A STAND UP who has not even arrived at the Fringe has seen one of his posters defaced with the slogan ‘Boycott the Fringe.’
Aaron Twitchen, whose show ‘Himbo’ is at the Gilded Balloon paid a fortune for giant posters only to see one of them ruined with red paint.
He said a friend had sent him a photograph of the damage and wrote on social media. “ My big expensive banners defaced before I even arrived.”
Twitchen, who has been a stand up for 15 years, said it was getting increasingly difficult for performers to afford to come to the Fringe.
“I haven’t been for five years and this could be the last chance I will have to go out and do it. If people really want me to boycott the Fringe I wish they would have told me in January before I spent £10,000 to do it.
“I got myself £30,000 in debt doing Edinburgh in the past and I just managed to pay it back.”
Many people do not realise that the performers themselves often front huge sums to be able to play in Edinburgh. Within the comedy industry performing at the Fringe is seen as a rite of passage – and an investment that can sometimes lead to bigger success.
Aaron said he would probably find himself even more out of pocket because of the cost of replacing the poster. The original cost of each poster was £300 – with replacements charged at £89.
His friend Edinburgh comic Jane Walker said she hoped people would rally round and support the comic by buying tickets for his show.
“What a rotten welcome to the Fringe (not that poor Aaron even got here before his poster got trashed!)
“FYI Aaron’s show is at 19.00 at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – let’s get him some nice busy rooms!”
Promoter David Ian, of the Queer Comedy Club said he was shocked when he saw the graffiti, which was on one of the roads leading off the Pleasance. “Whoever has done this is criticising the Fringe – but the person who is most affected by it is the performer who is paying for it.”
He said Twitchen was a great performer, who deserved every success.
Twitchen said: “The show, Himbo was supposed to be about love – but then my boyfriend broke up with me during my best friend’s wedding in India.
“I think people might look at me and expect me to be plastic and have no depth – but I wanted Himbo to be thoughtful and sensitive – as well as funny.”
He said he fully supported other people’s right to protest and understood the Edinburgh Fringe might sometimes create inconvenience for the people of the city.
Aaron Twitchen: Himbo is at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose at 19.00 from July 31 – August 25.
