Edinblog: Day 1

I arrived the day before my show to settle in. The train in from London was crowded with performers but I wasn't near anyone I knew (thank goodness). I like talking to people when I feel like talking to people, and that is rarely while in long transit when I have a book to read.

Coming in to Waverley station is starting to feel familiar. This is my third year coming out and the arrhythmic mix of mediaeval, modern, construction work and lush Scottish landscape settles into ‘normal’ quite quickly. Which is to say I guess, it’s still stunning but I'm taking fewer photos?



My tech run went smoothly enough, and my tech, Jack is a lovely young man. My flat is a different one from the place I've stayed the past few years. It's closer in, and the kitchen is less communal. Its also below ground floor though my room has a window, i’m not sure how I feel about being in a cave. I like being high up. It feels like a friendly dungeon, but it does mean I can easily climb in and out of my own window for fun.
The next day (the real day one) opened fitfully, weather wise - going from very fine to very flipping wet on random rotation like a laptop screen photo display.

I felt strangely relaxed. Maybe it’s by virtue of having a Producer this year - someone whose job it is to make sure everything logistical happens. Maybe I'm just getting cool and jaded.

Nonetheless, I rolled around and bought some bobby pins (where do they GO?) and booked in for a haircut (my last one was before edinburgh last year so I really have no excuses). Listened to my show, refamiliarised myself with it and then painted myself up for the show, with an easy fifteen minutes left for just putting on my emperor costume and walking over to the venue.

One of the little loops popped off on the costume, and all of a sudden the nerves I hadn't been feeling all day landed on me in one big indigestible lump. Try threading a needle with the adrenaline shakes. (Don't try - it's very hard). I regretted having costumed up before heading to the venue, dashing over after that.

The opening night was really lovely. The streets of Edinburgh had been quite quiet over the day - busy but not Festival-hectic. (It only took me a few minutes to walk down the Royal mile, I mean where have standards slipped to?). So I was surprised to have a solid crowd in. Not a packed out crowd - my room has many many many seats, but significantly more people than my room capacity last year. And they were lovely. The show felt solid. A bit laggy energy wise towards the end - I think that late time slot means I'll have to adjust the last 20 minutes so ''tis less hard work for the audience.

Long first day. Happy so far.