Edinburgh Festivals alongside SAB'02

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This page contains bits of festival publicity material and bits of personal comments by Bridget Hallam. SAB and ISAB should not be held responsible for either!

Six international festivals run in Edinburgh each August. The centre of the city becomes a seething, colourful mass of people of all nationalities, performing, watching, or resting in Princes St Gardens in the shadow of Edinburgh castle.

Edinburgh International Festival

11 - 31 August 2002 http://www.eif.co.uk

With top international artists in prime venues, the Edinburgh International Festival is a wonderland for those interested in the performing arts. Founded in 1947 as a post-war initiative to re-unite Europe through culture, it is now recognised as one of the most important celebrations of the arts in the world.

The founders of the Festival believed that the Festival programmes should be of the highest possible artistic standard presented by the best artists in the world, that the Festival should enliven and enrich the cultural life of Europe, Britain and Scotland and that it should provide a period of flowering of the human spirit. The Edinburgh International Festival has developed significantly over the years, yet the founders' original intentions are closely reflected in the current aims and objectives.

Last year's programme included the New York City Ballet, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Wagner's Die Walküre, Alessandro Baricco's magical play Novecento, Baryshnikov and the White Oak Dance Project and the Vienna Burgtheater.

The opera programme included rarities such as concert performances of Rossini's Armida, Messiaen's monumental Saint François d'Assise, and Rameau's Zoroastre. There was also an opportunity to experience some of the many forms musical theatre takes today, with works by Carles Santos, James MacMillan, Peter Eötvös and Heiner Goebbels.

Edinburgh International Festival events are often fully booked despite the expense of the tickets.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

4 - 26 August 2002 http://www.edfringe.com/

The Edinburgh Fringe is unique, breaking its own record every year as the largest arts festival on the planet (Guinness Book of Records). Anyone who wants to perform (and can find a venue), may. This means that the skill and professionalism of the shows is not guarranteed. Some shows are wonderful, some moving, some a waste of time. What is guarranteed is enthusiasm and energy, Edinburgh is full of life during the Fringe from mid-morning to dawn (about 5.30am in August).

In 2001, over 16,000 performances of 1350 different shows were given in nearly 200 venues all across Scotland's capital city. Free, real-life `trailers' for the events can often be found along Edinburgh's Royal Mile, closed to cars for the duration of the Fringe. Don't attempt to walk the Royal Mile in a hurry, but take the opportunity to find out which shows are (not) worth paying to see.

The big Fringe Programme categorises and lists all but is rather overwhelming at first glance. The free daily listing gives little information other than time, title, and venue and still runs to 8 or 10 sides. Due to there being so many shows on at once, very few Fringe venues are more than half full, unless they've had a particularly good review in the papers.

Fringe Sunday, projected for August 11th 2002 ie the day after SAB'02 finishes, is the highlight of the Fringe for many. It provides a taste of over 200 Fringe acts for free, in the open air. Music and cabaret, clowns, jugglers and maybe a treasure hunt for the kids.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo

2 - 24 August 2002 http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk

Colour and spectacle are two assured ingredients at the 52nd Edinburgh Tattoo, when 1000 performers from all over the world come together against the famous backdrop of Edinburgh Castle for Scotland's traditional international showcase of music, theatre and dance.

With music, movement and spectacle at its foundation, the Tattoo commands attention and admiration across the world. Each year over 200,000 people travel from the four corners of the globe to witness a performance of this universally acclaimed event.

Monday to Friday at 9pm; Saturdays at 7.30pm and 10.30pm

Edinburgh International Book Festival

10th - 26th August 2002 http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Established in 1983, this is Europe's largest and liveliest public book event, now taking place on an annual basis. It presents an extensive programme for both adults and children including discussions, readings, lectures, demonstrations and workshops. Look out for famous authors (eg JK Rowling, Terry Pratchett) reading their work or giving tips on writing.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2002

14th - 25th August 2002 http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk

Love the movies? Then prepare to fall in love with the Film Festival. If it's worth watching, we'll be showing it. You can be the first to see an amazing range of movie premieres.

Jazz and Blues Festival 2002

For ten days the sound of jazz resonates through the city as The Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival presents concerts in bars, concert halls, clubs, streets and parks. Musicians who are world leaders come to Edinburgh to play in attractive venues and to link-up with other musicians in unique collaborations. So why not join us? All you have to do is to buy a ticket or simply turn up to one of the free outdoor events.