Latest news with #EdinburghFestivalFringeSociety
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
To continue hosting the world, we must protect the planet
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has cut its carbon footprint by over a quarter since 2017 This week the world once again descends on Edinburgh, as our famous festivals burst into life with colour, creativity and culture. Every summer, the capital becomes the beating heart of global performance and that is something we should be proud of. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... But pride must be matched with responsibility. As we welcome thousands of artists, producers and audiences from across the globe, we must also confront the environmental footprint this cultural powerhouse creates. Festivals are not immune to the climate emergency. The very things that make them magical; the travel, the lights, the build-outs, the temporary venues – also make them carbon intensive. I believe Edinburgh has an opportunity to lead the world in showing that world-class culture and climate responsibility can go hand in hand. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is already important work being done. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has cut its carbon footprint by over a quarter since 2017. Electricity emissions alone are down nearly 60 per cent and they've slashed brochure printing by almost two thirds. Many venues now serve vegetarian options by default and source materials locally. These are real, commendable steps and I wonder if this is the result of the city influencing our visitors or if we are learning from their annual visits. But we cannot ignore the challenges. Travel emissions remain high, with artists and audiences still largely reliant on flying. Freight, accommodation and infrastructure continue to leave a sizeable mark on the city and its environment. Some of Edinburgh's green spaces, especially The Meadows, are still overused and vulnerable during peak festival activity. Our nature suffers from the overcrowding and hundreds of vans and lorries delivering equipment. If we want to continue hosting the world, we must protect the planet in the process. That's why we need bold ideas and decisive leadership from both local authorities and festival organisers. We should explore options like decentralised venues, better public transport access, reduced reliance on temporary diesel generators and stricter environmental standards as a condition for use of public land. We also need to secure the funding that will allow these changes to happen, not force festivals to choose between artistic quality and climate action. The Scottish economy relies on a successful Edinburgh Festival, therefore the Scottish Government should invest in making it sustainable for the city for generations to come. Culture is powerful. It moves us, challenges us, brings us together. But it also shapes our values. If Edinburgh's festivals can model sustainability with creativity and courage, they can inspire audiences from across the globe to take action too. Let Edinburgh be not only the world's festival city, but also a city where climate justice is centre stage. Lorna Slater is co-leader of the Scottish Greens
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: 'Affordable' performer accommodation almost a fifth empty days before festival
The accommodation is being offered as a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and Queen Margaret University Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Almost a fifth of rooms in 'affordable' accommodation provided by the Fringe Society are still available for performers with just days to go to the festival's launch. The single rooms in halls of residence at Queen Margaret University's (QMU) Fringe Village have been made available to artists taking part in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which starts later this week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around 80 rooms, rented at a cost of £294 a week - a total of £1,176 a month - are still believed to be available for booking. This is out of a total of 500 rooms at the site made available through the partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and QMU. The Fringe Society has now opened up bookings to a wider group, including visiting media, in a bid to fill the available accommodation, which is located on QMU's campus on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The move comes amid an ongoing fear the soaring cost of accommodation in Edinburgh is pricing out performers from attending the Fringe and other festivals. An email sent out by Fringe staff on Monday said rooms were still available at the campus. The correspondence said: 'Queen Margaret University is providing affordable accommodation to artists throughout the festival period. Due to room availability, this offer has now been opened up to accredited industry and media professionals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We have single, en-suite rooms available, which are located within three, four and five-bedroom flats, with each having a communal kitchen and living space. Each single room is available for a four-week period.' One Fringe performer said he had been put off staying at the QMU Fringe Village due to the requirement to book the entire month. An increasing number of artists are cutting short their Fringe runs and opting not to take the full month of the Fringe in a bid to cut costs. The QMU campus has been opened up as Fringe accommodation. 