LAST FEW TICKETS REMAINING FOR FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL TO RING IN 2024
The countdown to the New Year has begun as Edinburgh’s Hogmanay prepares for its 30th anniversary celebrations with four days of events to ring in 2024.
Local residents and visitors from across the globe will come together to bid farewell to the final few days of 2023 and welcome in the New Year with an unmissable programme of live music, exceptional entertainment including the world-class Midnight Moment fireworks and a celebration like no other at Edinburgh’s Street Party extravaganza.
This year’s events will mark 30 years since the very first Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival in 1993, with a four-day take-over of venues across the city’s Old and New Towns from Friday 29 December 2023 until Monday 1 January 2024 including live music, comedy, candlelit concerts, ceilidhs and family-friendly events.
The jam-packed programme will see a host of musicians and performers entertain audiences across the city at 14 events across four days including; 10,000 flaming torches, 24 hours of live music, 30 Vikings at the Torchlight Procession, over 50 street performers at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party including drummers and stilt walkers, and four firework moments including the all-important New Year fireworks at the highly anticipated Midnight Moment.
The 30th anniversary celebrations begin on Friday 29 December as the Torchlight Procession returns for the first time since 2019 with up to 20,000 participants blazing a trail through Edinburgh, creating a river of fire through the Old Town led by Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad.
The procession begins in the Meadows for the first time ever, with pre-procession family-friendly entertainment from fire performers, street theatre, pipe bands and drummers, culminating with participants extinguishing their torches through an Avenue of Fire on Castle Terrace
Over in the city’s New Town, enjoy a side-splitting night of live comedy at Ho-Ho-Hogmanay with an all-star line-up at the Assembly Rooms including Susie McCabe, Larry Dean, Fred MacAulay and hosted by Emmanuel Sonubi.
Getting into the party spirit, the Night AforeDisco Party with Greatest Hits Radio in West Princes Street Gardens on Saturday 30 December sees a headline performance from ABBA sensations Björn Again joined by the fringe festival smash-hit Massaoke, for the ultimate party night out and the perfect Saturday night soundtrack to round off the year with ABBA’s greatest hits and pop classics.
Meanwhile, it will be a hometown show to remember for Edinburgh born singer-songwriter Ross Wilson aka Blue Rose Code addressing universal themes of love, loss, home and faith in a deeply personal way and seamlessly blend folk, Americana, jazz, soul and pop influences into something truly unique at the Night Afore Hoolie with special guests Caley Soul Band, Dean Owens and more at the Assembly Rooms.
A Scottish Film Series in the Piccolo at St Andrews Square sees Scottish classics – From Scotland with Love, favourite coming of age romantic comedy Gregory’s Girl, rounding off with Irvine Welsh’s modern classic Trainspotting.
For Hogmanay itself, ensure the kids aren’t left out of the celebrations with Bairns New Year Revels – a family-friendly daytime party in the Assembly Rooms including live music, Massaoke and ceilidh dancing.
One for the grown-ups, enjoy Edinburgh’s original indoor Hogmanay party as the New Year Revels returns to Assembly Rooms with a dedicated ceilidh room so revellers can birl’ through the bells and the ultimate singalong soundtrack with Massaoke.
Plus, the stunning sold out Candlelit Concert in St. Giles’ Cathedral will see guests enjoy music from J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.
The main event kicks off from 9pm on Sunday 31 December as the world-famous Street Party welcomes 40,000 attendees from across the globe to bring in the bells in the way only Scotland can.
This year visitors can enjoy everything from a Silent Disco with partners Silent Adventures in the Disco Zone, to thrill rides; stilt walkers to steel drums, street food and Hogmanay Bars, as well as festival headliners Pulp relayed onto Giant Screens across the arena, plus a night of Scottish music at the Tartan Zone on Waverley Bridge from the Hannah Fisher Ceilidh Band and Kinnaris Quintet, headlined by Elephant Sessions.
Whilst at the Concert in the Gardens, cultural icons Pulp play the final show of 2023 and the very first of 2024 with support from Hot Chip (DJ set) punctuated by breathtaking fireworks from Edinburgh Castle. Visible across the Edinburgh Skyline, hourly countdown fireworks from 9pm will culminate in the all-important spectacular Midnight Moment firework and music display from Edinburgh Castle.
The party doesn’t end with the bells, with a full day of free entertainment across the city on New Year’s Day. Family-friendly fun continues with Sprogmanay at the National Museum of Scotland and Assembly Roxy with from Sprog Rock, Magic Gareth, live ceilidhs and the very special Unicorn Dance Party.
Finally, wrapping up the epic four days of festivities is First Footin’, a free music and cultural trail showcasing a programme of live music throughout the city featuring performances from Lau, Bemz, Hot Chip, Kathryn Joseph and many more in iconic venues such as Greyfriars Kirk, Virgin Hotel, Assembly Rooms and more.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m sure I speak for the whole city when I say how excited I am for the 30th anniversary edition of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
“From the incredible Torchlight Procession through to Pulp seeing us into 2024 and so much more we’re really fortunate to have such excellent events on offer for our residents and visitors. The First Footin’ showcases an excellent range of free music and performance from Scottish rap artists to jazz, alt-rock and more.
