Dishoom Loves Edinburgh Fringe Festival

We’re finding front row seats:—

To catch comedian Sapan Verma – who’s flown in from Bombay – make his much-anticipated Fringe debut. Expect Bollywood songs, very real (albeit often absurd) newspaper headlines, quips about life as a middle-class Indian, cheers for being internet famous and gasps when he recounts speaking about (and sometimes against) local political parties in his videos online.

We’re laughing, but with a tear in our eye:—

As Sid Singh regales us with tales of his journey (not to Edinburgh, but as a comedian and human rights advocate) as part of his show Table for One. Did he beat a powerful administration to save 70,000 refugees by accident? Perhaps. Will he be donating 50% of ticket sales and donations to the Centre for Gender and Refugee Studies? Definitely! 

We’re going from Instagram:—

To IRL as we watch Urooj Ashfaq’s show Oh No!. Show up for the occasional punchline in Hindi, but don’t show up with a pair of sunglasses (for you’ll soon become aware of Urooj’s aversion to them). Sit through sessions with her therapist and brave through her lighthearted teasing. Mainly, as Urooj herself will say, “Why don't you just show up, be surprised, and go with the flow?” 

We’re hunched forward as we:—

Listen to Evening Conversations, a warm-hearted monologue about identity and heritage. Written and performed by middle-class, middle-aged, multicultural mother of millennial sons, Sudha Bhuchar – who is also an award-winning actor/ playwright. The show is inspired by dialogue she has with her ‘dual heritage, fiercely British, mono-lingual’ sons.

We’re marvelling at:—

Spellbound, the new show from Suhani Shah, the world's most-subscribed mentalist. Sit transfixed as she reads minds, hacks memories and performs unfathomable card tricks. Just don’t give her your phone – she already knows your passcode. 

We’re being transported:—

Through history, stories, backgrounds and time, by way of these two delights: 

• Santi & Naz by Guleraana Mir and Afshan D’Souza-Lodhi, and theatre company The Thelmas. 
• British Indian Buddies by Thomas Henry and Ram Arangi.

FIND ALL SHOWTIMES BELOW:—

• Sapan Verma: 2nd – 27th August, 18:40 at Pleasance Cellar
• Sid Singh: 3rd – 27th August, 16:15 at Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire – Main Room
• Uroof Ashfaq: 2nd – 27th August, 20:50 at Assembly George Square – The Crate
• Sudha Bhuchar: 22nd – 27th August, 14:30 at Pleasance Cabaret Bar
• Suhani Shah: 2nd – 13th and 15th – 27th August, 17:25 at Underbelly, Bristo Square 
• The Thelmas: 2nd – 8th, 10th – 22nd and 24th – 28th August, 13:30 at Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Two
• Tom Henry and Ram Arangi: 3rd – 13th August, 11:40 at Just the Tonic @ The Caves – Just the Spare Room