This August I was lucky enough to attend all of the Edinburgh festivals which happen in August, a fantastic month as the city comes alive with five different festivals.
I had the privilege of being the blogger in residence at Festivals Edinburgh, which meant I got to capture, explore, and discover the city through all of the five festivals.
With so much going on including over 3000 performances in 300 different venues it is very easy to mismanage your time during the Edinburgh festivals. But, with a little planning, you can be sure to see the best bits of each.
Here’s the lowdown on the five different festivals in August.
My top tip: Don’t miss the Circus Hub in the meadows where circus skills are being reimagined in this uber colourful hang out or the Fringe Friday Takeovers which happen in the national museum!
People will tell you that the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a big ticket item, and in relation to many of the other shows in August it is, but with tickets starting from around £25 for the 110 minute performance I personally think they are pretty good value in comparison to many huge shows and concerts in Europe.
This year’s Unbound programme which happens nightly at the Spiegeltent combines words with music, poetry, performance and discussion and these events are a real crossover of mediums. Whether it’s an evening discussing gender or politics or simply a night of music, each slot on the programme brings something fresh to the table.
The Edinburgh International Festival programme is truly outstanding in its diversity and as well as the more contemporary shows I’ve had a chance to see, traditional pieces such as The Prisoner at The Lyceum and La Cenerentola by Opera de Lyon were equally outstanding.
And that, for me, is what defines the Edinburgh International Festival, they seem always to be finding new ways to share theatre with their audiences and taking risks some other companies wouldn’t dream of and that, at its very core, is what keeps creativity alive.
Would love to be able to go to the Edinburgh Festival! Seems like there’s so much culture and art!
The Edinburgh International Festival programme is truly outstanding in its diversity and as well as the more contemporary shows I’ve had a chance to see, traditional pieces such as The Prisoner at The Lyceum and La Cenerentola by Opera de Lyon were equally outstanding.
Excellent writing about five festivals, countless awesome experiences. It helps the visitor who wants to travel the area.