Edinburgh venue operator and producer at the heart of the Fringe
Amanda Knox’s Edinburgh Fringe show Cartwheel has drawn renewed attention and protest after Stephanie Kercher criticised it as normalising violence against women. Knox defends the piece as a personal, motherhood-focused account of surviving wrongful imprisonment. Fringe organisers emphasise freedom of expression, while petitions call for cancellation.
The Edinburgh International Festival spotlight has showcased a mix of traditional and experimental concerts as leading ensembles and performers adapt to economic pressures and changing audiences. Notable moments include high-profile collaborators, large-scale works, and debates about funding and the role of patronage.
The Edinburgh International Festival presents Sobelle’s Clown Show, a contemporary portrait of America as a falling-apart circus. The piece, commissioned by EIF, asks audiences to dream while tracing a nation’s fragility through circus imagery and live performance.
Amanda Knox’s Edinburgh Fringe show Cartwheel is attracting controversy as petitions against it gain signatures while audiences and critics weigh its value as a personal, defiant retelling of her case. Reviews vary, with supporters praising its honesty and detractors arguing it trivialises violence against women.
The Scotsman has gathered insights from two fringe interviews, revealing inspirations, challenges and hopes as Edinburgh’s festival mood shifts. The artist reflects on 1996 schoolyard moments shaping life choices, while a fellow performer highlights upcoming shows and personal passions. The conversations capture a moment of renewal after a long absence from the Fringe.