Insider’s guide to the Edinburgh Festival
Comedy queen Karen Koren tells you what not to miss
As the founder and managing director of The Gilded Balloon, one of the most renowned venues of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Karen Koren has been a pioneering promoter of stand-up comedy in the UK since the 1980s. Her boisterous charm and fiery temper have made her almost as infamous as the venue itself but behind the bossy yet cheery façade is a woman dedicated to discovering innovative new talent.
Koren has helped foster the careers of Bill Bailey, Eddie Izzard, Peter Kay and Graham Norton and made comedy an integral part of the Edinburgh Fringe itself. Between 5 and 25 August, Koren, alongside 200 staff, operates eight venues and seven bars under the Gilded Balloon name. She oversees a relentless programme of 100 shows a day, which this year ranges from Australian TV presenter Clive James to the erotic male cabaret show The Chippendales.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world, and the number one tourist attraction in Britain. How important has the city setting been to the festival’s success?
“Edinburgh is a small city which means that the camaraderie of the locals is vital considering that the population more than doubles during the festival. An event like this would never have worked somewhere like London. In Edinburgh the venues are within walking distance which gives the festival a great community feeling. The fact that it’s been running for over 65 years makes it something quite unique.”
As one of the first promoters to really support stand-up comedy at the Festival Fringe, how did you spot the gap in the market?
“In the early 1980s I saw comedy had really taken off in London but there wasn’t much happening north of that. Our shows were the first to bring that London scene to this huge arts festival and featured early performances from famous names such as Paul Merton and Alan Cumming while the audience regularly included Lenny Henry, Hugh Grant and Billy Connolly which all gave it quite a buzz.”
The early days saw you juggling motherhood and a full time job while running the venue – how did you make your passion become a successful business?
“It started off as my social life – but now it is my social life. After three years I had to take it seriously, I couldn’t just hang out and have a drink with all the performers each night because I could have lost my home. Financially it was close to the edge. By the start of the 1990s the Gilded Balloon had become an essential late-night meeting point for the industry. People like Alan Davies, Ross Noble, Mark Lamarr, Steve Coogan plus television producers and writers would often be here and that created a real atmosphere. A few years later our turnover was over £2 million a year. We’ve diversified the programme over the years to also include children’s shows, dance and physical theatre which has helped the brand reach new audiences.”
For 24 years the Gilded Balloon has remained one of the most famous venues at the Fringe Festival. How have you kept the brand relevant to a new generation?
“Comedy has become a huge business now. The success of comedians such as Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand on television and websites such as YouTube has meant that becoming a stand-up comedian is a real ambition for young people, as much as being a pop star. Our comedy competition, So You Think You Are Funny, has been going for 22 years and we have had more applications this year than ever before, with no advertising, just through word of mouth.”
You’ve been behind the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy – what is that special something you look for when sourcing new talent?
“It’s just being able to see star quality – like when I judged a talent show in the Hackney Empire in London in 1998. Russell Brand had entered and the other judges hated him but I loved him and encouraged him to come to Edinburgh. I could see he had tons of charisma and a certain twinkle in the eye. The girls loved him! I’ve seen many through our doors, such as Dylan Moran and Johnny Vegas, many of whom started out very raw and it’s amazing to see them go on to become so successful.” 
For further information, visit Gilded Balloon and Edinburgh Festival Fringe at www.edfringe.com / www.gildedballoon.co.uk
Dining
“The restaurant I go to most during the Festival is The Outsider [15-16 George IV Bridge, +44 (0)131 226 3131]. It always has a great hustle and bustle about it, good waiting staff and of course good food. Ask for a seat at the back where the views across to the castle are stunning.
Another special place I enjoy is the Secret Garden at The Witchery hotel [Castlehill, Royal Mile, +44 (0)131 225 5613, www.thewitchery.com] by the castle which has had a lot of big celebrities, such as Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones. You enter via an old stone stairway into a really enchanting room which looks over a hidden terrace. It’s very atmospheric. Afternoon tea at the Balmoral Hotel [1 Princes Street, +44 (0)131 556 2414, www.thebalmoralhotel.com] in the Palm Court is very civilized.
For delicious breakfast brunches I would recommend any of the Urban Angel cafés [121 Hanover Street and 1 Forth Street, www.urban-angel.co.uk].”
Drinking
“The Café Royal [17 West Register Street, +44 (0)131 556 4124] is one of the best pubs in Edinburgh and has great pub food and great beer.
The Pear Tree House [38 West Nicolson Street, +44 (0)131 667 7533] is a more old fashioned pub with a great beer garden.
Another old pub that is a local favourite is Bannerman’s [212 Cowgate] in the Old Town. It has big large barrels for tables and lots of cosy nooks and crannies.”
Entertainment
“During the festival of course everyone should go to Late’n'Live at the Gilded Balloon [Teviot Row House, Bristo Square, www.gildedballoon.co.uk] – it’s very late and very live! It starts at 1am, finishes at 5 am and you never know what will happen there! The best place to rub shoulders with the stars is the Library Bar or the Loft Bar.
The Pleasance Cabaret Bar [60 Pleasance, +44 (0)131 556 6550, www.pleasance.co.uk] has stand-up comedy on all year round which I am booking this year – so it’s bound to be good!”
Essential Edinburgh experiences
“During the festival the Tattoo (left) is a very big occasion in Edinburgh and makes you feel good to be Scottish. A great way to discover the city is on a ghost tour around the many narrow streets in the Old Town, some of which have a very spooky past. Also in the Old Town is The Grassmarket Fair every Saturday throughout the summer. It has live music and stalls and a great atmosphere.”
