That's a wrap - Edinburgh Fringe 2018 our biggest and best on record

September 1st 2018 at 2:25pm


Highlights

As the August rain turns to September sunshine, theSpaceUK says farewell to Edinburgh for another year with everyone soon heading home for a well-deserved rest.

Despite the rainy weather, theSpaceUK celebrates 28 years at the Fringe with the announcement of its biggest and best year. Record breaking ticket sales alongside more five-star shows meant that 2018 was our best ever year. With footfall up 11% from 2017 more people saw shows at theSpaceUK than in any previous year.

2018 saw an outstanding mix at theSpaceUK with shows about Virgins, Sex Addicts, the NHS, Mould, Brexit, John Lennon (twice), Nelson Mandela and a Shakuhachi (a Japanese flute instrument) amongst many others. Scripts written by stars of stage of screen, Scottish Ministers, children, pensioners and, in one case, even a computer featured in our line-up.

2018 was also a bumper year for top-rated performances at theSpaceUK with a 20% increase in sold-out performances alongside a 7% increase in our 5-star reviews.

Kids Play (Boys of the Empire Productions) picked up the only Broadway Baby Bobby awarded in 2018 for its electric performance. Written by Taggart writer, Glen Chandler, it started in Week 2 and picked up 5 five-star reviews before the first 48 hours were over. Misha’s Gang (Russian String Orchestra) returned and followed up 2017’s Herald Angel award with a Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe award. The Mould that Changed the World (Charades Musicals and BSAC), an epic musical about Alexander Fleming’s discovery, was nominated for the inaugural SIT-UP award.

theSpaceUK’s theatre programme saw critical acclaim with numerous shows picking up multiple five-star reviews. Canoe (Bread & Butter Production) was a one-hander masterpiece from Matthew Roberts and played to huge critical acclaim. Armour: A Herstory of the Scottish Bard (Fearless Players) was featured in The Stage’s critic’s choice picks. theSpaceUK regulars, Fourth Monkey also picked up numerous five-star reviews for The Woman and the Canvas.

Charles Pamment, Artistic Director, said: “As the 2018 festival draws to a close its with great pleasure we can report a very successful fringe for theSpaceUK. Whilst the stats speak for themselves and awards are always a pleasant addition, the underlying success of our platform reported by audiences is the ease by which we present a diverse programme of work, and the continued and growing success of our new and original writing programme. Added to this is a focus on offering smart and comfortable theatre and bar environments that give audiences a sense of occasion that can only enhance that unique festival experience. We look forward to developing both further for Fringe 2019.”