est ival
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Just because David Sneddon once played at the ‘people's Iestival' doesn‘t make the Fringe elitist
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Long live the Fringe!
People’s Festival organiser, Colin Fox MSP, has got it wrong. Words: Mark Brown
hen (John Fox MSP announced hrs 'people's lestwal'. he embarrassed hrrnself and the Seottrsn Sortralrst Party rlor ‘.'./'ttr(:t‘ he rs (:ulture
spokespersonr. He denounces the Frrnge as 'nothrng more than a tourrst attraetron'. and argues that rrsrng pnees prevent It lrorn berng for 'the people of the (:rty'_ The suggestron that the Frrnge rs for ‘tourrsts' rather than the 'ordrnary people" of Edrnburgh rs. to II“, rr‘rnd. beneath any 530(tlélllSI. The whole pornt about the Frrnge rs that It Is Internatronal. The fact that people come from all over the world to enjoy the arts ar’ongsrde the people of Edrnburgh rs of rrnrnense (:ultural. as well as e<:onornr(:, benetrt to the (:Ity. It smacks of a dangerous type of paroehralrsrn lwhrr:h could so easrly play Into xenophobrar to rrnply some sort of (:onflret between workrng-rtlass people In Edrnburgh and vrsrtors from overseas. The pornt about some Frrnge prices gettrng out of hand rs an rrnportant one. l-"rfteen durd to see Ross Noble at the ssernbly Roorns rs. wrthout guestron. a
brt steep. l'n‘ (rurte sure tha s'><:ralrst arttor Pan: he Goldsrr‘rth wetIId Irke to be (:hargrng less than E‘ t L; ‘r;r ".er excellent show Bing"! Colours Only. but there are costs. rnarnly arrsrng fron\ rent hrkes b. Fdrnlmrgh Crt, (Zetr'vtr‘ and other landlords. uvhrel‘. are (:rrpplrng sr"all arts promoters.
Of course there are some lat (tats. part r:trlar., ll‘ the comedy |ll(IUSSII‘,. for whom the l Huge as a bear‘ feast, hr: 5: great number of artrsts trnrsh the festr~.al out 52‘ rxxxet. tin rhany produetzons (:ostrng as irttle as 5‘3. or S‘f: treket. the Frrnge rs strll 4'10“‘.‘.*IIIllIlfIltHiziCIlUI n‘ost ‘NOIKIIIQ'(IIEISS people.
Even the n‘ore expensrve shorts (:on‘pare taxouraliy .mtn the recent Hrbs Hearts rr‘at<:h. trekets for ~.'.rhrr:n cost 91%,. There Is an Important debate to be had about ’.'.().'I\Ill(} class engagement rn the arts. but It rs not assrsterl b, sumh a populrst and (:otrnter-pro<Iuetrve drsrnrssal of the l rrr‘grr- Mark Brown is an arts journalist and left-wing political activist.
for a ter rirsrje
LISTEN, WE DON'T NEED YOU TONIGHT, I’M GOING THE USHEQING.
L
AND THE LIGHTS. JUST TAKE IT EASY AND CATCH THE SHOW.
(—__=_—_—-=—rrm n—rE NAT"de melt m V \
5M “660. IT'S WQITTEN ANO OIQECT BY DAVID 696/6.
kINLAND QEVENIJE.
Fascinating Aida
BOOKING INFORMATION
MILITARY TATTOO
FRINGE .- BOOK FESTIVAL I .l INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ' FILM FESTIVAL ' - . .2 .:
EDINBURGH MELA -‘ " . :
SECTION EDITORS Editor Mark Frsher edrtor (I.lrst.(:o.uk
Art
Helen Monaghan art mlrstttr Itle Books
Brran Donaldson books(I.lrst,r;o.uk Clubs
Henry Northrnore (:lubs<:.lrst.r:o.uk Comedy
Maureen Ellrs Comedy (rlrstfio ark Dance
Kelly Apter dancealrst eouk
Film
Paul Dale frlrn’alrsttmuk
Kids
Ruth Hedges krds’alrstrmuk Music
Mark Robertson rnusrr;’rI.|rst,r;ouk Theatre
Steve Crarner theatre <rlrst.r;ouk Wrth Anna Mrllar anna (Ir/lrstrmtrk
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