Monsters, Magic, Mayhem ....... More from the Fringe

Monsters, magic, mayhem ...... just about sums up Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the streets of the capital city. Amongst the singers, the dancers, the serious and the stand-up, street performers and snippets from shows, there are always the bizarre, the crazy and the certifiable. And this year is no exception. There he is, every day, in the middle of the High Street, an alien-like creature beamed down from the outer reaches of the universe, spear in hand, daring you to go have your photo taken with him. And he is not alone. Tap-dancing mummies from ancient Egypt, a one-eyed pharoah, sock puppets from beyond the stars, they are all here, terrifyingly terrifying or terrifyingly comical, weaving their spells, reeling you in ....
And talking of spells, the Fringe conjures up magicians with the wave of a wand and a quick abracadabra. On the High Street, at your table, wandering around the many venues, appearing and then disappearing, astounding you with their dexterity before vanishing without trace. Card tricks, rope tricks, tricks with balls, dice, fruit, now it's here, now it's not ..... hands moving quicker than the eye, concealing their magic, hiding the secrets of their trade. Short trousers, long trousers, bow ties, a multitude of peculiar headwear with hairstyles to match, zany characters with zany magic, these are the magicians of the Fringe. Gone is tradition. Anything goes .... and usually does! Audience members be warned. Keep an eye on your phones and your wallets. They may appear where least expected, but always return in one piece. It is good to see young magicians working the streets as well. They will play a part in the future of the Fringe, bringing their own brand of magic to the festival.
Mayhem ..... there is mayhem by the bucketful. Where oh where shall I start. Climbing a free-standing ladder, no support whatsoever, stripping down to your underpants and juggling knives. You have to see this to believe it! Inserting a flaming torch down the front of your trousers, creating a human skipping rope ......... it doesn't matter where you look, insanity is round every corner, filling every stage, bringing tears of laughter to audiences, and sharp intakes of breath from more than a few gentlemen. "Don't try this at home" says one foolhardy performer as he unzips his flies and threatens his manhood with a fiery torch. Why would anyone want to.   
Yes, this is the Fringe in all its glory. And apologies for the final photo. This guy began his act in a kilt and finished in his underpants. But he was brilliant ..... the kind of brilliance that comes from having more than a few screws loose. I loved him, the audience loved him ...... please, please come back next year.



Meanwhile, back at the Street Theatre .....

Yes, oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am once again back at my favourite Fringe event, the street theatre. New acts, acts I have seen before, acts I definitely want to see again, filling the High Street and the Mound, attracting audiences of all ages. An open-air circus, spread across the city, inviting passers-by to stop awhile, to listen, enjoy and join in. If you can laugh, clap and cheer, if you have a sense of humour, you will love the amazing ambience created by the street performers.
Can you hula-hoop? I could, but alas no longer since my waist and my hips merged into one. But these girls can ... and with style. Standing up, laying down, balancing on one leg, they make it all look so easy. Swirling the hoops around their waist, their legs, their arms, their necks, it is almost hypnotic watching them. You may be invited to help, to "give it a go" if you dare, if you are "lucky" enough to be selected! Me? No way. Crazy I may be, but falling over in front of hundreds of people with a hula hoop wrapped around my neck is a very big no no.
Acrobats abound, as in the very best circus. Hurling themselves through the air, launching themselves at one another, balancing on arms, legs, heads ..... and I didn't see one fall, one broken bone, one bump on the head. One daredevil - or lunatic, depending on your point of view -somersaulted over a line of "enthusiastic" audience members without use of a trampet or safety net!! And it is not just the acrobats who are throwing themselves around the hard, unforgiving, unyielding concrete pavements. Oh no. The street dancers are equally as insane, spinning themselves on their heads, bouncing around on their hands, doing things with their legs no normal human being should be able to do - or indeed would want to.
I love all of this, every minute of it, from the gentle bubble-blowing bear to the crazy lady who inserted her head between the legs of one poor soul plucked from the audience for his fifteen minutes of fame. The look on his face said it all. Supported by his arms and legs and trying hard not to laugh too much in case he crumpled in a heap, what else can you do when confronted with the ungainly rear view of an upside down street performer clinging to you for dear life! Grin and bear it. How embarrassing! How wonderful! Hilarious, and so good for those of us with cameras. Poor man, how will he ever live this down - or maybe he doesn't want to. Certainly one for the grandchildren if and when they appear.
They say laughter is the best medicine and this is without doubt the case on the streets of Edinburgh at the moment. This is how these people earn their living, choosing to bring their skills to you, in the open air, away from the confines of an indoor arena. Many, if not all, are hugely talented and come from miles around to amuse and entertain. If you are lucky enough to catch any of their performances, please show your appreciation. They earn it by sheer hard work .... and they certainly deserve it.

