Edinburgh Festival Fringe in danger of becoming 'one monologue festival' due to soaring costs - Pleasance boss
The cost of performing at the Fringe has risen in recent years
The head of a major Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue has warned the event is in danger of becoming a “one monologue festival” due to the soaring costs of performing in the Scottish capital.
Speaking on Thursday at the launch of Love the Fringe, a cross-venue membership scheme created to attract financial support to the festival, Pleasance director Anthony Alderson insisted “we need to re-examine the [Fringe] model" as artists scale back shows due to affordability.
He warned it had "never been more expensive to bring a show to the Fringe" and said producers were bringing smaller casts, cutting the length of runs and had "less technical ambition" because of the rising costs of accommodation in the city.
Mr Alderson, who revealed he had got his first job at the Fringe when he was 15 - having lied about his age - warned “people are swapping production values for somewhere to sleep”.
He said: “It has never been more expensive to bring work to the Fringe. Costs have soared - accommodation, travel, marketing, everything. And something has to give. We have to re-examine the model.
“We’re seeing more shows, but shorter runs. Smaller casts, less technical ambition. People are swapping production values for somewhere to sleep. We’re losing job opportunities for emerging talent, both on and off stage. If we’re not careful, we’ll become a one-person monologue festival. That’s not good for artists. That’s not good for audiences. And it’s not good for this city.”
Mr Alderson added: “This isn’t just entertainment. It’s cultural identity. And yes - it’s getting harder to sustain.
“Culture is our soft power. If we want to push back against populism and division, the arts are one of our best hopes. This isn’t something we add on to life — this is life. It’s the fabric of a healthy society. Lose that and we lose something essential. Big stadium concerts at Murrayfield might be exciting — but they miss the point.”
Mr Alderson called on local businesses to support the Fringe.
He said: “That’s why we launched Love the Fringe - because this work matters. And it needs to be supported - properly. Funded, respected. But by whom?
“We’re calling on local businesses - you benefit from the Fringe, you have a stake in its future. The city’s hotels, bars, taxis and restaurants flourish every August. So let’s not take this for granted. Let’s invest in the artists who make it all possible. The success of the Fringe is the success of Edinburgh.”
Mr Alderson also called for more state financial support, particularly from Arts Council England. The Fringe Society was this year give a £300,000 one off grant this year, from the Scottish Government.
He said: “International support is flowing in. Countries around the world recognise the global value of this festival. But one country is noticeably absent: England. Where is Arts Council England in all of this? Why is the nation that benefits most from this platform not stepping up to help sustain it?”
Love the Fringe, launched last year, was created to boost visibility for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, champion artists and offer a win-win model for both audiences and performers.
The scheme, created by EdFest and the Fringe Alliance, allows members of the public to join a tiered membership system that doubles the value of their spend, offering free tickets and other exclusive benefits. The initiative is also designed to help shows and venues unlock value from unutilised capacity. More than 500 members joined the scheme in its pilot year.
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