Edinburgh Festivals Daily Guide

Artist and playwright John Byrne will be discussing Scottish comedy with stand-up Susan Calman at a Scottish National Portrait Gallery event this evening, from 6.30pm. See today's choice http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/21/todays-choice-cybraphon-tickling-jock-by-night-barb-jungr/. Picture: Neil Hanna

Look no further than the Scotsman’s festival review tracker http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/05/scotsman-festival-reviews-2013/, sorted by star rating (and with the good stuff at the top)

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Latest Reviews

Dance review: Dance Derby

Maybe in years to come, people will look back and question how we ever condoned locking strangers up in a house together to win a cash prize. But as bad as Big Brother gets, it’s in a different league to the so-called “entertainment” of Depression-era USA. The dance marathons of the 1930s not only provided participants with the chance to win some serious money, but for the duration of their involvement, there was the promise of regular food and shelter – something not always readily available in their everyday lives.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/dance-review-dance-derby/

Book Festival: Richard Holloway | Rupert Everett

Richard Holloway was a fitting guest to begin a series of interviews celebrating the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s 30th birthday. In the first of a series which will take place over the next few days, Holloway was invited to reflect on the last three decades, which have seen his personal transformation from bishop to BBC broadcaster, chairman of the Scottist Arts Council, and public thinker on a variety of topics, religious and otherwise.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/edinburgh-international-book-festival-richard-holloway-rupert-everett/

Theatre review: Pigeon English

With recent statistics suggesting there are almost 1,000 victims of knife crime in London each month, tales of young lives being tragically cut short are not hard to come by. But news items only give us a name, an age and maybe a photograph. How they lived, who they loved and what they hoped for is harder to convey.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/theatre-review-pigeon-english/

Read all the Festival Reviews… http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/review-index

Latest Guides

5 reasons to visit the Book Festival

Edinburgh International Book Festival is often overlooked by the hoards of tourists who flock to the Scottish capital in August. We offer five reasons why the literary festival might actually be better than the Fringe…

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/edinburgh-international-book-festival/

10 of the best bars in Edinburgh for whisky lovers

You haven’t ‘done’ Edinburgh, or indeed Scotland, if you haven’t taken time out to sample the national drink. Luckily, the home of the Fringe and numerous other festivals is also home to a number of great whisky bars. We give you the lowdown on 10 of Edinburgh’s best bars to sample Scotch Whisky in the Scottish capital.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/10-of-the-best-bars-in-edinburgh-for-whisky-lovers/

Read all the Festival Guides… http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/guides-index

Latest Features

Flying a cultural flag: Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates 10 years

With 27 venues from Summerhall to the Old Ambulance Depot, and ten specially commissioned exhibitions, the Edinburgh Art Festival is going from strength to strength as it celebrates its tenth year.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/flying-a-cultural-flags-edinburgh-art-festival-celebrates-10-years/

Myths and magic: Brand New Ancients

Roger Cox discovers Brand New Ancients, a Fringe show of epic poetry inspired by classical mythology, but very much about everyman

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/myths-and-magic-brand-new-ancients/

Read all the Festival Features… http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/news-index

From the Blog…

Fringe stories: Tom Stade

Canadian comic Tom Stade remembers a night out at the Edinburgh Festival which led to an unexpected encounter with a family member.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/fringe-stories-tom-stade/

Vikki Stone: My dog Bert is hooked by the showbiz bug

Comedian, musician and animal lover Vikki Stone on showbiz kids and the risk of playing second-fiddle to a furry co-star.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/vikki-stone-never-work-with-children-or-animals/

More from the Festival Blog… http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog-index

Daily Deals

Half-price Edinburgh Festival tickets

Today’s selection of half-price ticket deals for Edinburgh Festival shows, from The Scotsman and WOW247.

More info... http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/05/half-price-edinburgh-festival-tickets/

Most popular today on Edinburgh-Festivals.com

Event: Gyles Brandreth: Looking For Happiness

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/event/gyles-brandreth-looking-for-happiness/pleasance-courtyardArticle: Heard the one about the funniest Fringe joke of 2013?

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/20/heard-the-one-about-the-funniest-fringe-joke-of-2013/

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Edinburgh Festivals Daily Guide - 21 August