Kate Dolan brings award-winning show 'The Critic' to Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Multi-award-winning comedian and rising star Kate Dolan brings her highly-anticipated second hour to this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe with The Critic, for which she recently won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Golden Gibbo Award 2025. Kate will be performing her latest award-winning show at the Fringe at Assembly George Square, The Box 30th July – 24th August at 6.25pm. Edinburgh Festival Fringe tickets are on sale now. Full dates and tickets at katedolancomedy.com
The Critic is a rare sighting into the sleepless comedian's mind, unravelling, in real time, for all to hear… live on stage! If you've ever wondered 'what was she thinking?', now is your chance to find out. It's about time to bring Kate back down to earth, and who to keep her most humble than her own inner monologue. Earlier this year, The Critic won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Golden Gibbo Award, in memory of the late, great comic Lynda Gibson, which is awarded to a local, independent show that bucks trends and pursues the artist's idea first and foremost. With Kate being from the Midlands, yet based in Sydney, this marks her as the first Brit, and first non-Australian in over 20 years, to win the award.
Kate's critically-acclaimed debut show, A Different Kind of Unhinged, cemented her reputation as a comedic force, saw her win the Adelaide Fringe Emerging Artist Award 2024, profiled in The New York Times: Australia and named as one of the Metro's 'Names to Remember from the Fringe' 2024. As a live-performer, Kate's appearances include the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, Sydney Comedy Festival Fresh Artist Showcase and Best of the Fest: New Class (UK), as well as being selected to perform at the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the past two years, including being invited on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow. Kate was a 2019 Funny Women Regional Finalist, 2023 RAW Comedy State Finalist, 2023 Joke Off Finalist and2023 Funny Women Content Creator Finalist. Kate also co-hosts the podcast Becoming Best Friends alongside fellow comedian Danielle Walker.
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The Herald Scotland
32 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow is failing its music fans with shambolic public transport
There is something magical about the inclusivity of the event and it is quite honestly the most incredible music festival I have ever encountered. And it's accessible. Across Paris and the wider Île-de-France region, a special transport ticket was available for just €4.20 (around £3.50) that gave commuters unlimited access to trains, buses, trams and the Metro. Select Metro and RER (express suburban trains) were open all night to help revellers get between concerts and home safely. Oh, and did I mention every gig is free? The night-long celebration of music put Glasgow to shame. At least ScotRail decided to put on some extra late-night services to shuttle punters back to Glasgow Central after the gig. This is a nice step up considering the absolute shambles that the national rail operator caused TRNSMT-goers last summer. Tens of thousands of festival attendees were stranded on the last night of the festival (Sunday) at Glasgow Green thanks to ScotRail refusing to extend services beyond 6pm amid a dispute with workers over pay. Oh, and shocker, the Subway was not operating after 6pm either. The only time Glaswegians get a late Sunday Subway service is during the annual Christmas consumer frenzy. Our transport bosses appear to prioritise shopping over the consumption of music and cultural events. Music fans and parents of young TRNSMT attendees were rightly furious at either being stranded at the event or missing the big name acts they paid to see just to get home. Around 50,000 people attend each day of TRNSMT, many of whom are teenagers as the festival is open to those aged 16 and over. Those who had parents or guardians to pick them up were lucky, but many were stuck for a safe way to return home because of the lack of transport. TRNSMT is Scotland's largest music festival and people could not reasonably get home from it last year. Embarassing. (At the time of writing, ScotRail has remained tight-lipped about whether the firm will increase or extend its services for the TRNSMT festival, which takes place from July 11 to 13 this year.) It sends a message that political elites and transport chiefs do not place value on large scale music events. It seems like any event where people, especially young people, gather to enjoy themselves is something that authorities need to turn a blind eye to rather than accommodate. In Paris, experiencing the marriage of a comprehensive, integrated public transport system with a public, city-wide music celebration was both inspiring and bittersweet. Public transport and big events are interwoven. Huge numbers of people congregating in the same place need to be able to get to and from their destination safely, effectively, and efficiently. The local authority and the Scottish Government have a duty to people to ensure that this is a reality. The public has a right to have a good time. La Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day, was founded in 1982 by Jack Lang, then France's Minister for Culture. Inspired by musician Joel Cohen to create a large-scale public music celebration. The idea was 'music everywhere, concerts nowhere' – it is an inherently public event. And even better, it's fun. Even though it was hatched from a government department. The eighties weren't that long ago, and this is proof that politicians do not need to be so dull and serious all the time. With a little bit of creativity and motivation, we can have public events that people of all ages want to get involved in. With understandably tight local authority budgets, politicians need to be inventive. Imagine if Glasgow City Council could drum up this kind excitement for a grassroots, citywide music festival? After all, this is a big year for the city. But alas. We are stuck with poor public transport to pricey and privatised music festivals. Though I am sure we will see some hot pink Glasgow 850 posters slapped around TRNSMT next month. As an inherently free event, both to attend and participate in, the government in Paris does not directly bear the cost of La Fête de la Musique. They provide logistical support in terms of subsidized public transport and policing, but the focus is a spirit of collaboration and citizen-centred celebration. It is about the political will to make something like this happen. To see music bringing people together to let their hair down in civic spaces as a positive thing, rather than something to clutch pearls at. And if its not something the city is willing to provide for Glaswegians, at least make sure they have an affordable, reliable way to get home from the music events that are happening this summer. Which is the UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow or Paris? If you were to pose this question on a game show – wah-WAH. Paris is incorrect. It's Glasgow. So why are failing our music fans? It is utterly mortifying. Marissa MacWhirter is a columnist and feature writer at The Herald, and the editor of The Glasgow Wrap. The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it's free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Glastonbury performers share update after lead singer falls ill before show
