My Festival: Sarah-Louise Young

2012 is my tenth year at the Fringe and having the opportunity to see other acts is a massive incentive to keep coming back.

I try to see lots of new stuff but it’s also a chance to catch up with old friends. First on my list will be Fascinating Aïda (Gilded Balloon, 6.30pm). After being a fan of their music for over 22 years, I was delighted to be asked to join them last spring for a sabbatical. I had an amazing year touring with Dillie Keane and Adèle Anderson, including a West End run and recording a brand new DVD and CD. Whilst a little bit of me will wish I were up there with them, I am really excited to see the wonderful Liza Pulman back in the line-up again and cannot wait to see the show.

Free shows

The Free Fringe and Laughing Horse Free Fringe have grown incredibly over the past few years and without them my first Cabaret Whore show in 2009 would never have got off the ground. It’s fantastic to see so many great acts flourishing. This year sees the first outing from comedy double act Trodd En Bratt (Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters, 5.45pm). Lucy Trodd and Ruth Bratt are well known to fans of The Showstoppers and there is already a tremendous buzz about their very funny character sketch show, so get there early to guarantee a seat.

Comedy

The School Of Night (Pleasance Courtyard, 3.05pm) was founded by the late Ken Campbell, godfather of alternative theatre, and is made up of a bunch of awesome and fearless improvisers. What makes this different from a traditional comedy impro show is the sense of theatrical tradition. These guys can improvise in the style of Chaucer, Pinter, Beckett and Shakespeare and also caper about like loons. This is intelligent, funny and silly. Not to be missed.

Theatre

I usually head to Bedlam Theatre or the Traverse for new writing but there is so much good stuff on this year it was hard to choose. Then I spotted that Pip Utton is reprising his award-winning role as Hitler in his dark one-man show, Adolf for only two performances (Assembly Rooms, 13-14 August). I remember it being a huge success years ago when I was up here as a student but I was too broke to see it so I am really pleased to have the chance this year. In fact I am going to book my ticket right now.

Sarah-Louise Young’s show Cabaret Whore: Her Finest Hour – a selection of the best bits from three sell-out years at the Fringe – is at the Underbelly until 12 August, 7.30pm. She can then be seen in The Showstoppers, Gilded Balloon Teviot, 13-21 August, 11pm. www.sarah-louise-young.com