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FESTIVAL INSIDER This week funny lady Shazia Mirza talks multiple choices and finding love on the Fringe
getting
‘I m no expert on love. But I think some romance is simple. You’re at the Edinburgh Festival. That already means there are excited, loose and drunk people. When people are in these vulnerable states they are already half-way to where I want them to be.
It is possible to find true love at the Festival, but it’s never found where we think it’s going to be. Busy bars, people’s shows, public toilets – these may seem like obvious places but, really, it’s just like being in a hostage situation. The best places to meet a potential partner are the obscure places, like Tesco, Edinburgh Waverley station, Blockbuster video and Greggs the Bakers. Tesco is great, because as the festival is underway, there always seems to be a shortage of food in there, but the queues are really long, so there’s a lot of chance for banter and public moaning while standing around and bending over freezers.
Every time you leave the house, it’s an opportunity to find love. But don’t stalk people. I’ve seen girls looking at comedians’ posters and saying, ‘Oh I really fancy him, I’m going
to go to his show and chat to him afterwards.’ Then they hang about after the show, and realise they look nothing like their posters. It’s easier to chat up people at the Edinburgh Festival than it is in other areas of life, as you’ve got genuine things you can talk about, like, ‘What show are you
in? What time? Oh I’ll come to that.’ You could turn up and be the only one there; they’ll be so grateful it could be the start of romance. In your search, never forget the locals. If you want to live like local people and do what local people do, then you’ve got to try
and be like them. Have something fried, have some haggis, go to some charity shops. Love is all around. Shazia Mirza: Multiple Choice, Gilded Balloon, 622 6552, until Mon 30 Aug, 9pm, £10.50–£12.50 (£9–£11).
BRIBE OF THE WEEK Something Relevant: Feels Good To Be Live
Another heaving bundle of festival bribery this week: a slim lilac cap with a large ‘Feels Good 2 B Live!’ badge on it; a large sticker bearing the same legend; a musical compact disc; and, our favourite, a gold medal (with the familiar FG2BL message) that makes the wearer feel like a real winner. The bribe comes courtesy of Something Relevant, a funky, bluesy, poppy, soulful, hip-hoppy reggae-rockin’ ensemble from Mumbai. They’re making the most of being over here: aside from a 20-date run at the New Town Theatre (see details below), they played for 2000 people in the Leith Links Big Top tent, as part of the Edinburgh Mela; performed a session on Leith FM and have even performed the odd busk around town. In any case, they know the power of a good bribe – if you want your show to benefit from this kind of massive exposure, send your show-related bumf to Big Fat Festival Bribe, The List c/o Niki Boyle, 14 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TE. ■ Feels Good to be Live, New Town Theatre, 0844 477 1000, until 29 Aug (not 23), 10.30pm, £11-£12 (£8-£10). 8 THE LIST 19–26 Aug 2010
OVERHEARD IN EDINBURGH
‘The wolves may want to touch, smell and move you.
Let them.’ The director of Wolf(at Just the Tonic @ The Caves) to audiences just before the show