The Edinburgh Fringe – 2015 - 7th August to 31st August 2015
Well another year and another Edinburgh Fringe.
I always try to take in as many shows and events as I possibly can, but usually work, time (there is so much to see and do that I can never cram it all in) and money are against me.
Don’t get me wrong, not all of the shows are expensive. Some of my tickets this year were as cheap as £5, the average being £10; to be honest I don’t know how the performers make anything from that or indeed break even, but I'm not complaining. And I think the most I paid for a ticket this year was just under £30, either way, £5 or £30, I'm always guaranteed to see something I like and I'm sure you will too.
‘When it comes to attending the Edinburgh Fringe do I have a plan?’ I hear you ask. I do in a way. I know of people who just turn up, watch the Free Fringe Events on The Royal Mile (the main venue for the free events and previews) and decide what they want to go and see from that. That’s a good plan. I've done it in the past.
I know of other people who wade patiently through the great tome that is the Edinburgh Fringe brochure, circle what they want to see with a pen and then create a spreadsheet of dates, times, locations and costs in order to get the “full-in-the-face” affect of the Fringe. These people are usually burned-out husks by the end of the month and need a holiday to recover.
I heard of one person who, after only the second week, looked as if they were suffering from battle fatigue as a result of their lack of sleep, over consumption of food, alcohol and of early morning and late night culture. They were not expected to make it to the end of the month (either in the staying awake or the staying alive sense).
I try to combine both of the aforementioned methods thus achieving (I hope) a happy medium.
The Edinburgh Fringe has been going since 1947 and is the world’s biggest and best (but I'm biased) arts and comedy festival with participants from all over the world and from all walks of life who are there to delight and dazzle audiences who may never think of going to an arts event.
For anyone who has never been, I would strongly recommend you attend it at some point in your life. Add it to your bucket list this instant.
My first trip into the Edinburgh Fringe this year was to attend a recording of the BBC Radio Four comedy panel game “I'm Sorry I Haven’t a Clue”.
“I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” is one of those perennial radio comedy shows (described by its announcer as “the antidote to panel games”) that never fails to amuse me. It’s been going for decades and has been a mainstay of my listening pleasure since I was young and I still look forward to its return to the airways. If you have never listened to the series, give it a go and see what you think. And don’t be fooled by what at first appears to be the German national anthem as it’s actually the theme tune from the 1969 film Monte Carlo or Bust. It’s called “The Schickel Shamble” and was composed by Ron Goodwin.
The line-up for “I'm Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” has changed slightly over the years but the show is always amusing, ridiculous or hysterical. The current line-up is comedian Jack Dee in the chairman’s seat and the three regular panellists are Tim Brooke-Taylor and (Dr) Graeme Garden (both former Cambridge Footlights, I'm Sorry I’ll Read That Again and The Goodies) and comedy legend Barry Cryer. Barry has been a writer and performer for many, many, many years notably co-writing with Ray Cameron on the Kenny Everett Video Show and appearing alongside John Junkin and the aforementioned Tim Brooke-Taylor in the somewhat off the wall BBC Radio Four series Hello Cheeky.
My next trip to the Fringe involved going to see one of my favourite comedians, Robin Ince. Mr Ince has a rather unique way of performing. He obviously has a carefully constructed plan, does a great deal of research and then... wanders off in all directions to hilarious affect as soon as he stands in front of a microphone. In fact he even wanders off from his wandering off, but usually ends up where he wanted to be in the first place. Apparently this year was Mr. Ince “farewell” tour as he going to take some time off and wasn't planning on doing many shows. So far, since the start of this year he doesn't seem to have stopped. I suppose it’s kind of like Sinatra, one more tour and he’ll quit. The only thing is the “tour” doesn't seem to have a time limit.
