Edinburgh Fringe 2024: A Social Anxiety Survivor’s Tale
20th August 2024So, I went to the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe for the very first time. Of course, I wasn’t entirely alone, my social anxiety accompanied me, and let me tell you, it was like jumping into a mosh pit… but with more bagpipes and fewer safety exits.
Imagine you’re a cat, and suddenly you’re dropped into a dog park, that’s just the Royal Mile during Fringe season.
Everywhere you turn, someone is trying to hand you a flyer, start a conversation, or juggle flaming torches. My survival strategy? Mastering the “pretend to be on the phone” move. My fake phone calls were so convincing I almost believed I was talking to someone. Pro tip: Always look slightly annoyed so people think you’re busy and avoid you.
To avoid a meltdown, I planned my days with the precision of a military operation. I had a map, a backup map, and a color-coded schedule that could rival NASA’s launch plans. Spontaneity? Never heard of her. The plan was to avoid anything that looked too popular or had the word “interactive” in the description. Nothing says “panic attack” like the threat of being pulled on stage to mime a walrus.
But I STILL managed to catch some very impressive shows but the main highlights were:-
Mhairi Black (the ex-SNP MP who had a unique take on her experiences at Westminster. A funny and interesting peak behind the ‘curtain’).
Adam Hills (The Last Leg presenter) wickedly funny stand-up comedy and an unexpected audience interaction with a Devon Rock Choir (affectionately named by Adam’s Twitter followers as Nans n Roses).
There’s No Such Thing As A Fish (a live Podcast recording from the QI Elves) fascinating subject material and I’m now an avid follower of their podcast.
To finish my own experience was a jaunt to Bannermans to see the amazing TRAGEDY (a heavy metal tribute to The Bee Gees and beyond) as they wrapped up their 2-night residency with a special show for The Fringe Festival.
Socializing at the Fringe is like trying to sneak past a dragon—it’s terrifying and totally avoidable if you know what you’re doing. I discovered that clutching the inch-thick A4 Fringe Festival Guide Book and nodding thoughtfully makes you look just pretentious enough that people leave you alone. And if someone does talk to you? Just respond with vague, artsy comments like, “I’m still processing the thematic dissonance of that last performance,” and they’ll think you’re a pompous twat and they’ll leave you alone. (It worked for me…. once)
When things got too intense, I found sanctuary in the most unlikely places. Public libraries, random bookshops, and that one café that’s so tucked away even Google Maps can’t find it. I spent more time in those quiet spots than at actual shows. By the end of the festival, I was practically a local in every hidden nook of Edinburgh. You know you’ve won at social anxiety when the barista starts making your order the moment you walk in.
In the end, I survived the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe without spontaneously combusting, which I count as a major win. Sure, I may have missed out on some of the “true Fringe experience,” but I also didn’t spend the week hyperventilating in a bathroom stall. So, I take that as a personal win.
This year’s Fringe taught me that it’s possible to have a good time, even if your idea of fun involves avoiding human interaction as much as possible. I might not have become a social butterfly, but I didn’t spend the whole festival hiding under a table, and that’s progress. Maybe next year I’ll even talk to someone (who I don’t already know) BUT let’s not get crazy, though.
Surviving the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe with social anxiety was like navigating a circus blindfolded—but hey, I lived to tell the tale! I stepped out of my comfort zone, dodged crowds, and now I’m off to cocoon in my duvet until winter. Fun? Yes. Enough? Absolutely.
