The tragic death of footballer Gary Speed has upset me (and many of my friends) in more ways than one; firstly, the fact that a young man with so much to live for could decide to end it all is pretty grim, but worst of all are the cruel jokes that are already circulating on the internet. I know that comedians – whether they’re on stage or in the pub – have always cashed in on tragedy. There’s something quite gleeful about sitting in a crowded comedy club and giggling at something that you know would horrify most right-thinking people. Think back to every disaster or celebrity death over the last few years, and I bet you can remember the sick jokes that were doing the rounds. My concern is how soon is too soon?
Well, that’s the Fringe over for another August; but that doesn’t mean that all you tourists should instantly forget all about visiting beautiful Edinburgh. After all, the city has lots more to offer, whether the Festival is in full swing or not, and is a great place to take a wee weekend break any time of the year. Just come prepared for any kind of weather, no matter when you visit. After all, we’ve just enjoyed a boiling hot late-September after a July and August that felt more like autumn and saw red diesel prices soar. The Scottish weather definitely likes to play tricks on tourists!
Luckily there are lots of interesting tourist attractions that are well and truly indoors. Edinburgh’s tourist bosses aren’t daft and have spent a lot of money investing in warm and dry things for visitors to the city to enjoy. Five art galleries, including two devoted to modern art, along with a newly renovated Museum of Scotland will keep culture vultures happy, while the city’s Royal attractions always have a good crowd of foreign tourists. From Edinburgh Castle, down the Royal Mile to Holyrood house and the Abbey and further into Leith, where the magnificent Royal Yacht Britannia is moored; a feast of regal venues and all connected by one regular bus route.
A bus trip is a great way to see the whole city if your time is a bit limited. Many of the open-top bus tours have a “Plan B” in case of bad weather. Mind you, that usually just involves rolling a leaky plastic cover over the top deck, so I’d still stay downstairs if I were you! If you’re lucky enough to enjoy an Indian summer in the city, and have got plenty of energy, a stroll to the top of Arthur’s Seat is a must. Not only is there an amazing view once you make it to the top, but you also get a real sense of achievement when you realise that the end is in sight! If you’re not quite fit enough to tackle the extinct volcano, then Calton Hill provides an easier alternative and the view is just as stunning.
If you’re heading to Edinburgh for the Fringe this year, then you better make sure your wallet or purse is stuffed with plenty of cash for all the shows that you’re going to want to see. You can soon spend a hundred pounds or more on just a handful of shows – and once they’re over all you can afford to do is sit in the Pleasance courtyard, nursing your pint and hoping to spot a few celebrity comedians. Or More
Comedy, as a commentator recently put it, has gone beyond the ability to make people laugh; it is now a business. Comedians have grown to become rich men and women who sit over huge business empires built from the money they made through comedy. This is a mini summary of how comedy has evolved over the years. It is still developing and many comedians have adapted success stories from other countries into their culture and business. An example is the More
Stand up is very popular at the Edinburgh Fringe, but it can get a bit boring. If you have been watching comedy for years, you may be ready to graduate to something a bit edgier and the fringe is the place to do it. I was lucky enough to get tickets to a preview of Fool’s Proof Theatre’s new show that they are taking up to the Zoo Roxy this summer. The new show It’s Uniformation Day begins with the More
UK is host to a variety of comic gigs that have the potential to keep you in splits throughout. The British are known for nurturing some sense of humour (whether, it appeals to everyone’s tastes is a different question that we may not want to talk about). But, not all comedy is good comedy. If you want to experience some exceptionally good comic acts, we suggest that you save your dates for these comic gigs that are going to be More
I don’t mean to be in any way sexist but I have always favoured the male comedian of the female. Now I can imagine that has opened up a whole can of worms there! This is not to say that I don’t find women comedians funny, quite the opposite in fact but I do strongly believe that when it comes to comedy our tastes are determined by what we can identify with. It seems natural then that I will prefer More
It won’t be too long until the details of the performers at this year’s Edinburgh fringe Festival are announced, the usual weird and wonderful array of comedians, students plays, mime and music. Every year, there are certain comedians that I hope will make an appearance – and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Unlike my recent efforts to reduce my mobile roaming charges, which left me very disappointed indeed… I was thinking about what my ideal Fringe line-up would be; the More
Many locals clear out of Edinburgh when it comes to festival time. I used to live there and know how annoying it can be to fight your way through crowds and crowds of tourists when you’re just trying to get to work or buy a sandwich for lunch. Of course, all the negatives are far outweighed by the positives of having some of the biggest names in comedy performing on your doorstep – and you could easily end up spending More
It’s always nice to go out to a show and see some comedy acts. There are a lot in the major cities and the small clubs can make for some pretty cheap entertainment. Not to say the price is anything to do with the quality. There were some big stars that started out in comedy clubs. You never know who you may get to see in them that will soon be famous.
Music festivals can have some great entertainers too More
