My Edinburgh: The Boy with Tape on His Face, comedian
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
As a silent act, I enjoy the noise of Edinburgh during the Fringe. The tourist shops selling "Scotty" caps complete with ginger hair wouldn't be the same without blasting bagpipes covering "Fly me to the Moon". The shout of street performers, who block off the mile and all read from a universal script, would be a mere whisper if it was reduced to slow hand claps and the smell of jugglers (white spirit and cabbages). It's the constant babble of people summing up their shows in 10 seconds that you manage to tune out. Occasionally, it is nice to tune it back in again and have a listen.
Should you venture to the festival, I recommend headphones, you won't need anything that actually plays music but it's a nice public symbol that states "I can't hear you". Pick and choose what you let in. The sound of a stand-up comedian who has had some time to plan a show is very different to the high-pitched panicked voice of someone who is funny at parties.
Make your own noise at some point. Laugh, cheer, interact.
If you really want to keep quiet, just smile. You are having fun, remember?
The Boy with Tape on His Face, Pleasance Courtyard (0131 556 6550) to 28 August, then touring ( www.theboywithtapeonhisface.com)
The boy with tape on his face's must-see
One show that will ease you into this fringe experience is Lili La Scala's "Songs to Make You Smile", a collection of vintage songs sung by a vintage bombshell at the Assembly Gardens. I saw this show at the Adelaide Fringe and when I saw it was here, I smiled and remembered the sounds.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments