‘Directive’ on large events may bring Fringe to a total halt
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has revealed contingency plans for a complete cancellation of this year’s event due to the coronavirus oubreak.
Organisers say they are planning for the three-week event to take place as normal, but may be forced to scrap it as a result of a “government directive” on large gatherings.
Behind-the-scenes talks have already been held with government officials to try to “limit the financial impact” of a complete cancellation.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Thursday that “large gatherings” for more than 500 people which potentially impact on the emergency services should be halted from Monday. No end date was put on the curb.
Radio 1 has axed its Big Weekend festival, which was bringing Biffy Clyro, Calvin harris and Harry Styles to Dundee. The Aye Write book festival in Glasgow was halted after just one day.
The Fringe Society, which sold more than three million tickets last year, said it was “optimistic” the event would be able to go ahead as normal this August, but admitted: “So much is still unknown.”
It has revealed that companies and venues who are planning to take shows to this year’s Fringe the chance to “roll” bookings on to 2021.
Fringe Society chief executive Shona Mccarthy said: “We are monitoring the coronavirus outbreak closely, taking guidance from both the UK and Scottish Governments. Our current position is to plan for the Fringe in August as normal, but with an eye to an everchanging environment.
“So much is still unknown, but with the Fringe still five months away, we remain optimistic that it will continue as usual in August. Over the next few weeks, we will be continuing our planning and day-today operations in line with the latest advice.
“Were the situation to dramatically change and the Fringe in its entirety had to be cancelled (through a government directive on public events or gatherings in August), we will work with our insurers, government stakeholders and – most importantly – our participants to limit the financial impact across the whole Fringe as much as we possibly can.”
The Edinburgh International Festival insisted it is pressing ahead with a full programme, which is due to be revealed on Wednesday .
Director Fergus Linehan said the event wanted to “provide security for our artists and for our sector”.
He added: “We hope our festival will provide a muchneeded moment of joy after what will have been a challenging summer.”