o! lfit’s August, it must be Festival-time. And that means that Scotland’s finest magazine goes into overdrive. Three issues in three weeks. giving you the
r inside track onthe best of the Fest. As usual. we’ve split the 700-odd shows into TIME ZONES, so you can make the best use of your precious i time to squeeze in as much as
2 possible.
Now, 700 shows is a lot to choose from, so our crack team here at The List have knocked the programme into shape. The sure-fire hits each week are listed over the page in our TOP TEN; if you can’t get a ticket for any of those, then each Time Zone has its own HITLIST with details on the five most
interesting, bizarre, spectacular, wacky or just plain sick entertainments around. Check any others on the INOEX, which you’ll find on the facing page, which will tell you everything we’re covering.
Each Time Zone includes Theatre, Comedy, Kids, Mime, Circus, Bottle-Swallowing, Pole- Squatting, whatever. If a show cuts across a Zone though, you’ll find it in the one where it appears most often (thanks a bunch, Traverse, for making things awkward). And if all this profusion of happenings wasn’t enough, there are separate sections for Festival Art. Clubs and Music, as well as the International Film Festival.
So no excuse. posse. It’s out there, somewhere. All you have to do is find it.
TICKETS
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
I INFORMATION Free programme available from Festival Box Office. 2l Market Street. Edinburgh. EH1 18W. 03! 225 5756. Open 9am—6pm (Mon—Sat) and lOam—Spm (Sun).
I TICKETS Postal and counter bookings from Festival Box Office. 21 Market Street. Edinburgh. EH1 IBW. Open 9am—6pm (Mon—Sat) and lOam—5 pm (Sun). Telephone bookings. O31 225 5755. Half price tickets for that day‘s performances from the Festival ticket booth on The Mound ( l-5pm. seven days). Maximum. two seats per event per customer. Small service fee charged.
THE FESTIVAL FRINGE
I INFORMATION Free programme and information available from the Fringe Office. 180 High Street. Edinburgh. EH1 108. 031 226 5257/5259. Open lOam—7pm (seven days). Daily diary. free from over 30 larger venues and the Fringe Office. detailing all events including late additions not listed in the Fringe programme. Fringe Find is a computer system with terminals in key locations including the Fringe Office. major hotels and tourist information which will assist with selecting shows and times.
I TICKETS Counter and postal bookings for most Fringe shows from the Fringe Office. 180 High Street. Edinburgh. EH1 108. Open l0am—7pm (seven days). It may be difficult to obtain tickets from the Fringe Office on the night as tickets are often passed onto the venue. Telephone sales (credit card only. 50p charge per credit card order) on O31 228 5138 (lOam—7pm. seven days). Ticket booth also at Waterstone‘s Booksellers. 83 George Street. Open lOam—7pm (Mon-Sat). 11am—7pm (Sun).
I KEY VENUES Some venues have virtually become festivals within Festival. developing their own identities. Listed below are some of the most important Assembly Rooms 54 George Street. Box Office open llam—6pm (9—12 Aug) and
l lam—midnight (l3 Aug—4 Sept) for counter sales and information. Telephone : bookings on O31 226 5992.
' The Traverse Theatre Cambridge Street. 228 I404. Box Office open lOam—l lpm (Tues—Sun). l0am—6pm (Mon). Credit card bookings on O31 228 1404.
L“ _ _ ___
The Gilded Balloon theatre 233—235 Cowgate. Box Office open lOam—lam for counter sales. Telephone bookings on O31 226 2151.
The Pleasance 60 The Pleasance. 031 556 6550. Box Office open llam—midnight for counter sales. Credit card bookings on 031 555 6550. Please note that a three per cent charge is made for credit card bookings.
Fringe Club 9—15 Chambers Street. 031 650 2395. Box Office open 9.30am—3am. seven days.
BOOK FESTIVAL
I INFORMATION The Book Festival is situated in Charlotte Square Gardens. Free programme and information available from Box N. EBF. 173 Dundee Street. EHll 186. 031 228 5444 (until 13 Aug). 225 2000 (14—30 Aug).
I TICKETS Day tickets. Season tickets and Family Day tickets are available in person from James Thin Bookshop. 57 George Street. 10am—6pm (Mon—Fri) and lOam—Spm (Sat) and from the Fringe Box Office. 180 High Street. lOam—7pm (seven days). Postal bookings to Box S. Edinburgh Book Festival. Scottish Book Centre. I37 Dundee Street. Edinburgh. EH11 186 and from the Fringe Box Osage. Credit card bookings on O31 225
FILM FESTIVAL
I INFORMATION Programme available from Film Festival Main Box Office. Filmhouse. 88 Lothian Road. 031 228 2688 and other key locations.
I TICKETS Box Office open noon—9pm (l3 Aug) and 9am—9.30pm (14-29 Aug). Open for credit card bookings noon—5pm (l3 Aug) and lOam—Spm (14—29 Aug) on O31 229 2550.
MILITARY TATTOO
I TICKETS Tickets available from the Military Tattoo Box Office. 22 Market Street. Edinburgh. Open l0am—9pm (Mon—Fri) and lOam—l0.30pm (Sat). Telephone bookings on O31 225 1188. 9am—9pm (Mon—Fri) and 9am—10.30pm (Sat).
2 The List 183—19 August I993