Fringe 2023 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Fringe 2023: The Show’s Over

The 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe drew to a close yesterday, (Monday 28 August 2023), having brought together artists, arts industry, media and audiences from nearly 170 countries, with 2,445,609 tickets issued across the festival.

288 venues hosted a diverse selection of work from Scotland, the UK and the rest of the world, with 67 countries represented, and performance showcases from 17 countries. They were joined by nearly 500 of the world’s finest street performers, buskers and street artists, who brought vibrancy and joy to the Mound and Royal Mile as part of the Fringe street events.

As the largest performing arts festival and expo market for professional development in the world, this year’s Fringe also attracted nearly 1,400 accredited producers, programmers, bookers, talent agencies, festivals and others from 49 countries, who come to Edinburgh looking to find talent and shows, providing touring and onward opportunities for artists well beyond August.

In addition, 840 of the world’s media accredited for this year’s festival through the Fringe Society, with the number of reviewers up 10% on last year, and who in total generated 25% more reviews for artists at the Fringe than in 2022.

The themes and issues tackled by artists in the 2023 programme included mental health and wellbeing, disability, queer lives, working-class representation and the climate crisis; with emerging talent showcased alongside big names and ground-breaking international work.

To help audiences discover work among the 3,553* shows featured in this year’s programme, the Fringe Society launched a new Fringe app for 2023. Using the app, audiences could ‘shake to search’, generating a random show suggestion simply by shaking their phone, while the ‘nearby now’ function let app users find shows starting soon in close proximity.

Since its launch in July, the app has been downloaded nearly 80,000 times, with over 400,000 tickets issued through it.

Ensuring artists remain at the core of what the Fringe Society does, the Fringe Central: Artist Hub welcomed more than 1,500 artists and hosted a programme of over 40 events, working with 30 external partners including Health in Mind, Nouveau Riche, Birds of Paradise and World Fringe.

The Fringe Society has made a long-term commitment to community engagement and access. Key initiatives this year included loaning out 320 sensory resources for autistic children and adults, BSL interpretation of the street events in partnership with Deaf Action on three dates during August, and a dedicated Changing Places toilet located near George Square. This year the number of access bookings increased by around 35% compared to 2022.

35 local schools, charities and community groups took part in the Fringe Days Out scheme, which offers free Fringe vouchers and Lothian bus tickets to people who wouldn’t normally get to experience the Fringe. In addition, over 800 schoolchildren and teachers came to the festival as part of the Fringe Society’s schools outreach work.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “This year’s Fringe has been one that’s felt fresh, brave and energetic, and has sparked joy, discussion and provocation in equal measure, tackling the prevalent issues of our times and looking at them afresh through the creative lens and ingenuity of the performing artists.

“People come from all over the world to perform here, to see shows and to commission work. This festival remains a beacon for people to share and discuss ideas – I want to express my heartfelt thanks and admiration to everyone who makes it happen.

“Congratulations to the whole Fringe community of Fringe 2023; we will be relentless in our ongoing work to ensure that the Edinburgh Fringe lives up to its mantra – to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat.”

Benny Higgins, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chair, added: “The discussions and debates held at this year’s festival have made it one of the most vital and memorable – and one of the loudest conversations was the one around affordability.

“Certainly artists are facing some of the most severe challenges ever, and while the Fringe Society will continue to do everything in its collective power to support artists, this will become harder and harder without finding support commensurate with its contribution to the economy.

“We will continue to make the case for funding, to protect what the Fringe represents – an unrivalled outpouring of creative expression.”

By Monday afternoon, with hundreds of performances still to take place, the Fringe Society can confirm that just under a quarter of a million people attended Fringe shows this year. 33% of attendees came from Edinburgh, 15% from the rest of Scotland and 10% from overseas, highlighting the continued appeal of the Fringe for locals and visitors alike.

Over 800,000 tickets were issued to ticket-buyers with EH postcodes, and 611 shows came from Edinburgh and the Lothians.

CHOUDHURY: Support needed beyond the Fringe

Scottish Labour MSP and Shadow Minister for Culture, Europe, and International Development Foysol Choudhury has raised concerns about the need for increased investment in local arts and culture groups all year round.

“The crowds that our festivals attract from all over the world show great levels of support for the arts from members of the public. However, additional support needs to be provided, all year round, to ensure these can be sustained for the public to enjoy.

