Shed life for Fringe performers

Fringe performers will be staging shows in a shed inside a closed-down theatre in Edinburgh this month.

The “Shededinburgh” venue, which has been created by the theatre producer by the original stage production of Fleabag, will operate from the stage of the Traverse.

Theatre producer Francesca Moody has joined forces with Scottish theatre-maker Gary Mcnair to create the series of livestreamed events, which will only be broadcast once.

All proceeds raised from the ticketed Shededinburgh screenings of the theatre and comedy shows will go towards a fund aimed at supporting new artists to bring their work to the Fringe in 2021 and beyond.

Some performers are expected to use their own sheds to record their shows, another another shed will be created at the Soho Theatre in London to accommodate performers based in the city.

Mcnair said: “This all started as a joke. I love puns so I just wanted to make Francesca laugh when I said I’d be doing the Fringe from my garden this year. That was meant to be the end of it. But she took it seriously and said we should do it for real.

“When she convinced me it could be done, it was clear that we could turn it into something that could celebrate the Fringe’s past and really help people access it in the future. I love the Fringe and I hope Shededinburgh can support others to be a part of it when it returns.”

Moody said: “Shededinburgh is primarily a fundraiser to create a fund to support the next generation of artists to make it to the Fringe in 2021..

“At a time when venues face an uncertain future and artists are struggling it will shout loud about the Fringe’s vital role in global culture, celebrate its past successes and breakthrough artists, provide a platform for talent that would have performed this year and contribute to its future beyond 2020.”