Russia in the spotlight

Christian McRae
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Russia in the spotlight

The Football World Cup starts tomorrow in Russia.

In celebration, we want to raise a glass of vodka, have a banya, eat some pelmyeni and peruse this year’s Fringe offerings from Mother Russia.

With 10 shows from 6 performing groups hitting the Fringe this year from Russia, there is something for everyone. So Lights camera action or ‘ свет, камера, мотор! ‘as they might say in Moscow!

(Some)Body – Alyona Ageeva Physical Theatre PosleSlov

Aug 3-11th – Zoo Charteris – £12

The total nudity of this show might come as a surprise to some, but not to those who have visited a Russian sauna! The show aims to define and explore nudity; does it express a vulnerability or is it a powerful tool of self-expression?  ”Life, death, pain and love – all of this complex and unspeakable physical phenomenon is what we are researching in (Some)Body” 

The company are also putting on another show at the Fringe called ‘Sky Labyrinths’.

 

The Contract – St Petersburg AA Bryantsev Youth Theatre 

Aug 20-25th – theSpace @Venue45 – £8

A Russian take on modern capitalism puts this play on our Festival hit list. This is the St Petersburg AA Bryantsev Youth Theatre’s interpretation of Mike Bartlett’s play – ‘Contractions’. This satire is a series of short interviews between the HR manager of a multinational company and a young woman working in the sales team. It aims to showcase ‘the importance of humanity versus faceless authority, and the necessity of frailty, emotion and above all, play.’ 

 

Oleg Denisov – Doublethink 

Aug 2-12th, 14th-26th – Just the Tonic at the Tron – £5

A top satirical stand-up from Moscow, Oleg takes a side-swipe at propaganda, information wars and democracy. This has the capacity to be ochen’ interesno (very interesting!) but the late night billing may deter some.

 

 

The Contract – St Petersburg AA Bryantsev Youth Theatre 

Aug 4-26th – Liquid Room/ Warehouse – ‘Besplatno’ (Free!)

This free cabaret show offers a belly-dancing compere and a 1 hour show of magic, variety, comedy, circus and ‘more’! We can only say ‘udachi i molodtsi’; all the best and good on yer!

 

 

Celebrating Pride Month

Christian McRae
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Celebrating Pride Month

A very happy Pride month to all those celebrating, honouring and furthering LGBT causes this June!

Whilst you still have time to plan a visit to Pride Edinburgh taking place on June 16th, if you do miss it, there are still lots of LGBT themed shows you could see at the Fringe this year.

In fact, even ahead of the full programme release on June 6th, there are already 63 shows categorised as LGBT genre (compared to 72 in 2017), covering Comedy, theatre and cabaret.

Here are a few shows which caught our eye:

A Gay and a NonGay Live!  (Comedy)

Free – Aug 16th-17th – Laughing Horse@Moriarty’s

Their podcast intrigued us beyond ‘what do these guys actually look like?’ Their friendship gives a unique chemistry and unusual twist to the ‘matey banter’ style of comedy shows you see at the Fringe. It will be interesting to see how their podcast transposes to the live stage.

 

Trans Pennine  (Theatre)

£8 – Aug 13th/15th/17th/21st/23rd/25th – theSpace

When this show first came onto our radar, we envisioned a love story across the Pennines set on the Transpennine Express train. We even started humming ‘National Express’ by Divine Comedy, imagining a little trolley selling sweets coming onto the stage.

What the show is actually about is far superior – a play about family disagreements, gender-identity, and caravan holidays. Definitely one for our calendars.

 

  Loud and Proud on the Fringe  (Music)

£15 – August 18th – St Cuthbert’s Church

  Scotland’s LGBT choir, Loud and Proud, is back at the Fringe in support of Waverley Care, Scotland’s HIV and Hepatitis C charity. An uplifting evening which promises warmth and enthusiasm, as well as a dash of silliness! And all in aid of good causes!

 

Marmite  (Theatre)

£10 – August 1st -26th – Gilded Balloon Rose Theatre

Limerence Productions are back at the Fringe this year hoping to repeat the success of their 2017 sell-out show ‘Ginger Beer’.

