Warning of delays at venues as Fringe ticket problems continue

Published on Sunday 20 July 2008 22:01

ONE of Edinburgh's leading comedy promoters yesterday warned that ticket buyers will face delays and longer queues because of continuing problems at the Fringe box office.

Tommy Sheppard, who runs The Stand Comedy Club, said comedy fans would be wise to turn up early to venues because the Fringe Office has been unable to print tickets in time to have them posted out. He said some customers may have to present e-mail confirmation in place of tickets, which would slow down the process of ushering people into the venues.

"It is going to be a bit of extra hassle on the day. We will have to open our doors a bit earlier and possibly bring in extra staff," he said.

However, Mr Sheppard said his venue was determined to ensure all tickets were honoured.

Yesterday, the "Big Four" venues – Assembly Theatre, the Gilded Balloon, the Underbelly and the Pleasance – said that they were working with the Fringe box office to minimise disruption to customers.

The doors of the Fringe office in the High Street were closed yesterday and telephone sales lines shut down as staff worked late to try and deal with the ticket backlog. The office will be shut again today before re-opening tomorrow.

A spokesman for the Fringe said talks were going on with all 247 venues to find ways of issuing missing tickets.

While many of the larger venues have their own ticketing systems and the Big Four have an independent box office, some of the smaller venues do not have ticketing machines.

An announcement is expected from the Fringe officials later in the week to clarify how people who have not received their tickets can gain entry to venues.

Hazel Thompson, from Edinburgh, who ordered tickets three weeks ago for three concerts in small venues, said she had still received nothing.

"I'm still waiting to find out where to collect them from," she said.

"I think they will find a way around it but I am gobsmacked that they haven't managed to produce the tickets on time."