Peter Fanning’s tips for taking a school cast to the Edinburgh Fringe
* Visit the Fringe website. There’s information about its history, available venues, and who to contact for advice, www.edfringe.com.
* Plan ahead: venues and accommodation need to be booked around nine months in advance.
* Don’t be over-ambitious. Opt for a venue that you have a realistic chance of filling, even if it lacks glamour.
* Choose a simple set because the turn-round times at the venue will be tight. You’ll have only around 15 minutes to set up each night.
* Book at least a week’s run. Reviews won’t appear until your fourth or fifth night. If you do get good notices, you’ll want to be around to reap the benefits.
* Make sure someone visits the venue in advance to check staging, lighting and sound arrangements. Don’t rely on information provided by the theatre.
