EDINBURGH FESTIVAL: FESTIVAL HOT TICKETS
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Your support makes all the difference.The Edinburgh Festival is finally under way. There's a month of comedy, dance, film, music and theatre in store and several venues are already boasting record sales. Below is a guide to what you should be booking now to make sure you see this year's most exciting performances.
FILM
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
Cameo 1 (0131 228 4141) 21 Aug
Three students disappear while making a documentary; a year later their cameras are found. The surprise American hit of the year.
GREGORY'S TWO GIRLS
UCI (0131 623 8030) 26 Aug
Bill Forsyth's long-awaited sequel to Gregory's Girl. Twenty years on, John Gordon Sinclair is teaching at his old school and finds himself caught between the attentions of two very different women.
GO
Cameo 1 (0131 228 4141) 16 Aug
Doug Liman's follow up to Swingers hops between three interconnected stories of sex, drugs, guns and gangsters. Other film festival highlights to look out for include The Thomas Crown Affair and Hold Back the Night.
CONCERTS
THE OPENING CONCERT
Usher Hall (0131 473 2000) 15 Aug
Soloists Lisa Milne, Ian Bostridge and Bryn Terfel join the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus to open the International Festival with a performance of Handel's Saul. There is limited availability for this concert and also for Verdi's Requiem and the Vienna Philarmonic conducted by Simon Rattle. But 50 reserved seats will go on sale on the day, from the Hub Ticket centre at Castlehill, Royal Mile.
WOODY HERMAN ORCHESTRA
Queen's Hall (0131 668 2019) tonight
Frank Tiberi leads one of jazz's greatest big bands in a concert that combines ensemble work and soloists.
IVOR CUTLER
Queen's Hall (0131 668 2019) Sat
The poet, playwright, composer, comedian, actor and musician appears as part of the Flux Festival, a music division of the Fringe.
OPERA
MACBETH
Festival Theatre (0131 473 2000) 29 Aug, 1 & 4 Sept
Luc Bondy and Scottish Opera return to the festival with Verdi's version of the Scottish play.
THEATRE
THE NATION'S FAVOURITE: THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF RADIO 1
Pleasance Upstairs (0131 556 6550) to 30 Aug
The behind-the-scenes story of Radio 1 is apparently revealed in this production. An adaptation of Simon Garfield's best-selling novel.
THE RIGHT SIZE
Assembly Music Hall (0131 226 2428) 15-30 Aug
Sean Foley and Hamish McColl perform their comedy about two men trapped in a bathroom.
THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Assembly Music Hall (0131 226 2428) to 30 Aug
It's the millennium's turn to be abridged - 1000 years in 100 minutes, performed as a musical.
COMEDY
THE BEST OF SO YOU THINK YOU'RE FUNNY
Backstage I, Gilded Balloon (0131 226 2151) Fri to 30 Aug
Winners and runners-up from the past 12 years of this annual competition (now in its 24th year) return to the festival. Some, now at the top of their trade, began their comedy careers here.
PHIL KAY
Main Theatre, Gilded Balloon (0131 226 2151) 13-28 Aug
Spontaneity and audience interaction are guaranteed in a show which changes every night. What else would you expect from a man who was born to improvise? Also at the Gilded Balloon are Ennio Marchetto, and the Steve Frost Pub Quiz
JASON BYRNE
Pleasance Two (0131 556 6550) 4-30 Aug
Last year's major hit returns with his hilarious quick wit. Other comedy shows appearing at the Pleasance include Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, Al Murray the Pub Landlord and Rich Hall.
GREG PROOPS
Assembly Music Hall (0131 226 2428) to 19 Aug
American comedian and star of Whose Line is it Anyway? returns to his favourite stamping ground.
Also appearing at the Assembly are Ed Byrne, Phill Jupitus and Hattie Hayridge.
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