Charlotte Smith

As the international festival opens, I've been pondering cultural differences.

Edinburgh International Festival caused a little controversy by accepting money from the Chinese government this year. 'Festival under fire for China's key cash role' is the headline in The Scotsman today. It reports that human rights organisations have criticised the organisers in the wake of China's crackdown on dissidents such as Ai Weiwei.

I’ve been told to keep it general and a bit mysterious when it comes to describing the work behind the Total Theatre Awards. Discussions at the assessing meetings, at which we share our thoughts on productions, are confidential. However, it also seems worth giving a little insight into what goes on behind the scenes.

Each year, a team of assessors sifts through hundreds of shows that have been nominated. Over the first fortnight of the Fringe, one, two or more people will see the piece at different times, depending on the initial feedback.