2013 Annual Review

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 01 – 25 August edfringe.com ‘The excitement of the Edinburgh Fringe is infectious and empowering, a blast of rude energy ... there’s a heady sense that anything is possible.’ The Independent ‘It’s the biggest and best arts festival on the planet, and the comedy hub for acts from across the globe.’ Time Out London Sponsors CALEDONIAN ‘It is, quite simply, the greatest show on earth.’ The Scotsman ‘What an opportunity the Fringe offers – it’s nourishing art in every form.’ Miriam Margolyes Supporters ‘As an accredited producer at the Edinburgh Fringe for the past 13 years, it is very easy for me to sum up both the Edinburgh Fringe Society and its Arts Industry Office: essential.’ Richard Jordan, Producer Partners ‘Being at the Fringe changed my life in about a million TM ways... Never underestimate what your efforts have meant T S to thousands of performers, writers, directors and technical C R At The National Gallery Of Scotland artists and designers.’ Elaine Liner, Fringe Participant Copyright Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Ltd 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written prior permission of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and incorporated in Scotland (No SC046605). Registered Charity No SC002995. Registered office:180 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS Telephone: 0131 226 0026 Fax: 0131 226 0016 Email: [email protected] Foreword Welcome‘The excitement to the Edinburgh Festival of the Fringe Edinburgh Society’s partners. Fringe It is not is only infectious their financial and contributions 2013 review. We hope that within these pages we that we value, important to the running of the haveempowering, captured some of thea spiritblast and of energy rude which energy event as ... they there’s are, but also a theirheady support sense and havethat made anything the last year sois truly possible.’ memorable for loyalty which we all findThe a source Independent of strength and everyone involved. For me, this was my first full encouragement. You will find full details of all the year as Chair of the Society. After years of living organisations that help to support us in this review. in Edinburgh and attending Fringe events, and even‘It’s watching the biggest my own children and devise best and artstake festivalFinally, Ion want the to thank planet, the people of Edinburgh. part in various shows, my new role has given me a The staff in the city’s shops, hotels and bars, as well remarkableand the insight comedy into what hub it takes for to make acts the fromas our across bus and taxithe drivers, globe.’ all play a vital role in largest arts festival in the world a success. making the tens of thousands of visitors to whom we play host each summerTime welcome. Out WeLondon know that So with that in mind I want to take this when it comes to the Fringe word of mouth is a opportunity to thank some of the people whose vital sales tool and the experience that visitors to Sponsors contribution to the Fringe is rarely recognised. Edinburgh have each August is hugely important in Of‘It course, is, quite I must start simply, with all the the participants greatest showcreating on the reputationearth.’ of the city and its festivals CALEDONIAN without whose vision and creativity the event around the world. In that we all play a part, so simply would not exist. Performers and writers who thank you. The Scotsman bring their work to the Fringe do so for a variety of different reasons. Regardless of what has driven them to stage their shows at the Fringe it is us the‘What audience an who opportunity are the beneficiaries. the However, Fringe offers – it’s nourishing without the producers, promoters, backstage staffart and in venue every managers form.’ few of these shows Miriam Margolyes would ever be presented to an audience and it is Supporters important to recognise their contribution. It‘As is also an difficult accredited to imagine howproducer the Fringe could at the Edinburgh Fringe for be staged without the support we get from our Tim O’Shea commercialthe past sponsors 13 years, and our public it is funding very easy for me to sum upChair both Introductionthe Edinburgh Fringe Society and its Arts Industry Office: Welcomeessential.’ to this Annual Review for 2013. What a I thank youRichard all as well Jordan, as my Board ofProducer Directors – in wonderful year it was for the Edinburgh Festival particular Pip Utton, who retired from the Board Fringe, for the city and its other glorious festivals, in 2013 following 18 years of invaluable service Partners and, as the stories told within the pages of this to the Society – the Participants’ Council and the Annual‘Being Review at will the tell Fringeyou, a great changed year for the mywonderful, life in loyal,about creative a andmillion hardworking staff TM Edinburghways... Festival Never Fringe underestimate Society. whatof the your Society. efforts But most ofhave all, and meant as ever, I thank the amazing, intrepid, diligent, risk-taking and T S Ourto jobthousands at the Society is of to create, performers, support and writers,incredibly directors talented creative and geniuses technical that are the C R At The National Gallery maintain the environment that allows the Fringe performers, producers, presenters and venues who Of Scotland toartists flourish. andThis review designers.’ tells the story of how we go Elainemake this Liner,festival happen. Fringe The EdinburghParticipant Festival about that, detailing our work in our three areas of Fringe is in rude health and it’s thanks to you. focus, namely supporting all participants, providing a one-stop information and ticketing shop for Fringe audiences and raising the profile of the event as a whole in Scotland, throughout the UK and internationally. Copyright Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Ltd 2013 All rights reserved. But we don’t work in isolation and this review No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form gives us the opportunity not justwithout to reflect the writtenon what prior permission of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. has been achieved over the past 12The months, Edinburgh but Festivalto Fringe Society Ltd is a company limited by guarantee acknowledge and thank our manyand partners incorporated who in Scotland (No SC046605). Registered Charity No SC002995. assist and encourage us in our work, from funders and sponsors to cultural bodies and agencies, from Registered office:180 High Street, Edinburgh,EH1 1QS governments, associations and organisations to our Telephone: 0131 226 0026 Kath M MainlandFax: 0131 226 0016 Angels, Friends of the Fringe and individuals. Email:Chief [email protected] Review of 2013 The 2013 Fringe in numbers 2013 was a record-breaking year for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With a programme boasting a staggering 2,871 shows, up from 2,695 in 2012, the Fringe remains the largest open access arts festival in the world. Growing participation in the festival was matched by unparalleled box office success, as the estimated total number of tickets issued reached an all time high of almost two million – a 5% increase from 2012. 45,464 performances All in 273 venues throughout Edinburgh 24,107 performers from 41 countries around 2,402 the world companies 2,871 shows 713 free shows 1,585 world premieres The 2013 Fringe Programme Cabaret 3.3% Children’s Shows 4.6% Comedy 33.2% Theatre 28.7% 1,057 accredited 1,022 accredited arts industry journalists Spoken professionals from Word 2.3% 41 countries around the Musicals and world Opera 3.6% Music 14.4% Dance and Physical Exhibitions 1.5% Theatre 4.0% Events 4.4% 410,000 copies of distributed to the printed over 1,000 outlets programme Virgin Money Fringe Schools Poster Competition Street Events The Fringe Schools Poster Competition, supported The Virgin Money Fringe Street Events on by Virgin Money, puts the artistic talents of Edinburgh’s High Street and at the Mound Precinct Scotland’s schoolchildren to the test, as well as are the largest of their kind anywhere in the world, introducing them to the Fringe with a range of and continue to grow each year, with 856 groups learning resources, from lesson plans to videos and registering to perform in 2013, up from 812 in 2012. picture galleries. The Street Events not only offer a platform for This year the competition received over 5,500 street performers and buskers to perform to large entries from 198 schools from every corner of and enthusiastic audiences every day throughout Scotland, a 60% increase in the number of schools the Fringe, but also act as a valuable space for that took part in 2012. Five-year-old Iona Wishart Fringe companies to promote their shows. For from St Mary’s School in Melrose became the visitors to the festival and Edinburgh residents, they competition’s youngest ever winner and her are also the biggest large-scale free event at the vibrant design was displayed with other shortlisted Fringe and are a fantastic way to choose from the posters at a special exhibition at Edinburgh’s hundreds of shows on offer or enjoy the talent and Museum of Childhood throughout the summer. variety of the Fringe for free. The Virgin Money Fringe Street Events on Edinburgh’s High Street and at the Mound Precinct are the largest of their kind anywhere in the world. Made in Scotland Comedy Academy 2013 marked the fifth year of Made in Scotland, For the third and final year, the Fringe Society which was celebrated with the addition of a music teamed up with The Stand Comedy Club to give programme to complement the theatre and dance aspiring Edinburgh-based stand-up comedians showcase.

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