The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which began in 1947, hosts nearly 17,000 international artists who perform in cramped or unusual venues and rely on audience participation for success. In 2005, 1.3 million tickets were sold for nearly 1,800 performances, and in 2006, approximately 28,000 shows were included. The festival features a variety of acts, including comedy shows, musicals, operas, burlesque shows, and circuses. Anyone can perform at the Fringe, and it is a popular destination for talent scouts.
Once a year, for the past 60 years, the city of Edinburgh has become the center of the art world. In August, Edinburgh hosts comedians, artists, actors and musicians from all over the world. This is when the Edinburgh Fringe Festival hits the city and the city becomes home to nearly 17,000 international artists.
The first Edinburgh International Festival opened in 1947. It was conceived as a post-war initiative intended to bring Europe together through the world of culture. In its first year, the festival was attended by six uninvited Scottish and two English companies. These troupes camped inside the main festival to perform their shows. They had no financial backing and their shows succeeded or failed entirely on audience participation.
Sixty years later, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival continues to follow the same principle. None of the artists taking part have been invited and must apply to perform. They still have to use cramped or strange venues, and the money they make depends entirely on the audience that shows up.
In 2005, 1.3 million tickets were sold for nearly 1,800 performances. About 200 of the shows performed on the sidelines are free. If you were to see every show at the festival back to back, it would take you about six years. In 2006, the number of shows included is approximately 28,000.
Thousands of artists, tourists and locals show up at the Fringe every year. It is home to some of the strangest acts you will ever see, as well as some of the biggest stars of stage and screen. The Fringe is regularly used as the first point for plays before they start operating in London’s West End. Last year, Christian Slater directed an all-star cast for a pre-London run of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Comedy shows make up 32% of the festival’s output. Comedians travel from far corners of the world to perform at the Fringe. Many big comedy stars also rehearse their new material at the Fringe before embarking on world tours and heading to other international festivals.
Strolling through the center of Edinburgh, you are likely to come across any number of strange artists. You can participate in satirical political debates or get scared by joining respected actors who tell ghost stories late at night. Musicals, operas, burlesque shows and every type of dance move imaginable are performed at the Fringe. Even world famous circuses perform at the Fringe.
The beauty of the Fringe is that anyone can perform. If you have a show or are a stand-up comedian or singer, you can apply. If the word of mouth is good enough, you can be inundated with offers from agents and talent scouts. If you only get to Edinburgh once in your life, try going in August. You’ll never run out of entertainment and be the first to catch artists before they go global.
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