WHEN the Edinburgh Festival was first set up after World War II to cheer the nation following years of deprivation, no one could have predicted how it would become the phenomenon it now is, writes Times Theatre critic Kerry Black.

Alongside the official festival, you can visit the Fringe, The Book Festival, the famous Tattoo and even the Free Fringe.

From operas, to fire breathing jugglers, via family shows and midnight burlesque revues, the festival offers something for everyone.

If you’ve never been, hop on the train or bus from Fife and just stroll the streets watching the mad miscellany of street performers.

Favourite performance spots include the side of the art galleries on Princes Street, The Tron and of course The Royal Mile, where you can see free tasters of many Fringe shows. Catch the bus around town with a day ticket or wear sturdy shoes and expect to be flooded with flyers. Instead of the good old “Pass The Hat”, you can now pay the buskers by card!

There are hundreds of show available, you can find them in the free Fringe booklet or online. You can now pay online and collect your tickets at Waverley Station amongst other places. Look out for offers galore, including the famous ½ price hut!

People flock from all round the world and many famous performers kick started their careers in Auld Reekie, in fact it can be a celebrity spotters paradise!

Shows take place in everything from traditional theatres, to university lecture rooms, churches, pubs, cafes and even outdoor spaces.

Shows I have attended this year include the hilarious A Virgin’s Guide to Rocky Horror in a beautiful hidden gem of a venue, a masonic hall in Hill Street, where the top-notch cast took us on a Time Warp from the 1970s of the wildest musical ever.

From Dr Scott’s Commando Book German, to Frankenfurter’s fish nets, it is an interactive hoot of a show.

I also attended Captivate Theatre’s touching “Whistle Down The Wind” in the Rose Street Theatre (a beautiful converted chapel), where the impressive young cast made full use of the horseshoe pews, an opening night event at Summerhall (the old Dick Vet College) and a Canada Hub event at the King’s Hal, a community church with a beer garden at the rear.

From fabulous opera singers, to the Kelty Clippie, to bonkers puppet shows, I have experienced the lust, love and sheer lunacy that is the Edinburgh Festival and every night has ended by seeing the spectacular Tattoo fireworks illuminating the hearts and skies of Edinburgh!