Curtain comes down on Fringe Sunday as no sponsor comes forward

Published on Monday 4 May 2009 21:57

THE biggest event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been axed after almost 30 years because organisers have failed to find a major sponsor, The Scotsman can reveal.

Fringe Sunday, which has regularly attracted crowds of more than 250,000 people, has said it cannot afford to stage the showcase for new performers. Officials admitted defeat after more than nine months trying to secure backing for the event, which started in 1981.

News of its demise emerged days after The Scotsman revealed that tramworks had forced the traditional curtain-raiser to the city's festivals season to relocate from Princes Street. Organisers of the Festivals Cavalcade, which will now be held in Holyrood Park, have promised to try to fill the gap left by the end of Fringe Sunday by offering groups the chance to perform on the afternoon of the parade.

The shelving of Fringe Sunday is the biggest sign yet that the recession is having an impact on Edinburgh's festivals.

Earlier this year, the biggest Fringe comedy award lost its headline sponsor after Intelligent Finance decided not to renew its deal. The event is expected to go on in some form.

However, Fringe Sunday, which costs about 70,000 to stage, is a major casualty.

Organisers had warned repeatedly in recent years that its future was in doubt because of soaring costs and problems attracting sponsors – the 2007 event was rescued at the 11th hour after HBOS stepped in. The Fringe had to effectively find the money from its own funds to ensure last year's event went ahead.

The Scotsman revealed in January that a review had been ordered amid fears the event was proving too expensive.

Fringe Sunday was first staged in the High Street in 1981 and forced to relocate to Holyrood Park because of overcrowding, when 40,000 people turned up.

It was staged there every year until 2001 when it relocated to the Meadows, again to create more space.

A Fringe spokesman said: "We've been trying to secure a sponsor for several months but, despite constructive discussions with a number of potential backers, we've unfortunately been unable to do so.

"We really needed a headline sponsor to ensure we could meet the costs of staging the event and avoid having to meet the costs out of our own finances. We have to stress that this decision only relates to this year's event. It is not cancelled indefinitely."

David Todd, director of the Festivals Cavalcade, admitted his event had been threatened by sponsorship difficulties and had been scaled back.

Free entertainment will be laid on at the parade ground next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to coincide with the event.

Mr Todd said: "We have been informed of the Fringe's decision and will be doing our best to fill the gap."

The Fringe is still recovering from the turmoil caused by prolonged box office chaos last year, which led to the resignation of the then director, Jon Morgan.