Student comedy troupes, including the Durham Revue, are struggling to afford participation in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe due to rapidly rising costs, particularly for venue and accommodation. Comedians like Nish Kumar, who benefited from the Fringe as students, warn that this inaccessibility could lead to a loss of working-class talent and a decline in the diversity and quality of UK comedy.
‘This could be our last year’: student comedy troupes priced out of Edinburgh fringe
Edinburgh festival 2025ComedyStageStudentsCultureTheatreStudent financeUniversitiesFestivalsUKSocietyEdinburgh festivalNish Kumar
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Student comedy troupes, including the Durham Revue, are struggling to afford participation in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe due to rapidly rising costs, particularly for venue and accommodation. Comedians like Nish Kumar, who benefited from the Fringe as students, warn that this inaccessibility could lead to a loss of working-class talent and a decline in the diversity and quality of UK comedy.
Trending- 1 Mid-1970s: Durham Revue began attending Fringe almost every year.
- 2 2006: Nish Kumar first experienced the Fringe.
- 3 2008: Bristol Revunions rekindled.
- 4 2023: Leeds Tealights spent £4,000 on accommodation.
- 5 This year (2025): Durham Revue expects to spend £9,000 on accommodation; Leeds Tealights found accommodation for £6,500; Leeds Tealights turns 20.
- 6 2026: Groups worry about bridging the funding gap.
- Loss of working-class and lower-middle-class voices in comedy
- Lack of diversity in new talent
- Potential 'intellectual impoverishment' within UK comedy
- Loss of a valuable training ground for comedians
- Student troupes may cease attending the Fringe (e.g., Durham Revue's 'last year')
What: Student comedy troupes are being priced out of participating in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
When: Current (2025 Fringe), with historical context (since mid-70s for Durham Revue, 2006 for Nish Kumar).
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (Edinburgh Festival Fringe); Durham, England; Cambridge, England; Oxford, England; Bristol, England; Manchester, England; Leeds, England.
Why: Rising costs, especially for venue and accommodation (e.g., Durham Revue expects to spend £9,000 on accommodation this year), and squeezed university finances reducing grants.
How: Troupes rely on previous year's profits, fundraising (e.g., Durham Revue started its first crowdfunder), and university grants (which are becoming harder to secure). Students are forced to share beds to cut costs.