The Edinburgh Fringe Archives – Dominic Holland (Eclipsed, 2017)

The Edinburgh Fringe Show, with Ewan Spence

Dominic Holland made his name at the Fringe. His first time in Edinburgh, in 1993 he won the Perrier Best Newcomer award, and was later nominated for the full Perrier. He’s made TV appearances, is a regular on the circuit… and was anointed by Bob Monkhouse as “Britain’s funniest not yet famous comedian”.

He’s a stand-up with many highs (and lows). He’s also a father, and in 2017 he brought his show ‘Eclipsed’ to the Free Fringe.

The eclipse in question is by his son Tom Holland. How was Dominic’s journey to where he is today, how did the whole family deal with each other, and how much of a protective father he is to a really talented son.

Holland is aware that plenty of people have come because he’s Spidey’s father. A man in late middle-age in the front row says he’s seen the blockbuster 20 times. That’s worrying. So the comedian intersperses the tale of Tom’s unlikely rise from a normal middle-class family to a peak of Hollywood fame with more conventional stand-up routines about his ageing body and idiotic behaviour.

Chortle / * * * *

It’s a different viewpoint on the classic story of rising from humble roots to a hero – literally. With Jokes.

So let’s go back to the Fringe, back to the Voodoo Rooms, and the Free Fringe, to find out the delight of being Eclipsed.

And remember…. The show’s over, don’t try and get tickets! But the book is that’s the companion to the show is available in all good bookshops. And Amazon.

• Find out more about Dominic Holland’s work at his website, and follow him on Twitter, @DomHolland.

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