The August Feast: A Punter’s Perspective on Edinburgh and its Festivals Brian King The entire book is freely available on the Internet at the following address: http://bkthisandthat.org.uk/ Copyright © Brian King 2005-2015 All rights reserved In Memory of Dick Hixson, whose enthusiastic, intelligent and humorous presence at the Festival breakfast table is much missed. Copyright © Brian King 2005-2015 All rights reserved The August Feast: A Punter’s Perspective on Edinburgh and its Festivals Version dated 7th December 2015 http://bkthisandthat.org.uk/ Contents PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................................................ VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................... VIII THE EDINBURGH FEAST ............................................................................................................................................... 9 A PUNTER’S TALE FROM THE FEAST ...................................................................................................................... 11 CHOOSING SHOWS & FEAST MISCELLANY ........................................................................................................ 20 CHOOSING SHOWS ON THE FRINGE ................................................................................................................................ 20 CHOOSING SHOWS FOR OTHER FESTIVALS ..................................................................................................................... 22 BUSKING / STREET THEATRE .......................................................................................................................................... 23 FEAST ETIQUETTE ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 A HISTORY OF THE EDINBURGH FESTIVALS ...................................................................................................... 25 IN THE BEGINNING … ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ......................................................................................................................... 26 THE EDINBURGH FRINGE ................................................................................................................................................ 32 TRAVERSE THEATRE ........................................................................................................................................................ 38 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL .............................................................................................................. 40 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ................................................................................................................ 41 EDINBURGH JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL ............................................................................................................................. 42 THE MILITARY TATTOO ................................................................................................................................................... 43 EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL ............................................................................................................................................. 43 … AND THE FUTURE? ...................................................................................................................................................... 44 FOOD, DRINK AND GETTING AROUND ............................................................................................................... 45 RESTAURANTS AND WATERING HOLES .......................................................................................................................... 45 Valvonna & Crolla ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 VinCaffé ...................................................................................................................................................................... 45 David Bann ................................................................................................................................................................. 45 Fishers in The City ...................................................................................................................................................... 46 Castle Terrace .............................................................................................................................................................. 46 Martin Wishart ........................................................................................................................................................... 46 Kalpna ......................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Coffee Shops ................................................................................................................................................................. 46 Traverse Bar-Café ........................................................................................................................................................ 46 Pleasance Courtyard.................................................................................................................................................... 46 The Assembly Rooms Bars .......................................................................................................................................... 47 The Café Royal............................................................................................................................................................. 47 The Guildford Arms .................................................................................................................................................... 47 The Oxford Bar ............................................................................................................................................................ 47 The Cumberland Bar ................................................................................................................................................... 47 The Bow Bar ................................................................................................................................................................ 48 GETTING AROUND .......................................................................................................................................................... 48 A POTTED HISTORY OF “AULD REEKIE” ............................................................................................................... 50 EARLY HISTORY (UP TO 1100)......................................................................................................................................... 50 THE MIDDLE AGES AND BEYOND (1100 – 1750) ............................................................................................................ 51 The Castle .................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Holyrood & Canongate................................................................................................................................................ 51 Edinburgh – The Layout of the Old Town .................................................................................................................. 53 Notable Buildings ........................................................................................................................................................ 55 Markets........................................................................................................................................................................ 57 iii Copyright © Brian King 2005-2015 All rights reserved The August Feast: A Punter’s Perspective on Edinburgh and its Festivals Version dated 7th December 2015 http://bkthisandthat.org.uk/ Trade............................................................................................................................................................................ 57 The Justice System ...................................................................................................................................................... 58 Charitable Institutions ................................................................................................................................................ 58 MAIN HISTORICAL EVENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 58 John Knox & the Reformation ..................................................................................................................................... 58 Mary Queen of Scots ..................................................................................................................................................