CELEBRATING its 70th anniversary this year, the Fringe denies no-one entry. From its defiant origins in 1947 when eight troupes, refused entry to the newly-established International Festival, decided to perform on “the fringe” anyway, it’s the planet’s largest platform for freedom of expression.

That’s something to cherish when civil liberties watchdogs such as Freedom House assessed last year as “the 11th consecutive year of decline in global freedom”.

Remember you don’t need a heavy wallet to enjoy the Fringe, just ensure you’re super early if it’s a non-ticketed free show. Most shows last around an hour, but double check if you have a tight schedule. And as veteran performer Mark Thomas recently advised Fringe-goers: “When your instincts shout ‘this could be weird’, get involved.”

All tickets are bookable at edfringe.com and on 0131 226 0000.

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COMEDY

Carl Donnelly: The Nutter on the Bus
Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Donnelly on the top deck of a bus for a new show about spiritual awakenings.
Until Aug 27 (not 9, 16), Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus (Venue 212), 7.30pm, £7, £6 concs.

Chris Forbes: Unquiet Mind
The star of BBC’s Scot Squad returns to the Fringe for stand-up, songs and sketches.
Until Aug 28 (not 15), Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14), 7.45pm, £10, £9 concs.

Christopher Macarthur-Boyd: The Boyd With the Thorn in His Side
ot only is the western world sliding into far-right ideology, but CMB’s girlfriend left him.
Until Aug 28 (not 14), Gilded Balloon at Rose Theatre (Venue 76), 9.45pm, £7 to £8.

Dave Johns: I, Fillum Star
The comedian chosen by filmmaker Ken Loach as the star of I, Daniel Blake on the red carpet journey he was taken on.
Until Aug 27 (not 15, 22), Pleasance Dome (Venue 23), 7pm, £12.50, £11.50 concs.

Eleanor Morton: Angry Young Woman
Morton isn’t going to take it any more in a surreal journey through the history of angry women.
Until Aug 27 (not 14, 21), The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4 (Venue 12), 12.05pm, £8, £7 concs.

Fern Brady: Suffer, Fools!
Scottish comedian Fern is back for another Scottish hour.
Until Aug 27 (not 14, 15), The Stand Comedy Club 2 (Venue 5), 12.05pm, £10, £9 concs.

For Godley’s Sake!
The brazen Trump annoyer brings another free show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Until Aug 27, Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters (Venue 272), 8.15pm, free, non-ticketed.

Fred MacAulay: IndyFred2
Part political, part topical, MacAulay returns for his 29th Fringe.
Until Aug 27 (not 14, 18, 19), The Stand Comedy Club (Venue 5), 8.05pm, £15, £13 concs.

Iain Connell: Some Buzz (Work in Progress)
Star and co-creator of TV’s Burnistoun succumbs to his desire to do stand-up.
Aug 15 to 27, The Stand Comedy Club 2 (Venue 5), 8.50pm, £9, £8.

I Can Make You Tory
Sick of sanctimonious lefties? Leo Kearse claims it’s right to be right wing.
Until Aug 28 (not 15), Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters (Venue 272), 7.30pm, free, non-ticketed.

Jamie MacDonald: Designated Driver
Foot to the floor comedy and irreverent stories courtesy of that blind Glaswegian guy.
Until Aug 27 (not 15), Assembly Rooms (Venue 20), 8.25pm, £10, £8 concs.

John Scott: Delusions
The world has gone mad. So has John on occasion.
Until Aug 27 (not 21), Laughing Horse @ Espionage (Venue 185), 6.30pm, free, non-ticketed.

Larry Dean: Fandan
Comedy Award nominee Larry Dean returns with a new hour of boyish wit.
Until Aug 27 (not 15), Heroes @ Monkey Barrel (Venue 515), 6.40pm, £5.

Mark Thomas: A Show That Gambles on the Future
Thomas sets out to discover the future by examining his own predictions and those of his audiences, before gambling on their outcome.
Until Aug 27 (not 14, 19), Summerhall (Venue 26), 6pm, £15, £12 concs.

Mike Bubbins: Retrosexual Male
Mike’s old school. A man’s man who proudly lives in the past. Why? It’s better.
Until Aug 27, Assembly George Square Studios (Venue 17), 6.30pm, £11, £10 concs.

Mitch Benn: I’m Still Here
Mitch is still here, trying to make the world a better place one silly song at a time.
Until Aug 27 (not 14), The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6 (Venue 319), 2.50pm, £10, £9 concs.

Nasty Women on the Fringe – Sajeela Kershi and Friends
A rotating line-up of nasty women kicking back at walls, bans and hate.
Until Aug 27 (not 7, 14, 21), Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom (Venue 93), 8.45pm, free, ticketed.

NewsRevue 2017
The Guinness World Record-breaking song and sketch show takes on the demise of democracy.
Until Aug 28 (not 15), Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 6.30pm, £12 to £17.50.

Orwell That Ends Well
Lolly Jones (Black Mirror) explores our digital footprint.
Until Aug 27 (not 13, 14), Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88), 11.40am, free, ticketed.

Ray Bradshaw: Deaf Comedy Fam
One in six people have hearing loss, like Ray’s parents. Performed in both BSL and English.
Until Aug 28 (not 14), Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14), 4pm, £10, £9.