I didn’t actually go to this, I wandered the streets enjoying the street performers, but my wife did as she is a massive fan of the musical Les Miserables. It was performed by Captivate Drama, a local theatre group from west Edinburgh and it seems they do a lot of really good stage shows, mostly musicals from what I can see. My wife was extremely impressed and would definitely go and see them again. She said it was up there with some of the West End shows she’s seen in London. And believe me, she’s seen a few.
Moving on!
Here is a question for you to answer. Would you go to a play by William Shakespeare? If the answer is yes then good for you. If the answer is no, it may be because you think it would be overly long and boring and you wouldn't get to grips with the style of language, then I will ask you another question.
Would you go to a theatrical performance based on the plays of William Shakespeare that features a selection of the violent stabby, killy bits, Elizabethan music and is compressed into 58 minutes? Sounds a bit easier to digest, doesn't it. Death by Shakespeare was a great and entertaining piece of theatre. It had a great young cast who had a great deal of passion when delivering their performances.
Okay, here is another question. Would you attend a piece of musical theatre based on the works of 19th and early 20th century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov? It has to be said Chekhov is not known for his light hearted sing-a-long lyrics, (The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya don’t really appear on many or indeed any karaoke machines) but to be honest Chekhov and Cherries was a great deal of fun. Again it featured a great young cast who had a great deal of passion when delivering their performances and it featured 19th century underwear. You had to be there, that’s all I'm saying.
The Modern Troubadours performed the “Fiesta de Los Muertos”, and it was a really good show. It combined song and dance celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead. If they are at the Fringe next year I would definitely recommend them.
“The Sigh of Body” are a performance group from Taiwan who mix traditional instruments and dance to demonstrate the history and culture of their country. They were also really friendly and the “leader” of the group was really charming.
If you are a fan of the “art” of A Capella, then I would recommend going to see the following group who I have seen over the last couple of years. I’m not sure if they will be at the Fringe next year, but if they are, I suggest you go.
The Oxford Gargoyles are a university based singing group who demonstrate their variety of style, both musical and clothing, with a range of songs and tunes (yes, I do mean songs and tunes. “Songs” having words and music and “tunes” just having music, I’m just clarifying my statement in case you were wondering). The Oxford Gargoyles do everything from big band, jazz; modern popular numbers to, in my humble opinion, the mainstay of their act. The Quincy Jones 1962 classic Soul Bossa Nova. This is probably best known as the theme to the film “Austin Powers International Man of Mystery”. And when I say “mainstay of their act” what I mean is that they have used it frequently to great affect over the last few years. The line-up of students may change but the Soul Bossa Nova remains the same.
There was a group of singers from South Africa called After Freedom: New Rhythms of Soweto who had outstanding voices (think Ladysmith Black Mambazo) and who were a really friendly bunch. During the free preview on The Royal Mile, one young lad was even sporting an Edinburgh tee-shirt and another young lad was sporting a Scotland tee-shirt and a Glengarry. They give us wonderful music; we give them t-shirts and hats. Somehow I think we got the better end of the deal.
The Improvised Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was highly entertaining. As you may have guessed from the title, it was a Sherlock Holmes story created from suggestions from the assembled audience. Some were terrific, mine was The Case of the Danish Ferret Smuggler, but the final choice was The Case of the Skinned Candlemaker, and involved the victims being covered and candle wax and then skinned. It doesn't sound a barrel of laughs but believe me it was. The performances from all concerned were fun and full of energy and some of the suggestions from the crowd were unique. The members of the cast were doing quick changes galore and the results weren't always what was intended but that only added to the craziness.
There were of course numerous street performers such as jugglers (including a man in his underpants, wearing a bowler hat, balancing on a tightrope throwing and catching a large knife and a flaming torch), fire eaters, street magicians, musicians (everything from guitars, bagpipes, accordions and wooden boxes) to the weird people who make animal shapes out of balloons. It’s odd enough that they do make animal shapes out of balloons; it’s even odder when they are dressed as clowns. Actually that’s not just odd, that’s extremely creepy.