“Not only is Hogmanay an Edinburgh institution but it is also a major contributor to our city’s economy, providing jobs and commercial opportunities for our local residents and businesses.
“This is a time where we can celebrate the best of our city as one-year closes and look ahead with pride and positivity to the next. I want to thank the organisers, our partners and of course Council colleagues who have worked tirelessly on this event and will continue to in the coming days.
“I wish everyone in the Capital a fantastic Hogmanay and a very happy New Year.”
Festival Directors for UniqueAssembly who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council added: “It’s a particularly special year as we mark the 30th anniversary of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay with a spectacular four-day programme jam-packed with events.
“We’re thrilled to bring back traditional Hogmanay events such as the Torchlight Procession and the original indoor Hogmanay party the New Year Revels, as well as welcoming this year’s incredible headliners Pulp to entertain the Concert in the Gardens.
“Whether you’re heading along for a disco dance at the Night Afore, a family ceilidh at Bairns New Year Revels or enjoying some laughs at Ho-Ho-Hogmanay, we’re looking forward to welcoming old friends and new across this year’s events.”
Further information and final tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30th anniversary celebrations are available www.edinburghshogmanay.com.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is created and produced by UniqueAssembly on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, with Major Event Partners EventScotland, Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund and supported by Essential Edinburgh, Innis & Gunn and Cold Town Beer.
Scone Palace, the Crowning site of Scottish Kings and the original home of the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, will now see UCI World Champions crowned as it welcomes the finish of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo road races on Friday 4 August.
In an update to the previously announced routes, both races will now finish at Scone Palace, rather than their original finish on Tay Street in Perth city centre. The updated finish location follows consultation with event partners as part of ongoing event planning and development to ensure impacts are kept to a minimum across Perth city centre, while delivering a world-class event finish in a truly iconic Scottish location.
There have also been two other amendments to the routes, made to ensure the safest possible experience for riders and spectators. The Gran Fondo race through Pitlochry will now travel Southbound into Pitlochry from Garry Bridge, then turn left up Larchwood Road, right onto Strathview Terrace and left onto the A924/ West Moulin Road towards Moulin, before rejoining its original route travelling east towards Kirkmichael.
The change to the Medio Fondo race sees it take a new route in Bankfoot, travelling through the town from Prieston Road onto the B867 towards Waterloo, and turn right on the Pittensorn Road towards Murthly, before rejoining its original route on the B9099 towards Caputh.
An updated list of road closures reflecting the above changes can be seen here and the new race routes can be accessed and downloaded here.
The new finish line at Scone Palace will see both races conclude in one of Scotland’s most iconic settings. Once the ancient coronation site of Scottish Kings, the rich history and spectacular setting of Scone Palace will create a stunning backdrop for riders and spectators.
Scone is perhaps best-known as the former home of the Stone of Scone – also known as the Stone of Destiny – the red sandstone block used in early Scottish Kingship ceremonies and during the coronation of British monarchs. It was most recently used during the ceremonies for King Charles III, ahead of its return to Perthshire in 2024 as the centrepiece of a new £26.5m museum at Perth City Hall.
The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are one of 13 UCI World Championships being brought together as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 – 13 August.
Trudy Lindblade, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships CEO, said:“We thank Perth & Kinross Council and the communities across Perth and Perthshire for allowing us to bring this first-time global event to your region.
“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is set to be the biggest cycling event ever held and is an opportunity to showcase Scotland as the perfect stage for major events. We look forward to welcoming thousands of riders from around the world to the region as they prepare to compete for the World Championship title on 4 August.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing:“The Gran Fondo will be an unforgettable event and will showcase Perth and Kinross to a worldwide audience.
“Scone Palace will make a spectacular backdrop to the finishing line and people all over the world will be able to see our stunning scenery and learn about the Stone of Destiny, which will come home next year as the centrepiece of the new Perth Museum.”
Gran Fondo (which translates as “Big Race”) is a long-distance, mass participation event that celebrates competitive cycling. The top 25 percent of riders from 27 qualifying events held around the world earned the right to compete in Scotland as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Women aged 19 to 49 and Men 19 to 59 will take part in the Gran Fondo, while qualified riders in the Women 50+ and Men 60+ age categories will complete the Medio Fondo course.
Full details for riders, including updated routes, technical information and course maps can be found on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships dedicated Gran Fondo website. GPS files of the route courses can be downloaded at these links: Gran Fondo, Medio Fondo, and Gran Fondo time trial. Information for spectators can be found on the main 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships website.
Race spectators, visitors and local communities are encouraged to prepare by making travel plans ahead of the event, with more information about traffic management available on Traffic Scotland’s website.
For those taking part in the Gran Fondo races, Sportive Breaks, the official fan and amateur participant travel and experiences provider of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, have packages on offer now offering a large selection of ideally located hotels that cater for a range of budgets.
Plus, Sportive breaks are offering VIP and hospitality throughout the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships offering participants the chance to extend their visit and experience some of the other disciplines from the best seats in the house. More information on packages can be found on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships website.
