Only a clown judges Edinburgh Fringe comics by their sex appeal

What is it that makes a clown sexy, anyway? Is it the content of her show, the tone and intent, or the square inches of skin that are bared during the course of it? When a male critic for a left-wing newspaper refers to the debut show of LA-based comedian Courtney Pauroso, developed along with the male artist Dr Brown, as “another strikingly in-yer-face show from Dr Brown’s sexy-clown stable,” what exactly is he trying to say?

A Feminist’s Guide to Thriving at the Edinburgh Festivals

Ask not how you can survive this manic month of almost infinite possibilities, but how you can make the most of the incredible opportunity it presents.

A Feminist’s Guide to the Festivals: A dozen more Fringe shows worth investigating (in time order)

In our final “pick of the Fringe” blog, here are the rest of the shows that caught our eye but didn’t fit them theme of any of the other hit lists.

A Feminist’s Guide to the Festivals: Fringe shows about masculinity (in time order)

Masculinity is a hot topic at this year’s Fringe, so here’s our round-up of shows exploring it from all different angles.

A Feminist’s Guide to the Festivals: Women comics on the Fringe (in time order)

Up the women! Specifically, the women bringing stand-up shows to the Fringe (and even more specifically the ones tackling gender stereotypes in the process). Here are a few to get you started…

A Feminist’s Guide to the Festivals: Pick of the Free Fringe (in time order)

Fancy a fix of feminist-friendly theatre and comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe, but on a tight budget? No problem!

Joking aside, critics should examine their sexism

There’s no place in criticism for ruling that because a performer has the audacity to reflect on her own life experiences, she is at best niche and at worst intolerably self-absorbed.