Many of the bigger venues, such as The Traverse, have already launched their programmes as the 414-page, 616 gram Edinburgh Fringe brochure hit the streets today.
The Fringe Society's free brochure this year lists 49,497 performances (up from 45,204 last year) of 3,193 shows (up from 2,871 shows last year) in 299 venues (up from 273 venues last year).
There is an 11% increase on last year’s programme, making it "the biggest ever in the history of the Fringe".
Of those, 1,789 are premieres and a total of 47 different countries (compared to 40 last year) are represented at the Fringe.
There are also 825 free shows (compared to 713 last year).
Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Fringe Society Kath Mainland said:
“This year is an incredibly important year for Scotland with major international cultural, sporting and political events taking place. With our eclectic range of shows and uniquely diverse range of voices the Fringe will, as always, be at the centre of things and promises to keep residents and visitors unbored.”
"Unboring" is the Fringe Society's 2014 theme/slogan, with the single word baldly scrawled across the brochure's cover.
Familiar faces
Among the better kent names appearing in the Fringe is Dame Diana Rigg in No Turn Unstoned (Assembly Checkpoint) which gives an insight into the worst theatrical reviews in history and a celebration of the actors who survive.
Former star of Dad’s Army Ian Lavender returns to the Fringe with Don't Tell Him Pike (Assembly Rooms), providing memories and anecdotes on his career, and star of Hi-de-Hi! Jeffrey Holland performs a one man show about the life of Stan Laurel in ...and This is My Friend Mr Laurel (Pleasance Courtyard).
The Trial of Jane Fonda (Assembly Rooms) stars Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winner Anne Archer as one of the most controversial anti-war activists in American history, while TV personality Nancy Dell’Olio stars in Nancy Dell’Olio: Rainbows From Diamonds (Gilded Balloon), sharing her secrets to surviving with glamour and her beliefs on living a self-empowered life.
Erasure’s Andy Bell takes on the most challenging role of his career as an age defying, polysexual saint in Torsten the Bareback Saint (Assembly George Square) and former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock shares his journey and experiences with the band in Glen Matlock: I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol (Assembly George Square).
On the lighter side
Clive Anderson is on hosting duties for What Does The Title Matter Anyway? (previously advertised as Whose Live Show Is It Anyway?) at Underbelly Bristo Square, McEwan Hall). Based on the hit TV show it will feature many of the stars who made their names on the original show such as Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Josie Lawrence and Steve Frost.
Jeremy Paxman makes his Fringe debut with the frank and undoubtedly controversial Paxo (Pleasance Courtyard), and Celebrity Juice regular and star of BBC2's Hebburn Chris Ramsey shares his insights of being ‘sent off’ the Soccer AM sofa last year for misbehaving in Chris Ramsey: The Most Dangerous Man On Saturday Morning Television (Pleasance Courtyard).
Jimmy Carr is also back to share his new work Jimmy Carr – Funny Business (Venue150@EICC), while Adam Riches, who made his name when he won the Fosters’ Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2011, returns with new work Adam of the Riches (Pleasance Dome).
Poet Pam Ayres (Assembly Rooms) returns to Edinburgh after nearly 10 years with new work, and Ruby Wax is also back with Ruby Wax: Sane New World (Assembly Rooms) where she attempts to teach the audience how to find calm in a frenetic world. Star of Ricky Gervais’ sitcom Derek and Live at the Apollo, Kerry Godliman also returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a brand new show, Kerry Godliman: Face Time (The Stand Comedy Club).
Ticketing
The Fringe Society continues to augment its box office, with a new online ticketing system on the 'tickets' subdomain - tickets.edfringe.com (no 'www').
A new, 24-hour Fringe Ticket Collection Point has also been introduced for the first time to Edinburgh Airport for domestic arrivals and the Ticket Collection Point at Glasgow Queen Street Station is back again this year. Both open in late July.
Pieces of the Edinburgh Fringe pie
- Comedy makes up 34% (compared to 33% last year)
- Theatre makes up 28% (compared to 29% last year)
- Music makes up 13% (compared to 14% last year)
- Musicals and Opera makes up 3% (compared to 4% last year)
- Children’s Shows make up 5% (compared to 5% last year)
- Dance, Circus & Physical Theatre makes up 4%(compared to 4% last year)
- Events make up 4% (compared to 4.5% last year)
- Cabaret makes up 3% (compared to 3% last year)
- Spoken Word makes up 4% (compared to 2% last year)
- Exhibitions make up 2% (compared to 1.5% last year)
More on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe