Capacity 80 (50 seated)

Situated towards the bottom of the Royal mile this venue is located 5 minutes walk from the Fringe office, in a straight walk down the hill. Also a 5 minutes walk from the Pleasance and 10 minutes from the Underbelly.

The room is the basement of a well decorated, friendly bar, that benefits from being a locally known music and entertainment venue throughout the year. The basement is a small, intimate room and has been used previously for the Fringe in 2005, 2004 and 2002.

The venue is suited, and aimed at stand-up comedy performance, however it is possible for small-scale theatre or drama in the afternoon slots, but bear in mind the limitations of the technical set-up and the amount of storage areas.

The Room

Peter Buckley Hill on Stage in 2005

The Audience

Room Plan (click on image for larger version)

Stage - Small raised stage, roughly 8ft (wide) x 7ft (deep), raising at the back in steps. No Wing space, but backdrops can be used for a small backstage area. Wider raised area at back to 12ft wide, with space to perform on the flat giving overal perfomance area up to 12ft by 7ft.

Lighting & Sound -  Basic lights are installed to flood the stage as per a normal stand-up comedy club performance. With enough advanced warning, additional lighting can be added by groups (at their expense, and subject to our health & safety checks). An eight channel mixer on stage into built-in house system. Two CD players and a minidisc is provided, along with 2 microphones and mic stands. there is also a television available. Any other equipment required must be brought by the groups that require it, arranged with us in advance, and meet our safety requirements.

Technician – A technician will not be provided to operate equipment, that will be the responsibility of each group using the venue.

Seating - 50 seats “cabaret style” with some small tables. There is also room for up to 30 people standing at the back of the room comfortably, some more can be squeezed in.

Storage - There is a small, locked storeroom that can be accessed by venue staff for small props and items, and also room in the cellar. Please bear in mind that these are small store-rooms that will be shared by all groups using the venue.

Bar - There is a bar along the side of  the room, and also a separate upstairs bar.

Hire & Collection

As with all our rooms, the use of this room is FREE, however you cannot charge for your shows, but instead take a collection at the end - Collections at the end of the show can raise on average £1-£1.20 per person if carried out effectively. We have found the best way to collect money is to explain teh concept of the Free shows at the end of the performance, and to ask everyone politely on leaving the venue to contribute. It is also more effective if you have somebody collecting for the performers, rather than the performers themselves.

Advertising

All shows must be entered into the Fringe Programme. Last year the cost of this was around £240, and has to be submitted by mid-April at the latest.

We will be marketing the Free Fringe across all of our venues, with the local press, other organisations and the Fringe Office.

Acts will have display space for posters, flyers and publicity for their shows at all of our venues - along with three other Edinburgh venues owed by the owners of the Canons Gait. No publicity for other venues Fringe shows will be advertised in these locations.

The canons Gait will have a board outside the venue, on the Royal Mile, advertising each of the shows, along with general banner. There is also plenty of room for posters inside and out. All shows will be advertised on our internet sites, with full show listings, photos and anything else required FREE OF CHARGE to groups.

The Free Fringe will be producing Poster and a brochure for the venues. All shows will be listed on these for free.

Other Costs

All shows at our venues MUST be listed in the Fringe Programme - without this it is nearly impossible to publicise your show anyway. Don’t forget your accommodation costs, and to gain an audience you will also need your own promotional material, posters and flyers, press release, etc.

To enquire about using the Canon's Gait at Fringe 2006 please email: info@freefringe.com

Click here to view Details of Lindsay's 

Click here to View Details of The Meadow Bar

Click here to View Details of Jekyll & Hyde

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