With something for everyone to enjoy, the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will feature 13 high-adrenaline, exciting UCI World Championships including Track and Para-cycling Track at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, BMX Racing at Glasgow BMX Centre, BMX Freestyle (Park and Flatland) and Trials at Glasgow Green, Indoor Cycling (artistic cycling and cycle-ball) at the Emirates Arena, Mountain Bike Cross-country, and Cross-country Marathon in Glentress Forest, Tweed Valley, Mountain Bike Downhill in Fort William and Road and Para-cycling Road across Scotland.
Tickets are on sale from as little as £8, with concessions from £5, plus there are many free events to watch throughout the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships including the Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo road races and time trials.
Today, Thursday 30 March, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to announce that more shows for the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be available to book at edfringe.com.
This year’s Fringe takes place from 04 – 28 August 2023 and will feature an exciting range of shows, with theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, musicals, variety, cabaret, children’s shows, events and more all represented in the programme.
Tickets for more than a thousand shows will be released at 12:00 BST today, with more shows set to be announced on Thursday 11 May.
The official launch of the festival, including the reveal of the iconic printed programme, will take place on Thursday 08 June.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:”We’re now well on our way to Fringe 2023, and having so many more shows go live this week is yet another reason to get excited. It feels like August is just around the corner, and once again Edinburgh will be filled with artists, creatives, and people with amazing stories to tell.
“Artists are the beating heart of this festival and central to everything we do at the Fringe Society. Our team are here to support artists at every step of their Fringe journey, including our participants hub, Fringe Central; full details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.
“From theatre to comedy, cabaret to music, children’s shows to circus; the shows going on sale today represent the breadth and depth of creativity that will be bursting from every seam of Edinburgh this August. The Fringe and all its moving parts are still in recovery, I encourage you to support the artists and their work this summer, get browsing, get booking and come and see their shows.”
Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book from today. The full list of shows released today can be found at edfringe.com.
Theatre
At theSpaceUK, The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman is a “drama examining the legacy of Britain’s most prolific serial killer, written and performed by the grandson of one of Shipman’s victims”. New Slang Productions is the company behind Tomorrow Is Not Promised at Underbelly, in which “a Black British woman finds herself homeless and alone after an earthquake”. Gilded Balloon hosts the latest world premiere from Henry Naylor, Let the Bodies Pile, displaying the playwright’s “characteristic blend of comedy and tragedy, and tackling the care homes crisis”. At Assembly, Blue by CCEGHM explores the fallout from “the death of a Black motorist during a traffic stop at the hands of a white officer”. The Edinburgh Little Theatre company presents The Court at Hill Street Theatre, a “courtroom drama [that] centres around the question of euthanasia”. And at The Royal Scots Club, crackers is “a darkly funny reflection on dealing with broken heads”.
In Modern Witches at Greenside, “lesbian actor Kate tries witchcraft to cure her relationship anxiety, but the real help comes when she accidentally summons the ghost of Virginia Woolf during a self-tape audition as the famous Modernist.” Meanwhile, Brandon Urrutia brings Lo Siento Mi Espanol Es Tremendo Mal to St Andrew’s and St George’s West, George St, exploring Hispanic culture and identity.
Soundplay Theatre Productions presents Sound Clash: Death in the Arena at Pleasance Courtyard, “a contemporary Romeo and Juliet, set in a dystopian world of reggae and dancehall music”. At Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre, Leitheatre company presents A Midsummer Dream in Auld Reekie, moving Shakespeare’s original setting “from Greece to Edinburgh – the Athens of the North”.
The Counterminers are presenting two shows at Just the Tonic. In Hersterectomy, Carmel “plots to curate the perfect nuclear household” to qualify for an operation, while “fast-paced comedy” Lost and Found “follows three best friends from London, Leeds and Glasgow as they fight to find themselves, without losing each other”.
David Thill’s Exit 20:20 is at Paradise in Augustines; it follows 16-year-old Moses, whose high school board bans the graphic novel Maus. At PBH’s Free Fringe, Alexander Klaus, the One-Legged Shoemaker Man tells the story of a 16-year-old American Civil War veteran who “struggles to live a normal life on New York City’s Lower East Side”.
Comedy
Elf Lyons and Duffy present Heist at Monkey Barrel Comedy, “a ridiculous bank heist conducted in Visual Vernacular, British Sign Language with very silly and violent live sound foley”. At Laughing Horse, Raul Kohli presents his new show Kohl and The Gang, selecting “five of the best upcoming acts on the circuit right now for a late-night comedy extravaganza”. Emmanuel Sonubi is back at the Fringe with Curriculum Vitae at Underbelly, “taking us through the life he led that brought him to the stage, via his work history”. And at PBH’s Free Fringe, Harun Musho’d is explaining Why I Don’t Talk To People About Terrorism.
