HomeFestival HistoryNewsPre-Festival Stuff Festival Time Newbie? Witterings Links Site Map

Welcome

These pages hopefully contain useful information on Edinburgh and its August festivals for all fellow punters, both established and new. It should be particularly helpful to those who are trying the festival for the first time.

Most Popular Page is A History of the Edinburgh Festivals


Edinburgh Festival 2013

Links to main news since 2012 festival
Festival launches and early feedback
Digest of links to picks and previews


Edinburgh Festival 2012

Links to main news since 2011 festival
Festival launches and early feedback
Digest of links to picks and previews
Links to reviews and list of most critically acclaimed shows
Awards
Summary of punters' visit
Festival post-mortem


2013 Festival Dates for Your Diary
Festival
Festival
dates
Prog.
Launch
Public
Booking
International Festival
9 Aug-1 Sep
23 March
Fringe
2 Aug-26 Aug
30 May
30 May
Book Festival
10 Aug-26 Aug
20 June
28 June
Film Festival
19 Jun-30 Jun
29 May
29 May
Jazz & Blues Festival
19 Jul-28 Jul
21 May
21 May
Art Festival
1 Aug-1 Sep
n/a
Magic Festival
28 Jun-5 Jul
23 April
Forest Fringe 16 Aug-25 Aug n/a
Military Tattoo
2 Aug-24 Aug
Sep 2012
Dates in italics are provisional. Actual dates will be given when they are officially announced.
Information on Fringe Venues

This section is relevant simply because there are just so many Fringe venues, some of which appear for a year or two and then promptly disappear, and occasionally reappear.

In my opinion The Stage contains the most comprehensive information on venues. It includes web site urls, maps, addresses, box office phone numbers and details of the productions. Be aware that the maps only show the approximate location of the venues.


Festival Mailing Lists and Friends / Supporters

Most festivals provide a mailing list which you can freely subscribe to. Others allow you to become a friend or supporter for a fee; this will normally provide you with advance information and priority booking facilities.

Festival
Mailing list links
Friend /
Supporter
International Festival
Fringe
Book Festival
Film Festival
n/a
Jazz & Blues Festival
n/a
Art Festival
n/a
n/a
Military Tattoo
n/a

The August Feast

The August Feast is my collective term for Edinburgh's summer festivals. It consists of various items of reading material in pdf format. Apart from A History of the Edinburgh Festivals it includes a brief history of Auld Reekie for those who are interested in the city and summarises my favourite shows over the years.


Site last updated on May 15th, 2013.


Latest Newsall 2012-2013 news | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011
Made in Scotland Showcase 2013 announced
posted May 15th, 2013.
The list of Fringe shows which constitute the Made in Scotland Showcase for 2013 has been announcedMade in Scotland is a curated showcase of some of the best dance, theatre and music productions from Scotland at the Fringe. It was originally set up to raise the international profile of Scottish dance and theatre, with music being added this year. It is a joint initiative between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland and the Federation of Scottish Theatre - supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.
Fringe defends early ticket sales
posted May 10th, 2013.
The Scotsman estimates that half the shows in this year's Fringe are already on sale although the official launch is not until May 30th. The Fringe Society claims that this is in response to audience demand and requests from show producers and promoters. I believe the latter, particularly those who are in danger of losing money on shows in large venues. However, I have not spoken to any punter who is in favour of this slightly chaotic approach. Perhaps I just mix with the wrong sort of punter?
Fringe Society warning on venue licence fees
posted May 4th, 2013.
The Scotsman reports that the Fringe Society has warned the City Council that entertainment licence fees for venues are the highest in the UK with the attendant danger that producers may take shows elsewhere.
Topside - a new Fringe venue
posted May 3rd, 2013.
There is now a 200-seater performing space within the new rehearsal complex behind the Edinburgh Festival theatre. Topside, as it will be known at festival time, will be used as a Fringe venue this year under the Underbelly banner. See the article in The Stage.
Fountain Brewery to be used as a Fringe venue
posted April 26th, 2013.
The Scotsman reports that the site of the former Fountain Brewery in Fountainbridge will be used as a venue in August to stage NoFit State Circus's production of Bianco which is one of the shows in the British Council's Edinburgh Showcase 2013.
British Council's Edinburgh Showcase 2013 announced
posted April 24th, 2013.
The Edinburgh Showcase is a biennial platform of contemporary UK drama and dance performance which is selected by the British Council for the Edinburgh Fringe. The 2013 showcase has been announced. An article on the announcement can be found in The Guardian.
Deuchars IPA renews Fringe sponsorship
posted April 24th, 2013.
It has been announced that
Caledonian Brewery, in the guise of its Deuchars IPA product, is to renew its sponsorship of the Fringe for a further three years. They provide Fringe venue boards and maps.
Edinburgh Magic Festival programme for 2013 launched
posted April 23rd, 2013.
The Edinburgh Magic Festival launched its programme for the 2013 festival today. Details of the press release, links to the festival web site and initial articles on the programme can all be found on the pre-festival stuff page.
EIF appoints Director Designate
posted April 23rd, 2013.
The Edinburgh International Festival has announced the appointment of Fergus Linehan as Director Designate. He will assume a part-time role on May 1st, 2013, eventually taking over the Director and Chief Executive role from Jonathan Mills on October 1st, 2014. He has been given a 5 year contract, taking him up to 2019. Articles can be found in various places, including BBC News, Joyce McMillan in The Scotsman and Phil Miller in The Herald.

