Free Festival producer Lydia Mason dies aged 40
- Lydia Mason, a producer at the Edinburgh Festival, has died unexpectedly, following a short illness
- A friend to many comedians via the Laughing Horse Free Festival, she was a champion of mental health support and passionate about inclusivity
- This Thursday's The Early Late Show at The Free Sisters (2.45pm-3.45pm) will be a special tribute show
Laughing Horse Free Festival producer Lydia Mason has died unexpectedly, following a short illness.
This Thursday's (17th August) edition of The Early Late Show in Edinburgh is to become a special tribute show to remember her.
Laughing Horse, which run the many Free Festival venues at the Edinburgh Fringe, explain: "Lydia Mason, a close friend to a huge number of performers in Edinburgh, as well as a comedy producer and huge part of the Laughing Horse's Free Festival sadly passed away unexpectedly, aged only 40 years old last weekend, following a short illness.
"A close friend of Free Festival organiser Alex Petty for 30 years, Lydia had been visiting the Fringe since the early 2000s, and has been working closely with the Free Festival since 2014 - with many roles helping to shape its direction, keeping the technical side of things running, and most importantly being the first person to be able to help performers, comfort those needing help, and become instant friends with everyone she met.
"She was a champion of mental health support and passionate about inclusivity, and was instrumental, along with performer Dave Chawner, in securing funding for mental health for performers at the Free Festival and wider Fringe in 2022.
"Lydia was instrumental in getting Scottish comedian Vladimir McTavish to become a chat show host at the Fringe, which ultimately led to The Early Late Show being developed.
"All proceeds from this show will go to the UK Sepsis Trust, a condition that can so unexpectedly take a life; and all donations and ticket sales will be doubled by Laughing Horse."
The special edition of The Early Late Show will take place on Thursday 17th August from 2.45pm-3.45pm in Maggie's Front Room at The Three Sisters venue on Cowgate.
The show will be hosted by McTavish and Jay Sodagar, and feature guests Mike Shephard and Katheryn Henson, two other close performing friends of Mason.
Free Festival adds: "There will also be a gathering for performers and friends in Edinburgh before the end of the Fringe, that is being organised along with Lydia's family. This will be followed by a memorial in London on August 29th - for anyone who would like to attend these other events or for more details, please contact via alex@laughinghorse.co.uk"
Update: Friday August 25th - Laughing Horse Pick of the Fringe Fundraiser
A fundraising gig for the UK Sepsis Trust, with all ticket sales and donations going to the charity in memory of Lydia, will take place on Friday August 25th at 5.45pm, taking over that day's Laughing Horse Pick Of The Fringe
This is the show Lydia ran last year, and should have been running this year alongside host Sully O'Sullivan. Comics performing are all friends of Lydia, and will include Vladimir McTavish, Katheryn Henson, Moni Zhang, Matt Grey, Sam See and compere Sully O'Sullivan.