If you are interested in the arts, Edinburgh in August is the place (0) TO be. Apart from the main International Festival, 1 is what is called ‘The Fringe’, offering 2,700 different shows in over 270 venues throughout the city, many of 2 are free.
Visitors are often surprised 3 the range of shows on offer. This includes comedy, cutting-edge theatre, dance, children’s shows and music. As there is no selection committee, 4 kind of event is possible and the quality varies.
While many high-profile performers take part, the vast majority 5 a mixture of unknown professionals, actors and students, who use the festival as a way of bringing their talents 6 an audience for the first time. Indeed, many well-known comics first appeared there 7 student productions.
In recent years many new audiences have been drawn almost exclusively to stand-up comics and some regular visitors are disappointed 8 this trend. However, as comedy is very much fashion, they will have to get used to it.