#Interview By Lou with Darrell Martin – Time To Celebrate Just The Tonic Comedy Club 20 Years At The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the comedy club’s founder @Justthetonic @EdFringe #UnleashYourFringe #EdFringe2024 #Comedy #Theatre @aDarrellMartin

JUST THE TONIC

20 YEARS AT EDINBURGH FRINGE

Written by Angela Allen, celebrated with Lou at Bookmarks and Stages

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Just the Tonic and 20 years of Just the Tonic at Edinburgh Fringe.

Based in Edinburgh, the company has grown from humble beginnings as a Sunday night club into one of the largest comedy producers in the UK, with a huge presence at the Fringe spread over 5 venues.

At a time when the Fringe is becoming more and more expensive for both performers and the public, Just the Tonic boasts one of the most affordable programmes of the festival.

As well as low ticket prices and a Pay What You Want model, there are shows such as the Big Value Comedy Show, Headliners for £10, Comedy in the Dark, Best of Cabaret and All Stars Burlesque where you can see several performers and big names on the same bill.

Just the Tonic has a reputation for supporting new talent and has helped launch the careers of many comedians including Romesh Ranganathan, Johnny Vegas, Jason Manford, Josie Long, Gary Delaney, Sarah Millican, Jon Richardson, Rob Beckett, Sean Walsh.

This year you could discover the next comedian to make it big, catch a theatre

production making its debut in the UK, or enjoy a magical family show.

The 2024 programme is packed with almost 200 shows from comedy and cabaret to theatre and kids events.

Highlights include comedians Andrew Maxwell, Kai Humphies, Lucy Porter, Craig Hill, Clinton Baptist, Alfie Brown and Scottish favourite Connor Burns. US comedy stars Chanel Ali, Titi Lee and Michael John Ciszewski make their Fringe debuts and there’s fresh new

comedy from the UK including Jake Donaldson – ‘a must see’ (Huffington Post) – and Dave Durkom – ‘a young sketch comedian to watch’ (Telegraph).

Theatre includes The Heaven’s Favorite Murderess, an adaptation of the Greek story of Medea, Jewels, a subversive spectacle of indestructible womanhood, and groundbreaking productions from Edinburgh’s own Theatre Paradok.

Family-friendly shows Pure Imagination: A Willy Wonka Parody and 6 Impossible Things: A Comedy Magic Show based on Alice in Wonderland, will delight all ages and there’s robots, escape rooms and mysteries to solve.

Founder Darrell Martin says: “Not one of the ‘big boys’, we are proud to remain in keeping with the spirit of the fringe. Not one of the smaller venues, we also pride ourselves at hosting some of the best new comedy you will find. With 30 years of running comedy clubs and 20 years of producing Edfringe shows, we are proud to be part of this amazing festival.”