Francesca Moody Productions, the Olivier Award-winning producers behind Fleabag and Baby Reindeer have announced a new Edinburgh Fringe venue. Following the success of its digital festivals in 2020 and 2021, Shedinburgh will return live and in-person. Shedinburgh was originally launched in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the resulting cancellation of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, digitally platforming artists no longer able to perform in August and highlighting the Fringe’s vital role in global culture.
Continuing its commitment to keep the Fringe sustainable and accessible to artists and audiences, Shedinburgh reimagines the traditional fringe model – paying financial guarantees to all artists and creatives and covering their travel and accommodation, with ‘Pay What You Can' tickets available to audiences for every show.
The season will feature a curated programme of one-night-only performances in its intimate 100-seat venue. An incredible mix of fringe favourites, household names and rising stars will appear in a diverse line-up of theatre, comedy, performance art, live music, and talks.
One-off shows by Jayde Adams (pictured, Serious Black Jumper, Alma’s Not Normal), Mark Watson (pictured, Have I Got News For You, Live at the Apollo), Deborah Frances-White (The Guilty Feminist, Never Have I Ever), Ivo Graham (pictured by Matt Stronge, Taskmaster, Mock the Week), Sh!t Theatre (Or What’s Left of Us, Drink Rum with Expats), Marlow & Moss (Six, Why Am I So Single?), and Maimuna Memon (Olivier Award Winner 2025, Manic Street Creature) are announced today with the full line-up to be revealed later in the month.
The festival is comprised of Shed Shows (‘unplugged’ shed versions of Edfringe smash-hits), Shed Originals (unseen scripts with development supported by Shedinburgh from up-and-coming writers), ShedX Talks (free panels & Q&As), and late-night live music events.
Alongside the programme of world-class evening entertainment, Shedinburgh will open its doors during the day as a café and bar for artists to meet, collaborate and create. Visitors will have a fantastic choice of food and drink on site served by local Edinburgh partners, including beer from Newbarns Brewery, coffee from Williams & Johnson, and authentic award-winning Wood-Fired Pizzas from Wanderers Kneaded. Venue Management is supported by Edinburgh Festival Fringe stalwart’s Gilded Balloon.
Shedinburgh will be opening applications in the coming weeks for its Shedload of Future Fund, which distributes money raised during the 2020 and 2021 digital seasons. The fund will award three £5,000 grants to artists making their Fringe debut in 2025. The bursaries can be put towards any costs associated with bringing a show to the Fringe, including travel, marketing, accommodation, set, and artists’ time.
A £2 levy on all tickets sold to Shedinburgh’s season will go directly towards the Shedload of Future Fund for future years.
Comedian and Writer Mark Watson said: “I’m very excited to be a part of Shedinburgh. The Fringe has been a huge part of my career – I’ve not missed one since 2000. But it’s getting harder and harder for emerging artists to survive out there, or even take the risk of going in the first place. There needs to be a fresh approach to the way the festival works for performers, and that’s what Shedinburgh is offering.”
Comedian and actress Jayde Adams said: “I’ve been coming to the Fringe since 2011, and my big break came in 2016 with a Best Newcomer nomination. After years of stand-up, I’m stepping into something new, more theatrical, more personal, and unlike anything I’ve done before. Shedinburgh feels like the perfect space for it: intimate, raw, and open to risk. I’ve wanted to tell this story for a long time, and I think it’s going to be something really special”
In its dedication towards supporting artists, creatives are invited to register for a Shedinburgh Artist Pass, giving them priority booking for shows, a discount on food and beverages, along with access to an exclusive Artist Newsletter.
As a not-for-profit organisation that receives no public subsidy, Shedinburgh relies on donations to continue supporting artists and reimagining a more sustainable way of making work at the Fringe. Through its Shed Friends and Shed Supporters schemes, donors can directly contribute to the festival’s work and enjoy benefits such as priority booking two days before general release, as well as exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes access. Shedinburgh is generously supported by its Founding Supporter, Jessica Foung.
Tickets and the full programme will be released later this month. For more information and to sign up: www.shedinburgh.com
Ivo Graham picture © Matt Stronge
