No laughing matter as venues attacked for festival 'breakaway'

THEY all have humble origins at the world's biggest arts festival, but to many observers of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, those days are a fading memory.

Four leading venues are facing mounting criticism over their "breakaway" comedy festival and the damage it may do to the cultural extravaganza.

Promoters who helped launch the careers of Rowan Atkinson, French and Saunders, Graham Norton, Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand and Peter Kay are behind the new Edinburgh Comedy Festival.

But debate is raging among comedians and promoters over whether the whole future of the Fringe is under threat from the new event, launched by The Assembly Rooms, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly, which has been branded an "absurdity". Leading comics Daniel Kitson, Stewart Lee and Doug Stanhope have been among those to speak out against it.

Although all shows in the comedy festival will still be in the Fringe programme, the new event will have its own programme and website.

Critics say its creation flies in the face of the Fringe's ethos and will damage smaller venues and confuse audiences. Many top comedians performing at the venues were also said to be unaware of the new festival's creation this year.

The Scotsman has already revealed Joan Rivers, Clive James, Bill Bailey, Ruby Wax, Jason Byrne and Ed Byrne will be part of the fledgling festival. It is understood Brendon Burns, Richard Herring, Craig Hill, Jerry Sadowitz and Jimmy Carr will also be in the line-up.

In the latest twist to the wrangle, the comedy festival decided to stage its official launch today, the day before the Fringe programme is officially unveiled.

An insider at the Fringe said: "It's the final straw. We try to keep the programme under wraps every year and this is the last thing we needed. It's a real kick in the teeth."

One comedian performing at the Assembly Rooms this year, said: "This whole venture has been ill thought out, with no real discussion with performers."

The Assembly Rooms, Gilded Balloon and Pleasance emerged as the first "super venues" on the Fringe in the 1990s. But in recent years they have been challenged by Underbelly, which started life below Edinburgh's Central Library. Founders Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood have been the most vocal advocates of the new comedy festival.

Gilded Balloon, which Karen Koren set up in 1986, relocated from its home on the Cowgate after it was destroyed by fire, and is now largely based at the Teviot Row student union.

The Assembly Rooms, the biggest promoter on the Fringe, celebrated 25 years of shows in 2005. Masterminded by William Burdett-Coutts, the company has branched out from its original home on George Street.

Christopher Richardson, founder of the Pleasance, stood down after 21 years in 2004. The creation of the comedy festival has been backed by his replacement, Anthony Alderson, who described it as the "next logical step" for the four venues.

Mr Wood said last night: "This is being totally overblown. The creation of the comedy festival is about trying to raise the profile of the Fringe and help boost performers. There's no breakaway."

But Ally Hill, manager of the Bongo Club, said: "Isn't the Edinburgh Comedy Festival just a cartel? It's really The Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly's comedy festival under a disingenuous name."

Sides are split over comedy initiative

William Burdett-Coutts, artistic director at the Assembly Rooms, said: "This is a welcome development that will give comedy the platform it deserves, whilst also being a magnificent way of improving marketing for our collective programmes and the festival as a whole."

Hartley Kemp, head of C Venues, said: "We're concerned that the creation of a comedy festival within the Fringe could lead to confusion for artists and audience. Non-comedy will be relegated at those venues behind the sheer weight of a combined stand-up programme."

Steve Cardownie, deputy leader of Edinburgh City Council and its festivals champion, said: "The Fringe is known throughout the world and anything that detracts from that brand name is dangerous and worrying."

Nica Burns, director of the if.comedy awards, said: "If this is just a way of marketing for the four venues, then fine, but if it turns into more than that, then that would be a great shame in the context of the Fringe as a whole."

Daniel Kitson, comedian, said: "The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is, to my mind, the greatest festival in the world and its open ethos is more under threat this year than ever, due to the collusion of four major venues in what is little more than a divisive and self-serving exercise in sponsorship chasing."