“As the Scottish Government continues to waste money on the establishment of a new Independence Minister, Scotland’s culture and arts sector is suffering from a lack of investment.

“The closure of the beloved Edinburgh Filmhouse is testament to this, after it was forced to close its doors despite being known as a community lifeline for many.

“We also sadly see other much-loved venues facing challenges. Action is needed now before we lose these integral arts and culture venues for good.”

The 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival ran from the 4^th – 28^th of August 2023 and the Edinburgh International Festival ran from the 4^th– 27^th of August 2023.

There are some reports that there has been a drop in the number of shows taking place across the Edinburgh Fringe, with the 2023 Festival reportedly having less shows than the 2019 festival.

Noting this apparent decline in participants in the Fringe festival, Mr Choudhury says he will continue to pursue support for the arts and culture sector, so that Scotland’s vibrant cultural scene can flourish and is supported out of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

Next year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from 02 – 26 August 2024.

Double award success for Napier PhD student as Army at the Fringe show recognised

Everything Under the Sun has won two prestigious prizes

An Edinburgh Fringe show produced by an Edinburgh Napier University PhD student has claimed two prestigious awards.

Harry Ross, who studies at ENU’s Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement, put on Everything Under the Sun in his role as Creative Director of Army at the Fringe.

As the theatre production’s 2023 run heads towards a conclusion, it has won the Scottish Theatre Awards Leading Light Prize, awarded to the best Scottish theatre production at the Fringe.

The show also collected a Scotsman Fringe First Award, an accolade marking its 50^th anniversary which is designed to encourage performers to bring new work to Edinburgh in the spirit of adventure and experiment.

In addition, the show’s writer and director, Jack MacGregor, was shortlisted for the Bright Spark prize, for Scottish theatre artists embarking on their career.

Presented by Harry’s production company O’Neill/Ross, Everything Under the Sun tells the story of an interpreter attached to the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Mali, following an insurgency in the country in 2012.

Harry is now hoping to use the experience of this year’s production to inform his research at ENU, which examines the work of Army at the Fringe through a critical events lens. The organisation was set up in 2017 to spark conversations about the role of the armed forces in Scottish society.

Reacting to the awards, Harry said: “It’s really pleasing. It’s been good to take stories from the army and connect with very good young artists to tell them.

“Putting on these productions is pretty much a joint effort, so it’s satisfying to see them come together. The Army delivers the venue, and being a reservist myself has given it that extra personal connection.

“Working with Edinburgh Napier, it has been really helpful to lean upon expertise from across the University. For example, with the knowledge of festivals at the University, or even when it comes to acting.”

Harry’s Director of Studies, Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith, and second supervisor, Dr Gary Kerr, attended Army at the Fringe to see some of Harry’s creative works.

Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith said: “We are delighted to have Harry join us as a PhD student here at the Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement.

“Harry is part of a vibrant Gold Covenant University research centre with multidisciplinary at the heart of our research.

“Army at the Fringe was thought provoking and I encourage people from all walks of life to go along to challenge their views on the role of the Army in Scotland. I am delighted that Harry has won these awards.”

Dr Gary Kerr said: “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe provides the opportunity for us all to share moments with each other, and the power of the arts allows us to challenge our thinking.

“Army at the Fringe is diverse, creative and hugely inspiring – the performances are a must-see!”

Army at the Fringe performances take place at Venue 358 – Drill Hall, Hepburn House, until 28 August 2023.

Five places to escape the crowds this Fringe

The Edinburgh Fringe is in full swing, bursting with shows, food and and flyers! While the buzzing atmosphere is a central part of the festival, sometimes you need a quiet spot to escape the long lines and busy streets.

Here we have some of the best festival quiet spots, all while staying in the heart of the action:

Library Bar – quiet during the mornings 11-2pm (Teviot Row House, Bristo Square) One of Edinburgh’s oldest bars, The Library Bar is situated in Teviot Row House and serves a varied menu both day and night. Teviot is also hosting one of Scotland’s leading festival companies, Gilded Balloon, making it the perfect place to grab refreshments between shows.

Garden at Teviot – quietest early morning or late afternoon (Bristo Square) This little gem sits just off one of the biggest Fringe venues in the city: Gilded Balloon at Teviot. It hosts Throat Punch (serving coffees and pastries) and sits next to Charles Street Lane which is packed with food stalls. With colourful beach huts and bench seating, take a breather rain or shine in this enchanted and colourful hideaway.

