Edinburgh Festivals Passport

01 FOR NEWS, REVIEWS AND TICKETS PLEASE VISIT www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk

Welcome

Welcome to Edinburgh, the world’s favourite Festival City. We’re delighted that you are spending your holiday time with us and look forward to sharing some of the world’s most innovative, exciting and award-winning shows and performances with you.

To start, please find enclosed your three festival tickets, handpicked by Time Out to give you a fantastic flavour of the greatest show on earth.

Each August, as you’re about to experience, the city of Edinburgh is completely transformed by thousands of performers, artists and visitors travelling to the city to experience something truly unique. Every spare inch of the city is taken over by the festivals – from major venues and theatres to church halls, bars, restaurants and even playgrounds!

To find out more about the festivals, information on booking additional tickets, and catching up on all the news, reviews and competitions please visit the official online home of the Edinburgh Festivals: www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk

‘There is nowhere in the world that’s like it’Brian Cox, Actor.

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‘Speak to the locals, speak to the leafleters, they’re the ones that will tell you the shows to look out for. And when you go to a venue, ask the box office staff, they’ll point you in the right direction.’ Stephen K Amos, Comedian.

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Introduction to your Passport

Every Summer, seven different festivals take place in Edinburgh within six weeks. With over 32,000 shows and performances to choose from, we’re here to help you navigate your way around the city and make sure you have the best possible experience while you’re here.

Your Edinburgh Festivals Passport is your personal introduction to the City at festival time. As you read through the guide you’ll find out more about all the exciting things happening while you’re here. We’ll also provide hints and tips on places to visit and areas to explore as well as offer advice and suggestions from some of our famous friends.

At the back of your Passport you will find three tickets to the shows that have been hand-picked for you by Time Out Magazine.

Your shows are within specific time slots as we know that you’ll be keen to also do some sightseeing, enjoy a relaxing lunch and, of course, ensure you fit in all those photo opportunities! Please do ensure that you check what time your shows start at. We recommend being at the venue 10-15 minutes before the official start time.

When visiting the Customer Services team on the High Street be sure to explore this area, commonly known as the ‘Royal Mile’. It’s a centre of Festival action, with cultural crowds enjoying the daily free programme of street performance. Explore further, and you will find closes and alleyways which were said to be the inspiration for some of the most popular scenes in the Harry Potter novels. The street is also home to Mary King’s Close where you can find out what it was like to live in Edinburgh many centuries ago as you explore hidden closes that have been excavated to reveal some haunting stories (www.realmarykingsclose.com).

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On page 11 you will find a list of the cafes and restaurants throughout the city which offer discounts to Festival Passport holders. There are a great selection of Edinburgh’s relaxed and informal dining options to enjoy while you are in the city.

The Passport TeamIf you have any questions about your Passport we’re here to help. The team is located within the Fringe Shop at 180 High Street. Jose and his team are on hand 7 days a week to answer any queries you may have:T: +44(0) 131 240 1900 E: [email protected]

Customer Services Opening Hours:2nd-30th August 10am-9pm seven days a week.



EdinburghSummer FestivalsWe’ve hand-selected some of the very best shows that are taking place in the city this summer. Here’s just a little taste of what you can expect at the summer festivals. JUL 30-8 AUg, 2010

The best of international talent rubs shoulders with Scottish musicians to present world premieres and unique collaborations at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. Outdoor events and small intimate clubs welcome every style from early jazz to the contemporary sounds of today. Scottish jazz musicians celebrate the best of Scottish jazz during the Festival and feature in orchestras, leading their own bands and in international collaborations often presenting new projects. The Blues are a key component and the Festival has presented some of the biggest names in the business from BB King and Buddy guy to Scottish musicians like Maggie Bell.www.edinburghjazzfestival.co.uk

‘To go to Edinburgh and hopefully find stuff that you know nothing about, that’s the great adventure of it, and I love that.’ Richard E Grant, Actor.

