What The Dickins: A Tale Of Edinburgh City

Gilded Balloon Highlights for Fringe 2016

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is jam-packed with great shows (50,459 performances of 3,314 shows in 313 venues  in 2015!), which means that pinning down the ones to see can be a bit daunting. It can be even more difficult to pick out the shows you will enjoy – so we always recommend listening to recommendations! To make it all easier for you we’ve gotten in touch with four of the major Fringe venues and asked them a few questions about which shows we should get excited about this year.

The first venue is the Gilded Balloon – one of the four largest venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their main venue is the Teviot Row House by Bristo Square right next to the University of Edinburgh. This year the Gilded Balloon has partnered up with the National Museum of Scotland, so there will be a range of shows in the beautiful museum building too. The Counting House on 38 West Nicholson Street is the third venue where you can experience some Gilded Balloon fun. Here are the questions and answers:  

Colin Hay (1)

Singer/songwriter Colin Hay will be performing at Teviot.

1. What shows at the Gilded Balloon are you particularly excited about this year?

We are incredibly excited to have Colin Hay at Teviot & Horse MacDonald at our new venue in the National Museum, both fantastic comedy/theatre pieces by wonderful musicians with incredible stories to share. Also top comedy from Rory Bremner, Alistair McGowan and Burnistoun – all sure to sell out! New up-and-coming Scottish comics at the Counting House will also make waves this Fringe such as Scott Agnew, Christopher MacArthur Boyd, and Ross McClelland. But honestly, there are so many fabulous shows to choose from on our programme, take a punt on someone you’ve never heard of and you won’t be disappointed!

Nath Valvo

Rising Aussie comedian Nath Valvo makes his Fringe debut.

2. What shows do you recommend for parents with young children?

We have a lot of family friendly shows this year, especially at our new venue at the National Museum of Scotland. King Arthur, Shakin’ Shakespare and Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show to name a few. Then over at our mainstay in Teviot we have a Pub Quiz for Kids show (fronted by the wondrous Patrick Monahan) and Storyteller, both by the fabulous Storypocket Theatre.

3. What shows do you recommend for the older generation?

Colin Hay and Horse MacDonald will both be popular with those of a certain generation but other more unusual picks perhaps include Sweet Child of Mine, One Day Moko, Angel by Henry Naylor and George Egg’s Anarchist Cook all in Teviot. And of course Rory Bremner, Fred MacAulay and Steve Richards’ Rock and Roll Politics will go down a treat, too.

One_Day_Moko

Inspired by real encounters with people living on the streets, One Day Moko investigates how rebellion, opportunity and routine shape our everyday lives.

4. Are there any late night laughs we shouldn’t miss out on?

Massaoke: a late night singalong club night is returning after a sell out run last year. Sing as loud and proud as possible and try not to laugh at the crowd next to you getting all the words wrong to Total Eclipse of the Heart. We also have our flagship show Late’n’Live from 1am with a line-up of the best comics on the Fringe until 3am before having a boogie to the fabulous house bands.

5. What show should we see if we want to be amazed?

Kevin Quantum’s show Illuminations will have you glued to your seat in wonder – he plans to make a rainbow live on stage – what more should we say!?

Angel 2

This is the Angel of Kobane. A heroine: a crackshot sniper, with 100 kills to her name. And she appears indestructible.

6. Last but not least; what makes the Gilded Balloon special?

Gilded Balloon is a family. We make our artists, our staff and our audiences the priority and ensure that everyone experiences the very best the Fringe has to offer. We are based year round in Edinburgh and we adore sharing this incredible city with thousands of international visitors every year. Forget Christmas, Fringe really is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Make sure you also check out the Fringe highlights for theUnderbelly, the Pleasance and the Assembly!

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