What’s This Then? A Little Note About Our Recent Visitors from China

TheatreVillage February 8, 2026 2 minutes read

By Grace Hatchell

Now, I’m no stranger to an unexpected detour on my delivery round. I’ve ended up in the wrong foyer more times than I care to admit, once tried to usher myself into the stage door queue, and still occasionally wave at people who are very much not waving back.

But this week? This week was a first.

While having a quick rummage through the satchel (and by that I mean checking the website stats between cuppas), I noticed something rather exciting: a sudden flurry of visits to Theatre Village… from China.

China!

Now before anyone panics and checks their passports, let me reassure you — no, the Edinburgh Fringe hasn’t secretly relocated to Shanghai, and no, the international acts for this year’s festival haven’t been released quite yet. (Though given the Fringe, I wouldn’t rule out a mime troupe turning up with ten minutes’ notice and a suitcase full of flyers.)

Still, it did make me smile.

Because the Edinburgh Fringe, at its heart, is international. It’s a glorious, chaotic showcase where artists from all over the world pile into Edinburgh with suitcases, dreams, and an alarming number of posters. Some arrive with sold-out runs behind them. Others arrive with hope, a venue at 10.45am, and a very optimistic press release.

So if a few curious eyes from further afield have wandered onto Theatre Village recently — whether they’re theatre lovers, drama students, future Fringe performers, or just passing through on the digital equivalent of a flyer run — you’re very welcome.

You’ve arrived early, mind. The Fringe line-up will land when it’s good and ready. Until then, feel free to have a nosey around the UK theatre scene, discover a panto you didn’t know you needed, or fall down a rabbit hole involving jukebox musicals, regional tours, and the occasional postie getting overexcited about a cast announcement.

The theatre doors are open.
The kettle’s on.
And if you’ve come by accident… well, that’s how half the Fringe audience ends up there anyway.

Grace x