This week, a mid-summer special fresh from the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Also, if you happen to be in a Scottish school, scroll down to apply for a brand-new opportunity.
Question 1: Is this a performance?
Here’s a student-friendly instruction you can read aloud:
The Edinburgh Fringe is a frantic three-week festival of performing arts that takes place across the Scottish capital every August. It’s one of the world’s most popular arts festivals. It’s also known for being where artists sometimes perform to largely empty rooms in the hope of launching their careers. Imagine you’re one of them…
You’ve prepared a one-person show for the Edinburgh Fringe. You’re show is completely self-reliant — there’s no other cast or crew. You spend your days handing out fliers in the street and performing to a small but engaged crowd each evening.
One rainy Monday, you notice things are quieter around the city. Very few have taken your fliers. And that evening, you take a peek from backstage to see there is no one in your audience. Just rows of empty chairs.
You decide the show must go on. You’ve paid for the venue and you’re already in your stage clothes. You go out and deliver your show to a completely empty room.
Is what you’re doing a performance?
We asked some performers from the Fringe – watch what they had to say below. Who do you agree with?
Question 2: Are they your audience?
Imagine you’re a street performer and each day you deliver your show in the middle of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile.
Each time, you have a circle of people watching you. But you also notice others walking on by, minding their own business. They can probably hear you, but they haven’t stopped to watch,
Are they in your audience?
Once again, we asked some performers. Who do you agree with?
Are you a school in Scotland?
Tom recently moved to the far North-East of England and regularly visits Scotland to work with our newest colleague Amanda.
We’ve therefore got a small number of days available in October and November to work with schools in Scotland. You’d get everything we usually offer — pupil oracy workshops, staff twilight INSET and resources and books to boot, but all for a reduced introductory rate, as these days would be connected to when Tom is already over the border.
There’s only a few and we’ll allocate on a first confirmed, first served basis, so best get in touch with us ASAP via the button below, or contact tom@thephilosophyman.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Like this? Try this
For resources on the theme of art, performance and creativity – check out previous issues of our bulletin below:
Was that music? from 2019
P4C all about art from 2023.
Who wrote “Lost Breakfast”? from 2024.
What’s new in the Philosoverse?
Jason’s currently running our annual five-day summer school in Kettering, packed full of fun, food and friendships. We also have shorter “Weekenders” throughout the year, and Zoom lessons every day of the week – particularly good for home-edders. Learn more here.
Tom and Amanda have (clearly!) been in Edinburgh working hard to prepare for the new school year — and taking some time out to philosophise. We’re eager to make more of these videos at different events and settings, so stay tuned for more!
Special thanks
Thank you to all this week’s contributors (they’ve all got shows at Edinburgh this month):
And thanks to you for reading and continuing to ask curious questions of your students. We’ll be back at the start of the academic year (for most).