Edinburgh 2009 Preview

In just under a fortnight the Edinburgh Fringe festival will once again see performers flock to the city, unleashing their material to all who’ll listen. With no vetting system anything goes and the result is eclectic, cutting-edge and completely unique.

The festival, now in its 63rd year, will run from the 7th-31st August. It is both the world’s biggest arts festival and the number one tourist attraction in Britain. It’s has come a long way since eight theatre groups turned up unexpectedly to the 1947 Edinburgh International festival and decided to set one up for themselves!

If you’re looking for a good laugh the Fringe really is the place to go. With 35 percent of acts this year being in comedy, from dark and disturbing to slap-stick and simple, there will be something for everyone. But if comedy’s not your bag the rest from an array of theatre, dance, music and children’s entertainment.

Over the years the Fringe has seen many famous faces. It’s often credited with launching the careers of the likes of Stephen Fry, Emma Tompson and Steve Coogan.
Big names this year include Ricky Gervais, Simon Amstell, Jimmy Carr, Julian Clarey, Rich Hall and Paul Merton, but while it’s great to catch someone well-known, it’s often just as exciting to discover someone or something completely new.

The Fringe offers the opportunity to explore things you might not otherwise have explored. Ballet, opera and walking tours are among the less-conventional festival activities.
This year, the Fringe is to feature 34,265 performances of 2,098 shows in 265 venues -  that’s 2944 more performances than last year.

The numbers may seem overwhelming at first, but the trick is to try to not do too much. News on what’s hot and what’s not spreads fast and with 465 of these shows being absolutely free it’s pretty easy to dip in and out with whatever catches your fancy. The fantasticTrestle Theatre, for example, will stage their compelling show Lola: The Life of Lola Montez

And of course, the Fringe is not limited to programmed events, many street performers, artists and buskers will be taking to the street adding to the buzzing atmosphere.

So, if you’re heading to the Fringe this year, you should be in for a heady mix of entertainment, just remember to take with you an open mind and a brolly.

For information on what’s happening at all seven Summer Edinburgh Festivals, and beyond visit www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk
 
By Michelle Brookes

Edinburgh Fringe - A History

1947 The Fringe starts when eight uninvited acts turn up to the Edinburgh International Festival and start their own.

1958 The Edinburgh Fringe society is formed with a program and a box office. They decide there will be no artistic vetting.

1962 The Fringe Bulletin warns that the number of groups could hit 34.  Edinburgh University complain about the number of calls they are getting as the Fringe Society has yet to get their own phone.

1966 Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard is premiered by the Oxford Theatre Group

1967 Futz, a controversial play about bestiality is performed. The Scottish Daily Express ran with the headline ‘Filth on the Fringe’ and called for it to be banned. The Observer praised the play.

1969 After frosty relations with the Edinburgh Festival, the Fringe is finally mentioned in the official booklet

1972 The Fringe First Award is set up

1980 The annual competition for the Fringe poster is launched

1981 The Perrier award is set up for best revue at the Fringe. Winners are the Cambridge Spotlights whose line up includes Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Tompson and Tony Slattery. Later winners include Frank
Skinner, Steve Coogan, Lee Evans, and Rich Hall.

1989 A strike in the Edinburgh District Council threatens to close the Fringe. After negotiations the Fringe is given the go ahead, ten days before its start date.

1991 Frank Dunlop, Edinburgh Festival Director, calls the Fringe ‘A third-rate circus,’ leading to a media spat

1997 On it's 50th birthday the Fringe is named by the Guinness Book of Records as being the largest festival in the world, a title it still holds today

2003 Numbers reach a million for the first time (1.8 million)

2006 The Perrier awards hands over to If Finance for the if.comeddies

2009 Taking over from If Finance the comedy awards are to be known as the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, or, the eddies