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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Alex Horne: Odds

'Joyous' (Scotsman), 'quietly rebellious' (Stage), 'gentlemanly' (Metro) comedian Alex Horne discusses numbers, the universe, gambling, regrets and quantum physics. He'll also try to distract you with his majestic PowerPoint skills as featured on BBC4's 'We Need Answers'. Alex's previous five solo shows were: 'as quick-witted and engaging as they come' (Independent, 2008); 'a fragile delight, covering any subject with a daft, surreal charm' (Sunday Times, 2007); 'the most inventive show I've seen this year' (Observer, 2005); 'subtly structured piece of gentle genius' (Evening Standard, 2004); 'being blinded by science has rarely seemed this fun' (Stage, 2003).
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Bane 2

Bruce Bane returns to the stage in the sequel to last year's sell-out show 'Bane'. Having evaded the clutches of Shelby Carpenter last time out, Bane is faced with an altogether different enemy. Join Bane as he journeys down dark alleys and along eerie sidewalks in this hilarious one-man film noir parody. 'A virtuoso physical and comic performance' (Stage) with a live music soundtrack from Ben Roe, 'gives Ennio Morricone a run for his money' (WhatsOnStage.com). 'Bane' won a Fringe Review Outstanding Theatre Award and was nominated by the Stage for best solo performance 2009.
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Flanders and Swann: AGNother GNew AfterGNoon

Come and enjoy multi-award-winning comedian Tim FitzHigham and BBC Radio 4 musical maestro Duncan Walsh-Atkins with their famed afternoon of mud, mirth and Madeira. The wit, wordplay and genius of Flanders and Swann endures through songs 'Mud', 'Mud Glorious Mud', 'The Gnu', 'Madeira M'dear', 'The Gasman Cometh'. Back with aGNother, different selection of the classics, the world's leading exponents of Flanders and Swann are not to be missed. Will the Hippo turn up? Join the mayhem and find out. 'Astute wit and genius...great!' (Guardian); 'A muddy marvellous evening' (Evening Standard).
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Brendon Burns: Y'Know - Love 'n' God 'n' Metaphysics 'n' Shit

Since taking away the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2007, Burns has been busy with a successful stint in the US. The adopted Australian and Britain's most outspoken number one cult comic is back: catch him while you can. 'If you want gutsy, poignant, potty-mouthed comedy that'll heal your heart but break your funny bone, then ladies and gentlemen... Mr. Brendon Burns' **** (Metro). 'The most jaw-droppingly awkward, painful, yet ultimately rewarding piece of stand-up we've ever seen' ***** (Time Out).
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Stand Late Show

Late night Fringe comedy at its best. Twelve superb showcases from Scotland's favourite club. Five comics, two hours, late bar. Different sizzling selection nightly. Previous guests include: Brendon Burns, Reginald D Hunter, Arthur Smith, Dan Antopolski, Sarah Millican, Felix Dexter, Richard Herring, Mrs Barbara Nice, Craig Campbell, Lucy Porter, Rich Hall, Mike Wilmot, Stewart Lee, Miles Jupp, Simon Munnery, Adam Hills and Wil Anderson. 'Best value in town' (Evening News); 'They keep the laughs coming' (Times); 'What more could you want from some late night entertainment than five diverse, but all superb comics?' (ThreeWeeks).