Festival Ferret: 'Rare and lovely' Burns takes sole responsibility

Published on Sunday 9 August 2009 21:59

SPONSORS are "rare and lovely things" at an event like the Fringe, said Nica Burns, theatre owner, and long-time producer of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

For years, Perrier sponsored the awards, so long they're still sometimes called the Perriers. Then Intelligent Finance took over, before the deal was drowned in the tidal wave that nearly submerged its owner, Bank of Scotland.

So now the sponsor is – Nica. "I hadn't really thought about it, but I suddenly realised I am probably the single greatest individual sponsor on the Fringe," she said.

"It would be nice to be treated once as a sponsor. I want the red carpet rolled out for me, I want people constantly giving me kisses, to love and cherish me for one year only. I'm not asking to repeat it, but this year I am a rare and lovely thing, and should be enjoyed."

She is definitely quite a sponsor. The total cash prizes amount to 16,000, and then there was yesterday's awards lunch, like Ms Burns a Fringe institution.

She can only afford a year, she said. "I have to make my money. I was not born with a silver spoon... Comedians have been offering to help out, so that's fantastic."

London calling

THE APPARENT surge in early ticket sales at the Fringe – by about 20 per cent – has been matched by healthy sales at the five theatres the adorable Ms Burns runs in London.

"I think there are more people staying in the UK and going to theatre. We have had a really good year. We have sold about 50 per cent more than we did last year," she said.

Shows like Three Days of Rain with James McAvoy, and Rain Man with Josh Harnett, have been massive hits. "Thriller has obviously been incredible, and before that Eddie Izzard," she said.

Turning her expert's eye on this year's line-up, Burns says for the best plays she'll make a beeline, as usual, for the Traverse.

But "the thing to see" she reckons is The Hotel, the show comedian Mark Watson has written and directed, set in a massive town house. Then she'll take in a Girl of Slender Means, because she rates Maureen Beattie one of Scotland's finest actresses, and the comedians' production of School For Scandal.

Gone in 60 seconds

A PROMOTIONAL film promising to celebrate the "unique spectacle" of the Edinburgh Festivals goes out on STV tonight.

The 60-second film that will run at prime-time in the commercial break during Coronation Street at exactly 19.47pm. The time, we're told, is symbolic since 1947 was the first ever year of the Edinburgh International Festival.

The film "beautifully captures the vibrancy, diversity, heritage and wealth of arts offerings that continue to make Edinburgh the premier arts destination in the world". It's tagged "A day at the Edinburgh Festivals... experience a world in one city".

Er... will this satisfy calls by the likes of William Burdett Coutts for more UK media coverage, especially television, of the festivals?