The Alternative Book Club presents an unconventional comedy show about books where there is absolutely NO required reading. Prepare to be entertained – and informed – by a phenomenal line up of award-winning comics and brilliant friends who will be dissecting anything Lit: from John Milton’s Paradise Lost to Kim Kardashian’s Selfie, and everything in between. All hosted by your host, Shirley Halse.

“A wonderfully entertaining concept.” - Alex Farrow, director of Jericho Comedy

“This is my favourite gig, I love the mix of performers and topics, I love performing here myself and it's pretty much the only gig I go to as a punter.” Nick Page (BGT Semi-Finalist)

August 11, 2022    The Scotsman

The Alternative Book Club is a quintessential Fringe Experience for me, starting as it does with the heart-in-mouth entertainment offered by a burly techie on a wobbly ladder poking at a dodgy looking projector with a screwdriver. He gets a round of applause. The show is hosted (and created by) Shirley Halse who manages to be funny, friendly and focused, all with a small girl called Bramble in a harness on her back. The cost of daycare in Edinburgh, along with everything else, is out of reach of the Fringe-creating performer.

Bramble, however, has great stage presence and plays peek-a-boo with two young women in the front row while her mother guides us through the Louvre and introduces Chelsea Birkby (chosen book "Be A Great Stand Up Comic”), Alex Farrow who doesn't have a book but worries that the machines are coming for our jobs and has one for a therapist, and headliner (or 'Top Shelf Comic', under the circs') anaesthetist Ed Gamble, who cheekily brings his OWN book along but if his set today is anything to go by, it might be worth getting a copy. Click Here For Review