Edinburgh Fringe costs a 'struggle' for NI performers

John Meagher says that growing up in a home with blind relatives, stand-up was a form of entertainment that was accessible to the entire household

The Edinburgh Fringe is where many young artists from Northern Ireland go to make their name.

However, some local artists have said the rising costs around performing there is a huge constraint.

The festival, which runs until 26 August, is in its 77th year and will see almost 4,000 different shows taking place.

Local artists have told BBC News NI they hope the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will allow Northern Ireland to "showcase its talent".

Hit shows like Baby Reindeer, Fleabag and Nanette all began life at the Fringe.

'Disgusting' costs

Up-and-coming acts will be competing for attention from punters and promoters - and battling the festival's spiralling costs.

The price of accommodation in particular is said to have tripled since 2019.

One Northern Ireland comedian said the costs were "disgusting".

John Meagher, who presents The Divil's Own on BBC Radio 4, said that the festival is "not accessible" for working-class performers.

The Newry comedian, who this year will be performing a solo stand-up show at the Fringe for the first time, believes that the costs associated with the Fringe, especially rent, mean that working-class artists such as himself struggle to take part.

John noted that, in an attempt to save money, many of his colleagues share rooms with strangers during the festival.

"You have to be very privileged to do the full month," said Mr Meagher.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been contacted for comment.

Orla Graham and Kirby Thompson say that despite the cost performing at the festival is worth it

Northern Ireland playwrights Orla Graham and Kirby Thompson have encountered similar financial challenges.

"The financial barriers you face are insane", said Kirby, who is participating at the Fringe for the first time.

"It's so hard and it's so expensive," she added.

Orla, meanwhile, cited what she described as the "shocking" funding situation of the arts in Northern Ireland.

"It's very tough when you do the budget, and you look at it and it's a shoestring budget.

"And you think 'how are we gonna do this?'"

'It can be exclusionary'

Vittorio Angelone says many performers make their name online nowadays

Vittorio Angelone, who was previously nominated for the Fringe's Best Newcomer Award in 2022, told BBC News that he was "extremely blessed" that he is able to afford to perform at the Fringe, thanks in no small part to his aunt and uncle in Edinburgh accommodating him during the Festival.

"I know people who sold out their show and walked away owing two grand," said Vittorio.

"It can be exclusionary," he added.

The Belfast comedian highlighted that many performers have day jobs which they continue to work at remotely during the Festival, with this potentially impacting their performance.

Despite the economic barriers, John, Orla, and Kirby all maintain that the cost is worth it.

'I'm investing in myself'

"I grew up on a council estate," said John.

"I never went to university. I saved all year, this is the money I'd have spent on a degree.

"I'm investing in myself," he added.

For John, stand-up comedy has been a life-long dream.

Growing up in a house with two blind older brothers, stand-up offered a form of entertainment that was accessible to the entire household.

John's stand-up show, Big Year, runs until 26 August at the Gilded Balloon Patter House.

For Orla and Kirby, the Fringe is an opportunity to introduce their play to a wider audience.

Float is about a group of young women living together in Belfast, and how they deal with the aftermath of sexual assault.

The cast of 'Float' on stage

"We asked ourselves 'what makes us angry?'", said Kirby.

"We kept coming back to being a woman trying to exist, and there's all these different things stopping you from living that chaotic experience of just being a girl in your twenties living with your mates."

Orla, meanwhile, hopes that the play will "prompt people to talk about things they would never talk about, or would be too afraid to discuss".

The cast of 'Float' on stage

Orla and Kirby's play, Float, started on 1 August at the Assembly Roxy.

Vittorio, however, suggested that performing at the Fringe may be losing some significance for comedians.

"It's not the star-maker it once was", says the Belfast man.

"The internet doesn't rely on gatekeepers. That's the way forward," he added.

Vittorio's stand-up show, Off the Cuff, runs from 2 August at the Monkey Barrel Comedy.