Marmite explores the relationship between Dylan and Eddie who seemingly have it all in their early twenties – moved in together into a great apartment. Except Dylan isn’t happy. The play sets out to explore the difficulties of gay monogamy ‘with honesty and warmth’.

 

Gypsy Queen  (Theatre)

£12 – Aug 2nd-13th, 15th-20th, 22nd-27th – Assembly George Square Studios

This play by Rob Ward asks the simple question ‘Can two men raised to fight ever learn to love?’ We missed this show last year but we will not repeat that mistake this year and look forward to seeing Hope Theatre Company from Manchester bring their show back over the border once again this year!

 

 Hans – Like a German

£11 – Aug 2nd-11th, 14th-19th – Assembly Rooms

Matt Gilbertson AKA Hans brings a little bit of the Weimar age of Marlene Dietrich to Edinburgh this year. Such an international superstar, he even has his own bobblehead merchandising! We hope to be giving this show our ‘Hans Up’ in approval.

 

 

Romeo and Juliet  (Theatre)

£8 – Aug 3rd-4th, 6th-11th, 13th-18th – theSpace@NiddrySt

This all-male production is a re-imagining of the Shakespeare classic. The play uses the class battles of two opposing rugby teams to transport the classic story into the 21st century. As such we envisage an intense physical production and look forward to seeing this brought to life on stage.

 

Note – all ticket prices given are the full adult price. Discount/ concession rates may also be available and you should visit  https://tickets.edfringe.com for full pricing information.

 

Final round of early show releases tomorrow

Christian McRae
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Final round of early show releases tomorrow

The final round of early show releases will be launched tomorrow, May 17th 2018, ahead of the full programme launch on Wednesday June 6th.

In 2017, the Fringe broke new records, with an estimated 2.7 million tickets issued across the three week run of the world’s biggest arts festival. This year the Fringe will be hoping to beat that record.

One duo ahead of the pack and hoping to clock up some early ticket sales were Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle, who are to perform a comedy show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

The pair are staging a live version of their podcast Private Parts at the Underbelly, ahead of a UK Tour in the autumn.

It promises ‘intimate and sordid details of their private lives, including gossip from both on and off the screen’.

Tickets now on sale at the Fringe boxoffice.

Official Edinburgh Festival Fringe App re-launched for 2018

Christian McRae
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Official Edinburgh Festival Fringe App re-launched for 2018

The Edinburgh Fringe App has been re-launched for 2018 and is available in both Apple and Android versions.

With The official app for the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe you are able to find nearby shows, search the complete listings and buy tickets to any of the thousands of performances on offer.

Features include:

  •  All the latest 2018 Fringe shows at your fingertips – grab individual tickets on the go.
  • Browse 2018 Fringe Programme listings. Listings are stored on the device to allow you to browse offline.
  • View and filter listings for the Virgin Money Half Price Hut (from 08 August)
  • Search for shows by title, performer, company, date, time or programme genre.
  • Plan your day by seeing what shows are On Today.
  • Locate the nearest shows starting soon with Nearby Now.
  • Check ticket availability.
  • Navigate hundreds of venues with maps linked to every performance.
  • Save favourite shows, plan which performances to see and view your purchase history using My Fringe.
And the best thing about the app – it is completely free!

Regional Winners of the 2018 Schools Poster Competition announced

Christian McRae
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Regional Winners of the 2018 Schools Poster Competition announced

Winning designs from the 14 regional winners of the 2018 Fringe Schools Poster Competition have just been announced and they will be displayed as part of a free exhibition at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh from 22 May to the 27 August 2018, alongside entries from 13 other regional winners, three overall winners, and more than 150 shortlisted design.

The competition launched in 1980 and is one of Scotland’s longest-running arts outreach projects. Over the past 38 years, more than 100,000 young people have taken part.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:

“The Fringe Schools Poster Competition has played a crucial role in introducing schoolchildren to all that the Fringe has to offer for nearly 40 years. We have had a fantastic response from schools in 2018, with submissions from 4,680 pupils across the country. The quality and creativity of the entries received was truly inspiring, and the judging panel had a fun – but very tough – job selecting this year’s winners.

