Fringe by the Sea, the annual multi-arts festival centred in North Berwick, East Lothian, has appointed a new board of directors who plan to extend and develop the festival.  

The festival, which this year will run from Friday 3rd August 3 – Sunday 12th August, sees Niall Middleton, a North Berwick businessman who has been involved in the festival for several years and Rory Steel, an experienced festival and event operator from the Scottish Borders, appointed as directors.  

Original founders Eric Wales, John Shaw and Jane Thomson will continue to act as consultants to the festival for the rest of the year.  

Director Niall Middleton, said: “Fringe by the Sea has become a key event in the East Lothian calendar and the festival has a fantastic reputation with people in the county and beyond.  The amazing response we have already had from artists, volunteers and locals is testament to the brilliant job Eric, Jane and John have done over the past decade and we look forward to building on their legacy.   

“This year Fringe by the Sea will become a ten day event for the first time ever and we will be bringing some top names from music, literature, comedy and children’s entertainment to our beautiful corner of Scotland. To say we are excited about the future of the festival would be an understatement.

“We look forward to working with all those who have helped make Fringe by the Sea such a shining beacon in the festival calendar, particularly East Lothian Council which has been exemplary in its support.”

Founder John Shaw said: “Jane, Eric and I are immensely proud of the festival we have created and seen develop over the last ten years, but the time has come for its next growth spurt and for a new management team to take it forward. We believe the fresh team will capitalise on the festival’s quality offering, enhancing the key elements that have worked so well, whilst moving it forward with new ideas, expanded events and top tier names.”

Working with the new directors on the programme will be Claire Smith, a journalist with a long history of writing about arts and entertainment, particularly for The Scotsman newspaper. Smith also reports and reviews comedy for Beyond The Joke.  

The full line up will be announced at the end of May, when tickets will go on sale.

For news and updates follow Fringe by the Sea on social media @fringebythesea2