Fringe is a unique experience. Pleasance boasts over 20 venues across two sites, with capacities ranging from 30 in the bunkers to 700 in the Grand! All the venues must be constructed from the ground up (excluding one P1) in about two weeks and dismantled in two days, leaving no trace behind.

My role

As the Assistant Head of Lighting & Power, I’ve had to combine my knowledge of Theatre with the speed and unpredictability of Live events! With only two days to tech some of the craziest shows Fringe can throw at you. 

Every venue had a team of techs. Always at least one LX, one sound and one Venue Manager on shift at all times. My role was to be on call if the LX technician had any problems. I would then come up with a quick and robust solution, usually on the fly, to get the show or tech running as soon as possible.

The Build and De rig 

During the build I was 'boots on the ground' (with the rest of the senior team) managing the LX build in a number of venues. Teaching Green Techs how to read plans, unload trucks, rig lights, address and patch fixtures, build truss and ground support and a multitude of other things. During the de rig I spent my time managing satellite teams  (10 teams of 10-15) taking down venues, and sending kit to the relevant trucks. By the end of the first day over 150 people had joined my teams, making for a very quick and efficient de rig

It’s an incredible experience that I'm proud to be a part of, and I’d encourage anyone interested in applying to work at a fringe, not only Pleasance, but any of the fantastic companies involved. 

The unique challenges of fringe come by the dozen. Managing this can be a stressful job, as it involves juggling people, companies, and equipment across several venues. It's essential to ensure our crew is aware of the up-to-date plans. Ensuring the safety of the equipment through PAT testing and BS7909 compliance testing that I conduct is vital for a safe and smooth festival.