Men paid 60pc more than women at Edinburgh Fringe

MALE performers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival are earning an average of 60 per cent more than their female counterparts – despite women “dominating” the event, statistics reveal.

Research shows that women are paid nearly £200 less than men at the August festival. Pay for fringe workers both on and off stage averaged out at £523 for men and £326 for women.

The gender pay gap is around seven times the national average, according to activist theatre company Power Play, which carried out the study.

The report also revealed that women made up 60 per cent of all theatre workers, and nearly a third of those taking part at the Fringe are unpaid.

A spokesman for Power Play said: “These findings add to a wider picture of the structural practices that both limit access to theatre and prevent women from being rewarded for their work and talent on a par with men.

“These systemic problems … are already discernible at the Fringe, where we see the pattern of women’s work being undervalued and under-rewarded.”

The research, which examined data relating to nearly 1,500 Fringe workers, was compiled in collaboration with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and the Pleasance, one of the event’s biggest venues.

Shona Mccarthy, of the Fringe Society, said: “The Fringe needs to do more to identify barriers to progression for women. As a non-funded, open-access festival, the Fringe is a vital springboard for artists of all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring the opportunities are available to everyone.”