Helen Edmundson: the hit woman
Some people don't think Helen Edmundson writes 'real plays'. Now she's having the last laughFour years ago, when Rebecca Lenkiewicz's Her Naked Skin premiered at the National theatre, a fanfare rang out for the first living female writer to have a play...
Brian Logan on nasty reviews
The truth might hurt but hatchet jobs are too muchA fortnight ago, a new prize was awarded to critic Adam Mars-Jones for the Hatchet Job of the Year, for a review he wrote of Michael Cunningham's art-suffused novel By Nightfall, whose effects...
Russell Kane: ‘What am I going to do when I’m not the next big thing?’
He was the toast of Edinburgh, he's written a novel and he's had a play put on at the RSC. Yet, comedian Russell Kane is prone to rages and plagued by doubtTen years ago, before he'd even dreamed of doing standup, Russell Kane was a lowly advertis...
An Evening with David Sedaris – review
EICC, EdinburghFew authors could label a book-reading session as comedy and sell out five nights at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Yet David Sedaris can, and the event – a reading from his stories, articles and diaries, followed by a ...
Lord of the Flies – review
Open Air, LondonThere are few stages more apt to evoke a desert island than the Open Air Theatre's. This Regent Park venue's oasis-like qualities scarcely need embellishment to double as the location for William Golding's schoolboys-go-feral class...
The return of the Scots language
In an independent Scotland, might Scots become the official national tongue?When MSPs were sworn in at Holyrood a fortnight ago, they took an oath to the Queen – but not necessarily in a language she would understand. "I depone aat I wull be leal and...
How Scotland in 2011 compares to 1707
Great Britain was created by the Act of Union 300 years ago. With a possible divorce on the cards, we look at the state of Scotland then and nowPower1707 Scotland, like England, is ruled by the last of the Stuart monarchs, Queen Anne. But power is held...
Me Cheeta’s blueprint for standup | Brian Logan
I've just read Me Cheeta by James Lever, and it's made me think: why can't standup comedy be performed by monkeys? The weaknesses, but mainly strengths, of this novel are not irrelevant to the world of standup. This faux-autobiography of the simian sta...
Does Steve Martin have to be funny 24/7? | Brian Logan
The comedian has been criticised for daring to talk about art rather than do gags. Why aren't comics allowed to do serious?I saw an episode of House for the first time recently. I didn't really follow the story, I just found Hugh Laurie spellbinding. ...
Move over McIntyre: Kafka comics lead a standup revolution
Two young comedians are spearheading a more theatrical style of comedy with their stage version of The TrialWhen you think Franz Kafka, what comes to mind? Mitteleuropean gloom, perhaps. "Bowler hats, briefcases and faceless bureaucrats," as playwrigh...
Robin Ince – review
Stand Comedy Club, EdinburghVets at Cross Purposes. What Would Jesus Eat? Robin Ince has been raiding charity shops for bad books to ridicule in the name of comedy. It's an incongruous pursuit for this boffin comic, best known as ringleader of the pro-...
