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Taking your work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a career milestone for many artists, but the sheer scale of the world's largest arts festival requires meticulous planning. This guide explores the essential considerations—from understanding your "why" to the realities of 15-minute turnarounds—to help you navigate the journey from Adelaide to Edinburgh.

Contents

Watch the Session

As part of the Adelaide Fringe professional development series, "Consideration Edinburgh" brought together a panel of experts to provide a contextual overview of the festival landscape. The session features theatre artist Bronwyn Batten, Deb Wilks (Director of Cluster Arts), and Olivier Award-winning producer Richard Jordan.

Filmed: 12/07/2023

Key Takeaways

  • The "Why" is Paramount: Before booking a flight, interrogate your objectives. Are you seeking reviews, international touring, or professional development? Your goal dictates your strategy.
  • Scale vs. Reality: With over 3,600 shows, the average audience size can be as low as three people. Resilience and mental preparation are as important as your script.
  • Venue Placement is Power: Every venue in Edinburgh has a different "vibe" and audience demographic. Researching where your show fits is critical to your success.
  • The 15-Minute Turnaround: Unlike many standard theatre seasons, Edinburgh operates on military-style precision. Your show must be designed for rapid get-ins and get-outs.

Defining Your Why

Every artist’s journey to Edinburgh starts with a different motivation. For some, it is a bucket-list item; for others, it is a strategic move to secure international representation or television scouts. Richard Jordan emphasises that Edinburgh should often be viewed as the start of a show's journey, not the finish line. It acts as a global calling card.

Deb Wilks notes that having a clear "why" acts as an anchor when things get difficult. If your primary goal is professional development or building relationships with presenters, a slow week of ticket sales is easier to weather. Conversely, if your goal is critical acclaim, you must be prepared for the vulnerability of the "world stage" and the impact of international reviews.

The Reality of Scale

The statistics of Edinburgh are staggering: 2.2 million tickets sold and over 53,000 performances across three weeks. However, these numbers can be deceptive. Bronwyn Batten highlights the importance of maintaining mental perspective, sharing that even an audience of 12-15 people is significantly above the festival average. "You have to do the show like there's a full house," she notes, "because you never know if one of those nine people is the Director of a national festival."

The panel suggests that if it is financially viable, artists should visit the festival as a "punter" (spectator) before committing to a season. This allows you to understand the geography, the atmosphere, and whether your work truly aligns with the Edinburgh environment.

Technical Logistics

The technical reality of Edinburgh is a shock to many first-timers. Most venues operate on 15 to 20-minute "turnarounds" between shows. This includes removing your set, clearing the wings, and allowing the next company to bring their equipment in.

Designing for Portability

If your show relies on complex lighting cues, heavy sets, or thousands of props (like the infamous "stage full of ping pong balls" mentioned in the session), you may need to adapt your production specifically for the Fringe. Richard Jordan advises thinking of your show as a "touring entity." If a show requires a two-hour setup, it may only work if you can negotiate the first slot of the day, which comes with its own marketing challenges.

The Importance of Warm-up Seasons

Never let Edinburgh be the first time you perform the work in a high-pressure environment. Performing a season at Adelaide Fringe or another festival acts as a vital stress test. It allows you to refine your technical cues and ensure the show is "in your bones" before you face the fatigue and logistical hurdles of the Scottish capital.

Actionable Tips

  • Conduct a "Punter" Trip: If possible, visit Edinburgh a year before you perform. Scope out venues like Summerhall, Gilded Balloon, and Underbelly to see where your work "lives."
  • Audit Your Technical Requirements: Can your show be set up and packed down in 15 minutes? If not, start looking for ways to simplify your tech rider without compromising artistic integrity.
  • Seek Honest Feedback: Reach out to Adelaide-based artists who have recently returned from Edinburgh. Ask for the "honest version," not just the highlight reel.
  • Build a Resilience Plan: Prepare for the "mid-Fringe slump." Ensure you have a support network (like Cluster Arts or fellow performers) to help manage the mental load.
  • Prepare Your Calling Card: Ensure your marketing materials and digital presence are professional and ready. Edinburgh is a marketplace; you are there to be discovered.

Additional Resources