All the greats started out at the Edinburgh Festival… The Python Boys, Not The Nine O’Clock News, Robin Williams, Fleabag and the Forth Stanza, darlings of the Fringe.
You’ll obviously have heard of us, Martin MacIntyre, award-winning Machair and Edinburgh University Gaelic Writer of Residence.
Douglas Watt, who spawned the 17th century retrospective whodunit John McKenzie series of novels.
Stewart Mercer, Professor of Primary Care and Multimorbidity at Edinburgh University.
Ed McCabe, owner of London’s Ceilidh Club and Kelta Fit dance exercise programme.
And your award-winning Travel writer, globetrotter and friend to the stars.
Who 21 years ago this month rocked the international Fringe (well, got a dozen guests each night of our poetry group run).
Fringe benefits
And that’s the whole thing about the Fringe.
It is open to every wannabe theatrical thesp, coming comic or proselytising poet.
The Fringe wrapped up as all events and shows like to put it today.
And with being just 20 miles from Edinburgh, here in coastal North Berwick, I dodged the crowds to return up the Royal Mile to our venue.
Which, of course, I have done hundreds of times in passing… and still no plaque!
Dara’s darling
Now all of those greats had a dream in common and small beginnings.
As Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain reassured one Fringe act this year when only one person attended their show.
Before with Dara’s endorsement the said act Georgie Greer packed the audiences.
Fringe favourites
Back when we were wowing the aisle with such social observation as Ken, political wrap as A Wake Up For The People.
And Vasectomy on St Andrew’s Day, Tarraing Sorcha, Poem on a Till Roll and Letting Go.
Social media was in its infancy.
And so as we take a trip back down Memory Lane, or the Royal Mile.
For those who were there, or followed us on our journey, to perform at the Scottish Storytelling Centre further down the Mile.
Or Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye.
They can say they saw us when we were just starting out and that we were their Darlings of the Fringe.
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