Fresh from Vietnam, expat Parisian Francis Renaud hosts French Bashing by a Frenchman at Paradise in Augustines, “using comedic anecdotes, cultural comparisons and a wry sense of humour”. Panamanian-born, Florida-raised and Germany-residing Abigail Paul commits Involuntary Momslaughter at Greenside, serving “a biting dark comedy show about narcissistic personality disorder”. At The Voodoo Rooms, Joe Jacobs presents TurboFleshSuck5000, “a sex-positive, carbon-neutral, HIV-negative comedy hour”. And at Just the Tonic, Ali Al Sayed and Mina Liccione – “the UAE’s King and Queen of comedy” – have a Dubai Fling.
At Assembly, Anuvab Pal works for The Department of Britishness, selling “the idea of Britishness to India… there’s trouble ahead,” while Kuan-Wen Haung comes to Gilded Balloon with Ilha Formosa, telling how he traded his beloved Taiwan for the British Isles.
“Queer feminist and bloody lefty” Kathleen Hughes brings her work-in-progress show, One of the Girls, to the Scottish Comedy Festival @ Waverley Bar, asking what it means to be an independent woman. Frankenstein Pub hosts The Impro All Stars aka Stephen Frost, Ian Coppinger, Andy Smart and very special guests.
At theSpaceUK, Beehavioural Problems: Something Something Autism is a “new surrealist escapade” from Stephen Catling. In The Weegies Have Stolen the One O’Clock Gun! at St Columba’s by the Castle, “only Morningside Malcolm, quiet resident of the douce suburbs, can prevent aggro” between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Online, Clare McCartney’s Luck Court is a 25-minute sitcom pilot in which “a working-class woman in her 40s” who has been recently divorced is “left with nothing and has to start again”.
Fringe 2023 is also overflowing with faces familiar from off the telly and previous festival appearances. David O’Doherty, Ed Byrne, Frankie Boyle and Reginald D Hunter are all at Assembly; Robin Ince and Patrick Monahan are at Gilded Balloon; Ahir Shah, Jamali Maddix, Catherine Bohart and Luisa Omielan are at Monkey Barrel Comedy; Mark Watson, Rachel Parris and Rosie Holt are at Pleasance; Bridget Christie, Stewart Lee and Seann Walsh are at The Stand; and Craig Hill and John Robins are at Just the Tonic (the latter with Howl and a new work-in-progress).
Music
The Jazz Bar hosts “an unmissable exclusive performance from legendary Russian-American trumpeter and Jazz Messengers alumnus, Valery Ponomarev” in 30th Anniversary! Valery Ponomarev: The Jazz Messenger. At Frankenstein Pub, Squeeze founder Chris Difford asks What Happened? 50 Lyrical Years, charting “the journey he has taken with songs from Take Me I’m Yours to Cool for Cats and Up the Junction”.
British composer Girish Paul and his virtual orchestra present The Diary of Anne Frank: Her Journey in Music at The Old Dr Bells Baths. At the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, singer/songwriter Tim Hunter uses music to tell the story of Independent Yorkshire MP William Wilberforce, who “led the campaign to abolish the slave trade”, in The Progressive Campaign. And at Greenside, Soul Circus asks Who Walks This Path, a show that combines “interactive storytelling with original music and improvisation about loss, community, our human need for connection, and the pain and humour of the journey”.
In celebration of his 50th birthday, Scottish fiddler Alastair Savage presents “a unique series of concerts” at St Cuthbert’s Church, featuring guests Alice Allen and Laurence Wilson. Scottish Voices perform Nuadh-Òrain and Other Songs at the Scottish Arts Club – “settings of poetry in Gaelic and English by Scottish contemporary composers and poets including the premiere of a new work by poet Aonghas MacNeacail and composer Margaret McAllister”. Eilidh Steel and Mark Neal “weave together their own compositions and songwriting alongside interesting old melodies and songs from the Scottish west coast” – they’re at the Acoustic Music Centre @ UCC. And Stockbridge Church is hosting Haggis Ceilidhs, helping visitors “experience the very best Scottish ceilidh dancing with one of Scotland’s leading modern ceilidh bands”.
Fringe-goers can “experience the groovy energy, dreamy moods and relaxing sounds from South Korea’s Il Wol Dang Band” at Assembly this August, while Pharos’ Rave at Just the Tonic “is an immersive journey into the depths of electronic music, featuring hypnotic beats, intricate textures, and haunting melodies”. Arrive Alive is a collaboration between poet Blukat, music producer and DJ, Cream, along with musicians Dead Poets” – watch it online.
Memphis-born singer/songwriter/pianist Charlie Wood takes you on a live listening tour through the Blues in Trouble In Mind: 100 Years of the Blues at the Argyle Cellar Bar, while Peaks and Valleys “combine folk, punk, gypsy, and classical elements” – catch them during The Blue Hour at The Royal Oak. Pitchblenders Swing the Blues is at Valvona & Crolla, where “Christine Adams sings her favourite songs from the era of scandalous Harlem rent parties,” accompanied by “Dick Lee on reeds, guitarist Phil Adams and bassist Jerry Forde”.
