The 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe drew to a close yesterday having brought together artists, arts industry, media and audiences from over 150 countries, including over 750 shows from Edinburgh.
More residents than ever before attended Fringe shows, with a record 856,541 tickets issued to audience members from the city.
This year’s Fringe saw venues across Edinburgh play host to a diverse selection of work from across Scotland, the UK, mainland Europe and the rest of the world, with showcases from over 15 countries.
They were joined by 1,000 of the world’s finest street performers, who brought the Royal Mile and Mound to life as part of the Virgin Money Street Events.
The 2019 programme tackled critical issues such as the climate crisis, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic identity, mental health and wellbeing, disability and working-class representation, with the best upcoming talent showcased alongside well-known names and the very best of international work.
The Fringe is the largest arts market and platform for professional development in the world. Over 100 professional development events for Fringe participants were delivered in partnership with 57 external organisations in Fringe Central, the dedicated centre for artists at the heart of the Fringe.
The Arts Industry office accredited 1,661 producers, programmers, bookers, talent agencies, festivals and others from 54 countries looking to find work, tour it and support artists beyond the festival itself.
They were joined by over 1,000 of the world’s media, who came to cover the greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet. Included in their number were Lonely Planet, who named the Fringe the UK’s number one unmissable destination as part of its Ultimate UK Travelist.
To help audiences discover work amongst the over 3,800 shows featured in this year’s programme, the Fringe Society created a new Inspiration Machine, an interactive, arcade-style machine that randomly displayed videos from Fringe artists at the push of a button.
Located on the Mound and also available online, the machine was spun more than 100,000 times during August, encouraging audiences to try one more show and potentially discover a new festival favourite.
The Fringe Society has made a long-term commitment to community engagement and access, and this year received the Euan’s Guide Hello Award in recognition of ‘the warm welcome for all visitors’ to the Fringe Shop and Box Office.
Key initiatives this year included loaning out 80 sensory backpacks for autistic children and adults, BSL interpretation on the Royal Mile every Saturday of the festival, and a dedicated Changing Places toilet located right outside Fringe Central.
Edinburgh Fringe worked with over 30 Edinburgh charities and community groups to distribute £60,000 of Fringe vouchers and Lothian bus tickets, enabling residents from across the city to experience the festival, many for the very first time. In addition, over 1,000 schoolchildren and 188 teachers came to the Fringe as part of schools outreach work.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Fringe is the perfect combination of local and global – a magnificent medieval city and its residents welcoming performing artists from all over the world.
“At a time of political division and uncertainty around the world, the role of the Fringe as a platform for radical conversations to happen – from the future of our environment to gender politics, racism and disability – has never been more important.
“We are delighted to welcome audiences from Edinburgh, Scotland, the rest of the UK and across the world to this year’s Fringe, alongside 1,661 producers, programmers and bookers who will help ensure the work presented at this year’s festival is seen by audiences in venues and festivals both here in the UK and internationally.”
Sir Tim O’Shea, Fringe Society Chair, added: “We want everybody in Edinburgh to have the opportunity to attend and enjoy the Fringe, which is why we have been developing and enhancing our work to engage with people in the city who might not have had the chance to attend before.
“The positive impact of the Fringe is felt long after August comes to a close – from the artists who use the Fringe as a career springboard to the local communities who come to the festival, many for the first time, and are inspired to take up something completely new.”
By Monday afternoon, with hundreds of performances still to take place, the Fringe Society confirmed that more people than ever attended shows at the Fringe, with just under 250,000 attendees at shows across Scotland’s capital and three million tickets issued.
The Fringe announced that 56% of attendees came from Scotland, which organisers say highlights ‘the continued appeal of the Fringe for locals and visitors alike’.
The Fringe in numbers*
- 63 countries were represented onstage at this year’s Fringe, including over 15 country showcases.
- 1,674 accredited arts industry members – e.g. promoters, producers, festival and venue bookers – from 54 countries attended the festival to buy work and support artists beyond the Fringe.
