A crowd of about 80 attended the awards night at the festival’s ‘‘club’’ in Princes St, which featured snapshots from the 11 days.
The coveted Best in Fringe was awarded to art exhibition ‘‘Fagogo’’, by Auckland-based Pati Solomona Tyrell.
Festival director Gareth McMillan said the art and performances over the 11 days, both local and from out of town, left him ‘‘gobsmacked’’.
‘‘It’s been an absolute blast. Artistically, I couldn’t be happier. It think this festival is something that needs celebrating.’’
It was too early to tell whether ticket sales were up on last year.
While there was talk last year of extending the festival over a longer period, he liked the ‘‘intensity’’ of a dense line-up, he said.
‘‘There were days where I couldn’t get along to everything, but I kind of love that. We didn’t get to a point where we had a lack of venues.’’
There were 91 artist-produced events scheduled at the start of the festival.
There was no indication the festival’s ‘‘open access’’ model to accepting shows would change, he said.
Award winners:
Best in Fringe: Pati Solomona Tyrell — ‘‘Fagogo’’.
Best comedy — Camp Binch.
Best dance — Saudade.
Best music or sound — The David Merritt Poetry Experience.
Best theatre — How to be a Stripper.
Best visual or performance art: Pati Solomona Tyrell — ‘‘Fagogo’’
Outstanding design: Frankensplurta
Outstanding technical achievement: Form and Compression 2.0.
City of literature beyond words award: Dark Dunedin: Heaven Looks On.
Most original concept: A1 The No Show.
Outstanding emerging talent award: James Mustapic.
Outstanding performer: Johanna Cosgrove.