Mostly West at Inverleith House

It never ceases to amaze me how bizarre art - or what is conceived to be art - can be. I fully appreciate that tastes vary, that what evokes oohs and aahs from one person can have others looking totally baffled. Trying desperately to keep an open mind, I called in to Inverleith House situated in the Royal Botanic Gardens to view an exhibition entitled Mostly West: Franz West and Artist Collaborations, and was heartened to see I was not the only person wandering around with a bemused look on their face.
Apparently Mostly West is the first ever exhibition by Franz West, a renowned Austrian
artist, consisting solely of works created in
collaboration with other artists. West, who died last year, was however very much the instigator, always insisting on having the final say in all matters artistic. He showed genuine interest in the work of other artists, allowing them to express their own identities in any collaborations, and delighting in integrating their works with his own, but I guess on his terms.
So, back to the current exhibition. Holding on to my open mind, and keeping my wicked sense of humour in check, I inspected every exhibit - I must admit, sometimes fleetingly - before pinching myself to see if perhaps I was emerging from some strange dream. Some fifty pieces are laid out over all three floors of Inverleith House, mostly peculiar sculptures with a certain charm that may be lost on many. It was all there - inflatables, neon paint, leopard print, stickers, chairs, old bicycles and bed springs, beer mugs, table tennis balls - a kind of mysterious junk yard propped up with wood, papier-mache, plastic, cardboard, in fact every kind of material imaginable. You can sit on some very comfortable three-seater divans, interact, over-react, question the sanity of some artists as you pass by rakes, sieves and wheels. "Chewed Gum" is exactly what it says - 10 pieces of pink chewing gum, 2 plastic gloves and some plexiglass. "Spaghetti West" consists of cigarettes and brown paper, but at least you can recognise its portrayal of a gentleman straight out of a spaghetti western. Probably my favourite piece. Is this purely because I know what it is? Possibly.
Out on the Chinese Hillside Pond is another creation I rather like - Bateau Imaginaire. Five chairs floating on a raft, but quite effective given its surroundings, a collaboration between Franz West and another Austrian, Heimo Zobernig.
Franz West was by all accounts a prankster, a joker and a mischief-maker. It certainly shows! The exhibition, however, is bright and colourful, definitely thought-provoking, and if you are in the Gardens pop in and have a look for yourself. I am no art critic, I just know what I like and what I don't like. I could say that I don't like Mostly West, but that would be a little unfair. I guess it is because I struggled to understand it, lacked the ability to see deeper, to percieve what was maybe not obvious at first glance. People were enjoying it, and I am sure many of you will too. I felt unsure as to whether it should all be taken seriously or not ........ but that's just me.

The Fringe is full of Oddbods ........

I adore them, every single one of them ....... the oddbods that explode onto the streets of Edinburgh during the Fringe. You can't escape them, they are all around you, popping up when you least expect them, crazy people with a wicked sense of humour. They could be promoting a play, showcasing their own particular brand of comedy, thrusting snippets of their shows at passers-by, spreading fun and laughter and more than a few bemused looks as people gather round. This is maybe the epitome of the Edinburgh Fringe, a plethera of characters sitting, standing, dancing, singing .... or indeed doing very little. You have to stop awhile and watch, apprehensive but curious, mindful that at any moment you could be drawn into their world, participating in the weird and the wonderfully bizarre. And it must be said that there are more than a few members of the public who are equally as whacky as the performers. It must be something in the air, maybe a tot too far from the whisky bottle, a strange reaction to an over-indulgence of haggis ..... or just "Fringe syndrome", the result of prolonged exposure to the lunacy that is the festival season.
Oddbods abound along the High Street, draped in camoflage nets, residing on benches with seagulls perched precariously on bowler hats, Michael Jackson moonwalking across the cobbled streets, ducks from outer space performing song and dance acts. And talking of singing, one talented young lady, reminiscent of Victoria Wood, took to the stage dressed as a toilet! Flushed with success, maybe? No, please don't groan. It's purely a mild case of Fringe syndrome ...... At least she didn't need to take a seat - she was wearing one. Did her act go down the pan (groan). No, I don't think so ...
It is not just peculiar folk that spring up come August, oh no. Dogs that perform magic tricks, out-of-the-ordinary puppets, the odd passing bath, balloons twisted into every shape known to man, the Fringe has it all. Young ladies popping in and out of coffins, bodies tied up, chained up, up ladders, down ladders ..... where else could you find all this but
Scotland's stunning capital city during August.
If you have never been to the Fringe, make it a must for 2014. You are missing out on so much fun and laughter, so much talent, so many comical interludes. And I challenge anyone to go away without a smile on their face. The world comes to Edinburgh during festival season, embraces its culture and laughs with its people. So join them, soak up the atmosphere, be a part of one of the most important events in the city's calendar. Bring a little sunshine into your life, relax and prepare body and soul for the lead up to Christmas. Did I just say Christmas? Sorry ........ 

