Reviews & features: News

Edinburgh International Magic Festival

All things magic have joined the festival party, pulling their own brand of special out of the hat. The inaugural Edinburgh International Magic Festival will be set over five days from 7–11 July, in venues including The Lot, the Scottish Storytelling…

Edinburgh Fringe set for administrative reform

FROM a homosexual Jesus to Jane Austen’s Guide to Pornography, the Fringe has never been short of controversy when it comes to its acts. There was disappointment then, last year, when the headlines still focussed on the Fringe’s administration over the…

Half Price Hut set for Edinburgh Fringe 2009

The List can happily announce that, despite fears, the half-price hut shall be returning for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2009. Opening at 10am on Tuesday 11th August, the hut shall be offering discount prices for a variety of shows in its new home…

The gathering of the bribes

We don’t like to call it bribery, that’s a dirty word, but now that the Festival’s starting to roll into town the standard of, er, unsolicited gifts arriving here at List Towers is definitely on the up. And we don’t mind it one bit. It might not…

Michael Jackson - Off The Wall

The King of Pop at the Gates of Heaven and Hell in Edinburgh

It was bound to happen but still we at List Towers couldn’t help but raise a smile at the news that Michael Jackson at the Gates of Heaven and Hell is rocking into town and landing at the Big Belly. In a series of sketches, audiences will hear from…

These Colours Productions win the Dupliquick Zebra prize

Edinburgh Fringe poster design competition

These Colours Productions, the team behind King of Gypsies have started their festival season in style by winning the first award of the year, the Dupliquick Zebra prize for poster design. The company won £500 in cash plus £500 worth of printing.

Jenny Éclair for one night only

Laughter saves lives at the Hot Pink Breakthrough Balloon Show

Funny lady Jenny Éclair will host the one-night-only premiere Hot Pink Breakthrough Balloon Show to raise money for Breast Cancer. The comedy benefit will be happening on Saturday 22 August from 3pm–5pm in the Debating Hall, in the Gilded Balloon.

ScotRail announce special Edinburgh Festival timetable

A new late-night train to North Berwick is among this year’s services. The service will run on Fridays and Saturdays and depart at 2337 - 30 minutes after the usual last train. Late night services to Glasgow Queen Street will depart from Edinburgh…

Edinburgh Mela Festival

The Edinburgh Mela Festival is returning to Pilrig Park this year for its usual celebration of cultural diversity in Scotland, taking place between 7–9 Aug. The BBC Asian Network are on board for the first time and will be broadcasting live from the…

Book Festival director stands down

Catherine Lockerbie, the director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, has stepped down from her position after a 9-year tenure. Lockerbie leaves behind one of the most respected book festivals in the world, thanks largely to her commitment…

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces programme

The Edinburgh International Film Festival was announced today. The programme Includes 135 features from 33 countries and includes 23 World Premieres. Highlights from the programme include opening film Away We Go from British director Sam Mendes on 17…

Beyond the Book Fest

Following their success this summer, The Edinburgh International Book Festival will present a special autumn event with award-winning Australian author David Malouf. Winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, his book Remembering Babylon was shortlisted…

Fringe ticket sales drop

The Fringe took a double knock last week when figures revealed ticket sales were down by almost 10% this year - the first fall in eight years. Competition from the Olympics, box office problems and bad weather were all noted as factors. Fringe director…

Fringe box office crisis to be investigated

As the world's largest arts festival enters its final week, speculation is rife about the outcome of an inquiry into the failure of the Fringe Office's ticketing system. The Festival Fringe Society has ordered an independent inquiry into its own box…

Annie Lennox cancels festival appearance

The Festival of Politics was dealt a blow last week after one of its headliners, Annie Lennox, was forced to pull out of her appearance at the Scottish Parliament. Holyrood cited ill health for the no-show and Lennox released a statement saying that she…

Nam Le beams into Book Festival

Vietnamese-born celebrated Australian writer, Nam Le is set to be beamed in live from the Melbourne Writers Festival, as part of an addition to the Edinburgh International Book Festival line-up. Le will talk about his debut collection of short stories…

Tea-leafs ahoy!

Rumours abound that a Tracey Emin polaroid was pinched from the Gilded Balloon Loft Bar, last week. The untitled display of ten self-portraits, consisting of enlarged Polaroids of the artist were hung up by pieces of velcro in the bar. Now only nine…

Janey Godley wins Funny Women Fringe Award

Scottish comedy talent has been recognised by the Nivea Funny Women Fringe Award which went to Glasgow stand-up Janey Godley. The comic won the £1000 award with her show Domestic Godley, in which she shares home truths about family, friends and her…

InvAsian festival set to host Elvis Idol competition

Calling all Elvis wannabes. Auld Reekie will be transformed into a veritable Graceland during a two-day tribute to the king of rock'n'roll this month. Organisers of the InvAsian Festival, an event dedicated to promoting Asian arts and culture, have…

Oh water night!

Happily the rain didn't spoil this year's List Festival Party - if anything it enhanced the tropical atmosphere. Burlesque stilt-masters waded through the crowd as Clarkson & Crouch provoked giggles with their slick comedy, topping off a dazzling…

Festival focus

All festivals announce last minute additions to programmes