The unstoppable resurgence of the Fringe
Plus: Tributes to Sir Tom Farmer and his "profound impact on his beloved Leith"
This summer’s Fringe set to be one of biggest ever
This year’s Fringe is on course to be one of the biggest in its history, capping a remarkable resurgence since the Covid pandemic.
The announcement of more than 1,500 new shows last week took the total so far confirmed for August to 3,356, ensuring it will be at least the third biggest ever. With three weeks until its official programme launch on 3 June, it is likely to surpass the then record-breaking 2017 festival, making it the second biggest in its 78-year history, behind its pre-Covid peak in 2019.
The Fringe has defied expectations in the immediate aftermath of the Covid pandemic - coupled with growing concerns that soaring accommodation costs will price out performers and visitors - to bounce back bigger than ever.
In numbers: This year’s Fringe is set to beat last year when 2.6 million tickets were sold, with 3,317 shows in the final festival brochure, featuring 51,446 performances across 262 venues. The last Fringe before the pandemic saw a record 3 million ticket sales, with 59,600 performances of 3,841 shows across 323 venues.
Does bigger mean better? The huge number of shows will inevitably reignite debate about the size of the Fringe, the impact of rising accommodation costs and questions of over-tourism.
UK visitor drop: While Edinburgh residents typically account for more than a quarter of Fringe ticket sales, the number of visitors from the rest of the UK has fallen slightly, by 5,000, since 2022. The rising cost of accommodation is thought to be to blame. One in four who took part in the festival’s audience survey said the cost of accommodation put them off attending more shows.
Economic boost: The Fringe is estimated to generate more than £400 million a year for the Edinburgh economy, including spending on accommodation, food and drink and entertainment. Data collected by payment provider SumUp suggested independent businesses in the city saw their taking rise by 37% from the last week in July to the first week of last year’s festival.
(No) laughing matter: With more than a third of shows being comedy, this year’s festival will live up to its reputation of being dominated by stand-up. That is partly down to it being the cheapest type of show to put on. There are concerns that dominance will harm the Fringe’s reputation over time. However, there will be well over 2,000 other shows covering everything from cabaret and children’s shows to dance and spoken word performance.
Making waves: Among the big names who have confirmed for this year’s festival include Nick Mohammed and Bill Bailey, who have announced August dates at the Playhouse. Notable additions include the live debut of Shedinburgh (pictured above) as a 100-seat city centre venue, having sprung up as a digital offering during lockdown. Fleabag and Baby Reindeer producer Francesca Moody will not only host star names there, including Jayde Adams and Ivo Graham, but also challenge the usual Fringe financial model by offering performers guaranteed fees, with their travel and accommodation costs fully covered. The resurgent Summerhall venue has also announced an ambitious programme.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
TRIBUTES TO SIR TOM: First Minister John Swinney has been leading the tributes to Sir Tom Farmer and his “profound impact on his beloved Leith, on Scotland and the wider world” and on Scottish life. The Leith-born businessman and philanthropist, who founded Kwik Fit in Edinburgh in 1971 and sold it to Ford 28 years later for £1 billion, has died at the age of 84. Hibs, whom he saved from the threat of extinction in 1990, paid tribute to a club “titan”, saying simply: “Thank you for everything, Tom.” (Don’t miss tomorrow’s exclusive members edition for a full tribute to Sir Tom and his legacy)
CARE CRISIS: Care homes workers will no longer be recruited from abroad under UK Government plans to “significantly” lower net migration. The new visa rules announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have caused widespread dismay in the care sector which is already facing a recruitment crisis.
STRIKE THREATS: Scottish Ambulance workers have backed strike action in a dispute over rest breaks, warning patients are being put at risk because staff are “literally exhausted”. Meanwhile, the country’s biggest teaching union, the EIS, is to consult its members on potential strike action in a dispute over class contact time.
LOCATION SPOTTING: Are you ready to start playing spot the Edinburgh location in the new Netlfix blockbuster? The first trailer has been released for the cold case thriller Department Q, by the makers of The Queen’s Gambit, ahead of its launch on 29 May. The series features countless recognisable city spots as its backdrop.
EYE OPENING: The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion will fully reopen by the end of June following urgent repairs to leaking waste pipes and the removal of asbestos. A phased return to the Chalmers Street building will begin on 19 May with services expected to be back in place six weeks later. It closed last October for the emergency repairs with most services moving to St John's Hospital in Livingston during the closure.