There were comedians, dancers, singers and human statues as well as performers dressed as the Alien from the Ridley Scott film of the same name, the Predator from the John McTiernan film of the same name a couple of people who looked like they had walked out of the world of Warhammer and the usual Star Wars Imperial Storm Troopers in kilts (this is not unusual, nor is restricted to Festival time).
There were also musical performances based on the works of Charles Dickens by an American theatre group, a musical act about the political party, the United Kingdom Independence Party (it wasn't in-depth political satire, but it did have some good songs, I particularly like the one where the European Union wants Nigel Farage as President of Europe), and a musical performance based on the works of Jane Austen. Thankfully Colin Firth wasn't involved in any of the singing on this last one (see the film Mamma Mia for my reason behind this statement).
What you have just read is a teeny tiny sample of what you can see, hear and experience, it’s not even the tip of the iceberg to be honest. There really is something for everyone. And that is no word of a lie.
Oh and just in case you want to go to something a bit more relaxing during this time of madness and mayhem, why not attend the Edinburgh Book Festival that runs more or less alongside the Fringe? It’s less stressful and more relaxed. Then again, you could always go full tilt at the Fringe for a week or so and use the Book Festival as detox. It’s entirely up to you.
And now that the Edinburgh Fringe is over for 2015, what will the organizers and performers do? Well maybe they’ll have a few days rest, but after that they’ll begin preparing for the Edinburgh Fringe 2016. The planning of such a massive undertaking waits for no one and it is organized like a military operation, and I don’t just mean they do their best to keep the casualties to a minimum. By the way there are always casualties.
It won’t be until the start of 2016 that we will get the hint of an inkling of what is to come, and not until June that we get a confirmed list of what will definitely be there when the Edinburgh Fringe brochure is published.
I will definitely make some time to be there and soak up the atmosphere, and who knows, maybe I’ll bump into you on the Royal Mile as you buy a handful of balloons in the shape of a Labrador, made by a clown in his underpants, juggling knifes that are on fire.
To be honest, having seen some of the things I have seen at the Edinburgh Fringe, I wouldn't even give that a second glance.
I always try to take in as many shows and events as I possibly can, but usually work, time (there is so much to see and do that I can never cram it all in) and money are against me.
Don’t get me wrong, not all of the shows are expensive. Some of my tickets this year were as cheap as £5, the average being £10; to be honest I don’t know how the performers make anything from that or indeed break even, but I'm not complaining. And I think the most I paid for a ticket this year was just under £30, either way, £5 or £30, I'm always guaranteed to see something I like and I'm sure you will too.
‘When it comes to attending the Edinburgh Fringe do I have a plan?’ I hear you ask. I do in a way. I know of people who just turn up, watch the Free Fringe Events on The Royal Mile (the main venue for the free events and previews) and decide what they want to go and see from that. That’s a good plan. I've done it in the past.
I know of other people who wade patiently through the great tome that is the Edinburgh Fringe brochure, circle what they want to see with a pen and then create a spreadsheet of dates, times, locations and costs in order to get the “full-in-the-face” affect of the Fringe. These people are usually burned-out husks by the end of the month and need a holiday to recover.
I heard of one person who, after only the second week, looked as if they were suffering from battle fatigue as a result of their lack of sleep, over consumption of food, alcohol and of early morning and late night culture. They were not expected to make it to the end of the month (either in the staying awake or the staying alive sense).
I try to combine both of the aforementioned methods thus achieving (I hope) a happy medium.
The Edinburgh Fringe has been going since 1947 and is the world’s biggest and best (but I'm biased) arts and comedy festival with participants from all over the world and from all walks of life who are there to delight and dazzle audiences who may never think of going to an arts event.
For anyone who has never been, I would strongly recommend you attend it at some point in your life. Add it to your bucket list this instant.
My first trip into the Edinburgh Fringe this year was to attend a recording of the BBC Radio Four comedy panel game “I'm Sorry I Haven’t a Clue”.