'I'm only doing a two-week run this year, so it didn't make sense for me to book an extra two weeks of accommodation I didn't need,' the performer said. 'I ended up paying a similar amount for two weeks in the city centre, but it felt like a better option.' The single en-suite rooms are located within an apartment. Each room is equipped with a single bed and a private en-suite shower pod, as well as access to a shared kitchen/diner. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A six-minute train is available from the campus near Musselburgh to shuttle performers into Waverley Station in the city centre. There are also Fringe-specific events held on campus, including a welcome reception for performers and complementary networking breakfasts during the month.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's Festivals 2025: Here are all the festivals taking place in the Capital this August - and what's happening at them
The jugglers and street performers of the Royal Mile are just one small part of Edinburgh's festivals. | Getty Images As ever, there's a lot going on in Edinburgh this August. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... While you may hear people talk about 'The Edinburgh Festival', there's really no such thing - with Scotland's Capital hosting a number of different events over the summer. To let visitors know their Edinburgh Festival Fringe from their Edinburgh International Festival, we're giving you a quick rundown of everything cultural happening in the coming weeks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Taken together these events offer something for everyone, and earn Edinburgh the undisputed title of Festival City. Here's everything happening this August. Edinburgh Festival Fringe What is it? The Edinburgh Fesival Fringe is the world's largest performance arts festival, set up in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival. On a global scale only the Olympic Games and the World Cup sell more tickets and it takes over venues all over the city for much of August. It is an open-access festival, meaning anybody can participate in any genre of art. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society publish a thick free programme every year containing most of the performances - which can be picked up in venues across Edinburgh before and during the event. When does it take place? This year's event is scheduled to take place between August 1-25, although there are often preview performances in the week before and a few extra events at the start of the week after. Where does it take place? In venues across Edinburgh - from proper theatres to temporary venues. The largest venues include The Pleasance, The Underbelly, The Gilded Balloon, The Monkey Barrel, The Stand, and the Assembly. What are the highlights? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is genuinely something for everybody at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - including hundreds of free events. Big names appearing at this year's event include Miriam Margolyes, Alan Davies, Rosie O'Donnell, Alan Davies, Tapeface and Michelle Collins. Where can I get tickets? Tickets for all events are available to buy here. Edinburgh International Festival What is it? First held in 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival has taken place every year since, other than in 2020 when the global pandemic forced it to be cancelled completely. It sees notable figures from the worlds of music and the performing arts invited to perform in the city. In recent years contemporary music has started to play a part, but traditionally the majority of events are classical music concerts, opera, theatre productions, and dance performances. When does it take place? The Edinburgh International Festival runs from August 1-25. Where does it take place? Like the Fringe, the International Festival takes place in venues across the city, with its headquarters at The Hub on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Key venues include The Lyceum, The Edinburgh Festival Theatre, The Usher Hall, The Queen's Hall, and The Edinburgh Playhouse. What are the highlights? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This year's hot ticket seems to be Make it Happen, James Graham's new play about the rise and fall of The Royal Bank of Scotland that stars Dundoneon actor Brian Cox. Other eyecatching events include Mary, Queen of Scots, Orpheus and Eurydice, Holst's The Planets, and Book of Mountains and Sea. Where can I get tickets? Tickets for all events can be bought here. Edinburgh International Book Festival What is it? First taking place in a single tent in 1983, the Edinburgh International Book Festival was originally a biennial event but became an annual literary celebration in 1997. It invites hundred of authors, journalists, politicians and famous faces from around the world to come to the city to speak about both their books and those of others. When does it take place? The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place from August 12–28. Where does it take place? The festival moved from its former home in Charlotte Square a few years ago, initially moving to Edinburgh College of Art. This year, for the second time, it will be taking place at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) next to the Meadows - which is the festival's new 'long-term' home. Alongside a range of event venues the EFI offers gardens to relax in and a huge bookshop. Bigger events take place in the McEwan Hall, a few minutes walk away. What are the highlights? