The Edinburgh fringe is a shaggy old beast with many ailments. It’s too big, too white, too expensive, according to its critics. The Succession star Brian Cox, who first went at 17, was among those to speak out after 1,600 comedians and producers signed an open letter last year criticising its management. This year, its problems are compounded by legislation designed to curb short-term letting, now making its way through the Scottish parliament, which will make accommodation even pricier and harder to come by for seasonal visitors.
But for all its faults, as Cox pointed out, the three-week-long jamboree in the Scottish capital still matters. It is where generations of performers started out, and it remains part of the lifeblood of an international entertainment industry spanning film, television and theatre in all its forms and craft skills.
