Fears grow for Edinburgh Festival Fringe's future as venue bosses plead for help over 2021 comeback

The Gilded Balloon is one of the longest-running Fringe operators. Picture: Steve Ullathorne

It has run for nearly 75 years, is the biggest event of its type in the world and is estimated to be worth around £1 billion to the Scottish economy.

But now some of the leading players in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have raised fears for the very future of the event unless it is given the green light by the Scottish Government within weeks and is underwritten from the public purse.

Venue operators are pleading for clarity on how they will be allowed to operate in the city this summer to head off the prospect of a second August without live events and save long-running companies from financial ruin.

The Fringe promoters say it would be “disastrous” for the Fringe’s worldwide reputation if they were restricted to online-only programmes when other festivals are able to go ahead outwith Scotland.

They say they were left dismayed that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon failed to make any mention of events in an update to the Scottish Parliament last week in the wake of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcements that they are due to return in England in May, with social distancing hoped to be lifted completely the following month.

The government is being urged to ensure performers, companies and the arts industry does not relocate elsewhere this August if it looks like the Fringe will be unable to go ahead. The promoters have stressed the need for financial help to pay for new infrastructure including temporary venues this summer under tentative plans to deploy parks and gardens for shows to ensure shows can go ahead with social distancing in place.

They have estimated that it could cost up to £15 million to get the Fringe back to the level it was at in 2019.

The government insists that work is underway with the events sector in Scotland on a “route-map towards an incremental and cautious re-opening.” However it has not indicated when Fringe operators will be told how they can return this year.