Fringe programme brings the world to Edinburgh

The 2018 World Cup may have drawn to a close, but festival audiences don’t have to wait long for another thrilling feast of international talent, as performers from across the world limber up for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Outpacing even FIFA's 32-nation event, more than 50 countries are represented in this year's Fringe programme, with a huge range of entertainment including comedy, dance, theatre, opera, street performance, circus skills and much more.

Amongst those travelling from around Europe are performers taking part in Vive le Fringe! at the French Institute, where the line-up includes dance and multimedia performances tackling contemporary themes of gender equality and national borders.

Meanwhile, in the Fringe’s rich comedy line-up you can find the likes of top Danish comedian Sofie Hagen and even stand-up comedy from Iceland and Luxembourg.

Some of the Fringe’s biggest names hail from the USA, with festival favourites such as Tom Stade back after sellout performances in 2017, while TV star Janeane Garofalo returns for the first time in recent years.

Canada is also well-represented with the return of CanadaHub @ King’s Hall, in association with Summerhall: the five-show programme this year includes everything from dark comedy to puppet theatre.

The Made in Adelaide strand returns for the third year in 2018, highlighting South Australian talent in a line-up that includes cabaret, storytelling, dance and theatre. And neighbours New Zealand will also make their presence felt with Fringe favourite Jarred Christmas returning alongside comedy debuts from the likes of David Correos and Eli Matthewson.

Also returning to the Fringe in 2018 are Taiwan Season from Summerhall and Dance Base, and Korean Season at Assembly. The former will include indigenous dance and documentary exploring contemporary Taiwanese life, while performances in the latter will see Argentinian tango performed to traditional Korean music and instruments, and a Korean reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

From the likes of Ghana, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe come a number of performances spanning music, theatre, circus, dance and more. Returning to the Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows after a hit 2017 run will be Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams while a number of groups including the Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir bring world music to the Fringe.

Circus and physical theatre is the main offering from South and central America, with Circolombia returning to Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows and Dominican Republic group Rumba Caribeña performing in El Paso Tapas Bar. And for comedy fans, making his Edinburgh debut at Pleasance will be Venezuelan-born, Australia-based comic Ivan Aristefuieta.

Always a celebration of internationalism and multiculturalism, this year’s Fringe looks set to continue the tradition with an exciting and diverse programme of acts across all genres and corners of the map.

With over 50 countries represented across 3,548 shows in 317 venues, Fringe-goers will be spoiled for choice by this international line-up. And not a penalty shootout in sight!

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes place between 3-27 August 2018 and tickets are available now. Find the full programme and get your tickets at tickets.edfringe.com

And of course, the Fringe is just one of five August festivals, and eleven year-round, all with superb programmes of national and international talent. Find out more about them all here.

Want news and features about Edinburgh's major festivals delivered straight to your inbox? 
Sign up for our regular enewsletters!