Edinburgh Fringe: Laughs are for life, not just August

AS The Fringe prepares to launch on Thursday and an Antipodean lager takes over sponsorship of its biggest gong, the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Edinburgh's native comedy scene appears to have slipped into the shade.

Look carefully, though, and it is still there. Reminding us that in Edinburgh, laughs are for life – and not just for August.

At the heart of the Capital's year-round comedy is The Stand, which has its headquarters in a dedicated comedy venue on York Place with a commitment – taken very seriously – to put on comedy seven nights a week.

It might not be all glitz and glamour, but its intimacy and considered layout ensure that it is regarded among comedians as one of the best comedy clubs in the world.

That's not twopenny non-entities either, but the very best of Scottish and international comedians who pack out the room Thursdays-Saturdays

It is an equally great venue to see the regular round of newbies, up-and-coming performers, sketch shows and local regulars who take the Sunday-Wednesday evening slots. Strange to think that the club, started by a bunch of enthusiasts as a hobby in a pub basement in the Grassmarket in 1995, had more than 100,000 people through its doors last year.

If The Stand has its roots in the pub-basement circuit, then Stand Up @ The Still at the Illicit Still in Tollcross, and Heresy at the Jekyll & Hyde on Hanover Street are living examples of those roots.

Stand Up @ The Still, every Tuesday, celebrates its second birthday on June 15 having recently moved from a fortnightly to a weekly slot. The free gig – donate what you think it was worth at the end – is often the pub's busiest night of the week.

"Every show has about five or six comedians, either up-and-coming bright young things or more established acts looking to try out new material, supporting a brilliant headliner," says the club's founder Ben Verth, who regularly comperes the night.

Over in the New Town, Rick Molland is performing a similar service on Thursday nights with his club Heresy.

At the Beehive Inn in the Grassmarket, Keara Murphy, pictured, is splitting the difference with Fit O' The Giggles.

Set up four years ago to "get extra stage time in Edinburgh" for up-and-coming comedians, the night has grown from its Monday slot, with Absolute Beginners, to include Wobbly Wednesdays, when established comics can try out new material and the new Saturday Show, with experienced performers.

The big boys are still in town, too, although only just, following the demise of Jongleurs earlier this year. The Omni Centre venue has now been taken over by Highlight with their Famous For Comedy nights running on Fridays and Saturdays. Forget the Fringe, in Edinburgh you can carry on laughing 365 days a year – well almost.

The Stand, York Place, 0131-558 7272 / Beehive Inn, Grassmarket, 0131-225 7171 / Famous For Comedy, Omni Centre, 0844-844 0044 / The Illicit Still, Brougham Street, 0131-228 2633 / The Jekyll & Hyde, Hanover Street, 0131-225 2022