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Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibernian FC Host Festival play about the dark side of football
The groundbreaking collaboration highlights the harsh realities of youth football and the physical and mental abuse they are subjected to. The hour long show will be staged at Hibs' brand new Behind the Goals venue during the Edinburgh Festival and launches on Saturday 2nd August at 7pm. The play is written and performed by Alfie Cain, who himself was a trainee at Chelsea FC for many years before eventually being dropped at age 18. The production marks the first time a professional football club in Scotland has hosted a theatrical performance about the mental health challenges faced by young players who don't make the professional grade, and it's also the first time that Hibs has hosted a show at the Edinburgh Fringe. A Hibernian FC spokesperson said: "Hosting 'Dropped' at Easter Road is a statement of our continued commitment to player welfare beyond the pitch. We recognise the different challenges that academy players face and during their educational programmes with us, we attempt to prepare them for life outside the game, in case their sporting ambitions don't come true. It's vital youngsters are prepared for that reality and professional life. Alfie's play offers powerful insights that we believe can benefit our young players and the wider football community." At this time of year (end of July/early August) thousands of trainees will be told they are no longer needed at their clubs. There are no published numbers of trainee footballers at professional Scottish clubs, but figures range from over 2,000 (Source BBC) to around 10,000 but research by the SFA last year stated that Scottish Football is "significantly underachieving its potential" and that only 1% of apprentices will get to play top-flight football. (Source BBC). The chances of success for trainees are equally poor south of the border. Many trainees suffer from serious mental health issues after being dropped by their clubs and in 2020 there was the tragic case of a suicide by 18-year-old Manchester City trainee Jeremy Wisten. His family felt he was "let down" by the club and that they did not provide adequate support. That is certainly an extreme case but many other trainees struggle with mental health issues, as was certainly the case with Alfie Cain, after being dropped at age 18. Alfie said: "From the age of nine to 18 everything in my life revolved around football. Everyone expected me to turn pro, and I had the prestige of being an elite footballer. Then after nine years of commitment, I was invited into the coach's office and in nine minutes was told that the dream was over and to clear out my locker. My whole world fell apart in those few minutes, I lost everything, my purpose and confidence were shattered. It took years to get over it, and if I'd not had the support of my family I could easily have taken a wrong turn." Alfie retrained as an actor at LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) in London and wrote the play Dropped which was first performed in 2022 at the Arts Cafe Theatre in Little Venice. The play sold out and he received press in the Evening Standard, BBC and ITV. As a result he was signed up by a top talent agency and recently appeared in EastEnders. Alfie added: "This opportunity to perform at Hibernian's Easter Road is a dream come true, I've always wanted to take Dropped to the Edinburgh Festival but simply couldn't afford to do so, but thanks to Hibs' amazing support I'm able to do it. Having a professional club embrace this message is groundbreaking. The 'Behind the Goals' venue creates the perfect atmosphere for telling this story, literally in the shadow of where dreams are made and broken every week. Back when I was a trainee I'd have loved the chance to play at Easter Road, and now it's going to happen, maybe not quite the way I'd envisaged back then, but it's still fantastic." PERFORMANCE DETAILS VENUE - Behind the Goals, Easter Road Stadium (Hibernian FC), 12 Albion Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5QG DATES - 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 August - with option to extend TIME - 7:00 PM (approx running time 50 mins) TICKETS - £15, available at ENTRY - Through the North Stand door 1 . Contributed Alfie Cain performing his one-man play Dropped on stage Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed Alfie Cain as a trainee at Chelsea FC aged 11. He is second row from top and in the centre. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Alfie Cain as a young trainee before he was Dropped Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Alfie Cain on the pitch at Easter Road, prior to the launch of his play Dropped. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: BBCScotland
Scotsman
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Half of this year's Fringe performers are from Scotland, as full programme line-up announced
Some 923 of the 3,352 shows to be performed at this year's Fringe are from Scotland Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Half of the performers at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe are Scottish, organisers have revealed as the full line up for this year's event was unveiled. This year's programme features work from 3,352 shows across 265 venues from 58 countries - slightly up on last year's figure of 3,317. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New venues for this year include Hibernian FC's Easter Road stadium, where former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain will recall dashed aspirations and 'the darkness and pressures' of football, while popular topics for shows overall include the apocalypse, rave culture, disability and sexuality, as well as 'rebellious women'. Portobello Town Hall will also host acts for the first time, with a mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture, Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine. Edinburgh Fringe Programme Launch 2025 | Fringe Society At Traverse Theatre, Gary McNair's award-winning show, A Gambler's Guide to Dying, returns for a special run to mark its 10th anniversary. Some 923 shows are from Scotland, predominantly from Edinburgh with 657 acts represented, compared to 1,392 from the rest of the UK nations, while a total of 54 non-British nationalities are on the line-up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: 'Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen. 'Thank you to all the Fringe-makers – the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their unmatched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August. 'This year's Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you're excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August.' This year's Fringe will see a return of many famous faces and popular shows. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Comedian and three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Josie Long's show, Now Is the Time of Monsters, looks at the topic of 'extinct, gigantic, charismatic megafauna' at Pleasance. Meanwhile, Gilded Balloon marks its fortieth anniversary with 'a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats' including Jenny Eclair and Michelle McManus. 'Direct from a sell-out West End season', Bill Bailey is at Edinburgh Playhouse with Thoughtifier while Miriam Margolyes brings 'more characters, more Dickens and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics' to Pleasance with Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At Assembly, veteran Fringe performer David O'Doherty will perform his show, Highway to the David Zone and comedy veteran Karen Dunbar will return to the Fringe for a limited run of her stand-up tour'at Just the Tonic, while the popular Massaoke show Party like it's 1999' will be performed at Underbelly with 'an epic 90s sing-along'.
