Fringe needs a trim
Festival too big, says Assembly boss
The Edinburgh Fringe has grown too big – according to one of the men behind its expansion.Assembly Rooms director William Burdett Coutts has complained that there are too many shows, and not enough audience to go round.
It is a common concern, but the first time a major player has expressed it.
Talking to the Scotsman today, Burdett Coutts said: ‘Even great shows, with great reviews, have not been getting the crowds
‘It's the first time I have felt there are too many shows in Edinburgh.
‘I'm as guilty as anyone else. There is a limited local audience. We have expanded our shows.’
The Fringe has doubled over the past five years, and there are now are more than 2,000 shows. The biggest expansion has been in comedy, which now boasts than 600 shows.
Assembly has expanded this year to run eight venues, offering 144 shows. But it has sold no more tickets this year than last, spreading the audience thinner.
Pleasance director Anthony Alderson agreed the size of the festival was becoming a problem.
He said: ‘I do think we've reached capacity, I'm not sure we can get any bigger. There's a finite number of people we can keep bringing into Edinburgh, and that band of people gets thinner across more events. f it gets too thin, then companies stop coming.’
Published: 16 Aug 2007
