The Fringe is not a festival...

The Fringe is not a festival. In the sense that a festival has a limited time period, and is the result of careful curatorial programming, the Fringe is more like an experiment in free market capitalism, designed to test whether natural selection operates within cultures. Edinburgh's blithe boast that it is the festival city only works if the Fringe is sub-divided into a series of smaller festivals.

This is the bit I like, because the audience becomes their own curator. The critic, meanwhile, has a rare experience of power. The cultural capital I've built up over the past seven years has a sudden moment of value. By reading my blog, a potential audience can assess my tastes, realise I am a pompous clown, and work out whether they are likely to agree with my recommendations.

It isn't much power, but, as an anarchist, I would not be comfortable with anything more. Then there is the fun of making up mini-festivals from what is already planned...


Today's mini-festival is based on the first five emails I find in my inbox.

Starting off with I Knew A Man Called Livingstone

Celebrating the life of David Livingstone, from the perspective of his African friends

Date: Friday 14th June 2013 Time: 18:00 – 19:00

Venue: National Libraries of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh



This powerful piece of storytelling theatre, from Scots/Kenyan company Toto Tales, weaves together stories from the life of David Livingstone, told from the unique perspective of the African people who encountered him, and knew him best.

Seen through the eyes of his faithful companions Susi and Chuma, who undertook the long and dangerous journey across Africa, to return his body home, ‘I KNEW A MAN CALLED LIVINGSTONE’ vividly brings to life characters such as the fierce Princess Manenko, and Chief Sekeletu, who made possible Livingstone’s explorations of the Zambezi; to reveal a man of determination, conviction and tremendous humanity.

Dynamic, interactive, theatrical storytelling, with an original sound design, combines to produce a vibrant, moving and magical production.
Part of the David Livingstone 200 celebrations. http://www.davidlivingstone200.org


Performers: Isla Menzies and Mara Menzies

Director: Annie George of Wave Theatre

Sound Design: Pete Smith (http://www.thesoundspace.co.uk/)




Toto Tales Productions: www.tototales.co.uk Toto Tales is an Edinburgh-based, international, touring company. Passionate about bringing African stories to life in a unique theatrical storytelling style, it was founded by Scottish/Kenyan sisters, writer and performer Mara Menzies and fellow performer Isla Menzies.Together they have created works that have toured Scotland and beyond (Singapore, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Ireland and England, with this production going to Malawi in September 2013 for the City of Stars festival). This production has been developed for schools and community venues with support from Creative Scotland.




Recent Productions: Starbird (a co-production with Mull Theatre 2013), Tyi Wara (Edinburgh Mela), Under the Baobab Tree (collaboration with iTheatre, Singapore / Fringe 2011/Singapore ACE Festival 2011).


Twitter: https://twitter.com/TotoTales
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toto-Tales