ORGANISERS of Ipswich's Pulse Fringe Festival were today celebrating after breaking box office records in the first week of the event.

James Marston

ORGANISERS of Ipswich's Pulse Fringe Festival were today celebrating after breaking box office records in the first week of the event.

Pulse 08 director Steve Freeman said an estimated 2,500 tickets had been sold in the first week of the two-and-a-half week festival with many shows being sold out.

He said: “We are delighted with this year's audience numbers and response to Pulse. We have never sold out three quarters of the events in the first week.”

The festival which includes comedy, theatre, dance and visual theatre in a number of locations across the town ends on June 14.

Mr Freeman said: “I and the rest of the New Wolsey team have been to an awful lot of the productions and the response in the town has reaffirmed Pulse at the heart of the cultural calendar of Ipswich.”

Mr Freeman said there are a number of highlights still to come in the final days of the fringe festival.

He said Strawberry Daiquiri, being performed tonight at the Sir John Mills Theatre, in Gatacre Lane, by Shamelessboyz Theatre Company and Horsemeat by Gary Clarke were expected to be popular.

He added: “We finish on Saturday with Bacchic at the New Wolsey Theatre which should be a piece of visually stunning theatre.”

For more information about the festival visit www.pulsefringe.com or contact the New Wolsey Theatre on 01473 295900.