Recommend a Fringe 2012 Show

 One Academy Productions from the newly branded Royal Consevatoire of Scotland

Set in Greenock(where else) this is  a musical about a young man and help from an angel-sounds an interesting hour from the cream of Scotland's top  Academy (sorry Conservatoire)

Just back from performing in New York and Halifax Nova Scotia as part of Titanic cities tour, this Forum theatre production allows the audience to decide the ending the play.

Set in the few hours following the Titanic disaster it focuses on the influence of Fate on the lives of three people on board. Based on facts and individual accounts of the tragedy, it tells the story of the last few hours of the stricken liner. Who will survive the tragedy? Go along and decide who you think deserves to live and who the fates will abandon and allow death to take it's course.

For a little pre publicity Mike Oldfield played some music from his cult classic Tubular Bells for Two at the opening of the Olympics.

Catch the work in its entirety, performed by two multi tasking, multi instrumentalists who have performed this work to sell out audiences around the Globe.

Hear why this album became one of the biggest sellers of all time at the Assembly George Square

When the EG reviews team were putting together its reviewing schedule a kids' show that proved very popular was Horrible Histories- Barmy Britain at Pleasance Courtyard - it would seem lots of fans of the CBBC show are eager to see William Wallace, Henry VIII and Guy Fawkes do battle on stage. 

Another was Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales (Underbelly) by Scamp Theatre, a collection of stories by Children’s Laureate, Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (creators of The Gruffalo). Scamp previously put on Aesop’s Fables, Stick Man and Private Peaceful.

Dead Posh Productions is a new theatre company made up of students from the University of Warwick.  They are reviving Noel Coward's stage play, Still Life (better known as the film  Brief Encounter by David Lean).  Publicity tempts with "Caught between a Rock Cake and a Hard Place!"  Look forward to a complimentary afternoon tea at the performances at C Aquila, 2 Johnston Terrace when part of the ticket money goes to support The Railway Mission, a 130 year old charity that helps railway passengers and employees in their time of need.  Beautiful costumes and really bright young things in this cast!

To name but a few, look out for crazy Canadian Lumberjacks, the Goth with an accordian Damian Crow, the sassier than sassy Favela Funk Party and, for 4 nights only, the gorgeous Camille O'Sullivan as well as the king of smart sarcasm, Stewart Lee.

Underbelly’s new partnership with Old Vic New Voices and Ideastap sees five new plays premiere – Chapel Street, Bitch Boxer, Glory Dazed, Strong Arm and One Hour Only. John Osborne's heart-warming solo hit and sell-out smash from last year, John Peel’s Shed, also returns for a second run.

Camille O'Sullivan's had quite a few hot tips. She is also performing in a one-woman singing-talking adaptation of Shakespeare's narrative poem The Rape of Lucrece at the Lyceum as part of the official festival.

Assembly two is hosting this vibrant, ambitious and thoroughly engaging two handed version of Robert Tressel's classic novel produced by Towsend Productions and supported by Unite Scotland. Music, puppetry, singing and a political message.  What more can you want in 90 minutes? 

Rebecca Vaughan stars in this one woman show celebrating tales of the supernatural written by women whose work has " gathered dust and been forgotten."  It is directed by Guy Masterton and shows at Assembly 3.  Woooooo!

On the subject of puppetry, Nikotine at the Vault (aka 'Paradise in the Vault') was on at least a couple of reviewers shortlist. An adaptation of Anton Chekhov's play On the Harmful Effects of Smoking, the production came first at the 7th International Festival of Solo Puppeteers.

Lecoq trained company Rhum and Clay return to the Fringe with A Strange Wild Song, a display of absurdist physical theatre and following last year's success with Gogol's The Nose (see my review)  Fat Git Theatre are back with Uninvited which is based on a novella by Peter Mortimer.  Both are young, imaginative and engaging companies.

Well, our reviews are beginning to come in now. There's a couple of 5-star reviews already. Bill loved The Boat Factory - "Dan Gordon’s script lovingly recreates the cadences and rhythms of Belfast speech and shipyard life," he says.

Gordon, our year-round resident musicals expert, gave the 45-minute The Secrets Hidden in the Beatles Rockband his highest rating.

If you aren't picking up reviews and news on our news feed www.edinburghguide.com/rss.xml you can find reviews in the archive at www.edinburghguide.com/festival/2012 .

Don't forget there's plenty of Free festival shows throughout August. All these venues have free shows. Beer isn't free.

Intense, exciting and downright absurd, Justyna Mytnik's politicial comedy is making its Fringe debut. Last year the political comedy, exploring the line between fear and paranoia, made a great impact at Short Sweet Shock, a showcase of new writing at Summerhall. This year the show's international cast will be making waves at both the Hudson Hotel and Mood nightclub. Guaranteed to get your heart going and mind in motion. It's also absolutely free.