PRESS RELEASE

Brett Vincent for Underbelly Promotions
by arrangement with Old Man Management presents

MATT KIRSHEN in
SHORTER THAN NAPOLEON
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2009
PLEASANCE COURTYARD – ABOVE
10.20pm (Ends 11.20pm)
5th – 31st AUGUST 2009 (not 18th )

Matt Kirshen, star of Last Comic Standing is back in Edinburgh and is now in his 30th year. Whilst noodling round the net, Matt discovered that he was shorter than napoleon. Quite a feat, but by the age of 30 Napoleon was an Emperor, had decided on a look and could already speak fluent French. Matt has achieved none of these things and isn't very warlike, unless you count his laser quest skills.

Matt is back with a fantastic hour of new stand up, where he covers everything from Rap Battles and American Politics, to gay marriage and sex offenders, with an epic true story about being in France (see he is just like Napoleon) in between.

Matt has recently returned from a college tour (venues of between 2000 and 7000 seats) of the States with Jimmy Fallon (recently taken over from Conan O'Brien) and has just released his first CD both here and the States entitled I Guess We'll Never Know on Grammy award winning label, Stand Up! Records. His radio and TV credits continue to be clocked up. Due to be broadcast on July 23 rd for four weeks is his new show for Radio 4 Bigipedia (co-written with fellow stand up Nick Doody) and was the host of Rude Tube on Channel 4.

As well as his work in the US, Matt's many other international appearances include shows in Ireland, both ex-pat and local audiences in Dubai, Oman, Singapore, France, Austria and Germany. He has performed to festival crowds at Montreal, Kilkenny, Glastonbury, Oxford Truck and The Carling Weekend in Reading and Leeds, and is a regular at all the major comedy clubs in London and across the UK, including The Comedy Store and Jongleurs. Matt is also a regular face on television appearing in his own half-hour special for the World Stands Up, The Late Edition , Comedy Cuts , 28 Acts in 28 Minutes , and ITV's Reading Festival Coverage amongst others, and of course Last Comic Standing on NBC.

"the laughs are guaranteed and don't stop from beginning to end.” Edinburgh Evening News

"his likeability almost goes off the scale" Chortle

"Neurotically energetic...Highly recommended" Daily Telegraph

“A roller coaster of comedy genius" The Scotsman

“His performance is the perfect mix of innocence and post-adolescent cynicism driven by infectious energy” Metro Life Magazine

“A pocket sized dynamo” Evening Standard

“Matt Kirshen is a definite one to watch, his innocent looks belying a sharp, surreal and often gloriously sick mind. Killer Gags” Metro

“Consistently hilarious” Three Weeks

LISTINGS INFORMATION – MATT KIRSHEN in SHORTER THAN NAPOLEON

PLEASANCE COURTYARD – Above, Pleasance, Edinburgh
Box Office: 0131 556 6550 www.pleasance.co.uk
Venue press office: press@pleasance.co.uk 0131 556 6557
Edinburgh Fringe Box Office: 0131 226 0000
Dates: 5th – 31st August at 10.20pm (ends 11.20pm).
Previews 5th – 7th Aug. No show 17th
Tickets: 5th – 7th Aug (previews): £7.00
Weekdays: £10.00 (£9.00 concs) Weekends: £12.00 (£11.00 concs)