   This is the 4th year of Free Festival shows at
the Hive, and it is a venue that has the highest technical specification of any free venue
(in the Big Cave) - which is also a lot higher specification than most paid for venues! It
is also in a very good location situated on Niddry Street, with the venue just three
minutes from the Fringe Shop and located between the High Street and the Royal mile,
making it a venue that is right in the middle of things, with people passing on their way
to the Royal Mile, Cowgate, the Pleasance or the numerous other bars and venues located on
Niddry street itself. This is a venue that is very easy to get audiences in for free shows
given it's proximity to the Royal mile for flyering!.
In 2012 The venue is home to the Laughing
Horse/Heroes of Alternative comedy "Alternative Fringe" -
for more info on this click here, and as well as applying
through this site you will need to speak to Alt Fringe
programmer Bob Slayer -
click here. There will be a mixture of paid and free
shows in this venue.
Programmed
with comedy and cabaret,
with two rooms that both
have a large seating capacity, yet feel intimate. The rooms are very similar to those
found in the Underbelly, with arched ceilings - dark, atmospheric and cave-like.
 Performance Space: The Big Cave
The Big Cave is the main performance space of
the venue, with an arched ceiling, and perfect sightlines.
Stage - 5m x 3m raised Stage, 0.5m high. With small backstage
area accessible from outside the room, and entrances from the audience areas too. Arched
ceiling.
Seating - Capacity is 120 fully seated in rows, plus capacity for
30 people to stand at the back and sides of the room.
Lighting - Lighting rig comprising of 12xPar Cans, 8xMultiple pin
spots and multi-lighting controller. Providing stage flood lighting, colour washes, plus
disco lighting effects, all controllable from the sound/light control position at the back
of the room
Sound - The room is supplied with an 30 channel mixer (multi XLR,
Jack, Phono Inputs). The room has 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones, and 2xmic stand plus MP3
player and computer imputes, with full multi-core to stage. Additional Sound equipment can
easily be added to the sound booth.
Audio Visual - There is a large screen to the back of the stage.
There is no projector but this can be supplied and fitted to a cradle on the rigging.
Storage - There is a very small shared storage area at the
venue for props and equipment
Bar - There is no bar in the room. Both this room and Room 2 are
both located off of the Main Bar.
 Performance Space: The Small Cave
Located at the rear of the
venue, The Small Cave is smaller than the main Room, the big Cave - with a flat-on-floor
stage, and low arched ceiling.
Stage - A flexible stage area, with size
dependent on seating layout, an be up to 4m (wide) and 5m (deep).
Seating - Seating capacity is 80, with
additional space for standing, giving a capacity of 100.
Lighting - Fixed Spotlights to Flood light
the stage.
Sound - The room is supplied with a 6
channel mixer, and has 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and 2xMic stands. Any additional
sound equipment can be supplied by performing companies and stored at the venue.
Audio Visual - No AV equipment is
available, but the room is ideally set-up for use with screens and projectors supplied by
the performance group.
Storage - There is a small storage area at the venue for
props and equipment
Bar - There is no bar in the room. Both this room and Room 2 are
both located off of the Main Bar.
Click
here for overall Free Festival information for Performers
Click
here to return to the venues list
Hive Images:
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Comedy
Cabaret