“I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” is one of those perennial radio comedy shows (described by its announcer as “the antidote to panel games”) that never fails to amuse me. It’s been going for decades and has been a mainstay of my listening pleasure since I was young and I still look forward to its return to the airways. If you have never listened to the series, give it a go and see what you think. And don’t be fooled by what at first appears to be the German national anthem as it’s actually the theme tune from the 1969 film Monte Carlo or Bust. It’s called “The Schickel Shamble” and was composed by Ron Goodwin.
The line-up for “I'm Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” has changed slightly over the years but the show is always amusing, ridiculous or hysterical. The current line-up is comedian Jack Dee in the chairman’s seat and the three regular panellists are Tim Brooke-Taylor and (Dr) Graeme Garden (both former Cambridge Footlights, I'm Sorry I’ll Read That Again and The Goodies) and comedy legend Barry Cryer. Barry has been a writer and performer for many, many, many years notably co-writing with Ray Cameron on the Kenny Everett Video Show and appearing alongside John Junkin and the aforementioned Tim Brooke-Taylor in the somewhat off the wall BBC Radio Four series Hello Cheeky.
My next trip to the Fringe involved going to see one of my favourite comedians, Robin Ince. Mr Ince has a rather unique way of performing. He obviously has a carefully constructed plan, does a great deal of research and then... wanders off in all directions to hilarious affect as soon as he stands in front of a microphone. In fact he even wanders off from his wandering off, but usually ends up where he wanted to be in the first place. Apparently this year was Mr. Ince “farewell” tour as he going to take some time off and wasn't planning on doing many shows. So far, since the start of this year he doesn't seem to have stopped. I suppose it’s kind of like Sinatra, one more tour and he’ll quit. The only thing is the “tour” doesn't seem to have a time limit.
I didn’t actually go to this, I wandered the streets enjoying the street performers, but my wife did as she is a massive fan of the musical Les Miserables. It was performed by Captivate Drama, a local theatre group from west Edinburgh and it seems they do a lot of really good stage shows, mostly musicals from what I can see. My wife was extremely impressed and would definitely go and see them again. She said it was up there with some of the West End shows she’s seen in London. And believe me, she’s seen a few.
Moving on!
Here is a question for you to answer. Would you go to a play by William Shakespeare? If the answer is yes then good for you. If the answer is no, it may be because you think it would be overly long and boring and you wouldn't get to grips with the style of language, then I will ask you another question.
Would you go to a theatrical performance based on the plays of William Shakespeare that features a selection of the violent stabby, killy bits, Elizabethan music and is compressed into 58 minutes? Sounds a bit easier to digest, doesn't it. Death by Shakespeare was a great and entertaining piece of theatre. It had a great young cast who had a great deal of passion when delivering their performances.
Okay, here is another question. Would you attend a piece of musical theatre based on the works of 19th and early 20th century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov? It has to be said Chekhov is not known for his light hearted sing-a-long lyrics, (The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya don’t really appear on many or indeed any karaoke machines) but to be honest Chekhov and Cherries was a great deal of fun. Again it featured a great young cast who had a great deal of passion when delivering their performances and it featured 19th century underwear. You had to be there, that’s all I'm saying.
The Modern Troubadours performed the “Fiesta de Los Muertos”, and it was a really good show. It combined song and dance celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead. If they are at the Fringe next year I would definitely recommend them.
“The Sigh of Body” are a performance group from Taiwan who mix traditional instruments and dance to demonstrate the history and culture of their country. They were also really friendly and the “leader” of the group was really charming.
If you are a fan of the “art” of A Capella, then I would recommend going to see the following group who I have seen over the last couple of years. I’m not sure if they will be at the Fringe next year, but if they are, I suggest you go.
