A SECOND official arena for free entertainment is set to be run by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer for the first time, The Scotsman has learned.
The new zone will be created next to the Royal Scottish Academy on The Mound throughout the Festival after an 11-hour sponsorship agreement was reached.
Proceeds from a controversial new "permit" system for performers will also help pay for the ne
w venture, earmarked for a site traditionally used for unofficial performances and unlicensed market stalls.
Fringe chiefs hope the move will ease pressure on demand for performance slots on the original free entertainment arena on the Royal Mile and help control what goes on next to the RSA's gallery.
The Mound area had to be cleared by police and council staff several times last year over fears of overcrowding and the number of performers. Raids were also launched to crack down on unlicensed traders.
The new Fringe venture will mean performers will no longer be able to stage ad-hoc shows at The Mound.
The area was the favoured location for many performers in the 1980s and 1990s before the Fringe was granted permission to close off the High Street for the first time in 1998. The following year, the Fringe was forced to insist all performers pre-registered and be given official slots in a bid to curb crowd congestion.
The National Galleries of Scotland has led calls for The Mound area to be officially licensed due to the disruption being caused on the precinct.
This year, Fringe acts will have to pay £20 a week to get an "artist's pass" which will allow them to perform on either the Royal Mile or The Mound.
Marisa Snow, high street manager for the Fringe, said: "The Mound precinct (is an] excellent space for street theatre and outdoor performance.
"Previously we have not had the resources to manage other areas. The flat-rate registration fee we've introduced this year has allowed us to improve our services on the high street and to expand to The Mound, offering more services to performers."
A Festival spokesman added: "Two large circular performance pitches will be positioned ether side of the pyramid steps overlooking East Princes Street Gardens, and there will be space for living statues and 20 market-trading stalls."
Alan Watt, head of group brand communications at RBS, added: "We're delighted to support this new event by extending our Festival sponsorship and allow even more performers to display their talents."
A spokeswoman for the city council said the Fringe had yet to be awarded a licence for The Mound precinct but that, if granted, the Festival would be responsible for all performance areas and market stalls.
Councillor Steve Cardownie, the city's festivals and events champion, said: "The Fringe is all about variety and talent and licensing regulations on the High Street have allowed many top-class performers to get their 15 minutes of fame. If the Fringe extend this idea to The Mound then we'll see more entertainment and an even wider range of acts on show this year."
The full article contains 521 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
