By Whatsonstage.com Edinburgh
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Marching to the Musicals in Edinburgh

I'm going to break with tradition for my first blog from this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

This post is not being written on the train up from King's Cross - my trip was an uneventful one which started at the crack of dawn and involved a very nice American couple who were up to see the Tattoo - and I will not be writing to bemoan the incessant rain - apparently this has been a spectacularly wet August, and although I did wonder if I would ever be dry again having trudged round the city yesterday, it was pretty much anticipated.

Having stepped off the train yesterday, I barely had time to lay my rucksack down at our flat in the shadow of Arthur's Seat before I headed to Fringe Central to meet the other member of the Musical Theatre Matters Awards judging panel.

Twelve shows have been selected for the shortlist this year, with a much broader field having been seen by assessors before I got here. They have been scored and ranked and only a select band of new work and revivals is now being judged for prizes in the Best New Musical, Best Musical Production, Best Book, Best Music and Best Lyrics categories.

I can't believe how lucky I am to be able to see so many musicals in the space of eight days in Edinburgh. I've had a reasonably easy start, managing to squeeze in just one show last night (Homemade Fusion at C soco) and one show today (The Prodigals at Gilded Balloon Teviot) in addition to other Whatsonstage.com Edinburgh reviewing duties.

The main distraction last night was a reception for the MTM:UK Awards assessed and nominated companies which was held at the offices of Edinburgh solicitors firm Tods Murray. The event was generously hosted by Richard Findlay, a partner at the firm and a familiar face to most in the Scottish performing arts scene - arguably the country's leading performing arts and media lawyer. The firm's offices, on the top floor of Edinburgh Quay - perched above the Union Canal basin and on the edge of the old McEwan's Brewery site - has an incredible view of the city's skyline with the Castle pride of place in the panoramic windows.

A full list of nominees for this year's MTM: UK Awards, which Whatsonstage.com are proud to media partner for the third year, is available in yesterday's News story.

Although in raw numbers, there are fewer musicals at this year's Fringe, I have it on good authority that the quality more than makes up for it. I look forward to seeing all of the nominated shows and more much besides.

- Andrew Girvan
Deputy Editor

- by Whatsonstage.com Edinburgh

Any opinions expressed above do not represent the view of Whatsonstage.com nor any of its staff or contributors beyond the bylined author.

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	Edinburgh & MTM Award Reflections - 25th Aug 2011 blog
	Some Notes on Note-taking - 7th Aug 2011 blog
	One-Man Wonders at the Fringe - 4th Aug 2011 blog
	Getting Back in the Loop - 3rd Aug 2011 blog
	After You've Gone... - 9th Sep 2010 blog
	Why All The Fuss About Indie Edinburgh Reviews? - 3rd Sep 2010 blog
	Separate But Not Equal: EIF & the Fringe Should Realign - 2nd Sep 2010 blog
	My Editor’s Award for Ovid's Metamorphosis - 27th Aug 2010 blog
	First Impressions x 3 - 24th Aug 2010 blog
	Going It Alone - 23rd Aug 2010 blog
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Internal Links
	From the Fire Leads 2011 MTM Award Nominations - 16th Aug 2011 News
	Whatsonstage.com/Edinburgh
External Links
	Musical Theatre Matters website