I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted. Twelve days of an emotional roller coaster that was the most successful Commonwealth Games in its history has left me in need of a holiday.
Every time I watched another one of Team Scotland pick up a medal I was roaring at the telly and shouting in jubilation, followed by a mandatory wee greet at the medal ceremony hearing Flower Of Scotland. It gets me every time . . .
But there is no rest for the wicked. As the curtain closed on Glasgow another one opened in Edinburgh, with the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
It’s a bumper year this year for Scotland, with Bannockburn Live, the Games, that small subject of a referendum and the Ryder Cup. And I can only imagine what Pete Irvine of Unique Events has got up his sleeve for this year’s Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party.
But the Edinburgh Fringe is no shrinking violet and, not to be undone in this year when the world’s eye is most definitely on Scotland, it has landed with a bang bringing the capital its biggest ever programme in the festival’s history with 49,497 perform-ances and 3,193 shows in 299 venues across the capital.
Proving the point again that Scotland really does punch above its weight in terms of international events.
To kick-start the festival in style, I had a marathon weekend sampling some of the best of the Fringe so I could report back with some hot tips for Courier readers.
In what will be no surprise, a big theme running through the entire festival, not just the Fringe, is the topic of independence. In usual Fringe style it tackles these big subjects in a mix of politics, poetry, polemic and pop in a variety of ways.
Saturday lunchtime I sought refuge from the rain at the Stand in the Square, a fantastic new addition to the festival transforming St Andrew’s Square.
Stepping into top playwright David Greig’s alternative world of David Bowie in All Back to Bowie’s, inspired by Bowie’s unexpected “Scotland stay with us” declaration at the Brits, I was transported into a world of performance, ideas and discussion. David opens his extensive contact book to offer some of the best talent and minds Scotland has to offer. Then I experienced a real treat with playwright Peter Arnott stepping into the shoes of Sir Walter Scott and reading a letter he had penned summing up neatly that: “Scotland isn’t a country, it’s a costume.”
On Monday the Deputy First Minister also made her Fringe debut at the show. Billed as Lady Stardust, it’s no surprise it sold out. On daily at 12.20pm, you are always going to be in for a real treat.
A real little gem is The Pure, the Dead and the Brilliant at the Assembly Rooms by author and playwright Alan Bissett who seems to be unstoppable right now. The satirical show wonders what would happen if Scotland’s mythical creatures were involved in the referendum and has a star-studded line-up including Elaine C Smith.
With Alan Bissett you never know what to expect, but never disappointed. This is a serious production, challenging yet inducing big belly laughs whether you are a Yes, No or dinnae ken. The fact he manages to do this from the perspective of Scotland’s fairy kingdom shows the depths of his creative talent and the fact he isn’t scared to take a risk. For me, it’s the best indyref play of the festival, hands down.
Also at the Assembly Rooms and tackling one of the key themes of the referendum, is The Pitiless Storm by iconic Scottish actor David Hayman. David stars as a trade unionist facing a crisis of conscience on eve of referendum. It nails the choice thousands of Scotland’s Labour voters face the decision to toe the party line or vote for a return to their social values and re-birth of their party. David has clearly put his heart and soul into this strong production and it’s a great display of his acting talent, not that we needed reminding.
Young hipsters National Collective have put on National Collective Presents at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Fresh from their successful Scotland-wide Yestival, you can guarantee to be entertained with performances, speakers and discussion to provoke debate about the referendum.
If you fancy something avant-garde, Summerhall features the Scottish Enlightenment Project, with National Theatre of Scotland and Brooklyn theatre group dismantling Scottish and American mythologies.
And for a total break from the seriousness of the referendum, try the Frederendum, with Fred MacAulay at the Assembly Rooms. With Fred you will never fail to have fun.
And this is only a handful of the indyref shows the Fringe has to offer. It’s eclectic, it’s diverse and it’s never dull, proving once again the Fringe will always be at the centre of things and never scared to provide a platform for what’s happening in Scotland and the world.
The only challenge is choosing what to see!