Every month we will be inviting our readers to pitch us articles on a theme revealed in our regular newsletter. Our April theme was Fringe Festivals and we went with Rosie Minnett’s pitch for her realistic take on what Edinburgh Fringe’s cancellation means to comedians…
The news that Edinburgh Fringe would be cancelled shook the comedy community to its core. My Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and everything in between blew up; thousands of creatives dazed as hours of hard work vanished over-night. Dreams were dashed, and bold, new careers put on hold indefinitely. It was heartbreaking to watch, and all I could do was send Wilson Phillips lyrics and gifs of Boo from Monsters Inc. into the online void.
Whilst the passing of this festival is nothing short of tragic (and by tragic I almost exclusively mean the food trucks) it might also be the perfect opportunity to rethink the comedy calendar altogether.
It’s safe to say the Edinburgh Fringe holds a near-mythical status in our collective imagination. Seen as a creative Mecca, this one month has become an all-consuming obsession for comics; whether you’re a seasoned performer or a fresh face on the circuit, Fringe is considered the ultimate and only pilgrimage worth doing.
I think it’s high time we debunked this myth and cast off our tartan shackles once and for all. Don’t get me wrong, I love Edinburgh, (and tartan), and my first year at Fringe was everything I dreamed it would be. I met life-long friends, cried and laughed in equal measure, and, of course, haemorrhaged money like it was the last days of Rome. In my defence, those trucks lured me in like fast-food Sirens. No regrets though, I’d probably sell an organ to get those cheesy chips delivered to me right now.
But Edinburgh isn’t a one-way ticket to Live at The Apollo. Sadly, the odds of being approached in Abattoir by a producer in a pin-striped suit with a cigar telling you how ‘you’re gonna make it huge, kid’, are pretty slim. Once upon a time it may well have been quite the yellow brick road, but Fringe is as problematic as it is inspiring; it is saturated, commercialised and talent is increasingly priced out by those who can pay their way. Your show might be Fleabag and Post-Popular rolled up in one five-star romp, but its success is more or less out of your hands.
Comedy and adversity have a rather fraught relationship, but there are loads of ways you can fill that Edinburgh Fringe shaped hole in your life and recalibrate your comedy calendar. Start by asking yourself a few questions: Could my content work online? What else is out there? Was my show even ready for Edinburgh?
Other fringe Festivals are often cast aside as nothing more than Edinburgh previews, but they still have a fighting chance; Manchester Fringe has been pushed back to October-November, as has Brighton, whilst Camden Fringe is holding fast and set to take place in August.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to create either though. There an awful lot of noise out there telling us to ‘be productive’ and ‘use this time’ wisely. We are in the midst of a global crisis and if binge-watching Tiger King and stuffing your face with Pringles is what you need right now, then that’s a day well spent! Be kind to yourself and ignore what everyone else is doing – or what they say they’re doing.
Blood, sweat and tears go into preparing for an Edinburgh run and coming to terms with the latest news isn’t easy. But this isn’t the end. Far from it. And Edinburgh isn’t the be-all and end-all of your comedy career anyway. If you’re still not convinced, there’s always next year! Although, if you’re planning on bringing Corona Virus: The Musical, I think we’d all rather you sit this one out…
To find out what our May theme will be and how to pitch us subscribe to our Newsletter below!
