FRINGE-GOERS are being given the perfect way to enjoy a show hailing everything good about Scotland – by receiving the gift of the country’s best drink for free.
In their new acoustic musical show, ‘Scotland in 60 Minutes‘, broadcaster Mark Stephen and singer-songwriter Gill Bowman look beyond the haggis and tartan to the real Scotland – its stories, secret places and iconic songs.
The duo will also honour Scotland’s best natural resource – the nation’s fresh tap water – by teaming up with Scottish Water and giving audience members on Wednesday August 7 a free refillable water bottle to enjoy h2o straight from the tap.
The iconic bright blue bottles will be given out in support of the ‘Your Water Your Life’ campaign which aims to encourage people to top up from the tap to benefit the environment, their health and their pocket.
To encourage people to stay hydrated on the go, a network of Top up Taps is being installed throughout the country. The first ten have been switched on – including the country’s first outside the Scottish Parliament – with plans to introduce more over the coming months.
Mark Stephen, who presents BBC Radio Scotland’s Out of Doors programme, said: “We love the simple but vital message of promoting Scotland’s great-tasting tap water.
“Our show is all about showcasing why Scotland is the greatest wee country in the world – so is it great we can do our bit to show the important part that tap water plays in the lives of everyone.
“And for our audience, they get to experience something rare: A Fringe show that gives everyone a free drink!”
The Scottish Water top-up taps are connected to the mains water supplies and allow thousands of visitors and locals across Scotland to stay hydrated by filling up their bottles.
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe is one of world’s biggest and most internationally renowned events, so it’s a perfect time to the showcase ‘Your Water Your Life’.
“We want to encourage as many people as possible – residents and visitors alike – to keep hydrated during the festival season by topping up with Scottish water.
“We’d hope that everyone who attends Mark and Gill’s show will keep their bottle with them – making it much easier to top up at any time.
“We believe that if everyone joins in, the positive impact on Scotland and the world will be incredible. Every little thing makes a difference.”
The Top Up taps are connected to the mains water supply and are inspected regularly.
The units digitally track how much water has been issued and records both the cost and plastic savings.
‘Scotland in 60 Minutes’ will be held at at Valvona & Crolla at 6 PM from 5thAugust – 10thAugust 2019. Entry costs £10.
