It was back in 2001 that we first witnessed The Treason Show during the Edinburgh Fringe of that year featuring Mark Brailsford, Kate Van Dyke, Mark Katz and Carol Kentish and were blown away with their comedy revue and ridicule of the ‘celeb and politico’ world with numerous sketches and songs poking fun as only they can.

The following year we were delighted to see their 2002 offering and whereas the format was similar, the content was different with only the ‘currently in the news’ stories making the final cut. Unfortunately this show fell foul of some critics, not us I can assure you, but it was the last Edinburgh saw of this group of merciless mimics, that is until now.

At it’s home base of Komedia in Brighton The Treason Show has become an institution, being updated monthly, drawing on the talents of over 40 writers and a pool of 14 or so performers still including director/ producer/ founder Mark Brailsford and after a break for her own production, baby Molly, we understand Carole Kentish will be returning to the fray shortly.

However the show did return to Edinburgh this week with a three night run at The GRV club in Guthrie Street. Due to previous commitments we were only able to catch the last show in the run, but in company with a whole load of others were royally treated for the excess of 90 minutes by the exceptionally talented quartet of Nat Tapley, Heather Urquhart, Katy Schutte and the afore said Mark Brailsford, together with the musical maestro Joe Samuels on keyboards and violin.

The sketches and songs come thick and fast, some fairly short, others more developed, but all with that snappy satirical style that is the trademark of this company. As with all sketch shows there are devices that one expects, running gags and the like and the reworking of popular songs each given a slant that was never really intended.

So who were lampooned? I tried to take a few notes but ran out of paper, but some I did note were President elect (?) McCain, Hilary, Gordon, Tony, Bill Oddie, Sue Barker, Posh ‘n’ Becks, Amy Winehouse, Lilly Allan, Osama, Alistair Darling and The Dalai Lama were just some of the myriad of others who got the treatment.

All to soon the show was over and we were left hoping it wouldn’t be another six years until we had the opportunity to see it again, and that is where we got some hopeful news. Talking to Mark B after the show he is hoping to be involved in, let’s call it ‘The McTreason Show’, later in the year using Scottish writers and performers. Given the experience he has to offer together with the wealth of Scottish talent available we cannot wait for this to happen. If it sounds like it’s your thing, and why shouldn’t it be?, then watch this space and check out our site, ‘cause we hope to be given the dates which will be published on our news pages, oh and we’ll be there in person with bells on.

For more information on The Treason Show see www.treasonshow.co.uk