Edinburgh Napier University has teamed up with Queen Margaret University to become the first joint title sponsors of the oldest prizes at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Scotsman’s Fringe First Awards were launched more than 50 years ago and have helped kick start the careers of household names like Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Richard Gadd, Stephen Fry, John Byrne, and Liz Lochhead. 

The awards recognise outstanding new writing at the festival, which officially gets underway this weekend. The winners will be decided by a judging panel made up of critics covering the Fringe for The Scotsman, led by chief theatre critic Joyce McMillan. 

The Fringe Firsts were instigated in 1973 by The Scotsman’s then arts editor, Allen Wright, to encourage companies and performers to bring new work to the festival.

Now Honorary President of the Fringe Society, Phoebe Waller-Bridge won a Scotsman Fringe First Award for her one-woman show Fleabag in 2013. 

Speaking to The Scotsman last year, she said: “I had an out-of-body experience when I heard about the award.

“It’s a reminder that people are coming, they’re watching, they’re taking you seriously no matter how much or little experience you’ve had." 

Both Edinburgh Napier and Queen Margaret University have strong track records in helping to develop artistic talent.

Notable ENU alumni include musician and composer Anna Meredith, actress Marli Siu, filmmakers Lynne Ramsay and Ben Sharrock, cinematographer Neville Kidd, photographers Margaret Mitchell and David Eustace, singer-songwriter El Mafrex, and operatic tenor David Hamilton. 

Professor Andrea Nolan, principal and vice chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “The Scotsman Fringe First awards are all about innovation, one of our core values, and that is why we are delighted to support them. 

"We focus on fostering new talent and ensuring our students leave the university as real difference makers.” 

Sir Paul Grice, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “We are passionate about nurturing new talent and providing individuals with a springboard to success.

“We are therefore delighted to partner with Edinburgh Napier University to sponsor the Fringe First Awards. It’s the perfect platform to identify and celebrate new talent and to keep rejuvenating this exciting and important industry."

You can read more about the Fringe First Awards in The Scotsman.