Pleasance Courtyard (venue website) 28, 29 Aug, 10:30pm (11:30pm) Reviewed by Chris Hislop

An Aussie comic with much to prove, Brendon Burns seemingly drags controversy in his wake, especially following the recent Guardian tirade against 'offensive' comedy. This is a man known for his on-stage outbursts and 'difficult' material, his controversial outspokenness and his foul mouth. However, Brendon Burns is so much more than this - and is credited far too little for his coarsely witty work.

New Town Theatre (venue website) 17 - 30 Aug, 12:00pm (12:30pm) 17 - 30 Aug, 12:40pm (1:10pm) 17 - 30 Aug, 1:20pm (1:50pm) 17 - 30 Aug, 2:00pm (2:30pm) Reviewed by Richard Stamp

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is your reviewer speaking. We're cruising at an altitude of minus ten metres, in a kitchen in the basement of the New Town Theatre. We're sitting, incredibly enough, in a mock-up of an aeroplane. And lunch is about to be served.

C soco (venue website) 5-31 Aug (not 17), 5:30pm (6:30pm) Reviewed by Lee Zhao and Richard Stamp

No Shoes Theatre are not the only improvised musical theatre group in Edinburgh this year - the other being Showstopper!, and I've had the pleasure of reviewing both in the last couple of days. Each adopts a different approach, but each face the same potential pitfalls - and adding music to the improvised genre only makes it more fraught with danger. The biggest worry for any such show is a flat audience; if the seats are empty or if the crowd is not getting into the swing of things, then you are heading into a world of boredom.

Laughing Horse @ Cafe Renroc (venue website) 6-16, 18-23, 25-30 Aug, 7:30pm (8:30pm) Reviewed by Craig Thomson

Ben Lerman, a New York-based musical comedian, tells an illuminating story. Invited by Cosmopolitan magazine to perform on their digital radio station, Lerman was also hit with a list of restrictions, because "they were familiar with my body of work." With no swearing or mocking of the magazine allowed, he turned to the pages of Cosmo for inspiration, and came up with a lovely number called 'Multiple Orgasm Pam'.

The Stand Comedy Club I & II (venue website) 7 - 31 Aug (not 17), 4:05pm (5:20pm) 6 Aug, 5:45pm (7:00pm) 5 Aug, 5:55pm (7:10pm) Reviewed by Craig Thomson

It must be confidence bordering on hubris that causes a comedian to bring a show to the Fringe six years running, without changing the format. Simon Munnery has done just that with his Annual General Meeting at The Stand. Unfortunately, I feel the shine of novelty is wearing away from his act, and what is left is a little dull.