N E W S N E W S A N D G O S S I P F R O M A C R O S S T H E F E S T I V A L S
fast facts
• The Edinburgh International Book Festival joins the festival foray on 12 Aug. Themes this year include Age of Political Earthquakes, This Woman Can and India & Pakistan: 70 Years On. • Visa restrictions have caused complications for several shows. Arab Arts Focus: Dance Double Bill at Summerhall has had to be re-worked after two dancers were denied entry (see review page 67). A similar fate befell Your Love is Fire, while The Elephant Your Majesty, a work by teenage Syrian refugees
in Lebanon, was cancelled before the start of August.
• Applications are open until 11 Aug for the Edinburgh Fringe Sustainable Practice Award 2017. Eligible shows can enter at creativecarbonscotland.com/ apply-2017-fringe-award • Sir David Attenborough joins the lineup for the Edinburgh International TV Festival. The event celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Natural History Unit, whose documentaries include Planet Earth II and Blue Planet.
• Edinburgh Gin has launched a ‘Gin Passport’ for the festival. Collect a stamp at the distiller’s six pop-up bars across the city to claim a complimentary drink at Edinburgh Gin’s l agship venue at The Mound.
c O F T H E P O S T E R S P i
HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN
THESE HOTCAKES WON’T BE AROUND FOR LONG, SO GET BOOKING
1 Woman, a High-Flyer and a Flat Bottom: Samantha Baines
Al Murray: The Pub Landlord’s Saloon
The Amazing Bubble Man Baby Loves Disco
BambinO Ed Gamble
Giants: For an Hour Heads Up
Jan Ravens: Difi cult Woman
Joseph Morpurgo: Hammerhead
Last Queen of Scotland
Mark Thomas: A Show That Gambles on the Future
Start Swimming Wild Bore
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C H R S T O P H E R B O W E N
HEAR ME RAW, EVE & WORKSHY Festivaling can be seriously hungry work, so this week we’re especially drawn to posters featuring tasty snacks. Bravo to Daniella Isaacs (Hear Me Raw, Underbelly George Square, until 27 Aug), Jo Clifford (Eve, Traverse, until 27 Aug) and Katie Baird (Workshy, Summerhall, until 27 Aug). Bon appétit!
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
The majority of shows at the Fringe are available for your viewing pleasure across three weeks but a few are only in town for a single evening.
A GALA FOR MENTAL HEALTH A night of comedy addressing mental health with honesty and hilarity. Featuring Carl Donnelly, Hannah Gadsby, Seymour Mace, Angela Barnes and Robert White. Pleasance Dome, 10 Aug, 11pm, £10. THE WRESTLING Max & Ivan’s cult hit returns to the Fringe, with comedians and wrestlers entering the ring to do battle in a night of madcap mayhem. Pleasance Courtyard, 15 Aug, 11pm, £20.
BRINGING TO BOOK Fringe veteran and political activist Mark Thomas has organised a benei t for two legal charities working on the Grenfell Tower i re. Performers include Stephen K Amos, Milton Jones, Josie Long and Sara Pascoe. New Town Theatre, 15 Aug, 9pm, £20.
A YOUNG MAN DRESSED AS A GORILLA DRESSED AS AN OLD MAN SITS ROCKING IN A ROCKING CHAIR FOR 56 MINUTES AND THEN LEAVES . . . 9 That’s right, it’s the ninth year of this cult classic. Everything you need to know is in the title. Get there early though, it’s non-ticketed. Voodoo Rooms, 21 Aug, 6.10pm, free. UNDERBELLY’S BIG BRAIN BENEFIT Late-night comedy session, with John Bishop, Danny Bhoy, Jason Byrne and Charlie Baker raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. Underbelly George Square, 23 Aug, 11.45pm, £20.
EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARDS SHOW See all the comedians nominated for Best Show and Best Newcomer at this year’s Fringe, as well as the winners. Last year saw a double Scottish victory with Richard Gadd and Scott Gibson. EICC, 27 Aug, 3.30pm, £14 (£12).
10–17 Aug 2017 THE LIST FESTIVAL 11