    
2011 is the second year of Fringe shows at the Three
Sisters, a venue that encompasses the Three sisters Bar and the upstairs Tailors Hall
Hotel - and quickly became known amongst performers as "The Free Festival's version
of the Pleasance Courtyard", with its many performance spaces and bars around a busy
and vibrant courtyard.
The Three sisters is located In a prime location on the
Cowgate, with four main indoor performance spaces (including an additional space added for
2011), an outdoor stage, a large courtyard and direct access from the Cowgate, this venue
is a fantastic addition to the Free Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe itself, linking
together a lot of our Free venues located along the Royal Mile area of Town. The rooms are
all of a very high standard, and the venue is in a prime location, with the venue also
being fully air-conditioned throughout and accessible to wheelchairs.
 Although there was no Fringe shows here before
us in 2010, in earlier years the courtyard used to be home to 'The Comedy Bus', the same
year as Laughing Horse started to run Fringe venues in 2004, and the large flexible
courtyard space can be used for site-specific productions, along with events on the
covered stage.
There are three bars, over the two floors with food and
drink served all day, along with a large outdoor bar serving food, with DJ's and a
barbecue running late into the night, giving the venue that all important buzz from
lunchtime right the way through to the early hours as the place to party at the Fringe!
The venue is also a 42 bedroom hotel. Located on the Cowgate there is an unrivaled amount
of space to publicise shows with advertising material, including a huge projector screen
for shows images and videos.
The venue is only two minutes walk from the Fringe shop and
the Royal Mile, and just as close to the Underbelly, the Main C venues, The Pleasance and
other Free venues at The Hive, The City Cafe, Espionage, Finnegans Wake, The Beehive
and The White Horse.
The venue is also fully wheelchair accessible for
performers and audiences, with the ground floor performance spaces (The Gothic Room,
Outdoor stage and Courtyard) flat on ground level with no steps, and the upstairs
performance spaces accessible via a ramp and lift.
 Performance Space: Maggie's Chamber
Maggies Chamber feels very much like a basement Cabaret bar
(even though it's actually on the first floor!) with a low brick arched ceiling creating a
great atmosphere for comedy and cabaret, plus a large raised stage with velvet curtains
and illuminated backdrop. This space is available midday until 2am every day,
and is absolutely gorgeous looking and feeling.
Stage - An large rectangular stage area,
4.5m x 3m and raised to 15cm. Small amounts of wingspace utilising the sound/PA position
and backstage area.
Seating - Capacity is 140 including
standing, with up to 100 seats depending on layout. The room can be set up cabaret style,
theatre style or a mixture of both, with the options of chairs and/or sofas..
Lighting - 4xFixed LED Par Cans and three
small spotlights to Flood light the stage, or provide colour washes. Additional Lighting
can be supplied by companies and fixed as required.
Sound - The room is supplied with an 4
channel mixer (2xXLR Mic, 4xphono/Jack and USB inputs ), 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and
2xmic stands.
Audio Visual - There is a projector and
screen available for use and fitted into the room.
Storage - There is a small storage space at the venue for props and
equipment, stored in a shared room with other groups.
Bar - The bar in the room can be open or closed and will be staffed
throughout the shows.
Performance Space: A Room
with a View
 A Room with a view is adjacent to Maggie's Chamber on the first floor of the
venue, with it's entrance from a shared hallway.This space is available midday until 2am
every day.
Stage - A small raised stage, 2m x 1m with
additional area around the stage to perform on the flat floor.
Seating - Capacity is 60 people, seated
theatre style. .
Lighting - 3xsmall spotlights to flood the
stage area. Additional Lighting can be supplied by companies and fixed as required.
Sound - The room is supplied with a 4
channel mixer (2xXLR Mic, 2xphono/Jack), 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and 2xmic
stands.
Audio Visual - No AV equipment is
available, but the room can be used with screens and projectors supplied by the
performance group..
Storage - There is storage space at the venue for props and
equipment, stored in a shared room with other groups, and a locked office which
valuable items can be stored in.
Bar - There is a bar in the room which can be opened or closed
during shows, and is staffed throughout the day.
Performance Space: The
Gothic Bar
 The Gothic Bar is located at the rear of the
ground floor of the venue and is separated from the main bar with a thick curtain. This
space is only available during the week, during the daytime - and not at weekends. With
some evening spots also available for one of band and cabaret slots.
Stage - The stage area is raised to 0.5m,
and will be set to be around 2m x 2m. There is a small backstage area, utilising
the fire exit area (but no props can be stored here).
Seating - Capacity is up to 150, with 100
seats, with a mixture of cabaret and theatre style seating. .
Lighting - 3xFixed Par Cans to Flood light
the stage. Additional Lighting can be supplied by companies and fixed as required. Disco
lighting is fitted and programmed, and this can also be used.
Sound - The room is supplied with a 4
channel mixer (2xXLR Mic, 2xphono/Jack), 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and 2xmic
stands.
Audio Visual - A Plasma Screen and
projector & Screen is available
Storage - There is storage space at the venue for props and
equipment, stored in a shared room with other groups, and a locked office which
valuable items can be stored in.
Bar - There is a bar in the performance space but it will not be
open, the room is adjacent to the main bar of the venue.
 Performance Space: The
Meeting Room
The Meeting room is a small and intimate space on the 1st
floor, with a different entrance to the Maggies Chamber/Room With A View Spaces. This
space is a small rectangle, with theatre style seating suited to solo shows or small
comedy club shows.
Stage - The stage area is raised to 0.5m,
and will be set to be around 2m x 1m. There is a no backstage area..
Seating - Capacity is up to 30, fully
seated.Plus room for one or two standing people.
Lighting - 1xFixed Par Cans to Flood light
the stage.
Sound - The room is supplied with a 4
channel mixer (2xXLR Mic, 2xphono/Jack), 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and 2xmic
stands.
Audio Visual - None available in this
room, but performers own AV equipment can be used easily.
Storage - There is storage space at the venue for props and
equipment, stored in a shared room with other groups, and a locked office which
valuable items can be stored in.
Bar - There is a bar in the performance space but it will not be
open, the room is adjacent to the main bar of the venue.
Performance
Space: The Cowgate Stage & Courtyard
The Courtyard is a large
paved space that can be used for any performance suited to it, or used for performances
including vehicles, or is an ideal place to start a tour of Edinburgh. The Cowgate
Stage is a 4m x 3m covered stage that will be built in the courtyard adjacent to
the Cowgate, and is an ideal performance space for bands or any visual art. This stage is
available throughout the day, and is supplied with power for any equipment required. Any
bands need to supply their own PA equipment. Do contact us for further information on
these two spaces.
Click
here for overall Free Festival information for Performers
Click
here to return to the venues list
Three Sisters images (rooms in
un-rigged state):
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Comedy
Theatre
Music 
Cabaret
Children's Shows
Musicals & Opera
Events 
Exhibitions
