Edinburgh - Part One

Sunday 14^th Aug

Arrived in Edinburgh via Durham Cathedral at about 4pm.  Jane has found a fantastic flat right next to the castle, so very central and comfortable, it was brilliant.  Jane’s sister Catherine, her husband Bob and their daughter Emma are staying in the flat too and will be doing the Festival with us.  Everyone is ready to start the marathon so we go and eat and then take the plunge and see Doctor Brown at Underbelly.  He doesn't say much but his naive, quirky, naughty and anarchic act is very funny, really worth seeing. A great show to start the festival with. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2011/sep/21/doctor-brown-comedy-interview

Monday 15^th Aug
Spent morning getting bearings and looking at venues.  I went to see Transluna Paradise by Theatre Ad Infinitum.  I really liked the show which is about loss and grieving – whats not to like?!!  Very sad but beautifully performed with haunting music.  People were blubbing all over the place, including me!

Went to see Joe Wilkinson at the Pleasance.  I think we all had high expectations, especially after Dr Brown but it didn’t hit the spot for me.  He's a bit like an odd friend with a quirky and funny way of seeing things who everyone likes and enjoys chatting to in the pub but not stand up for an hour.

Watched the logistics of herding crowds for the Edinburgh Tattoo with fly over and fireworks – got the whole Edinburgh experience!

Tuesday 16^th Aug

I did a couple of galleries in the morning and then went to see Overcoat – ACE productions at Pleasance, story of a quiet man, very average.  

Next saw Gentlemen of Leisure – The ‘Death’ of the Novel?  2 man stand up, enjoyable, intelligent, nice observations and generally funny (not belly laugh – but felt I had been entertained).  The show is in an amazing venue Just the Tonic at the caves, literally underground vaults with water dripping down the walls!

Next Holly Walsh at Pleasance, funny and refreshing and intelligent.

And finally we went to see Audience – Ontroerend Goed, I'm going to write about this show in another post, it needs some thought!