Street Performers Juggle at the Fringe

How lucky Edinburgh has been so far for the first few weeks of the Fringe. Apart from a shower or two the weather has been kind, the sun has been out and the skies for the most part have been blue. And for those performing on the streets, with little or no shelter from the elements - and believe me, they can be really unkind north of the border - a sunny day can be a real bonus. Crowds are bigger, people are smiling, children are content to sit and watch ..... and folk are more willing to put their hands in their pockets and pop a pound or two in the collection.
I love the street performers. Unpredictable, zany, risk taking, breathtaking, entertaining, they are for many the highlight of the festival. Descending on the city from across the globe, countries as far-flung as Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the Far East and Europe, their amazing skills leave many audiences gasping, daring the performers to take their act to another level, to push themselves to the limit.
And they do. Time and again these daredevil lunatics astound and astonish with their skill and dexterity - none more so than the jugglers.
I could stand for hours and watch the jugglers. If you can pick it up, they can juggle it. Balls, swords, traffic cones, skittles, guitars, vinyl records (remember them), stuffed toys, flaming torches, even chainsaws, they are all there, thrown into the air and caught again, over the head, behind the back, between the legs, three, four, five, six at a time ...... and rarely dropped. If they do, then it's all part of the act, or so they say! And they don't all stand still. On a unicycle, balancing on a make-shift see-saw, climbing on the back of an unsuspecting member of the audience, teetering on an upturned suitcase, it's all been tried, and very successfully.
These performers love audience participation. Some acquired their skills in a circus, others were self-taught. Many pick on members of the audience to come out, assist, join in the fun. And there is no point hiding at the back or pretending you are busy with your camera. If they want you, they will come and get you. So be prepared to dress in strange hats, catch, throw, lay down, stand up, be climbed over. People will laugh, whistle, cheer, applaud loudly - and think quietly to themselves "Thank God that wasn't me" But you may be next, so don't be smug, don't get complacent. 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is fun, it is great fun. And this is how you must approach it. Laughter is the order of the day. Join in, embarrass your family - especially the kids - laugh at yourself, laugh at everybody else. Above all, enjoy yourself. Go home with memories of the batty, the bizarre and the brilliant. Go to bed with a smile on your face, wake up with that smile still firmly in place, and go back for more. You never know ..... there may be a secret juggler inside of you bursting to get out. Start with balls and work your way up. And you could be out there next year, cap in hand, entertaining the festival crowds. Anybody can get out there and perform. The whole world is a stage ...... and Edinburgh is a small, but very important, part of that stage. So what are you waiting for. Need any ideas? Well, I didn't spot anyone juggling haggis. But someone out there may know better .......

