View Full Version : Edinburgh Festival
Ok - so there's already a thread about this in some other forum but is it ok to have one here as well?
I'm not going to advertise the fact I'm doing 2 shows (8th - 11th August), not going to mention they're being held at St Andrews & St Georges Church on George Street (venue 111) and not saying that I want anyone to come.
Woops. :o
Anyway - anyone going to be in Edinburgh for the festival? Anyone else performing?
:)
geminisnake
13-07-2005, 17:01
Wow!! I was going to start a festie thread but didn't want to pee our lovely editor off.
Must admit I normally avoid Edinburgh in August. What with the crowds, and all :o
I'm ashamed to say I've never been :o
There was a chance of a one woman show I did 4 years ago touring to Edinburgh but the writer was a wanker :)
One year I will treat myself to a trip up with some fancy hotel accommodation.
weepiper
13-07-2005, 22:25
Having lived in Edinburgh (right beside the Meadows) for ten years, I can say hand on heart I'm glad I don't have to be there in August anymore! (we moved out in 2003) Too busy. I'm sure the Festival's great fun for the tourists but if you actually want to go about your normal daily business it's a pain in the hole. Being constantly woken up between 3-6am by drunken thespians partying outside your house wears a bit thin too.
</curmudgeon>
I'll be about for the whole thing. Quite like the festival even though I don't usually go to much in the way of shows etc. Will need to get some money together for the film festival though - always some great stuff to be seen at that.
Last year (or year before?) I was living on the Royal Mile, and I LOVE the festival. Yes it's a bit busy, but it's busy and exciting and I adore that.
spam
:p
i'd love to see your show dozzer ;)
I'm not going to advertise the fact I'm doing 2 shows (8th - 11th August), not going to mention they're being held at St Andrews & St Georges Church on George Street (venue 111) and not saying that I want anyone to come.
What are the shows called?
treefrog
21-07-2005, 10:16
any chance of you doing something about the festie for the radio dozzer? An insider's guide or something would be most appreciated! :D
Ooh -the shows are called "Broadway Saints and Sinners" and "Fringe Fantasia - Disney through the ages"
Treefrog - I wouldn't have a clue where to start with all the radio malarky, but if an "radio experienced" urbanite was fancying a trip to Edinburgh I'm sure we could find somewhere to put them up for a while. :)
treefrog
25-07-2005, 13:12
hmm, I'll see what I can do. Something from the Fringe would be great for the radio, pity I'm not living up that way any more!
Bit of luck I may be heading that way if I can brainwash my sister into having my kids. I'll be on my toddy but don't care.
Now for the important bit:
Can someone give me the name / addy of this fantastic italian restaurant we went to a few years ago. The ice cream was to die for. It was not far from a dodgy backpacking hostel we stayed in called (ahem) 'Playfair' To be fair it was decent accom but the name conjured up visions of Playboy and Mayfair and we kept expecting secret cameras or summat..
weepiper
31-07-2005, 19:25
I can't remember the name except that it starts with a 'G' but there's an Italian restaurant on the Grassmarket that fits that description.....
Here we go
07-08-2005, 02:48
I worked there last year and seen lots of shows and very few street performers. I doubt I'll be going this year though (skinto!)
Venue 28
8-12 August.
8.05
Anyway, having a wicked time here so far - apart from being wank at flyering. Some absolutely amazing lasses here too. Might have to take up residency here! :D
So someone can you recommend some very nice cheap places to stay. Pref B and B's but I'll do a hostel in an emergency!
Hmmm - no idea of where is cheap at the moment.. I'll have a think.
:)
lang rabbie
08-08-2005, 15:54
Now for the important bit:
Can someone give me the name / addy of this fantastic italian restaurant we went to a few years ago. The ice cream was to die for. It was not far from a dodgy backpacking hostel we stayed in called (ahem) 'Playfair'
Assuming you were staying at the Playfair House Hostel on Blenheim Place at the corner of Royal Terrace - do you mean Vittoria (http://www.vittoriarestaurant.com/)'s at 113 Brunswick Street (just off Leith Walk)
A pedant adds: BTW Playfair House is named for the eminently respectable architect of that corner of Edinburgh - William Playfair (http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/Libraries/artsphere/architects/Playfair/Playfair.html)
Having lived in Edinburgh (right beside the Meadows) for ten years, I can say hand on heart I'm glad I don't have to be there in August anymore! (we moved out in 2003) Too busy. I'm sure the Festival's great fun for the tourists but if you actually want to go about your normal daily business it's a pain in the hole. Being constantly woken up between 3-6am by drunken thespians partying outside your house wears a bit thin too.
</curmudgeon>
There's still some good stuff at the festival, but the fringe has basically become a trade fair for the comedy agents. Because they don't really care about making a loss, and dominate the listings (a one man/woman show is the most cost effctive type of show for obvious reasons), it is incredibly hard for others to put on shows affoardably in prime locations. So it is very expensive. Plus the key venues are all in a very small geographical location (not withstanding the good work done by the people's festival in wester hailes and craigmillar).
