lee Mack and Russell Kane on national and international tour dates. In addition to this he has realised that he will do anything to get out of a fight, whatever the consequences. 'Effervescent as potassium and brighter' (Northern Echo); 'Very funny' (Frank Skinner).
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Fitzrovia Radio Hour

Classic radio yarns, brilliantly evoking a dinner-jacketed age of casual imperialism and stiff upper lips. Gasp at 'The Man Who Was Ten Minutes Late'! Puzzle over 'The Four- Minute Mystery'! Thrill to 'Mudmen from the Thames'! Original 40s-style rip-roaring tales. Sound effects created live by an acclaimed cast fresh from sell- out London seasons.'Dramatic entertainment redolent of a bygone era. Just the right mix of fondness and irreverence.' (Guardian) 'Triumph of visual comedy drawing equally on MR James and Round The Horne. A ripping blend of pastiche and homage.' **** (Time Out)
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It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later

A new show about everything and nothing. This is a show about every single one of us, the past in our pockets, the future in our hearts and us, ourselves, very much stuck, trapped forever, in the tiny eternal moment between the two. And, it'll all be over in time for lunch. 'He represents and inhabits that place where no-one is cool, sussed, glamorous and sorted, and everyone is struggling, somewhere between absurdity and pathos, to put together a life less barren, and more fulfilled' (Joyce Macmillan).
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Venetian Twins

Following success with Moliere's 'Tartuffe' (Fringe sell-out 2008) and 'The Government Inspector' (2006), Greene Shoots returns to Edinburgh with another classic comedy. Originally written so that one actor played both twins, this punchy, new adaptation creates new possibilities of wonderful confusion as audiences follow a real pair of twins as they seek love in a strange town each unaware of the other's presence. They and the township are thrown into bewildering, uproarious chaos. The energetic company make full use of chorus, physical comedy, slapstick and commedia to deliver this high-octane production. Physical, farcical, fabulous, fun!