The official 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme, which launched today, will bring shows from around the world catering for all ages and appetites to celebrate 70 years of defying the norm.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe began in 1947 when eight theatre companies turned up uninvited to perform at the inaugural Edinburgh International Festival. The companies were refused entry to the programme but decided to perform on the fringe of the Festival anyway. The defiance expressed by the eight companies who performed here in 1947 stands stronger than ever today under the universal banner of Alliance of Defiance.
Over the last 70 years the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has gone from strength to strength, inspiring a global network of more than 200 fringes and establishing itself as the largest platform for creative freedom in the world.
On the 11 July, fringes from around the world will come together for the inaugural World Fringe Day supported by the Scottish Government and EventScotland in an international celebration to mark the birth of the fringe movement.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said, “The Scottish Government is proud to support the Fringe Made in Scotland showcase and World Fringe Day through our Expo Fund, which provides a platform for artists from across Scotland. I am proud that Scotland is the home of fringe and has joined with others across the globe to celebrate the 70th anniversary and the ongoing success of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”
People travel from all over the word to take part in the Fringe, and this year 62 countries are represented giving over 53,000 performances in the 300 venues, with new ones added this year inside the city and beyond including Hibernian Football Club, the Novotel Swimming Pool and Musselburgh Race Course.
This year’s programme offers its usual eclectic mix of theatre, dance, circus, physical theatre, comedy, music, musicals, opera, cabaret and variety, children’s shows, circus, physical theatre, free shows, exhibitions, events and spoken word. There will be new faces as well as old favourites returning to tread whatever boards are on offer.
Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Shona McCarthy, said, “…The 2017 Fringe Programme reflects the principles that guide the fringe movement, it is diverse, topical, challenging and of course, exciting. I hope that as many people as possible will join us here in Edinburgh for the 70th anniversary edition of the Fringe, to witness and participate in this joyous international celebration of arts and culture.”
Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from 4th to 28th August 2017 and tickets are available from today.
More Edinburgh Fringe information and EdinburghGuide.com's coverage of the Fringe shows here.