Japanese musician Sachie Mikawa will continue her Edinburgh Festival Fringe performances despite the theft of cherished instruments, including a trumpet given to her by her late father and a vintage melodica.
Mikawa had initially canceled her highest-selling shows after the instruments and other electronics were stolen from the Rotunda Theatre earlier this week. She described the theft as "really horrible" but stated her intention to proceed with the remaining three performances to recapture a positive momentum.
"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," Mikawa told the BBC. She added that police are currently following a lead in the investigation.
The stolen trumpet holds significant sentimental value, having been one of the few possessions to survive the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated her family's belongings. The loss also impacts future opportunities, as potential producers and agents were scheduled to attend the canceled performances.
Mikawa has acquired a new melodica to continue her comedy show but has had to remove the trumpet portion of her act due to the unavailability of a replacement instrument in time. She noted the difficulty in finding a vintage melodica like the one stolen, which she described as beautiful and possessing a distinct sound.
The stolen items included six laptops and an iPad in addition to the musical instruments. The investigation by the police is ongoing.