For the last few years, at this pre EdFringe planning time, I have visited the Bristol University Students’ Union and run a workshop on producing, careers and EdFringe in particular. Students join from Dramsoc, from the MT Society, Spotlight on new writing, the STA (Stage Technicians Association) and as independent writers, directors and producers of their own projects.
As my train trundles back to London, there are a few ideas which we floated that might be useful to explore for others. I was first part of a Bristol company going to Edinburgh in 1978 and over the next nearly 50 years have been part of EdFringe as audience member, producer, workshop leader, venue programmer, venue manager, publicity manager, and critic. It has been part of my life, and there’s no known cure.
- Back in the late 70s and into the 80s some Universities took over a venue and programmed all their companies, and then rented out a few slots. In 1978 Bristol had three venues – Bristol Revunions at Transport Hall on Leith Walk, Bristol Express led then, as now, by Andy Jordan on Grindley Street in what is now the Lyceum Studio, and Bristol Opsoc & the STA at Lauriston Hall which is still a venue to explore. Why don’t any Universities merge projects into one programme and create a Hub ? Maybe under the wing of one of the big venue hubs, or just finding a church hall and making it happen.
- This year I hope Dramsoc and the others will take on board an idea I have been floating to them and my Korean colleagues over a number of years. If you are going to represent the best of Bristol (or Korea) all over the array of venue hubs, then why not do a shared leaflet, or a shout-out leaflet/programme given to audiences as they leave? If I’ve had a good time at one Bristol show I might try another. No, I would try another. Plus you are building a ‘Made in Bristol’ brand.
- At this time Universities are seeking to attract students from the UK and around the world – why not take this ‘Made in Bristol’ and extend it to an outdoor advertising campaign featuring an iconic Bristol image and the names of all the companies that have come from Bristol to EdFringe. I made my university choices on my application/UCCA form not by the quality of the academic course I would be attending, but by the energy of the theatre sector in that university. Bristol won out for me big time. I started my career.
- With this phenomenal array of Bristol based/inspired student talent, why not reach out to alumni from the Uni who are still working/taking projects to EdFringe. I told my workshop creatives about an Edinburgh based theatre critic and a long-time EdFringe commercial producer, both of whom were in/around Bristol at my time. Now who was around in the 80s 90s 00s 10s and beyond. There is a danger that students focus only on their own year (or trio of years) and never think who could be useful champions and amplifiers for EdFringe26.
- Bristol is a vibrant theatre city – who else will be travelling to Edinburgh this August? Are any of the major companies taking shows ? Are any freelance directors, producers, artistic directors heading there to see friends and shows ? Are any of the festival and venue programmers visiting to seek out talent ? – this array of professionals could be useful to any/all the shows once again as amplifiers of the Bristol brand.
- And with this array of Bristol marketing and promotion planned, might there be a local business who would join the project. A local major printer who will create the marketing material. A local wine specialist who would host a reception. A local employer or exporter from Bristol who would like to be seen to support emerging talent, and they’d offer a few £,000 to be shared across the companies.
- Who’s famous who was at Bristol who could shout out for this array of company talent and creativity from their old haunt in the Winston Theatre or Meeting Room 5 or the Vandyke Theatre. Some of the alums of my time are now international theatre directors, and agents, and BBC producers/journalists. Again across 40 years there must be some glorious household or industry names who would cheer Bristol EdFringe26.
- Oh and don’t forget there are 7+ festivals in Edinburgh in August. Who from Bristol is there for the Book Festival, or part of the International Festival, or the Television Festival (if it happens this year), or the Film Festival which is now back in full flight at Filmhouse, or the Art Festival which gathers so many galleries into one shared programme, or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which may have performers from around the world who were based in Bristol. Then wouldn’t it be great to have a big gathering one day, supported by Bristol City Council as it prepares to pitch for City of Culture 2029, or led/hosted by Bristol Evening Post.
These are an array of ideas which we either explored in the 90 minute workshop, or I invented with 1st year Phoebe Perry as we had a further hour exploring her return to EdFringe after her show sold out in 2025, or they have come to me as I have been typing on the train.
One producer, one company, even one society, can’t do all this all at once alone. BUT if all the company producers and creatives come together and divide the roles then they can achieve much of this for 2026 and onwards to EdFringe2027.
If you are at Hull Uni, or Exeter, or Southampton or Cardiff then almost everything above holds true for you too – but of course Bristol is best.
My visits to Bristol energise me and give me hope for the future of our industry. There was a wall-to-wall can-do attitude. There were new theatre companies being formed. There were longstanding societies building on the success over many years. There was a sense of joy and a sense of multiple plate spinning. Thank you to the President and the Event Manager for welcoming me.
See you all in August.