Get ready to take a virtual trip to Edinburgh, Scotland! This August, Playbill writers Margaret Hall and Leah Putnam will travel to Edinburgh Festival Fringe to provide on-the-ground coverage of the world’s largest arts festival.
Taking place every August, the festival is an abundant cornucopia of theatre, with recent years featuring more than 3,000 shows running at more than 300 venues. There’s no selection committee, and the festival welcomes artists and productions both big and small. It’s launched smash hit international shows (Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ SIX: The Musical was staged at Fringe in 2017) and is a hotbed of up-and-coming artists from around the world. New talent can be found on every corner, and it is where many now-famous actors once played before they became household names.
Check out our Instagram Live interview with Margaret and Leah below.
“The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an international institution, and I am beyond thrilled to attend for the very first time! I’m a musical theatre historian with a soft spot for gothic melodrama and witty comedies, so I’ll have my eyes peeled for the most outrageous and outlandish offerings this year,” says Hall. “This is my first time in Scotland, and as a history buff, I’ll also be taking in all of the sights and sounds of Old Edinburgh.”
“I enjoy a lot of theatre, but I tend to lean towards straight plays—particularly those based on true events, stand-up comedy, and immersive theatre,” says Putnam. “I remember the first, and last, time I went to Fringe. I was visiting an old friend from high school, and she took me to see seven shows during my 36-hour stay. It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had, and I still remember this circus acrobatics show that made me laugh and cry with its storytelling.”
“It is always a delight when Leah and I are together; we can’t wait to bring Playbill with us as we gear up for the adventure of a lifetime!” adds Hall.
READ: From One Island to Another: How Islander Travelled from Scotland to Manhattan
Readers will be able to follow along daily and "live the Fringe lifestyle" alongside Playbill’s correspondents! Follow along on their upcoming Playbill live blog for a realtime feed of the day and find out which shows stood out, who was spotted on the street between performances, and where to pop in for a pint after a day of taking in the sights. Intrepid readers can also join Putnam and Hall on social media where you can help them choose from the plethora of options, take in the sights and sounds of Edinburgh, and find out what’s getting buzz at lunchtime as they take over Playbill Travel’s Twitter and Instagram to share more of what the festival has to offer. Who knows? Your suggestion could lead them to discovering the next big thing!
“We’re very excited that Playbill will be able to connect theatre audiences in the United States and around the world with this incredible festival. It’s a chance to be truly surrounded by the arts, and to see works and artists you may never get to see again–or get to see before they make it big,” says the pair. “There’s so much depth and variety to Edinburgh culture and to the festival itself, and we plan to share almost every minute of it with Playbill’s readers. You won’t want to miss it, so get ready to turn on some notifications. And check back on the site to read the features that’ll take you on deep dives into Edinburgh Fringe with artist interviews, insights into the festival’s history, what to do (and not to do) to really make the most of it, and much, much more. See you on the Fringe!”
Playbill’s coverage of the festival begins this week ahead of Fringe’s scheduled run August 5-29.
