Edinburgh: Richard Gadd owes his career to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where his show “Baby Reindeer,” a dark comedy about his experience of a stalker, won numerous awards and enjoyed a sell-out run before moving to the London stage.

According to BBC, Gadd’s career took a new trajectory when executives from the TV Festival attended in August 2019. “The show had sold out before the festival had even begun,” he shared at a Screen Scotland event. A decade after his Fringe debut, Gadd was approached by major networks, eventually creating a show for Netflix that became a cultural phenomenon, topping streaming platforms globally and winning six Emmys. He later collaborated with the BBC on “Half Man.”

Gadd, who grew up in Wormit, Fife, first connected with the Fringe through the National Theatre of Scotland’s “Black Watch” in 2006. Inspired by the ensemble piece, he debuted at the Argyle Cellar Bar in 2009, performing to sparse audiences. Despite initial struggles, he persevered, experimenting with his craft and receiving his first four-star review.

In 2014, his show “Breaking Gadd” drew unexpected audiences, while a later performance led to a hospital visit after biting into soap mid-routine. His 2015 show “Waiting for Gadot” addressed personal trauma, earning critical acclaim and personal acceptance. Gadd’s success story is intertwined with the Fringe, which has launched numerous other productions and talents.

With the TV festival moving to Manchester in 2027, Gadd emphasizes the importance of the Fringe for new voices but expresses concern over rising costs that could limit access. “The festival risks becoming something that only those with enough money can afford to do,” he warns, highlighting the need to preserve the Fringe’s essence of experimentation and opportunity.