Comic prepares to stage only live stand-up show in Edinburgh this month
The first live stand-up show has been confirmed for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe – on the day live events are able to resume in Scotland after five months.
Nathan Cassidy is to stage a free hour-long show at the Three Sisters courtyard in the Cowgate at 5pm on Monday.
He said: “it’s an uplifting story that I think is perfect for the mood right now. I’m very excited to be doing the show at the Fringe, I’d hate to miss a year. And to be the only show at the Fringe this year is a strange thrill and I guess a responsibility not to screw it up.
“We’ve all been struggling over the last few months – I’m so happy that I can give people some laughs and maybe a bit of hope as we all emerge from lockdown.”
The Free Festival, which normally stages shows round-theclock at the venue in August, had moved its shows online after all the city’s major events called off their planned programmes in April.
The London-based comic, who will be seeking donations after the show, has been performing at the Fringe for the past 10 years and has made regular appearances at the venue.
He will be travelling to Edinburgh from the Lake District, where he is on holiday, to perform his solo show Observational.
Cassidy is the first comic to confirm a Fringe show since the Scottish Government agreed to lift a ban on live events which was imposed in March due to the spread of coronavirus.
Concerts, theatre and live comedy performances will be able to get under way in parks, gardens and other outdoor spaces from Monday as long as social distancing measures are in place and crowd numbers are strictly limited.
The announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday opened the door to the revival of live performances during the last week of Edinburgh’s summer festivals season.
Free Festival director Alex Petty said: “From the outset of the Fringe cancelling, we were always keen to do something if it was safe for everyone and if we were able to.”