The National
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 programme launches with 3350 shows across 265 venues
Comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic and cabaret will all be part of the arts festival, which runs from August 1 to 25. Topics include the apocalypse, rave culture, disability and sexuality, and more than half the performers are Scottish. A total of 3352 shows are included on the line-up, including at new venues such as Hibernian Football Club's Easter Road stadium. READ MORE: What to expect from The National as we cover Hamilton by-election this week Portobello Town Hall will also host acts for the first time, including a mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture, Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine. There are 325 free shows and 529 pay-what-you-can shows, and accommodation has been provided by several universities to make the Fringe more accessible to performers. Some 923 shows are from Scotland, predominantly from Edinburgh with 657 acts represented, compared to 1392 from the rest of the UK nations, while a total of 54 non-British nationalities are on the line-up. Easter Road stadium will host two shows – Dropped, by former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain recalling dashed aspirations and 'the darkness and pressures' of football, as well as Frankie Mack Showman – The Next Stage: The Leith San Siro, described as a 'high-energy, show-stopping' night of swing, rock'n'roll and modern classics. Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre explores a family connection with the campaign for democracy while VOTE the Musical at Paradise Green takes a 'gripping look' at the Suffragettes, exploring activism and personal sacrifice, according to promoters. Jenna Stone's play Happy Ending Street, at Leith Arches, tells a story about three Scottish sex workers dreaming of escaping from their way of life. READ MORE: Nigel Farage hides from public and press in shambolic by-election campaign visit Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: 'Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen. 'Thank you to all the Fringe-makers – the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their unmatched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August. 'This year's Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you're excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August. 'Jump right in, book your favourites, shows that intrigue you and take a chance on something new.'
STV News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme launched
The programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been launched, including more than 3,350 shows across 265 venues. Comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic and cabaret will all be part of the arts festival, which runs from August 1 to 25. Topics include the apocalypse, rave culture, disability and sexuality, and more than half the performers are Scottish. A total of 3,352 shows are included on the line-up, including at new venues such as Hibernian Football Club's Easter Road stadium. Portobello Town Hall will also host acts for the first time, with a mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture, Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine. There are 325 free shows and 529 pay-what-you-can shows, and accommodation has been provided by several universities to make the Fringe more accessible to performers. Some 923 shows are from Scotland, predominantly from Edinburgh with 657 acts represented, compared to 1,392 from the rest of the UK nations, while a total of 54 non-British nationalities are on the line-up. Easter Road stadium will host two shows – Dropped, by former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain recalling dashed aspirations and 'the darkness and pressures' of football, as well as Frankie Mack Showman – The Next Stage: The Leith San Siro, described as a 'high-energy, show-stopping' night of swing, rock'n'roll and modern classics. Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre explores a family connection with the campaign for democracy while VOTE the Musical at Paradise Green takes a 'gripping look' at the Suffragettes, exploring activism and personal sacrifice, according to promoters. PA Media Easter Road stadium in Edinburgh will host Edinburgh Festival Fringe events for the first time (Jeff Holmes/PA). Jenna Stone's play Happy Ending Street, at Leith Arches, tells a story about three Scottish sex workers dreaming of escaping from their way of life. Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: 'Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen. 'Thank you to all the Fringe-makers – the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their unmatched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August. 'This year's Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you're excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August. 'Jump right in, book your favourites, shows that intrigue you and take a chance on something new.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 programme includes Palestine festival
Comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic and cabaret will all be part of the arts festival, which runs from August 1 to 25. Topics include the apocalypse, rave culture, disability and sexuality, and more than half the performers are Scottish. A total of 3352 shows are included on the line-up, including at new venues such as Hibernian Football Club's Easter Road stadium. READ MORE: What to expect from The National as we cover Hamilton by-election this week Portobello Town Hall will also host acts for the first time, including a mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture, Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine. There are 325 free shows and 529 pay-what-you-can shows, and accommodation has been provided by several universities to make the Fringe more accessible to performers. Some 923 shows are from Scotland, predominantly from Edinburgh with 657 acts represented, compared to 1392 from the rest of the UK nations, while a total of 54 non-British nationalities are on the line-up. Easter Road stadium will host two shows – Dropped, by former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain recalling dashed aspirations and 'the darkness and pressures' of football, as well as Frankie Mack Showman – The Next Stage: The Leith San Siro, described as a 'high-energy, show-stopping' night of swing, rock'n'roll and modern classics. Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre explores a family connection with the campaign for democracy while VOTE the Musical at Paradise Green takes a 'gripping look' at the Suffragettes, exploring activism and personal sacrifice, according to promoters. Jenna Stone's play Happy Ending Street, at Leith Arches, tells a story about three Scottish sex workers dreaming of escaping from their way of life. READ MORE: Nigel Farage hides from public and press in shambolic by-election campaign visit Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: 'Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen. 'Thank you to all the Fringe-makers – the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their unmatched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August. 'This year's Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you're excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children's shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August. 'Jump right in, book your favourites, shows that intrigue you and take a chance on something new.'
