Please overfestivalise me!
July 4, 2012 1:35 PM Subscribe
Edinburgh festival filter: 7 whole days. Where to start?
I have never been to the festival before but this year have an entire week to devote to it. Mefites, tell me what I shouldn't miss on this year's programme, and how to approach this whole crazy overwhelming thing. I have 168 hours and don't want to waste a single one!
I have never been to the festival before but this year have an entire week to devote to it. Mefites, tell me what I shouldn't miss on this year's programme, and how to approach this whole crazy overwhelming thing. I have 168 hours and don't want to waste a single one!
Response by poster: I think I will mainly see comedy and theatre, also books - not so much into dance or workshops. Ticket price isn't a huge issue but I have pretty cheap taste anyway!
Really I am hoping people will give me some tips on acts they've seen and enjoyed previously, up-and-coming comedians, little-known-but-great theatre...
Also - I'm not planning to see the Tattoo. But now definitely planning to eat at Kalpna - thanks!
posted by superfish at 3:10 PM on July 4, 2012
Really I am hoping people will give me some tips on acts they've seen and enjoyed previously, up-and-coming comedians, little-known-but-great theatre...
Also - I'm not planning to see the Tattoo. But now definitely planning to eat at Kalpna - thanks!
posted by superfish at 3:10 PM on July 4, 2012
Yes, Kalpna's great. Also does very good lunch buffets. Hanging out at The Pleasance is great fun, too. But otherwise, The Fringe should be very much done on the basis of going to whatever looks interesting or with comedians, people you know. I've never done it outside of being in grad school, but I guess more than 3 shows a day causes burnout.
And if you like orchestral music, do go and see some of the visiting performers (this is the original Edinburgh festival: The Edinburgh International Festival, although the Fringe was there from the 1st year, too).
posted by ambrosen at 3:19 PM on July 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
And if you like orchestral music, do go and see some of the visiting performers (this is the original Edinburgh festival: The Edinburgh International Festival, although the Fringe was there from the 1st year, too).
posted by ambrosen at 3:19 PM on July 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
the Fringe should be very much done on the basis of going to whatever looks interesting or with comedians, people you know.
Definitely book for the shows that are likely to sell out: the big draw comedians (or acts like Frisky & Mannish who've gone from being bright debutantes to Fringe favourites in the space of a few years) but leave plenty of room for serendipity, whether it's taking recommendations from people at the events you've picked out in advance, or an intriguing flyer, or a decent early review. Even a terrible student performance can be memorable in its own way.
posted by holgate at 4:18 PM on July 4, 2012
Definitely book for the shows that are likely to sell out: the big draw comedians (or acts like Frisky & Mannish who've gone from being bright debutantes to Fringe favourites in the space of a few years) but leave plenty of room for serendipity, whether it's taking recommendations from people at the events you've picked out in advance, or an intriguing flyer, or a decent early review. Even a terrible student performance can be memorable in its own way.
posted by holgate at 4:18 PM on July 4, 2012
I was there two years ago and I only paid to see one show (Arlo Guthrie, who may not even have been an official part of the festival). There are a TON of free shows and lots of them happen right there on the street. There is just SO much to see from just wandering around. Look through the programs to see if there are any must-see acts, but beyond that you could very easily just take it as you go and have an amazing time. Don't overbook yourself.....Edinburgh isn't a super huge city but trying to get from the book festival at one end to the other end of the city to see something in 15 minutes can be stressful.
Have fun! I'm jealous! It was one of the funnest things I've ever done.
Oh, and definitely try a deep fried Mars bar if that's your thing. Very yummy - much better than I thought they would be
posted by triggerfinger at 5:05 PM on July 4, 2012
Have fun! I'm jealous! It was one of the funnest things I've ever done.
Oh, and definitely try a deep fried Mars bar if that's your thing. Very yummy - much better than I thought they would be
posted by triggerfinger at 5:05 PM on July 4, 2012
Best answer: Really I am hoping people will give me some tips on acts they've seen and enjoyed previously, up-and-coming comedians, little-known-but-great theatre...
Sorry, I've missed the past couple of years, so I'm a bit out of touch. If it still existed, I'd suggest you visit Wolfgang Hoffman's Aurora Nova venue for outstanding physical theatre and dance works. I hear that even its successor has closed, though. Try reading some of the round-ups of last year like this or this or this. They will give you a good idea of acts and venues to keep an eye on.
Free shows can be great, but the really memorable performances tend to be ticketed in my experience.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 9:00 AM on July 5, 2012
Sorry, I've missed the past couple of years, so I'm a bit out of touch. If it still existed, I'd suggest you visit Wolfgang Hoffman's Aurora Nova venue for outstanding physical theatre and dance works. I hear that even its successor has closed, though. Try reading some of the round-ups of last year like this or this or this. They will give you a good idea of acts and venues to keep an eye on.
Free shows can be great, but the really memorable performances tend to be ticketed in my experience.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 9:00 AM on July 5, 2012
Best answer: I'd recommend getting hold of a PBH Free Fringe programme (pick one up from any of their venues). There's actually more than one organisation that runs free fringe events, but I think the PBH one is the largest. The programme summarises what's going on at each of their free-fringe venues at each time. After each show a bucket is normally passed around and you can pay what you think it was worth.
It's generally comedy, as very few of the venues are set up for anything else. Quality varies considerably, but there are often great shows. I've heard that because the performers don't have to pay anything for the venue it's often more profitable to be on the free fringe than to do a paid show. Because of this the number of acts has increased year on year, and sort-of-known people are moving from doing ticketed shows to free shows.
It's a great way to fill time between actual shows you want to see.
posted by leo_r at 3:12 PM on July 5, 2012
It's generally comedy, as very few of the venues are set up for anything else. Quality varies considerably, but there are often great shows. I've heard that because the performers don't have to pay anything for the venue it's often more profitable to be on the free fringe than to do a paid show. Because of this the number of acts has increased year on year, and sort-of-known people are moving from doing ticketed shows to free shows.
It's a great way to fill time between actual shows you want to see.
posted by leo_r at 3:12 PM on July 5, 2012
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As I'm sure you're aware, there are at least a dozen fairly substantial festivals going on at the same time, with substantial theatre, film, opera, book, music, musicals, comedy, dance, visual arts, workshops and more. Oh, and there's the Tattoo too. The Fringe is just one part of the Edinburgh festival and even if every other festival vanished, it would still be on its own the largest arts festival in the world.
Thus the trick is to figure out how you're going to filter it all down and that depends on you. If you have the stamina, you can indeed spend the majority of those 168 hours at art events of one sort or another, but most people don't. So be realistic, even if you have the funds to attend a dozen shows a day.
My one golden rule is to book a bunch of shows you really want to see in advance, but also leave some space for going to something amazing and unexpected that someone told you about in a queue. And leave a bit of time to just wander around seeing the sights of Edinburgh. (And eat at Kalpna one evening, if veggie Indian sounds even faintly like your sort of thing.)
posted by Busy Old Fool at 2:53 PM on July 4, 2012