The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to announce the 2015 Fringe Central Welcome Address will be delivered by award-winning comedian and theatre-maker Bryony Kimmings on Friday 07 August at 11am at Fringe Central 2, David Hume Tower.
This is the third year of The Fringe Central Opening Address which is designed to welcome participants to the Fringe and introduce them to Fringe Central and the extensive range of events on offer to them throughout August. The event was created to inspire participants to make the best use of the Fringe by getting them to think about the wider perspective and how their experience at the Fringe will impact on them and their work in the future.
Bryony Kimmings, an Associate Artist at Soho Theatre and a Fringe participant herself, has toured her award-winning work across the world – from Finland, Portugal, and Texas to Australia and Croatia. As well as performing, Bryony mentors artists, teaches workshops and writes a popular art blog. She’ll be taking part in this year’s Fringe in a show she’s also directed, Fake It ‘til You Make It playing at the Traverse Theatre from 07 – 30 August.
Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said:
“I’m absolutely delighted Bryony Kimmings – an extraordinarily talented artist with a huge array of skills – has agreed to deliver this year’s Welcome Address to Fringe Participants. I’m absolutely sure that Bryony will be an inspiration to participants given her experience as an artist both here at the Fringe and around the world.”
“The Fringe Central Welcome Address has been created to encourage all Fringe participants to feel at home at Fringe Central and to introduce them to the Participants’ Events Programme which takes place throughout the festival and is absolutely free to all Fringe participants. It really is their home-away-from-home and this year we have over 85 free events taking place which will develop their performance skills, offer advice, expand their networks and advance their career. We really want them to take advantage of all Fringe Central has to offer and make the very most of their time at the Fringe.”
Bryony Kimmings said:
“If there is one festival, city and ethos that has led to my outlandish (and probably undeserved!) success this past near decade it’s the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Fringe Society have been instrumental in that climb. It’s always at this time of year that I remember the total and utter panic I entered my first Fringe with. It wasn’t until after the Media Office gave me a one-to-one panic relief press session and I attended a tour booking lecture at Fringe Central that I began to understand the formulaic approach that would unlock the doors I needed. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences; from insightful ways to get noticed to the best places to get drunk. I literally cannot wait to do my Fringe address.”
Operated by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for participants, media and arts industry professionals taking part in the Fringe, Fringe Central, will be split across two buildings in 2015. For the seventh consecutive year the University of Edinburgh’s Appleton Tower will host practical resources and facilities including a café and bar for participants and will be home to the Fringe Society’s Media Office. For the first time, the University of Edinburgh’s David Hume Tower will house the Fringe Society’s Arts Industry Office and event and rehearsal room facilities. Fringe Central offers an unrivalled, unique and a completely free programme of professional and career development opportunities for everyone participating in a Fringe show and is central to the Fringe Society’s key aim of supporting all Fringe participants.
The 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from 07 – 31 August.
Fringe Participants wishing to attend the free Fringe Central Welcome Address event on 07 August will need to book a ticket at http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/edinburgh-festival-fringe-society-fringe-central-welcome-address-tickets-17440143940