A Love Letter to Edinburgh Fringe

I am writing this on a return train to London after three astonishing days in Edinburgh. Magical, rejuvenating and joyous, my head is swimming with incredible stories about grieving daughters, Greek Myths, underground cults, a New Yorker just trying to get a cup of coffee, a small average town on the edge of the woods, and one infamous Park City legal trial.

I was astounded by the talent, diversity and passion I saw across this gorgeous city. For those who have never attended the Fringe, the city streets transform into a carnival, with a riot of audiences, tourists and performers all hoping to see something new and exciting.

I packed in 19 shows in 3 days and walked over 60k steps. Here is what I learned:

1. The power of the shared experience.Together, we shared moments of joy, sadness, wonder and shock. We crave shared experiences and understand the world better through others’ stories. In one show, we sang together and threw paper aeroplanes into the sky. In another, I stood in the dark and held a stranger’s hand. As the lights come up and you wipe those tears away and you catch someone else’s eye and realise you have been on a small journey together.
2. There is no typical theatregoer. Chatting with folks in the queue for a show or listening to animated conversations in bars late into the night showcased the breadth of audiences. People chose to see shows that covered topics different from their lived experiences. We shouldn’t assume who a show is or isn’t for any one type of person.
3. Customer service and ease of experience are paramount. Hats off to the venues and the Fringe for such a brilliantly organised festival. From the official Fringe booking app to the queue and venue management to turning over the venues with 15 minutes between shows to the bar, dining, and kids activities. This all elevates the experience to so much more than just the show itself.
4. More shows should be 100 minutes or less! Our endurance and attention span have changed since the pandemic and the advent of new technology and art we consume must take that into consideration.

I am deeply fortunate to do what I do for a living and also that the type of theatre I work on is the 1% of shows, which are deemed to be commercially viable to sell out a West End House. It is humbling to see the passion and persistence of those who have brought their shows to Edinburgh and a wonderful reminder of this is where great ideas are born and then continue to gestate on the long long path to being fully realised and shared with audiences in the West End, Broadway or regional theatres across the country.  

At the beginning of this piece, I said my head was swimming with incredible stories but in fact it is my heart which has expanded most. Go and support new writing and new voices people. Your hearts are bound to expand also.