The Edinburgh Festival Fringe came to its close on Monday this week.
Ticket sales were up on last year: an estimated 1,943,493 were issued across 2,871 shows in 273 venues. With some 45,464 performances over 25 days, it rates as the largest arts festival ever. Technology played its part with access to information, ticket purchase and collection being easier than ever this year.
Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: “Our loyal and enthusiastic audience has once again been treated to the most amazing cultural experience and has been both challenged and entertained by a programme of spectacular work across all artforms from all around the world.
“Over the past 25 days, audiences from Edinburgh, Scotland, the rest of the UK and across the globe have been inspired by world-class performers, writers and artists in the largest celebration of art and entertainment in the world.
"I would like, on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of people who visited the Fringe this year, to thank them for showing us their incredible talent and courage by bringing so many extraordinary shows and events to our capital city.”
Mark Ravenhill gave the inaugural Welcome Address at the Participants’ Centre, Fringe Central, and two new awards were launched: the Primary Times Children’s Choice Award, which was won by Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs (Underbelly), and the Italian Cultural Institute's Impatto Totale Award for European companies which went to the Belarus Free Theatre’s Trash Cuisine (Pleasance Courtyard).
The Scotsman Fringe First Awards celebrated its 40 year anniversary and the So You Think You’re Funny Award had joint winners for the first time in its history.
Other well-known awards include the MTM Awards for musical theatre where The Bloody Ballad won Best Music and Best Musical, The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence where Fringe First winner Quietly also picked up the Best Actor award for Patrick O’Kane and the Dave Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award which was won by Rob Auton.
The 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from the 1st to the 25th of August.