The Dome – quietest during weekdays, early morning or late afternoon (Potterrow, Bristo Square) In the heart of Bristo Square and shouldering the popular Potterrow Plaza (housing Fringe installations Séance and Euphoria), this humble Dome is often calm during the day, particularly on weekdays. Its spacious Dome has seating, full-services bars and food from Luxford Burgers. Its arcade roof mimics a botanical garden, perfect for a quiet pint while staying near the excitement.

Bedlam Theatre – very quiet between performances (Bristo Place) This refurbished church is Britain’s oldest student-run theatre. Despite this, not a lot of people know about the classic venue. A few minutes’ walk from Bristo Square, this modest refuge is a great place to find some peace and quiet. It hosts one show at a time so you can take advantage of the full-service bar between performances. The weekends do get quite busy 8pm-12am, so best to drop by during the week or in the day.

Pleasance – quietest 12-5pm (Pleasance Courtyard) The Pleasance Courtyard has a variety of bars, food outlets and performances. Though it is a very popular area, its size means there are always calmer pockets to relax in; for example, the Grand Bar gets busy just after shows but then quietens down. Pleasance is also full of food favourites such as Pizza Geeks, Harajuku Kitchen, Smash & Stack and Mimi’s Bakehouse. It is a great spot to enjoy the festival come rain or shine, sitting under a canopy of umbrellas and stretch tents in the traditional cobbled courtyards.

Food Vendors

If you’re wanting a quick bite but want to dodge the queues, here are the “off peak” hours at these beloved local food outlets:

· Mint (Potterrow Plaza) – Potterrow Plaza is usually a quieter area and a nice getaway from the busy Bristo Square next door. Mint offers its renowned Chicken and Halloumi Wrap and plenty of meat-eater and vegan options.

· Mac Love (Charles Street Lane) – quietest 11am-4pm and busiest 6pm-10pm. Their popular mac ‘n’ cheese is a Fringe food staple.

· Greek Street Food (Charles Street Lane) – quietest 11am – 4pm. Greek Street Food serve a variety of wraps, chips and bowls.

· Throat Punch (Garden at Teviot) – busy until 3pm. They mainly serve coffee and pastries, but also some gelato and affogato – perfect for when the sun is shining (or as a rainy day pick me up!).

· Pizza Geeks (Pleasance Courtyard) – quietest 12:30pm-4pm. You can try a slice of their delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas, including the ever-popular Chorizard with a tomato base, mozzarella, chorizo, black Pudding, fresh chillies, and hot honey.

· Smash and Stack (Pleasance Courtyard) – quietest 12pm-1pm, 3-6pm and then 9:30pm-11pm. They serve a selection of burgers, fries and milkshakes.

· Harajuku Kitchen (Pleasance Courtyard) – quietest 11am-1pm then 3pm-5pm, and busiest 6pm-9pm, especially at weekends. This is a great spot to chill out under the canopy.

· Mimi’s Bakehouse (Pleasance Courtyard) – quietest 9am-11am and 6pm-8pm. They also have quiet spells when there is a show on at nearby venues. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, their new Iron Brew Cupcake is very popular, as well as their Scottish Hot Chocolate and hot brownies with whipped cream.

‘Climate change is the ‘defining issue of our time’, Minister tells Green Home Festival

Climate change is the “defining issue of our time” and we all have a role to play to ensure we successfully transition to net zero in Scotland.

That was the message from Minister of Housing Paul McLennan as he officially opened the second Green Home Festival on Monday (14 August) as part of the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The MSP was the keynote speaker at the launch ofthe five-day renewables jamboree in central Edinburgh, which was once again organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV).

Mr McLennan was joined by TV presenter and award-winning designer Anna Campbell-Jones for the launch event at 10 Charlotte Square, where guests gathered to kick off a week of practical assistance and advice to help Scotland become a net zero nation.

Speaking to delegates at the Scottish headquarters of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Mr McLennan outlined the challenge facing industry, homeowners and the wider – and said everyone had a part to play.

The Minister told guests: “Climate change is the defining issue of our time; the climate emergency is already here and we know that we have to act for our generation and also for future generations.

