Shay Mace
Faye Ryden is a Programming Assistant for Gilded Balloon’s upcoming EdFringe 2026 programme, and when we heard she had big plans to turn Patter Hoose into a home for queer work of all stripes and types, we jumped at the opportunity to pull her aside for a pixelated pint, and find out more about the venue operator aiming champion Scottish voices and Queer voices among a rich tapestry of shows this coming August.
Explore Gilded Balloon’s Full EdFringe 2026 Programme Online Here.
Shay: Hi Faye, would you mind starting by telling us a bit about your creative journey, and your role with Gilded Balloon?
Faye: Hiya pal! I’ve been orbiting the Fringe both on and off stage since I moved to Edinburgh 12 years ago but I joined Gilded in 2022, zipping between multiple roles. I started out processing press comps that first year, became Press Officer in 2023, then Digital Content Officer in 2024. About halfway through that Fringe, Karen floated the idea of me joining her as Programming Assistant for 2025 (Gilded’s 40th anniversary year, mind you!) and I obviously jumped at the chance because when Karen Koren offers you the opportunity to work alongside her, you say yes!!
Programming is basically going through all the applications, watching loads of shows, and figuring out what goes where, which shows fit the programme, what venues and slots work best, and how to pull it all together into a cohesive programme that actually makes sense. I was a complete novice when it came to the art of programming but luckily I’ve been learning the ropes from a Fringe legend like Karen.
This year, I’m Social Media Manager and Assistant Programmer, which basically means I now get to spend my days shouting about all the class shows that Karen and I worked so hard to bring into the programme. It’s a slightly odd hybrid of jobs, but they complement each other really well. During the festival, I get to see loads of the shows as I’m gathering content, spend time chatting with our artists, and then take all of that enthusiasm straight back into how we tell the story of the festival online. It’s honestly the best of both worlds.
Shay: We’ve been told you’ve been on a bit of a mission helping program over at Patter House this year, could you tell us about what you’ve been looking to do?
Faye: Karen is our lead programmer so I’m very much following her expert guidance, but one thing I’ve really loved is helping build on something that was already happening organically before I came on board.
Since my first year at Gilded, I’ve noticed more and more queer artists and stories finding a home here, especially at Patter House, and we’ve really leaned into that this year. Not entirely by design, but not by accident either, if that makes sense.
What’s been really lovely is seeing Patter naturally evolve into a bit of a wee queer haven during August. It feels like a genuine reflection of the artists, audiences, and stories that keep gravitating towards the space. Now more than ever, these voices deserve to be heard, celebrated, and given space to thrive. The world can feel pretty heavy right now, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, so creating a space where people can come together, laugh, connect, and experience a bit of queer joy feels real special.
Gilded Balloon has also always been hugely passionate about championing Scottish voices, which was another reason I was so eager to work here. This year, we have a musical – Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits – which brings the lived reality of Scotland’s care system to the stage. It is a collective anthem written, produced, and performed by young care-experienced people in Scotland. We believe this is such a vital story and are incredibly proud to have it in our programme. There’s so much astounding work being made in Scotland year-round, and we’re excited to help carve out space for those artists at the world’s biggest arts festival, right on their doorstep.
Shay: How has the creative process been of putting the programme together? Are there lots of faces Gilded Balloon fans will recognise, and how has procuring new shows been?
Faye: I genuinely love putting the programme together with Karen, we have a lot of fun. Most of our process is basically just the two of us sitting in her office, chatting for hours as we pore over applications, getting more and more buzzing about the level of talent coming through.
One thing we really noticed this year is how many artists have come to us through recommendations from previous performers. That feels like a real vote of confidence in what we’re continuing to build at Patter House and Gilded Balloon as a whole, and it’s introduced us to some incredibly exciting new talent.
There are definitely some familiar faces in the mix. I mean, Karen got Graham Norton to join us with his podcast, which is truly mental but legends attract legends! Mhairi Black is back with a couple of shows, and then you’ve got beloved Gilded regulars like The Dark Room, Kim Blythe, Tartan Tabletop, Juliette Burton and Nate Kitch returning too.
At the same time, there are so many brilliant debuts happening this year. Eva Peroni’s Jungled, Alan Jay’s Hell Hath No Humour Like A Gayboy Scorned and Tia Rey’s Oot Ma Banger are just a few that I’m really excited about. And that’s only the comedy side of things! Our theatre programme is also packed with shows people should have on their Fringe lists, from Crocodile Rock and Slay to Parasocial Activity and a couple of Heated Rivalry shows for the girls, gays and theys.
Shay: What are you hoping the audience might take away from your programme, if anything?
Faye: I hope they find a lot of joy, a lot of laughs, and maybe even let a few tears loose too. I hope they take risks on new voices and stories they might not usually seek out for themselves. And I hope they feel our passion and just how much everyone at Gilded really cares about the Fringe & the shows that we’re putting on.
Shay: With EdFringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Faye: I’m mostly excited for the long days and late nights, almost breaking my ankles on the cobblestones as I bolt from show to show, laughing so much I can’t breathe, catching up with Fringe friends, and shouting about our wonderful programme!
I love the Fringe deeply, it means the world to me. Always has. As someone who lives here year-round, there’s something really special about seeing your home spark to life and find its own rhythm. Edinburgh is always a beautiful city, but during August it becomes something almost indescribably magic. I know most other Edinburgh locals might wholeheartedly disagree with me here, but I love seeing the city become home to all the artists who descend upon it, even if only for a little while.
Shay: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Faye: At the Patter Bar we have these delicious (and, quite frankly, lethal) pink sugary slushies, which are the epitome of Gilded Balloon to me. So I’d take that, then do something completely unhinged like mix it with a good old-fashioned Venom and you’ve essentially got our programme in a plastic cup: bright, colourful, slightly unhinged, packed with Scottish spirit, and guaranteed to leave you having the time of your life and/or wondering what on earth just happened. Although, I hate to think of how brutal the hangover would be…
Explore Gilded Balloon’s Full EdFringe 2026 Programme Online Here.
Image Credit: Steve Ullathorne
