‘Nobody gets paid’: The brutal reality of taking a show to Edinburgh Fringe

For many, Edinburgh Fringe is the dream – but it comes at a cost (Picture: Dreambite Collective)

At 1am, less than 24 hours before leaving London to make her Edinburgh Fringe debut, actor Clare Stenning was still painting the set in her garden.

Once she gets to Edinburgh, things are unlikely to become much more restful. Alongside performing almost every day for the best part of a month, she’ll continue working her normal day job remotely because, unlike her theatre work, that job actually pays her.

Her co-star Davy Roderick is preparing to spend hours thrusting flyers at strangers despite admitting the prospect makes them ‘feel ill’, while writer Katrina Bennett has spent months juggling the production with multiple other roles and a full-time job.

All three will also be sharing Edinbur...