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Last broadcast on Fri, 12 Aug 2011, 22:00 on BBC Radio 2.
Synopsis
Live from Edinburgh, The Radio 2 Arts Show aims to capture all the excitement and buzz from arguably Europe's most significant cultural event, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Presented by Penny Smith and Sarah Millican, we'll be hearing from performers from comedy, theatre, music and dance including:
Award-winning veteran of the Edinburgh Festival and king-of-the-one-liners comedian Tim Vine, who returns to the Fringe to point his machine-pun at the audience in his unpredictable chat show.
Acclaimed actor Julian Sands, who trades in Hollywood for the Pleasance Courtyard to perform in a show celebrating the life of playwright Harold Pinter, directed by Academy Award-nominated actor John Malkovich.
Celebrated performance poet John Hegley, who will perform a specially-written poem about Edinburgh.
Rock the Ballet, who discuss their explosive fusion of classical ballet and contemporary dance all set to a soundtrack that includes Coldplay and Prince.
World Champion beatboxer Shlomo, who using only his voice will attempt to create a series of unique musical collaborations with acts performing at this year's festival.
Tasmanian comedienne Hannah Gadsby, who performs her award-winning trademark deadpan delivery in two observational Fringe shows.
And Edinburgh Fringe Festival critic, Radio 2's Bobbie Pryor has her rough guide to the whole event as she accomplishes the challenge of "sampling the Edinburgh Festival in 24 hours.".
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL – A FEW FACTS & FIGURES
The Fringe is just one of Edinburgh’s numerous August festivals. There’s also the Military Tattoo (until Aug 27), the International Book Festival (until Aug 29), Art Festival (until Sept 4) and the Edinburgh International Festival (until Sept 4).
2011 is the 65th time that Edinburgh has hosted the Festival Fringe.
It was once dubbed “the World Cup of showbusiness” (The Scotsman)
The Fringe is the largest open arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city.
Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh. From big names to unknown artists, there’s comedy, dance, physical theatre, musicals, opera, music, exhibitions, children’s shows and more.
Edinburgh’s population triples during the festival.
A recent study showed the Fringe generates around £142 million for the Edinburgh and Scottish economy each year.
Fringe 2011 is bigger than ever before and features 41,689 performances of 2,542 shows in 258 venues.
An estimated 21,192 performers will take to the stage this year and 607 shows at the Fringe 2011 are absolutely free – that’s more than last year.
There are 1,319 World Premieres to be seen this summer.
Comedy makes up 37% of the Fringe 2011 programme.
This year the comedians, actors and street performers who dominate the Edinburgh Fringe programme have a brash new competitor: cabaret! With feminist burlesque, ukeleles, acrobats and even mind-reading psychics.
There are Fringe shows in unusual places – the University of Edinburgh’s Anatomy Department, on the train, at a Wedding Breakfast and even on a toilet!
The Edinburgh Fringe began back in 1947 when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to the first Edinburgh International Festival.
For the first time ever the BBC has its very own venue at the Festival Fringe. Broadcasting from the BBC tent at Potterow will be Radio 4’s Just A Minute, BBC Scotland’s MacAulay & Co and Off the Ball, David Mitchell with The Unbelievable Truth and Radio 1’s Scott Mills and Nick Grimshaw amongst others, including The Radio 2 Arts Show.
JOHN HEGLEY'S TAKE ON EDINBURGH 2011 POEM
E Every year, I've been coming here, festival time, for almost thirty.
D Don't over-binge at The Fringe, or it will impinge
I is a phrase I came up with in earlier days, when I was trying to stick to 8 hours sleep and 3 pints of lager but the figures got confused.
N Near the crushing craggs, one realises we play a tiny part and Tony Cragg is at the marvellous Gallery of Modern Art
B Big boot and cat, sat outside Fettes College from The Collective gallery, give new knowledge.
U Unless Rooftop Promotions can get visas sorted, this Zimbabwean element will be missing from the rushing Festival streets.
R Radio Rodeo is a broadcast idea I had up here...turn on, tune in, fall off.
G Gyle is where one of the buses goes that I get and maybe I'll get to go there.
H Heard through mouthword that St. John's Church on Princes Street has has Shinto, Taiko drummers, who get the beat through your feet and give inner comfort, although the seating is more challenging.
Festival Photos
See photos of Penny and Sarah Millican in Edinburgh as they present The Radio 2 Arts Show from the 2011 Festival Fringe.
Music played
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Blondie
— Union City Blue -
Elvis Presley
— A Little Less Conversation -
Dolly Parton
— 9 To 5 -
Queen
— We Will Rock You -
Joss Stone
— Somehow -
Jimi Hendrix
— Purple Haze -
Beverley Knight
— Cuddly Toy -
Dr. Hook
— When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman -
They Might Be Giants
— Birdhouse In Your Soul -
Johnny Tillotson — Poetry In Motion
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The Beatles
— Do You Want To Know A Secret -
Madness
— Baggy Trousers -
The Feeling
— A Hundred Sinners
Broadcast
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Fri 12 Aug 201122:00
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