Summerhall pays acts
All EdFringe 2024 acts now paid, says M’ment
All Summerhall’s EdFringe 2024 box office money has been paid out to performers, according to Robert McDowell, the director of Summerhall Management Ltd which runs the arts venue on behalf of owners Oesselmann Estate Limited.
McDowell confirmed in a statement that the petition to wind up the company over alleged unpaid corporation tax was withdrawn in the run up to the Christmas break. Meaning that access to the company’s accounts was restored and all box office money could be paid.
Summerhall. Pic: Pete Dibdin.
Summerhall Management Ltd was hit with a winding up order in October 2024, meaning that its bank accounts were frozen and unpaid money from EdFringe 2024 could not be paid out.
The issue was compounded when the Fringe Society revealed it had been advised not to pay any box office income it had taken during the Fringe, direct to companies.
During the Fringe, most companies have a contract with the venue to rent the venue space. Tickets are then sold by EdFringe on the Venue’s behalf, rather than directly for the performing company.
Box office income taken by the Fringe Society is therefore given to the venues, which then pay the performing companies according to the contract they have, often a split on box office income.
Windup petition withdrawn
Today’s statement from McDowell confirmed that the petition to wind up the company over alleged unpaid corporation tax has been withdrawn by HMRC, and that there will be no further hearings about this matter.
However, the statement did not give the reasons for HMRC withdrawing the petition.
Robert McDowell’s statement in full:
“I can confirm that the petition to wind up the company over alleged unpaid corporation tax was withdrawn in the run up to the Christmas break.
“This brings an end to this action against Summerhall Management, and there will be no further hearings about this matter. Access to Summerhall Management’s bank accounts was restored in late December – including all box office money belonging to artists – which has meant that we were able to complete all Fringe and other Box Office payouts before Christmas.
“Whilst we appreciate that these payments were late, we were able to complete the payout process quickly, as soon as we were able. I would like to thank all those that were affected for their patience.”
The winding up petition was made even more complicated because of the decision by site’s existing owners, Oesselmann Estate Limited, to sell the building. As detailed on Æ, a preferred bidder was announced in October: Summerhall: AMA are preferred.
ENDS
