Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Welcomes NYC Artists to Roadshow at The Barrow Theatre, 1/12

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has today unveiled plans to hold an event in New York City for artists and performing companies who might be interested in bringing their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland's capital city.

On 12 January, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society will hold a roadshow at The Barrow Theatre on Barrow Street in New York City. This event takes the format of a panel discussion, followed by a 'Q & A' session and concludes with an informal opportunity for potential Fringe participants to meet Fringe staff and venue representatives. The roadshow is free to attend.

Unveiling the roadshow plans, Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Fringe Society said:

"Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, cabaret, spoken word, dance, physical theatre, musicals, operas, music, childrens' shows, exhibitions and events.

"This diverse range of work encourages hundreds of arts professionals such as producers, promoters and programmers to come to the Fringe with the aim of engaging with Fringe participants who they might want to work with in the future.

"Featuring award-winning participants and producers and members of the Fringe Society staff, this roadshow event is an opportunity for professionals and amateurs alike to learn how to succeed, and avoid the pitfalls of producing a show for the first time at the world's greatest arts festival.

"The United States has a long and distinguished track record of sending some of the most exciting and innovative shows to the Fringe each year and New York, with its tradition of fringe theatre, is a natural place for us to come to and find the next generation of talented performers and producers.

"Around a thousand theatre and entertainment promoters and another thousand accredited members of the media attend the Fringe every year to scout or review shows. As a result hundreds of shows are able to tour after the Fringe as a result of participation. Maximising these opportunities is just one of the subjects that will be covered at this event.

"Coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe roadshow won't commit any artists or producers to make the trip but it will equip them with some very valuable information if they choose to bring their work to Edinburgh."

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Roadshow will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street (off 7th Avenue South), New York City. The doors will open at 10:00 a.m.

The panel for the New York roadshow will consist of Tomek Borkowy, Artistic Director of Universal Arts (an established Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue), Rachel Chavkin, Producer of award winning Fringe veterans TEAM, the award winning actor and writer Anthony Rapp as well as Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and Christabel Anderson, Head of Participant Services for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

The New York roadshow is made possible with funding from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.