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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

A scene from Limbo, a sonata composed by Chloé Charody for the violinist Sonja Schebeck and the acrobat Josh Frazer.

Aug 2–26, 2024
180 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, United Kingdom

At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s first and most massive of fringes, the dance/circus/physical theater category boasts 128 entries, spread over a mere three weeks. How to choose? Carefully, I’d suggest. It’s in the nature of a fringe festival to throw the doors open to all comers, which means the curating lands on you. Thankfully, the Edinburgh Fringe website helps, with a page for each show that includes video teasers, show descriptions, and links to reviews. Read them, as well as any guides in the U.K. press (The Guardian, for example, has a squadron of theater writers culling the Edinburgh offerings). Favor smaller, more portable shows over herds, and don’t let quirky concept seduce you. A few items on my shortlist are the surreal, identity-probing solo Negare; Limbo, a duet for acrobat and violinist about lousy immigration policy; and Lien, a 10-minute tête-à-tête between an audience of one and a lone dancer. From August 2 to August 26. —Apollinaire Scherr