Awards 2013
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht through its Culture Ireland showcase programme has supported Irish artists at the Edinburgh Festivals since 2008. Irish artists have consistently won awards at Edinburgh with 2013 being the most successful year to date with the Beckett at the Festival Strand (Gate Theatre and Pan Theatre) winning the Herald Angel award, the Abbey Theatre's production of Quietly by Owen McCafferty, Deirdre Kinahan's These Halcyon Days and Donal O'Kelly's Fionnuala winning a total of 3 Fringe First Awards and Brokentalkers' Have I No Mouth winning a Total Theatre Award.
The Fringe First Awards recognise outstanding new writing premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Total Theatre Awards recognise innovative work by professional artists and companies in the areas of theatre, live art, visual performance, experimental theatre amongst other art forms.
Venues
The Traverse Theatre's programme of work during August has built an international reputation for presenting and producing the best new writing while, in recent years, Dance Base's curated programme has become a cornerstone of the Edinburgh showcase and many talented Irish dance artists and companies have received international recognition and success through their presentations there.