In 2005 my collaboration with Laughing Horse left me suspicious of their motives, but the shows went ahead, and they were successful.

For 2006 I found two new venues, bringing the total to four. A second performance room was also opened at the UCW Club, bringing the number of spaces to five. The expansion could proceed. Shows were booked; again, behind my back (This also happened in 2005). Some of these booked shows promised to be good, and indeed were; others should never have been accepted. The good news was that the expansion worked; full audiences were seen at all venues, and they were happy. So were the performers.

It was on Thursday 24th August, ten minutes before my one man show started, that the Laughing Horse accosted me and informed me that they were taking over and that he was to consider himself sacked from the Free Fringe. I was also to consider myself dis-invited to the Free Fringe closing party.

I, Peter Buckley Hill, own both the name ‘Free Fringe’ and the majority of shares in The Free Fringe Ltd., so the position was ridiculous. Nevertheless, the Laughing Horse captured three of the four venues used in 2006 for the rival festival they intended to organise, and made a determined attempt to capture the fourth. Had they succeeded, free shows may well have taken place, but the ideals and ethos of the Free Fringe would have died at that point. The concept of performers operating collectively would have been replaced by performers working for a promoter; no effective change to the status quo ante. The interests of promoters and performers can never be identical.

Once more, I had to fight for my invention. This time, I blame myself for involving the Laughing Horse in the first place, and not placing curbs on their activities sooner. But with the enormous help of supporters and those who believe in the true ideals of the Free Fringe, new and better venues were found. Performers will go back to acting as a collective and co-operating with each other, as was the original plan.

And this brings us to the present day. The Free Fringe has seven venues, with good performers doing all sorts of shows. We have even taken on some plays and other types of show. The Free Fringe concept shouldn't be limited to comedy; we can help other art forms also to do the Fringe at a reasonable cost.

We're still under threat; the rival "Free Festival", formed specifically to undermine the Free Fringe, will confuse the public. The Laughing Horse, who registered the domain freefringe.co.uk on behalf of the Free Fringe, are refusing to relinquish it, and it points to their web site.  But we've fought off threats before; we're standing up to the bullies, because we believe in what we're doing. It's a good deal for performers, public and venue owners alike. Please support us.

Peter Buckley Hill
Founder
The Free Fringe