The actor Brian Cox has warned that Edinburgh’s summer festivals risk ‘imploding’ unless rising costs are brought under control, lending a prominent voice to growing unease about the sustainability of the city’s cultural calendar.
Speaking during the festival period, the veteran performer said the expense of staging work in Edinburgh in August had reached a level that priced out the emerging talent the festivals were meant to nurture.
Cox also called for closer cooperation between the Fringe and the official Edinburgh International Festival, suggesting a degree of unification could help both weather financial pressures.
His remarks echoed concerns raised by performers throughout the season, many of whom described running shows at a loss simply to gain exposure, sharpening a debate about who the festival is for.
The intervention from a figure of Cox’s standing is likely to fuel calls for reform ahead of next year’s programme, in a festival that draws audiences and performers from across Europe.
