Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Daniel Sloss, Frank Skinner, Susie McCabe and Danny Bhoy to appear as 190 shows are confirmed

Daniel Sloss, Frank Skinner, Susie McCabe, Jason Byrne and Danny Bhoy are among the comics to confirm appearances at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

More than 190 shows have been confirmed in this year’s programme, with many of the major venues starting to sell tickets already.

Operators have also begun to unveil new initiatives to help artists meet the costs of performing at the festival, which will bringing back its official app after its controversial absence in 2022.

The Stand Comedy Cub said it had decided to drop its venue hire costs and peg ticket prices to maintain its ethos of offering a “fair deal” to artists.

Daniel Sloss is among the acts confirmed to appear at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

As well as Danny Bhoy, its expanded line-up will feature Gareth Waugh, Jo Caulfield, Marjolein Robertson, Ada Campe and Robin Grainger, the stand-up who became an internet sensation last year after performing a gig to a lone audience member.

Susie McCabe, Jason Byrne, Frank Skinner, and Gyles Brandreth are all part of Assembly’s programme, which will also feature magician Dom Chambers, the Sexy Circus Sideshow, the 360 Allstars and The Bubble Show.

Underbelly’s line-up will include the return of hit cabaret show La Clique.

The venue has also revealed the doubling of prize money on offer to the three winners of its Edinburgh Untapped Award, which supports new theatre work at the Fringe.

Further releases of Fringe tickets are planned on 30 March and 11 May ahead of the festival’s official programme launch on 8 June.

Summerhall will be giving audiences the opportunity pay an extra £2 on top of each ticket which will go straight into the pockets of the artists in its programme.

Fringe Society chief executive Shona McCarthy said: “The whole Fringe community has been working behind the scenes to prepare for the festival for months now, but having actual shows to browse and book makes the build up to this year’s Fringe that bit more tangible.

“The Fringe is made possible due to a cast of thousands – artists, audiences, venue staff, industry, media, sponsors, partners and local businesses.

"It’s never too early to start planning a trip to the Fringe. Booking early is also a brilliant way to support artists, to let them know there’s already an audience waiting for their show to come to Edinburgh.”

Mike Jones, managing director at The Stand, said: ““We’re delighted to get our first Fringe shows on sale and pleased to bring back our venues at Stand 3 and 4. The Stand is about a fair deal for performers, fair prices for audiences and fair work for our staff. This year we’ve decided to drop venue hire costs for acts to make it more affordable to come to the Fringe and have not increased our ticket prices.”

Summerhall chief executive Sam Gough said: “In this impossibly difficult time for the creative sector, I want to be doing more to support the individual artists.”

Underbelly has annouced a new three-year partnership with London’s New Diorama Theatre to relauch their Edinburgh Untapped Award, which will offer three companies £10,000 to take shows to the Fringe this year.

Underbelly co-directors Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood said: “The Fringe is a special place for us – it’s where Underbelly started and where we’ve seen many incredible shows kick-start their success in the industry.

"We have always been committed to supporting and developing new work at the Fringe and the Edinburgh Untapped Award plays a crucial part in achieving this. We cannot wait to see what 2023 will bring.”

New Diorama Theatre artistic director David Byrne added: ‘Without the Fringe I wouldn’t have my career. By working with Underbelly to double the award, bring together these partnerships and support package, we’re doing our part to widen access to this crucial industry platform.

"This award has always been a driver for new, diverse talent, with three Untapped cohorts winning three Fringe Firsts, two Stage awards, and enjoying national and international tours and transfers. I can’t wait to see what this year’s artists achieve.”