Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature: What's On

Literature at the other Festivals

The Edinburgh International Book Festival hogs the limelight during the August festival season, in our City of Literature, but there are other gems to be found across the many festivals, including the excellent WordPower Book Fringe and newcomers Inky Fingers MiniFest as well as events by Blackwells and Waterstone’s.

So in addition to these fine events, and to help you navigate the literary minefield of everything on offer, we’ve pulled out a few shows that have been recommended to us. We haven’t seen them yet, so let us know what you think:

For the Wordsmiths

Captains Bar - The Early Word

For the bright-eyed amongst you, awake at 9.30, tootle down to the Captains Bar and soak up published poets and authors, in an intimate setting. The fringe ticket price includes coffee and a cake. Sadly no pillow or duvet.

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Captains Bar – Havers & Blethers Free

Poets and authors grab a five minute slot to give you a quick shot of their work. Some great names in the line-up (see their website).

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For the Theatrical

The World According to Bertie

The most Edinburgh of Edinburgh books, the 44 Scotland Street series, has been brought to the stage by Andy Jordan Productions. We hear there’s a border collie that’s going to make its stage debut. The books are charming, the play will follow suit.

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Private and Peaceful

Michael Murpurgo is best known for his children’s literature, but he’s a poet and playwright as well as an author and former Children’s Laureate. This new play looks at the horror of war and is picking up very good reviews.

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The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart

David Greig, one of Scotland’s finest playwrights, invites you to the pub, with musicians playing in the corner, and a fire crackling, the story slowly unfolds. A National Theatre of Scotland production, tickets are selling fast.

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A Celebration of Harold Pinter

Directed by John Malkovich, Julian Sands combines Pinter's poems and political prose to give us gives us a little insight on the life of the Nobel Laureate prize-winning legend, Harold Pinter.

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The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Part of the Edinburgh International Festival, Stephen Earnhart and Greg Pierce’s play is an adaptation of the award-winning novel by Japan's most celebrated writer.

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For the Thinkers

City of Literature / Malcolm Fraser

Andrew Dixon, high heid yin of Creative Scotland, and Scotland’s leading light in architecture, Malcolm Fraser, shoot the breeze and contemplate what kind of architectural inspiration is needed to help support and grow this City of Literature.

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For the Funny

An Evening with David Sedaris

One of New York’s finest exports, the bestselling author and satirist hits Edinburgh with a solo show.

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Shakespeare Bingo: Titus!

Twenty-five performers wrestle with Shakespeare’s plays. No, we don’t understand it either, but anything with Bingo and Shakespeare in the title just has to go on this list.

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BBC Comedy Writers' Workshop Free

Your chance to meet with producers and writers from BBC comedy and get tips on writing comedy for radio and TV.

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For the Musical Wordsmiths

Vivaldi and The Number Three

Our very own multi-talented Edinburgh Makar, author and poet Ron Butlin, takes on the festival with this production. It’s based on Ron’s award-winning short stories, bringing together words and music, we’re told it’s a mini-opera and not to be missed.

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Faceplant Free

- a Showcase of the Brilliantly Unpopular

The ever energetic and unstoppable local art-force, Zorras, bring you ‘a fringe-of-the-margin-of-the-edge-of-the-fringe production’ with a host of UK musicians and poets including Alison Smith, Colin Herd, Fiona Soe Paing, Mark Mace Smith, The Naughty Boys, Nuala Watt, Rachel McCrum, ShellSuit Massacre & Sophie Mayer and of course... Zorras.

For the Virtual

(g)Host Festival

Adding to the cacophony of festivals is this stylishly virtual one where a host of writers are brought to you, at locations across the city, via the power of your smartphone or mp3 player. Most intriguing.

For the Family

Peter Pan

No festival would be complete without you polishing up your circus skills. J.M.Barrie’s very own Peter Pan comes to life about your head with an aerial adaptation of the classic story and you have the chance to join in through their ‘ learn to fly’ workshop.

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The Man Who Planted Trees

Puppetry and storytelling selected by our Scottish Storytelling Centre so it must be good. Why else would it have gone from the SSC to Broadway, the Sydney Opera House, and back!

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Arabian Nights

An adaptation of 1001 Arabian Nights, storytelling and music for the family.

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For the Poetic

Beowolf - A 1000 Years of Baggage

Apparently a cult favourite from New York, this is "a riotous, award-winning adaptation of the ancient poem staged as a high-energy song play". ‘Nuff said.

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The Road North Free

A beautiful little exhibition at the Scottish Poetry Library, by poets Alec Finlay and Ken Cockburn, that will take you on a journey across Scotland. There’s also an event on the 28th August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.

28th August Event >

For the Physical

Literary walking tours – if you need to stretch your legs between shows, you can take in a literature-related tour of the city.

Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour More Info >
Rebus - Hidden Edinburgh More Info >
Saints & Sinners More Info >