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Is Edinburgh the New Beijing?

Everything points to Edinburgh: Welcome to the cultural track and field of Olympic proportions

So, there's this thing called the Olympics happening in China this month, which we're told will bring together reps from various countries around the world. But if it's global representation you're looking for, then this is the place to be. The Edinburgh Festival also brings the world together in one place, and every year we'll have you know, there's none of that 'only every four years' slacking here. Forty-six countries are represented in the Fringe Festival alone this year, with the US, Ireland, Australia, Korea, Canada, South Africa, Poland, Japan, Italy and Spain sending in the most shows. With global games in our mind, we've spent some quality time learning about the shows coming to town from five of these countries, and based on that provide you here with a convenient 3 to see from each.

AUSTRALIA

Beautiful People (Don't Travel Economy) (Comedy)
If anyone knows about the woes of air travel, it's those who have flown from Australia to be with us this Festival. This character comedy, performed by Robert Yule, comes with every airline scenario you can think of. Though this being SleezyJet, the programme probably costs extra.
Sweet Teviot Place, from 31 Jul, fpp 31

Bombay To Beijing By Bicycle (Theatre)
Not just here because of the convenient link to the Olympic city - if the reception this show got at Melbourne Fringe is anything to go by this is a definite recommend.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, from 30 Jul, fpp 187

Brendon Burns (Comedy)
Fringe legend, ThreeWeeks favourite and, last time I looked, Aussie stand up, Brendon Burns returns to the Festival after his if.com award win last year. Look out for his exclusive 'award winners' column in next week's ThreeWeeks.
Assembly @ George Street, from 31 Jul, fpp 35

POLAND

Mime For Laughs! (Physical Theatre)
Physical comedy and mime has something of a bad rep in the UK, but when it's done well it can be an incredibly engaging form of entertainment. And you can expect renowned Polish mime artist Ireneusz Krosny to do it very well.
Hill Street Theatre, from 1 Aug, fpp 118

Affabre Concinui (Music)
The Polish Chamber Singers' blurb mentions their "astonishing and unique imitation of musical instruments". Well, that's got us intrigued. Go see what they mean.
St Andrew's & St George's Church, from 8 Aug, fpp 138

Emigrants (Theatre)
The increasingly common exploration of Poles abroad, but from a Polish company, for whom the characters are emigrants not immigrants. Could be eye-opening.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, from 11 Aug, fpp 198

CANADA

Glenn Wool (Comedy)
We're cheating here, because we couldn't fit Mr Wool into our comedy 13 to see so we're tipping here, on account of his passport. Still, Canada does supply us with more than one of the Fringe's funniest stand ups, and Wool leads the pack.
Underbelly, from 31 Jul, fpp 54

The Rebel Cell (Theatre)
ThreeWeeks Editors' Award winning Baba Brinkman returns to the Fringe with a brand new show in which an accused terrorist and journalist clash words, '8 Mile' style.
Pleasance Dome, from 30 Jul, fpp 225

Whiskey Bars (Musicals)
Yeah, we'll forgive the non-Scottish spelling of Whisky because these guys are from Canada. An interesting musical telling the "story of a singer's final comeback, fueled by countless vodka martinis and Kurt Weill's dark, daring songs".
The Vault, from 3 Aug, fpp 179

KOREA

Dream Of Cat (Music)
I'm a sucker for a bit of quality drumming, and this should be drumming of the quality kind.
C too, from 31 Jul, fpp 146

InvAsian Festival: Arirang Party (Dance & Physical Theatre)
Part of a very interesting season of shows at clubWEST, this "extreme musical dance spectacular" comes to Edinburgh after a rather successful run in Seoul. Expect a riotous mix of dance styles.
ClubWest @ Quincentenary Hall, from 3 Aug, fpp 116

Junk Band Story... Uh?! (Comedy)
One of those shows that's grabbed our attention by blurb alone. "With no instruments and no money, Junk Band does not give up and the world opens a path to wasted articles". Intriguing.
Universal Arts Theatre, from 1 Aug, fpp 67

JAPAN

Crazy Japanese Sit Down Comedy (Comedy)
A former sell-out show at this here Edinburgh Festival and a Just For Laughs winner, this is traditional Japanese comedy with some puppets, geisha, music and storytelling thrown in. This being the world's biggest comedy festival, you really ought to try and take in lots of comedy from right across the world. I'd start here.
Sweet Grassmarket, from 9 Aug, fpp 42

Samurai Spirit (Dance & Physical Theatre)
I'll be honest with you - I don't know much about this show - but the promise of "authentic samurai sword battles in a beautiful dancing style" has got us just a little bit excited. And not only that, this troupe is led by Tetsuro Shimaguchi, who choreographed the sword fighting in 'Kill Bill'.
Zoo Southside, from 1 Aug, fpp 120

The Feast Of The Ants (Theatre)
A black comedy from Japan, this one's also got us curious, and will be high up our priority list this August.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, from 31 Jul, fpp 199

published: Aug-2008

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