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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Festival reveals record takings | Festival reveals record takings |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Edinburgh International Festival has posted its highest-ever box office takings, its organisers say. | The Edinburgh International Festival has posted its highest-ever box office takings, its organisers say. |
| They said the popularity of dance events contributed greatly to a rise of 7% on 2007 ticket sales - up to more than £2.6m. | They said the popularity of dance events contributed greatly to a rise of 7% on 2007 ticket sales - up to more than £2.6m. |
| Organisers said one in three shows sold out and that Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray was the best-selling dance show in the festival's history. | Organisers said one in three shows sold out and that Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray was the best-selling dance show in the festival's history. |
| In contrast Edinburgh Fringe ticket sales were down by almost 10% on 2007. | In contrast Edinburgh Fringe ticket sales were down by almost 10% on 2007. |
| 'Powerful resonance' | 'Powerful resonance' |
| The festival director, Jonathan Mills, hailed this year's festival as "a tremendous three weeks of performances". | |
| He said: "So many people have drawn together to put on a fantastic festival." | He said: "So many people have drawn together to put on a fantastic festival." |
| The organisers of the festival said world events taking shape during the festival period "lent powerful resonance" to the festival's European theme - Artists Without Borders. | The organisers of the festival said world events taking shape during the festival period "lent powerful resonance" to the festival's European theme - Artists Without Borders. |
| "Some artists not only thrilled audiences with their festival performances, but brought with them an extra significance to their appearances as events unravelled at home," they said. | "Some artists not only thrilled audiences with their festival performances, but brought with them an extra significance to their appearances as events unravelled at home," they said. |
| Resignation | Resignation |
| The organisers pointed in particular to the presence of the State Ballet of Georgia, who performed at the same time as a brief war in their country. | The organisers pointed in particular to the presence of the State Ballet of Georgia, who performed at the same time as a brief war in their country. |
| Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe sold more than 1.5m tickets for the third year running but that was down from 1.7m in 2007. | Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe sold more than 1.5m tickets for the third year running but that was down from 1.7m in 2007. |
| Shortly after the downturn was reported, the director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jon Morgan, announced his resignation. | Shortly after the downturn was reported, the director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jon Morgan, announced his resignation. |
| Bad weather, the poor global economy, competition from the Olympics and problems at the Fringe box office were all cited as factors for the drop. | Bad weather, the poor global economy, competition from the Olympics and problems at the Fringe box office were all cited as factors for the drop. |