The
Laughing Horse Free Festival Venues for 2010 |
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of our venues and performance spaces for the 2010 Fringe are listed below. If you
have any questions please contact us on info@freefestival.co.uk
In 2010 there will be 17 Free Festival venues,
with shows running over 31 different performance spaces. In addition to
our venues from 2009, all of which are returning this year we have an exciting new
multi-room venue located on the Cowgate, and two smaller new venues on Newington Road.
Each of our performance spaces ranges in size, shape
and feel, and for each of the venues below you can click through to a
separate page with all of the specifications for each performance spaces. We have rooms
that range in capacity from 50 to 150, two outdoor stages, and rooms that range from a
full set-up with large stages and backstage areas, to smaller room suited for solo
performance.
 All of our performance spaces that are designed for runs of Fringe
shows are in separate spaces from the rest of the venue, all are professionally managed
and set-up and come fully equipped with, at the very minimum: A full sound system,
microphones, mic stands, 4-8 channel mixers, stage lighting, CD players - and often much
more. (see the specs below for full details.). Please do not
confuse us with other free venue promoters that expect you to bring all your own
equipment, do not set-up the performance spaces and have many rooms in public bars without
a separate performance spaces.
We welcome all Fringe genres, and
programme a mixture of genres at each venue.In previous years we have had a large
programmes of comedy, theatre, music and cabaret each year, along with musicals and opera,
children's shows, courses, exhibitions and everything else. We aim to be diverse as
possible, and are always looking for something that bit different - so if you think your show will
fit into one our venues let us know! There is an idication of the suitability of each
venue for different genres listed with the venues below.
If you are planning any free walking tours of
Edinburgh, or other events why not include these in the Free Festival programme, or
start/end the tour at a free venue?
A map showing all of our venue locations for 2010 and
the main Fringe venues is at the bottom of this page.
All of our venues are located centrally in Edinburgh - it is vital for Fringe shows not to
be stuck a long way out of town and we don't have venues in unsuitable areas that don't
attract crowds.
If you have any questions on our venues, by all means
email us on info@freefestival.co.uk at any
time. |
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| Laughing Horse @ Espionage (venue 185) |
| 4 India Buildings,
Victoria Street, (Entrances on Victoria Street and Cowgate) |
| Now in it's third year of Free Festival shows,
Espionage is an established venue that's right in the heart of the Fringe, just off of the Royal
mile and right next to the Underbelly. Busy all day and all night, with performances from Midday
until Midnight, with a night-club following until 5am. With 5 Bars on 5 floors, and four dedicated
performance spaces. |
| Performance Spaces: |
| Pravda |
90 seats, end on
stage, backstage area. Raised seating to rear. Low ceiling and standing room at rear to get capacity
up to 100 people. Video Screens available. |
| Mata Hari |
60 seats, thrust stage
with low ceiling and additional space to hold 70 people with standing room. Video Screens
available. |
| Kasbar |
Seating arranged
around bar area, with 50 seats, and room for 100 with standing. Very popular with stand-up comedians
in 2008. |
| The Lizard
Lounge |
New Room for 2010 -
Small performance space located off of the main bar on the ground floor, 30 seats. |
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"Best
New Fringe Venues" - The Scotsman 2008 |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (venue 170) |
| 38 West Nicolson Street |
 Always
a popular venue, it was expanded in 2010, with improved facilities in the Ballroom, and also
taking over an additional space at the Blind Poet. In 2010 we plan to install full air-conditioning in
the main Ballroom. Open from 11am to 2am daily, with bars next door to the main rooms and in the Blind
poet, plus it's right above the Pear Tree Bar and Courtyard. Minutes from Fringe Central and the
Teviot venues - Udderbelly, Pleasance Dome and Gilded Balloon. |
| Performance Spaces: |
| The Ballroom |
One of the premier
performance spaces on the Fringe, with a large raised stage, backstage area, wing space, 150 seats and
full lighting and PA. Suitable for all manner of productions, large and small. |
| The Lounge |
An intimate space, with 50
seats, ideal for solo performances. |
| The Blind Poet |
A New room for music
performance in 2010, with end-on stage and a (very) small backstage area. capacity of 120 with a mixture
of seats and standing. |
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"Best
New Outdoor Drinking" - The Scotsman 2007 |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Pear Tree (venue TBC) |
| 38 West Nicolson Street |
 The
Pear Tree is located underneath the Counting House, so is similarly near all of the main venues and
Fringe Central. It has a huge and popular outdoor courtyard, next to a large indoor bar. With a large
outdoor stage in the courtyard available throughout the day, alongside areas available to perform in
the courtyard. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Pear Tree Outdoor
Stage |
Large covered
outdoor stage overlooking busy courtyard area, suitable for bands and other performances suited to this.
