The curtain falls on another successful season at the Pleasance. With over 185 shows in 20 theatres over the course of 27 jam-packed days, we have presented in the region of 4,500 performances. We have hosted over 1000 performers, writers, directors, comedians and musicians, and played to approximately 270,000 people.

We are pleased to congratulate the many Pleasance shows that received nominations and awards at the 2006 festival. These included Scotsman Fringe Firsts, Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards (formerly Perrier) and The Stage, Total Theatre, Herald Angel and Edinburgh Writing Awards.

The Adventures of Tom Thumb and What I heard About Iraq both won Fringe Firsts, whilst Total Theatre awarded one of their top prizes to Floating for 'agitating the boundaries of theatre, creating worlds within worlds of illusion and delusion'. A Herald Angel was awarded to Past Half Remembered closely followed by a Total Theatre Award for their ensemble work which 'weaves together live music, physical action, and a multitude of languages to tell stories that go straight to the heart'. Character comedian Simon Brodkin also collected an Edinburgh Writing Award for Best Comedy Newcomer.

A remarkable 7 comedy shows appearing at the venue were nominated for the prestigious Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards (formerly Perrier). Representing over 70% of the total nominations in both the Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer categories, it marks one of the most successful years for the Pleasance. God's Pottery, Andrew Lawrence, Russell Kane and Fat Tongue were the lucky four to be nominated for the Best Comedy Newcomer award whilst Best Comedy Show nominees included Paul Sinha, Russell Howard and We Are Klang.

Mark Watson's innovative comedy show I'm worried that I'm starting to hate almost everyone in the world as well as his 'write a novel' and 36 hour comedy performance not only won over his sold out audiences but also those on the if.comeddie's panel who rewarded his dedication with the 'Spirit of the Fringe' Panel Prize.

We would also like to say congratulations to Sean Dale Jones (Floating) and Morgan Thomas (Wasted) who were both shortlisted for The Stage's Best Actor award, whilst David Benson (David Benson Why Pay More?) and Josephine Taylor (My Name is Rachel Corrie) were nominated for Best Solo Performance. The Edinburgh Writing Awards announced Mark Watson and The Receptionists as two of the nominees for the Best New Comedy award as well as The Unsinkable Clerk for Best Drama Newcomer.

Phew...

So that was the Fringe 2006. The Pleasance team return to Islington where their autumn/winter season kick started with Sir Tim Rice'’s sharp new version of Blondel as well a multitude of other fresh comedy, classical reworkings and new writing.

We'll see you there!