Choice cuts from the Fringe

12:10pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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Kerry Ann Eustice profiles a few local talents taking on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and unearths a few preview shows on our doorsteps

Despite the pang of jealousy you'll experience when watching all the Edinburgh International and Fringe Festival previews at various south-east venues (upon realising what you're missing by not going, that is) the reasonably-priced tickets and fresh material should appease matters and make these warm-up shows an unmissable treat.

Test your funny bone at The Hob, Forest Hill. Its weekly double bill of previews have been warming up crowds for weeks. This weekend (July 27 at 8pm) Michael Fabbri tests out his material on stupidity and intelligence and renowned (Rose Bruford-trained) stand-up Shazia Mirza headlines.

Croydon's Warehouse Theatre hosts comedy previews too. From July 25 to July 27 bankable stand-up names such as Richard Herring (July 25), Mock the Week's Russell Howard (July 26) and ones-to-watch such as Skins writer Isy Suttie (July 25) take to the stage.

Meanwhile, at the festival (running at various venues in Edinburgh, August 3 to 25), Les Enfants Terribles - a troupe with south east-based members - takes The Terrible Infants - delightfully twisted tales for all ages - to the Udderbelly Stage having warmed up in Greenwich Theatre earlier this year.

Dumb Show Theatre is staging a family-focused piece too, the macabre fairytale Clockheart Boy.

"You go up there to be entertained, see and experience new things," said company writer Sam Gayton. The Orpington resident said there is potential for Clockheart Boy to tour Bromley schools later this year.

A local talent must-see is a fun and physical staging of A Midsummer Night's Dream starring drama students from Eltham Hill Technology College (August 17 to 21). The show debuted at the college just two weeks ago.