So the working class of edinburgh are kept out of the whole beanfest, and the whole thing becomes a cross between Glastonbury for the media classes and a shop window for wanabee Graham Nortons.
There's still some good stuff at the festival, but the fringe has basically become a trade fair for the comedy agents. Because they don't really care about making a loss, and dominate the listings (a one man/woman show is the most cost effctive type of show for obvious reasons), it is incredibly hard for others to put on shows affoardably in prime locations. So it is very expensive. Plus the key venues are all in a very small geographical location (not withstanding the good work done by the people's festival in wester hailes and craigmillar).
So the working class of edinburgh are kept out of the whole beanfest, and the whole thing becomes a cross between Glastonbury for the media classes and a shop window for wanabee Graham Nortons.
Saw a flyer for "The Festival is Deid" on my way back from work this morning. Looks kinda of interesting - it's using some venues which usually do some pretty cool stuff anyway, such as Edinburgh North Arts Centre. Any idea how long the People's Festival has been running? It's the first I've heard of it.
Anyways, evryone knows that the film festival is where it's at :)
Venue 28
8-12 August.
8.05
Oooh, venue 28, I'm involved in a show there. I'm not performing, just setting up props and doing lighting, but having a good time anyway :)
The thing I'm doing is in the morning so I doubt our paths will cross but I'll try to check out whatever's on at 8:05 :cool:
Oh, and I agree about the Film Festival, some great stuff on there.
jacobs steel
09-08-2005, 00:13
I haven't really visited Edinburgh properly for about 20 years, maybe next year :)
mrkikiet
10-08-2005, 22:32
as long as you avoid the biggies - Assembly, Pleasance, Gilded and Underbelly you have a pretty good chance of seeing more worthwhile stuff. But sometimes a bit of 'label' comedy is exactly what is required.
I seem to remember the name St. Stephens as having a load of slightly better more serious stuff. Will check tomorrow.
lang rabbie
11-08-2005, 16:29
as long as you avoid the biggies - Assembly, Pleasance, Gilded and Underbelly you have a pretty good chance of seeing more worthwhile stuff. But sometimes a bit of 'label' comedy is exactly what is required.
I'd agree that the Underbelly's bars are now as full of posers as the Assembly after it became the cool place to meet a few years ago. :( But there's something near to 40 non-comedy events on at the Underbelly, and I reckon they include a couple of low-budget "worthwhile" ones.
I seem to remember the name St. Stephens as having a load of slightly better more serious stuff. Will check tomorrow.
Still a "visual theatre" and dance venue :)
See http://www.auroranova.org/
review of the show i was in
here (http://www.edinburghguide.com/festival/2005/fringe/review_musicals_opera_f_h.shtml)
It's a good un.
:D
It's all over now though. :(
Never mind!
my g/f and i are heading up there this weekend. luckily my sister lives there so we've got somewhere to stay. i'm really looking forward to going as i've never been to edinburgh before.
Looks like I'm going - Sunday and Monday coming up... better book transport..
anyone else around??
I'm around. :)
I just typed "I'm round" :o
What shows should I go and see o wise one then!
It's not just a plug cos I'm sleeping with the director - well it is cos otherwise I never would have seen it - but the importance of being turbaned is (genuinely) very fucking funny. Critics said so & everything . . .
DexterTCN
20-08-2005, 18:11
I've been to see:-
Chinese State Circus
Hansel & Gretel
The Snow Dragon (for young kids, highly recommended)
Brendan Burns (sp) Ozzie comedian
Camille
millions of stuff at the royal mile
loads of time spent at the Pleasance Dome, very chill place
Trying to catch:-
Ren-sa
George Galloway
everything I can
Have tickets for:-
Franz Ferdinand on the 31st
The world comes to Edinburgh once a year and I make full use of it :)
just got back from edinburgh yesterday and had a wonderful time. we didnt see loads but caught arthur smith doing his version of swan lake, a show called denim (very funny) and an australian comedian/piano player called Tim Minchin. i really enjoyed the whole vibe of the city. lots of hustle and bustle and most people seemed really happy about the festival being on.
frestonia
22-08-2005, 11:22
.
What shows should I go and see o wise one then!
Oops - sorry, was around, but not at a computer! Hope you saw some good stuff!
I've only seen a couple of shows so far... need to get my act together (boom boom!)
lang rabbie
24-08-2005, 10:24
What shows should I go and see...
Children of the Sea (http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/listings.cfm?sid=10217)
A variation on Shakespeare's Pericles performed by Tsunami victims :eek: - done as a promenade performance around the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Despite this jaded old cynic's initial concerns that it would be sentimental and manipulative stuff, it was actually a brilliant fusion of traditional Sri Lankan dance and tabla music, modern Sri Lankan street music, Shakespeare and some crafty modern blank verse pastiche.
On Saturday night, with a full moon on a cloudless night, it was magical. :)
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