Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023 launches
Hopes this year will be a "proper reset" as the shadow of Covid-19 finally passes
Last updated 4th Aug 2023
Today marks the official start of the 76th Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A whopping 52,000 performances will take place at venues across the city, with artists from 72 countries represented.
After weeks of wet weather in the capital, Friday morning saw a break in the clouds allowing thousands of people to descend on the Royal Mile, where street performers and show promoters were already out in force.
"2022 was a hard festival to do, this feels like a proper reset”
For many performers and venues, it’s hoped this year will be a return to pre-pandemic numbers. Last year was the first festival without any Covid restrictions, but uncertainty saw many companies opting to stay away.
Anthony Alderson is Director of the Pleasance venue, he told us 2022 “was a hard festival to do, this feels like a proper reset”.
He said “the repercussions of Covid are still very evident but it feels like the city is busier, it feels like people are much more comfortable coming into theatres.”
“The PTSD is still strong”
Comedian Susie McCabe has been performing at the Fringe for years, she said “the PTSD is still strong”, but is optimistic the shadow of pandemic has finally passed:
“I think this will be the year when we hopefully get back to normality as it were, and everyone feels a bit more relaxed and a bit more comfortable about being in venues and doing shows and being in close proximity with people.”
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "I love this time of year, when Edinburgh becomes this melting pot of creativity and global connection, it is just brilliant to be off and running with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023!”
More than 3.5 thousand shows are registered at this year’s Fringe, with over 52,000 performances scheduled between now and August 28th.