The Oxford Gargoyles are a university based singing group who demonstrate their variety of style, both musical and clothing, with a range of songs and tunes (yes, I do mean songs and tunes. “Songs” having words and music and “tunes” just having music, I’m just clarifying my statement in case you were wondering). The Oxford Gargoyles do everything from big band, jazz; modern popular numbers to, in my humble opinion, the mainstay of their act. The Quincy Jones 1962 classic Soul Bossa Nova. This is probably best known as the theme to the film “Austin Powers International Man of Mystery”. And when I say “mainstay of their act” what I mean is that they have used it frequently to great affect over the last few years. The line-up of students may change but the Soul Bossa Nova remains the same.
There was a group of singers from South Africa called After Freedom: New Rhythms of Soweto who had outstanding voices (think Ladysmith Black Mambazo) and who were a really friendly bunch. During the free preview on The Royal Mile, one young lad was even sporting an Edinburgh tee-shirt and another young lad was sporting a Scotland tee-shirt and a Glengarry. They give us wonderful music; we give them t-shirts and hats. Somehow I think we got the better end of the deal.
The Improvised Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was highly entertaining. As you may have guessed from the title, it was a Sherlock Holmes story created from suggestions from the assembled audience. Some were terrific, mine was The Case of the Danish Ferret Smuggler, but the final choice was The Case of the Skinned Candlemaker, and involved the victims being covered and candle wax and then skinned. It doesn't sound a barrel of laughs but believe me it was. The performances from all concerned were fun and full of energy and some of the suggestions from the crowd were unique. The members of the cast were doing quick changes galore and the results weren't always what was intended but that only added to the craziness.
There were of course numerous street performers such as jugglers (including a man in his underpants, wearing a bowler hat, balancing on a tightrope throwing and catching a large knife and a flaming torch), fire eaters, street magicians, musicians (everything from guitars, bagpipes, accordions and wooden boxes) to the weird people who make animal shapes out of balloons. It’s odd enough that they do make animal shapes out of balloons; it’s even odder when they are dressed as clowns. Actually that’s not just odd, that’s extremely creepy.
There were comedians, dancers, singers and human statues as well as performers dressed as the Alien from the Ridley Scott film of the same name, the Predator from the John McTiernan film of the same name a couple of people who looked like they had walked out of the world of Warhammer and the usual Star Wars Imperial Storm Troopers in kilts (this is not unusual, nor is restricted to Festival time).
There were also musical performances based on the works of Charles Dickens by an American theatre group, a musical act about the political party, the United Kingdom Independence Party (it wasn't in-depth political satire, but it did have some good songs, I particularly like the one where the European Union wants Nigel Farage as President of Europe), and a musical performance based on the works of Jane Austen. Thankfully Colin Firth wasn't involved in any of the singing on this last one (see the film Mamma Mia for my reason behind this statement).
What you have just read is a teeny tiny sample of what you can see, hear and experience, it’s not even the tip of the iceberg to be honest. There really is something for everyone. And that is no word of a lie.
Oh and just in case you want to go to something a bit more relaxing during this time of madness and mayhem, why not attend the Edinburgh Book Festival that runs more or less alongside the Fringe? It’s less stressful and more relaxed. Then again, you could always go full tilt at the Fringe for a week or so and use the Book Festival as detox. It’s entirely up to you.
And now that the Edinburgh Fringe is over for 2015, what will the organizers and performers do? Well maybe they’ll have a few days rest, but after that they’ll begin preparing for the Edinburgh Fringe 2016. The planning of such a massive undertaking waits for no one and it is organized like a military operation, and I don’t just mean they do their best to keep the casualties to a minimum. By the way there are always casualties.
It won’t be until the start of 2016 that we will get the hint of an inkling of what is to come, and not until June that we get a confirmed list of what will definitely be there when the Edinburgh Fringe brochure is published.
I will definitely make some time to be there and soak up the atmosphere, and who knows, maybe I’ll bump into you on the Royal Mile as you buy a handful of balloons in the shape of a Labrador, made by a clown in his underpants, juggling knifes that are on fire.
To be honest, having seen some of the things I have seen at the Edinburgh Fringe, I wouldn't even give that a second glance.