- 80 sensory backpacks were used by autistic children and adults, to help make their experience of the Fringe more enjoyable.
- Over 30 local schools, charities and community groups took part in our Fringe Days Out scheme, which offers free Fringe vouchers and Lothian Bus tickets to people who wouldn’t normally get to experience the Fringe.
- 61% of Fringe shows were accessible to wheelchair users.
- 250+ shows were staged daily at the Virgin Money Street Events.
- 1,001 schoolkids attended the Fringe as part of our schools’ outreach work (accompanied by 188 teachers). 40 teachers also saw shows as part of the Teachers’ Theatre Club we set up in partnership with Imaginate.
- 1,004 professional media accredited from 25 countries.
- There were over 100,000 spins of the Inspiration Machine, which recommended a random show for audience members to see. Over 285,000 people used #edfringe or #MakeYourFringe on Twitter.
- All stats correct as of 16:00 on 26 August 2019.
2019 Award Winners
Allen Wright Award
Winner (Reviews): Deborah Chu
Winner (Features): Katie Hawthorne
Commended (Features): Tim Bano
Amused Moose Comedy Award
Amused Moose Comedy Award: Janine Harouni: Stand Up With Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated) – Soho Theatre (Pleasance Courtyard)
Amused Moose Comedy Award – Outstanding Show: Liam Withnail: Homecoming – Liam Withnail (Monkey Barrel)
Amused Moose Comedy Award – People’s Champion: Archie Henderson: Jazz Emu – Archie Henderson (Gilded Balloon)
The Asian Arts Awards
Best Production (Technical): Spray – Cho-in Theatre Company (Assembly)
Best Director: Park Cheong-Euy for Spray – Cho-in Theatre Company (Assembly)
Best Comedy: Zeroko’s Teatime – Zeroko (Greenside)
Best Performance: Taiwan Season: Bout – Chang Dance Theatre (Summerhall)
Best Show: Taiwan Season: Floating Flowers – B. Dance (Dance Base)
Brighton Fringe Award
Winner: The Canary and the Crow – Middle Child (Roundabout @ Summerhall)
The Broadway Baby Bobby Award
Letter To Boddah – Watershed Productions (C Venues)
Taiwan Season: Floating Flowers – B.DANCE (Dance Base)
The Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award
Winner: Mouthpiece – Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre)
The Comedians’ Choice Awards 2019
Best Performer: Laura Lexx: Knee Jerk – Andrew Loach Talent (Gilded Balloon)
Best Person: Brian Dobie (The Pear Tree, The Counting House and 32Below)
Best Show: Joz Norris Is Dead. Long Live Mr Fruit Salad – Joz Norris (Heroes)
The Comedy Poster Awards
Audience Award Winner: Sofie Hagen, Haiminh Le and Matt Crockett: Sofie Hagen: The Bumswing – IAM Presents (Pleasance)
Panel Award Winner: Jessica Fostekew, Idil Sukan and Chris Lince: Jessica Fostekew: Hench Jessica Fostekew (Monkey Barrel Comedy)
Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe
Winner: Olaf Falafel: It’s One Giant Leek for Mankind – Olaf Falafel (Laughing Horse)
Euan’s Guide Accessible Edinburgh Festivals Award
Best Venue: Edinburgh Festival Fringe Shop and Box Office
Most Accessible Large Permanent Venue: The Festival Theatre
Most Accessible Pop-up Venue Award: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Most Accessible Small Permanent Venue Award: Bedlam Theatre
Spirit of Inclusion Award: Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh Comedy Awards
Best Comedy Show: Jordan Brookes: I’ve Got Nothing – Fight in the Dog (Pleasance)
Best Newcomer: Catherine Cohen: The Twist…? She’s Gorgeous – Berk’s Nest (Pleasance) Panel Prize: Jess Brough and Fringe of Colour
The Filipa Bragança Award
Winner: Ameera Conrad: Tales from the Garden – LIV Studios (Assembly Rooms)
2019 FringeReview Award – Exciting Work
Winner: Identity – CTC Dance Company (Greenside)
Fringe Young Writers’ Award
Winner: Ariane Branigan
Herald Angels
Week 1:
Pat Kinevane: Before Fishamble: The New Play Company (Dance Base)
Christine Devaney: And the Birds Did Sing – Curious Seed (Dance Base)
Dritan Kastrati: How Not to Drown – ThickSkin, Traverse Theatre production with Tron Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre (Traverse Theatre)
David Colvin: Thunderstruck – David Colvin (Assembly)
