Press clippings
Peter Buckley Hill's 'Free Fringe' is just the ticket amid the cost of living crisis
Many years ago, in my role as the city council's Festival and Events Champion, I was invited to see some shows which formed part of Peter Buckley Hill's "Free Fringe" and I am glad to see that from its humble beginnings back in 1996, it is still going strong and is staging a vast array of shows at this year's event.
Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh Evening News, 3rd August 2022This year's Fringe in the opinion of Sir Gideon Vein
The Edinburgh Fringe - or what passes for the Fringe in this let's-hope-it's-almost-over-Covid-pandemic netherworld - finishes this coming weekend. It started on 6th August. I have not been up there but, when I chatted to performer Tony Green aka Sir Gideon Vein for a blog posted a fortnight ago, I mentioned that he might like to give his view of what it is like this year. He lives in Edinburgh for a lot of the year. I have just received his highly-personal account... I say 'highly-personal'... That is exactly what I asked him for but, in other words, if you are an act who is mentioned, don't send the hit-men to shoot ME...
Tony Green, John Fleming's Blog, 24th August 2021Fringe comedy: Use it or lose it
Fringe comedy has been Disneyfied this year, but its spirit is still there if you know where to look.
Kate Copstick, The Scotsman, 3rd August 2021Fringe could become a 'playground for the privileged'
Grass-roots promoters are demanding an overhaul of the Fringe to end the "exploitation" of venue workers and ensure it is properly regulated for the first time.
Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman, 10th August 2019Peter Buckley Hill interview
The man who put the PBH into PBH's Free Fringe talks turkey as he prepares for the 20th (and last?) installation of the show that started it.
Robert Peacock, The Wee Review, 30th July 2019Free Fringe saved pioneer spirit of festival, says PBH
The founder of the "Free Fringe" says the entire festival would have become completely unaffordable for many performers and audiences by now without it.
Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman, 11th August 2018Nine Lessons And Carols For Godless People 2017 review
For a show based upon the rigours of the scientific process, Robin Ince's annual celebration of the curious and the creative has some pretty large margins of error. Nine Lessons And Carols For Godless People? More like 19, by my count of the guests.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th December 2017Go with the flow to unearth comedy gold at the Fringe
Sometimes you get the best out of the Fringe simply by going with the flow. Peter Buckley Hill's Free Fringe and everything that came in its wake means that we have the opportunity to dip toes in comedy waters all across the city without drowning financially.
Kate Copstick, The Scotsman, 27th August 2017How comedy captured the Edinburgh Fringe: part 4
In the final part of our series celebrating the Fringe's 70 year history, comedy finally rules the Fringe programme.
Ben Venables, The Skinny, 2nd August 2017Flyering the Free Fringe
On first moving to Edinburgh in 2004 & experiencing its International Festival, two things struck me. One, there was loads of amazing entertainment on offer, & two: I couldn't afford to see any of it. Then Peter Buckley Hill came along & set up a system where performers could bypass the epic funds needed to put on a Fringe show, meaning we punters could chuck money in a bucket at the end of the show instead. Which basically meant more money for beer!
Damian Beeson Bullen, Mumble Comedy, 24th April 2017