“We know that to meet Scotland’s climate targets we need to reduce emissions from heating buildings by 68% by 2030, which is a huge task. We also need to switch homes and buildings to zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps and heat networks.

“The cost of living crisis and unprecedented surges in energy prices make this challenge even harder, as do the impacts of rising inflation on building and construction costs.

“But these factors make it even more important to move away from expensive fossil fuels for heating our homes – to help make our energy more affordable and secure, while eliminating energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.”

Mr McLennan, who is MSP for East Lothian, also stressed that increasing understanding and raising awareness about the changes we need to see are key to Scotland reducing emissions from our building stock.

The Minister said: “We need to help homes, businesses and other property owners to understand what the heat transition will mean for them, the types of measures best suited to their homes and buildings and the support available to them to make this transition.

“We plan to publish a Heat in Buildings Public Engagement Strategy later this year, setting out our plan to increase understanding of the heat transition in Scotland.

“Many of you in industry, the public and third sectors are already taking the lead in the heat transition by decarbonising your own buildings.

“Events such as the Green Home Festival – offering live demonstrations and guidance – can play a huge part in increasing understanding of the changes we need to see in our building stock and of zero emissions heating systems in Scotland.”

Mr McLennan also said that the Scottish Government continues to offer a “coordinated package of support” to help householders convert to zero direct emissions heating systems and install energy efficiency measures.

He said: “We know that installing a zero direct emission heating system and energy efficiency measures can be expensive and we understand the importance of helping people to meet these costs, especially those who need support the most.

“The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 for homeowners to install both heat and energy efficiency measures, and as much again in loan funding.

“There are also higher grants for eligible properties in rural areas and we are committed to investing at least £1.8 billion over the course of this Parliament towards heat and energy efficiency measures.”

Mr McLennan added: “Public funding and support will continue to play a big part in helping people make the changes needed. But it will cost around £33 billion to transform our building stock by 2045 and that can’t be met by government alone.

“Our Green Heat Finance Taskforce will therefore make recommendations this year on how the financial services sector can help people meet and spread the costs of the heat transition.

“And our £17.6m Green Heat Innovation Support programme will support Scottish-based companies to develop ideas, introduce new products or processes to the market, and support collaboration.”

Other speakers at the launch included Green Home Festival co-organiser Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders, and Sandra Cummings, Chair of the RICS Scotland Board.

Mr Nelson said: “We were extremely grateful to Mr McLennan for opening the second Green Home Festival and kicking off a fantastic week of essential advice and practical hands-on information.

“Once again it has been heartening to be involved in a wider team effort, working with kindred organisations and highly skilled people in planning this year’s festival which will promote the construction sector’s commitment to accessible, affordable, and sustainable low-carbon energy solutions.

“Through influencing government policy, the CICV will aspire to realise its vision of building a sustainable future, one home at a time.”

After the launch, Scotland’s Home of the Year judge Anna took centre stage for the first show of the day, Ingredients for a Greener Kitchen, which showed homeowners how to make their cooking spaces more eco-friendly, with contributions from Scottish Water and trade bodies SNIPEF and SELECT.

The show was followed by a second session on the potential of microwave heating, in which Professor Sean Smith from the University of Edinburgh outlined the features and benefits of the alternative heat source.

The Green Home Festival delivered a further eight in-person and virtual presentations this week, targeting homeowners, construction professionals, housing associations, landlords and local authorities.

With demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help people reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient, topics covered include green garden rooms and offices, making retrofit projects eco-friendly, converting churches and how the home of the future will be powered.

The event also included a dedicated heat pump day, with two separate shows on how to reduce bills, access grants and install the technology, as well as options for hybrid heating.

Built Environment – Smarter Transformation also hosted an in-person show on the advantages of community heat networks and a webinar that advised what consumers can do to reduce both their energy consumption and energy bills.

The festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Made up of 28 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with government.

Full details on the Green Home Festival website at greenhomefestival.co.uk

Fringe 2023: One MILLION tickets sold

FILL YER BOOTS: Optimism surrounds the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 1 million tickets now issued

[L-R] Cris Peploe, Claudia Cawthorne and Martha Haskins launch the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Programme. Photograph by Peter Dibdin

As the Edinburgh Festival Fringe enters its second weekend, audiences are embracing the call to Fill Yer Boots across a diverse and energetic Fringe programme.

