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When the Dublin Fringe Festival begins next weekend, almost half of the 100 or so shows will be Irish, the remarkable result of measures the festival has taken to encourage local talent. Sara Keatinglooks at some Fringe benefits

SINCE ITS FOUNDATION in 1995, the annual Dublin Fringe Festival has become a hotbed for emerging Irish talent. While it has always offered a platform for international artists to showcase their work in Ireland, over the last few years there has been an increased commitment to providing a platform for the work of new Irish companies. This year the programme features performances by 46 different Irish theatre and dance companies, with an overwhelming emphasis on new Irish writing in the shape of 25 new plays, as well as a series of rehearsed readings.