This summer marks the 70th anniversary of the most iconic theater fringe festival in the world: the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With a theme of “Leap Into the Unknown,” the avant-garde theater fest features performances from all over the world. It’s a promising array for audiences seeking respected innovators and new artists hoping to be tapped the next big thing. If you are thinking about leaping into this summer’s festival, Backstage spoke with the Fringe’s media manager, Liam Upton, for some insider advice for attendees.
How would you describe the first-time experience of attending the Fringe?
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is unlike any other festival in the world and visiting the Fringe for the first time is a truly unique experience. In 2018, 317 venues across Edinburgh will host 3,548 shows covering theatre, dance, circus, physical theater, comedy, music, musicals and opera, cabaret and variety, children’s shows, free shows, exhibitions, events and spoken word, so there is something for all tastes and interests.
What is the best way for a visitor to organize their travel experience while in Edinburgh? Any tips for creating a show and sightseeing itinerary?
The official Fringe program contains all the shows appearing at the festival this year so is a great place to start, and the program is organized by genre to help you find shows that are of interest to you. Edfringe.com and the Fringe App can also help with your planning, enabling you to create an itinerary and browse shows by genre, venue, time of day, or shows taking place within your immediate vicinity. It’s always a good idea to leave some spaces in your schedule for the unexpected, too! Taking an unplanned detour to a pop-up venue or running into a show that starts in a couple of minutes because you’ve been handed a flyer, can often be the most memorable part of your day! Edinburgh has a fantastic range of visitor attractions including museums, galleries, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Yacht Britannia. It’s also a fascinating city to walk around, so there’s plenty of other things to do, should you wish to take a break from enjoying the Fringe!
Any singular, localized pieces of advice for those who have attended before? Something off the beaten path?
Whether this is your first or your 50th time visiting the Fringe, this is a place where discoveries wait around every corner. Take a chance on something you’ve never heard of before. Whether it’s a performer, genre or venue, no other festival in the world offers such a broad or diverse range of cultural experiences. If you’re looking to relax, there are some lovely green spaces worth exploring in the center and on the edges of the city, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Duddingston Kirk Manse Gardens and Arthur’s Seat—the extinct volcano that dominates the city’s eastern skyline, providing spectacular views across the city for those willing to make the climb.
What about for those who haven’t attended the Fringe before?
Soak up the atmosphere and make the most of your first experience! There’s so much to see and explore, so challenge yourself to sample a bit of everything.
Any advice for students attending?
There are hundreds of free shows and “Pay What You Want” shows in the program, so it’s easy to keep to a student-friendly budget. It’s worth visiting The Mound where you’ll find the Virgin Money Half Price Hut with thousands of half-price tickets available every day; it’s a great place to grab a bargain. The Fringe Box Office also offers a student concession for some shows, so it’s worth checking at the box office.
Why is it essential for international tourists to attend the festival?
The diversity is a huge part of what makes it so special. This year, 55 countries will be represented across the 3,548 shows in the program. It’s the meeting place for the international arts community—a place where performers come to express themselves and share new ideas. It’s always great to see Fringe audiences from all over the world coming together and sharing their own experiences in a truly international celebration of arts and culture.
Any other insider tips might you have for folks?
Wear comfy shoes! With so many venues, many of which are located in the Old Town, comfy shoes are a must when walking over the cobbles and through Edinburgh’s winding closes to get to your next show. And always have sunglasses and an umbrella on you—it is Scotland after all, and we can experience four seasons in one day, even in August.
Anything happening at this year's festival that has you particularly excited?
In 2018, we celebrate 20 years of street performance at the Fringe with the relaunch of the Virgin Money Street Events on the High Street and Mound Precinct. Highlights include brand new stages, spectacular entrance archways and specially programmed showcases, all designed to provide a welcoming introduction to the world of the Fringe.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival runs from 3–27 August. Click here for tickets.
Check out Backstage’s theater audition listings!
