Fringe comics out to show trams really are a big joke

THE city's tram project is already considered by many to be Edinburgh's biggest joke.

But now residents can laugh at the roadworks for the right reasons as four of the Capital's rising comedians introduce a Fringe show dedicated to satirising all things tram.

Scottish-born funnymen Jim Park and Jeff O'Boyle, plus Gordon Alexander, of Cleethorpes in Humberside, and Martin McAllister, of Glenarm in Northern Ireland, will present The Silence of the Trams at the Stand Club in August.

The comedians, who have been living in the city centre for several years, have been practising the 23-day show for months and they have now gathered enough tram jokes to tickle even the most cynical audience member.

There will be topical references throughout the four-man act and the quartet even promise a tender hug between a taxi driver and a representative of Edinburgh council's transport and planning department.

Jim, 38, said: "We picked trams as a centrepiece because everybody's got an opinion on them, including us. It's a lighthearted show – we're taking the pee a bit."

The lads' feelings about the trams are mixed, with two largely for and two against the project.

Jeff, 32, is against it because he feels the money could be better spent. He quipped: "If the purpose of this project is to get people from Leith to the airport, why are we spending £500m on trams? It costs £15 to get a taxi from Leith to the Airport. Couldn't we just get 33 million cabs instead?"

Although Jim is largely in favour of trams, he agrees that the price tag is a little excessive. "If the seats aren't made from the leather of Japanese Kobe beef cattle and the tracks aren't made from crushed Faberge eggs, I will be bitterly disappointed," he said.

Martin, 32, says he distrusts trams because he is wary of any iron horse that exceeds 10mph.

But Gordon, 29, is encouraged by the scope for fare evasion. He said: "From my experience of trams in Prague and Budapest, nobody checks your ticket and if an inspector collars you, you just say you're Danish. They eventually get bored and move on."

The four received good reviews at last year's Fringe for their first production together, No Comedy for Old Men.

Tickets for the new show are available from the Stand website, www.thestand.co.uk. They cost £7 or £6 concession.