I decided to put some of the fund towards going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Although primarily recognised for its Theatre and Comedy, and there is no specifically named ‘live art’ section in the brochure - the fringe festival does have a seeping and increasing number of live art based practices and particularly innovative experimental theatre and dance.


Photo of a scottish hat on The Scotsman Steps refurbished by Martin Creed for his Work no. 1059, 2011

I have not been to the fringe festival for five years but have seen the previews of regional artists in the lead up to Edinburgh supported through the East to Edinburgh scheme. I have also seen works that have done well in Edinburgh and then gone on to tour the UK. Going to Edinburgh gave me the chance to spend a week by myself seeking out the performances that I thought would benefit me the most in terms of my own practice. In particular I was looking for experimental theatre/ dance, live art, spoken word and participatory events. I was looking for solo artists, alternative sites and venues, performance which rubs shoulders with stand up and generally new, unconventional, cross-disciplined and surprising work. I was keen to support the regional artists as well as finding new artists from a wider geographical pool! I also wanted to spend time as an audience member with a view to seeing what it would be like to bring a performance here myself in the future.

I saw 19 performances in total and had a thoroughly informative, absorbing and crazy week! To simplify my response to the works that I saw, I have borrowed Curious’ method of evaluating people’s practices by using three words only to describe each work. These words are initial and spontaneous responses to the performances. The twelve listed below are my most memorable:

1. I Malvolio by Tim Crouch 'mocking delectable rant'
2. The Oh Fuck Moment by Hannah Walker and Chris Thorpe 'frank moving human'
3. Dance Marathon by Blue Mouth Inc 'unifying competitive trance'
4. May I have the Pleasure by Adrian Howells 'brave romantic lonely'
5. Audience by Ontroend Goed 'damaging, exhausting, exposing'
6. Anton's Uncles by Theatre Movement Bazarre 'nimble smart slick'
7. Stuck Piece by Caroline Simon 'chatty dreamy lively'
8. How to be a leader by Tim Clare 'comedic exaggerated informal'
9. Swimming with my Mother by Cosceim Dance 'innocent, light, nostalgic'
10. Cutting the Chord by Flying Eye 'Conversational, melancholy, charming'
11. Whistle by Martin Figura 'honest, eloquent, gentle'
12. A conversation with Carmel by Barrowland Dance 'bountiful, joyous, fast'