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A row has broken out over flyering at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Flyerers who are going to be promoting shows that are part of PBH's Free Fringe have been told by PBH's Free Fringe founder Peter Buckley Hill that they should not flyer for shows that are not part of the PBH's Free Fringe. In a message to PBH's Free Fringe performers he wrote: "It has now come to my attention that a third-party organisation has been engaged by some of you, allegedly since January, to do street leafleting, and has also taken similar bookings from Laughing Horse performers. We cannot have this. The same person cannot simultaneously or consecutively promote their shows and ours. To do so would damage the Free Fringe, thus all your shows. All free-admission shows are not equal, and by using a service that leaflets for both without distinction, you are endorsing their tactics of riding on our coat-tails and taking our credit."

The "third-party organisation" mentioned is run by Jen Hamilton. While some wondered if this would be enforceable others directly criticised PBH on Facebook while also seeing the funny side. Comedian Daphna Baram criticised PBH's approach suggesting that "he probably has drones inspecting flyerers". Andrew Fox joked that: "I fully expect, and gleefully anticipate, next year anyone who has seen a non PBH show to be banned from watching any PBH show. It's the only logical next step."

And Just The Tonic's boss Darrell Martin has issued this edict on Facebook: "I am making a rule that if any performers in any shows in Just the Tonic are caught thinking about any shows in any other venues or are even suspected of thinking about such shows (including looking at posters of, talking to performers within, reading reviews of, and knowing anyone in another venues show) then they will get put into a frame, and sponged. The fringe is for everyone. We reserve the right to define 'everyone' as actually meaning only people that are with Just the Tonic."

It appears that PBH does not want flyerers promoting his show to promote shows that are part of the Laughing Horse's programme too. PBH's Free Fringe pioneered free shows in Edinburgh and the Laughing Horse followed suit with a similar model a decade ago.

There has previously been a problem when performers on PBH's Free Fringe were also performing shows at other venues, which was deemed not in accordance with the PBH FF 'ethos'. In 2015 Stephen Carlin lost his slot at the Canon's Gait when it came to PBH's attention that he had been appearing at another show in a Laughing Horse venue. 

*Since this story broke a petition has been launched to revoke Peter Buckley Hill's 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize. Details here.