Musician to go ahead with Fringe shows after treasured instruments stolen

A Japanese musician who cancelled performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe after her treasured instruments were stolen has decided to go ahead with her final shows.

Sachie Mikawa said she was "heartbroken" when her trumpet, gifted to her by her late father, and her vintage melodica went missing from the Rotunda Theatre earlier this week.

She scrapped her biggest-selling nights but later decided the show must go on, telling the BBC: "It has been really horrible but what I need right now is a really good vibe."

The theatre said the items were stolen on Monday along with other items of tech, including six laptops and an iPad. Police are still investigating the matter.

Mikawa said: "I decided to do the three shows left because I've already lost so much money and momentum by cancelling three shows but I feel better knowing I've done everything I could to locate the trumpet.

"The shows I cancelled had the biggest sales. A producer from New York and agents from London were supposed to come so it's not just the loss now, it's future opportunities as well.

"But police are following a lead now so I'm hopeful."

The stolen trumpet, Mikawa said, was one of the only items to survive when her family lost everything in the Tōhoku earthquake in 2011.

The 9.0-magnitude earthquake caused a devastating tsunami, which produced waves up to 132ft (40m) high.

Since the theft, Mikawa has bought a new melodica from a music shop to allow her comedy show to continue - but has cut the act that involved the trumpet as she has not been able to locate one in time.

A melodica is a handheld instrument played by blowing air into a reed, which is attached to a keyboard.

"I used to have a vintage melodica, which is beautiful and sounded different, but it is really hard to find so I just bought a new melodica," she added.

The musician and performer said the loss of the instruments was another blow during an already difficult week.

She had hoped the Fringe would be a fresh start after both her parents died within a year of each other.

"I felt so horrible and I was crying," Mikawa said.

"The death of your parents is really sad but when someone took my trumpet it felt worse because I still felt like I had something to remember my dad by.

"But then someone took it like [it was] nothing."

A police spokesperson said: "We have received a report of theft from the Lauriston Place area of Edinburgh which is believed to have taken place overnight from Monday, 10 August into Tuesday, 11 August.

"Inquiries are ongoing."

Mikawa's musical comedy show Egg is about the obstacles that artists face, which she said is similar to what she is going through.

She has worked as an artist in five different countries and said her show appeals to anyone who has found it hard to belong somewhere.

"The trumpet was a funny act and I am sad to cut it because it was one of my oldest acts that I created in 2005," she said.

"But I feel the show will help me because it is so uplifting and positive.

"I have been so overwhelmed by the support and kindness of people here so hopefully the energy in the room will help me as well."