Festival venues, especially on the Fringe, don’t match the normal expectation of a night at the theatre.  The larger venues have facilities to rival the West End – including bars, restaurants and occasionally even cloakrooms – but the temporary nature of the whole event makes for a few unique oddities.  Here, then, are our five best tips to enjoy your time at the venue.

Check you’re going to the right place.  The biggest venues operate out of multiple sites – in some cases, on completely opposite sides of the city.  Check your tickets and, if you’re not sure, ring the venue’s box office to ask.

Whatever you do, don’t drive.  Very, very few venues have any parking attached – and that goes for the upmarket theatres of the International Festival as much as it does on the Fringe.  On-street parking is heavily controlled too, so we’re serious about this one… use public transport instead.

Prepare to queue in the rain.  There simply isn’t enough space at most Fringe venues to wait for your show indoors.  Be dressed to line up outside, whatever the weather.

Get the drinks in.  With very few exceptions, you can take drinks into Fringe venues – so call at the bar on your way in if you’d like a cheeky pint or coffee.  Make sure you say you’re taking it into a show, and they’ll give it to you in a plastic glass.

Keep your tickets to hand.  They’ll probably come and rip off the stubs while you’re waiting in the queue, but you’ll be checked again at the door.  Keep your tickets nearby, and avoid the embarrassment of holding up the queue while you rummage through your backpack.