Discover how the Edinburgh Festival Fringe began, how it evolved, and where it might head next. In this illustrated talk, former director of the Fringe Paul Gudgin charts the festival’s extraordinary history. He revisits its origins, sharing milestones, colourful stories and defining moments, while offering insights into life at the heart of four weeks of chaos and creativity. During his tenure (1999 – 2007), it expanded rapidly, bringing plenty of creative, financial and logistical challenges. The event takes place at CODE Concepts’ wonderful new venue, The Pend, once home to the Fringe Press Office.