8 episodes

For three weeks every August, the Fringe Festival practically takes over Edinburgh, Scotland. The Fringe brings together thousands of artists in thousands of shows, selling millions of tickets. It also brings the promise of career-defining experience and exposure. Fringe Benefits is a docuseries about dreams, ambitions, and reality colliding in a city thousands of years old.

Fringe Benefits Edinburgh Molly Merwin

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 4 Ratings

For three weeks every August, the Fringe Festival practically takes over Edinburgh, Scotland. The Fringe brings together thousands of artists in thousands of shows, selling millions of tickets. It also brings the promise of career-defining experience and exposure. Fringe Benefits is a docuseries about dreams, ambitions, and reality colliding in a city thousands of years old.

    1: Anyone with a desire to perform

    1: Anyone with a desire to perform

    The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, or the Fringe, is the world's third most ticketed event annually. In a city of just over half a million, it hosts thousands of unique shows for three weeks every August, offering artists unparalleled exposure and career-defining experiences. Uncover the festival's challenges and the financial intricacies influencing pivotal decisions for everyone involved, from seasoned professionals to first-time producers to Edinburgh residents.
    If you liked this episode, please like and follow so you know when new episodes come out! You can also visit www.fringebenefitspod.com 
     
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    • 30 min
    2: At what cost

    2: At what cost

    As we dive deeper into the Fringe, we look at the biggest challenge facing performers, producers, venues, and residents: cost. Specifically, we are looking at the two biggest and most contentious costs at the Fringe: venues and accommodations.  
    If you like this episode, please like and subscribe so you know when new episodes come out. 
    Buy Molly a coffee (which she will use to buy tea) at www.fringebenefitspod.com . Thank you!

    • 58 min
    3: Best Laid Plans

    3: Best Laid Plans

    As the 2023 Fringe draws closer, all of our focus is on Niamh and Hannah and their journey in the months leading up to the Fringe. 
     
    If you like this podcast, please like & subscribe so you know when new episodes come out. Please also give us a five-star rating. If you want to buy Molly a coffee (which she will use for tea), you can go to www.fringebenefitspod.com. Thank you!

    • 42 min
    4: A Three Week Moment

    4: A Three Week Moment

    It's finally the Fringe, where Molly climbs ancient hills to catch shows and check in on Niamh and Hannah who are only midway through their time at the Fringe...and feeling it. We also look at Edinburgh's unique relationship with the festivals that descend upon it each year and if or how these dynamics have evolved in the post-pandemic era.
     
    If you like this episode please like and follow wherever you are listening so you know when new episodes come out, and tell a friend or give us a five-star review.
    If you want to support this show and buy Molly a coffee (which she will use to buy tea) please visit www.fringebenefitspod.com and click Donate.
    Thank you for any form of support you can offer, be it through donations, sharing your thoughts in reviews, or spreading the word!

    • 34 min
    5: Seeing Yourself on Stage

    5: Seeing Yourself on Stage

    Through Niamh, Hannah, and everyone we have spoken to, we have established Fringe is hard even if everything lines up perfectly, and especially when it doesn’t. But what if you are disabled in a city of hills? Or you have to deal with racism on top of putting on a daily show. What is the Fringe like for you? In the penultimate episode, we are going to hear from two artists facing those challenges and what they are doing to meet them.
     
    The Fringe Society's page on making your show more accessible. 
    Euan's Guide
    Nouveau Riche's full statement on The Stage's website 
     
    If you like this episode please like and follow wherever you listen and give us a five-star rating or tell a friend! It helps continue podcasts like these. 
    If you would like to support this podcast and give Molly a coffee (which she will use to buy tea) please visit www.fringebenefitspod.com. Thank you!

    • 41 min
    6: Dreams, Ambition, and Reality

    6: Dreams, Ambition, and Reality

    With The Fringe, the story doesn’t end at the last curtain call. Where does it leave artists in terms of their work, bank accounts, and their health? How do you celebrate and justify one of the most draining months of your life and the months or years leading up to it? For the last regular episode, Molly talks to Hannah and Niamh as they reflect on their Fringe experience. We also explore the repercussions of a changing world on the Fringe.
     
    If you like this episode please like and follow wherever you listen and give us a five-star rating or tell a friend! It helps continue podcasts like these. 
    If you would like to support this podcast and buy Molly a coffee (which she will use to buy tea) please visit www.fringebenefitspod.com. Thank you!
     

    • 41 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
4 Ratings

4 Ratings

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