“We were delighted to welcome Morvern Graham to the competition’s judging panel, as part of our programme of activity for Scotland’s Year of Young People. Morvern made an excellent contribution to the judging process, bringing energy, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the panel.

“Engaging with the next generation of Fringe performers and audience members continues to be a key priority for the Fringe Society. Over the coming years we will work to broaden and develop our creative learning programme, to create new opportunities for young people, and stronger ties between the Fringe and schools in Scotland.”

 

New Years Day – we are into 2018 and the countdown begins!

Christian McRae
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New Years Day – we are into 2018 and the countdown begins!

Blink today and you could be forgiven that Fringe season had started again. Street performers, crowds on the Royal Mile and control gates at either end. But the whiff of gunpowder in the air, lack of flyers and the thick overcoats and woolly hats aplenty could only mean we were not in ‘summery’ Scotland of Fringe August yet. Still, was good to see the throngs of people again on the Royal Mile, and New Year celebrations were a reminder that we are now into 2018 and the countdown to Fringe 2018 has truly begun!

Only 7 months 1 day, 15 hours, 39 minutes and 38 seconds to go at the time of writing!

Wonder if the holder of sign in the feature photo above ever got a ticket?

Royal Mile January 1st 2018

2018 Fringe Central Events Programme – Call for Entries

Christian McRae
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2018 Fringe Central Events Programme – Call for Entries

In line with previous years, the Fringe Central Events Programme is aiming to deliver a series of professional development workshops, seminars, discussions and creative labs throughout the month of August.

In 2017, the Fringe Society worked with 58 partners in order to deliver a comprehensive and diverse programme of over 120 events. The programme’s overall aims are to; develop skills, expand perceptions, build networks, advance careers and aid in the health and well-being of all those involved in a Fringe show.

The Fringe Society is currently looking for expressions of interest for the 2018 Fringe Central Events Programme.  For 2018, there is a strong interest in developing the Young Voices: Fresh Perspective, Health and Wellbeing (with a particular focus on Mental Health) and Breaking Down Barriers sections. In addition, the Fringe Society is keen on scheduling more workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities for participants across all genres of the programme.

In line with our continued commitment to support participants in an open and impartial manner, all events presented within Fringe Central must:

  • Be free to attend
  • Be open to anyone taking part in a Fringe show
  • Not be used as a promotional tool for any Fringe show

Deadline for submissions of interest: 5pm, 7th March 2018

Visiting Edinburgh as an LGBT tourist

Christian McRae
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Visiting Edinburgh as an LGBT tourist

Edinburgh is a very welcoming city for all visitors, and those from the LGBT community might sometimes feel that there are no separate queer spaces, given the integration that happens in all the other pubs and bars.

In February, Scotland celebrates LGBT History Month with an excellent selection of programmes and activities right across the country, so you can enjoy everything from film screenings and debates to parties and ceilidhs.

Edinburgh’s gay pride festivities, Pride Scotia, take place every June. The colourful parade sees people of all ages and walks of life march through the city, finishing with a festival which includes a BBQ, health and community fair, live music and entertainment.

Scotland’s capital city offers a year-round calendar of activities and events which peaks in summer with the fantastic festivals. They always include a wide variety of shows with an LGBT theme, from theatre and comedy to club nights and exhibitions.

Edinburgh has a small but friendly gay scene home to a number of great cafés, bars and restaurants.

  • CC Blooms on Greenside Place – for more than 20 years, this bar has offered a range of dishes in its elegant upstairs diner, while in the evening it becomes a vibrant cocktail bar with a buzzing downstairs dance floor with free entry.
  • Just along the road, The Street is a classy gay-friendly bar offering a wide selection of cocktails and a tasty menu of burgers, wraps and nachos. Themed nights and pub quizzes take place during the week.
  • Café Nom de Plume on Broughton Street is famed for its cosy atmosphere, welcoming staff and hearty home-style cooking.
  • The Regent on Montrose Terrace claims to be ‘the best real ale gay bar in Edinburgh’, serving up a great range of beers and ales. This venue is also a popular meet up for Edinburgh’s gay and lesbian sports and social groups.
  • The ever-busy Café Habana on Greenside Place attracts a theatre crowd early evening but later on offers good value drinks accompanied by pop tunes.
  • Just a few steps down the road, Planet Bar on Baxter’s Place offers comfy seats and a pool table plus quizzes and karaoke on certain nights.
  • Various other bars around Edinburgh also throw occasional LGBT nights and events. Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk holds LGBT social evenings, while Henry’s Cellar Bar, the Mash House and the Annexe all host pop-up club nights.