The A Club at the Merchants Hall hosts The Katuns, a West Lothian band “whose catchy riffs and high-energy choruses are influenced by indie rock bands Arctic Monkeys and Nirvana”. At The Liquid Room, The Rising: The UK’s No 1 Tribute to Springsteen and the E Street Band returns to the Fringe for their 12th year. The Allman Brothers Project by Safehouse is at Stramash, including “Allman favourites Jessica, Whipping Post, Soulshine, Ramblin’ Man and Elizabeth Reed”. Le Monde is hosting a programme of tribute artists this August, with various shows dedicated to the music of Adele, the Beach Boys and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. And Bannermans plays host to a pair of shows from rock’s experimental leftfield: Absolutely (not) Free – An Evening of Zappa by Pygmy Twylyte and Beefheart – Tropical Hot Dog Night! by Orange Claw Hammer.
The Edinburgh Renaissance Band’s New Frontiers 50th birthday is at artSpace@StMarks, exploring “medieval and renaissance Europe and Central America, accompanied by sackbuts, cornetts, serpent, viols, rebecs, harps, shawms, curtals, recorders, crumhorns and voices”. St Giles’ Cathedral hosts a series of Celebrity Recitals on its world-renowned Rieger organ, with performances from Matthew Owens, Jordan English and Michael Harris. Meanwhile, St Mary’s Cathedral hosts its own series of Cathedral Celebrity Organ Recitals, with Duncan Ferguson, David Goode and Imogen Morgan performing “popular organ music on the mighty Father Willis organ.”
At St Andrew’s and St George’s West, George St, Christine Hurley and Nancy Crook present Cello and Piano Recital: Music of Love, featuring compositions by Beethoven, Cesar Franck and Amy Beach. “One of the UK’s longest-established youth orchestras, conducted by Allan Young and featuring solo performers from within its own ranks,” the Perth Youth Orchestra is performing their Autumn Concert at Greyfriars Kirk. And the Royal Scots Club have a programme of classical recitals at breakfast, lunchtime and afternoon, “performed by some of the finest young talent in comfortable surroundings”.
The Sacred Arts Festival (a programme within the wider Fringe lineup) has music events in several Edinburgh church spaces, including new sacred compositions at Canongate Kirk, Schola Cantorum at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, a lunchtime choir recital at St Michael and All Saints and works by Bach and Handel at St Vincent’s in Stockbridge.
Guitarist and composer Daniel Martinez presents a concert of “emotive, exciting, moving and technically brilliant” Flamenco Guitar at Yotel Edinburgh and classical guitarist Jonathan Prag brings “music from Spain’s greatest composers” to St Columba’s by the Castle.
theSpaceUK is hosting Aca-Villa: The Love Island Musical, where “contestants navigate their road to true love through the medium of chart-topping songs, all performed a cappella”. Meanwhile Gilded Balloon is hosting at least two acapella shows this Fringe, with Aquapella representing Bath and The Oxford Gargoyles coming from – you guessed it – Oxford.
Cabaret and variety
Reuben Kaye returns to Assembly for his “queer, messy, and f*cking hilarious” late-night cabaret show, The Kaye Hole. “Destynee is a dramatic drag artist performing songs from some of the most fabulous divas and icons of all time” – you can catch her in An Evening With Drag Artist – Destynee at Planet Bar. Gilded Balloon hosts Divas: From Stage to Screen by BBD Productions, featuring “a live band and cast of fierce beltresses” celebrating “music, movies and musical theatre”. And at theSpaceUK, “gender euphoric cabaret” A Bit Too Much Hair is “a musical paradise for thems, mens, femmes, and everyone in between”.
Magical Bones returns to Underbelly with Soulful Magic – Volume Two, while magician and mind reader Tom Brace takes audiences on A Trick Down Memory Lane at Pleasance.
The Kaisa Ling Thing brings The Feminist’s Handbook for Eastern Europe to PBH’s Free Fringe, presenting “a vaudevillian blues portrait of modern life”. Blues and Burlesque at The Voodoo Rooms offers “original music by Pete Saunders (Dexy’s Midnight Runners)” alongside “classic striptease from Belle de Beauvoir”.
At Hill Street Theatre, the Machine Man Spectacle invites audience members to “participate in seven of the universe’s most spectacular machines, invented specifically to observe the human spiritual spectrum”. King of More is at Paradise in The Vault, using “music, interactions, quasi-workshop, laughter, tears and quantum physics” to explore “secret connection among all of us” in Veza.
Forth 1 returns to the Edinburgh Playhouse this August to host its annual Forth on the Fringe gala.
Dance, physical theatre and circus
In circus, Afrique en Cirque visit Assembly to display “gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, all to the contemporary sounds of African contemporary music”. Hong Kong physical theatre company Theatre de la Feuille present Fall and Flow at Underbelly, diving into “the depths of war, the power of love and hate as the futility and sorrow explode in front of you in six short stories”.
Katherine and Pierre at Gilded Balloon is “a gender-bent love story combining elements of drag with comedic dance choreography”, set to the music of Katy Perry. A/lone at Greenside is a “dynamic Australian work” exploring “the painful depths of loneliness and the profound joy of aloneness”.
