Why your show should be on Fringe Marketplace
28 March 2024
If you're an artist coming to the Fringe and you’re ready to present your work to arts industry, and potentially find a life for your show outside of the festival, you should know about Fringe Marketplace.
It's the Fringe Society’s online platform where programmers, producers and other arts industry professionals can find out more about your onward ambitions, production details and how to reach you.
But don’t just take our word for it – here’s some feedback from arts industry professionals who have used Marketplace in the past.
Find out more about Fringe Marketplace
“Fringe Marketplace has been an invaluable resource for me”
Darren Lee Cole, Artistic Director at SoHo Playhouse – International Fringe Encore Series, New York
“Fringe Marketplace has been an invaluable resource for me over the past seasons at Edinburgh Fringe. The ease of finding shows and other delegates is fantastic. I have made several connections through the Marketplace that have led to transfers to our International Encore Series at SoHo Playhouse in New York City.”
“Fringe Marketplace is a great guide to seeking professional works”
Robbie Macrae, Chief Executive at Auckland Arts Festival, Aotearoa / New Zealand
“With so many shows during the festival, the Fringe Marketplace is a great guide to seeking professional works which are also ready to tour. Having more details in advance along with readily available contacts is invaluable.”
“Fringe Marketplace helps me pinpoint the exact type of shows for our venue”
Sofi Berenger, Executive Producer (acting CEO) at King’s Head Theatre, London
“We come up to Edinburgh every year to scout, but with thousands of shows on its essential to use tools to put together our schedules. Whilst recommendations, flyering, networking and conversation goes a long way, Fringe Marketplace helps me pinpoint the exact type of shows which might be suitable for transferring to our venue. It gives us an idea of future life ambitions, it gives us an idea of practicalities involved – financial, logistical and production-related – and ensures that we're starting conversations from a realistic position to give shows the best shot at transferring to our theatre.”
“I consulted the Marketplace directory to track down a director”
Val Day, Artistic Director at 59e59 Theaters, New York
“My first trip to Edinburgh in 2017, as 59E59's new minted Artistic Director, was a revelation. I was stunned by New Diorama's Secret Lives of Humans (Pleasance Courtyard). Determined to bring it to New York, I consulted the Marketplace directory to track down David Byrne, the show's co-writer / director / producer. His quick wit and self-effacing humor were infectious, and we instantly connected.
“The following year, our friendship deepened when David's phenomenal team brought their show to our theater. It was a dream come true, and we both craved further collaboration. In 2019, David's gripping production of The Incident Room (Pleasance Courtyard) solidified our plans to present it in NYC in 2020. He even agreed to co-curate an especially vibrant Brits Off Broadway festival alongside me. We had the time of our lives scouting shows, comparing notes and devising a stellar lineup of diverse, outrageous and exciting shows – all tragically cancelled just weeks before opening.
“Despite the pandemic's disruption, our friendship persevered. Finally, in 2023, after a three-year delay, our co-curated festival came to fruition. Now, with David at the helm of the Royal Court, I'm brimming with pride for my friend. I'm eternally grateful to the Edinburgh Fringe for sparking this connection seven years ago, and I can't wait to see him there again soon.”
“Fringe Marketplace helps to guide us through thousands of shows”
Joe Flavin, Director at The Core at Corby Cube, Northhamptonshire
“The Fringe is a brilliant melting pot of performance work which is vital to the ongoing programming ecology of regional theatre venues like ours. We send representatives to the Fringe each year and try to see as many shows as we can in the time that we have. Fringe Marketplace is an invaluable resource that helps to guide us through the thousands of shows on offer so that we can concentrate our viewing time on work that is interested in or available for touring to venues after the Fringe run.”