THE world’s largest arts festival is back and this time it’s even bigger.
Edinburgh’s Fringe begins this week and as usual there are household names, wannabes and the plain weird all competing for the attention of festival goers.
The number of shows is up by 11% on last year with 3,193 shows in 299 venues, turning every corner of Edinburgh into a performance space.
With such vast choice where do you even start? The Sunday Post lends a hand by looking at 10 shows that stand out from the packed crowd.
COMEDY
A BIGGER name in Australia than he is in his home country, Moffat-born Danny Bhoy’s star is on the rise in the UK thanks to appearances on shows like Live at the Apollo. His 12 Nights, 12 Charities show does exactly what it says on the tin all proceeds from each performance go to a different worthy cause.
Assembly Rooms, July 31 August 11, 7.55pm.
WAR MEMORIES
BEST-SELLING book Forgotten Voices of the Great War is adapted for the stage and features guest appearances from a number of big name stars, including Robert Vaughn, Celia Imrie and Robert Powell. Real-life soldier accounts will be recited by the actors.
Pleasance Courtyard, July 30 August 25, 1.30pm. A special commemorative performance at 10.30pm on August 4 will end at midnight to mark the outbreak of WW1.
CEILIDH
STUART CASSELLS, founder of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, draws on all of his trad music contacts to create a riotous nightly shindig. Dancers, musicians, clan chiefs and comedians gather under one roof for the 90-minute extravaganza This is Ceilidh.
Spiegeltent Palazzo, Assembly George Square Gardens, July 31 August 24, 11pm.
IMPROV
CLIVE ANDERSON chairs What Does the Title Matter Anyway?, a comedy improv show featuring quick-witted comics Greg Proops, Stephen Frost and more.
Underbelly, Aug 6 19, 9pm.
FAMILY
USING ingenious puppetry, the interactive Dinosaur Zoo brings these ancient creatures to life. During the show, audience members brave enough to get up close and personal with the dinosaurs are brought on stage to assist the zookeeper.
The Grand, Pleasance Courtyard, July 30 August 25, 11am.
FACTUAL
OSCARWINNING movie Midnight Express was based on the true story of Billy Hayes, an American tourist who escaped from a notorious jail in Turkey after being locked up for five years. Billy Hayes recounts his epic journey in Riding the Midnight Express.
Le Monde, August 3 21, 5pm.
INTERNATIONAL
WITH more than 50 million YouTube hits to their name, Voca People make their UK debut at the Fringe. Producing an amazing array of sounds without the use of instruments, this phenomenon features 80 songs from Madonna to Mozart performed by eight talented singer-comedians.
The Grand, Pleasance Courtyard, July 30 August 25, 6pm.
CIRCUS
IMAGINE the greatest rock band of all time as a circus. Well, imagine no more. Direct from Australia, Pants Down Circus is a rock show for all ages. With a soundtrack by bands such as Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, the four-person troupe perform acrobatics like no other.
Spiegeltent Palazzo, Assembly George Square Gardens, July 31 August 25, 5.30pm.
DANCE
THE only Israeli dance group (the Pola Dance Company) to be invited to the Fringe is made up of 12 student dancers from Ben-Gurion University. Not only are they professional dancers, but they’re studying for careers in medicine, science and engineering, to name a few. Their show, La Karina, looks at the changing environment and how it has affected their lives.
Acoustic Music Centre at St Bride’s, August 9 12, various times.
CHAT
TELEVISION astrologist Russell Grant presents this daily showbiz extravaganza, Strictly Edinburgh. A mix of stand-up, live music, glam dancing and special guest stars adds up to a fun-packed evening with the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant.
Gilded Balloon, July 30 August 24, 6.45pm.
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