Fringe launches with record number of shows

A RECORD number of shows, including performances by big-name stars such as Denise van Outen, Julian Clary and Alistair McGowan, will be staged at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it was revealed today.

The programme for the world's largest arts festival features 2,098 shows from 60 different countries, brought to the stage by 18,901 performers.

Organisers said they were heartened by the fact that so many performers have chosen to come to Edinburgh during these recession-hit times, saying all the signs were that it was set to be a "great" Fringe year.

And they said they were confident a "robust" ticket-issuing system was in place this year to avoid a repeat of the box office problems which hit the festival last summer.

Speaking at the programme launch in the Scottish capital today, Kath Mainland, the new chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "We're absolutely delighted that so many people have decided to take part in the Fringe this year and are still seduced by the possibilities of the Fringe.

"I'm looking forward to it being an absolutely brilliant Fringe this year."

Television and stage star van Outen will make her Fringe debut with a new one-woman musical comedy show.

She will perform songs by her favourite blonde artists, including Doris Day and Duffy, in the show written by Jackie Clune.

Clary is returning to stand-up, while McGowan will feature in two shows – a stand-up routine and a show based on the work of Noel Coward.

Other big names appearing at the festival include Clive James, Christopher Biggins and Jimmy Carr.

Overall, the Fringe features a total of 34,265 performances in 265 venues, covering music, art, theatre, comedy and dance.

Last summer, the Fringe's box office system malfunctioned, leading to ticket chaos for thousands of festival-goers.

But organisers said they believed a more robust system was in place this year.

Ms Mainland said the issue has been a "major focus" for her since she took up her new role.

Speaking on her 13th day in the job, she said: "I was appointed in February but I only started full-time two and a half weeks ago.

"I had a limited amount of time between February and when I started at the end of May and so for that period, obviously, my main focus was the box office systems."

She went on: "We've been working throughout the winter with the company who delivered the tickets for the big four venues last year... and we're really confident that we've got a robust and rigorously tested system for this year's festival."

Around a quarter of the shows – 500 in total – are being staged by Scottish companies and performers at the 63rd Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Celebrated writer Alexander McCall-Smith and new Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will be among those taking part in the festival, which coincides with Scotland's Year of Homecoming.

Ms Mainland said: "We're delighted in this year of Homecoming that so many Scottish companies are taking part in the festival Fringe programme.

"We launched earlier on Made In Scotland, which is an initiative about providing a platform for some of the best performers from Scotland to take full advantage of the platform the Fringe provides and to raise their profile overseas.

"I think, generally, that's shifted the focus back to Scottish work and I think that's brilliant for Scotland and for the Fringe."

Among the well-known names in the comedy section are Stewart Lee, Jo Caulfield, Daniel Kitson, Craig Hill and Sean Hughes.

Ms Mainland said she believed the comedy was a huge draw for festival-goers every year.

She said: "I think the comedy is part of what makes the festival brilliant. It's a lot to do with why people come here.

"If we have big names like Julian Clary, Alistair McGowan and Sean Hughes, and if that helps to raise the profile of the whole Fringe, then that's good for everybody who's taking part in it."

Fringe shows will also offer analysis and commentary on a range of topical social issues, such as the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, the conflict in Afghanistan and the global recession.

Ms Mainland insisted today that the Fringe's own finances were "looking good" this year and said they have met their sponsorship targets.

She said: "We're really heartened that so many Fringe performers and companies have decided that the Fringe is still an exciting and viable proposition for them and so in terms of that part of our business the recession thankfully isn't affecting us at the moment.

"We're taking that as a very positive sign for this year's festival."

Scotland's Culture Minister, Michael Russell, said: "The renowned Edinburgh Fringe is celebrated the world over, and offers an unrivalled international platform for artists to excel.

"This year's impressive programme once again sees Edinburgh playing host to a wealth of creative talent from home and abroad, and I have no doubt that the experience will be truly enlivening for audiences and participants alike.

"Made In Scotland, delivered through the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, showcases the spotlight on the fantastic diversity of theatre and dance being made in Scotland today, and signals the value we place on the festivals and our commitment to ensuring they flourish into the future."

The Fringe runs from August 7 to 31.

• For details of The Edge Festival, which runs in Edinburgh 8 - 27 August, visit the Under the Radar blog