YorkshireComedy is going to Edinburgh!

Now in our third year, YorkshireComedy returns to Edinburgh bigger and better than ever – in the 250+ capacity Base venue on Cowgate! I played this venue twice last year in a similar slot (afternoon delight), and both shows had well into three figures. We’re hoping for similar!

The venue is usually a nightclub, but it transforms very effectively into a comedy club. A large stage, great PA and lighting, and row upon row of seating. An upstairs dancefloor converts to upper tier seating and has good views of the stage, for use when the downstairs floor is full. Base is ideally situated for flyering, being on the busy Cowgate, which runs parallel to The Royal Mile, and links The Pleasance with Grassmarket. Plus, it’s right next to the bottom floor tunnel entrance to The Underbelly, which has the dual advantage of being very busy, and providing shelter for flyering when it’s raining!

YorkshireComedy first went up to the Fringe three years ago, in the rather smaller but very pleasant Illicit Still pub. Myself, Dan Bland, Lee Chamberlain and Richard Scully, plus the odd guest. We only called it Yorkshire Comedians because it was the only thing we had in common. So it came as a pleasant surprise when every day, when I asked whilst compering, between a quarter and a third of the crowd were from Yorkshire. I’m not sure this trick would work for every area of the UK, or if it’s a unique trait of Yorkshire pride! A happy accident. We got good numbers, and last year, we were given the slightly larger Dragonfly venue, just off Grassmarket, and Graham Lee joined us in the last week.

This year, Lee Chamberlain is in Thailand, and unable to join us. Richard Scully has moved to Romania with work, but that hasn’t stopped him making the trip back for another stint with the Yorkshire show. Graham Lee also returns.

Aware that we had a huge venue to fill, we set about adding some sparkle to the show. So this year, we are Yorkshire Comedy Cabaret. Burlesque performer Trixie Passion joins us, to perform a Yorkshire seaside themed sketch. Plus, every day we’re joined by a variety of performers, such as hilarious pirate sketch troupe Jollyboat, and the confoundingly comedic magaician David Adlnwick. Our teasingly cheeky poster is based on The Graduate, and complements the movie poster theme of my solo show, James Christopher / Triangle Man, which is based on A Nightmare On Elm Street.

We’ve also got some large sandwich board signs with our poster on, so we’ll be hitting Cowgate, Grassmarket and The Royal Mile for our first show this Saturday.

The Yorkshire Comedy Cabaret is at 15.45 everday except Wednesdays, from Saturday 6 to Saturday 27 August inclusive. Entry is free as part of the PBH Free Fringe, there’s a voluntary colleciton at the end. The show is 1 hr. Base is on Cowgate, venue number 56, Edinburgh EH1 1JW.

Follow my Edinburgh progress on Twitter: @jcbeermat