Newcastle Stand announce Edinburgh Fringe preview shows for July

The Stand has announced a host of new shows for its Newcastle venue – as the club warms up for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

Seven North East comedians, including Lee Ridley, Gavin Webster and Seymour Mace, have been given preview time ahead of new shows at The Stand in Edinburgh.

Ridley, who lost his voice as a child and performs stand-up using an iPad, is to road-test his debut hour, Voice of Choice, on Tuesday 23 July.

The show, nominated for ‘Best New Show’ at this year’s Leicester Comedy Festival, follows a preview from Lee Kyle, Jonny Pelham and Si Buglass.

A week later, Webster and Mace will head up a second Edinburgh showcase alongside Tony Jameson, Nicola Redman and Graham Oakes.

Tickets for both showcases are £6 – or £4 for Stand Together members.

However North East comedy fans will also see shows from outside The Stand’s Fringe roster.

Andrew Lawrence, Carl Hutchinson and ‘The Amazing Bubble Man’ Louis Pearl are lined up to play the High Bridge venue in the coming weeks – and Tom Stade is laughing his way to Tyneside on Tuesday 6 August.

At this year’s Fringe The Stand is programming 37 shows every day across four stages.

The club’s full festival line-up includes Stewart Lee, Richard Herring, Alexei Sayle Susan Calman, Simon Evans, Tony Law, Mark Thomas and Stephen K Amos – but there is also a heavy North East presence.

Sarah Millian, Gavin Webster, Simon Donald, Seymour Mace, Lost Voice Guy, Tony Jameson, Lee Kyle, Simon Buglass and So You Think You’re Funny finalist Jonathan Pelham are all playing the club in August.

Director Tommy Sheppard says “We’re proud to be at the heart of the Fringe – and we’re proud that no comedian has ever lost money at The Stand during the Fringe.

“By keeping ticket prices down and artists’ costs low we’re defending innovation and experiment that keeps the spirit of the Fringe alive.”

Click for The Stand’s full Edinburgh Fringe programme.