A Guide to Venues at the Edinburgh Fringe

By Sam Wightman and Spencer Rust

It’s that time again! Every pub, church and cave in Scotland's capital transforms into a temporary theatre as artists from all over the world, and a lot of exhausted flyerers flock for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Once again, we have a 2017 programme even thicker than the previous year, and unless you get a kick out of paper cuts, it's a mighty task to get through the thing...  

If you hate the agony of choice, we’ve got you. Whilst there's far too much worth seeing to cram into one article, we'll narrow down your vast amount of options by giving an overview of the venues you should visit, and where to spend you precious time and money this year.

Have a wonderful festival, and tweet us your picks of the Fringe! 

Summerhall

The University of Edinburgh's old veterinary school is fast becoming one of the most fashionable locations for festival-goers. The all-year-round arts venue prides itself on its eclectic mix of international and experimental performances during August. Though sadly the animals have all gone, you can practically feel the history as you take your seat in the Dissection Room or walk through the Small Animal Hospital in truly unique performance spaces that you won't forget easily.

Be warned - if you're looking for stand up, you're barking up the wrong tree at Summerhall, with a dedication to curating the creme de la creme of theatre and performance from all over the globe. If that's not your jam, you can always lounge the days away in the venue's lively courtyard with a cocktail or two...

Summerhall Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL

Traverse Theatre

A champion of new writing in its own right, the Traverse started in the 1960s and has held a special place in the hearts of festival-goers and all-year-round performance fanatics since. Being a stones-throw from Edinburgh Castle means it is right in the thick of the festival buzz and you won’t get blisters walking to it!

Two spaces mean the Traverse’s programme is hugely varied and includes music, spoken word, dance and (of course) theatre, this venue is not one

Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

Pleasance

A giant of the Fringe, you don't need much memory to recall the location of this thriving venue's home - on the winding and deceivingly steep Pleasance road. A staple location for Fringe-goers since 1985, the main Pleasance courtyard operates as a part-beer festival, part-celebrity spotting enclosure. You'll be swamped by flyerers, but you won't mind when you realise you are in great company and that they are promoting some of the very best talent in the country.

The Pleasance stages have been graced by the biggest names in comedy over the years, boasting an impressive line-up annually without fail. It's a bit off the beaten track but an essential pit-stop to make, especially after dark.

Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ

ZOO

ZOO is growing year upon year to become a real titan of the Fringe. If your taste is weird and wonderful dance and physical theatre, you might as well set up camp inside their gorgeous Southside home for the entire month. Boasting performance spaces of all sizes across two locations, experimentation certainly breeds inside its walls.

A favourite for Lecoq graduate companies over the years, test the waters here with some new talent or seasoned pros - all promising to deliver truly memorable festival experiences, that push the limits of theatrical convention.

ZOO Southside, 117 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9ER

Underbelly

Underbelly is less like a Fringe venue, and more like a Fringe metropolis. The giant upside-down cow is the purple beacon for those hungry for comedy, theatre and everything in between. It’s difficult to sum up the character of its shows based on its sheer variety, but generally it has a fine taste for stuff that is both edgy and up-and-coming.

From the main compound above ground to the caves in Cowgate, Underbelly spots are full of laughter, tears and a fair bit of booze right through to the wee hours, as it acts as a perfect grazing area if you (god forbid) have a couple of hours to kill.

Cowgate: Edinburgh Central Library, 56 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1EG

Edinburgh Playhouse

Believe it or not, our very own Playhouse doesn’t migrate to sunnier lands in August like most regular Auld Reekie dwellers. ATG’s 3,000 seat venue certainly has the upper hand on most theatrical locations when it comes to size, and it has a plethora of show-stopping events to get stuck into when you need a breather from collecting bits of paper on the Royal Mile.

Take a trip down to Scotland’s Broadway for one-off festival events and a look at one of the rocks of the city’s cultural landscape.

18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA

PBH’s Free Fringe Locations

The ultimate tombola. It’s no secret that you will see some of the worst shows as well as some of the best shows of your life in Edinburgh without paying a single penny. It’s up to you how you play it – wait long enough and word of mouth will point out some hidden gems in the free festival, or take the bull by the horns and dip into anything and everything you come across.

The free shows of Edinburgh epitomise the spirit of the festival, and from experience can say with confidence that they are no means a marker of the quality of the work being produced. A Fringe visit is incomplete without a tap-dancing magic show in the basement of a nightclub after all…