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad More than 470 authors and personalities are appearing including Ian McEwan, Sam Heughan, Brian Cox, Adam Buxton, Maggie O'Farrell, Nicola Sturgeon, Ally McCoist, Ruth Jones, Viggo Mortensen, Vanessa Redgrave and Tim Key. Where can I get tickets? You can buy tickets here. Edinburgh International Film Festival What is it? Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is the world's oldest continually running film festival. Threatened by financial problems in 2022, including the closing of its Edinburgh Filmhouse home, it continued as a shortened event. This year the Filmhouse is back, as is the festival, showcasing a selection of films from around the world, from festival favourites to world premieres. When does it take place? The festival takes place over six days from August 14-20. Where does it take place? The majority of screenings are taking place in the Filmhouse and, a short walk up Lothian Road, at the Cameo. What are the highlights? The opening film is the UK premiere of Eva Victor's dark comedy Sorry, Baby the UK premiere of , while Irvine Welsh documentary Reality is not Enough will close proceedings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Inbetween, popular screenings will include new Ben Wheatley film Bulk, the UK premiere of The Toxic Avenger, and a retrospective of Sean Connery James Bond films. There are also in person events with the likes of Andrew and Kevin Macdonald and Andrea Arnold Where can I get tickets? Tickets are available here. Edinburgh Arts Festival What is it? The UK's largest annual celebration of visual art takes place across the city featuring everything from paintings to installations. When does it take place? The festival runs from August 7-24. Where does it take place? You can find art festival exhibitions in galleries across the city. If you piock up a programme it includes a map of all the venues and what you can see in them. What are the highlights? Highlights include a range of newly commissioned, EAF-initiated works, including a performance by Linder, film work by CJ Mahony and Lewis Hetherington, and performance by Lewis Walker. Where can I get tickets? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tickets for many of the exhibitions are free, but for those you have to pay for, you can buy tickets here. Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo What is it? First held in 1949 at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual show performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, and artistic performance teams. When does it take place? The tattoo is held most days between August 1-23. Where does it take place? The Royal Edinburgh Military Tatto takes place on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. What are the highlights? To mark its 75th anniversary, this year's event will feature a journey through the Tattoo's history, titled The Heroes Who Made Us. It will include returning fan favorites like the Massed Pipes and Drums, military musicians, and Tattoo dancers, alongside international acts such as the Band of the Polish Border Guard, Top Secret Drum Corps, and the United States Honor Guard Drill Team. Where can I get tickets? Tickets are available here. Foodies Festival What is it? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dedicated to all things culinary, the Foodie Festival incldes cooking and baking demonstrations from celebrity chefs, cocktail tasting, street food stalls, artisan producers, music, and a while host of other attractions. When does it take place? The Foodie Festival takes place over the weekend of August 1-3. Where does it take place? The festival's home is Edinburgh's Inverleith Park. What are the highlights? Chefs and bakers appearing include Gary Mclean, Dean Banks, The Hebridean Baker, Jak O'Donnell and AJ Park. There will also be music from The Wanted 2.0 and Scouting For Girls. Where can I get tickets?
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Oasis have had 'negligible' impact on Fringe ticket sales
Tony Lankester said advance bookings were currently tracking in line with the 2024 event, which ended up featuring 3746 shows and selling 2.61 million tickets. Read more: However this year's programme has expanded over the last three years to 3834 shows, the second highest tally in the 78-year history of the event, which has been long been the world's biggest celebration of culture. There were widespread fears about the impact of the only Oasis reunion shows in Scotland clashing with the Fringe as soon as the shows were announced days after last year's Fringe had drawn to a close, particularly on the price of accommodation. Two of the three gigs are being held across the second weekend of the festival. Tony Lankester was appointed chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society earlier this year. (Image: Gordon Terris) However the society has also revealed that there is still widespread availability at an official 'Fringe Village' at Queen Margaret University's campus in Musselburgh, as as well as in [[Edinburgh]] University accommodation. Mr Lankester, who is overseeing his first Fringe, has nonetheless urged concert promoters to avoid staging future shows at Murrayfield in August. George Square is one of the busiest areas during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. (Image: Alistair Leith) Although the home of Scottish rugby has been playing host to concerts since the early 1980s, the sold-out