With over 1 million tickets issued so far and thousands of people watching street performances and free shows; the 2023 Fringe is as relevant, exciting, accessible and diverse as ever.

While this key moment is an important milestone, the festival, and indeed the wider cultural sector, have much to do in their continued recovery from the pandemic.

As an open-access festival it is the artists themselves who are at the heart of the Fringe, taking the risk to bring work to Edinburgh every August. As such, the Fringe Society encourages everyone visiting the festival this August to continue to see work and explore as much as possible for the next two weeks.

Audiences have been flocking to the popular Street Events programme to experience local and international street performance every day from 11:00 – 18:00, with artists maximising the opportunity to tell passersby about their upcoming shows.

In addition to the outdoor programme, there are 439 free shows, and 614 Pay What you Can/Want shows across various venues ensuring something for everyone.

The Fringe Central Artist Hub, which this year is located in the Quaker Meeting House, has welcomed hundreds of artists to the space to network with peers, engage in an extensive events programme, and gain advice and support from the Fringe Society team.

The Fringe app, which returned this summer, has now had over 55,000 downloads; with Nearby Now and Shake to Search functionality helping audiences take a chance on watching something new while between shows or simply offering a randomised performance.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “Last autumn when we reviewed the challenges facing the 2023 Fringe, we entered this year with uncertainty about what this summer would look like.

“Despite the current cost of living crisis, audiences have jumped straight into the Fringe programme and are exploring performance across every genre. With the average ticket price less than £12, it is the artists and venues who have worked tirelessly to ensure the Fringe is accessible as possible.

“I encourage you to continue to support this important event, book more tickets and Fill Yer Boots with everything this extraordinary festival has to offer!”

Le Gateau Chocolate shares his Fringe journey at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Artist Address

On Friday 4th August the 76^th edition of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe officially began. In celebration of the first day, the annual Artist Address took place for the first time since 2019, and the Fringe Society was delighted to welcome Le Gateau Chocolat as keynote speaker for this important event.

Designed as a celebratory moment for Fringe artists to gather at the beginning of the festival, Gateau gave a thought-provoking, empowering, and at times emotional speech to those gathered for the event.

It was in 2008 that Gateau made his debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, shortly after an appearance at the Adelaide Fringe. Due to work commitments in London, he felt unable to fully ensconce himself in the ‘anarchy of its magic’ and returned three years later in 2011 with Le Gateau Chocolat.

‘When you’re not performing the show, you’re selling it. When you’re not selling it, you’re doing PR. When you’re not doing PR, you’re rehearsing, adjusting to the conversation with the audience – in a permanent state of dampness. The exhaustion at a cellular level whilst also being deeply invigorating. You’re on a constant high which amplifies the lows – however brief they are.’

Highlighting the platform the Fringe can offer artists for career development, Gateau shared insights into the journey his show took following his 2011 debut as Le Gateau Chocolat: ‘The magic of Edinburgh Fringe was very present, and I was lucky enough to tap into the zeitgeist. Shows sold out. Reviews were great. It got a London transfer to The Menier Chocolate Factory. The Sydney Opera House. Poland. Christchurch, New Zealand. Melbourne. Auckland. It set me on a course that introduced me to Basement Jaxx and had me performing with them and Metropole Orkest at the Barbican. It’s how T-Mobile found me and reached out for me to be part of the flash mob ad at Terminal 5. It changed my life.’

Returning to the Fringe in 2018 with three shows, Duckie, Icons and Jonny Woo’s All Star Brexit Cabaret, Gateau’s journey continued, and he worked hard to engage with new audiences and build on his touring opportunities. Duckie went on to tour extensively across the UK and continues to do so with a new non-binary and neurodivergent performer.

Highlighting a need for greater inclusivity and access at the festival, Gateau stated ‘Inclusivity is not a word, it’s an action, it is practise.’ Citing the current cost of living crisis, accommodation costs and the risks artists take to bring work to the Fringe every year, Gateau referenced the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and the resilience of artists, but that ‘elasticity doesn’t mean we can’t break.’

With an audience listening intently to Gateau’s story, the 2023 Artist Address highlighted the continued need for artist support across a range of areas.

Encouraging the room to support each other and to drive a sense of comradery and community, Gateau concluded his speech by stating: ‘There is magic here. I haven’t found it at every Fringe I’ve attended but I have found it several times.

