I love the Edinburgh Fringe. I love the vibrancy in Edinburgh in August, I love the opportunities it gives to artists and how it really puts Scotland on the map. I’ve also gained a lot professionally and personally from the Fringe, so I want to help the Fringe to continue to be a success. Currently, out of a board of twelve people, there is no one on the board who represents theatre for children and young people. That is why I am standing for election to the Edinburgh Fringe board of directors. There are three things that are important to me. The first is how new producers and artists can have a positive experience of the fringe; the second is how the fringe can be most successfully used as a showcase and finally, how the profile of quality children’s theatre can continue to grow.
I’m in a really competitive category – the Open Category, so I really need votes if I’m to be elected to the board. If you are a member of the Fringe Society, you will have received instructions from the Fringe Office on how to vote, this link will take you to the voting website so please use your vote and vote for me. And, of course it’s not all about me, there are two other categories, so please vote in those too. In the Show Participant category I will be voting for Jennifer Sutherland from Scamp Productions and in the venue category Charlie Wood from Underbelly will be getting my vote. If you’re not a member, please join – it costs £10 – and you can sign up here. Once you’re a member, you will be sent the instructions on how to vote.
My first experience of the Fringe was as an actor producer almost 20 years ago. I was amazed at how much support was on offer for me as a completely inexperienced first-time Fringe producer. The help from the Fringe office was amazing; I simply could not have done it without them. If I were to be elected to the board I would keep this experience in mind and make sure there continues to be support for emerging companies and first-timers. It was at that first fringe that I discovered that producing was what I really wanted to do, and here, nearly 20 years later, I’m still doing it.
In 2010 Catherine Wheels produced White as part of the Made In Scotland programme. The show was a huge success – we won a Fringe First, a Total Theatre Award and a Herald Angel – we sold out, but even more important than that, was the profile we achieved amongst high-profile venue promoters and festival directors. The platform the Fringe gave us was transformational, we achieved more in terms of profile and connections in that three weeks than we had as a company in the previous three years. As a board member I will use this experience to make sure all performers at the Fringe are able to take advantage of this unique event to develop their profile, generate more bookings for their work and take their work to the next level.
So, please vote for me to become a board member of the Fringe so I can help with the continued success and development of the best arts festival in the world.