Edinburgh Comedy Festival
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Edinburgh Comedy Festival is the name given to a collection of comedy shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2009 will run from 5–31 August 2009.[1]
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[edit] Media coverage
In June 2008, there were many news stories and commentaries in the media about the launch of the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, both positive and negative.[2]
Much was reported of the lack of sponsorship in the festival's first year, [3] following reports that combined, the four venues involved in the festival made a £76,000 loss in 2007 [4]. At a press conference on Thursday 5 June explanations were made of the intention to plow sponsorship money back into the festival, with the long term goal of making the festival cheaper for acts.[5]
One critic of the move was Tommy Shepherd, owner of Edinburgh comedy venue, The Stand, which itself hosts many comedy shows as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[6] Shepherd was invited to form part of the festival but refused in spring 2008.[7]. Shepherd is director of Glasgow International Comedy Festival.[8]
It is not, however, the first time the Edinburgh Comedy Festival name has been used. A similar project was attempted in the 1990s, with a cigarette brand as the sponsor.[9]
[edit] 2008
The Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2008 ran from 30 July–25 August, alongside the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Only performances at Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly came under the auspices of the Edinburgh Comedy Festival. The four venues produced a joint brochure comprising of two sides - one presented as the Edinburgh Comedy Festival brochure, with shows of all other genres at those venues listed on the other side.
The shows in the Comedy Festival programme represented almost 90% of the comedy at the 2008 Fringe.[10].
High-profile names from the 2008 festival include Joan Rivers, Paul Merton, Clive James, John Pinette and Rhona Cameron
[edit] 2009
The Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2009 will run from 5–31 August 2009.[1]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2009 dates announced". Submitting a show to the Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2009. http://www.edcomfest.com/news.aspx?article=15. Retrieved on 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Comedy awards boss warns Fringe's 'big four' over split". Scotsman Article. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Comedy-awards-boss-warns-Fringe39s.3981300.jp. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Edinburgh comedy festival launches without sponsor". The Stage. http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/20917/edinburgh-comedy-festival-launches-without. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Q&A: The Edinburgh Comedy Festival". Edinburgh Guide.com. http://www.edinburghguide.com/story/edinburghcomedyfestival/1862. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2008 - London Press Launch". Fringe Report. http://www.fringereport.com/art080605edinburghcomedyfestival.php. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "SCOTLAND’S COMEDY FLAGSHIP REMAINS AT THE HEART OF THE FRINGE". The Stand website. http://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe2008/. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Does the Fringe need a separate comedy festival?". The Guardian website. http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/theatre/2008/03/does_the_fringe_need_a_separat.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Serious About Comedy". BBC 7. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/progpages/seriousaboutcomedy2.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Laughs lacking for 'breakaway'". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/paulinemclean/2008/06/laughs_lacking_for_breakaway.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Making Capital's comedy festival work is a serious business". Anthony Alderson speaking to Edinburgh Evening News about Edinburgh Comedy Festival. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburghfestivalfringe/Making-Capital39s-comedy-festival-work.3907865.jp. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
