Finding the magic at the Edinburgh Fringe

by Alastair 2008

Finding the magic at the Edinburgh Fringe

From the early days of summer, there is a shift in the atmosphere in Edinburgh. Scotland’s capital, an enchanting city at any time of year, vibrates with the excited anticipation of its world famous festivals.

At the heart of this excitement is the world’s biggest arts festival and the UK’s number one tourist attraction, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In August, hotels in Edinburgh fill with thousands of festival lovers and performing hopefuls from across the globe, which flock to the city for the Fringe. With the mounting of festival fever, Edinburgh becomes a truly international city.

The sheer array of performances to choose from attracts a wide audience, as the Fringe offers something for everyone. With a choice of theatre, music, comedy, dance and exhibitions spanning almost every style and genre, the Fringe proves a hit with visitors from all walks of life.

Yet what makes the Fringe truly unique is, despite its high profile and significance to Scottish tourism, there is no artistic vetting. Any artist can apply for perform at the Fringe, a principle which keeps the event true to its history and founding ethos.

The Fringe dates back to 1947, when eight gatecrashers at the Edinburgh International Festival were denied the chance to perform.

The story spread in the arts world, and the following year, more acts turned up uninvited. A tradition was born, as was a sort of anarchic kudos associated with being a festival ‘outsider’, performing on the streets and in lesser known venues around the city.

Within a few years, these acts were such an integral part of the Edinburgh festival season, that one could not imagine the EIF without the Fringe.

The Festival Fringe Society was formally established 1958, and has gone on to attract a hotbed of talent, launching careers along the way.

Many Fringe events are free or performed outside, creating an open and inclusive environment for the arts.

The cobbled old town streets nestled within the shadow of the castle, leading to the majesty of Arthur’s Seat, provide a naturally theatrical platform for the fantasy and escapism of the Fringe Festival.

The vast array of children’s performances is a hit with families, and many Edinburgh kids benefit from this early, highly entertaining introduction to culture, comedy and the performing arts.

With the wealth of Edinburgh accommodation on offer, including  serviced apartments in Edinburgh and hotels in Edinburgh, the city is accessible for individuals and groups, catering for all budgets.

As Scotland becomes increasingly accessible, the summer migration to Edinburgh shows no sign of slowing.

Last years tickets sales (2008) amounted to £1.7 million, and the Fringe shows no sign of losing its immense popularity.

For many years to come, more and more people are expected to add to the vibrant atmosphere of the Edinburgh summer, as they flock to the city to experience the famous Fringe magic.

Frugal Fringe Alternatives Come To The Edinburgh Festival

by davidhofmann08

Frugal Fringe Alternatives Come To The Edinburgh Festival

The famous Edinburgh International Festival may have been overshadowed in recent years by its wilder offspring, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The ever-expanding range of festivals spanning the arts that descends on the Scottish capital each summer looks set to be more profitable and popular than ever in 2010.

Even despite the global economic downturn that affected many areas of tourism and entertainment in 2009, the various festivals that took place at venues across Edinburgh last August managed to make for the most successful year yet. In a Year of Homecoming that also saw significant boosts to tourism and hotel occupancy elsewhere in Scotland, organisers may have a tough task beating last year’s record-breaking performance with this year’s festivities, but they may have a hope in the form of relative newcomers such as the Five Pound Fringe.

It may seem counter-intuitive to charge less for performances in order to make money, but the last few years have seen the phenomena of the Five Pound Fringe and its even more frugal cousin – the Free Fringe – growing in popularity and critical acclaim. Not merely the refuge of struggling performers who can’t afford the exorbitant rates charged by many of the larger Fringe venues, these fringe alternatives to the Edinburgh Fringe offer an economical means for performs to boost their audience figures, and a means for people who would otherwise be put off by escalating ticket prices to enjoy comedy, theatre and music performances for less.

It has been suggested that the influx of audiences to comedy shows in 2009 may have been partly due to the need for escapist comedy amidst the dour recession, but not everyone can afford prices upwards of £10 that are often the Fringe standard for an hour-long show. The mission statement of the Five Pound Fringe is to charge a set rate for shows to put audiences at ease, and the award-winning Free Fringe goes one step further in offering shows for no money at all.

Satisfied punters are encouraged to leave a donation of whatever they think the show is worth, and although it could be said that those involved are performing for love rather than money, generous donations could go a long way towards funding their lodging and other expenses during their time in the city.

With big-name comedians like Mark Watson, Robin Ince and Richard Herring making appearances in these cut-price shows, those taking Edinburgh flights to see the festival this August are encouraged to look beyond the lavish posters and established venues to seek out low-budget laughs at the Fringe alternatives.

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