Complete with power, lighting and full PA. |
| Courtyard |
Large, flexible outdoor
space suitable for site specific and various outdoor performances. |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Hive
(venue 313) |
| 15-17 Niddry
Street |
| Located on Niddry street, the Hive is located
right in the centre of Edinburgh and close to other Free venues at The Three Sisters, City Cafe and
Espionage. It's minutes from the Fringe office and just off of the Royal mile, and has the highest
specification of available equipment of any of the free venues. The venue's launch year in 2009 saw an
immediate influx of large crowds, and we're now back at this venue for our second year. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Big Cave |
If you imagine one of the
larger Underbelly rooms, you will have a good idea about the Big Cave. It seats 120, there is a raised
stage, backstage area, large PA with 30 channel Mixer, full lighting rig with full control panel, and
multiple options for set-up of multimedia and AV equipment. , |
| The Little Cave |
The Big Cave's little
brother, with a capacity of 70 people seated in a smaller cave, with stage on the flat and full PA and
lighting rig. |
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| Laughing Horse @ The City Cafe (venue 85) |
| 19 Blair Street |
| Located
on Blair Street, the City Cafe is located between the Royal Mile and Cowgate, making it a walk of only
about 2 minutes from the Fringe office. It's also very close to our other venues at the Hive, The
Three Sisters and Espionage. It's also a popular venue with performers as it's a great value bar to
hang around, drink and eat in during the Fringe before and after flyering on the Royal mile. |
| Performance Space: |
| City 2 |
100 capacity,
with 80 seats located below the main bar, with large raised stage, low ceiling and a full PA system and
lighting. |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters (venue TBC) |
| 139 Cowgate |
| A New venue for 2010 - The Three sisters is a bar and hotel
located right on the busy Cowgate. It has a large and popular Courtyard, with large screens and a
covered outdoor stage. It is opposite and next to a huge amount of hostel accommodation,clubs and bars
- and it's minutes from The Royal Mile, Fringe Shop and the Free venues at The Hive, The City Cafe and
Espionage. Fully wheelchair accessible. |
| Performance Space: |
| Maggie's Chamber |
Upstairs 130 capacity (95
seats) venue, with raised stage, full PA system and lighting, and small backstage. Ideal for cabaret shows
and the room can be set with small tables or theatre style. |
| The Room With A View |
A smaller room adjacent to
Maggies chamber, with a 60 seat capacity cabaret style, small stage on the flat and full PA system. |
| The Gothic Bar |
Located at the back of the
main downstairs bar, with raised stage, lighting, PA and a capacity of 100. |
| The Cowgate Stage |
A new covered Outdoor
stage located in the Courtyard, with power and lighting. |
| The Courtyard |
A flexible outdoor space
that can be utilised for site specific performances, located just off of the busy Cowgate |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Meadow Bar (venue 264) |
| 42-44 Buccluch Street |
| Now
in its 5th year as a free Fringe venue, the Meadow bar is a city centre style bar with an intimate
upstairs performance area that runs from midday to 3am daily. Just minutes from the Fringe Central,
The Counting House and the Teviot venues - Udderbelly, Pleasance Dome and Gilded Balloon. It is also a
late night bar that gets full up with all the free performers, plus producers and other Fringe and
industry people escaping the horrors of the main venue's performers bars. |
| Performance Space: |
| Upstairs bar |
52 Seats, 60 capacity with
standing room. Intimate space with low ceiling, and small stage area. |
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"Best
Late Night Comedy" - The Scotsman 2008 |
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| Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde (venue 259) |
| 112 Hanover Street |
| The Jekyll & Hyde is located on Hanover Street in the
New town, moments away from the Assembly rooms and just off of Princes Street. It is decorated in a Gothic style
with skeletons and other macabre items 'hanging around' the walls, making it
a truly original and atmospheric venue well loved by performers. Open from midday to 1am Daily, and
now in its fourth year as a free Fringe venue. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Crypt |
60 Seats in an L-shaped
room, with a raised corner stage. Dark, gothic and atmospheric space, in a super location which is always
popular with crowds and performers. |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Argyle Bar (venue 353) |
| 15-17 Argyle Place |
| Located just off of the Meadows, near to the Meadows big
tops and only 10 minutes walk from Fringe Central and the Teviot venues - Udderbelly, Pleasance Dome
and Gilded Balloon. The Argyle s a friendly and traditional bar, with a community atmosphere - and a