At Just the Tonic, Fruit Salad is “a clown comedy of fruit-based stupidity by two Gaulier-trained comedians”. Klouns Theatre Company presents An Act of Seven Ages at Paradise in The Vault – a “clowning escapade of vignettes focused on a multitude of influences endured from birth until death”. And Släpstick return to the Pleasance with Schërzo, “a clown-esque concerto for the ages where a seemingly highbrow classical concert glissandos into a bacchanal of comical mishaps and absurdity”.
The Sacred Arts Festival presents drama at St Vincent’s with The Mysteries (reimagined by Peter Holloway), bringing to live “five Medieval guild plays” in a “warm, funny, yet gritty production”.
There’s a feast of flamenco at Fringe 2023, including Flamenco Fiesta at Alba Flamenca, 2Flamenco at Argyle Cellar Bar, Flamenco in Scotland at St Andrew’s and St George’s West, George St and Flamenco Fringe at Lunch at Yotel Edinburgh. Meanwhile, over at theSpaceUK, Giorgia Marchiori and Marcelo Guardiola present Los Guardiola – The Comedy of Tango, using “the universal and timeless language of movement to tell stories inspired by the world’s best-loved tangos”.
EN-PERFECIÓN is available to watch online, tracing “its roots back to the Ankoku-Butoh movement active in Japan from the 1950s, mixing it with contemporary dance and experimental theatre”.
Children’s shows
Quebec circus clowns Brotipo return to Assembly with a family-friendly show “to make you laugh, dance and even sing”. At Gilded Balloon, Artiste is an “interactive exhibit of physical comedy and crafty clowning”, while “UK premier magician and kids entertainer” Leigh Milne brings The Crazy Puppet Magic Show to Frankenstein Pub.
The Blue Badge Bunch are back at Pleasance with ReRamped, “a hilarious, interactive game show where each game represents a disability and comedians battle it out”. One Step Ahead presents The European Extravaganza! at Greenside, “an interactive musical journey to some major European cities”. Inside The Robot: Kids vs Chaos! is “the world’s only theatrical escape room”, an “immersive, educational and hilarious spectacular suitable for ages 5+” – it’s at Just the Tonic. And Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge present The Alphabet of Awesome Science at Underbelly, taking a “tongue-twisting race from A to Z that’s equal parts explosive, messy, hilarious, fascinating and gross”.
The Ancient Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer (Into the Woods) at artSpace@StMarks features “specially composed music performed by John Sampson, performed by Sampson, Julia Munrow and Pete Baynes”. Dragon Tales at LifeCare Centre is “an interactive storytelling show for 4–6-year-olds” using “felt puppets, percussion and harp”. And theSpaceUK features two adaptations as part of their children’s programme: Peter Pan and The Twits.
At St Andrew’s and St George’s West, George St, FlamenKids is an “original, well-made, fun, passionate and highly entertaining show where you’ll experience a breathtaking professional flamenco performance of eight artists interacting with the wee ones”. Recitals for Wrigglers presents two “fun, interactive and educational shows for babies and toddlers” at Stockbridge Church: Kings and Queens and Wriggle Around the World.
Amazing Prize Family Bingo at 9 Queen Street is exactly what it sounds like: “bingo with loads and loads of prizes”. Hill Street Theatre hosts Reach for the Stars, “a fun show showcasing Edinburgh’s young talent”.
Musicals and opera
OSCAR at The Crown (Assembly) takes place “in a secret bunker far in the fascist future”, and focuses on “one of history’s most flamboyant figures” – Oscar Wilde. Greenside hosts Fierce, in which “seven famous women tell their stories” to “a soundtrack of empowering music that’s sure to smash the patriarchy”. Two separate musicals explore the life of Alan Turing at this year’s Fringe. Alan Turing – Guilty of Love is at Hill Street Theatre, while Alan Turing – A Musical Biography is at Paradise in Augustines. And theSpaceUK welcomes Les Millénniables, “a pop parody about the plight of the generation deemed ‘millennials’”.
“Oliver Harris sings the great songs from Les Misérables, Chess, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, We Will Rock You and many more” in The Greatest Show Songs at Le Monde. Forth Children’s Theatre return “for their 42nd year at the Fringe with their spooky, kooky production of The Addams Family – A New Musical” at Broughton High School. And Captivate Theatre presents a programme of musical adaptations at the Edinburgh Academy: Les Misérables School Edition, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical Jr, School of Rock and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Without is “an intimate and authentic new musical” at Underbelly, in which “a busker and a runaway find unexpected camaraderie and challenge together, discovering the importance of acceptance through conversation, confrontation and the power of music”. In On Your Bike at Gilded Balloon, “Gemma and Aidan deliver food they can’t afford for mega-corporation Eatsaroo, but things get messy when it cuts their pay and derails their budding romance”. “A Christmas Carol meets It’s a Wonderful Life meets… *NSYNC!” in Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical at Pleasance. And at Stockbridge Church, Acceptance Pending tells the story of high-school senior Angela, who “fights through the daunting US college application process” and is “met with the harsh reality of the student mental-health crisis”.
