Berlin Comedy Scene Drifts Towards disorder and Expensive Aspirations at the Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a celebrated event in the world of performing arts, presents a myriad of opportunities for artists to showcase their talent. However, it also comes with significant financial challenges for many performers.
Anna Beros, a Berlin comedian, has first-hand experience of these challenges. Having performed at the Fringe twice, she advises against taking free drugs due to a past experience at the festival. This year, she will be returning with her show, High Hoe, which will be part of the Free Fringe Festival, offering donation-only performances.
The cost of participating in the Fringe can be daunting. For instance, Hysterie Theater, another group performing this year, estimates their expenses, including accommodation, promotional costs, flights, food, and drinks for a month, to be around £10,000 (approximately €11,900). Despite not expecting to make back their investment, they hope to return to Berlin as a more polished outfit with new industry connections and funny stories.
Hysterie Theater has booked their accommodation in Edinburgh months in advance, anticipating a gold rush on affordable spots. However, the festival season can see a surge in demand, especially when major city events like the Oasis reunion tour increase demand, causing typical student flats to rise by around £1,000. Some performers have been forced to sleep in cars to afford participating in the Fringe.
Venue costs also vary widely, from as low as £1,000 for smaller pub venues to as high as £25,000 for theatre spaces, before accommodations and promotional expenses are factored in. Performers try to mitigate costs through crowdfunding and by participating in "Free Fringe" shows, which charge no venue fees but also rely on donations and ticket sales that are not guaranteed to cover expenses.
Lucia Mallardi, an Italian footballer-turned-actor, will make her Edinburgh debut this year with an hour-long autobiographical show that combines physical comedy and football performance. She sees football as a bridge between people and believes there is a resonance between the histories of Naples and Edinburgh. The total cost for taking her show to Edinburgh for four weeks remains undetermined.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe offers over 3,700 shows, ranging from improv in pub basements to world-class theatre acts in major venues. Among the diverse lineup this year, Wenches!, performed by Hysterie Theater, is an absurd concept that uses physical theatre and farcical dialogue to question our propensity for performative activism.
Despite the financial challenges, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has launched the careers of numerous notable performers such as Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Jude Law, and has propelled hit shows like Stomp, Baby Reindeer, Flight of the Conchords, and The Mighty Boosh. It remains a platform where dreams can be realised, even amidst the financial hurdles.
Lucia Mallardi, known as La CalciAttrice, is bringing her street performance skills to Edinburgh and sees the festival as an opportunity to break into the English-speaking market. She plans to promote her show through a relentless flyering schedule on the Royal Mile and by engaging in street performances in character.
Anna Beros has been rigorously honing her material at open mic sessions in Berlin to ensure jokes land well with international audiences. Her show, High Hoe, will play off her reputation as a former party girl.
Despite the financial challenges, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues to attract performers from around the globe, offering them a unique platform to showcase their talent and pursue their dreams.
[1] The Guardian [2] The Scotsman [3] The Stage [4] The List
- Anna Beros and Hysterie Theater share similar experiences regarding the financial challenges of participating in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with both having to consider donation-only performances (Free Fringe Festival) and carrying significant expenses, such as accommodation, promotional costs, and travel, leading to a need for crowdfunding.
- Performers like Lucia Mallardi, Anna Beros, and Hysterie Theater participate in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe not only for the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage but also to engage in lifestyle experiences, such as pursuing acting careers, breaking into English-speaking markets, and enjoying entertainment from other artists, regardless of financial returns.
