Edinburgh Fringe returns to roots as protest art dominates its global stage
Aug 20, 2025 #EdinburghFringe #ProtestArt #PoliticalTheatre
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world's largest arts event, is taking on a new d
Aug 20, 2025 #EdinburghFringe #ProtestArt #PoliticalTheatre
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world's largest arts event, is taking on a new dimension this year as performers use their platforms for activism and protest. From punk rock to comedy, artists are tackling issues of power, injustice and political apathy head-on. The festival, which began as a grassroots protest by working-class performers in 1947, now attracts over a million visitors annually. Performers like Maria Alyokhina of Pussy Riot and comedian Grace Petrie are using their shows to galvanise audiences into action, addressing topics ranging from authoritarianism to climate change and inequality.
Al Jazeera's Charlie Angela reports from Edinburgh, UK.