EDINBURGH FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Yet again the Fringe gets a head start at Edinburgh's annual arts overdose, officially opening its doors on 8 August, but the others come close behind. The Book Festival welcomes you in on Saturday 14 and, a day later, the International and Film Festivals bring you a wealth of music, theatre, dance and cinema for the 53rd year without interruption.
As yet there is no central box office for all the festivals, which can lead to some confusion as each one publishes its own guide and sells tickets for a variety of venues. But fear not, all is explained here in our detailed guide to where and when to buy tickets to every show in every
venue.
Each festival has its own central box office selling tickets for all its venues, and many individual venues supply tickets for themselves
special offers.
M .y
'1
and others. Details of box office phone numbers and opening hours are given below, as well as an indication of some concession prices and
The Festival always seems to be getting bigger and bigger, and so The List will be stepping up its coverage, publishing four special weekly issues during August. With so much going on, you'll need an expert to guide you through — and that's where we come in. Informed reviews, big name interviews, news and comprehensive listings of ALL the festivals in a free weekly supplement, plus full coverage of other cultural events in Central Scotland -
The List is the only locally-based publication
dedicated to arts and entertainment, with almost fifteen years of experience. Let us help you make the most of Festival 99.
FESTIVAL FRINGE
Sun 8—Mon 30 Aug. Bringing Edinburgh to life with performances from theatre
companies. comedians. dancers.
—
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Sun l5 Aug—Sat 4 Sep. This prestigious arts festival opens its doors for the 53rd time. Highlights this year include a retrospective of work by Swedish choreographer Mats Ek. Sir Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra reassessing Schumann’s symphonies. and lvo van Hove directing India Song by Marguerite Duras.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE Tickets for all International Festival events can be bought at the ticket centre at The Hub. Castlehill. Royal Mile. Edinburgh EHI 2NE. 0l3| 473 2000. Open Mon—Fri I0am—6pm; Sat noon—3pm (until 6 Aug). Open Mon—Sat 9am—8pm: Sun l0am—5pm (7 Aug—4 Sep).
Concessions: Tickets are available in advance at half price to students in full~time education and those under 18; and in
No Limits Theatre Company
Present
EXILE
16th - let August 21:00 (22:00) Venue 40, The Quaker Meeting House
Tickets £4.50/£2.50 Box Office 220 6109
antiwar 22 Jul—S Aug 1999
advance at 25‘; discount to senior citi/ens. From () Aug. standby tickets for selected performances \\ ill be a\ailab|e at half price to students. senior eiti/ens. unemployed people. young people under the age of IS. Stage Pass holders and members of litpiity or the Mllsic‘ittlls' l'nion. I’I'tml (II slttllts \\Ill be required vs hen collecting tickets. (thck the Festival's \sebsite at \\\\\\.eil.co.uk lor updates on ticket availability.
During the l‘estiyal period only. tickets \\ ill be on sale to personal \ isitors at the l'sher Hall. the Queen's Hall. the lidinburgh Festi\a| Theatre. the lidinhurgh Playhouse and the Royal Lyceum 'l‘heatre. .-\n_\ tickets unsold on the day of the performance are available on the door of the \enuc one hour before curtain-up.
Fifty seats for all ['sher Hall concerts and 50 seats for opera shotss at the I‘estival Theatre and the Playhouse are reserved for sale at £5 on the day of performance from 9am ( l0am on Sun). These are a\ ailable only to personal callers at The Hub and are
limited to (no tickets per customer. Half-price tickets for some performances are sold subject to availability — front lpm on the day of performance to personal callers at The lltib. Limited to two tickets per customer.
BANK OF SCOTLAND FIREWORKS CONCERT
Sat 4 Sep. l().3()pm. This grand finale now takes place on the very last night of the l-'t‘sti\;i| in Princes Street Gardens. though it can also be \ icvs ed from elsewhere in the city centre The pyrotechnics are set to a classical score. performed by the Scottish ('hamber ()rchestra. This year‘s programme features pieces by
Tchaikov sky. .\lussorgsky. Dvorak and Stravinsky. conducted by Nicholas Kok. The only remaining opportunity to buy tickets giving admission to Princes Street (iardens is on Sun 2‘) Aug from l0am at The lltih expect to queue. Tickets are only a\ ailable to personal callers and are limited to four per person.
musicians and other entertainers from around the world. the Fringe is the largest arts festival in existence. Venues. from huge theatres to tiny halls. stay open almost round the clock. guaranteeing entertainment for everyone. The Fringe runs officially Sun 8—Mon 30 Aug. but some shows begin as early as Wed 4 Aug. while others carry on until Sat 4 Sep.
FRINGE BOX OFFICE
Tickets for all shows in the Fringe are available from the Fringe Office. I80 High Street. Edinburgh. ()l3l 226 5l38. Open for bookings in person I0am—7pm (from Mon 26 Jul); or by phone l0am—6pm (until Sat 24 Jul). 9am—9pm (Mon 26 Jul—Sat 4 Sep).
Concessions: Discounted tickets are available for most shows. but prices and eligibility are decided by individual companies. Many shows also offer reduced- price tickets for preview performances. Bargain-hunters should keep an eye on The Lisi's Freeloaders section for reader offers. Tickets for Fringe events are also available in person from:
NMV 93 Princes Street. Open Mon—Sat l0am—7 m: Sun Ham-7pm (from Fri 6 Aug) James Thin Booksellers 53—59 South Bridge. Open Mon—Sat 10am-7pm: Sun Ham—4.30pm (from Fri 30 Jul). Waterstone's Booksellers 83 George Street. Open Mon—Sat 10am—7pm; Sun
I lam-7pm (from Fri 30 Jul).
MAJOR FRINGE VENUES
The Fringe as a whole is not selectively
programmed. but several venues control two or more performance spaces. publish their own brochures and/or operate separate box offices for their shows: Observer Assembly 54 George Street. ()l3l 226 2428. Open Mon—Fri Ham-6pm (until Thu 5 Aug); daily 10.30am—midnigbt (Fri 6—Mon 30 Aug). Tickets for Calder's Gilded Balloon venues and The Pleasance are also sold here.
SEafiiEiIeen Walsh and Rhys lfans
in Janice Beard 45wpm at
s
& the Edinburgh International
Film Festival