Australian burlesque star offers secluded beach house in exchange for Edinburgh Fringe flat
The burlesque star is offering the chance to spend next August in her beachfront home surrounded by koalas
An Australian burlesque performer offering to swap her beachfront home for an Edinburgh property during the Fringe says she has been "stunned" by the overwhelming response.
Elizabeth Dawson-Smith, who travels from Melbourne to perform at the festival, proposed the month-long exchange to allow her family to join her next August.
The performer is offering sun-starved Scots the chance to escape the festival crowds in exchange for city-centre accommodation for her parents, partner, and 16-year-old daughter.
The offer includes access to three Australian properties, including a five-bedroom secluded beachfront home near Wilsons Promontory National Park, a riverside property, and a suburban Melbourne house with a car.
Ms Dawson-Smith said: "What’s special about Australia is there’s no people.
"I think that’s one of the things that appealed about my ad is you will see no people, you will escape the Fringe crowds, do not worry you will not have to see any Fringe crowds."
The performer said the idea was born out of the rising costs associated with taking part in the world's largest arts festival.
Having lost £15,000 during her first year at the Fringe, she said she only began breaking even on her third visit.
She said: "I’ve got friends who’ve lost what I would consider to be a house deposit to come to the Edinburgh Fringe and I don’t understand how people without support networks can afford to do it.
“Making it a bit easier would be great but at the end of the day that is what The Fringe is built on, artists are almost compelled to keep eating even if they are struggling and can’t afford it.”
Ms Dawson-Smith said next year's festival will be her fifth and likely final appearance, making it crucial for her family to experience it with her.
"I know my parents would just love this city so much, they could come any other time of the year but I want to share this experience with them and my daughter," she added.
The self-described "broke-ass artist" joked that she might even use her family for "covert marketing" in the festival queues to help promote her shows and revealed she has already met with two "really enthusiastic" people eager to trade their city-centre homes for the Australian getaway.
She said: “I might insert them in all the lines and have them go ‘have you seen this show, it's amazing’! I might get them doing some covert marketing.”
The burlesque star admitted there was still one way to get her attention. She added: “Come to my shows and come talk to me, I’m the host, I'm the smart alec with the microphone.
“People will probably show up with pictures of their house but that’s Fringe baby! You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do."
Ms Dawson-Smith is currently performing in Best of Cabaret and Best of Burlesque as part of the International Fringe Burlesque Festival.