The Free Fringe (also known as PBH's Free Fringe, after its founder, Peter Buckley Hill) is an organisation that promotes free shows during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, every August.
Unlike most event promoters at the Fringe, the Free Fringe does not charge performers for use of performance spaces, on the condition that they do not charge an entry fee into their shows. Audience members are, however, asked to make a donation at the end of a show.
This business model has been cited as an important development in the Fringe's culture and infrastructure,[1] and has been credited with restoring the "idealistic spirit of the Fringe".[2] Peter Buckley Hill was awarded the Panel Prize at the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Awards in recognition.
The organisation should not be confused with other promoters of free events at the Fringe, which include Laughing Horse, Just the Tonic and Bob Slayer's Heroes. Free Fringe venues are commonly independently run bars and nightclubs which create performance spaces in their premises for the duration of the Fringe.
Predominantly the shows are comedy but the programme has expanded from its comedy roots to include magic, theatre, science, cabaret, music and spoken word. [3] Performers range from newcomers to major names such as Phill Jupitus and established cult figures such as John Otway.[4]
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