I was there for a week last year, saw 5-6 shows a day (mostly comedy) and laughed myself out of a neurological disorder. No kidding - for two months I had been having serious balance issues and by day 3, gone. Didn’t come back. Everyone should go.
Have you ever been to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? I've never been overseas to that side of the country. Do you think Mr. D went with you that first time because a male friend had decided to go and he was a tad jealous that it would be two women and one man? Just a thought. LOL Also, YASSSS! I would totally go and avoid the beer and Red Bastard, but would DEF be on board for Guru Dudu. THAT sounds like so much fun.
What’s the weirdest show you’ve ever seen? I don't think I've seen weird shows. Just a comedy show that I thought would be funny, but the actor/comedian was not. I felt like it had been a waste of our time.
Do you own a red onesie and a balloon pump? BWAHA! I do not. Did it look comfortable?
OMG. The extrovert in me thinks this looks like the best time EVER. The introvert in me is reading all this in absolute horror. And the wife in me knows my husband would LOVE the itinerary. So many emotions! 🤣
Really interesting, I'm not a crowd kinda gal but you make this festival thingy almost tempting. And knowing me as you do, that really saying something.
I ended up there last summer and since I had no expectations, it totally exceeded them. Comedy shows were great. One of my favorite things were the musicians playing in the streets and people juggling fire at night. I loved walking through the streets of Edinburgh and not knowing what you'd come across next. I have so many videos just traipsing cobblestone streets grinning from ear to ear.
Kate, so fun to follow on your well-fringed heels. I hope you are currently drinking breakfast beers and taking notes on a pizza box on some non-barfed-on steps in the Grassmarket. There are so many bits I smirked over from zut alors to the bouncing Red Bastard whoopie cushion guy to your high-end yurt wishes (complete with Japanese soaker tub, no doubt). I had to look up Portakabin--I think we'd call that a bunkie here in Canada. As for the craziest live show I've seen. That will always belong to One Night in Bangkok, ping pong balls, darts, balloons and a few women who obviously do Kegels for breakfast.
I had a group of U.S. theater friends perform in it several years ago and I was sorry I didn't join them! I have been to the Finsbury Park Fleadh in London back in the 1990s and the thing I remember the most about that was the mud and Shane McGowan being so pissed his singing was unintelligible.
Once upon a time I was promoting my own show at the fringe. Another fringe experience I highly recommend! I have done Guru Duru and it is very fun and freeing!
There's usually a point in our Fringe experience where we sit at a bench (having a beer obvs) and collect leaflets from the Flyer Folk promoting their shows to us, and then at the end of the pint we'll go and see the show which looked the best out of the flyers we've collected!
As you say, very often the face on the flyer, matches the one handing it out. 👏
Yes, I live close to Edinburgh, we usually take the kids now mostly around the street shows. Not booked any ‘real’ shows in years. In my younger days it also meant to clubs were open til 5am 🤪
I was there for a week last year, saw 5-6 shows a day (mostly comedy) and laughed myself out of a neurological disorder. No kidding - for two months I had been having serious balance issues and by day 3, gone. Didn’t come back. Everyone should go.
I’m so glad you’ve had the experience too! 👏
Do you think Doctors should start prescribing it? 🤓
It couldn’t hurt. I mean it probably wouldn’t heal broken bones, but worth a shot.
Love your use of the word ‘probably’ btw. 😂😂
A well placed word is the art of good comedy, I’ve found 😁
Ros, there's a t-shirt slogan if I've seen/read one! "Laughed myself out of a neurological disorder."
Thanks Jules! Sounds also like a post title I could write.
The festival is on my bucket list but so happy to live vicariously through this piece. Sounds like a blast.
You would love it! 😘
Have you ever been to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? I've never been overseas to that side of the country. Do you think Mr. D went with you that first time because a male friend had decided to go and he was a tad jealous that it would be two women and one man? Just a thought. LOL Also, YASSSS! I would totally go and avoid the beer and Red Bastard, but would DEF be on board for Guru Dudu. THAT sounds like so much fun.
What’s the weirdest show you’ve ever seen? I don't think I've seen weird shows. Just a comedy show that I thought would be funny, but the actor/comedian was not. I felt like it had been a waste of our time.
