FRONTLINES NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM ACROSS THE FESTIVALS
FESTIVAL NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Diary
• According to a new survey, Edinburgh’s festival audiences are
with the project, , which sees two
now ‘on par’ with those of the World readers per hour r
Cup. Independent research found that performing to an n
12 big events in the city (including the intimate audience ce
Fringe and the International Festival) of four per show. w.
attracted an audience of more than 4.5 million last year, while the FIFA
World Cup had 3.4 million attendees
• The Boy With Tape On His
in 2014. Probably fewer vuvuzelas in Face (pictured)
Auld Reekie, too.
is delivering the participants’
• The Edinburgh Mela will not take place this summer due to funding
welcome address at
reasons. Plans are being made for an Fringe Central.
autumn edition, though, so watch this Comedian Sam
space (or Leith Links, where it takes Wills (as he’s
place).
also known) is a a Fringe veteran,
• Slaves guitarist Laurie Vincent has a solo gallery exhibition at Flaubert
and as such he knows the
Gallery as part of the Festival. It score, from
features a range of brand new, unseen where to eat to
pieces, alongside some collaborative how to relax.
paintings created with his studio He’ll be leading
partner, Daisy Paris.
• Performers, writers, politicians and members of the public are set to read all 2.6 million words of the Chilcot
the event on Fri
5 Aug, which familiarises
acts with all things festival. Ward, this one-night-only show sees
Report, as part of the Fringe show Iraq Out Loud. Ian Rankin, Tommy
• A Gala for Mental Health, programmed by the Mental Health
comedians Chris Gethard, Susan Calman, Richard Gadd and Martha
McBrier tackle the ‘funny side of
Sheppard, Stewart Lee and Tony
Foundation, returns to the Fringe mental health’ at the Pleasance Dome
Law are just four of those involved
for a second year. Hosted by Felicity on Wed 17 Aug.
THE WORD ON THE TWEET IS . . .
As Edinburgh gets ready for the Fringe, performers, promoters and audience members take to Twitter to share their excitement
@alanl anagan Rehearsals for #EveryonesDead descended into madness last night as we sang “shit on my chest” to the tune of 12 Days Of Christmas #EdFringe @ThatCatLoud I’m not going out out on Saturday nights at the moment because I’m going to #edfringe, which is a month of Saturday nights. Pacing myself.
@fayebedding I can’t wait to go to Edinburgh next week to catch more Pokemon… I mean... go to #Edfringe! #PokemonGO @columtyrrell Anyone know if this is early or late to be regretting every decision leading to my Edinburgh Fringe show?
@matthewoingram Let’s face it, the tinder
game @edfringe this year is gonna be on point
@kiripritchardmc 1 week till I arrive @ edfringe and I’m sure that has nothing to do with the regular palpitations I’m having
@110marc I love the @edfringe but can we just skip it this year? I’d like to hold onto my money
10 THE LIST FESTIVAL 4–11 Aug 2016
WHAT A SELL OUT
Don’t end up on the fringe of the Fringe: get your tickets before they’re gone. Here’s what’s selling fast at the fest, and what’s already sold out* (4–11 Aug). GOING, GOING... Daniel Sloss: So? • Ed Gamble • James Acaster: Reset • Katy Brand: I Was A Teenage Christian • Louis CK • Mark Watson: I’m Not Here • Nina Conti: In Your Face • Pete Firman: TriX • Seann Walsh: One For The Road
GONE • Daniel Kitson Presents an Insufi cient Number of Undeveloped Ideas Over Ninety Testing Minutes Starting at Noon • Katherine Ryan: Work In Progress • Susan Calman: The Calman Before The Storm *Correct at time of going to press
HEAD IN THE CLOUD Forensic mind reader Colin Cloud is going to give himself a ‘lethal injection’ on stage every night during his Fringe show. We caught up with him before he does
What’s the best thing about the Fringe? It’s the one festival in the world that’s pretty much right on my doorstep. I get to stay at home for the month and live like a normal person when my friends are travelling from around the UK and the rest of the world.
And the worst thing? Because it’s on my doorstep, everyone tries to crash at mine and get my spare room for the month. Also, you have to try and write a new show that’s better than the year before. What’s your strangest Fringe experience? When I did the i rst show three years ago, I had no idea how it was going to be received. I remember I had a 90-seater room and after the i rst two shows, Twitter went mental and the run sold out. I was delighted there was such a great buzz. Strange is the wrong word, but when you’re totally unknown, it’s a good feeling.
What’s the best thing a reviewer has said about you? I’ve had lots of amazing comments comparing me to a real-life Sherlock Holmes, that one comes up a lot. But I think the funniest thing is when a reviewer saw The Illusionist show in London. She loved the show, but she wasn’t sure of my crows nest haircut. And the worst? Delightfully, I’ve really not had a bad review. I got a three star when I was in Adelaide, but actually it was one of the best written reviews. I’ve had so many four and i ve star reviews, I’m just so happy that everyone has gotten into what I’m doing.
Describe your show in four words. Intellectual, funny, philosophical, deadly. Colin Cloud: Exposé, Underbelly Med Quad, 6–28 Aug (not 15), 9pm, £10–£12 (£9–£11). Previews 3–5 Aug, £7.