Music at the Festival Fringe

Strolling around the streets of Edinburgh during festival season, you cannot help but be drawn by the many talented musicians who pop up and play on the High Street, on The Mound - indeed anywhere they can find a spot to get out their instruments and delight us with sounds from an assortment of musical genres. Men, women, even children, have us clapping our hands and tapping our feet, whether it be to the strains of the classics, pop, rock, jazz, the blues ........ it's all here, played well, played not so well, but nonetheless drawing us in, encompassing us in a moment of musical relaxation.
It is not just the music that is varied, but the instruments played. Everything from the saw to the saxaphone, the exotic to the ordinary send notes echoing around the ancient streets, reverberating from architectural wonders, buildings of columned greatness, to more modern mixes of shop and restaurant. Magic fingers create a cauldron of sound, entrancing, mystifying, melancholy, fast-moving, melodious. You have to stop, have to tarry awhile and listen to musicians playing on the world's most accessible stage, a stage free to all who love music, free to all with a desire to entertain, to showcase their talents, to bring happiness to the streets. Classical guitar, drums, trumpet, xylophone, some I don't know the name of, some I should know the name of but can't bring to mind, they are all here. Individuals, groups, crazy folk dancing and playing at the same time, all bring a multi-cultural melee of music to the streets of the capital city.
Vocalists, too, angelic voices, strong voices, beatbox, the whole range is here to raise the roof - or should that be the sky - reeling us in as we pass by, daring us to continue on our way without pausing to listen, to enjoy, before going on our way, elated, a spring in our step that was not there before. And boy can some of them sing. A delightful young lady, and she was young, held her audience spellbound as they gathered at The Mound to wonder at such a mature voice on such young shoulders. Didn't catch her name, but she is pictured with the pink flower in her hair. If you spot her, stop. It is well worth a few minutes of your time and you won't be disappointed. I loved her!
Many of the shows at the Fringe are musical, and many take advantage of that wonderful performance space that is the High Street to give passing audiences a taste of all they have to offer. Nowhere else will you find such variety, such a mix of comedy, classic, new, traditional, bizarre, baffling, as here in Edinburgh right now. Choirs, a capella groups including the amazing Out of the Blue, African drummers, rock, piano recitals, Bach, the big band sound, if you like it then it's probably here in one form or another. In fact everything is here, absolutely everything. So don't go around muttering under your breath there is nothing here that you like. You are obviously not looking - and you don't need to look very hard! If you love music, you will love something. And if you don't, you may well find that you do. Samba, samurai, harps, organs, ukeleles, traditional bagpipes, the weird and the wonderful - go seek them out and be amazed. Rick Wakeman is here .... yes, THE Rick Wakeman. Now you must know him ....... musical legend playing his music interspersed with amusing anecdotes. Comedy and keyboards in one show. What more could you possibly want. You do want more?

Well read on!

Love vocalists, love opera, love musicals? All this is very much in evidence as well. Funny, serious, new, old, improvised, nothing is left out. Purcell, Ivor Novello, Gilbert and Sullivan, Sinatra ..... well-known musicals including Godspell, Grease, Les Miserables, and Oliver are filling stages and filling seats. And of course, this being the Fringe, there is a whole splattering of the bizarre, the unusual, new takes on old favourites, and some quirky titles to boot. Could you possibly resist such oddities as Zombie Prom, Much a Shoo be Doo About Nothing, King Kong the Musical, Almost Eurovision, and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens ..... hmmm. Curiosity aroused? Taste buds tickled? Then you are as strange as me, but in a nice, fun-loving way.

Okay, so now you know all about music at the Fringe. Can't afford tickets, tickets all gone? Then get out there onto the streets of Edinburgh and listen for free. It costs nothing but your time - and maybe a few coins to toss in the performers' hats. See you there .........

     

Human Statues at The Fringe

 Human statues, a fascinating phenomena, amazing examples of calmness and composure. Regular features in medieval and Renaissance pageantry and festivities - although I believe they date back far into the annals of history - human statues were very much founded in European street theatre tradition. And they are very much in evidence on the streets of Edinburgh during the Fringe.
If you pass one by, drop a coin in their pot. See them come to life, just momentarily, slowly, elegantly, effortlessly. It may be a kiss, a smile, a bow, the raising of an umbrella, a fleeting trick with a crystal ball ....... and then they become motionless once more. How do they create an illusion of such complete stillness? How do they hold a single pose for so long? They appear not to breathe, you cannot detect the rise and fall of their chest, the blink of an eye. It is as though the gold and silver paint not only encompasses their body but holds it in some exotic form of suspended animation. Their costumes, so sophisticated yet so simple, heavy yet light as a feather, at one with flawless skin and striking wigs ...... I love these people. I could watch them doing very little for hours. But could I do it? Not a cat in hell's chance. I would have to sneeze, cough, scatch, even fall over. So they have my greatest admiration. And as for me going hours at a time without talking ...... unheard of!
Not all the human statues are adorned in gold and silver. As you join the throngs of people in the High Street or the Mound, keep an eye out for someone who is not moving, a sculpture that has mysteriously appeared where before there was none. And watch .... carefully. Can you detect a movement, however slight? Maybe ... maybe not. But they are watching you, of that you can be sure.

