Can you believe it? It’s Edinburgh Fringe time!
The year has gone by in a flash, so it’s time to don your UNIQLO crossbody bag and most comfortable footwear – we’re going in.
But we’re doing things a little differently this year… The Edinburgh Fringe is a spectacular time in the Scottish and international theatre calendar. The variety of work and audiences that the festival brings to the capital is unmatched, but defining your year and your artistic development by your presence in Edinburgh during the month of August isn’t necessary.
Explaining to your great-uncle for the tenth time why you still aren’t doing a show at the Fringe might be hard… (believe us, we know). But only you will know whether it is or isn’t the right time for you to be there. Opportunities to work and showcase your art exist in Scotland throughout the year – and throughout the country! Your wellbeing and development needs should be your priority, and you shouldn’t feel invalidated if you haven’t yet or never will take work to the Fringe. We can’t really say it better than past-participant Jack MacGregor in the latest episode of In Dialogue…, where he talks so eloquently about how you can build a sustainable practice and career throughout the year. If you haven’t already, check out the podcast here!
The Fringe can be a stepping stone in your learning and development though, if you want it to be. There are plenty of benefits that accompany working, performing or simply being at the Fringe: great networking opportunities, experiencing long runs with diverse audiences and, generally, the amount of fun you will no doubt have.
If you are heading to the Fringe at some point through August, have we got some great recommendations for you! Below are some Scottish Youth Theatre alumni that will be out and about performing, directing, producing and stage managing in various venues across the capital. Be sure to add them to your to-see list if you want to experience some great theatre.
SHOWS
Participant | Project | Show | Role | Venue | Dates | Tickets |
Laura Milton | I See My Sister | Performer | theSpace @ Niddry Street | 19 – 24 Aug | ||
William Byam Shaw | Love Is... | Director | Bedlam Theatre | 13 – 18 Aug | ||
Fraser Scott | Athens of the North | Director | The Hibernian Supporters Club | 5 – 12 Aug | ||
Mikael Phillips | Malion | Director | theSpace @ Surgeon's Hall | 2 – 24 Aug | ||
Bethan Murray | Until the Next Wedding | Producer | Paradise in Augustines | 3 – 10 Aug | ||
RJ Hunter | Stupid Sexy Poem Show | Writer and Performer | The Storytelling Centre | 4 – 19 Aug | ||
Lily Carmen Smith | Club Life | Performer | theSpaceTriplex | 2 – 10 Aug | ||
Ellie Campbell | Is This Thing On? | Writer/Performer | Underbelly, Cowgate | 1 – 25 Aug | ||
Shelley Middler | PALS | Performer | Gilded Balloon Patter House | 1 – 26 Aug | ||
Annabel Yennul | Godfather Death: A Grimm's Musical | Producer | theSpace @ Surgeon's Hall | 2 - 17 Aug | ||
Alexander Artis | Summer Courses | The Steamie | Performer | Gilden Balloon Patter House | 1 - 25 Aug |
Events
Alongside alumni shows, if you are attending the festival as an artist or audience member, there are plenty of other events that offer great opportunities to network, see new work and potentially spark future collaborations. Here are some of our top picks…
Fringe Connect – Register (as either an artist or industry member) to get the latest scoop of Fringe news and events. There are various events that Fringe Connect have on offer. Some of the highlights include the Fringe Community Day, Wellbeing in the World of Producing and International Touring for the Climate Conscious.
Summerhall Surgeries – Events on 5th August 16:45 – 17:45 and 24th August 10:00 – 11:00 at Summerhall. Get a glimpse of some of the most innovative work from Scottish, UK-based and international artists.
YTAS Fringe Days Out – Taking place on various dates throughout August you can join other artists and access free tickets for a day at the Fringe! YTAS are also offering travel bursaries and child-care support. Spaces are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Festival of Politics – The Festival of Politics is hosting various events such as talks, performances and seminars. Join leading experts from the worlds of politics, the arts, business, the media, academia and the third sector for a deep dive into issues dominating the news agenda. Some of our highlights include In Conversation with Jack Lowden, AI and Creativity and Mental Health and Young People.
taking care
It’s always important that you find time to look after yourself in what can be a whirlwind experience at the Fringe. Whether you need to escape for 15 minutes to a quieter space or you’re looking for some resources to read before you arrive, here is some information that we’ve found useful!
Edinburgh Festivals’ Quiet Spaces – A map of quiet spaces throughout Edinburgh and wider districts
Thriving at the Fringe – A guide produced by iThrive, Edinburgh Health in Mind and Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Health & Wellbeing Tips – Ed Fringe’s practical health and wellbeing tips for artists
Euan’s Guide – For accessible performance information and disabled access reviews
Making your Show Accessible – Ed Fringe’s helpful tips for making your show inclusive, ensuring that more people can enjoy your work
Healing Arts Scotland – The HAS conference takes place on 19th & 20th August. By fostering a positive dialogue around the role of the arts in wellbeing, the conference hopes to lead to the inclusion and the championing of the arts in NHS Scotland and other community driven initiatives
Over on our socials, we are also taking a moment to celebrate some Scottish Youth Theatre past participants that are currently working in the industry. Be it aerial artists, playwrights, stage managers or cultural practitioners, there is no limit to how your practice might develop. We want to highlight the urgent need to sustain free development opportunities for young artists across Scotland and celebrate the diverse number of ways you can pursue a career in the arts.
We are always looking to hear from past participants of Scottish Youth Theatre so please do get in touch to let us know what you’re up to. We love to share all upcoming projects that our alumni are involved in – let us know by dropping us a DM on our socials.
And in the meantime, check out the I’m Working in the Industry social media series by using the links below and help us celebrate these incredible individuals.
Enjoy!
Josie