On the Fringe of a disaster
Festival boss’s social distancing warning
Laura Paterson
The future of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is “in danger” if the Scottish Government does not ease social distancing rules for venues within a fortnight, the organiser has warned.
Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, urged ministers to drop the current two- metre rule for venues to the one-metre rule used in hospitality.
She said if this does not change, it places the future of the 75-year- old festival under threat.
McCarthy said: “Within another two weeks, it’s going to be impossible for any [Edinburgh promoter] to put on anything.
“There’s a real danger for the future of the Fringe. One year of no festival was manageable and we were able to keep it in hearts and minds and everybody still held that space in their calendar as that annual moment for
reconnection and getting together. At two years you jeopardise the solid space the Fringe has held for 75 years.
“This is a moment when we’re really looking to the Scottish Government to have that leap of faith and trust Fringe operators in the same way as they are trusting the hospitality sector to deliver services safely to the public.”
The Fringe was cancelled for the first time last year due to coronavirus.
Show registration for online and in- person performances opened earlier this month for this year’s festival, which is taking place from August 6 to 30.
The Scottish Government said: “We do not underestimate the severe impact this pandemic has had on the performing arts. We want the sector to be able to reopen fully and plan future activity but we must continue to move very carefully to ensure continued suppression of Covid-19.
“In Level 2, indoor events in settings such as theatres, concert hal ls, music venues and comedy clubs are permitted with a maximum of 100 people, subject to physical distancing measures.
“Guidance is being produced which may allow higher capacities to be agreed with the local authority or the Scottish Government, depending on the event and the setting’s ability to safely hold larger numbers.
“We are reviewing physical distancing and an announcement of the outcome of this review is due ahead of the planned move to Level 1 on June 7.”