News

This is an archived news story for April Fools Day 2019. We hope you like it!

Due to popular demand and following intense consultation with members of the pet-owning cultural community, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is pleased to announce a new section for the 2019 Fringe Programme – dog shows.

The new category will showcase dog-centric performances across all genres, from theatre and comedy through to live music and dance. Not only will the shows be about dogs – they will also be performed by dogs, to largely canine audiences (owners are welcome too).

The Society has been increasingly aware of mounting interest in the programme from arts-loving pets, and have responded by making sure the new section is as comprehensive as possible – ensuring it’s printed in black and white to better suit dogs’ vision, and liaising with Fringe venues to install dog flaps and water bowls.

‘We are passionate about making sure the Fringe is available to all who want to attend,’ said the Society’s Chief Executive Shona McCarthy.

‘We’ve put a lot of thought and care into how this new programme category will be implemented, and we think the results will set a lot of tails wagging.’

As well as a whole new programme category, other developments include: workshops and talent labs for performers, hosted as part of our Fringe Pawticipants’ strand in the Fringe Central Events Programme; the option to subscribe to daily and weekly email pupdates: and an exclusive Boxer Office with a range of ticket options from free to ‘Shar-Pei what you want'.

Confirmed shows for 2019 in the Fringe Beagletent

• 50 Shades of Greyhound
• Abracalabrador
• Waiting for Dogot
• Aisling Beagle
• Miles Pupp
• Much Adog About Nothing
• Pugsy Malone
• Shih Tzu Perkins
• Spaniel Kitson
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woof

Early feedback from performers has been robust. ‘For years we’ve been overlooked in favour of more traditional human performers,’ said Jack Russell Howard, canine comedian and spokesdog for the organisation Better Arts Representation for K-9s (BARK). ‘And don’t get me started on the programme’s traditional categories.

‘I’m happy that the Fringe is finally throwing us a bone,’ he added. ‘It feels like we’re achieving some overdue sense of recognition, of validation for all our hard work – now, when someone asks, “Who’s a good boy then?”, I can simply refer them to my star rating.’

Fans of the initiative are encouraged to contribute to the newest tier of our supporters’ scheme by becoming a Furry Friend of the Fringe.

Become a Furry Friend of the Fringe

Thumbnail photo: James Ratchford