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AUg 6-8, 2010

One of the city’s newest festivals, the Edinburgh Mela Festival is Edinburgh’s annual celebration of cultural diversity. The 3-day festival showcases some of the best work created in the UK and internationally by minority ethnic artists and those that celebrate cultural diversity. The Edinburgh Mela Festival is a world of creativity with a programme that excites, challenges and stimulates, finding connections that unite us all.www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk

JUL 29-SEPT 5, 2010

Every August more than 50 arts organisations come together in the city to present the Edinburgh Art Festival. Exciting and intriguing historical and contemporary visual art is celebrated throughout the city’s galleries, museums and other spaces. The wide range of visual art on show in over 130 exhibitions and events contains work to suit all tastes and interpretations of what art is and what it can be. Showcasing UK debuts by major international artists and new work by leading British artists, there is something to suit every age and taste. www.edinburghartfestival.com

The city’s Leith area is home to the Edinburgh Mela Festival. While in the area be sure to visit the many bars and restaurants at The Shore, where you’ll find everything from traditional pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants.

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AUg 6-30, 2010

The biggest arts festival in the world, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been a launch pad for global stars such as Jude Law, Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie. The stars of tomorrow gather to present a combination of theatre, music, dance and comedy throughout the month of August. With no artistic selection, anything goes and the Fringe has hosted performances that have been cutting edge, controversial, experimental and brilliant. This open access policy for artists and performers has ensured the variety and diversity of the work on show is truly staggering and festival visitors have come to expect the unexpected!www.edfringe.com


EdinburghSummer Festivals

Take a punt, go and see somebody you’ve never heard of before. It could be about the environment, it could be about Middle East politics, it could be poetry, prose, a dramatist, a children’s writer. It’s an incredible circus of different acts, all of which are exciting, all of which are unusual and all of which might just change your life. Ian Rankin, Author.

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AUg 14-30, 2010

Writers, poets, politicians, photographers, thinkers and artists from around the world converge at Charlotte Square gardens every year for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Celebrated authors and new talent gather in an oasis of calm right in the heart of the city centre during what is the world’s largest celebration of the written word. Over 800 events take place in the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature with leading names in literary and non-fiction writing attracting visitors to discuss and discover new horizons and to meet favourite and new authors.www.edbookfest.co.uk

AUg 13-SEPT 5, 2010

The Edinburgh International Festival is an intoxicating three week cultural extravaganza featuring the very best from the world of the arts. Here’s your chance to experience some of the world’s greatest performers, some fantastic homegrown talent and some truly special, out of the ordinary, Festival events.www.eif.co.uk




AUg 6-28, 2010

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo provides a unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre. Over 1,000 military and civilian performers showcase a colourful spectacle during a 90 minute performance which is seen by 220,000 visitors every August. Bands of all sizes and description have been joined by dancers, steel bands, flag-wavers, drill teams, zulus, camels, elephants, cavalry, motorcyclists, and police dogs. But at the heart of every Tattoo’s universal appeal is the stirring sight and sound of the massed pipes and drums from the Scottish regiments.

Viewed by a global TV audience of over 100 million people every year, the range of music presented at the Tattoo is now as diverse as the countries represented; from pomp and circumstance to showbiz razzmatazz – with just about everything in between. Ending with a lone piper playing on the Castle ramparts the ambitious spectacle finishes on a spine tingling emotional note.*

*Please note that tickets to the Tattoo are not included within your Passport. Tickets can be purchased separately via the Tattoo box office at www.edintattoo.co.uk

EdinburghSummer Festivals

Perched on an extinct volcano, remember to visit Edinburgh Castle during the day to find out more about its unique history. If you time your visit around lunchtime you’ll be able to hear the one o’clock gun being fired which is a tradition remaining from the days when it was a time signal for ships in the Firth of Forth and the Port of Leith (www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk).

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If you’re considering a return visit to Edinburgh later this year or in springtime please remember we have something on offer all year round.

