12:45pm Dorothy Squires: Mrs Roger Moore. Cabaret. Gilded Balloon Teviot/12-27 Aug (not 20). £7-£10. lgbt

The legend that is Al Pillay (The Comic Strip Presents…) stars as Dorothy Squires: one of the biggest recording stars of the 1950s, and wife to the future 007. Her hits, Say It with Flowers, Till, The Gypsy, My Way (second only to Sinatra‘s). Her heartaches, a life of litigation, disaster and rancorous relationships. As Mrs Roger Moore, her own worst enemy. Now the fabulous legend of Welsh-born Dorothy lives on. GET TICKETS  alpillay.com

 

12:50pm. Locked In. Theatre. theSpace@Surgeons Hall/13-25 Aug (not 19).£7-£10. lgbt

Locked In is based on the journals of Keith Vaughan (1912-77), a great British painter and friend of the likes of Hockney, Sutherland and Bacon. His diaries are vivid, funny, angry, erotic, despairing. Whether Vaughan is rescuing wounded soldiers in an air raid, standing trial as a spy, having a holiday fling with a sexy young Mexican, writing to the Times about the joys of pornography, or demolishing the claims of pretentious conceptual artists, in this play you are always right there with him.  GET TICKETS homopromos.co.uk

 

1:00pm. Slice by Mel Giedroyc. Theatre. Gilded Balloon Teviot/1-27 Aug (not 13 & 20). £8-£10.

The relationship between mothers, daughters and sisters can be more complicated and subtle than the recipes passed between them. Three sisters convene in the kitchen while their mother is in a coma in the next room. Slice by Mel Giedroyc  is a sweet, darkly comic tale about how a tragedy and baked goods can bring a disparate family back together. Taking her first foray into playwriting, Mel Giedroyc is better known as the comedy partner of Sue Perkins. Gilded Balloon Teviot/4-27 Aug. 1pm.  GET TICKETS

 

1:15pm. Liz Lochead: Making Nothing Happen. Spoken Word. The Assembly Rooms/2-26 Aug (not 13). £9-£10.

Scotland’s Makar and veteran Fringe performer appears in a celebration of the word. Poems, monologues, characters, lyrics and theatre pieces. And, daily, a guest artist – a song, a wee bit of music – from a friend in town today. GET TICKETS

 

1:20pm. Bowling & Todd +1. Comedy. Cabaret Voltaire/4-25 Aug. FREE.

Next we have a great opportunity to see excellent young comedians, Bekka Bowling and Shane Todd, plus one surprise star guest in every show.  Better yet, Bowling and Todd +1 is totally free! Definitely worth checking out.  thefreefringe.org.uk

 

1:30pm. Bridget Christie: War Donkey. Comedy. The Assembly Rooms/3-26 Aug (not 13). £9-£10.

Bridget Christie returns to the Fringe at the new Ass Rooms, with a show that sounds more bonkers than ever. Entitled, War Donkey, expect some sharp satirical edges hidden around the delightful silliness.  GET TICKETS bridgetchristie.co.uk

 

1:30pm. Kelly Kingham: Goody Two Shoes. Comedy. The Royal Mile Tavern/4-25 Aug. FREE. lgbt

Writer of the rather marvellous musical fringe hit, JUMP, Kelly Kingham returns to Edinburgh with a solo stand-up show. The fact that the Free Fringe can attract comedians of this calibre has got to be welcomed. facebook.com/kelly.kingham

 

1:35pm. Confessions of Old Lady #2. Cabaret. Paradise in The Vault/14-27 Aug (not 20). FREE.

Confessions of Old Lady #2 features actress, Joan Shepard, in a side-splitting account of her life in the theatre, featuring, among others, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Talullah Bankhead, Dame Judith Anderson, Ethel Waters and Lenny Bruce. Laced with witty songs (orchestra on tape) this hour-long never-before-seen enthralling glimpse into theatrical high (and low) jinks will leave you breathless with laughter. FREE

 

2:00pm. Crypted. Theatre. C nova/2-26 Aug (not 13). £6.50-£10.50. lgbt

‘Negative Capability’ presents a double bill by Royal Shakespeare Company prize-winning writer Freddy Syborn. The fist is Crypted – a tragedy based on the life of Alan Turing, the gay Bletchley Park code breaker chemically castrated by the British government. The second is, Excess – see 5:25pm.  GET TICKETS  freddysyborn.com

 

2:00pm. Hannah Gadsby: Mary. Contrary. Comedy. Gilded Balloon Teviot/2-26 Aug (not 6-8, 13-15, & 20-22). £8.50-£10.50. lgbt

She had a famous son and has been paparazzied by painters for centuries since. Comedian Hannah Gadsby takes you on an historical art tour of the many faces of everyone’s favourite alleged virgin. GET TICKETS  hannahgadsby.com.au

 

2:00pm. Sandi Toksvig Live: My Valentine. Comedy. Pleasance Courtyard/17-23 Aug. £13-£14. lgbt

Possibly the most famous Scandinavian lesbian comedian, novelist and actor in the world – Sandi Toksvig, is appearing in Edinburgh as part of her first major UK tour.  A uniquely witty afternoon of stand-up, stories and fascinating facts is promised. GET TICKETS sanditoksvig.com

 

2:30pm. Contains Spoilers. Dance. Zoo Southside. 3-11 Aug. £10.