Week 2:
Nick Harper: 58 Fordwych Road – Nick Harper (The Jazz Bar)
Jonny Pelham: Off Limits – Jonny Pelham (Just the Tonic)
Gina Moxley: The Patient Gloria – Gina Moxley and Abbey Theatre with Pan Pan Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre)
Week 3:
Zoë Coombs Marr:Bossy Bottom – Soho Theatre in association with Token Events (Monkey Barrel Comedy)
Knot – Nikki & JD / Jacksons Lane (Assembly)
Art of Believing – Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company (theSpace)
Die! Die! Die! Old People Die! – Ridiculusmus (Summerhall)
Holden Street Theatres Award
Sh!t Theatre Drink Rum with Expats – Soho Theatre in association with Show and Tell (Summerhall)
Malcolm Hardee Awards 2019
Comic Originality award: Legs – Julia Masli and The Duncan Brothers (Just the Tonic)
Cunning Stunt award: West End Producer – Cuffe and Taylor in association with Jason Haigh-Ellery (Assembly)
Act Most Likely to Make a Million Quid: President Obonjo: Goodbye Mr President – President Obonjo (PBH’s Free Fringe)
The Mental Health Fringe Award
All Of Me – China Plate, Cambridge Junction and The Yard Theatre (Summerhall)
The Mervyn Stutter ‘Spirit of the Fringe’ Award
Cleopatra Higgins: The Tina Turner Story/The Aretha Franklin Story – Night Owl Shows (theSpace)
Taiwan Season: Floating Flowers – B.DANCE (Dance Base)
Who Cares – LUNG and The Lowry (Summerhall)
INTERBEING – Stories from a Current War – 2Theatre (Assembly Rooms)
Divet Show: The Greatest Divas – Divet Productions (Assembly)
Tom Stade: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Blue Jeans Management (Gilded Baloon)
Havana After Dark – Danza Cuba (Pleasance at EICC)
Musical Theatre Review Award
Best Musical: Islander: A New Musical – Helen Milne Productions (Roundabout @ Summerhall)
The Scottish Arts Club Theatre Award (for best Scottish production)
Winner: The Afflicted – Groupwork (Summerhall)
Runner-Up: Thunderstruck – David Colvin (Assembly)
Runner-Up: And the Birds Did Sing – Curious Seed (Dance Base)
The Scottish Arts Club Bright Spark Award (for an emerging Scottish talent)
Winner: Cast of The Brunch Club: The Brunch Club – Grid Iron, SDTN and Pleasance Theatre Trust (Pleasance)
The Scotsman Fringe First Awards
Winners – Week One:
Mustard – Eva O’Connor (Summerhall)
Raven – Chamäleon Productions in association with Aurora Nova (Assembly)
Arthur – Daniel Bye, One Tenth Human and ARC Stockton (Your Home)
How Not to Drown – ThickSkin, Traverse Theatre production with Tron Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre (Traverse Theatre)
Enough – Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre)
Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran – Javaad Alipoor and HOME in association with Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre)
Winners – Week Two:
The Patient Gloria – Gina Moxley and Abbey Theatre with Pan Pan Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre)
Subject Mater – Woven Voices (Paradise in The Vault)
Everything I See I Swallow – Shasha and Taylor Productions (Summerhall)
Until the Flood – Arcola Theatre Production Company (Traverse)
Bobby & Amy – Emma Blackman Productions and Emily Jenkins (Pleasance)
LipSync / Cumbernauld Theatre – Cumbernauld Theatre and Invited Guest
Are we not drawn onward to new erA – Ontroerend Goed – Theatre Royal Plymouth, Vooruit, Richard Jordan Productions, BiB with ZOO (Zoo)
Sh!t Theatre Drink Rum with Expats – Soho Theatre in association with Show and Tell (Summerhall)
Winners – Week Three:
The Desk – Reetta Honkakoski Company in association with From Start to Finnish (Summerhall)
Baby Reindeer by Richard Gadd – Francesca Moody Productions (Roundabout @ Summerhall)
The Afflicted – Groupwork
E8 – The North Wall in association with The Pleasance (Pleasance)
Rowan Rheingans: Dispatches on the Red Dress – Rowan Rheingans (Scottish Storytelling Centre)
Primary Times Children’s Choice Award
Winner: The Listies: Ickypedia – The Listies (Pleasance)
Runner Up: Islander: A New Musical – Helen Milne Productions (Roundabout @ Summerhall)
SIT-UP Award
Who Cares – LUNG and The Lowry (Summerhall)
So You Think You’re Funny?