ROAD SAFETY PROTEST: Protesters repeatedly blocked the road near Craiglockhart Primary School in an effort to demand action three years after the city council proposed road safety measures for the site. An 80-year-old woman was taken to hospital after being hit by the driver of a BMW in the latest incident at the junction of Ashley Terrace and Harrison Gardens. The city’s transport leader Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said the plans had been delayed by factors including a necessary redesign.
WILDFIRE WARNING: Up to 50 firefighters tackled the latest significant wildfire in the Lothians, a blaze which covered the equivalent of more than five football pitches in woodland, near Fauldhouse, West Lothian. An extreme risk warning for wildfires is currently in place across mainland Scotland.
SCHOOL PHISHING ATTACK: Students preparing for their exams were locked out of online revision materials as a result of a targeted phishing attack on city schools and nurseries. Around 2,500 pupils attended their schools to reset their passwords over the weekend after they opened their doors to minimise disruption to their studies.
CAMPERVAN STOP: Overnight parking bays for campervans at Belhaven Bay in East Lothian are set to be closed, following complaints visitors have been using the area as a "toilet" and leaving rubbish. The three bays generated £3,500 for East Lothian Council, but there have been complaints of no policing of the facilities since it was introduced on a trial basis two years ago.
Picture of the week
THE BUSINESS
Mags McPherson to aid SmartPA growth plans
Edinburgh-based SmartPA has appointed Mags McPherson as Non-Executive Chair as the business enters a new phase of growth and transformation.
The company is looking to build on major client wins in the corporate space, and the new Chair brings a strong track record of success in the industry, having founded, scaled, and exited Intelligent Office UK, a leading name in outsourced business services in the legal and finance sectors.
SmartPA Founder Sarra Bejaoui added: “Bringing Mags into SmartPA marks a real milestone for our organisation. Her experience, drive, and commitment to building outstanding organisations perfectly align with our ambitions for the future, and I’m thrilled to have her join us on this journey as we continue to disrupt and redefine the admin-as-a-service sector.”
CAPSULE HOTEL: Work has begun on a seven-storey capsule TARKA Hotel in Edinburgh. Situated off St Andrew Square, the concept draws inspiration from Japan where capsule hotels offer compact but comfortable accommodation. The building, which was vacant, will offer 242 beds and a rooftop restaurant and bar. Completion is expected by next summer.
LEVY LEADER: Julie Ashworth has been confirmed as the Chair of the new Visitor Levy Forum for Edinburgh which will advise the city council on all matters related to establishing Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy and its ongoing performance. The city-based businesswoman has wide boardroom experience in both the public and private sectors.
THAT’S THE TICKET: Lothian buses’ stock drive partnership with Shelter Scotland, which sees unclaimed items of lost property donated to the charity in a bid to support those affected by the housing emergency in Edinburgh, has raised £16,000 in its first 12 months. Unclaimed lost property left on the award-winning transport operator’s vehicles is donated to Shelter Scotland, who then re-sell the items in its network of shops across the city.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
GOATFEST: Enjoy a day of craft beer tasting and live music at the home of Haddington Rugby Club at Goatfest. The festival, named after the community sports club’s goat emblem, takes place at Neilson Park, Haddington RFC, on Saturday, at 12-6pm.
PINT OF SCIENCE: From understanding our galaxy to exploring women’s mental health, it is amazing what you can learn over a drink in your local. The inspiring Pint of Science Festival return to Edinburgh, with events on various pubs in Leith, the Southside and the city centre, on Monday to Wednesday, 19-21 May.
CELTIC PIONEERS: Celtic music trailblazers Capercaillie have taken to the road to celebrate their 40th anniversary. You can catch them at the Usher Hall on Saturday.
QUICK BITES
PUG-NACIOUS PLAN: This made us happy as a dog with two tails. Edinburgh is set to have a Cuppapug café – joining other cities in the US and in the UK at London and Manchester. No date has yet been set, but the company has made the announcement on its website. The pug-themed café will have resident and rescue pubs that customers can apply to give a forever home to, and also donates £1 from every café booking to doggy rescue and rehoming efforts. Delightfully barking…
SALE ON MENU: Turkish restaurant Rodi, on Morrison Street, is up for sale. The premises are now looking for new owners, after operating for around 15 years, the past four as Rodi. Asking price for the leasehold is £90,000 and the annual rent is £16,000.