Fringe organisers reveal new start date

NEXT year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe is to start two days earlier in a bid to end confusion and boost audiences.

Organisers say most shows already begin ahead of the official Sunday start of the Fringe programme and moving the launch to the Friday would allow a full weekend.

A Fringe spokesman said: "The Fringe has traditionally begun on a Sunday. However, most of the shows begin their runs during the week before the official start date."

So next year the Fringe will officially begin on Friday August 7 and run until Monday August 31.

The spokesman said: "Edinburgh is already full of Fringe activity on the Friday and Saturday before our official start date, and it made sense to make Friday the official first day."

City council events champion Steve Cardownie said: "This is good news for everyone involved, as it will not only give the Fringe an extra weekend to stage performances but will bring additional economic benefits back to the city."