Performing at C

Please note that information on this page applies to both our in-person programme in Edinburgh and our digital programme.

Digital programme Please note that some information in this section relates to our physical venues in Edinburgh. You can find details of applying to perform in our digital programme see here. You can apply online for both the digital and in-person programmes using this form. Please disregard questions about venues and performance spaces if applying with digital work.

Who are we?

C ARTS is the home of international independent performance, at C venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and in our C digital online programme year-round. Our curated Edinburgh season, encompassing drama, physical theatre, musicals, music, dance, comedy, cabaret, circus, children’s shows, site-specific and immersive theatre, interdisciplinary work, and visual and performance art, makes us one of the most vibrant creative programmes on the Fringe, with over 100 events created by more than 1,000 participants in a typical year.

What do we do?

We look for the most memorable and original work to showcase at Edinburgh and in our year-round digital programme. We offer guidance and support to our performing companies and artists. We create temporary arts venues and performance spaces at the Edinburgh Fringe, and show our live performance programme to the public, press and arts industry each August.

High profile

C has developed a high profile and a strong brand identity over the past thirty-one years. We are committed to vigorously promoting our venues and the works we host.

Award-winning

Our digital programme won the Infallibles Award for best venue in 2021 and the LiveWire Award for Digital Arts Programme of the year in 2022. Recent awards for live performance include Scotsman Fringe First, Total Theatre, Musical Theatre, Herald Angel and Carol Tambor awards, and nominations for Edinburgh Comedy, The Stage and other awards including the Richard Pryor award, Spirit of the Fringe, and Three Weeks Editors’ awards. Many of our shows receive four and five-star reviews. Following Edinburgh, shows have transferred to London Fringe and West End venues, toured nationally and internationally, and performed at festivals worldwide.

Curated international programme

We programme across all artforms with an emphasis on new and dynamic work. We seek to present as broad a variety of works as possible, and look for the highest standards of performance. International work forms a key part of our programme.

Marketing and press

We offer the support of our marketing and press department to all companies and artists performing with us. In addition to our brochure, website, press pack, season launch and promotions, our marketing and press team are on hand to help push sales and profile and to assist and advise visiting companies with press, marketing and promoter liaison.

Versatile performance spaces

TThe facilities at our central venues include high-specification theatres and studios, bars, cafés and exhibition spaces. Our performance spaces range in size from under 20 to over 220 seats, and offer a variety of formats including end-on, thrust, corner stage, traverse, in-the-round, circus, cabaret and flexible and found spaces. We can also offer site-specific performance opportunities.

Professional technical facilities

Our spaces are equipped to the highest specifications. Facilities include black box theatres, comprehensive lighting rigs, full theatre sound systems, and the advice and support of our experienced technical team.

We're looking for...

We are interested in all kinds of performance and creative work, from cabaret, burlesque, and circus to dance, musicals, mime, puppetry, poetry, comedy, new writing, physical theatre, devised work, contemporary and classic drama, site-specific and immersive performance. We’d like to hear from everyone, whether established or up-and-coming theatre, music, dance and opera companies, solo performers, bands, comedians, cabaret acts, and performance and visual artists. While most of the work in our season is ticketed performance, we have some opportunites for pay what you think and free shows.

Would you like to take part?

To make the most impression at the Fringe, your production or event will need to be your best possible work, tried and tested, and ready to bring to the largest arts festival on the planet.

Any questions?

This website contains more details about us and our venues. If you would like to be part of our next Festival season, please complete an application form and send us with supporting material. To discuss your ideas informally, or if you need more information, call us on +44 (0)131 581 5500 or email us at info@cvenues.com. We’d like to hear from you.