Heads up: Daniel Kitson
A trim for the fringe: less hair, same flair from comic Kitson
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Your support makes all the difference.What are we talking about? Cult comedian returns to Edinburgh with not one, but two shows: Where Once Was Wonder, at the Stand Comedy Club, and As of 1.52pm GMT on Friday April 27th 2012, This Show Has No Title, at the Traverse theatre.
Elevator pitch Less hair, same flair: it's double the Daniel at 2012's fringe.
Prime movers Daniel Kitson, very much the comedian's comedian, who refuses to do publicity, go on TV panel shows or bother to advertise his gigs – and, to be fair, doesn't really need to, with an army of verging-on-obsessive fans who snap up tickets at speed.
The early buzz Where Once Was Wonder got a predictable five stars when reviewed by website Chortle at the Melbourne Comedy festival: "It's a show about identity. About how we are defined by our appearance, our friends, or our deeds. Or, in Kitson's own words, it's a show about life (what show isn't?) which he considers 'a series of impossible things that slowly become inevitable'. And that explains the title … Kitson [muses] on the big issues such as individuality and despondency, as well as offering his opinions on more everyday matters, such as tattoos and the British stand-up boom." Time Out Australia also gave him five stars, saying "the eccentric UK comic has been repeatedly described as a genius. Despite our penchant for breaking the mould, Time Out has to agree." There is no early buzz about the Traverse show, as he's either holding his cards close to his chest, or he hasn't written it yet. But, given past shows there, it's likely to be more storytelling than stand-up, and character-led rather than personal.
Insider knowledge Fans will know him by his huge beard, shaggy hair and thick glasses: be prepared for a major departure, on the hair front at least. At previews earlier this year, he explained that, annoyed by the jumper-and-beard thing becoming a marketable "look", he shaved it all off. And that shearing was the starting point for much of his material ….
It's great that … someone so talented has achieved huge popularity by being, well, so talented, rather than through beer adverts or rubbish telly.
It's a shame that … getting a ticket for the show at the tiny Stand is going to be very difficult indeed; book up your Traverse ones while you can.
Hit potential Bound to be a hit.
The details Where Once Was Wonder is at the Stand, Edinburgh (thestand .co.uk), 5 to 26 Aug; As of 1.52pm GMT … is at the Traverse, Edinburgh (traverse.co.uk), 7 to 26 Aug.
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