Scotland’s professional touring company, Opera Bohemia, returns with John Leo Wilkie’s highly acclaimed production of Madama Butterfly at St Cuthbert’s Church.
Spoken word
LBC presenter Iain Dale hosts a series of talks at Pleasance this Fringe, meeting with Ian Blackford MP, Penny Mordaunt MP, Wes Streeting MP, Sir John Curtice and Brian Taylor. Over at The Stand’s New Town Theatre, Fair Pley’s conversation series features Scottish Labour Party leader Anas Sarwar, “guitarist, songwriter and DJ” Bobby Bluebell and BBC 6 Music presenter Tom Robinson.
Rob Redenbach shares his Conversations with Mandela at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, “recounting his journey from casino bouncer in outback Australia to working with Nelson Mandela’s bodyguard team in South Africa”. A “lifelong friend” of David Bowie shares stories at Blackwell’s Bookshop in Bowie, Cambo & All the Hype – An Evening with John Cambridge. Confessions of a Teletubby is at theSpaceUK, with “the original LaaLaa” Nikky Smedley sharing her experiences on the children’s TV show. And “ex-Hibs, Aberdeen, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and Scotland striker Steve Archibald discusses his extraordinary football career” in Steve Archibald – An Evening With at Le Monde.
From Marlon Solomon, “the maker of Conspiracy Theory: A Lizard’s Tale,” comes How to Be an Antisemite, “a dark comedy about rising antisemitism, where it comes from and what we do about it”. It’s at Gilded Balloon, while at Hill Street Theatre, Good Grief: Five Deserts in Search of My Father is a one-man show by writer Jon Lawrence, recounting how he “walked 500km over five deserts on five continents to come to terms with the death of his father”.
Sacred Arts Festival hosts Spirituality, Faith and Belief: Voyages of Discovery, “an exploration of literary works as vehicles of spiritual discovery”, at Greyfriars Kirk, and Strafed by Splendour: Under Paolozzi’s Window at St Mary’s Cathedral, “a magnificent setting for poetry, music and an explanatory talk”.
Dean Tsang explores Our Anxious Measurements at PBH’s Free Fringe, probing “research and understanding” and questioning the “expectations placed on us and the ways apprehension can enter our lives”.
Caledonia – Words and Music for Sir Walter is a series of “short readings from Scott’s works on the themes of resilience and recovery, with contemporary choral settings of Scott’s poetry by Edinburgh composer Nigel Don”. It’s at St Vincent’s.
The Half Price Hut is a great place to discover something new at the Fringe, by trying a show that starts that day (or the next morning) for half the usual price.
This year’s Half Price Hut offers are located in the Fringe Box Office (180 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS) from 10:00 till 18:00, Monday to Sunday – and, to make things a little easier, we’ve made the daily Half Price Hut listings available on our website so you can see what’s on before heading into town.
Be quick though, as ticket allocations are limited – once they’re gone, they’re gone!
All Half Price Hut purchases have to be made in person – and remember to say the words “Half Price Hut” to make sure you get the discount!
The weather forecast is pretty toasty over the next few days (by Edinburgh standards, at least!) so remember to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
Our access tickets service is available to help anyone with an access requirement make the most of the Fringe – if this could be of use to someone you know, please feel free to pass it on.
Drop in on the street events taster stage at Cathedral Square to enjoy free outdoor snippets of full-length Fringe shows –you can find the daily street events line-up on edfringe.com.
Crowds at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are set to be taken on a thrilling Scottish musical journey by one of New York’s leading vocal groups at the 2022 showcase, Voices.
The Highland Divas will be showcasing their talentand sharing three incredible voices, making their debut on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
The Highland Divas are made up of Marla Kavanaugh, originally from Dunedin, New Zealand, and now living in LA, Margaret Kelly, originally from Falkirk, now residing in New York, and Georgia Johnson from Edinburgh, who is now based in Massachusetts.
With a collective ambition to share traditional Scottish music with the world and honour Scottish culture, the trio were formed in 2012. They’ve headlined New York City Tartan Week in recent years and have performed at iconic venues including, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre.
The performance at the Tattoo will wow audiences with its musical journey that spans the folk music of Scotland and New Zealand. From Celtic ballads, through to exciting, harmonised interpretations of both pop and classical music, the Highland Divas’ performance will have something for everyone.
One of the singing trio, Marla Kavanaugh, said: “We really want our performance to speak to the hearts of everyone whose lives have been disrupted or changed forever because of the challenges of the past two years.
“We want to bring hope and joy to the Tattoo this year with our performance and our voices. We’re spending a lot of time together just now rehearsing and learning the Scots Gaelic we need over a nice wee cup of Scottish Blend tea.
“We’re so excited and humbled to have the opportunity to perform in front of such amazing fans from around the world who will descend on Edinburgh this summer.”
The group have all grown up as huge fans of the Tattoo and have watched the performances from afar over the years.
Their set will include traditional Celtic songs, as well as a nod to New Zealand, creating a wow moment on the Esplanade and give a heartfelt expression of this year’s Tattoo theme, Voices.
Michael Braithwaite, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said:“We’re thrilled to be welcoming The Highland Divas to the Tattoo, fresh from their recent performances at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Gardens in New York City.