You can and will be in conversation with your audiences – my hope for artists present and all artists at this festival is that you indeed find audiences. You are enough and the experiences that have brought you to this moment are valid.

“Lean into telling your stories as authentically as you can versus seeking validation from audience numbers, audience responses and reviews. If you succeed at doing that, tell me how because at 41 it’s a code I’m yet to crack! And to the facilitators of the storytellers, my plea to you is don’t take advantage of our reality; what we do is who we are.’

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “When Le Gateau Chocolat took to the stage you could hear a pin drop. The room was there to hear from an artist who has attended the Fringe for over 15 years and who has first-hand knowledge and experience of everything that this glorious event can challenge you with.

“We recognise the great financial risk that artists take in bringing work to the Fringe every year, and Gateau’s story highlights that every artist’s journey is different. Our immense thanks to Gateau for sharing his story, and to all the artists taking part in this year’s festival for making the commitment to be at this year’s Fringe.’

Fringe 2023: Food for Thought

9 places to eat & drink this Fringe to support the local community

This August, the Edinburgh University Students’ Association hosts a variety of dynamic Fringe Festival spaces. These spaces support Edinburgh students, as well as local businesses, charities and sustainable commerce.

As a registered charity, income earned from the Associations’ Fringe venues and food & drink outlets go towards its student services, providing advice, representation and welfare support to its 49,000 student members.

These include services such as the Advice Place (professionally trained advisors giving free, confidential and independent advice for students across a broad range of issues), Student Opportunities (student societies, volunteering and peer learning), and Student Voice (empowering students to make a change and run campaigns).

The Association’s Fringe food partners (hosted in Students’ Association venues) also contribute to local business, while supporting charities and campaigns that help the community, such as free hot meals, tackling homelessness and promoting sustainable food.

The Students’ Association employs local staff to run its venues. In 2022, around 300 temporary staff were hired, 70% of which were Edinburgh University students. Over half of these then stayed on to work during term time.

“Our Association’s integral part in the festival means we can generate funds to support our students. We hope everyone who visits enjoys the city and has a great time visiting our venues!” – Sharan Atwal, Students’ Association President.

9 Places to Eat & Drink this Fringe to Support the Local Community:

Pleasance Courtyard
The Pleasance Courtyard will be packed with city favourite bars and food vendors such as Pizza Geeks, Harajuku Kitchen, Smash & Stack and Mimi’s Bakehouse. The bustling area is a great spot to enjoy the festival come rain or shine, sitting under a canopy of umbrellas and stretch tents in the traditional cobbled courtyards.
Mimi’s Bakehouse (Pleasance Courtyard)
This renowned bakehouse has many charity endeavours to accompany its delish cakes. It has a charity partnership with CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) where it sells rainbow cupcakes every year (all proceeds to charity), hosts families of children in respite care for afternoon tea at the Leith store (providing cake for children’s and family birthday parties), and has a “pay it forward” cake box (£5) where it delivers cakes straight to CHAS for each customer donation

Each Monday, Mimi’s Bakehouse donates leftover cake to a local food kitchen in Leith for those in need called Empty Kitchens Full Hearts. They also sponsor local football teams Leith Athletic and Hibs Ladies, regularly providing cake for events and during matches. This year, they have special “boob” cupcakes to raise awareness of breast cancer with proceeds donated to charity.

“As a family business, Mimi’s Bakehouse is always excited to launch charity partnerships which support the local community. By embracing new opportunities like these, we hope to make our family business an Edinburgh institution for generations to come by spreading joy through cake and making someone’s day,” Michelle Philips, Owner and Founder.
Pizza Geeks (Pleasance Courtyard)
On top of their geeky theme, Pizza Geeks are incredibly community driven. Their Pizza for the People initiative is a way to give back to the community by giving hot meals to those in need, as well as the heroes who help them. Since opening in 2016, they have made and donated 30,000 pizzas across Edinburgh. This Fringe, they’ll be returning with their delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas, including the ever-popular Chorizard with a tomato base, mozzarella, chorizo, black Pudding, fresh chillies, and hot honey.

