A DOUBLE investigation, overseen by the Government, will be launched into the box office chaos that overshadowed this year's Fringe festival.
The under-fire Fringe board announced yesterday that ministers will be invited to take part in the inquiry along with representatives of Edinburgh City Council, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Arts Council.
An independent investigation will also
seek a new computer system to replace the current one – dogged by failures and crippled ticket sales.
The announcements were made at the Edinburgh Fringe Society AGM yesterday.
The Fringe board confirmed that the four major outside bodies are to nominate one person from their staff to take part in the inquiry into procurement, installation and operation of the 2008 Fringe box office.
It is expected the inquiry process will be completed and the report published in November this year.
The board also announced that an independent IT company will investigate and report on the best options for a box office system capable of handling the complex needs of the world's largest arts festival.
Fringe director Jon Morgan said: "This is the most comprehensive and transparent review process into how we sell Fringe tickets that has ever been undertaken."
Tommy Sheppard, director of the Stand Comedy Club and outspoken critic of the current Fringe set-up, topped the poll to select five new board members.
He gave his support to the high-level review stating: "If people on the Fringe administration are found to be culpable then so be it."
Problems with the Fringe box office system resulted in telephone and counter sales being suspended on numerous occasions.
The full article contains 272 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
