Alternative Theatres: Navigating the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival

The Edinburgh festival immersion experience can be exhilarating, inspiring, educational, and exhausting. Think: 2,000 shows daily!

This program helps you navigate the Fringe Festival efficiently and effectively.  The program also aims to enhance your understanding of contemporary performance further your own educational and artistic interests.

Our first week in Edinburgh focuses on politically relevant and artistically challenging new work.  Readings and lectures are posted online in July.  The entire festival catalogue is available online in late June.

In Edinburgh, we attend at least 10 performances of contemporary and international theatre.  During the second week, the program helps each participant work out their own itinerary. Most people see between 20 and 30 shows over a two-week period, although you can attend productions at your own pace.  The group meets at designated times for discussions.  Non-credit registrants are encouraged to join in with post-graduates (and undergraduates) taking the course.  Requirements for graduate credit are arranged individually with the instructor.

A faculty member or graduate assistant is always available to help organize sightseeing, answer your questions, and make your stay as pleasurable as possible.

The program takes advantage of Edinburgh itself–the castles, the Scottish national Library, the new Scottish Parliament, Arthur’s Seat, the Royal Botannical Gardens. A City Tour and one full day Scottish Highland tour is included in the price of the program for those who participate for two weeks.

Enjoy political theatre, musical theatre, performance art, dance, or stand-up comedy!

This year, post graduate enrollment is limited to 5-7 participants.

SIGN-UP and DEPOSIT DEADLINE: April 15, 2009.

Questions? Email jspencer@english.umass.edu