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By Karrie Gillett
THE line-up of more than 2,000 acts performing at this summer’s festival fringe has been announced.
Among the mix of stars to visit Edinburgh will be Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy – aka Mr Spock – who has written a play about Vincent Van Gogh.
And hoping to capitalise on an infamous cult following with students will be veteran comedian Roy Walker who brings his show goodbye Mr Chips to the capital.
A total of 2,088 acts are to descend on Edinburgh from August 3 – 25 as the 62nd Festival Fringe takes place.
And colourful sister-act Felicity and Tiffany Redman are ready and waiting to take their opera singing on to the streets for the three-week spectacle.
The busking pair from Essex – better known as The Two Sopranos – are hoping to prove as popular with passers-by during their fourth visit to the world-famous event.
The stunning sisters – who have been singing opera together for more than 15 years – perform every year on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Blond-haired Tiffany said: “We were definitely among some of the most photographed last year.
“I think we bring opera to people who might otherwise give it a miss and that feels brilliant to us.
“There’s no doubt that Edinburgh is one of the top venues and this year isn’t going to be any different.”
And for her sibling Felicity the city holds an extra special attraction after she met her future fiancé while busking at the festival last year.
She said: “Edinburgh is fabulous and so is the buzz during the three weeks that you’re here.
“Of course it means even more to me now that I can walk around with my fiancé and look at the places we went when we first met. It’s a special romantic place for me now.”
One of the events highlights is set to be Bill Bailey’s one-night-only comedy Tinselworm at the Playhouse.
And Michael Barrymore’s appearance in a play about Spike Milligan called “Surviving Spike” alongside Eastenders’ Jill Halfpenny will be on at the Assembly Rooms in George Street.
Festival director, Jon Morgan, said there was something for everyone across a massive range of art forms.
He said: “The wide range of shows that connect with current issues in our world demonstrates that the Fringe is an incredibly flexible platform for artists.
“The Fringe was founded on the principle of open-access for all performers and it continues to be the best place to showcase new work.”
