Fringe production scoops £1,000

A theatre company has banked a £1,000 prize for “audience engagement” in their stage show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Acá Theatre’s production, Better Together, was praised for its use of an online campaign and educating audience members on ways to reduce their use of technology after being announced as the win- ner of the SIT-UP Outstanding Audience Engagement Award.

The award, which recognises the off-stage impact productions have on their audiences, was founded by philanthropist David Graham.

Physical theatre company Acá also ran workshops during their Fringe run at the capital’s Whale Arts Centre and Mix Up Theatre.

Other productions which were commended by the judging panel included Hoipolloi’s The Duke created by Shôn Dale-jones, musical Henry Box Brown and Daughter by Adam Lazarus.

Mr Graham commented: “Plays are very powerful in changing the attitudes of audiences but regrettably most productions do little beyond the performance. The SIT-UP Awards were set up to change this.”