Eight groups performed without an invitation

Where did the word fringe come from?

A critic describing shows on the fringe of the festival

Edinburgh Fringe Quiz: 1947 Origins and Open Stages

This Edinburgh Fringe quiz explores how eight uninvited theatre groups started the world's biggest arts festival. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on 1947, the word fringe, the Fringe Society, open access, August crowds, the Royal Mile, big venues, comedy awards and shows that launched famous careers.

Start Edinburgh Fringe Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Start
In which year did the Edinburgh Fringe begin?
Groups
How did it start?
Name
Where did the word fringe come from?
Month
In which month is the Fringe held?
Access
What does open access mean at the Fringe?
Street
Which Edinburgh street fills with street performers?
Society
When was the Festival Fringe Society set up?
Size
How is the Fringe often described?
Comedy
What are the Edinburgh Comedy Awards?
Launch
Which TV hit began as a Fringe show in 2013?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which year did the Edinburgh Fringe begin?
Answer: 1947
It began alongside the new International Festival.
Q2: How did it start?
Answer: Eight groups performed without an invitation
They staged shows anyway.
Q3: Where did the word fringe come from?
Answer: A critic describing shows on the fringe of the festival
Robert Kemp used the phrase.
Q4: In which month is the Fringe held?
Answer: August
The city's population swells.
Q5: What does open access mean at the Fringe?
Answer: Anyone can register a show
No selection committee decides.
Q6: Which Edinburgh street fills with street performers?
Answer: The Royal Mile
Flyers are handed out everywhere.
Q7: When was the Festival Fringe Society set up?
Answer: 1959
It publishes the program.
Q8: How is the Fringe often described?
Answer: The world's largest arts festival
Thousands of shows take part.
Q9: What are the Edinburgh Comedy Awards?
Answer: Prizes for top comedy shows
They were once called the Perrier Awards.
Q10: Which TV hit began as a Fringe show in 2013?
Answer: Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge performed it.

Edinburgh Fringe Quiz – 1947 Origins and Open Stages

The Edinburgh Fringe began in 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to the new Edinburgh International Festival and performed anyway. A critic described them as playing round the fringe of the official festival.

The Festival Fringe Society formed in 1959, and the event grew into the world's largest arts festival. It runs every August and is open access, so anyone can register a show.

Street performers fill the Royal Mile, and big venues pack theatre, comedy and music into every space. Shows such as Fleabag began there, and the Edinburgh Comedy Awards spot rising stars.

What This Quiz Teaches

Arts fans will enjoy these questions.

How the Fringe began
Where its name came from
How open access works
Where performers gather
Which careers it launched

Did You Know?

Shows appear in churches, pubs and even cars.
Thousands of performers come from around the world.
Ticket sales run into the millions.
Many comedians test new material there.
Other cities have created fringes inspired by Edinburgh.