Comedy 

Words: Clare Roberts 

5 Stars 

When it rained so heavily in Edinburgh (raining old ladies and sticks, as they say in Wales) that streams of water leaked through the roof and onto the stage lights in Hoots at The Apex building, it could have been a disaster. But this is the Edinburgh Fringe, where adaptability and camaraderie turn chaos into generosity. And that’s what makes it special. 

To the rescue was Spanish & Welsh comedian Ignacio Lopez, who offered his own solo slot to the performers whose shows had been cancelled due to the leaks. He was meant to trial new material from his upcoming UK & Irish tour. Instead, he hosted a last-minute compilation show, ensuring that each of the six comedians got their audience and the audience didn’t have to be turned away, soggy tickets in hand. 

The energy in the room was high as we heard from comedians including Rob Moriarty, Colman Hayes, Philip Simon, Martin Burn and Matty Ross, and Tom Evans. The jokes were dark, the one-liners cheeky, and the laughter was raucous. Lopez, assisted by Evans, carried the night, riffing on British quirks, and timely weather gripes, before closing with a guitar cover of ‘Karma Chameleon’, with rewritten lyrics that sparked a singalong. I’m even more excited to see his full set when he goes on tour. 

Their quick thinking created a warm celebration. As we exited to ‘Purple Rain’, I thought about what Lopez said. What we had that evening was impromptu, special, and the acts should now be referred to as…The Apex Seven. 

Ignacio Lopez: Nada (secret show) 
Hoot 1 at Hoots @ The Apex 
18:00 
19 Aug