When our tour guide informed us that the city could fit up to five million people during the month of August, I was skeptical; however, as our stay in the city lengthened, the Fringe gradually overtook every corner of Edinburgh. From colorful posters on every street corner to the ever increasing number of street artists on the Royal Mile, it was clear that the artists did not come here to play. I was eager to see what the Fringe—birthplace to Fleabag and Six—had in store.

Of course, my blood was pumping not just because of the Fringe—also because of my upcoming performances. We had scheduled four performances of our original play, Away Went the World, and today was our first performance. Although we had a fair share of rehearsals, we’d only had one chance to see our venue so far, and I was jittery. What if something were to go awry in the middle of the performance?

My fear was assuaged somewhat in the morning, when the cast of Baby Wants Candy came to give us an improvisation workshop. Admittedly, making up song lyrics on the spot was a little embarrassing at first, but as we gradually loosened up, I enjoyed the high energy of the awesome cast members, and I even volunteered to make up lyrics for the final improvised song. 

I watched two more performances that afternoon, and again, I was amazed at the enthusiastic performers of the Fringe. We watched a student performance together, and then split off in groups to watch separate plays. I watched a play called Chicken, and right off the bat, I couldn’t stifle my giggling, as the actress—dressed in an uncomfortably realistic chicken costume—made her dramatic entrance. The ending was equally extraordinary, when the actress tore off her costume in one swift motion and burst through the door, never to return (until the next performance). 

It was finally time for the big event of the night—our first performance. Although we were as loud and enthusiastic as can be, there was an undercurrent of apprehension. I could feel my heart pumping furiously as I helped with setting up before the show, mentally reviewing my blocking, and quickly going backstage as the house opened. Despite small accidents and hiccoughs, the show went smoothly, and I was incredibly proud. 

The day came to an end as we headed to our last show of the night—another comedy that sent me gasping for air with laughter. After all that tension during our performance, a light-hearted show was the perfect way to wrap up the night. As the final show ended and we made our way back through the bustling streets, the reality of what lay ahead began to sink in. The excitement of the Fringe had kept my nerves at bay, but thoughts of my upcoming Sixth Form year lingered, bringing with them a mix of eager anticipation and a touch of trepidation. Would this year be as exhilarating and unpredictable as the performances I’d witnessed, or would it come with its own set of challenges and unexpected twists? I guess we’ll find out soon…