The 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival will go down in history as producing the highest number of ticket sales ever. The Fringe Factory said that this year’s attendance reached 81,565, which is up 8,843 from 2008’s numbers of 72,722.
Overall, $530,000 was returned to the performers, which is almost a $50,000 increase from last year’s revenue.
As for attendance at the MTS Outdoor Stage in Old Market Square, the numbers dipped a bit from last year, with a final total of 70,000. Organizers attributed this small decline to a few days of rain and cooler temperatures.
809 volunteers lent a hand in putting on the 12-day 22nd annual event.