Another breakaway group to offer free Fringe shows

Another breakaway group intends to promote free Fringe shows at Edinburgh this year.

Freestival, as the venture seems likely to be called, has been spawned following a falling-out between comedians who have performed at the PBH Free Fringe and its founder, Peter Buckley Hill (pictured).

If successful, it will be the third major faction in the free Fringe movement. Laughing Horse runs its own network of free festival venues after a bitter split with PBH. They previously worked together to expand the number of free shows.

Earlier this year several disgruntled comedians wrote an email to PBH expressing their dissatisfaction with the way he was running the organisation he set up. They felt he personally was taking on too much of the work and that there was no succession plan ‘should [PBH] for any reason be unable to take [his] customary leading role in the Fringe’ and suggested changes, which PBH considered an ‘ultimatum’.

Now an email has been circulated to performers inviting them to join the new venture, promising ‘well-managed high quality shows in central Edinburgh venues’ – which will have their own dedicated manager. At Free Fringe venues the acts themselves manages the venue.

It says: ‘We have most of the best central venues on Cowgate, Nidry Street, Blair Street and will have the Tron Kirk, the big church at the corner of the Royal Mile and North/South Bridge, as our main hub.’

A mission statement has been posted online at freefestival.co.uk, suggesting shows may have to pay £80 registration fee to pay for this – whereas the Free Fringe ethos has always been that performers pay nothing for the space. Nonetheless the fee is considerably less than paid-for venues – and organisers of the Freestival are hoping to secure sponsorship to fund a brochure sent to every home in Edinburgh. They also promise a dedicated communications manager.

No names have been put to the new online statement, which says only: ‘This is a fresh and energetic organisation dedicated to creativity and quality, and run professionally by people with many years of Edinburgh Fringe Festival experience.’

It adds pointedly: ‘There will be no figurehead or central personality’ – a presumed reference to PBH.

His Free Fringe organisation has responded via Facebook, saying it ‘remains the largest single entity at the Edinburgh Fringe and has so far had over 200 applications from performers for 2014. ‘

‘We have already secured our key venues for next year, including – despite what their email states – the Tron Kirk. Our committee and programming team are looking forward to 2014 and we are looking forward to some brilliant new venues, and performers joining.

‘As should be expected with an organisation of our size, there are those within it who think it should be run differently. They are welcome to that view, and no one has been barred from the organisation following the ultimatum sent to us by the breakaway group, despite what they claim.

‘If people wish to leave and start their own organisation that again is not a problem, although of course we would expect them to find new venues of their own.’

When the group originally sent their ‘ultimatum’ in October, PBH said in an open email that the non-negotiable principles of the Free Fringe included no sponsorship, no charges to performers, and that all performers contribute to the collective.

Published: 6 Dec 2013