Scotsman Announces Final Round of Fringe Firsts

The Fringe First Awards, presented by The Scotsman newspaper in conjunction with the Fringe Society, are the festival's most prestigious recognition for drama. They were established in 1973 when there was concern that the Fringe was not attracting the right quantity and quality of shows. The awards are announced weekly during the festival. There is no fixed number given and the only requirement for consideration is that the work must be new - having had no more than six performances in the UK, prior to the Fringe.

Previous winners this year include Off-Broadway hit The Exonerated about life on death row, the Riot Group’s Switch Triptych and Richard Wilson’s production of East Coast Chicken Supper, a comedy about drug dealers with ordinary aspirations, such as chef Fred wanting to become the Jamie Oliver of Fife.

The Edinburgh Fringe, the world's largest arts festival and now in its 59th year, opened on 7 August and concludes this Monday 29 August 2005 (See News, 5 Aug 2005). The Fringe’s parent event, the Edinburgh International Festival opened on 14 August and continues until 4 September 2005.

- by Caroline Ansdell

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