Festival tickets 8: information
The August jamboree in the capital is made up of not just one but several festivals. The Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival gets in first. starting this issue. then it's the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for three weeks from the start of August. followed a week later by the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Add to this the Military Tattoo. the industry-based Television Festival and the many galleries and clubs that join in the tray. and you've got the world's biggest arts festival.
Because there is no central box office for all the festivals. you'll need this guide to tell you where and when to buy tickets for which shows.
THE BANK OF SCOTLAND EDINBURGH JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL
26 Jul-4 Aug. Various venues throughout Edinburgh. Tickets available for all shows (except Van Morrison and the Charity Ball) by phone from the Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival information line. 0131 467 5200. Mon—Fri 9am—6pm, website wwwjazzmusiccouk; and in person and by phone from the Queen‘s Hall box office. Clerk St. Edinburgh. 0131 668 2019. Mon—Sat (Sun from 28 Jul throughout the Festival) 10am—5.30pm (phone lines close 5pm).
Tickets for Hub shows only also available by phone and in person from the Hub. Castlehill. Royal Mile. Edinburgh. EH1 2NE. 0131 473 2000. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm (until 21 Jul): Mon—Sat 9am—7.30pm and Sun 10am—7.30pm (22 Jul onwards).
Tickets available for Van Morrison exclusively from 0870 606 3424; and for the Jazz Festival Charity Ball exclusively from 0131 456 3730.
There is a standard booking fee across box offices for payment by credit/debit card of 50p per ticket (not applicable to Van Morrison or the Jazz Festival Charity Ball).
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 11-31 Aug (Royal Bank 25 Nights at the Usher Hall run 6—30 Aug). Tickets available from the Hub. Castlehill. Royal Mile. Edinburgh, EH1 2NE. 0131 473 2000. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm (until 21 Jul); Mon—Sat 9am—7.30pm and Sun 10am—7.30pm (22 Jul—31 Aug). Website: www.eif.co.uk
Concession tickets are available in advance for selected performances at half price to students in full—time education and those under 18. and at 25% discount to senior citizens. From 6 Aug. standby tickets for selected performances will be available at half price to senior citizens. students. under 18s. unemployed people and Young Scot. Equity and Musicians' Union card holders.
During the Festival period only. tickets will be on sale to personal visitors at the Usher Hall. the Queen's Hall. the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. the Edinburgh Playhouse. the Royal Lyceum Theatre and one hour before performances at the King's Theatre. Any unsold tickets for other Festival venues will go on sale at the venue one hour before the performance only.
Fifty seats for all Usher Hall early evening concerts and opera performances are reserved for sale at £25 on the day of performance from 9am (10am on Sun). These are available only to personal callers at the Hub and are limited to two tickets per customer. Half-price tickets for some performances are sold on the day of performance to personal callers at the Hub. Limited to two tickets per customer.
Where wheelchair spaces are available they will be sold at the lowest price for that performance.
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
4-26 Aug (though some shows begin as early as 31 Jul. and others carry on until 1 Sep). Tickets available from the Fringe Office. 180 High Street. Edinburgh. 0131 226 0000. Bookings can be made in person daily until 19 Jul noon—3pm. then 22 Jul—26 Aug 10am—9pm daily; or by phone until 19 Jul 10am—6pm. then 22 Jul—26 Aug 9am—9pm daily. Website: www.edfringe.com.
Discounted tickets are available for most shows. but prices and eligibility are decided by individual companies. Many shows also offer reduced-price tickets for preview performances and this year nearly all companies are partaking in a two-for-one scheme on 4 and 5 Aug. Bargain-hunters should keep an eye on The Li‘st's Freeloaders section for reader offers.
Tickets for Fringe events are also available in person from:
HMV 129 Princes Street. Mon—Sat 10am—7pm; Sun 11am—7pm (from 31 Jul)
Waterstone’s 83 George Street. Mon—Sat 108m—6pm; Sun 11am—6pm (from 26 Jul).
The Hub Castlehill. Mon—Sun 10am—7pm (from 6 Aug).
EDINBURGH
IN T E R N AT 5 D.) N L. Fl") ll... FESTIVAL
14-25 Aug. Films are screened at: Filmhouse. 88 Lothian Road: Cameo. 38 Home Street; Dominion. Newbattle Terrace; Odeon, 7 Clerk Street; UGC Cinema. Fountainpark. Dundee Street: and Glasgow Film Theatre. 12 Rose Street, Glasgow. Tickets for all films are available from Filmhouse. 88 Lothian Road. Edinburgh. 0131 623 8030. The box office is open daily noon—9pm (until 13 Aug); daily 10am—9pm (14—25 Aug): and to personal callers daily noon—9pm (until 13 Aug): daily 10am—9pm (14—25 Aug). Website: www.edfilmfest.org.uk.
Tickets for all Film Festival screenings are also available in person from: UGC Cinema Fountainpark. Dundee Street. Edinburgh. daily 2—10pm (20 Jul—13 Aug): daily 10am—10pm (14—25 Aug).
Tickets for screenings at the GFT only available from 20 Jul from that venue. in person. noon—8pm daily, or by calling 0141 332 8128.
Remaining tickets for screenings at other Film Festival venues can also be bought on the door of that venue.
EDINBURGE-rll
INTERNATHON 2."...
FESTEJVAE...
10—26 Aug. Charlotte Square. Tickets
available from 0131 624 6050.
Mon—Sat 10am—5.30pm (until 8 Aug):
9.30am—8pm (10—26 Aug). Credit card
bookings are subject to £1 handling
fee. Website: www.edbookfest.co.uk. Tickets are also available from:
Box Office Entrance Tent Charlotte
Square Gardens. 9.30am—930pm
(until 26 Aug).
Ottakar’s Booksellers 57 GeOrge
Street. Mon—Sat 10am—5.30pm (until 8
Aug).
EDINBURGH TATTOQ
2-Sat Aug. Tickets available by post. in person or by phone from the Tattoo Ticket Sales Office. 33—34 Market Street. Edinburgh EH1 1GB. 0131 225 1188. Mon-Fri 10ani—4.30pm (on performance days the office is open until the start of the performance). Website: www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk.
18J.;l- i Aug; 24:02 THE LIST 35