“Our PFTP initiative is a way to give back to the community. Every week, we make and donate pizzas to those in need all across Edinburgh. You can very easily get involved just by eating our pizzas!” Pizza Geeks
Harajuku Kitchen (Pleasance Courtyard)
The Harajuku Kitchen gives customers the option to donate £2 per purchase to Edinburgh charity Social Bite, which will buy a meal for a homeless person. Harajuku Kitchen also donates directly to the charity from the profit they make from the Fringe.
Mint (Potterrow Plaza)
Named one of Fringe 2022’s top places to be, the Potterrow Plaza will return outside the Pleasance Dome, this time with an extended space. It will host Mint, which offers its renowned Chicken and Halloumi Wrap and plenty of meat-eater and vegan options.
Teviot Row House
Teviot Row House is home to one of the city’s oldest bars, The Library Bar, which serves a varied menu both day and night (including its student-favourite cheesy nachos!). It will also host Gilded Balloon, one of Scotland’s leading festival companies.
Garden at Teviot
The Garden at Teviot is a hidden gem next to the busy Bristo Square. The garden offers colourful beach huts (each seating 6), two full-service bars, coffee from Edinburgh’s Throat Punch and delicious local produce from Ròst Eats. There is also a large, covered area to avoid Edinburgh’s likely showers!
Throat Punch (Garden at Teviot)
If you’re looking to stay green this Fringe, visit Throat Punch. This local coffee outlet doesn’t use any unnecessary plastics, opting instead for biodegradable wherever possible. It also only uses milk and oat milk that is delivered in glass and collected again for reuse by the manufacturer.
The Screaming Peacock (Charles Street Lane)
The Screaming Peacock offers a variety of sustainable food. Their Wild venison comes from their family hunting business, and their Pheasants are sourced through local estates in Fife, making their food 100% sustainable. They even source their salad toppings from friends down the road, working with a local Fife merchant. The burgers are wrapped in recyclable greaseproof paper and a compostable meal box. So, when it comes to ditching the rubbish, all you’ll need is a recycling bin.

To get the latest news from each venue, follow:

https://www.instagram.com/thegardenatteviot/

https://www.instagram.com/courtyardanddome/

More at http://eusa.link/OurFestivalVenues

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 begins: Fill Yer Boots!

YESTERDAY (Friday 4 August 2023), marked the official start of the 76th Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which will run until Monday 28 August 2023. Artists from 72 countries will be represented at the Fringe this August, with 973 shows from Scotland and 469 from Edinburgh itself!

The vision of the Fringe is to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat, and this year the average ticket price is less than £12, allowing audiences to experience a variety of work at a relatively low cost. There are also 439 free shows at this year’s Fringe,and another 614 using the ‘pay what you want’ or ‘pay what you can’ model.

Following its launch last month, the new Fringe app has received over 36,000 downloads across the app stores. From today, the ‘nearby now’ functionality will encourage audiences to try something new near them, when between shows; with the Shake it Up feature also providing a random show selection to take a chance on.

This August there are 3,535* shows registered, who will undertake over 52,000 performances during the month. The world-famous Fringe Street Events will start tomorrow and will run from 11:00 till 19:00 every day from 05 – 26 August with events free to attend and open to all.

Supporting artists by facilitating a range of services via the Fringe Society, so far this year the Media Office has accredited over 700 reviewers, editors, journalists and broadcasters, who will be instrumental in boosting artists’ profile. In addition, to date, some 950 arts industry professionals from 45 countries have accredited, and will be on the lookout for shows at the Fringe to offer onward touring or TV and film adaptation opportunities.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “I love this time of year, when Edinburgh becomes this melting pot of creativity and global connection, it is just brilliant to be off and running with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023!

“There are so many who have worked so hard to get to this point – artists, producers, venues, all the behind the scenes workers and Fringe supporters, too many more to mention – I want to say a massive thank you to all of you, and hope you get a chance to enjoy this amazing thing you’ve created over the next three-and-a-bit weeks!

“The Fringe Society exists to support artists come to the Fringe and our team will be within the Fringe Central Artist Hub throughout August with on the ground help and advice.

“There is a great programme of events taking place there, to support artists with their future career ambitions. For our Fringe audience, please dive into this wonderful festival with its incredible mix of genres and imagination; from established names to thousands of first-time or emerging performers.

“I urge you now more than ever, to support the artists by going to see shows, and then more shows, and then see even more! Get out there and Fill Yer Boots!”

