This week saw the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society announce the first 190 shows of the festival’s 2023 edition, which will take place from August 4-28.
Tickets are now on sale here for the shows, which cover the usual wide spectrum of theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, musicals, variety, cabaret, events and more.
The official launch of the festival, including the big reveal of the iconic printed programme, will take place on Thursday, June 8.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "Along with the programme launch and the first Friday in August, the announcement of the first batch of shows is one of those thrilling moments in the Fringe calendar. The whole Fringe community has been working behind the scenes to prepare for the festival for months now, but having actual shows to browse and book makes the build up to this year’s Fringe that bit more tangible. The Fringe is made possible due to a cast of thousands – artists, audiences, venue staff, industry, media, sponsors, partners and local businesses. It’s never too early to start planning a trip to the Fringe; booking early is also a brilliant way to support artists, to let them know there’s already an audience waiting for their show to come to Edinburgh. We’ll be announcing a lot more over the coming months, including details of our much-anticipated new app, so stay tuned!”
Here are 13 eye-catching shows you can book now.
![Straight from the brains of comedy genuis duo Harry Hill and Steve Brown, comes 'TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera]'. Playing the Pleasance at the EICC at various times throughout August is promises to tell "the story of how one man went from peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades".](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmViMjMzN2FlLTFmYmItNGI5OS05YWM2LTQxZDE2N2Q5YjQxYzoxYWYyODJjYi1jMDIzLTRlMzEtOWMyZC0wOWM1YzAwOTBhYzk=.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=640)
9. TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera]
Straight from the brains of comedy genuis duo Harry Hill and Steve Brown, comes 'TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera]'. Playing the Pleasance at the EICC at various times throughout August is promises to tell "the story of how one man went from peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades". Photo: Contributed
10. Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles – A Gameshow For Awful Children
An early reminder that there's plenty for the kids at the Fringe, comedian Alexis Dubus is back as his monstrous French alter ego Marcel Lucont with 'Les Enfants Terribles – A Gameshow For Awful Children'. Playing at Assembly George Square Gardens' Piccolo venue for the majority of the Fringe at 2.55pm, it sets out to "see what happens when international insouciance meets infantile exuberance". Photo: Contributed
11. Paul Merton
'Have I Got News For You' team captain Paul Merton will be returning to the Fringe for the umpteenth time with his Impro Chums - namely Paul Merton, Suki Webster, Richard Vranch, Kirsty Newton and Mike McShane. Fans of 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' will know what to expect from the show playing at the Pleasance Grand from August 10-20 at 3.30pm. Photo: Dan Kitwood
12. Dean Friedman
An unlikely pop star who has written a number of top 40 hits, inclding 'Ariel', 'Lucky Stars', 'Lydia', 'Woman of Mine', 'Rocking Chair', and 'McDonald’s Girl', American singer/songwriter Dean Friedman will be playing eight shows at St Andrew's and St George's West from August 13-20 at 7.30pm each night. Photo: Contributed