After a hectic three weeks the 11th Dublin Fringe Festival, the first programmed by director Wolfgang Hoffmann, drew to a close last night, reporting a 30 per cent audience increase. Earlier, winners of the Fringe awards, decided by 13 judges, were announced at the Spiegeltent.

The Project Arts Centre/Dublin Fringe Festival Spirit of the Fringe award went to Performance Lab@Roundabout Theatre for Tumbledowntown, and over a dozen of the delighted young company from Ballymun took to the tiny stage to accept it. Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental (El Conquistador) won the Eircom Most Imaginative Use of Technology award, voted by the public. The Jayne Snow Award for innovation, bravery and risk-taking was won by Giddy Productions for Mind Your Fingers.

Knots, by CoisCéim Dance Theatre, won Best Production, and Jo Stromgren Kompani's The Hospital won Sexiest Production. Best Male Performer was Jordi Cortez (Lucky) and Best Female Performer was Vania Gala (Automatic ID).