Spectacular fringe

Opening of the Fringe festival
Mike Tait|Metro10 April 2012

More than 150,000 revellers lined Princes Street in Edinburgh yesterday - to see everything from pipers and the Incredible Hulk to Lady Boys Of Bangkok marching along the famous thoroughfare.

Some even climbed to the top of traffic lights to see the spectacular procession, which opened the annual Fringe Festival.

For the next three weeks, Scotland's capital will be heaving with tourists, comedians and promoters enticing punters to a myriad of shows.

This year, there are 1,541 to choose from. It would take four years and 143 days to see every performance back-to-back.

The venues are just as diverse, with a ladder, lift, a Ford Escort and a public toilet among them.

One of the most high-profile performers is self-styled 'comedy terrorist' Aaron Barschak, who gatecrashed Prince William's birthday party at Windsor Castle.

Despite the publicity his stunt drummed up, his show - Osama Likes It Hot - has so far been panned by critics.

With the new, comes the familiar. Many comics who made their name at the Fringe over the years are back again.

They include Jimmy Carr, Dave Gorman, Lee Hurst and Julian Clary.

Geordie Ross Noble, whose show was judged the best last year, has already sparked controversy with his steep ticket prices.

Some shows cost up to £15. But, ever the comic, he told fans along Princes Street that there was a chance they could get in for free.

The catch - they had to dress as a cricket. Noble said: 'Come along dressed as the insect and you won't have to pay.'

Another British favourite, Johnny Vegas, announced he would perform two low-key gigs.

Another highlight comes from a Parisian troupe putting on an hourlong Monty Python set - in French.

The festival will also feature a healthy dose of serious drama.

Best known for comedy, Jo Brand is changing direction to star in Mental, a play about two women patients in a psychiatric hospital.

Acclaimed actor and writer Steven Berkoff will perform a trilogy of plays at the Royal Lyceum Theatre.

Festival spotlight - Page 18

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