Do you own a red onesie and a balloon pump? BWAHA! I do not. Did it look comfortable?
Yes, it did look very comfy, albeit stuffed with balloons for extra padding and rollability! 😂
OMG. The extrovert in me thinks this looks like the best time EVER. The introvert in me is reading all this in absolute horror. And the wife in me knows my husband would LOVE the itinerary. So many emotions! 🤣
That's so funny, and does explain how there is literally something for everyone there! 👏 😂
Really interesting, I'm not a crowd kinda gal but you make this festival thingy almost tempting. And knowing me as you do, that really saying something.
That really is saying something!!! 😳👏
I ended up there last summer and since I had no expectations, it totally exceeded them. Comedy shows were great. One of my favorite things were the musicians playing in the streets and people juggling fire at night. I loved walking through the streets of Edinburgh and not knowing what you'd come across next. I have so many videos just traipsing cobblestone streets grinning from ear to ear.
Love this phrase:
“traipsing cobblestone streets grinning from ear to ear“
Very much sums up the EdFringe experience! 😂👏
Kate, so fun to follow on your well-fringed heels. I hope you are currently drinking breakfast beers and taking notes on a pizza box on some non-barfed-on steps in the Grassmarket. There are so many bits I smirked over from zut alors to the bouncing Red Bastard whoopie cushion guy to your high-end yurt wishes (complete with Japanese soaker tub, no doubt). I had to look up Portakabin--I think we'd call that a bunkie here in Canada. As for the craziest live show I've seen. That will always belong to One Night in Bangkok, ping pong balls, darts, balloons and a few women who obviously do Kegels for breakfast.
I too have been to Thailand... you can't unsee that. 😳 😂
Ha. A birthday cake being blown out in a certain way will never be the same. And it wasn't even my birthday or cake.
I had a group of U.S. theater friends perform in it several years ago and I was sorry I didn't join them! I have been to the Finsbury Park Fleadh in London back in the 1990s and the thing I remember the most about that was the mud and Shane McGowan being so pissed his singing was unintelligible.
Oh I love the Edinburgh Fringe and your setting the scene! :)
Here are a few of my own tried and tested tips about going right here
https://radiaterepeat.substack.com/p/tested-tips-for-exploring-the-edinburgh
Loved your piece, thanks for sharing! 😘
Ah, thank you so much, it’s such an awesome experience isn’t it? Hopefully it encourages others to make the trip! :)
I hope so! 🤞
They're missing out if they don't. 🥲
Definitely are, do you have any shows in mind this year?
Yes, we have pre-booked six shows so far, which is unusually high for us:
Gearoid Farrelly, Tarot: Shuffle, Bronwyn Kuss, Oliver Coleman, Insane Magic: After Dark and Rachel Fairburn.
We've seen Rachel before (brilliant!) but the rest are new to us! Can't wait! 🥰
Oh wow, all sounds amazing and just watched some Rachel Fairburn, she's ace!
(sketch about public transport :)) will definitely be going to see her if I make it up there. Enjoy it all!
Once upon a time I was promoting my own show at the fringe. Another fringe experience I highly recommend! I have done Guru Duru and it is very fun and freeing!
Wow, well done you!
There's usually a point in our Fringe experience where we sit at a bench (having a beer obvs) and collect leaflets from the Flyer Folk promoting their shows to us, and then at the end of the pint we'll go and see the show which looked the best out of the flyers we've collected!
As you say, very often the face on the flyer, matches the one handing it out. 👏
Yes, I live close to Edinburgh, we usually take the kids now mostly around the street shows. Not booked any ‘real’ shows in years. In my younger days it also meant to clubs were open til 5am 🤪
Always wanted to go & never made it happen. Off to Google …
Go, go, gooooooooooo! 👏
Sounds like so much fun! I would love being there. Thank you for sharing!
1. Yes, but only once. I’d love to go again but family summer logistics make it tricky.
2. The weirdest show was something to do with numbers, there were only about 10 of us there and some audience participation maths was required!
3. Strangely, no I don’t!
The smallest audience I've been part of at Edinburgh was six... and three of them were us!
So we couldn't just slip out the back door. 😂