amdram.co.uk

INTRODUCTION

The line-up for the 64th Edinburgh Fringe has been announced. The Festival will run from the 5th to 29th August 2011 and tickets will go on sale at 8am on the 10^th of June from the Official Web Site.

This year there is a total of 2542 events spread over 258 venues with 761 theatre productions. Other productions include 65 cabaret, 89 Dance/Physical Theatre, 90 Musicals/Operas and 607 free shows.

Between now and the end of the Festival, amdram.co.uk hopes to keep you up to date with what’s happening as well as shows to watch and shows to miss. Let me know if you’re performing.   If you go to watch tell me if you loved or hated a show.

After a break of a few years, I’m going for three days towards the end of the Festival. My first stop (after dumping bags) is the Royal Mile. It’s great, with leafleteers and street performers, you really feel part of the Festival. It does get very busy so do watch out for pick pockets and ladies it’s best not to have a handbag if you can manage without. Obviously you will do some serious walking (and Edinburgh ain’t flat) so make sure you have stout walking shoes. I always carry a light weight raincoat in case of rain.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD AND DRINK

It’s a good idea to book your accommodation as early as possible. I’ve stayed in student accommodation as well as hostels. One of the more convenient hostels is St Christophers, I’ve stayed here several times. It’s located close to the train station and not far from the Royal Mile.  Heriot Watt University has been recommended to me. Apparently they have all year round accommodation at a reasonable price. It’s not convenient as it takes about half an hour by bus to get to Princess Street. However, last year they ran a dedicated 24 hour bus service at a cost of £1.20 per ticket, so it’s definitely worth looking into.

We tend to grab food as we go, without any real plan. Sometimes it’s a sandwich, other it’s a bar meal. Remember to eat and drink plenty of water. Food and drink will be a large part of your budget. We always eat in Jimmy Chans Chinese Restaurant which is by Waverley Station. It’s an all you can eat buffet and is wonderful. It cheaper to eat during the day, but you won’t feel like moving afterward.

Drink in the main venue bars and talk to performers who quickly find out the best shows. If you see a really good one ask those actors what they are looking out for. Stay up late in one or two the first night you are there to get the late night performer’s views. If they have evening or late night slots their shows are likely to be good as will be their recommendations.

VENUES

As I mentioned earlier there are 258 different venues this year. You must get a venue map, there’s usually one supplied at the back of the official Festival Guide. You will need more than one. This year I’m considering getting a guide in advance and laminating the map. Each Venue is known by a number and you use this number to find the location. Some places even just use their number rather than a name. Some venue organisers run more than one venue. Below I give a list of some of the larger ones with links. Many of these sites are already listing their shows.

• American High School Theatre Festival
• Assembly (was the Assembly Rooms) is no longer a physical venue, but the promoter’s operation, (called Assembly) has transferred to George Square Theatre.
• Bedlam Theatre
• C Venues
• Gilded Balloon
• Paradise in Augustine’s and Paradise in The Vault
• Pleasance Theatre
• Spotlites at the Merchant’s Hall
• Sweet
• The Space
• Underbelly
• Venue 40
• Zoo

Big names used to use the Assembly Rooms but tickets there could be more expensive than elsewhere. Time will tell if this stays the same now that they are no longer a physical venue.

There are lots of steps and alleys which act as short-cuts and can cut your travelling time between productions. Be warned, some shows over-run, so make sure you leave extra time. People refer to two parts of Edinburgh – the New Town and the Old Town. Try and stick in one for the day and you might be able to squeeze in an extra show.

The Scotsman daily guide, which was the daily bible to the Fringe was not published last year, but a more basic one was. Reviewer’s daily sheets such as Three Weeks are worth appraising, but it’s just the reviewer’s view and not necessarily yours, so be prepared to stick to your choices.

FREE FRINGE

There is a growing number of free shows each year, and it is now possible to go to the Fringe and not purchase a single ticket. Several bars run free comedy in the evening but do expect to put money in a bucket if you enjoyed the show.

PBH’s Free Fringe is a non-profit organisation which is developing its festival programme each year. They cover theatre as well as comedy and are worth keeping an eye out for.

The Laughing Horse are getting bigger as well and it’s worth having a look at their website once they announce their acts.

GETTING TICKETS

There are various ways to obtain tickets for shows. The obvious one is the Festival Box Office on the Royal Mile. It’s worth considering becoming a Friend of the Festival (£25) for 2 for 1 tickets, but work out the cost and be aware that there is a maximum number of tickets you can purchase and then only two for each show. However, you usually break even after about four shows. You can always books tickets in advance by telephone and internet.

My favourite spot is the Half Price Ticket Booth by Waverley Station on The Mound. Not every show is available so make a list and see what you can get on the day. It’s only open during the Festival and tickets are usually only available for that day.

You can also usually obtain tickets direct from the venues, some of the larger ones like C operate a discount system available via the internet so it’s worth checking. C’s discount operates across all their venues and knocks £1 off some bar prices, etc, making it an excellent central watering hole/meeting point.

If you definitely want to see a show – book as early as possible. The better shows fill up quickly. The less popular, less publicised or down right dreadful shows always have tickets available. You can even sometimes get free tickets whilst walking up and down the Royal Mile, just be prepared – why do you think they are giving them away!

An App for iPhones will be released on the 23^rd of June and one for Androids will be released in July. Apparently these Apps will show full show listings with search and purchasing facilities, as well as daily Half Price Hut listings. I have a phone which uses Android, so am quite excited about this development. I’ll let you know more when I do.