COMEDY

JOANNA NEARY’S LITTLE MOMENTS

The 21st-century Joyce Grenfell ( below right) works through a series of characters and songs. Pleasance Courtyard, The Pleasance (www.pleasance.co. uk 0131-556 6550), Aug 2-26

BITCHES BALL

Penny Dreadful Theatre (the wiggy ones on our cover) bring their Gothic comedy. Assembly at Hill Street (www.pennydreadfultheatre. com ), Aug 3-27

STEWART LEE – 41ST BEST STAND-UP EVER

Delighted to be officially superior to Steve Martin, but less hilarious than David Baddiel, Lee rebranded himself after Channel 4’s spring rundown of the 100 top comics. UdderBelly’s Pasture, Bristo Square (www.underbelly.co.uk 0870 7453083), Aug 2-27

FRANK SKINNER STAND-UP

Skinner moves among mortals to launch his stand-up comeback. Pleasance Courtyard, details above, Aug 13-27

RICKY GERVAIS: FAME!

Finish off the festival with our most famous comic charging the highest prices (£37.50) in the city. Edinburgh Castle, Castle Hill (www.rickygervais.com 0870 0600100), Aug 26 DOMINIC MAXWELL

THEATRE

IS THIS ABOUT SEX?

A promising Irish import from Rough Magic, whose brilliant Improbable Frequency was the hit of last year’s Fringe: the world premiere of a comedy about the confusions of gender and relationships. Traverse 3, University of Edinburgh Drill Hall, Forrest Road (www.traverse.co.uk 0131-228 1404), Aug 1-25

KILLER JOE

Phil Nichols, Lizzie Roper and Tony Law come with their Comedians’ Theatre Company to revive Tracey Letts’s dark comedy about greed and betrayal in trailer-trash territory. Pleasance Courtyard, details left, Aug 1-17

THE WALWORTH FARCE

Druid, Ireland’s most exciting company, brings the Fringe a new play about Irish topers in London. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street (www.traverse.co.uk 0131-228 1404), Aug 3-25

EXITS AND ENTRANCES

The world premiere of Athol Fugard’s play, based on his relationship with a famous South African actor. Assembly Rooms, George Street (www.assemblyfestival.com 0131-623 3030), Aug 3-27

MACBETH: WHO’S THAT BLOODIED MAN?

Biuro Podrozy return on stilts (and on our cover) with an unusual version of the Scottish Play. University of Edinburgh Old College Quad (www.edfringe. com 0131-662 8740), Aug 5-27

THE BACCHAE

The world premiere of a version of Euripides’ last great tragedy by the Scots dramatist David Greig. Itfeatures Alan Cumming as Dionysus. King’s Theatre, Leven Street (www.eif.co.uk 0131-473 2000), Aug 11-18

LA DIDONE

Sci-fi version of Cavalli’s antique opera about Aeneas and Dido by America’s cult Wooster Group. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street (www.eif.co.uk 0131-473 2000), Aug 18-22 BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE