Edinburgh Fringe Guide 2009 - The Compact Version

Giraffes Can't Dance
Blunderbus Theatre Company
The Spaces @ Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson street.
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=15258
http://www.blunderbus.org/Default.aspx
Blunderbus Productions have been bringing colour and magic to the Fringe over the years. Their colourful characters a delight to all young and old. This is a must see show for those of you with young children to entertain.


Magic Porridge Pot
Sleeping Beauty and The Time Lords
Three Potter Pigs
Zombie Prom
Spotlites Theatre Production
Spotlites @ The Merchant Hall, 22 Hanover Street
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/group.php?id=20099
http://www.spotlites.co.uk/index2.htm
Spotlites Theatre are the hardest working promotion theatre group during the Fringe. They spend almost as much time on the High Street as me. And it's that dedication to their art that gets them a place here. Shows for children that will keep the adults entertained too.

Chris Cross is Escaping From Reality
Chris Cross/ PBH's Free Fringe
The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=13546


The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Black and White Rainbow
Just The Tonic @ The Caves, Enter from The Rowantree Bar, 253 Cowgate
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=16371


The Dark Party
The Dirty Brothers
Underbelly's Hullabaloo, George Square Gardens
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=16375
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYeAkJCEkU0
Rising from the embers of The Happy Sideshow; Shep Huntly, Dirty PAT and the great Gordo Gamsby bring us a new show to temp fate with reality.
From my first viewing of what the Happy Sideshow I was hooked on that that was wicked. And wicked this will truly be.



Get Up Stand Up
WMD Awareness Programme/ Mirth Control
The Jazz Bar, 1a Chambers Street
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=13693
http://www.comeclean.org.uk/index.php
The promotion team for Get Up Stand up are the hardest working group of pink t-shirted flyerer's on the Mile, in the shadow of St. Giles they promote entertainment, comedy and awareness to issues we sometimes tend to forget. Always slightly different something not to miss.

Ian Kendall's 18th Birthday Magic Show
Ian Kendall
The Zoo, 140 The Pleasance
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=14275

Kiosk of Champions 2: Kiosk of Champions!
CKP
Pleasance Dome, Potterrow, 1 Bristo Square
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=15087
http://www.kioskofchampions.com/show.html
Back at the Fringe with their sequel to Kiosks of Champions Stuart Goldsmith and Richard Sandling Prove there is life in a second coming. Sequels come and go this one's here to stay.

Seymour Mace and Peter Slater: Sundayland
CKP by Arrangement with Ashley Boroda Entertainment
Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=15100


Seymour Mace Presents Funshine!
Seymour Mace/ The Stand Comedy Club
The Stand Comedy Club II, 16 North St. Andrew Street
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=14349
From the early days of my fringe life I ran into Seymour. Now he courts fame starring along side Johnny Vegas in Ideal on BBC3.

Mayhew: Live- Free
Mayhew
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 38 West Nicolson Street
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=14047
Mayhew I missed the wet year; yes 2008. But this time they're back and in a dry venue.
Here because their passion for words inspired. And I'll do my best not to miss. So do yourself a favour don't miss them too.

For more dates and info on Mayhew visit their Myspace page.


In The Pink- Fabulous All Female Capella!
In The Pink
C, Chambers Street
http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=14503
I first ran into In The Pink a couple of years ago; just off the train and heading for the Mile. A delight to see and hear amid the hustle and bustle of the High Street. Oh so much better to listen to in the comfort of a theatre venue.

Doctor Faustus

Zigzag Creations

The Monkey House @ The Zoo

http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=15267

Stunning costumes and fabulous make up make this a show with the draw the High street needs.

Tramworks and The Mound

Princes street is currently the biggest building site in Edinburgh's beautiful city centre. With work progressing "slowly" on the contraversial tram project.

For those tourists that do arrive views of the castle from the shopping side of Princes Street are obscured by high fencing and access to the gardens and the mound are severly restricted. So it's a world of two halfs. If you're interested in shopping it's one side of the street. And photography and relaxation it's the other. And to combine the two it's a long walk to the east end, west end or the Mound to cross the

So what does this mean for the Mound.

In talking to one vendor at the Mound.
"numbers are down around 40% this year."
A big blow to him and the National Galleries; his neighbours.
The other reaction from the tourists he's getting is they had no idea this (The Tram Works) were happening."If they did know that Edinburgh was going to look like this, they would have stayed away."
And the message they seem to be taking away and will be passing on to those at home.
"Stay away until the work is finished."


So numbers this year might be good. With the £ not as strong as with previous years. But next year Edinburgh might just have a tourist drought

For this years Fringe and street performing at the Mound it could be just the boost that the galleries and the ice cream vendors are looking forward to. The Mound full of people instead of a large space almost devoid of tourists on a sunny afternoon.