OpenCharities

The Free Fringe

Also known as: PBH's Free Fringe

Country
Scotland
Charity number
SC052628
Status
Active
Reporting
Up to date Last filed Sept. 20, 2026. Filing history
Registered
June 19, 2023
Legal form
Company (the charity is registered with Companies House)

Address

Address
31 Fortess Road
London
NW5 1AD

Contact

Website
freefringe.org.uk
Screenshot of the The Free Fringe website

Activities

'It carries out activities or services itself'

'the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science'

We provide show space at the Edinburgh Fringe which is free of charge to performers and public, thus facilitating access to the arts at the largest festival in the world. This benefits performers, especially the impoverished, and the public. We programme about 6000 performances of about 500 shows in the 23 days of the Fringe, negotiating with venues for free use of their space in exchange for increased custom.

Beneficiaries: 'No specific group, or for the benefit of the community'

Objectives: 2 The company's objects are: a. The advancement of the Performing Arts. b. The advancement of access to the Performing Arts by performers and public. In furtherance of these objectives the organisation will undertake the following activities: i. Stage, promote, facilitate, perform and support shows of all types and genres at the Edinburgh Fringe, with free non-ticketed admission to the public. ii. Stage, promote, facilitate, perform and support shows of all types and genres at any other events and locations that may be deemed fit. iii. Provide performance space to such performer-applicants at the Edinburgh Fringe who shall be deemed suitable on artistic grounds and can be accommodated within the available spaces, without any compulsory charge to those performers. iv. Carry out all reasonable activities to encourage public attendance at these performances, including but not limited to printed and electronic listings of such performances and activities, as far as resources permit. v. Carry out all reasonable measures to facilitate the staging of these performances, including but not limited to the purchase, borrowing or hiring of lighting, sound equipment, chairs and staging, as far as resources permit. vi. Appoint volunteer applicants to such posts as may be deemed necessary, such as Artistic Director, Scheduler, Publications Manager etc, such applicants not to be remunerated except for reimbursement of genuine expenses. vii. Receive from performers such voluntary contributions as they may think fit to give in respect of the performance spaces and services given to them without compulsory charge. viii. Encourage a collaborative, mutually supportive and self-sufficient atmosphere among performers, fostering realistic expectations of what their presence at the Edinburgh Fringe can achieve. ix. Encourage all tasks necessary to the fulfilment of these objectives to be carried out by performers themselves, thus fostering a completely self-sufficient organisation. The company?s objects are restricted to those set out in article 2 (but subject to article 3).

Geography

Main operating location
City of Edinburgh
Geographical spread
A specific local point, community or neighbourhood

Finances

Period end Filed Income Expenditure
Dec. 31, 2025 Sept. 20, 2026On time £28,848 £21,611
Dec. 31, 2024 Sept. 17, 2025On time £32,855 £24,193

Due dates are 9 months after the year end, OSCR's deadline, so they don't allow for any extension OSCR has granted.