First prize: Finlay Christie
Second prize: Shane Daniel Byrne
Third prize: Charlie George
The Stage Awards
Nigel Barrett: Pops – Jake Orr Productions, HighTide and Live Theatre (Assembly)
Sophie Melville: Pops – Jake Orr Productions, HighTide and Live Theatre (Assembly)
Caroline Horton: All of Me – China Plate, Cambridge Junction and The Yard Theatre (Summerhall)
Lee Sang-hee: Macbeth – Choin Theatre Company (Korea) in association with C theatre (C Venues)
Breffni Holahan: Collapsible – Ellie Keel Productions and HighTide (Assembly)
Alice Vilanculo: E8 – The North Wall in association with The Pleasance (Pleasance)
Angus Taylor and Shauna Macdonald – Mouthpiece – Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Theatre)
Richard Gadd: Baby Reindeer – Francesca Moody Productions (Roundabout @ Summerhall)
Dael Orlandersmith: Until The Flood – Arcola Theatre Production Company (Traverse Theatre)
Three Weeks Editors’ Awards
Pianodrome
Eleanor Dillon-Reams for HoneyBee (Gilded Balloon)
Ivor Dembina for Old Jewish Jokes (Laughing Horse)
Fine Mess for A Wake in Progress (Underbelly)
Chamäleon Productions in association with Aurora Nova for Raven (Assembly)
Garret Millerick
The Greenhouse
Simon Caine
Peter Hudler
Brush Theatre
Total Theatre Awards
Total Theatre Awards Discretionary Award: Scottee: Fat Blokes – Scottee & Friends Ltd (Assembly)
Total Theatre Awards Discretionary Award: The Forecast – Amy Bell, presented by The Place (Dance Base)
Total Theatre Awards Discretionary Award: The End – Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas (Summerhall)
Total Theatre Award for Innovation, Experimentation and Playing with Form: Frankenstein: Total Theatre Award for How to Make a Monster – Battersea Arts Centre and BAC Beatbox Academy (Traverse Theatre)
Total Theatre Award for Innovation, Experimentation and Playing with Form: Tricky Second Album – In Bed with My Brother (Pleasance)
Total Theatre Award for Physical / Visual Theatre: Working On My Night Moves – Julia Croft and Nisha Madhan with Zanetti Productions (Summerhall)
Total Theatre Award for Shows by an emerging artist/company: Burgerz – Hackney Showroom (Traverse Theatre)
Total Theatre Significant Contribution Award : Jess Brough and Fringe of Colour
Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus: Knot – Nikki & JD / Jacksons Lane (Assembly)
Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus: Staged – Circumference (ZOO)
Total Theatre and The Place Award for Dance: Seeking Unicorns – Chiara Bersani / Associazione Culturale Corpoceleste (Dance Base)
Next year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from 07 – 31 August 2020.
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