An obsessed photographer and an unhinged widow – a twisted love story. TrashDollys, an untypical duo, weave a layered retelling of desire through an intriguing mix of image and dance. They reveal to us the nature of that exquisite void. A perfect combination of photos are gathered throughout 50 minutes of enthralling performance, to be joined in the end to give a direct glimpse into the duo’s true motives. This show may contain spoilers. GET TICKETS

 

2:30pm. Rosie Wilby: How (Not) To Make It In Britpop. Theatre. The Bongo Club/10-14 Aug. £6-£8. lgbt

From playing Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott’s to miming on children’s television, musician turned comedian Rosie Wilby looks back at the emotional roller-coaster of chasing stardom at the heady height of Britpop in a reworked version of her acclaimed 2011 Edinburgh Fringe show. Mixing stand-up, storytelling and songs, How (Not) To Make It In Britpop delves into a personal treasure trove of old photos, fan letters, reviews and her published diaries to investigate the nature of nostalgia. The Bongo Club/10-14 Aug. 2:30pm. GET TICKETS   rosiewilby.com

 

2:50pm. Other Voices: Alternative Spoken Word Cabaret. Spoken Word. Banshee Labyrinth/4-25 Aug (not 8, 15 & 22). FREE.

This show brings you open-hearted open mic, feature sets from spoken word stars, and special guests daily, with a sumptuous cabaret vibe. Every show showcases a whirlwind of wit and panache; you’ll laugh, sigh, groan, and dance with delight. And there’ll be open mic spots just for you – book in advance or sign up on the door. With an array of magnificent women and their guests bringing you the best of spoken word on the scene today, we urge you to come and hear some wonderful words from the other side of the door. allographic.co.uk/othervoicesedinburgh

 

3:00pm. Mitch Benn: Reduced Circumstances. Comedy. Stand Comedy Club3/3-26 Aug (not 13). £10.

The world is shrinking, the economy’s shrinking and comic songwriter Mitch Benn is shrinking. In Jan 2011 he weighed 25 stone (that’s 350lb if you’re American and 160kg if you’re properly foreign). By last year’s Edinburgh Fringe he had lost ten stone. How did he do it? Where’s it gone? How the hell did he reach 25 stone in the first place? And the real question; what will he (and we) do now? Music. Mirth. Morbid obesity. GET TICKETS  mitchbenn.com

 

3:15pm. Marple, Murder & Me. Theatre. Gilded Balloon Teviot/1-26 Aug (not 13 & 20). £8.50-£10.50.

Margaret Rutherford never even wanted to take on the role of Miss Marple, for which she won an Oscar. Legendary mystery author Agatha Christie never thought Miss Marple should have been taken to the screen at all, especially not by the comic talent Rutherford. What scandal was uncovered that lead them putting aside their differences to eventually develop a touching friendship? Come and unearth the mystery behind the mystery in Marple, Murder and Me. Performed by Janet Price and directed by Stella Duffy.  GET TICKETS   stelladuffy.wordpress.com

 

3:20pm. Outward Bound. Theatre. theSpace@Surgeons Hall/2-11 Aug (not 5). £6-£8. lgbt

Our old Friends at the ‘About Turn Theatre Company’ return with Outward Bound by Michele Flatto and Dan Hyde. What makes a gay man and Jewish woman spend the night together? Forced to explore new terrain with Thermos and Tupperware, The Vagina Monologues meets Brokeback Mountain in this new play exploring growing up, coming out and moving on. The play tackles how the education system copes with homosexuality and how people cope with getting older and wiser…  GET TICKETS aboutturn.co.uk

 

3:40pm. Sharron Matthews Superstar: Gold. Comedy. Pleasance Courtyard. 1-27Aug (not 6, 13 & 20). £11-£14.

After two years of sell-out shows and five-star reviews, the undisputed queen of comedy cabaret returns to rock Edinburgh to its foundations! The European premiere of Gold mixes Matthews’ unique style of comedy with her stunning mash ups by artists such as Queen, Lady Gaga, and more. The result is always hysterical, heart-wrenching, shocking and gold. GET TICKETS

 

3:45pm. David Mills is Smart Casual. Comedy. The Hive/2-27 Aug. FREE. lgbt

Droll raconteur and 2011 Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, David Mills is known for razor-sharp, hilarious banter, cutting commentary and stylish delivery. Ruthless, hysterical rants delivered with acidic precision and spiked glee. In 2011 he was the regular sidekick on Scott Capurro’s chat show.  itsdavidmills.com

 

3:45pm. Julius Caesar: Losing Your Head in Egypt. Musical. C Chambers St/15-18 Aug. £7.50-£10.50. lgbt

Baroque music and characters from ancient history, seen through the pink eyes of a gay choir! The highlights of Handel’s famous opera are condensed to this extraordinary and spectacular version by composer Alexander Strauch. He created a clever blend of original and contemporary choral and piano music, containing elements of baroque, avant-garde and Egyptian pop. GET TICKETS  philhomoniker.de