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video English Teacher will be making their anticipated return to Glastonbury this weekend but they've faced a massive obstacle behind-the-scenes. The British band, which consists of Lewis Whiting, Douglas Frost and Nicholas Eden, have been forced to rehearse without their lead singer Lily Fontaine, who has been struck down with an illness in the days leading up to their set. Fans will be flocking to the Park Stage on Friday afternoon to witness the Mercury Prize-winners in action and hope to see each member of the four-piece perform. Fortunately, despite Lily's illness meaning their slot was at risk, the other members of English Teacher have shared a positive update. Speaking to Metro's entertainment reporter Danni Scott on the ground at Worthy Farm, Douglas said: 'She's feeling better today but there's f*****g illnesses getting around.' Nick encouraged: 'Hang in there, Lil,' while Lewis explained how her absence has impacted rehearsals. 'We got quite lucky in that regards because we did a couple of rehearsals and got ourselves prepped,' he shared. It's been quite a whirlwind year for Leeds-native English Teacher, who became the first non-Londoners to scoop the coveted Mercury Prize in over a decade in 2024, while also receiving a Brit Award nomination. Naturally, becoming one of the hottest new alternative bands has its perks, but it's also been a massive life adjustment for the band. Lewis explained: 'It's upended a lot, it kind of reorganises your life, which is what you always want, but at the same time, it changes the way you might move through friendships, relationships – romantic or not – it all changes. 'Your whole life becomes touring, writing, which is what you want but then when you get it, it's like damn, this is kind of crazy.' Douglas then quipped, but with full transparency: 'Have a good therapist. I owe a lot to my therapist.' Once their Friday set is cemented in the history books, you can bet English Teacher will be joining other Glasto revellers taking in all the other artists across the various stages. And just like the rest of us mere mortals, they also face predicaments when it comes to those pesky stage clashes. As well as Kneecap and Westside Cowboys, the band are also looking forward to catching Doechii and Charli XCX's Saturday night closing performances. However, as most of us have realised by now, that's a big conundrum as the two musicians are scheduled to perform at the same time, with Charli headlining the Other Stage and Doechii on West Holts. More Trending How will English Teacher decide? They toyed with the idea of flipping a coin until realising that Douglas also wants to watch Scissor Sisters, who are also playing Saturday night. Shall we all just gather around BBC iPlayer and flip between the stages? Until then, fans can look forward to catching English Teacher's Park Stage set on Friday at 4:55pm. Glastonbury coverage is broadcast on BBC1, BBC Radio and BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Kneecap 'hopeful' their US visa won't get revoked after terror charge MORE: Hungover at Glastonbury? The 'quick fix' cures that actually work MORE: Andrew Garfield confesses to pooing himself after taking too many drugs at Glastonbury
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Tiff Stevenson mixes big ideas and bedroom thoughts in new Edinburgh Fringe hour ‘Post-Coital'
Tiff Stevenson returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with her new stand-up hour Post-Coital, performing at Monkey Barrel: Hive 1 from the 1st to the 24th of August. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Known for her sharp social commentary and confident stage presence, Stevenson dives into the strange, often hilarious thoughts that surface in the quiet moments after sex. This new show blends the personal and political, weaving together big ideas and everyday experiences. In Post-Coital, Stevenson reflects on midlife, womanhood, and the pressures of staying relevant in a culture obsessed with youth and reinvention. She explores whether the UK economy is shrinking like it is on Ozempic, questions the monetisation of every hobby, and wonders how many pole dancing videos the internet really needs. She unpacks the difference between empowerment and exploitation, asking whether class plays a bigger role than we often admit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stevenson's comedy is grounded in lived experience. She talks candidly about being a step-parent to a teenage boy, caring for a father with dementia, and navigating the contradictions of anger, ambition, and aging. Her ideas are often unexpected but always relatable, including whether international diplomacy might improve if world leaders just had better sex lives. She also discusses concepts like quantum physics, entrainment, and the confusing expectations placed on women to remain both sexual and composed. (c) STEVE ULLATHORNE This new hour builds on Stevenson's reputation for smart, fearless comedy that challenges audiences to laugh and think at the same time. Her work often straddles the personal and the political, offering insight into relationships, identity, and the state of society, without ever losing sight of the joke. Outside the Fringe, Stevenson is widely recognised for her work in television, film, and writing. She has appeared on Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Drunk History, Game Face, The Office, and People Just Do Nothing. Her film credits include the 2023 comedy-horror Slotherhouse, now streaming internationally. As a writer, she has contributed to several major UK publications and was part of the writing team on HBO's Avenue 5. This year she also delivered a talk at TEDx Soho and began working on a new video game project set for release in 2025. Tiff Stevenson's new stand-up show 'Post Coital' will be at the Monkey Barrel Hive 1 at 2.50pm for the entire fringe for tickets go to
