Le Gateau Chocolat delivers the Edinburgh Fringe artists' address

Cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat has given the keynote speech for performers at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

He made his festival debut in 2008, but other work commitments in London, meant he felt unable to fully ensconce himself in the ‘anarchy of its magic’ until his return three years later.

He told the audience at the annual artists’ address: ’When you’re not performing the show, you’re selling it. When you’re not selling it, you’re doing PR. When you’re not doing PR, you’re rehearsing, adjusting to the conversation with the audience - in a permanent state of dampness.

‘The exhaustion at a cellular level whilst also being deeply invigorating. You’re on a constant high which amplifies the lows - however brief they are.’

Recalling his 2011 success,  he said: ‘The magic of Edinburgh Fringe was very present, and I was lucky enough to tap into the zeitgeist. Shows sold out. Reviews were great. It got a London transfer to The Menier Chocolate Factory. The Sydney Opera House. Poland. Christchurch, New Zealand. Melbourne. Auckland.

‘It set me on a course that introduced me to Basement Jaxx and had me performing with them and Metropole Orkest at the Barbican. It’s how T-Mobile found me and reached out for me to be part of the flash mob ad at Terminal 5. It changed my life.’

Highlighting a need for greater diversity  at the festival, Gateau stated ‘Inclusivity is not a word, it’s an action, it is practice’ and spoke about the  cost of living crisis, accommodation costs and other risks artists take to bring work to the Fringe every year.

Referring to the resilience of artists, he noted that ‘elasticity doesn’t mean we can’t break’.

Of this year’s event, he said: ’There is magic here. I haven’t found it at every Fringe I’ve attended but I have found it several times. You can and will be in conversation with your audiences - my hope for artists present and all artists at this festival is that you indeed find audiences.

‘You are enough and the experiences that have brought you to this moment are valid. Lean into telling your stories as authentically as you can versus seeking validation from audience numbers, audience responses and reviews.

‘If you succeed at doing that, tell me how because at 41 it’s a code I’m yet to crack. And to the facilitators of the storytellers, my plea to you is don’t take advantage of our reality; what we do is who we are.’

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘When Le Gateau Chocolat took to the stage you could hear a pin drop. 

‘The room was there to hear from an artist who has attended the Fringe for over 15 years and who has first-hand knowledge and experience of everything that this glorious event can challenge you with. 

‘We recognise the great financial risk that artists take in bringing work to the Fringe every year, and Gateau’s story highlights that every artist’s journey is different.  Our immense thanks to Gateau for sharing his story, and to all the artists taking part in this year’s festival for making the commitment to be at this year’s Fringe.’

Published: 8 Aug 2023