Heroes of Fringe

Heroes of Fringe are award winning comedy promoters and venue managers at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the largest Arts Festival in the world) as well as Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival and tours around the UK and Europe.

Awards

In 2013 Adrienne Truscott won the Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly the Perrier Comedy Award) panel prize for spirit of the Fringe^[1] thus making Heroes the smallest venue at the Fringe to win one of the highest awards. "The results were a victory of the 'Independent' Fringe – for the first time the 'Big Four' venues, went home from the Foster's Awards empty-handed... Showing that this year that non 'pay-to-play' has finally arrived as a force to be reckoned with, not just when to comes to good value for audiences, but also when it comes to high quality comedy.” Bruce Dessau ^[2]

In 2016 Heroes again won the Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize for the innovative performance art piece Iraq Out & Loud: Reading the Chilcot Report in Full. ^{[3] [4]}

Edinburgh Fringe

• Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize (2016) - Iraq Out & Loud
• TV Bomb Zeitgeist Award (2016) - Iraq Out & Loud
• Barry Award for 'Best' Person at the Fringe (2016) - Bob Slayer (& Nomination Sorcha Shanahan)
• Malcolm Hardee Award For Comic Originality (2015) - Michael Brunstrom
• Barry Award for Best Show at the Fringe (2015) - Spencer Jones
• Malcolm Hardee Award For Comic Originality (2014) - Candy GiGi^[5]
• Barry Award for 'Best' Person at the Fringe (2014) - Bob Slayer^[6]
• Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize (2013) - Adrienne Truscott
• Malcolm Hardee Award For Comic Originality (2013) - Adrienne Truscott^[7]
• Malcolm Hardee Pound of Flesh Award (2013) - Ellis & Rose
• Total Theatre Award Nomination (2013) - Adrienne Truscott^[8]
• Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award (2011) - Kunt & The Gang and Bob Slayer^[9]

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival

• Best New Venue (2015) The BlundaBus
• Best Small Venue (2015) The Criterion
• Liberty Award for Spirit of the Fringe (2014)^[10]
• Best Promoter Award Nomination (2014) - Bob Slayer
• Best Venue Award Nomination (2014)

History

Heroes was initially called The Alternative Fringe^[11] and set up as set up as a statement against Pay-To-Play venues.^[12] The First year it promoted in a former Free Festival venue The Hive. Notable acts that year were Phil Kay, Kunt and The Gang, John Robertson, Frank Sanazi and Bob Slayer. On 2013 Heroes @ Bob's Bookshop was added. This was renamed Bob & Miss Behave's Bookshop in 2014 to acknowledge Miss Behave's co-production of the venue. In 2015 the Bookshop was replaced with Bob's BlundaBus a pop up bar & venue on a Double Decker Bus.

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival

In 2014 Heroes promoted Heroes @ Hansom Hall at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival. Heroes were nominated for the best venue Award at the festival. Bob Slayer was nominated for best promoter and won the Liberty Award for Spirit of the Festival. Heroes now promote at the The Criterion with Bob's BlundaBus parked outside.

Stand Against Pay-to-Play at The Fringe

Heroes have long since been part of the debate about the increasing commercialism of the Pay-To-Play fringe venues who charge acts considerable four figure sums to perform at the fringe. In many cases venue costs such as: venue rents / guarantees, compulsory marketing and various deductions mean that performers are being charged more than they can make back in ticket sales.^[13][14]

Founder Bob Slayer was interviewed on his stance against Pay-to-Play^[15] in The Guardian^[16]

Many Fringe commentators say that the Fringe is changing because of smaller independent promoters such as Heroes.^[17][18]

References