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As usual the Fringe gets the annual arts overdose underway, officially opening its doors on Sunday 6 August, but the others come close behind and this year the International Festival, the International Book and Film Festivals have all synchronised the start date to Sunday 13 August. In combination they bring you a wealth of music, theatre, dance, author events and cinema for the 54th year without interruption. For the first year ever, box office sales will be centralised at the appropriately named Hub on the Royal Mile. There will be separate
Film festivals and the opening times are listed below for each. In addition, each festival has its own central box office and details are given for each of these under the relevant festival title. Each specific festival publishes its own guide and sells tickets for a variety of venues . On—line booking is rapidly becoming an effective method of booking tickets, gaining programme details and checking availability and prices. The recent opening of the largest internet café in Edinburgh, easyEverything on Rose Street, will make the online facilities offered by most of the festival participants a
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL PREVIEW
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minefield requiring detailed reconnaissance missions and strategic military planning so let The List guide you through with its extensive coverage in four special issues during August. Informed reviews, big name interviews, exclusive news and previews and comprehensive listings for ALL the Festivals in a free weekly supplement, plus full coverage of other cultural events taking place in Scotland outwith the Festival in the main magazine. The List is the only locally-based publication dedicated to arts and entertainment, with fifteen years of experience. Let us
box office counters there for the International, Fringe, Book and
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help you make the most of Festival
2000.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAI.
Sun 13 Aug-«Sat 2 Sep. The prestigious arts festival opens its doors for the 54th time. This year sees some remarkable Festival partnerships including Nederlands Dans Theater With the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Pierre Boulez conducting the LondOn Symphony Orchestra. Other highlights include Mat Ek’s Don Juan, Peter Zadek’s Hamlet and the New York City Ballet.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE Tickets for all International Festival events can be bought at the ticket centre at The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 ZNE, 0131 473 2000. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am--S.30pm (until Sun 30 Jul). Open Moanat 9am-8pm; Sun 10am—5pm (Sun 30 Jul-Sat 2 Sep). Concessions: Tickets are available in advance at half price to students in full- time education and those under 18; and in advance at 25% discount to senior ClIIZGnS. From Mon 7 Aug, standby tickets for selected performances Will be available at half price to students, senior citizens, unemployed people, young people under the age of 18, Stage Pass holders and members of Equny or the Musicians' Union. Proof of status Will be required when collecting TICKETS. Check the Festival’s website at wwweifcouk for updates on ticket availability.
During the Festival period only, tickets Will be on sale to personal Visitors at the Usher Hall, the Queen’s Hall, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, the Edinburgh Playhouse, the Royal Lyceum Theatre and King’s Theatre (from 1pm daily). Any unsold tickets for other Festival venues Will go on sale at the venue one hour before curtain-up.
Fifty seats for all Usher Hall concerts and all opera performances are reserved for sale at £5 on the day of performance from 9am (10am on Sun). These are available only to personal callers at The Hub and are limited to two tickets per customer.
Half-price tickets for some performances are sold -- SUblE’CI to availability from 1pm on the day of performance to personal callers at The
Hub. Limited to two tickets per customer.
BANK OF SCOTLAND FIREWORKS CONCERT
Sat 2 Sep, 10.30pm. The most dramatic firework display in Edinburgh’s annual diary takes place on the very last night of the Festival in Princes Street Gardens, though it can also be Viewed from vantage pomts such as Calton Hill. The famed pyrotechnics are set to a classical score, performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, This year's programme features some of Tchaikovsky's most popular works including acts from Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, conducted by Nicolae Moldoveanu. The only remaining opportunity to buy tickets giVing admission to Princes Street Gardens is on Sun 27 Aug from 10am at
The Hub; expect to queue. Tickets are only available to personal callers and are limited to four per person. Tickets cost £5 (Gardens) and £20 (Ross Theatre).
FESTIVAL FRINGE
Sun 6—-lv10n 28 Aug, Bringing Edinburgh to life With performances from theatre companies, comedians, dancers, musmans 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 6~lvlon 28 Aug, but some preVieW shows begin as early as Wed 2 Aug.
FRINGE BOX OFFICE
Tickets for all shows in the Fringe are available from the Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh, 0131 226 5138. Open for bookings in person daily from leon 24 Jul, 10am -7pm,' or by phone 10am—6pm (until Sat 22 Jul)
The cast of The Simpsons appearatthe Scotsman Assembly
9am -9pm (until Mon 28 Aug). On-line sales are available at wwwedfringecom
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 List’s Freeloaders section for reader offers.
Tickets for Fringe events are also available in person from HMV 129 Princes Street. Open Mon Sat 10am 7pm, Sun 10am 7pm (from Wed 2 Aug). The Hub Castlehill, Royal Mile. Open Mon-Sat 10am 8pm, Sun 11am-7pm (from Tue 8 Aug)
Waterstone's Booksellers 83 George Street Open Mon Sat 10am 7pm, Sun 11am 7pm (from Fri 28 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:
Scotsman Assembly 54 George Street, 0131 226 2428. Open lvlon~Fri
11am 6pm (until Thu 3 Aug), daily 11am midnight (Fri 4 Mon 28 Aug). Tickets for the Gilded Balloon venues, the Pleasance and events at the
SWitc thet Garden Party are also sold here
Dynamic Earth Holyroocl Road, 0131 530 3557. Open 9 30ain-inidnight (until 28 Aug). The biggest new Fringe venue, Dynamic Earth Will host indoor shows and dramatic outdoor performances in the tailor—made amphitheatre.
20 Jul- 3 Aug 2000 THE lIST 57