Edinburgh Art Festival - Wind Pipes

Trinity Apse, atmospheric, inspiring, the only surviving remnant of the Gothic Trinity College Church, was founded as early as 1460 and used for their graduation ceremonies in the 1590s by Edinburgh University. But as with many of our historic buildings, beautiful as they may be, etched within the very annals of Scottish history, it was demolished in 1848 in the name of progress to make way for the construction of Waverley Station. Its only saving grace was that it was painstakingly dismantled, each piece of masonry carefully numbered, with the intention of re-building the church on an alternative site. But as with all best intentions, this did not happen. The plus side, however, was the reconstruction of the choir and one of the trancepts during the 1870s. Standing in Chalmers Close, just off the Royal Mile, this is now known as Trinity Apse.
Wind Pipes for Edinburgh, a commission for this year's Edinburgh Art Festival, is currently housed in this wonderful building. Created by talented artist and musician Sarah Kenchington, this amazing instrument sits proudly in Trinity Apse, drawing from its surroundings, innovative and organ-like in appearance. This truly inspirational work by Sarah has been fashioned from materials discarded by our throw away society. Fittings more commonly used by a plumber combine very effectively with organ pipes salvaged from scrap yards and snatched up from eBay to breathe life into her most ambitious project to date. Previous instruments from the skilled hands of Sarah have been purely for the artist alone to play, delightful musical mish-mash constructions utilising bicycle spokes, inner tubes from tractor tyres, and even long-forsaken typewriters. And yes, notes of one kind or another emit from all.
This is the first instrument created by Sarah designed to be played with others. And visitors to Trinity Apse are actively invited to "give it a go." Man the bellows - of which there are six - pump air into the pipes, and you are up and running. Push the levers, all marked with the corresponding notes for those of a musical disposition, colour-coded with tape for the more unsure, and listen. Simply stunning, definitely mind-blowing. I loved it. Could have stayed all afternoon piping away, as long as there was a strong arm to man the pumps!! Tubular Bells? Give me Wind Pipes any day. 

Anyone can play the Wind Pipes. A group of people can produce amazingly complex tunes. Individuals doing their own thing create sounds which echo hauntingly, resounding high into the ceiling of the Apse. An historic building, going hand in hand with a quirky organ rising from a collection of historic materials, a perfect combination. Make a point of going along and trying the Wind Pipes for yourself. There are concerts and workshops, the staff are incredibly helpful and informative, and all in all this is an experience not to be missed. You will enjoy it, your kids will love it, a fun way to create original music from a truly original instrument.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe ....... Drama all the way