basement performance space operating from midday until 1am. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Hide |
70 seats, plus room for 20
standing. End on stage with back stage entrance. Low ceilings and traditional, similar in feel to The
Stand - ideal for comedy and small scale theatre, plus children's shows early in the day. |
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| Laughing Horse @ Edinburgh City
Football Club (venue 164) |
| 7 Baxter's Place, Leith Walk |
| Now in
it's 5th year of free shows, the venue is situated on Leith Walk, right next to the Playhouse theatre
and seconds from Jongleurs and the Omni Complex, this venue is situated on a busy stretch of Road
- with very cheap bar prices and free shows from midday to midnight throughout the Fringe. Close to
our other venues The Newsroom, Renroc and The Outhouse |
| Performance Spaces: |
| Room 1 |
55 Seats, plus standing
from for 10. End on stage, with backstage area. TV screen available. |
| Room 2 |
An room suitable for
talks, displays and presentations |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom (venue 93) |
| 5-11 Leith Street |
| Located
at the junction of Leith Street and Princes street, the Newsroom is in an ideal locations seconds from
Waverley, North Bridge, The Royal Mile and the half-price ticket hut. Open from breakfast, right the
way through until late night this venue is available to use from 9am to 3am daily. This is the second
year of free shows at this popular addition to our venues in 2009. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Basement |
A corner stage, and a 60
capacity seated basement room, with enough space for another 20 people standing |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Outhouse (venue 99) |
| 12a Broughton Street Lane |
| Located
just off of Broughton Street, and in close proximity to Free venues at Edinburgh City Football Club
and the Newsroom. The Outhouse is now in it's second year with us, and the fourth year of hosting
Fringe shows. Open from Midday to 2am daily, the venue has a smart 70 capacity performance
space, bar, and a large outdoor area. |
| Performance Spaces: |
| The Loft |
An intimate 70 seat
performance space, ideal for stand-up comedy and small theatre performances |
| The Courtyard |
An mixed use outdoor
space, with open and covered areas along with power supply and lighting |
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| Laughing Horse @ Cafe Renroc (venue 84) |
| 91 Montgomery Street |
| Located in the Hillside area of Edinburgh, just off
of London Road and Leith Walk, Cafe Renroc is a busy and stylish licensed cafe, Bistro and
complimentary heath studio, and an intimate basement performance space operating from mid-afternoon
until midnight. Very popular with audiences in 2009, it's first year of show, with very
supportive staff who help sell all of the shows in the venue. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Basement |
An intimate 55 capacity
performance space , with 40 seats. Low ceiling and atmospheric. |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Metropole
Cafe (venue TBC) |
| 29-33 Newington Road |
| A New venue for 2010 - Located at the start of Newington Road,
the Metropole is a large licensed cafe that is a short walk from the Meadows and the Teviot
venues (about 10 minutes walk). It is also 5 minutes from our venues at the Meadow Bar and the
Counting House and very close to the Reverie. The Cafe is open all day, with performances possible
from the early evening. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Cafe |
Open space available from
early evening onwards, in the main area of this popular cafe. With cabaret seating and full light/PA
set-up. 80 capacity. |
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| Laughing Horse @ The Reverie (venue TBC) |
| 1 Newington Road |
| A New venue for 2010 - Located at the start of Newington Road,
the Reverie is a bar that is very close to the Metropole Cafe, so a similarly short walk from the
Meadows and the Teviot venues, and our other venues at the Meadow Bar and the Counting House. The bar
is open all day, with music performances possible in the evening. |
| Performance Space: |
| The Bar |
Space in the main bar for
music performance - as it' s an open bar this is only suitable for music performances. |
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  We will again have further Free shows at St. Martins Church and The
National Museum of Scotland, however these venues shows are produced by the venues
themselves and are not venues that can be booked by performers. We are also in talks with some
other venues and organisations about expanding the Free Festival further, when further venues
become available these will be added to this page. If you would like to be kept updated on our
venues please email us on info@freefestival.co.uk
to be added to our mailing list. |
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All
venue locations |
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Larger Map
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Comedy
Theatre
Music
Cabaret
Musicals & Opera
Events 
Children's
Shows
Exhibitions