Editor’s Choice: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet and takes place every August in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city.
Already on its 10th day, the summer festival will run until Monday, August 26.
Artists from 58 countries will be represented at the Fringe this August, with 849 shows from Scotland and 608 from Edinburgh itself.
With a vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat, at this year’s Fringe the average ticket price is less than £13.
There are 456 free shows and another 686 using the ‘pay what you want’ or ‘pay what you can’ model, ensuring Fringe audiences can experience a variety of work at an accessible cost.
This August there are now 3,663 shows* (3,317 within the printed programme), who will undertake over 52,000 performances across the month.
Since programme launch on 12 June, 346 more shows have registered and are now searchable on edfringe.com and in the official Fringe app.
The Fringe street events programme will run from 11:00 every day from 05 – 26 August, with world class performers taking to the Royal Mile and Mound all day, and something for everyone.
This year the programme also features ‘Innis & Gunn on the Mound’, a new Scottish food and drink village amidst the street events action on the Mound.
In addition, Who Gives A Crap are supporting with the provision of toilets on the Royal Mile.
Supporting artists by facilitating a range of services via the Fringe Society, so far this year the Media Office has accredited over 700 reviewers, editors, journalists and broadcasters from 22 countries, who will be instrumental in boosting artists’ profile.
In addition, to date, some 1,300 arts industry professionals from 56 countries have accredited, and will be on the lookout for shows at the Fringe to offer onward touring or TV and film adaptation opportunities.
Fringe Central is also fully open to support all artists performing at the Fringe this summer, with a programme of events tailored to help performers at any stage of their career, and free mental health support for artists returns in partnership with Health In Mind.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “After months of planning by a cast of thousands, I am absolutely thrilled to welcome everyone to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024! I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to get to this point, including artists, venues, producers, promoters, staff and too many more to mention. Now it’s time to enjoy this amazing festival you’ve created.”
“The Fringe Society exists to support the artists, media and arts industry taking part in the Fringe. Our team will be at Fringe Central throughout August with on the ground support, advice and a fantastic programme of events for all participants. Now it’s over to the Fringe audience, please get ready to Unleash Your Fringe and experience work from established names or first time and emerging performers. The best way to support artists over the coming weeks is to go and see shows.”
Editor’s Choice Music Programme
Here are just some of the many programs selected by our editors that are being highlighted at the Fringe.
Ballad Across Sea: Chinese Folk Songs by Juniper Lai
Genre: world music, folk
Juniper Lai, a Chinese folk singer and poet. With Ballad Across Sea, she weaves tales of homelands and foreign lands, infusing beautiful folk songs with diverse influences to forge a new identity.
Venue: Acoustic Music Centre @ UCC (Main Room)
Date: Aug 17-24
In Recital – Sungho Kim, Tenor, with Llyr Williams, Piano (Conceived and produced by Ian McFarlane)
Sungho Kim (tenor) and Llyr Williams (piano). World-premiere recital celebrates the Independence Day of Ukrine by Ian McFarlane. Supported by The Ukraine Consulate Dinburgh.
Venue: Edinburgh New Town Church
Date: Aug 24, 2pm
Northern Faith by Tim Hunter
Genre: Historical
A musical journey which follows the development of faith and spirituality in the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, which stretched from Yorkshire up to Edinburgh. Look forward to songs about The Venerable Bede, Caedmon and many more
Venue: Arthur Conan Doyle Centre (The Helen Duncan Room)
Date: Aug 12 – 14, 3pm
The Other
Genre: Multimedia, World Music
From Scotland, Iran, Chile, Brazil, Yemen and Syria comes a multimedia dance, film, art and music performance exploring culture and displacement. ‘A microcosm of how the world could be’ (Lethem Nights).
Part of MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre)
Date: Aug 14-15, 3:5pm/Aug 16, 6:45pm
Out of the Blue
Genre: A cappella, family-friendly
Don’t miss your chance to see Oxford’s internationally acclaimed a cappella group. The group continues to donate all proceedings to Helen and Douglas House, the world’s first children’s hospice, for whom they have raised GPB166,000.
Various dates at the Assembly George Square (Gordon Aikman Theatre)
Raag Rang: A Journey Through Indian Musical Traditions
by Punarnava Music
Genre: World music, classical
Join Delhi maestro Manmohan Dogra for a journey through soulful Hindustani classical music, featuring vocal ragas and a tabla solo in Banares style. Accompanied by Dave Beards.
Venue: Arthur Conan Doyle Centre (The Helen Duncan Room)
Date Aug 16 & Aug 23
Shanghai Yuguo Students’ Art Troupe: Elegance and Charm of Art
by Asian Association of Culture, Commerce and Education in Europe
Genre: Children’s show, folk
Shanghai Yuguo Students’ Art Troupe aims to develop artistic accomplishments. As part of the Opening Ceremony of China/Britain Culture and Art Festival, they will perform Chinese traditional music and dance.
Venue: Venue150 at EICC (Pentland Auditorium)
Date: Aug 4, 13.30pm
Stockhausen – Tierkreis / Pert – Voyage in Space
Genre: Classical, modern
A programme of cosmic piano music by Karlheinz Stockhausen, whose evocation of the 12 signs of the zodiac is complemented by Scottish composer Morris Pert’s exploration beyond the solar system.
Venue: artSpace@StMarks (Churhc)
Date: Aug 14, 4.30pm
Symphonix Rock Orchestra
Genre: Rock, live music
Symphonix bring together world-class musicians to perform the perfect blend of symphony and rock. Strings, brass, a rock band, vocalists and choreographed choir all perform AC/DC. Metallica, Coldplay, Queen, Toto, Nirvana, The Beatles and much more
Venue: Greyfriars Kirk (Main Church Santuary)
Date: Aug 16, 8pm
Where Words Fail – Sea Island & Ferry
Genre: Contemporary, world music
A neo-chamber ensemble from Hong Kong, featuring members on piano, cello, violin and clarinet, tells stories about the past and present of its home city by performing its members’ original compositions.
Venue: artSpace@StMarks (Church)
Date: Aug 20-21, 9pm
How to Become a Taiwanese: A Musical
Genre: Musical theatre
What defines a Taiwanese? Is it bubble tea, Taipei 101 or perhaps a specific ritual of music? Join us on a journey of self-discovery through music and dance in this 60-minute musical
Venue: Paradise in Augustines (The Studio)
Date: Aug 21-24, 10am
Hu Opera Love Bridge
The Shanghai Hu Opera Theater
Genre: Traditional
Hu Opera Love Bridge, through several farmers, tells a love story between Chen Zaiting and Jin Xiuying, two childhood playmates. Finally, after various tests, every Jack has his Jill.
Venue: Venue150 at EICC (Pentland Auditorium)
Date: 15 Aug, 2pm
For more information about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, visit their official website here.
