You shouldn't have to spend £10,000 to be seen by the people who need to see your work.
This September, we're bringing feminist theatre makers and industry professionals into the same room - without the Edinburgh price tag.
Where: Coming soon
When: Coming soon
Ten creative collectives, 24 hours, one brief, and a room full of industry.
The Edinburgh Fringe was built not to have any gatekeepers.
In practice, a 'successful' run means selling 33% of your tickets and still leaving in debt.
54% of Fringe workers are paid below minimum wage
Only 8-10% of people working in the creative industries come from working-class backgrounds, against 35% of the general UK workforce
The industry holds the Fringe up as the pathway to legitimacy. 'You should go to Edinburgh, that's where careers are made.' Sure. And where do you sleep?
The problem is not that the Fringe exists. The problem is that the costs - accommodation, venue fees, marketing, travel - have all quietly priced out the exact artists the Fringe was created for, while the industry continues to treat it as the only route in.
We hoped to get Arts Council England funding to fix a small piece of that - but we're doing the festival anyway!
Here's how it works: ten creative collectives, of up to five people each receive a brief on the Friday evening. They develop a short piece of new theatre overnight. By Saturday Evening, they perform it for a room of industry professionals.
No months of rehearsal, no hoping someone credited as industry shows up to your venue in Edinburgh. Just the work, the room, and the people who matter!
Industry guests are invited directly - producers, programmers, directors, casting directors, agents. They come specifically to see new feminist and queer theatre and to meet the people making it.
After the performances, everyone stays to meet, mingle and make some great new connections!
You make feminist or queer theatre. You want to be in a room with industry. You don't have £10k for Edinburgh.
Apply for one of ten collective spots in the pilot festival this September in London. Each collective is up to five people - writers, directors, performers - at £100 per collective (£20 each if you fill your five).
Don't have a collective yet? Apply as an individual and we'll do our best to match you by role. We can't guarantee a match if the balance isn't there, but we'll always let you know!
You bring the talent, we bring the room!
Nothing to pay right now, payment is requested on acceptance only.
You want to find new feminist and queer theatre makers but you have thirty invitations in your inbox already, and it's only Monday...
Come to Femi Fest!
One evening, ten collectives, performing brand-new short work,made in the 24 hours before you arrive.
(Followed by proper time to actually meet them afterwards)
You can't get better numbers than that!
No need to buy a ticket, just put your name down and we'll be in touch.
Tickets go live soon!
Where: Coming soon
When: Coming soon
We hoped for Arts Council funding so everyone could have a paid position. We didn't get it :(
We're doing the pilot anyway, and we're looking for volunteers who want to be part of building something from the ground up.
We need help with social media, event support, and community outreach.
Email esme@evulveproductions.com with a little bit about you and how you'd like to get involved!
Femi Fest is produced by Evulve Productions, recently named a finalist in the UK StartUp Awards 2026 in the Creative Sector.
Femi Fest is supported by Middlesex University, whose creative students partner with us on production and marketing.
Over 100 creatives have worked with Evulve Productions across film, theatre, and development.
This is the next chapter!!
This is the first full iteration of Femi Fest!!
We applied for Arts Council funding to run it with paid creatives, a professional camera team, and photography for every collective, but we didn't get it.
The pilot is intentionally smaller, so we can prove this format works before creating a proper impact report that goes straight into our next funding application!
Our WhatsApp group is where feminist and queer theatre makers connect, collaborate, and share work year-round- not just at the festival. Come and find your people!!
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Not sure which applies to you? Just want to follow along? Leave your email and we'll keep you in the loop as the pilot comes together!