The Comedy Zone

One of the Fringe’s most recognisable and most infamous shows, The Comedy Zone, returns for its 21^st consecutive year with more hot new talent. Hosted by the Bafta-nominated and Edinburgh born comic, Iain Stirling, the programme for 2011 features New York comic Hari Kondabolu, CBBC’s Paul Currie and Chortle Student Comedy Award-winner, Phil Wang.

Renowned for having given a leg-up to some of the biggest names on the Fringe circuit (including Russell Kane), The Comedy Zone brings together three new, but very different acts this evening, to create an eclectic night of giggles, embarrassment and bemusement.

While Stirling is an established and vivacious compere, the show is a very odd mix of physical, musical and surreal comedy, which teeters between being funny and feeling mildly uncomfortable. With jokes ranging from Kondabolu's American tourist clichés, to race, ethnic skincare, Currie's original take on performance puppetry and mime, and Wang's deeply dark but self-deprecating set, The Comedy Zone sure demonstrates a wide range.

Overall, the evening is a very mixed affair, with hints of the political, social and a whole lot of Andy Kaufman homages. A varied, but memorable place to discover some rising stars.