Word on the Street
Name: Jane, Edinburgh Art Festival Volunteer
Festival: Edinburgh Art Festival
Location: The Waiting Place, St Andrew’s Square
Why are you here? Today I’m based at The Waiting Place, which is a commission by Andrew Miller. It’s our main hub for people to come and get information, to have a sit down, and we also have talks going on here.
What would you recommend? I think the Harry Hill exhibition above White Space on George St is my favourite.
And are you enjoying the Festival? It’s been a great experience, yeah. The atmosphere’s really good and everyone’s lovely.
Names: Mary and Barbara
Festival: Edinburgh Art Festival
Location: Harry Hill, My Hobby. White Stuff, 2nd Floor, 89 George Street, EH2 3ES
What have you thought of the exhibition?
Mary: Actually very clever.
Barbara: And funny. I was up on Friday with my husband to see this.
Mary: Because she was so impressed by it, she brought me back to have a look at it. And I must say I am impressed.
B: He’s a very funny man. A very funny man.
M: But he doesn’t view life or people the same way as we do.
B: Just as well!
[Laughter]
Name: Alex
Festival: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Location: Box Office, Charlotte Square Gardens
Where are you from? I’m from Texas, in the United States, and I’m studying film here over the summer.
Is this your first time at the Book Festival? It is, yeah.
So, what are you seeing? I’m trying to get a ticket to Fraser MacLean [a veteran of the animation industry].
And are you glad you came to Edinburgh? I love it. I’m from a small town so it’s fun being in a big city that also has an amazing festival, and I mean, I’m interested in film but I love theatre so I’ve been going to as many plays as possible.
Name: Nadia
Festival: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Location: Edinburgh International Book Festival, Charlotte Square Gardens
Where are you from? Originally London, but I study in Edinburgh.
Are you enjoying the book festival? I think it’s great; they’ve put a really good programme together this year.
Anything in particular you’re going to see? I’m going to see Ahdaf Soueif talk tomorrow, which I’m excited about. She’s an Egyptian revolutionary. And apart from that, I’m just hanging around because it’s so peaceful here. I love it!
Would you recommend anything else? The Unbound sessions in the evenings here are always great, so people should definitely try to go.
Name: Ishmael
Festival: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Location: Waterloo Place
Where are you from? We’re all from Zimbabwe.
And what’s the name of your show? Zambezi Express.
Where are you performing, aside from out here? We’re performing at Edinburgh College of Art. One of the C Venues. Venue number 50.
Is this your first time here? No, I think this is our fourth time now.
And do you like Edinburgh? Oh, it’s a great experience. You get to meet so many people. The audience so far has been fantastic. It’s fantastic; we’re really having fun.
Name: Melanie
Festival: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Location: The Royal Mile
Where are you from? I’m from Canada.
What do you think of the Fringe? Oh, it’s amazing, you know. I had a lot of friends back home who said I’ve just got to go to Edinburgh because, you know, I love theatre. And the atmosphere is really incredible, just so much excitement; it’s been great! And Scottish people are really friendly which makes it so much easier.
What have you just come from? I just went to this little free show – I love the fact that there’s so much free stuff, as well – and it was like a little introduction to British politics. It was called Crunch the News. I loved it, it was really great.
Anything else you’d recommend? I went to see this crazy puppet show called The Table and it was amazing. Just this one little puppet and these three guys. It was something!
Name: Patrice
Festival: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Location: The Royal Mile
Where are you from? Australia. We’re here to visit our daughter who lives here.
How did you hear about the Tattoo? Well, I suppose it’s iconic when it comes to what I know about Edinburgh. I’d seen it on television and thought, if we’re coming to Edinburgh, I want to see a truly Edinburgh event.
And are you looking forward to it? Oh yes, we’re really looking forward to it. Because, let’s face it, when you see something on telly it’s not as good as a live performance. And fingers crossed it’s not going to rain!
Name: Ellie
Location: Market St
Where are you from? I’m a student here at the moment, but I grew up in London.
Have you been to the Tattoo before? Yes, twenty-seven times; I’ve worked there.
What did you think when you saw it for the first time? It was amazing! It’s a huge spectacle. That first time was just amazing. I was enthralled.
And you’re going again this year? My boyfriend’s parents are in town, so we’re all going together. They’ve not visited Edinburgh before, and the Tattoo is pretty much a must-do if you’re visiting Edinburgh and have the chance to go.
Name: Margaret
Festival: Edinburgh International Festival
Location: Festival Theatre
Where are you from? I live in Edinburgh. I’ve been coming to the festival since I was a student. I moved here for the festivals! For three weeks it’s the centre of the universe here.
And what have you seen? I had a friend over from Singapore for a few days, so we went to the Usher Hall on Saturday, that was very good, that was the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
And what’s next? Well my friend’s gone back home now so I can choose what I want for myself. So I’m going to the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées on Monday. And I’m going to several things at the Book Festival as well.
What are you looking forward to most? This year I booked two things straight away: The Sixteen, because I couldn’t get tickets last year, and then Luca Pisaroni. Because we go to the Metropolitan Operas here at the Cameo cinema, and we’ve seen him twice singing, so this is a nice chance to see him live.
Name: Adarsh
Location: Festival Theatre
Festival: Edinburgh International Festival
Where are you from? I’m from India, though I’ve lived most of my life in the Middle East.
What have you seen so far? I’ve found lots of things that caught my fancy. Earlier this week I went to see the music from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, from Mendelssohn. He is one of my favourite composers, and this was just a perfect interpretation of it. It was beautiful. And I also went to Trio Zimmermann, where they performed one of Mozart’s lesser known pieces, and just these three string performers who were all individually amazing and together, well, they were something else. Something else.
What else do you have planned? Well I’m looking forward to a performance by John Williams and John Etheridge, because as a classical guitarist myself John Williams has also been – well I’ve always been meaning to actually watch him perform. So that’s really exciting. And John Etheridge is a huge figure in the blues and jazz world, so the collaboration should be amazing.
And what do you think of Edinburgh? Edinburgh so vibrant. People just come flooding in during August. The Meadows are full and everyone’s around and happy. There’s no happier place in August. And being an international student myself, it’s great to see people from all different cultures and nations come and enjoy these mediums that everyone can enjoy.
