Festival boss's dire warning The entire future of the Edinburgh Fringe is under threat if the Scottish government does not ease social distancing rules soon, its organiser has warned. Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, has called for the current two-metre rule for indoor venues to be relaxed within two weeks. She said the first signs of trouble were already visible for this year's festival with 'big fringe names booked up for August in London or other parts of England, because they’re allowed to perform there'. McCarthy told The Times Scotland: "Within another two weeks, it's going to be impossible for any [Edinburgh promoter] to put on anything.