EdinburghAt other times of the year

APR 9-25, 2011

In Spring the city plays host to one of the world’s longest running Science Festivals as the Edinburgh International Science Festival welcomes visitors both young and old. From workshops and activities during the day to special events in the evening, the festival celebrates the wonders, inventions and innovations from the world of science and technology.www.sciencefestival.co.uk

OCT 22-31, 2010

This autumn we welcome the return of the Edinburgh International Storytelling Festival. A hidden gem of a festival, this is Scotland’s annual celebration of traditional and contemporary storytelling with artists from around the world taking part in entertaining and inspiring storytelling performances. www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

DEC 29 2010-JAN 2 2011

Edinburgh is the Home of Hogmanay and as we reach the end of the year, the city comes alive with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival. The original and best New Year Party starts the Night Afore on the 30th with a stunning Torchlight Procession and Son et Lumiére and continues through the night of Hogmanay itself when 80,000 people bring in the New Year at the world famous Street Party, followed by a New Year’s Day programme for all the family.www.edinburghshogmanay.com

The Storytelling Centre is open year-round to visitors and had a lovely cafe for those that find themselves on the High Street in need of a light lunch or coffee stop.

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EdinburghAt other times of the year

MAY 9-15, 2011

The world’s best celebration of children’s theatre comes to the city each May during the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival. The broad range of shows captivate, entertain and inspire audience members from curious toddlers to 18 year olds. With an emphasis on finding the most exciting shows from around the world, each year the festival presents a programme of theatre, puppetry and dance that continuously goes beyond expectations.www.imaginate.org.uk/FESTIVAL/home.php

JUN 15-26, 2011

A mix of red carpet glamour, innovative and exciting cinematic discoveries and massive audience appeal makes the Edinburgh International Film Festival one of the world’s most popular film festivals. Dedicated to celebrating new talent, new film trends and new ideas in cinema, the twelve day festival in June presents film premieres, ground-breaking retrospectives and engaging in person events that attract audiences of over 55,000 each year.www.edfilmfest.org.uk



EdinburghPassport Discounts

As a holder of an exclusive Edinburgh Festivals Passport you can now access discounts at a variety of Festival bars and restaurants throughout the city. At time of booking please mention ‘Edinburgh Festivals Passport’ or show your Passport prior to requesting your final bill.

10% discount off final bill available at:

• Cafe Hub, Castlehill. (9.30am-6pm)

• Zanzero,14/16 North West Circus Place. (Mon-Thurs, noon-10pm)

• Cargo, 129 Fountainbridge.

• Hudsons Hotel, 11 Hope Street.

• Biddy Mulligans, 1 South Bridge.

• The 3 Sisters, 139 Cowgate.

• Murrayfield Hotel, 12 Corstorphine Road.

Shop discounts:

• Fringe Shop, 180 High Street. (10 am-9 pm from 2nd-30th Aug) 10% off all Fringe clothing

Terms & Conditions:

• Cafe/restaurant discounts available up to a maximum group of 4 people per transaction.

• Discount available on food items and soft drinks only, alcoholic drinks will not be discounted.

• Discounts available to Passport holder only and may not be transferred.

‘The best advice I’d give to a visitor during the festival would be to seek out the Book Festival site... Charlotte Square is very serene... it’s somewhere you can sit and have a cup of coffee and a reflective few minutes to yourself.’ Christopher Brookmyre, Author.

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See you next yearWe hope you enjoy your Edinburgh Festivals experience and we’d love to hear what you think about your Passport experience, our city and its festivals. We’re giving away a souvenir pack to one lucky winner who completes our short online survey.

To be in with a chance to win, please go to www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/passportfeedback and fill out your details.

When you’re thinking about booking your next trip to Edinburgh please visit www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/packages to keep up to date with the latest offers and deals.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the world’s favourite Festival City next year!


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Edinburgh Festivals Passport