Fringe shows in funds boost

SEVENTEEN Fringe shows have won a total of £440,000 funding from the Scottish Government.

They include a play about Aids starring singer Marc Almond, a hard-hitting drama about knife gangs and several shows for children.

The cash, awarded under the Made in Scotland scheme, will allow the shows to be staged this summer and possibly go on tour abroad afterwards.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "We have a huge amount of creative people in Scotland, we know that, but we just need to show the world."