Literature at the other Festivals
It's that time of year again. And although the Edinburgh International Book Festival hogs the limelight during the August festival season in our City of Literature, there are many gems to be found across the array of festivals happening throughout the month in Edinburgh. With the excellent WordPower Book Fringe back again, Inky Fingers MiniFest celebrating its second year, as well as events by Blackwell's and Waterstone's, we thought we would 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.
If you're browsing the Fringe programme, take a look at their new Spoken Word category (as well as the storytelling, poetry and new writing listings).
For the Wordsmiths
Cafe Voices
A monthly favourite in our City of Lit, the Scottish Storytelling Centre's open-floor cafe event will be treating us to two special get-togethers during the Fringe. A mixture of storytelling, poetry and lovely music. Come along with your own piece to perform, or just relax and enjoy this special evening...
Check Times and Book Tickets >
Liz Lochhead: Making Nothing Happen
The infamous Liz Lochhead will be celebrating the word every day of the festival - with poems, monologues, characters, lyrics, theatre pieces and a daily guest artist. A must see...
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Content
Join Mixy, one half of the Dead Poets duo, as he returns to Edinburgh to ask you what it would take to make you content... If you are looking for something different, then this hybrid of spoken word, with poems, raps, songs and stories, might just be it...
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Blackwell's Writers at the Fringe Free
Still going after five years, Blackwell's Bookshop invites you to their weekly performances for both the new and unpublished, and the established performers. From Scottish poetry to folk music, take a glimpse into the Scottish arts scene...
Check Times and Line-Up >
BBC Poetry Slam at the Fringe : First Heat
12 women and 12 men compete for the Poetry Slam title. Hosted by former Scottish Slam Champion Young Dawkins and featuring none other than Liz Lochhead in her first ever Slam competition, this is one to watch.
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For the Theatrical
Dream Plays at the Traverse Theatre
For the early birds! Come along at 9am for a coffee and bacon roll, and enter the dream world of some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights. In the final week, infamous Scottish Playwright David Grieg and Traverse's Artistic Director Orla O'Loughlin will be keeping an eye on new talent during the fringe and commissioning them to perform...
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night
Mark Haddon's best-selling novel about Christopher, a boy with Asperger's and an aspiring detective on the trail of his greatest case, is brought to the stage by Big Spirit theatre. Let's see how this unique story takes to its theatre debut...
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Alan Bissett: The Red Hourglass
Winner of Glenfiddich Scottish Writer of the Year, and described by the Scotsman as a 'rising star', Alan Bissett performs his new work The Red Hourglass. Come along to see Bissett take on five parts – three male, two female, none of them human...
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Krapp's Last Tape
Samuel Beckett fans can cast a discerning eye as Tom Owen (of Last of the Summer Wine fame) takes on Beckett's infamous character Krapp, on his sixty-ninth birthday...
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As of 1.52pm GMT on Friday April 27th 2012, This Show Has No Title
A new show by Daniel Kitson. That is all we know. Intrigued? So are we...
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For the Thinkers
Enlightenment Titans: Their Biography, Legacy and Statuary
Prof. David Purdie and Alexander Stoddart present the 'hotbed of genius' that lived and worked in Edinburgh during the Enlightenment. Come along to hear about their legacy and to see some of Stoddart's celebrated statues of these great stars...
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The Magicians of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Makar Ron Butlin celebrates Edinburgh in his brand new show, featuring musicians Dick Lee and Anne Evans. With a new book just around the corner, it looks like a busy month for one of our cities most renowned writers.
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For the Funny
Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel
Calling all Austen fans! Come and watch six improvisers play with the classic tales with promise of wit, flirtation and dastardly behaviour. It’s free and might be good for a giggle...
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BBC: Christopher Brookmyre's Comedy Bookcase
Author Christopher Brookmyre is returning for a second year. Come and laugh along as he chats to some of the biggest comedy names at the Fringe, as he asks them about being a comedy writer...
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For the Family
The Boy and The Bunnet
Fancy seeing Scotland’s answer to Peter and the Wolf? James Ross and James Robertson tell the story about a boy who gets lost in the woods and the adventures that are to follow. All accompanied by some lovely Scottish tunes...
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The Snail and The Whale
Tall Stories are back again with their latest adaptation of Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson’s The Snail and The Whale. A sweet story about a tiny snails amazing journey, perfect for your wee ones...
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The Man Who Planted Trees
Back again by popular demand. 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 again...?
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For the Unconventional
The Magician’s Daughter
Expect puppetry, live music and song as Michael Rosen tells the story of a young girl on a magical, faraway island.Written by Rosen, inspired by The Tempest and in association with the RSC, we are very excited to see this magical interpretation...
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Tam O'Shanter
The classic Burns story full of ‘punk swagger’ (Guardian). Jam-packed with actors, dancers and musicians, expect something a little bit different from this retelling of our Bard’s original...
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The Brothers Othello
Another bit of Shakespeare with a twist. Join the leading re-interpreters of Shakespeare as they retell the infamous Othello through hip hop. With previous shows Bomb-itty of Errors and Funk It Up about Nothin’, surely it’s worth it for the titles alone...
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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 >
The Potter Trail More Info >