shows by Oasis – on August 8, 9 and 12 – and a one-off gig by AC/DC – are the first to clash with Edinburgh's main summer festivals season. Scottish Rugby officials recently set out ambitions to host up to 12 concerts a year at the stadium, which will have a capacity of almost 70,000 for the Oasis shows. Mr Lankester said he had held talks with Glasgow-based promoters DF Concerts, who are working on the Oasis shows, since taking up his post. He said: 'The ticket sales pattern is pretty as much as we would expect by now and is not dissimilar to this time last year. Saturdays are our biggest selling days 'Some of the venues are nervous, because no-one is quite sure how things are going to play out, but in general they are saying the same thing. No-one has raised a red flag with us yet, but by far the lion's share of tickets are sold in August. 'These concerts have had a negligible impact on ticket sales so far. Given the extent to which bookings happen on the day, it will be really interesting to see what happens during the Fringe. 'On balance, I would prefer it if these concerts were not taking place in August, but they are there and they are happening this year. "There are obviously increased concerts for promoters if they put on concerts in August. I don't think it would be their first choice for a time of year to put them on. 'We have done some postcode analysis of the Oasis ticket purchases. Broadly speaking, around half of those people who are coming to those concerts will sleep in their own beds at night. They are either from Edinburgh or are a commutable distance away from Edinburgh. 'Of the other half, some of them will be staying in a commutable area outside Edinburgh. A lot of people going to these concerts will come into town and go back out again. 'DF Concerts said to me that they believe most of the crowds will not extend beyond Haymarket.'I hope some people will be sticking around, will make a weekend of it and will pick some Fringe shows to see. We will have to see how that plays out. I would encourage people not to leave it till the last minute. They should dive into the programme now and pick out a couple of things.' Last year's Fringe attracted the event's fourth highest attendance since the festival was launched in 1947. The Fringe broke the two million ticket sales barrier in 2014, when the official programme boasted 3193 shows. Mr Lankester, who took over as chief executive of the Fringe Society in April, previously said he would like the festival to reach three million ticket sales, which has only been achieved once previously, in the 2019 festival, the last to be staged before the Covid pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020. However, speaking ahead of the Fringe's official launch on Friday, Mr Lankester said: 'I don't think we will get to three million this year. I might be wrong. 'But the path to getting there is not about getting more people to come to the Fringe. It's about getting the people who do come here to buy more tickets. 'The Fringe isn't a brand you need to tell people about. For me, it's about the individual visitor experience, how we maximise the benefits to the Fringe of people being here and maximise their experience of the Fringe. 'If we can get people to move from buying two tickets a day to four tickets a day that would be great. That's how we can grow.' The Fringe Society has insisted there are still affordable accommodations open ahead of the official launch of the festival on August 1, including at the Fringe Village, which has been targeted at people working in the festival. He added: "Queen Margaret University tell us they still have around 80 beds available, which cost £300 a week. They have put a lot of work into creating a really nice community. Edinburgh University also still has beds available, at roughly the same price. There are still viable options available for people who are not coming here for the whole month."
Glasgow Times
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Extra Glasgow trains for Edinburgh Fringe and Festival
ScotRail has announced extra late-night services and additional carriages throughout the festivals, which run from August 1 to 25. Mark Ilderton, service delivery director at ScotRail, said: "We're proud to play our part in helping people experience the buzz of Edinburgh during festivals season. Read more: 'He was brilliant last year' - Mulgrew urges Celtic to sign winger "With longer trains and more late-night services on key routes, we're doing everything we can to make it easier for customers to enjoy all the capital has to offer, from the first show of the day to the last act of the night." The operator will run extra late-night trains between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street, with departures at 12.03am and 12.33am every night via Falkirk High, as well as additional Friday and Saturday services at 11.30pm and 12.12am (via Bathgate). [[ScotRail]] will also add more carriages on services connecting Edinburgh Waverley with Stirling, Dunblane, Dundee, Leven, Perth, Glenrothes with Thornton, Cowdenbeath, Bathgate, Glasgow Central (via Shotts), and the Borders. Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "We welcome ScotRail's enhanced services during the peak festival season and encourage Fringe audiences to plan ahead and book rail travel where possible. "From families planning a fun day out in Edinburgh to those here for an evening full of Fringe performance; travelling by rail will deliver you right to the heart of the action."
