Edinburgh Festival in August
May 28th, 2004 | 06:06 PM
#21
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
After 4 days of no phone, no email, traveling compatriot somehow got thru online and we have Tattoo tix for 8/27, prob. obstructed as they are GBP15. Anyway, am happy to know why the prefix was different - Sheila: you really are a blessing to all visitors to your country. Can't wait for Aug -- now tell me, maybe there will be NO midges.... I know all about noseeums (what we have here/Santa Fe, NM USA)...again, tnx,nnrobnz
May 28th, 2004 | 07:36 PM
#22
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 0
Faux is happy there were Tattoo tickets available for you. Even if your tickets are obstructed view, you will still enjoy it. Remember that the Tattoo goes rain or shine. If you think it might rain, bring a poncho. Umbrellas block the view of others. Faux has been very lucky with Tattoo weather. The two times she went the weather was fine!
Faux stands by her advice about the comedy. Unless you know what you are going to see, you could end up in a routine done in an accent you will not understand. It has happened to Faux. Also the jokes about personalities in British politics will go right over North American's heads (except for an occasional one about Tony Blair). It would be like a Brit trying to "get" jokes about American Senators. You just don't know all the personalities.
The important thing about Fringing is to just have a good time. I once saw 6 shows in one day and it can get very pricey. Some guy at The Scotsman once did a piece about doing 8 shows in the same day. He did that by doing them all at the Observer Assembly Rooms.
It took me a couple of times through the Festivals to really understand how Edinburgh streets are put together (and where the short cuts are). Trying to do shows all over the place is a killer. Group your shows near each other for the same day and allow for breaks for meals. You will need them.
Do not miss the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. That museum is just wonderful! I spent 3 hours there when I went, and, if they weren't closing, I would have stayed longer. It was heaven faux this history buff.
I do agree about the positive comment about the Book Festival. Faux once got on BBC Radio at a live radio show event at the Book Festival. She also bought a couple of interesting books.
The Jazz Festival can be fun as well. Faux has never gone to the Film Festival and cannot comment on that one.
Just enjoy whatever is on when you are there and have a great time!
Faux stands by her advice about the comedy. Unless you know what you are going to see, you could end up in a routine done in an accent you will not understand. It has happened to Faux. Also the jokes about personalities in British politics will go right over North American's heads (except for an occasional one about Tony Blair). It would be like a Brit trying to "get" jokes about American Senators. You just don't know all the personalities.
The important thing about Fringing is to just have a good time. I once saw 6 shows in one day and it can get very pricey. Some guy at The Scotsman once did a piece about doing 8 shows in the same day. He did that by doing them all at the Observer Assembly Rooms.
It took me a couple of times through the Festivals to really understand how Edinburgh streets are put together (and where the short cuts are). Trying to do shows all over the place is a killer. Group your shows near each other for the same day and allow for breaks for meals. You will need them.
Do not miss the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. That museum is just wonderful! I spent 3 hours there when I went, and, if they weren't closing, I would have stayed longer. It was heaven faux this history buff.
I do agree about the positive comment about the Book Festival. Faux once got on BBC Radio at a live radio show event at the Book Festival. She also bought a couple of interesting books.
The Jazz Festival can be fun as well. Faux has never gone to the Film Festival and cannot comment on that one.
Just enjoy whatever is on when you are there and have a great time!
May 29th, 2004 | 12:43 AM
#23
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Let me try to put your mind at rest about the Tattoo tickets. You won't be obstructed- they don't build the stands like that. You might be quite far from the action and you may be in a corner. It should still be a terrific experience. (yeah, yeah)
As to other shows- it would seem to me that you will get as big an insight into culture in a societal sort of way as any possible, by attending some off the wall stuff. There are places to go to play safe- the Assembly Rooms may be one of them.
But, for example, I saw an Asian couple (in Britain, Asian, tends to mean from the Indian sub-continent) of comedians doing a routine about being Pakistani in Luton on somewhere, which had no real meaning for me at all. I still thought it was hysterical (admittedly, it was at the Assembly Rooms). I also saw Lily Savage there at a time when noone outside Liverpool had ever heard of her. V. scary.
http://www.assemblyrooms.com/home/index.php
Incidentally they are NOT the "Observer" Assembly Rooms. They are the Assembly Rooms. "he Assembly Rooms have been at the very heart of the city's social life since first opening their doors in January 1787. Originally used for 'Assemblies' (public dances), they now host a diverse range of events of cultural and business life in the city.
The Observer simply sponsors some of the Fringe shows there.
Just remember to take your time and chill; although some time there is a huge sense of achievement in getting from the Gilded Balloon to the Assembly Rooms to and obscure church ahll in Morningside on a a schedule
As to other shows- it would seem to me that you will get as big an insight into culture in a societal sort of way as any possible, by attending some off the wall stuff. There are places to go to play safe- the Assembly Rooms may be one of them.
But, for example, I saw an Asian couple (in Britain, Asian, tends to mean from the Indian sub-continent) of comedians doing a routine about being Pakistani in Luton on somewhere, which had no real meaning for me at all. I still thought it was hysterical (admittedly, it was at the Assembly Rooms). I also saw Lily Savage there at a time when noone outside Liverpool had ever heard of her. V. scary.
http://www.assemblyrooms.com/home/index.php
Incidentally they are NOT the "Observer" Assembly Rooms. They are the Assembly Rooms. "he Assembly Rooms have been at the very heart of the city's social life since first opening their doors in January 1787. Originally used for 'Assemblies' (public dances), they now host a diverse range of events of cultural and business life in the city.
The Observer simply sponsors some of the Fringe shows there.
Just remember to take your time and chill; although some time there is a huge sense of achievement in getting from the Gilded Balloon to the Assembly Rooms to and obscure church ahll in Morningside on a a schedule
Jun 10th, 2004 | 04:26 PM
#24
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 0
The Fringe programme has now been published - here's a link to the website:
http://www.edfringe.com/
Jim
http://www.edfringe.com/
Jim
Jul 11th, 2004 | 02:14 PM
#26
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 0
I am going to top this for anyone who has not yet seen it and may be attending the Festivals in Edinburgh this summer.
Unfortunately--sniff!--Faux is not going because she just got back from Russia.
Now if I did not have to work and had infinite sums of money. . . .
Unfortunately--sniff!--Faux is not going because she just got back from Russia.
Now if I did not have to work and had infinite sums of money. . . .
Jul 12th, 2004 | 04:57 AM
#27
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,282
Likes: 0
Everything at the Traverse theatre is likely to be good. See www.traverse.co.uk. Their programme is part of the Fringe but the Traverse is a regular theatre for new writing and all of the visiting companies will be 'proper' theatre companies, albeit of the more offbeat variety. I would avoid like the plague anything performed by students, with the honourable exceptions of the RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) and its Welsh equivalent.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KayF
Europe
11
Apr 23rd, 2007 04:02 PM
