With the Olympic Games in London coming to an end organisers of the world’s largest arts festival are hoping the public focus will shift to Edinburgh where the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is already well underway.
The Olympics have already added their own distinct flavour to the 2012 Fringe with a number of shows across the programme taking inspiration from sporting achievements past and present and exploring the themes of this once in a lifetime event, whilst Fringe-goers have been catching up on the sporting action on screens in venues, pubs, bars and cafes across the city.
With the world’s media assembled in London, and everyone’s eyes on the UK’s culture following Danny Boyle’s triumphant Opening Ceremony, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is perfectly positioned to showcase the most exciting and entertaining theatre, comedy dance and more across 10 genres.
Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said:
“Like the rest of the country we in Edinburgh have been watching with ever mounting excitement the wonderful London 2012 Olympic Games, and Team GB’s amazing achievements. As those games close, the thousands of people who have been enjoying the world’s greatest sporting event in London can now look north to the world’s greatest cultural event.
“The 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and it’s 2,695 shows offers something for everyone with the greatest arts and entertainment anywhere in the world. There are 15 glorious days left to enjoy the world’s largest arts festival. We in Edinburgh can ensure all those visitors will receive a warm welcome at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. ”
For those still to get stuck into the Fringe this year, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is using Facebook to help ticket buyers see what their friends are going to see and join them at the hottest show in town. For the first time ever, tickets for every show at the Fringe are available through a new Facebook ticketing app, allowing Fringe audiences to get personalised recommendations from their friends, book tickets directly from within Facebook and share their own Fringe picks online. Facebook ticketing for the 2012 Fringe is available now atwww.facebook.com/edfringe
Kath M Mainland added:
“We are constantly looking for new ways to help audiences find their way around the Fringe, and to make it as easy as possible to buy tickets. This year, we’ve opened a box office at Glasgow Queen Street station and launched new mobile apps to book tickets on the move. I’m delighted that Fringe-goers are now able to purchase tickets through Facebook. One of the special things about the Fringe is how recommendations from friends play their part in shaping the shows we see, so we’ve now made it as easy as possible to see what your friends have booked, and to share your own tips for your own must-see shows.”
