Six sold-out shows already, and good crowds generally have cheered Fringe Festival organisers as the festival approaches the half-way mark.
Comedy, poetry, and beards have all proved popular with Dunedin audiences, director Josh Thomas said yesterday, after five days of the 11-day festival.
''We are really thrilled with the response to the Fringe this year.
''We've had probably about half a dozen sell-out shows, which is good for us as a festival, but of course really great for the artists who have to cover their own costs.''
Shows that had sold out so far include stand-up comedy Best of Scottish Comedy, comedy theatre Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die, hirsute musical Beards! Beards! Beards! and poetry and music/theatre fusion All Good Poems Wear Travelling Shoes.
''It means ongoing success for them and it means they can take their shows further afield,'' Mr Thomas said.
He said the vibe of the festival was also good.
''It's always a little bit hard to tell because we're so in it, but the feedback we're getting is that there's a great sense of momentum for the festival, and people are enjoying the experience of going to different shows, and the variety on offer.''
While there were events which had not pulled good crowds, there were ''only a couple''.
There were limits in a city the size of Dunedin, he said.
''With a lot of events there's a lot on and only so much audience to go round.''
