Edinburgh Festival Fringe Director quits

THE DIRECTOR of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe said he was stepping down today after a tumultous summer at the festival.

Jon Morgan, quitting after just one year overseeing the world's biggest art festival, said he wanted to return to his first love of "producing and presenting exciting performance to audiences".

Mr Morgan had overseen the introduction of a new Fringe computerised ticketing system which was plagued with troubles, bringing frustrated customers and angry rows with Fringe venues.

This week it emerged that ticket sales at the Fringe were down by almost 10 percent this year, the first drop in eight years.

While the credit crunch, the weather, and even Olympics coverage was blamed, the box office is a central part of the Fringe office's job.

Mr Morgan said: "I have been considering this for some time, but felt it was important not to announce my departure before the festival so as to not impact on this year's festival.

"Following discussion with the Board I have now decided to step down with immediate effect, but I would like to stress that I will contribute fully to the independent review of the Box Office which was announced earlier this month."

Baroness Smith, chairwoman of the Fringe Society Board, said: "The board is very grateful to Jon for his significant contribution to the Fringe at a challenging time of great change.

"In the short time he has been in post he has dealt with an unprecedented range of challenges.

"The board appreciate his future career aspirations and we would like to thank him for all his hard work and to wish him well in the future."

Previous to his role as Fringe director, Mr Morgan was executive producer with the Contact Theatre in Manchester.

He has also worked with the Scottish Arts Council on its bid to establish the National Theatre of Scotland and was general manager at the TAG Theatre Company in Glasgow.