Written by: Lucy Anna Gray
Published: Sunday 4th August 2013

Every year, without fail, Edinburgh is taken over by The Fringe and becomes awash with comedians, actors, magicians, mimes and so much more. The Fringe is seen by many as one of the social and cultural highlights of the year, but what do the locals think? Are they as infatuated with this annual occurrence as most comedy fans are?

It is undeniable that the city becomes far busier, with heaving streets and seemingly any and every spare space taken up by someone on a unicycle, or a weeping comedian. Thousands of shows are performed every August in hundreds of venues, so the increase in population is inevitable.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming feeling of the locals trying to go about their day-to-day lives in the city is that of negativity towards The Fringe. Madeline, an Edinburgh resident for many years, told me "The tourists stand around in the street and stop you getting places, the thespians are pushy and inconsiderate with their incessant flyering. It becomes impossible to eat out or get a coffee and when you do the prices are inflated."

This view seems to be shared by many locals who are fed up with this annual invasion. The hectic nature of The Fringe makes daily life trickier for many and "the novelty of going to see the shows soon wears off", according to Edinburgh local Ash.

Luckily not everyone sees The Fringe in this way. I spoke to a chip shop owner situated in central Edinburgh who said that he makes "a heck of a lot of money out of it and that it needs to keep coming every year." The boom in Edinburgh's tourism during July and particularly August is undeniable. More people means more money, simple as that.

Not only are there financial benefits, but also cultural ones. The Edinburgh Fringe is an integral part of the comedy world, for both those who love comedy and comedians themselves, with some of the country's best performers coming to Edinburgh each August.

The comedians don't wish to trouble the locals, they simply want to improve their acts and become a success, whilst enjoying the delights of the festival. By way of thanks to those living in Edinburgh, and perhaps to combat some of the animosity surrounding the festival, Cheaper Fringe For Locals was set up two years ago.

This website provides Edinburgh residents with discounts on a variety of shows across The Fringe. Bob Slayer, one of the key promoters making tickets available on the website, says he feels "the Fringe should give something back to the locals for taking over their city for the month. It's also nice to encourage more locals to engage with The Fringe."

Although the relationship between The Fringe and those living around it may not yet be one of complete harmony, the Cheaper Fringe For Locals can only be a step in the right direction. So let's enjoy a happy, friendly Fringe for 2013!