Brian Ferguson’s diary
Conductor Greg Lawson had more than enough on his plate at the Playhouse, with more than 80 musicians and singers crammed on to the stage for the latest outing of his Grit Orchestra.
Originally formed to perform a live version of groundbreaking musician Martyn Bennett’s music at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival, it is also on its way to becoming a firm favourite at the Edinburgh International Festival – see our review on p5.
Perhaps conscious of their different audience demographics, Lawson felt moved to issue instructions to the audience on how to reduce the risk of tensions between the urge to dance and a contentment to remain seated – by telling them how it is possible to dance in a chair. My neighbour’s enthusiasm to test out the theory lasted only as long as an intervention that he was “getting too excitable”.
However, all credit to the crowd packed into the Playhouse for remaining firmly in position for the wildly acclaimed encores.
Taking the acclaim one more time, Lawson declared: “I hope you’ve all had a good workout tonight.”
Sir Timothy O’shea may have stepped down as Edinburgh University’s principal but as chairman of the Fringe Society, he is still one of the big hitters of the festivals scene.
Above, Greg Lawson. Inset, Sir Timothy O’shea
He was listening intently as chief executive Shona Mccarthy set out the society’s blueprint for the future at its AGM at the Royal College of Surgeons.
She insisted, not for the first time in recent months, that the Fringe would need help within the city to realise all of its ambitions, including bringing down the costs for producers and performers involved in staging shows in Edinburgh.
Pointing out that the event was run by just 24 staff, she said: “There’s absolutely no way we’re going to deliver
this on our own. We’ve only got a tiny Tim,” she said, before correcting herself.
She added: “It’s just got to that stage of the Fringe when you start losing it.”
When normally robust festival press officers start openly tweeting about being “officially knackered” you know it’s been a long month.
Salvation of sorts was found at the EICC in the form of survival packs in the press room, which were festooned about picnic benches and palm trees to celebrate the return of reality TV show Shipwrecked.
Pineapple and coconut shower gel, cucumber flavour hand-wipes and a peppermint “foot sock pack” – whatever that is – were among the goodies, along with an eye mask.
But could I find a bacon roll on sale anywhere in the entire EICC?