Our Programming Team’s Top Picks for Edinburgh Fringe Next Month
Each year the festival brings together brilliant artists, audiences and unique performers from every continent, and over 70 countries around the world. With over 50,000 performances to choose from, a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe is the experience of a lifetime, but with a programme that’s 400 x A4 pages long it can also be one of the most confusing experiences of a lifetime. Panic not, this is our helpful programming team’s top picks of the festival.
MAC Programming Officer Stuart Campbell and Creative Director Simon Magill travel from Belfast to Edinburgh every year – cramming in as many weird and wonderful shows as possible. It’s not all for their own enjoyment (although we’re sure they do have some fun). The shows they see can often be found in the MAC’s upcoming season programme for Belfast audiences to enjoy too.
Here’s a round-up of their festival must-sees:
Hot Brown Honey
High energy, in your face, funny, sexy, political, scary. Very entertaining.
Fleabag
The original live production of the hit TV series is back. If you were a fan of the TV show, it will be interesting to see this show in its original format.
DollyWould
From Sh!t Theatre who brought us Women’s Hour last year. A show about Dolly Parton and Dolly the Sheep. What else?
Tim Key - work in progress
Still a firm favourite comedian at the MAC. This is not a finished show, but a late-night work in progress can go anywhere in Edinburgh so worth checking one or two out.
Circa: Humans
Circa is a brilliant contemporary circus company from Australia, their shows are always brilliant. 10 amazingly skilled and strong acrobats.
Children are stinky
High-calibre circus, a rocking soundtrack and genuine belly laughs have propelled this Australian acrobatic duo to a non-stop multi award-winning world tour.
An Evening With an Immigrant
Award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams
Top tip: Try to get along to the great work from home and check out Prime Cut’s Scorch and Oona Doherty’s Hope Hunt
Also, don’t forget about the Edinburgh International Festival. Running at the same time as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (commonly known as The Fringe), the International Festival has a different booking system and often shows are performed in different venues. Here’s a few recommendations from the team:
The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir
Fancy a break from the crowds?
Edinburgh is a great spot for extra-special charity shops. We recommend a visit to the well-to-do area of Stockbridge and visit the Shelter Shop on Raeburn Place.
Happy Fringe, everyone.
Image credit: David Monteith-Hodge
