Fringebiscuit - Young Writers Training Scheme

Join us on our quest to provide innovative and inspirational, cost-free training to ten of the UK's most promising young arts writers!

Got questions? Here are some we've prepared answers for:

WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT THIS?

We believe that culture is only as good as the conversations that surround it. And we can’t have good conversations if we’re not ensuring our writers are informed and experienced, or training them to be open and imaginative and generous in their approaches. Hopefully you’re the kind of person who believes that too!

WHAT IS FRINGEBISCUIT?

Fringebiscuit was set up in 2010 as a Twitter-based review platform for the Edinburgh Fringe, and in 2011 we moved into writing mid-length blogs and previews. Before now, we have relied on volunteer writers to review part-time - this year, we thought we'd try something a little different...

WHAT IS THE YOUNG WRITERS TRAINING SCHEME?

Ten young writers, all of August, staying for free, writing full-time. We're currently looking through a wealth of applications from 18-25 year-olds from every part of the UK, and soon we'll be able to announce the lucky ten! They'll see more theatre, comedy and dance than they could ever manage otherwise, and you'll get to read along as they develop their voices and discover new ways of bringing you into contact with amazing Fringe performance!

BUT ISN’T FRINGEBISCUIT ONLY ON TWITTER?

No! In addition to tweeting about every show they see, our Biscuiteers will choose at least two shows a day to review in a short, print-style article. Beyond that, we’re intent on pushing our writers to the very limit, and to that aim we’ll encourage them to seek out features, pitch interviews, and generally experiment with online arts writing to the greatest possible degree. If this means they end up mainlining Red Bull, writing a 1000-word thesis on Oedipal desire in sketch comedy, then so be it.

WHERE IS MY MONEY GOING?

Your donation will contribute directly to the accommodation costs of our Ten Biscuiteers. None of the money we’re raising through Sponsume will go towards administration costs or project fees.

I'VE GOT AN IDEA FOR A REWARD I'D LIKE TO SEE!

Dude, get in touch! We love hearing new ideas for how we can fundraise better! Contact us on

WHO IS BEHIND FRINGEBISCUIT?

Fringebiscuit is that chump in the video (Tom), plus two other chumps (Gareth and James). We work in theatre as writers and directors and performance artists, in the media as writers and critics and editors, and in the youth sector as workshop leaders and support workers. We figured that somehow all of these things could make sense together, so we mixed them with a wooden spoon with half a pound of sugar, baked at 180 for forty-two minutes, and voila! Young Writers Training Scheme!