Fringe: Skywalker Gibbon opens House of Oz

House of Oz opens today as Lisa Roet’s Inflatable ‘Skywalker Gibbon’ joins the Edinburgh Fringe Skyline

Everyone associates certain sights with the Edinburgh Fringe such as the iconic Udderbelly, and now a new creature is set to ignite the imaginations of Fringe audiences: Artist Lisa Roet’s “Skywalker” – a massive inflatable of a Skywalker Gibbon which will take pride of place above House of Oz.

In addition to its visually arresting look, visitors can also listen out for the peculiar love call of the gibbon which will be played between show times at the venue.

Roet is an Australian artist, based in Melbourne, whose previous work has graced locations from Beijing to Inverleith House, although this year will mark her first visit to Edinburgh. The structure will be not only an exciting visual for audiences to spot throughout August but is also a firm statement for environmental sustainability.

The venue, located at King’s Hall in Newington, was voted Edinburgh Fringe’s best venue in 2022, its debut year, and is back bigger and better this year, presenting eight of Australia’s most exciting new artists.

Celebrating the best in Australian creativity, from site-specific immersive theatre to family entertainment, as well as the best in the worlds of comedy, cabaret and circus, there is truly something for everyone at House of Oz.

This year’s venue is also set to be one of the most exciting hub spaces at the Fringe, offering an array of delicious food and drink options, including a Daisy Green pop-up café in the “Outback” garden bar.

This year’s programme champions original and boundary-pushing work, such as immersive audio experience Two Strangers Walk Into a Bar… the Adelaide smash-hit by award-winning actor, writer and director Tilda Cobham-Harvey that invites audience members to forge connections with a complete stranger.

A breakout theatrical success from festivals across Australia, Jonny Hawkins transforms into “working class glamour queen” Maureen as they celebrate the indomitable voice, wisdom and passion of dames who defy invisibility.

Blending circus and contemporary theatre, Common Dissonance from Melbourne-based Na Djinang Circus explores modern Australian identity and asks if there is space for the acceptance of indigenous spirituality in 21st Century Australia.

In the world of comedy, audiences can look forward to the UK debut of one of Australia’s most exciting, rising stars in Anna Piper Scott – Such an Inspiration. As both a trans woman and comedian, Anna grapples with a volatile conversation that has touched some of the biggest names in comedy like Hannah Gadsby and Dave Chappelle, about how to make fun of yourself whilst retaining a foundational respect for who you are.

Younger audiences won’t be left out this year, with shows for all the family to enjoy. Beetle, a new work from acclaimed physical theatre artists Legs On The Wall, is a heartwarming story that brings the magic of the Australian bush to life through the company’s trademark physical storytelling, alongside beautiful animated illustrations by beloved children’s author and illustrator Freya Blackwood.

Making their 10^th Fringe appearance, family Fringe favourites The Listies return with Make Some Noise, a joyous musical mishmash of sketches, songs and clowning that have brought fun and laughter to gazillions of ‘kidults’ around the world.

Audiences can be sure to revel in an evening at the House of Oz that is filled with music and cabaret. Michaela Burger traverses her family’s past in a new, original musical tribute A Migrant’s Son. Featuring a live band, including piano and bouzouki, Michaela pays tribute to her Greek migrant family and hard-working, fun-loving larrikin father Luke who defied all odds.

Armed with stilettos and a four-octave range, Leather Lungs: Higher Love is set to raise the roof of the House of Oz, as the queen of falsetto storms into Edinburgh with a heart-stopping celebration of liberation and exploration, featuring powerhouse anthems from Queen and Abba performed as you’ve never heard them before.

House of Oz is located at Kings Hall, 41A South Clerk Street Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NZ, and is open every day from 10am to 11pm, with late-night shows on Fridays and Saturdays and later opening on Sundays and Thursdays.

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Free Fringe Workshops in West Pilton

In collaboration with North Edinburgh Arts, JACK ARTS SCOTLAND is bringing a wee taste of the Fringe to North Edinburgh!

Looking for some summer fun? Next week, join us at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre for a short programme of FREE creative workshops led by Scottish stars of the 2023 Fringe. Fun and memorable workshops for children and young people living in Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton and Drylaw.

No previous experience needed; all abilities welcome!

Find our more and sign up for FREE here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/north-edinburgh-arts…