Sad that you’re not going to the Edinburgh Festival this year?

Well don’t fret because the Colchester Arts Centre has lined-up a whole week of Edinburgh previews showcasing the very best in up and coming talent.

The series of double-headers begins on Monday, July 23, with Nigel Ng and his new show Malaysian sensation in which he observes and adopts our Western ways. Selected to be part of the prestigious Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, he’ll be joined by Fringe favourite Marlon Davis, who has already graced the likes of Live At The Comedy Store and Live At The Apollo.

On Tuesday it’s Jake Lambert’s Little Lost Lad and Irish comic Joanne McNally, who already has a slew of TV credits to her name in her country including the Late Late Show and the Commute for RTÉ.

Next up is another funny woman, Kelly Convey with her show Dependent Woman focussing on whether Girl Power and being an Independent woman is all it’s cracked up to be. She’s on the same bill as George Lewis, host of BBC’s Top Gear: Extra Gear and BBC New Comedy Award finalist.

Gazette: Bilal Zafar

As already featured in the paper, Thursday sees the brilliant Rosie Jones alongside Henry Paker who has been described as ‘one of the funniest men on the planet’, while for the Friday night slot it’s Lou Sanders, who has written for 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, Stand up for the Week and Miranda Hart, and 2016 Best Newcomer nominee and Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, Bilal Zafar.

Last by no means least rounding the whole week off on the Saturday night will be Tom Lucy, who supported Jack Whitehall on his recent arena tour and his show Reluctant Millennial, and Suzi Ruffell who is heading back to the Fringe with a brand new show after her last one was a complete sell out.

Individually tickets for each show are £10 and £8 for concessions, or there’s three to six day passes, all available from the box office on 01206 500900 or on-line at colchesterartscentre.com.

Doors for open at 7.30pm with the first act on at 8pm.

Gazette: Rosie Jones Picture: Aemen Sukkar