Film Festival pre-announcements
posted April 15th, 2013.
The Edinburgh Film Festival continues to drip-feed items from the 2013 programme. The latest crop announces that the closing film will be NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING and that there will be a retrospective of director Richard Fleischer. A retrospective of Jean Grémillon was previously announced back in February.

New home for Forest Fringe
posted April 6th, 2013.
Forest Fringe has a new home in Edinburgh. The venue is the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, off Leith walk. Forest Fringe will be there with a full programme from August 16th to the 25th this year.
Edinburgh Art Festival programme for 2013 unveiled
posted April 4th, 2013.
The Edinburgh Art Festival unveiled its programme for the 2013 festival yesterday. Links to the festival web site and initial articles on the programme can be found on the pre-festival stuff page.
Vision for cultural venues
posted April 1st, 2013.
Edinburgh City Council has produced a report on the potential development of cultural venues in the future. This followed on from a meeting last November which was attended by venue managers, promoters and leaders of Edinburgh's cultural institutions. It should be noted that this is all a bit "blue sky thinking" - there are no firm plans at the moment. A summary of some of the possible options can be found in this article in The Scotsman.
Film Festival funding
posted March 29th, 2013.
The Edinburgh Film Festival has announced a grant of £110k from the Scottish Government's Expo Fund. This is part of a £250k funding package that also includes support from Creative Scotland, Creative Skillset and Creative England.
History of the Traverse Theatre
posted March 28th, 2013.
It appears that Joyce McMillan's excellent programme on the history of the Traverse Theatre on Radio 3 is to remain available on the BBC iPlayer for the foreseeable future. It is well worth a listen.
Spiegeltent on George Street
posted March 20th, 2013.
The proposal to close part of George Street during the festival again this year has been given the green light by Edinburgh Council. Despite the oppposition of local traders permission has been given for the Spiegeltent and an outdoor bar to be sited in the middle of the street adjacent to the Assembly Rooms.
EIF 2013 programme launched
posted March 12th, 2013.
The Edinburgh International Festival launched the programme for the 2013 festival this morning. Links to the programme brochure, reports of the launch and early feedback on the programme from the critics can be found on the pre-festival stuff page.
Virgin Money sponsorship of fireworks concert
posted March 10th, 2013. 
The Scotsman reports that Virgin Money has agreed to extend its sponsorship of the Edinburgh International Festival's fireworks concert for a further two years. The concert has been bringing the festival to a close since 1982.


Council plans improvements to Royal Mile
posted February 22nd, 2013. 
Edinburgh City Council planners have produced a variety of recommendations to improve the Royal Mile for residents and visitors alike. The council will consult with all interested parties before firming up the proposals. Articles can be found in The Edinburgh Reporter and The Scotsman.


Book Festival sponsorship deal with Baillie Gifford
posted February 21st, 2013. 
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has announced a three year sponsorship deal with investment managers Baillie Gifford. The Edinburgh-based partnership has been a supporter of the festival since 2001 but will now become the lead sponsor.


Annual review of Book Festival 2012 available
posted February 20th, 2013. 
The annual review of the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2012 can be downloaded from its website. It includes lots of statistics, including the total number of visitors which stood at 225,000.