The Edinburgh Festival

Header 6th August 2017

Each year in August Edinburgh hosts what has become one of the largest Arts Festivals in the world, bringing together a diverse range of performers, from a huge array of artistic disciplines, converging in this historic and picturesque city.

The festivals first began in 1947, the brain child of an Austrian impresario, Rudolf Bing. From its early years, the Edinburgh International Festival brought artistic icons to the city each summer for the enjoyment of enthusiastic audiences, keen to be a part of this post war cultural revival.

As the popularity of the festival grew companies of performers unable to get on the main programme hired venues themselves and put on their shows outside of the area of the main festival.  Each year the number of these acts grew bringing both variety and vitality to the city.  The Scottish journalist, Robert Kemp referred to them as being “Round the fringe of the official festival” and the term seemed to stick.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has grown dramatically alongside the main Edinburgh International Festival and is now seen as an integral part of the festival experience.  In 2016 the Edinburgh Fringe Festival hosted 50,266 performances of 3,269 shows in 294 separate venues around the city. In all 2,475,143 tickets were issued during the three weeks not counting those who attended the 643 free shows included in last year’s programme.

During the Festival, the main show grounds of Edinburgh Castle host what has become a firm favourite for many who visit the city, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  This large-scale production brings together the different regiments of the UK armed forces who provide the audiences fortunate enough to get tickets with a unique festival experience.

It was great to catch up with the cast and crew of ‘BambinO’ as we ran through the production in Glasgow ahead of our run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is quite exciting to think that we are to be a part of the 2017 festival which is expected to be even bigger than last year.  Our first performance is on the 8th August running through to 20th August, with two shows a day at 10:00 am and 11:30 am.  The performances will be held at the Edinburgh Academy, 42 Henderson Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5BL.

79 thoughts on “The Edinburgh Festival”

    1. Thank you Darlene, I think you would love this show, my parents and grandparents just loved watching the babies in the circle and their reactions to the show.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. I would love to see it but, sadly, you and this wonderful opera, are across the pond. Maybe someday, Charlotte

  5. We have something similar in Plantersville, Texas every October and November. If you make to USA you should go and sing.They have Shakespeare and Madrigal groups wandering around. A harpist plucking tunes under an oak tree while falcons fly overhead. It is the Texas Renaissance Festival. It has King Henry. https://www.texrenfest.com/ Up to 10,000 people show up and wander around. Glad you have a Scottish fest. Someplace to go if I ever make it there. Shall most likely be rubbing elbows with long lost kin folks Shephards, Suttons, Rubles, and Brawleys 🙂

    Reply

  8. Wonderful to be a tassel on that fringe!
    Twenty-six shows should leave you rather exhausted. I hope they go swimmingly, but that you then give yourselves a break.

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    1. Aww I wish I’d thought of that as a title for this post. A Tassel on the Fringe!
      Yes I took a weeks vocal rest after the first run and concentrated on translation and learning the music and words. I’m excited for tomorrow every show is different because you never know what the babies will do 😀.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. I met Sam Pyatt, the photographer, at Youth Positive in Manchester five years ago, after the riots the event showcased young people living and training in Manchester, he’s photographing now for Magazines and living in London so it was great to catch up with him. I’m always a challenge to him smiling away, he’s more used to models now hehe 😄.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  10. I wish I could attend your performances,huge congrats to you,dear Charlotte!Unforgettable the enjoyment I had in the festival a couple of years ago,all the atmosphere is so festive 🙂

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    1. Yes it is exciting. It’s the same number of shows that we did in the Manchester festival but there was a longer break between shows in Manchester so that will be different.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thank you Millie, it is wonderful to be in the 70th anniversary Fringe event, I’m so pleased Scottish Opera invited me to be part of this project.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. My family and I were at the Fringe in 2016…and enjoyed it tremendously! I appreciate your Blog and read it with great interest. You are inspiring! 😁

    1. Thank you 😊. I hope the weather stays nice with sunshine for all the visitors to the Fringe, Edinburgh is a lovely City I can’t wait to get started.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. I’m raring to go tomorrow, the rehearsals were fun. I always try to find balance, I’ve caught up with friends this weekend which was lovely.
      My best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  23. Another feather in your cap, Charlotte! Congrats. I know you’ll always remember you days at the festival!! Break a leg, young lady!!

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  25. Great Festival, Charlotte. Break a leg. You and BambinO needs a world audience. Never knew that Rudolf Bing started the Festival. I remember him from when the Met Opera came to town on tour. Cool old guy.

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    1. Thank you Don, it is such a small world, it’s fabulous that it’s the 70th anniversary of the fringe festival this year. I’m excited to start the run tomorrow and we’re in the same venue for the fortnight so that’s good.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. My Nan called me first when she saw me on the news, then my lovely teacher Rosa called, I wasn’t expecting it so it was a real treat. Such a lovely project I hope they do take it to the States 😊.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  29. How great it would be to experience the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, especially to see you performing 🙂 The venue must be stunning to see and experience, so you’ll fit right in as one of its shining stars ~ what fun it will be for you. Wishing you the best!

    Reply

  30. Hope your performance today was a smashing success! I wish I were there to see you!
    Congratulations on being a part of this prestigious festival – I do love Endinburgh!

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  32. You must be having the time of your life!!! YaY! AND you look simply marvelous. I look forward to your Canadian debut!

    Reply
  35. Pingback: The Last Tassel On The Fringe « Charlotte Hoather
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