25 good reasons to go to Edinburgh

Promising comic newcomer: Sara Pascoe

Edinburgh's 64th annual culture jamboree that is the Scottish festival opens its doors on Friday

1 SARA PASCOE
One of the most promising new female comedians makes her full-length Fringe debut. Pascoe's humour is not to everyone's taste, but if you like your gags clever, dark and decidedly twisted, you'll love her. (Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 4-30, 0131 556 6550)

2 BEAUTIFUL BURNOUT
Playwright Bryony Lavery joins forces with the National Theatre of Scotland and physical specialists Frantic Assembly for a visceral examination of boxing, via five young hopefuls training in a Glasgow gym. (Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 4-29, 0131 556 6550)

3 JOHN BISHOP
The Scouse superstar is approaching fame of arena-filling, McIntyre proportions with his new BBC1 primetime show, so if you want to see him live without needing binoculars you are advised to head north. (Underbelly's Pasture, Aug 4-30,
08445 458 252)

4 COULD IT BE FOREVER?
Youthful crushes on David Cassidy are currently proving a fruitful cultural topic. They form the centrepiece for Allison Pearson's new novel, as well as this drama co-written by Victoria Willing, daughter of artist Paula Rego, about a group of grown-up friends looking back on 1973. (Gilded Balloon Teviot, Aug 4-29, 0131 622 6552)

5 DIZZEE RASCAL
The charismatic Londoner provides the highlight of the new Edge Festival, replacing T on the Fringe as Edinburgh's popular music arm. (Corn Exchange, Aug 26, theedgefestival.com)

6 SHAKESPEARE – THE MAN FROM STRATFORD
Simon Callow is well known for his exuberant one-man shows on the life and work of Charles Dickens. Now he turns to Warwickshire's finest, in a new solo comedy written by Shakespeare scholar Jonathan Bate. (Assembly @ Assembly Hall, Aug 5-30, 0131 623 3030)

7 WONDERLAND
Gyles Brandreth is the co-author of this two-hander about the ever-intriguing Reverend Charles Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, and Isa Bowman, the young actress who originally played Alice in the theatre. Michael Maloney stars as Carroll. (Assembly @ George Street, Aug 5-29, 0131 623 3030)

8 FAIR TRADE
National treasure Emma Thompson is on board as executive producer for Shatterbox's verbatim play, based on the accounts of two women who were sex-trafficked to London. (Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 4-30,
0131 556 6550)

9 KEVIN ELDON
You might not know the name but you'll know the face from Brass Eye, Big Train and Nighty Night. Astonishingly, this is Eldon's full-length Fringe debut. (The Stand Comedy Club, Aug 6-30, 0131 558 7272)

10 ROADKILL
A site-specific investigation into sex trafficking in a secret location reached by bus from the Traverse. Video and animation also feature in this production directed by acclaimed Scottish actress Cora Bissett. (Traverse Theatre, Aug 7-29, 0131 228 1404)

11 EMO PHILLIPS
A welcome return for the oddball US legend whose eccentric worldview is weirdly wonderful: "A computer once beat me at chess but it was no match for me at kick boxing." (Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 5-29, 0131 556 6550)

12 SARAH MILLICAN
At school she was called a chatterbox and now she has chosen that as the title of her latest show. A bit rude, a bit cheeky but a very funny woman. (The Stand Comedy Club, Aug 6-29, 0131 558 7272)

13 IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT NOW, UNTIL IT'S LATER
Reluctant — but Perrier Award-winning — stand-up Daniel Kitson has dazzled in recent years with his low-key forays into the world of one-man theatre. His 2008 and 2009 shows were among the finest in Edinburgh, so hopes run extremely high for his latest outing. (Traverse Theatre, Aug 10-29, 0131 228 1404)

14 MARK WATSON
He got a lot of stick for his cider adverts but no one can fault his stand-up skills. Never has a hilarious gig felt so much like a simple off-the-cuff chat. (Assembly @ Assembly Hall, Aug 5-30, 0131 623 3030)

15 BLISS
The European premiere, courtesy of Opera Australia, of this new work by Brett Dean and Amanda Holden, based on Peter Carey's startling eponymous novel. (Festival Theatre, Sept 2 and 4, 0131 473 2000, eif.co.uk)

16 ALEX HORNE
A consistently quirky, intelligent comedian whose shows have explored Latin, the science of humour and the English language. Here he discusses the history of betting. An odds-on favourite for big laughs. (Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 4-29, 0131 556 6550)

17 JASON BYRNE
A Fringe institution. Livewire improvising Irishman Byrne may have a script but he may never deliver it if someone in the front row catches his eye. Shy retiring types should sit at the back. (Assembly @ Assembly Hall, Aug 5-30, 0131 623 3030)

18 CALEDONIA
This choice offering from the International Festival comes from satirist Alistair Beaton (Feelgood) and stars The Thick of It's Paul Higgins as William Paterson, a 17th century financial speculator who drove Scotland to the brink of destitution with his ill-judged schemes. Echoes of recent fiscal crises in Scotland, Ireland and Iceland abound. (King's Theatre, Aug 21-26, 0131 529 6000)

19 JOSIE LONG
After a break last year, this bundle of comic enthusiasm returns with a new show. Brace yourselves for a whirlwind of stories-plus-character comedy featuring the world's most unlikely astronaut who's from Nasa via a Croydon nailbar. (Just the Tonic at The Caves, Aug 5-29, 0131 556 5375)

20 GARY DELANEY
After building up a massive Twitter following for his online one-liners, now he puts them onstage: "Shhh, don't tell anybody about my Oedipus complex. Mum's the word." (Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 4-29, 0131 556 6550)

21 PHILIP PULLMAN
The author discusses his latest book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ with Richard Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford. (RBS Main Theatre, Aug 14, 0845 373 5888, edbookfest.co.uk)

22 YOUR DREAM WEDDING
Delightful-sounding site-specific production set in a specially constructed luxury bridal salon next door to Harvey Nichols. Over a glass of champagne, 10 audience members at a time will be treated to a "bespoke" appointment with salon owner Michael. (Assembly @ George Street, Aug 4–30, 0131 623 3030)

23 UP 'N' UNDER
Tabloid favourite Abi Titmuss stars in the 25th anniversary production of John Godber's comedy about a struggling amateur rugby league team knocked into shape by an attractive young gym instructor. A clue: Titmuss is not one of the rugby players. (Assembly Rooms, Aug 5-30, 0131 623 3030)

24 ÁGUA
Tanztheater Wuppertal gives this Brazilian-inspired dance fantasy by the late, legendary German choreographer Pina Bausch its first UK outing. (Edinburgh Playhouse, Aug 27-29, 0131 473 2000, eif.co.uk)

25 IMPRESSIONIST GARDENS
Monet and the usual suspects, plus Impressionism's forerunners and lesser-known acolytes, head for the great outdoors in this National Gallery blockbuster. (National Gallery Complex, until Oct 17.
nationalgalleries.org)

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs Aug 6-30. For general information and some bookings: edfringe.com; 0131 226 0000. (Otherwise directly at venues, as listed.) The Edinburgh International Festival runs Aug 13-Sept 5 (eif.co.uk; 0131 473 2000)

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