Record breaking year for Fringe 2017

Christian McRae
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Record breaking year for Fringe 2017

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the International Festival have both had record breaking box offices in their 70th anniversary year.

By August 28th an estimated 2,696,884 tickets had been issued for Fringe shows, an increase of 9% on 2016

The event saw 53,232 performances of 3,398 shows at about 300 venues.

 

Fringe venues

The venues for this year’s Fringe included a swimming pool, a bathroom, a football ground, a tunnel and a racecourse with themes ranging from identity and grief to Brexit, Trump and the Syrian conflict.

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “This has been a very special year for the Fringe as we celebrated 70 years of defying the norm, 70 years of the greatest melting pot of arts and culture anywhere on the planet, and 70 years of Edinburgh as an internationally renowned festival city.”

“The Fringe continues to play an essential role in the worldwide arts community, enabling artists to showcase their work, reach new audiences and make new connections.

“I hope that everyone that has attended a show, watched a street performance, or spent time in one of the hundreds of venues around the city has enjoyed their Fringe experience.”

Do the funniest jokes of the 2017 still make you laugh?

Christian McRae
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Do the funniest jokes of the 2017 still make you laugh?

British-based television channel, Dave, has its own coveted award for the best joke of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe award is now in its 10th year and is decided by public vote and the list for 2017 contained some great one-liners.

Looking back, do the cream of the crop for 2017, which features some well-known comics like Frankie Boyle and Ed Byrne, still make you laugh?

Ken Cheng has won this year’s accolade for the funniest joke. Cheng dropped out of Cambridge University before going on to be a professional online poker player. His break in comedy came when he reached the final of the 2015 BBC Radio New Comedy award. He was also listed on the BBC’s New Talent Hotlist.

 

Frankie Boyle’s comparison between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler is a classic and Alexei Sayle’s offering at number 3 would make you laugh in any of the Fringe’s 70 years. Kudos to Cheng though and his topical joke about the £1 coin deservedly took number one spot.

Dave’s top 15 funniest jokes of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017 were:

  1. “I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change.” – Ken Cheng
  2. “Trump’s nothing like Hitler. There’s no way he could write a book.” – Frankie Boyle
  3. “I’ve given up asking rhetorical questions. What’s the point?” – Alexei Sayle
  4. “I’m looking for the girl-next-door type. I’m just gonna keep moving house till I find her.”- Lew Fitz
  5. “I like to imagine the guy who invented the umbrella was going to call it the ‘brella’. But he hesitated.” – Andy Field
  6. “Combine Harvesters. And you’ll have a really big restaurant.” – Mark Simmons
  7. “I’m rubbish with names. It’s not my fault, it’s a condition. There’s a name for it …” – Jimeoin
  8. “I have two boys, five and six. We’re no good at naming things in our house.” – Ed Byrne
  9. “I wasn’t particularly close to my dad before he died … which was lucky, because he trod on a landmine.” – Olaf Falafel
  10. “Whenever someone says, ‘I don’t believe in coincidences’, I say, ‘Oh my God, me neither!’” – Alasdair Beckett-King
  11. “A friend tricked me into going to Wimbledon by telling me it was a men’s singles event.” – Angela Barnes
  12. “As a vegan, I think people who sell meat are disgusting, but apparently people who sell fruit and veg are grocer.” – Adele Cliff
  13. “For me, dying is a lot like going camping. I don’t want to do it.” – Phil Wang
  14. “I wonder how many chameleons snuck on to the Ark.” – Adam Hess
  15. “I went to a Pretenders gig. It was a tribute act.” – Tim Vine

 

 

 

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