Of the thousands of shows in 2007 31% were theatre, 30.5% comedy, 17% were music, 5.5% childrens, 5% musicals and opera, 4.5% dance and physical theatre, 3.5% exhibitions and 3% events.
And the point of all these statistics?
Just to warn you in advance how arbitrary my list of Edinburgh Festival highlights (or anyone else's for that matter) is likely to be. This very brief list of festival highlights should whet your appetite:- Opening Party, Cavalcade and Festival Sunday
- Edinburgh Fringe Free Festival 157 theatre, comedy, children's, music and art shows, in 8 venues, that are free for both artists and audience.
- Joan Rivers at the Underbelly. Joan is doing her one-woman show "Joan Rivers: Work in Progress by a Life in Progress" at 3:45 p.m., August 7-25, at the Underbelly Cowbarn, plus late night stand-up, 11:45 p.m. August 12-13, 19-20, at Underbelly's White Belly.
- Traverse Theatre Company Anything going on at the Traverse, Scotland's new writing theatre, is likely to be exciting. In 2008, they've brought in guests companies from New York, London, Cardiff, Dublin, and Flanders. Look out for:
- Architecting, a collaboration between New York-based company The TEAM and The National Theatre of Scotland Workshop.
- Free Outgoing by Anupama Chandrasekhar, produced by London's Royal Court Theatre. What happens when new technology clashes with a traditional culture.
- Terminus by Mark O'Rowe and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. A challenging and surreal smash hit production.
- The Six Wives of Timothy Leary The Weaver Hughes Ensemble in Time Out Critic's Choice production at the Pleasance Dome. Six women on the highs and lows of marriage to the psychedelic messiah. August 3-10, 12-18, 20-25.
- On the Waterfront Steven Berkoff brings his trademark style of physical theatre to an adaptation of the classic 1950s Budd Schulberg film.
- Footsbarn's A Midsummer Night's Dream Fresh from heralded runs at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London and Coventry, the renowned French company raises its own Big Top, Calton Hill. Music, masks, circus skills and physical theatre. August 3-4, 6-11, 13-18, 20-25.
- Comedy at The Pleasance The Pleasance Courtyard has 15 separate venues, six bars and three cafes. The Pleasance Dome has six venues, all under one roof. If all else fails, you can count on a laugh at either. Among the comedy acts scheduled for the Pleasance performance spaces are:
- Omid Djalili
- Paul Merton's Impro Chums
- BBC Comedy Presents
- Michael McIntyre
- And about a hundred more - Check their website
