FRONTLINES NEWS, GOSSIP AND OPINION FROM ACROSS THE FESTIVALS
PIC OF THE WEEK EXHIBIT B South African artist Brett Bailey’s uncompromising, confrontational installation at the Playfair Library, part of the Edinburgh International Festival, deals with colonialism and racism in sometimes shocking detail. Prepare to deal with powerful feelings while viewing Bailey’s ‘human zoo’ when the exhibits stare straight back at you. ■ Playfair Library, until 25 Aug (not 14, 18, 21), times vary, £14 (£7).
DIARY FESTIVAL NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
• The Pleasance Dome is the recording venue for eight new radio plays by Wireless Theatre about couples who changed the world – from Adam and Eve to Hitler and Henry Ford – including a comedy by Fringe regular Arthur Smith. The recordings will be available later for download from wirelesstheatre.co.uk • Scottish beermeisters BrewDog are teaming up with Fringe venue Heroes @ Bob and Miss Behave’s Bookshop on the new BrewDog Fringe Awards. Comedians are invited to enter by completing a short quiz, with top scorers taking part in a live public i nal on 20 Aug, and the
winner getting the chance to brew their own beer. More at brewdog.com/blog • Open-air i lms come to the University of Edinburgh’s Old College Quad from 17 to 23 Aug, including a comedy night featuring Whisky Galore!, an 80s evening with The Breakfast Club, an Edinburgh-themed night with Trainspotting and Restless Natives, and an all- Coen brothers evening featuring Fargo and The Big Lebowski. Tickets cost £5 per i lm, from edfringe.com, and there are free family matinees on 17 and 23 Aug featuring Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon.
• Celebs spotted in Fringe shows: Rowan Atkinson watching Will Adamsdale’s Borders; Bruno Langley (you know, Todd off Corrie) chuckling to Danny Ward; Jon Richardson checking out fellow comic Matt Forde; Billy Connolly watching Brazouka (well, his wife produced it). • Miniature shows in a tiny venue: a Chinese rickshaw takes up residence in the Summerhall courtyard this week for ten-minute shows for an audience of two. Hand Made in China: Moons, Migrations and Messages mixes music, imagery and even a cup of jasmine tea.
10 THE LIST FESTIVAL 14–25 Aug 2014
GOOD WEEK FOR . . .
David Chapple, the hardcore comedy fan whose world record attempt to see more
than 290 Fringe shows across 27 days is well on track: he’s currently averaging a slightly inconceivable 11 or 12 shows a day. See his blog at plymouthhohoho.wordpress.com
BAD WEEK FOR . . .
Indian artist Nalini Malani, whose spectacular In Search of Vanished Blood installation, projected onto the Scottish National Gallery for the WWI centenary on 4 August as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival, ground to a halt due to technical difi culties – it was given a hasty repeat showing the following evening, though.
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