Just the Tonic’s ‘The Tron’ venue is a really popular space with stand ups. A low ceiling, small room, close-up audience, and it is below ground, it feels like the best kept secret. This year Just The Tonic have announced that it will be a venue of purely female stand-ups – the first venue in the history of the Edinburgh Fringe to do this.
JUST THE TONIC FOUNDER DARRYL MARTIN: “As we were programming The Tron, we realised, that without any actual intention, the room seemed to be mainly female performers. So, with only a couple of slots left, we actively sought out more to create an all female venue. It wasn’t driven by us wanting to prove a point, or to be all political. It was going that way, so we pushed it further. So, the point is, this happened because we chose a load of funny people to be in the space, and it just turned out they were female. Make of that what you will. Over the years, when booking comedy clubs, we have tried to make sure our line ups are balanced. I would say that the way this happened goes to show that the comedy industry is heading towards a more balanced ratio of male to female performers. It was definitely not that way 27 years ago when I started booking comedy, but these things take time to change. Cultural shifts take years to come to fruition. Without any real effort, we have now got a fully female line up in one of Edinburgh’s finest comedy venues, all programmed with ‘being funny’ as the first criteria.”
The venue has always operated a model where they offer reasonable ticket prices to the public, as well as being a realistic working model for artists, meaning they are not one the venues where people go and regularly lose thousands. They have always maintained a policy of paying their staff and not relying on volunteers. Just The Tonic encourage and support newer and diverse acts providing a professional setting at an affordable price for people wanting to go to Ed Fringe. Fringe venues and comedy clubs are the vital grassroots training ground for the future stars of the future, as well as the places that allow performers and artists to grow, develop and experiment.
Just the Tonic was launched in Nottingham over 25 years ago and has played host to countless up-and-coming comics as well as the most established TV names. It is now one of the most respected live comedy brands across the UK with venues in Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Reading and Watford. It also runs shows at leading festivals including the Leicester Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Festival. Past and recent performers include the likes of Ricky Gervais, Sarah Millican, Josie Long, Al Murray, Bill Bailey, Stewart Lee, Simon Pegg, Noel Fielding, Dylan Moran, Ross Noble, Daniel Kitson and Johnny Vegas.
THE TRON PROGRAMME:
1.00PM ESYLIT SEARS: ABSOLUTELY NOT (DEBUT)
You can spend too much time in the bath and end up media managing your own death, actually. Esyllt has found that pursuing a career in PR, embracing some pretty sketchy maternal instincts and allowing self-care has only ever led to redundancy, tearing and having to organise the media relations around your own eventual death. Want to be both frightened and turned on? Absolutely Not is Aberystwyth comedian, Esyllt Sears’ debut hour and promises to do just that. She has supported Elis James and Jen Brister on tour, and co-hosts The Xennial Dome podcast. She has also written for: The Now Show and The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4); Elis James’ sketch series and his stand-up special (S4C); What Just Happened? (BBC One Wales); and The Rest of Us (BBC Radio 4).
Twitter - @esylltmair Instagram - esyllt.sears
2.20PM NINA GILLIGAN: LATE DEVELOPER
Nina Gilligan is a so-called 'late developer'. She's never hit a single milestone and at 50 is still trying to grasp the complex rules of womanhood. She knows she's not alone. As her eggs deplete and her body becomes hotter than earth's core she is certain only of one thing: she refuses to go on a cruise. Both outrageous and loveable. A circuit favourite. Leicester Mercury Comedy award winner 2021.
@Highlandcow71 Instagram #Gilligannina
4.40PM ADELE CLIFF – IN THE DARK
Knowledge is power, power corrupts, corruption is bad, Adele is good. Come see why Adele thinks ignorance is bliss. Dave's Funniest Jokes of the Fringe (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016), UK Pun Champion (2020). 'Guaranteed laughs' ***** (The Student Newspaper). Adele has featured in best jokes lists in The Telegraph, The Evening Standard, The Irish Times, The i Newspaper and The Metro. 'Absolutely charming... a skilled performer with real presence and confidence' (Scotsman). Instagram - Facebook - Twitter
5.00PM ERYN TETT – FINDS HER AUDIENCE (DEBUT)
Volunteers needed for very important scientific research*. With a style that toes the line between straight stand-up and absurdism, classic misfit and newly proactive Eryn (Funny Women Stage Award runner-up, 2021) is collecting important data in search of her "audience". A bizarre exploration of her own thoughts; expect word play, odd observations and surreal storytelling set to a charmingly uncomfortable rhythm, as Eryn takes an entirely literal approach to the sage advice: find your audience. *data may be collected for research purposes.
CLIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Zauq8ERSo
Insta/Twitter/FB: @eryntettcomedy Youtube: /eryntett Tiktok: @eryntett
6.20PM ABIGOLIAH SCHAMAUN: LEGALLY CHEEKY
Abigoliah never thought she could be deported. She’s American! But she found herself in court, fighting the UK Government to stay in London with her man. She was never going to let Priti Patel win. Come and laugh at how hard one woman fought for her right to remain. Red tape and bureaucracy has never been this funny. Abigoliah has appeared on Comedy Central, Channel 5, BBC Radio 4 Extra and The Guilty Feminist podcast. In 2022 she’s become a rising star on TikTok with 10m+ Views and 110k+ Followers.
7.40PM ALIYA KANANI: WHERE ARE YOU FROM, FROM? (DEBUT)
30 countries, 10 schools, 6 languages... so, where's she from? After selling out her show internationally, including at the Just for Laughs Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and FringeWorld in Perth, Canadian Academy Award-nominated actress and comedian, Aliya Kanani, is excited to bring her sought-after show for her Edinburgh Fringe debut! Aliya takes us on a turbulent journey around the world with tales of fitting in, sticking out and standing up. Her pleasant nature, combined with her fiery spirit will leave you energized and uplifted.
CLIP: https://youtu.be/26imJoTnakI
@aliyakomedy
9.00PM KATE BARRON: LOSING MYSELF (DEBUT)
One of the rising stars of the UK’s stand-up scene shares a raw, honest and hilarious hour of tales… with just the right amount of filth. Join the Canadian comedian as she tells her very personal story of how living in a new country in a global pandemic led her to take a drastic decision without telling a soul, and returns to the stage over 13 stone lighter, in more ways than one.
CLIPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3gMR9zskQ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsM0QACljKY
IG: @_katebarron Twitter: @Kate_Barron https://www.facebook.com/comediankatebarron
10.20PM AIDEEN MCQUEEN: SUGAR BABY (DEBUT)
The story of how a day drinking primary school teacher changed her life by becoming a sugar baby – living a life of luxury and ruining herself in the process. Crazy stories, life lessons and absolute craic! This is an unmissable show, packed with great stories and jokes.
CLIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCZpPij1Hpg
https://www.facebook.com/aideen.mcqueen/ https://www.instagram.com/aideenmcqueen/
https://twitter.com/aideenmcqueen
11.40PM TRIPLE THREAT COMEDY
Triple Threat Comedy is a late-night showcase bringing you three of the best established and up-and-coming acts. All funny, none male; with a fresh line-up each night. Stand-up’s answer to Charlie’s Angels. This late-night show which promises to have a cracking line-up of TV names alongside breakthrough acts each time. A perfect way to end the night, or start the day! Previous acts include Helen Bauer, Ria Lina, Holly Stars, Isabelle Farah.
Twitter: @triplethreatcom Instagram: @triple_threat_comedy