Rosco McClelland: How I Got Over Scottish Comedian of the Year
McClelland uses psychedelic storytelling to recount a life-changing event.
Until Aug 28 (not 14), Gilded Balloon at Rose Theatre (Venue 76), 10.45pm, £7 to £9.

Tony Law: Absurdity for the Common People
The maverick truth slinger of ridiculousness tells us to unite in art.
Until Aug 28 (not 14), The Stand Comedy Club (Venue 5), noon, £12.50, £10 concs.

Vladimir McTavish: Scotland the State of the Nation
After another political rollercoaster of a year, what’s in Scotland’s future?
Until Aug 27 (not 14), The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6 (Venue 319), 7.30pm, £9, £8 concs.

DANCE, MUSIC & MUSICALS

Brexit The Musical
There’s a plan for Brexit but no-one knows where it is. Written by Brexit lawyer Chris Bryant.
Until Aug 28 (not 15), C venues – C (Venue 34), 6.55pm, £13.50 to £15.50.

Bwani Junction Perform Paul Simon’s Graceland
The band pay tribute to a key influence with the help of accordionist Phil Cunningham.
Aug 9 to 11, 16 to 18, The Liquid Room (Venue 276), 7pm, £18, £14 concs.

Camille O’Sullivan: Where Are We Now?
The masterful interpreter takes on the arresting, final songs of Bowie and Cohen among others.
Until Aug 26 (not 9, 14, 21), Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows (Venue 360), £19 to £21.

Carol Ann Duffy and John Sampson
The Poet Laureate and her musical collaborator explore the voices of those fallen in the First World War.
Until Aug 13, The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6 (Venue 319), 12.20pm, £12, £10.

Last Clown on Earth
Marking 20 years since their Fringe debut are always-impressive Russian physical theatre company Derevo.
Until Aug 28 (not 14, 21), Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 5.40pm, £10 to £13.

Mary, Queen of Scots
Murdering adulteress, martyr or heroine? Majestic contralto Louise Macdonald performs new works which question received history.
Aug 16, 18 to 21, 23 to 24, ArtSpace @ StMarks, various times, £14, £12 concs.

THEATRE 
Adam Featuring a 120-strong international world choir of trans individuals, Adam is the true story of a trans man’s fight to find home.
Until 27 (not 7, 14, 21), Traverse Theatre (Venue 15), various times and prices.

Alex Salmond... Unleashed
The former First Minister is joined by a different guest each day for chat, stories and fun.
Aug 13 to 27, Assembly Rooms (Venue 20), 1.45pm, sold out. Try 0131 623 3030 for returns.

Assessment
Robert Dawson Scott’s play asks troubling questions about self-worth, growing old and family love.
Until Aug 28 (not 15), Gilded Balloon at Rose Theatre (Venue 76), 2.30pm, £9, £10.

Celebration
Part dance party, part funeral, Celebration aims to give anyone who can’t quite believe the world they live in something to believe in.
Aug 15 to 28, ZOO (Venue 124), 5.45pm, £8.

The Damned United
Red Ladder Theatre’s adaptation of David Peace’s novel exploring the mind and times of Brian Clough.
Until Aug 28 (not 14, 22), Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 5pm, £9.50 to £12.50.

Doglife
Six-time Fringe First winner Jeremy Weller returns with part two of a trilogy with former gangland enforcer Thomas McCrudden.
Until Aug 27 (not 14, 21), Summerhall (V26), 7.25pm, £10, £8 concs.

Eve
Playwright, performer, father and grandmother Jo Clifford tells the story of a child mistakenly raised as a boy.
Until Aug 27 (not 7, 14, 21), Traverse Theatre (Venue 15), times vary, £19.50, concs available.

Jane Doe
Participatory theatre show addressing rape culture, consent, feminism and empowerment.
Until Aug 28 (not 14, 21), George Square Studios (Venue 17), 3pm, £11 to £12.

The Last Queen of Scotland
From Uganda to Dundee, a story of a community in exile with a live soundtrack by Patricia Panther.
Until Aug 26 (not 9, 16), Underbelly, Cowgate (Venue 61), 6.50pm, £12, £14, concs available.

Letters to Morrissey
Award-winning playwright Gary McNair recalls the letters he wrote to his adolescent hero.
Until Aug 27 (not 14, 21), Traverse Theatre (Venue 15), various times, £19.50, concs available.

Morale Is High (Since We Gave Up Hope)
Powder Keg smash pop and politics in an attempt to predict the 2020 General Election.
Until Aug 20 (not 9, 16), Northern Stage at Summerhall (Venue 26), 10.15, £12, £10 concs.

The North! The North!
A dark new myth about Britain, the bad things that happen, and the stories we make up in response.
Until Aug 27 (not 14), Summerhall (Venue 26), 5.50pm, £11, £10 concs.

Out of the Bad
A black comedy about the occupation of Uddingston’s Caterpillar factory in 1987 and what it means for the present.
Until Aug 27 (not 15), New Town Theatre (Venue 7), 3.25pm, £12, £10 concs.

Performers
Irvine Welsh and Dean Cavanagh’s play centres on two gangsters auditioning for roles in the film Performance.
Until Aug 27 (not 14), Assembly Rooms (Venue 20), 4.45pm, £15, £13 concs.

3000 Trees: The Death of Mr William MacRae
The return of Andy Paterson’s acclaimed play about the death of the SNP politician.
Until Aug 27 (not 15), New Town Theatre (Venue 7), 2.50pm, £10, £9 concs.