A Scotsman guide to the Edinburgh Fringe with Kaitlin Wraight

The Scotsman

Tourist’s guide to the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Fringe

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:06 So yeah, it's the greatest place to be.

00:08 You can try things here that you can't try anywhere else in the world.

00:11 Anything you want to do, you can do.

00:13 Anything you want to see, you can see.

00:14 Anything. It's great.

00:16 The Edinburgh Fringe is back, the world's largest arts and culture festival,

00:19 which sees the city play host over 160 performances

00:22 involving more than 2,500 artists

00:24 to an audience of up to 400,000 people each August.

00:27 This year, 2023 is predicted to have the biggest turnout since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic

00:31 in terms of both artists and spectators,

00:33 with more in-person entertainment than in recent years.

00:36 We're taking you to the Royal Mall, the city's busiest spot and focal point for fringe action,

00:40 to offer some guidance on how to make the most of the strip during the festival.

00:44 So if you're visiting Edinburgh to see some art,

00:45 whether it be your first fringe or you're seeking a bit of advice,

00:48 here's what you need to know.

00:49 I would definitely go from the bottom all the way to the top

00:51 so you can work your way up and meet all the different flyers on the way

00:54 and see all the different costumes.

00:55 Now there are hundreds of stages right across the city hosting performances

00:59 such as stand-up comedy, musicals, opera, cabaret, circus, theatre and much more every single day

01:03 and there is something for every taste.

01:05 Well, there's George Square, which is further down, which has lots and lots of shows on.

01:09 There's other smaller venues which have just as good acts, if not better in some ways.

01:13 So just around the corner from here, there's a venue called Monkey Barrel, which is amazing.

01:17 The venue itself is really cool and the acts in there are all lovely.

01:20 There's The Pleasants, which has loads of shows around the courtyard.

01:24 That's very good.

01:25 There's a venue in almost every building in Edinburgh during this time of the year

01:29 so yeah, there's so much to see, so much to do. It's awesome.

01:32 The space is fantastic because they've got venues all over the place.

01:36 You can't move for space venues. It's wonderful.

01:39 There's one called Summer Hall, which I've seen an act in or two, which is also amazing.

01:42 Some shows do require attendees pay for a ticket.

01:44 These are usually the more established acts who already have a following.

01:48 But there are also plenty of events that allow free entry

01:50 with the performers only looking for donations from their audiences.

01:53 It's essentially a pay-what-you-can system that allows the artist some exposure

01:57 while attendees get the entertainment that won't break the bank.

02:00 Pay for shows if the shows are pay-what-you-want.

02:02 We have that for a reason. I think that's a good thing

02:05 because it makes things more affordable for people who don't have money.

02:08 But don't do that thing where because something is,

02:10 can I exit by donation, go, "Yeah, well, I'm not paying."

02:14 Like that also affects the fringe a lot.

02:17 The majority of performers lose money on overheads by doing the fringe,

02:19 so it's usually the case that donations go towards essential living costs

02:23 and thus they are encouraged.

02:24 One of the issues is that sometimes people feel like there's too much,

02:27 which can be slightly overwhelming, but you can decipher through the various shows

02:30 to align with your own personal preferences.

02:33 The official Fringe website allows you to select a category, date, and venue

02:36 in its advanced search.

02:38 However, if this is something you're thinking about, I do recommend you pre-plan

02:41 because the internet in this part of the city isn't always great with so many users around.

02:46 Obviously, the Fringe's website, they have every show you could possibly think of.

02:50 I like to think of a performer that I like to see.

02:52 For instance, I saw Patti Harrison last night because I knew I wanted to see her perform.

02:56 And then I also just like to look up a random category like physical comedy or clown

03:00 and then pick one without thinking about it so that I can expose myself to a new type of show.

03:05 But half of the fun of the Fringe is not knowing what you're in for when you arrive in Edinburgh.

03:10 One way to do it is to simply walk up the Royal Mail and visit some of the venues

03:13 to find out what they have on that day.

03:15 My advice would be allow yourself to be flired.

03:18 I mean, people I think probably come along here and get flired by hundreds of thousands of people

03:23 and you say no to a lot of them because it's so many people are fliring you.

03:26 But actually, if you even remotely think you'll like it, just say yes.

03:30 See everything. See every type of show.

03:32 See serious ones, see funny ones, physical ones, stationary ones.

03:36 Because, you know, we're doing God's honest work here.

03:40 And the shows are good, you know. I get that we're probably annoying you.

03:43 Go, just see as much as you can.

03:45 One of the pieces of advice is that if you just take the book and open it and just point to a show,

03:50 even if you don't like the sound of it, go, just go and see it.

03:52 You'll see something that you will probably never have thought to see.

03:55 And if you love it, you love it.

03:57 If you hate it, you just don't go see it again.

04:00 Just send someone you don't like.

04:02 For me, the advice is see a show that nobody's talking about.

04:05 Because the ones that have, you know, the big reviews and the sellout shows,

04:10 like, they've got their own momentum, right?

04:12 But I think the ones where you really find those moments are shows like Sunday's Child,

04:17 which is on in the mornings, and The Town Crier, which I think is also on in the morning or so.

04:22 And yeah, just see as much as you can, and plan, and tire in, and don't listen to Google Maps.

04:27 Talk to the locals about how to get around, because Edinburgh is a nightmare to get around,

04:31 because it's built on so many layers.

04:32 But yeah, go see something that you would never have seen before.

04:34 Those shows that maybe you wouldn't think about, give them a chance,

04:38 because those will be, I think, some of the more beautiful experiences you find.

04:41 You're going to wind up liking things that you didn't think you were going to like.

04:45 If you think you're here for comedy, you might really benefit from seeing something emotional.

04:49 If you think you're here because you want to see theatre about virtual reality or something like that,

04:55 you might be surprised by something very interactive and in-person.

04:58 I think, yeah, the best thing about The Fringe is there's people here doing it for the first time.

05:03 And so, actually, if you leave the beaten path of comedians you've heard, you'll find some amazing acts.

05:07 Take up flyers, look up, try to stuff your schedule as best you can.

05:12 You want to see everything. The Fringe is unique, it's one of a kind, and you're lucky to be here as I am.

05:18 Throughout the mile, you'll pass plenty of street performers,

05:20 many of whom have brought their acts from right across the globe.

05:23 These performers are grafters, to say the least.

05:25 They meet at Parliament Square each morning, put their passes in a hat,

05:29 which are then pulled at random at 10am.

05:31 This tradition decides which performer goes on what location and what time.

05:35 The main objective of the Edinburgh Fringe should be to have as much fun as possible

05:39 and embrace yourself in the artistic and creative energy.

05:42 If you've achieved that by the end of the day, you've done it right.

05:45 Don't come in here thinking you know what you want to see.

05:47 See what you want, but also expand your horizons and don't limit yourself.

05:51 [Music]

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