A “I k ll, I ’ iv. 1’
Fr'llqe boxoffice
o o 0 ° As the world’s Iar est arts cnsrs to be investigated 9
festival enters its final
week, speculation is rife about the outcome of an inquiry into the failure of the Fringe Office’s ticketing system. The Festival Fringe Society has ordered an independent inquiry into its own box office and the broader structure of the organisation. Arts promoters and venue managers have widely supported the inquiry, which will begin in September. Problems with a new box office system have meant some shows being oversold and customers being left without tickets. Fringe director Jon Morgan said the inquiry should offer vital information to help them prepare for next year’s event, adding that systems are in place to deal with the final week of ticketing. A budget and timeline for the inquiry is
yet to be put in place.
I The Festival of Politics was dealt a blow last
week after one of its headliners. Annie Lennox, was forced to pull out of her appearance at the Scottish Parliament. Holyrood cited ill health for the no—show and Lennox released a statement
saying that she was ‘hugely disappointed' to miss the event. The 53-year old had been scheduled to appear to talk about her involvement in the fight against HIV/Aids in
Africa. Reparts suggested Lennox was suffering
from ‘crippling back spasms'.
I Award-winning writer, Steven Moffat, who was recently named as Russell T
Davies’ successor as executive producer
and lead writer for Doctor Who, will speak at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival. The announcement follows the news that Davies has had to pull out. A Conversation with Steven Moffat will take place on Saturday 23 August at 2pm.
I Scottish comedy talent has been recognised by the Nivea Funny Women Fringe Award which went to Glasgow stand-up Janey Godley. The comic won the 521000 award with her show Domestic God/ey. in which she shares home truths about family. friends and her domestic skills.
64 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 21 Aug—4 Sep 2008
TICKETS SALES for the Edinburgh International Festival - which runs until 31 Aug - have already exceeded 22m. Although tickets for most shows are still available, the following events are among those that have already sold out: Israel in Egypt, Alfred Brendel and Roby Lakatos. See www.eif.co.uk
THE FRINGE HAS branded this year’s Fringe Sunday a success, after over 100,000 people turned out to see almost 200 Fringe acts in eight performance spaces. Highlights included comedy talent Shazia Mirza, Jimeoin, Dan Nightingale and Andrew Bird, as well as talent such as Soweto Gospel Choir, Camille O‘Sullivan, and the Caesar Twins.
THE LiST’S festivals coverage is now bigger and better than ever. Visit www.list.co.uk to find all the reviews published in the magazine, alongside an embarrassment of online content, including blogs and interviews.
TEA-LEAFS AHOY!
I Rumours abound that a Tracey Emin polaroid was pinched from the Gilded Balloon Loft Bar, last week. The untitled display of ten self-portraits, consisting of enlarged Polaroids of the artist were hung up by pieces of velcro in the bar. Now only nine remain. Emin's Retrospective is currently on at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
VIETNAMESE-BORN Celebrated Australian writer, Nam Le is set to be beamed in live from the Melbourne Writers Festival, as apart of an addition to the Edinbur h International ook Festival line-up. Le will talk about his debut collection of short stories, The Boat at the free but ticketed event, which takes place on Sunday 24 August at 10am.
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