Diverse, vibrant and imaginative, tinged with a touch of eccentricity and peppered with an element of the bizarre - these are the Virgin Money Fringe Street Events. It's all here, all taking place on the streets of Edinburgh, packing every inch of pavement, reclaiming the roads from the city's cars and buses. World-class street performers, buskers, a plethera of Fringe show previews, arts and crafts markets rule the roost for August accompanied by a ticker-tape parade of flyers and posters in every conceivable size and colour. Transformed into vast outdoor performance areas, the High Street and the Mound Precinct are now the centre of the Fringe, the core from which all else radiates. Sixteen stages of one kind or another are spread across these areas, welcoming thousands of artists who bring over 250 shows a day to the city. Everyone has the opportunity to showcase their talents. None of the acts are selected by the street events organisers, there are no auditions to pass, no-one tells you that you are not good enough to get out there and do your own thing. This is a real chance for seasoned professionals to
work side by side with complete beginners. And every talent known to mankind is out there entertaining the festival crowds.
I love the High Street, the crowds, the noise, the chaos that seems to eminate from every corner of the Royal Mile. Surrounded on all sides by the history of this beautiful city with its stunning architecture and cobbled streets, a cavalcade of colour and costume fills the senses with dramatic anticipation. So many shows, so much to see, it reminds one of a tasting menu in one of the city's exclusive restaurants. Try before you buy your tickets, test the water before popping into one of the many free performances ....... surprise yourselves. Look, listen, enjoy, use your imagination, try something new.
Drama plays a huge role in the Fringe, drama of every kind, bringing the world to Edinburgh. Shakespeare is much in evidence - Shakespeare as we know it, Shakespeare as we have never seen it before, Shakespeare almost beyond recognition. Many of the classics are given the Fringe treatment - Alice in Wonderland, The Canterbury Tales, Northanger Abbey, The Secret Garden to name but a few. Quirky, eccentric, almost unrecognisable in places, but they are there, touched up, tipped upside down, re-invented, totally original at times, but all an integral part of the festival. All ages, all abilities are on the streets, enticing you, winding you in, posing for countless photos in the hope you will include their show in your hectic itinerary. Oh to be able to see every show, reward all the hard work, the unwavering belief that their show is the best, is worth a few moments of your time. Some are undoubtedly talented - some are not, and they don't care. This is their chance to put themselves out there, to draw attention to all they have to offer.
Weird without doubt plays more than a little part in Fringe drama. I love it all - fact, fiction, fantasy, the crazy, the absurd, the senseless and the insane. Potty names for potty shows with equally potty characters. Fleabag, Faileontology, Squidboy, The Vacuum Cleaner, the list is endless. And of course there is serious drama, poignant, thought-provoking, hard-hitting at times, factual, plays based on current issues, plays centred on history, performances designed to make us sit up and take note. Individual performances, theatrical groups, students, young and old, amateur and professional, they are on stage giving their all, making the stage their own, sharing with you the highs and lows of thespian life. This is what the Fringe is all about, offering everyone a chance to shine before life returns to normal. I am savouring my time amidst this roller coaster of incentive, innovation and intensity. I am grasping every second I can, walking, talking, soaking up the atmosphere. The Fringe has made the High Street theirs for the month. Make sure you are a part of it as well. And there is more to follow very soon ........

Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Across the City

It's here, oh yes it is definitely here, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. Throughout August a phenomenal 2,500 shows will take place in more than 250 venues across the city, thousands of performers taking to countless stages in an eclectic assortment of buildings dotted around Scotland's capital. Big names rub shoulders with unknown artists taking their first steps into the limelight, encompassing a whole host of genres - comedy, theatre, dance, physical theatre, opera, musicals, music, exhibitions, it's all there waiting to amuse and entertain expectant audiences of every age, culture and nationality. So much to see, so much to do and a whole month in which to do it!
Fringe programmes are readily available around Edinburgh and turn up in a variety of formats. And just in case you're not aware that anything of any note is going on, posters and billboards fill every inch of empty space in every city centre street .... and indeed further afield. So even if the Fringe is not your cup of tea, you cannot escape the onslaught of entertainment that flows in its wake. Bizarre signposts accompany the colourful wallpapering of Edinburgh streets and buildings. Still lost? Just follow the crowds. Listen for the laughter.
Fringe venues are as interesting and as diverse as those who perform within their confines. The huge purple cow that is the Underbelly, the multi-faceted Assembly with its Bosco Tent and Spiegeltent, the Gilded Balloon - no, not a real balloon - and the Pleasance with its intricate collection of performance areas including the the Cellar, This, That, the Shed (yes, a real shed) and the Cabaret Bar, all offer a genuine Fringe atmosphere with their bars and food stalls. And all are great for celeb spotting if that is your thing.
Events will pop up in the Royal Botanic Gardens, churches, cathedrals, bars, bookshops, museums, libraries, even the summit of Arthur's Seat for those with more than a little stamina. Take the chance to call in to places you may normally walk past without giving a second glance. Face Frankenstein in his bar, enjoy a musical interlude in the unusual Tron Kirk, or delve into the atmospheric Caves with their quirky rooms and interesting stairways. And there is always the Bedlam Theatre ....... Appropriately named? Go and see for yourself. And of course the BBC are very much in evidence as usual. I could list every venue, every nook and cranny that has been sought out in every possible corner of the city. But I am not going to. Pick up a programme, polish up your sense of humour, unravel your fun side, get out there and drown yourself in the incredible experience that is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It doesn't matter how old you are, or what you class as entertainment. There is something for everyone. Free shows, ticketed shows, indoors, outdoors, underground, overground, daytime or the middle of the night, it's all there waiting for you to seek out and enjoy. You are never far from a box office, never far from tickets reeling you in and tickling your fancy. You know you want to, so go on, take the proverbial bull by the horns and throw yourself in to the unique experience that is the Fringe.