“World-class vocalists of this calibre are an exciting new addition to our lineup and are the perfect fit for this year’s show, Voices.
“We have some special surprises planned when The Highland Divas take to the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle and can’t wait to share the magic with our audiences.
“If you haven’t booked tickets already, then I’d urge people to get moving. It’s going to be an incredible show.”
This year’s Tattoo performance will represent the collective power and connection of voice through a spectacular combination of music, dance, and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers as it returns with a bang this August 5-27.
The Show will run from 5-27 August 2022. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.
The Royal Highland Show is urging visitors to snap up remaining tickets as demand soars for the event, which takes place next week from Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th June.
There are only a few hundred tickets remaining for the Friday and Saturday of the event, which this year is celebrating 200 years since the very first Highland Show took place back in 1822 – the first time in it’s 200 years that two days will sell out ahead of the event.
With huge demand for Friday and Saturday tickets, the only way to guarantee entry now is to buy in advance. There are still car parking tickets available to purchase for every day of the Show.
Mark Currie, Director of Operations at the Royal Highland Show, said: “We are delighted that Show goers are clearly as excited as we are about the return of Scotland’s biggest outdoor event. With Friday and Saturday looking like sell-out days, we’re encouraging people who might be holding off to book Friday or Saturday now, or to consider a Thursday or Sunday visit.
“If for any reason you can’t attend this year, luckily you can still catch the action through RHS TV – it will be broadcast live from the Showground over the four days and available to watch for free on the Royal Highland Show website.”
The Royal Highland Show, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, will take place 23-26th June 2022. Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online this year and no tickets will be available to buy on the gate.
The Show will be broadcast online this year via RHS TV, funded by the Scottish Government.
For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:
Volunteer Edinburgh are pleased to be working with the RHASS to deliver the Volunteer Showmakers programme at the Royal Highland Show 2022.
The volunteering programme for the RHS has been completely renewed for 2022 which is the 200th anniversary of the show.
Volunteer Edinburgh are recruiting Volunteer Showmakers, who will welcome visitors to the event, providing information to the public and helping to ensure that every visitor has a fantastic time.
The four day event runs from the 23rd June to the 26th June and Volunteer Showmakers will be deployed throughout.
The show, first held in 1822, is the pinnacle of the agricultural calendar. Each year over 1,000 trade exhibitors, over 2,000 livestock competitors entering into 900+competitions (with over 6,500 animals) and tens of thousands of visitors come to the Royal Highland Show to experience the best of farming, food, and rural life. You can see a short video from the 2015 edition here.
Some key information about volunteering as a Showmaker:
Dates: Thursday 23rd , Friday 24th , Saturday 25th, and Sunday 26th June
There are two shifts available per day (morning 7am-1pm and afternoon 1pm-7pm)
You can volunteer on as many days as you wish, but there is a maximum one shift per day
There is a dedicated Volunteer Hub where lunches, snacks and refreshments will be available during the during the shifts
Free travel to the Royal Highland Showground on dedicated Lothian Buses services is available to all Volunteer Showmakers
We have developed a streamlined on boarding process to ensure you have all the information and support that you need to volunteer with the 2022 Showmaker programme
You will need to complete a short online induction
You will be issued with a Yoti RHS volunteering card and this will allow you access and is separate from the CTV accreditation.
To sign up please follow this link and complete this short form. You will be asked to indicate the shift/s that you wish to volunteer for.
Please note that if you wish to volunteer with colleagues, you will each individually need to complete the form, but you may wish to coordinate and select the same shift times.
Sign up now using this link or by clicking the grey button below: www.voled.in/rhs22
Hidden Door is delighted to announce that we will be bringing the old Royal High School on Calton Hill to life for a ten day festival of live music, visual art, dance, theatre and spoken word.
The property, which has mostly lain empty since the school closed in the late 1960s, will be used to celebrate Scotland’s exciting new and emerging creative talent, before work begins to transform it into Scotland’s new National Centre for Music.
The festival will completely transform the entire complex from 9 – 18 June 2022.
Inside the vast building, forgotten rooms will be transformed into performance spaces and given over to artists to fill with installations. The audience will be encouraged to explore the myriad of passageways, corridors, nooks and crannies that make up this remarkable building.
One of the most impressive rooms, the central debate chamber, will host specially commissioned in-the-round performances and spectacular events that respond to the unique space.
Outside, a stage will be built for large music performances and a bar will take over the front terrace, giving festival goers a unique view on the city.
Final tickets to Edinburgh International Festival’s opening event available from 10am on Friday, 26 July;
This family-friendly event will see the legendary Gustavo Dudamel conducting the world-class LA Phil at Tynecastle Stadium, performing Hollywood’s biggest film scores, including Harry Potter series, Star Wars and Casablanca;
Edinburgh International Festival’s ambitious community engagement programme includes Gorgie’s very own Walk of Fame celebrating local children’s talents.
Edinburgh International Festival is delighted to continue the sponsorship partnership with Aberdeen Standard Investments and to have the ongoing support of EventScotland.
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