Grace Hatchell: When the Satchel Stays Shut – A Day Off at the Fringe
Well now, don’t faint – but even I, Grace Hatchell, occasionally zip up the satchel and take a day off. Shocking, I know. No frantic scribbling, no scribbled star ratings, no weighing up lighting design versus dramaturgy. Just pure, unadulterated theatre-going joy. And our very own Theatre Village founder, Andrew, is planning to do just that this year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Now before you panic and wonder if he’s abandoned the cause, don’t worry — he’ll still be attending shows, still writing up reviews, and still managing to survive on coffee and adrenaline like the rest of us. But for one glorious day, Andrew will join the masses as an ordinary Fringe fan. No clipboard. No press pass. Just vibes.
You see, part of the magic of the Fringe isn’t just reviewing the clever, the brave, the groundbreaking – it’s experiencing the chaos, the colour, the humanity of it all. It’s letting your feet lead you (or your stomach – hello haggis), watching a street artist juggle fire while someone dressed as a tap-dancing goat flies past with a flyer. It’s catching the odd celeb in a blockbuster show (they don’t need our review — they’ve got a queue longer than a Leith tram delay). It’s the freedom to say: “No notebook today – just popcorn, please.”
Andrew learned this lesson last year. One night, chatting casually with a performer in the street (as you do at Fringe), he ended up seeing their show the very next day. Only two people in the audience. But guess what? That show earned a glowing five-star review from Theatre Village. Proof that tiny encounters can lead to brilliant theatre discoveries. Magic happens when you let your guard down and just see what happens.
So if you see Andrew roaming the Royal Mile this year — soaking in the atmosphere, humming ABBA near the MAMMA MIA posters, or queuing up for a deep-fried Mars bar — feel free to say hello. Tell him about your show. You never know what might come of it.
Because even when the satchel’s shut, the ears and eyes stay open.
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Grace Hatchell reporting from the cobbles and cafés of Fringe season. Watch this space for more gossip, greatness and the occasional surprise 5-star show. 🎭✨
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