Theatre

Camden Fringe versus London 2012

Alan Hindle | Monday 5 March, 2012 09:26

Recently there was a story in the Guardian about nervousness at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival administration. It’s feared the 2012 Olympics could absorb every tourist penny pouring into the UK. Will the crowds be pouring into the Scottish capital or stay down south for the games? Will theatre producers stay in London to cash in on these crowds? Will the cash waving hordes be packing out the west end when javelins are flying and ribbons at the finish line being broken in the east?

Meanwhile, will the Londoners who normally support small scale and neighbourhood productions stay indoors or even flee the city entirely to avoid these mobs? Optimism is shaky but the general mood is hopeful.

The Edinburgh Fringe is a big deal, but my love is for the Camden Fringe. Last year’s riots threatened to derail this smaller but more beautiful festival. The level heads of organisers Michelle Flower and Zena Barrie helped the event pull through with only a day or two lost. The Olympics, though, is the biggest event in the world. How will the Camden Fringe survive that?

“We’ve not really made any provision for the Olympics.,” says Flower. “Very difficult to know what to do about it all as it’s really a once in a lifetime thing. I think we have a 10 day overlap. Originally the council were all very excited about it and saw it as a very positive thing for theatres, as it would be bringing lots of visitors to the city. Now it seems they see it more as a logistical nightmare. We’ve decided to plough on regardless, thinking that there must be enough people who live locally who will be thoroughly bored of all the sport and want to come to the theatre. Hopefully a few of the visitors will make it down as well.”

The festival will be slightly smaller, as the Roundhouse and RADA are programming Olympics-related events, but Flower is probably right not to be too worried. Sports and arts aren’t exclusive of each other, but folks who live for theatre aren’t necessarily the same folks who live for weight lifting. And with all the artists being imported from around the world, there may be be an influx preferring the Fringe over the track and field events they have been brought to promote.

I know the javelin in the one where they throw spears at each other and track events are mostly about running in circles. I am also expert enough in sports to knowing football is the one with the Kicking Ball. Chances are, though, that I will be at the Camden Fringe, and hopefully some percentage of Olympic visitors will add to the theatregoers in Camden this August.

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