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A selection of stories from behind the scenes at Edinburgh's festivals.
Stan Strickland, solo performer in Coming Up For Air, was scheduled to have his first performance on Tuesday but had to call it off as his instruments and sets had yet to arrive.
Having left the US on Sunday, Stan flew via Paris to be greeted by the news he would have to leave all his luggage behind and travel on via Orlean Airport to get to Edinburgh in time.
Just catching each connection, Stan's luggage was not so lucky.
The African Drums, props, instruments, and chimes had all been left at various stages along the way.
The first performance was cancelled, but the instruments arrived in time for Wednesday's performance - although, unluckily for front row spectators - Stan is still waiting for his clothes to arrive.
Kolomiya Regional Ukrainian Drama Theatre, part of the international theatre programme presented by Universal Arts at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, have cancelled all remaining shows after a leading actress was knocked down by a car.
The company had gained four star reviews for their show Hutsul's Year.
A spokesman for the company said: "We have been deeply traumatised by the accident that resulted in one of our performers being admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
"Although seriously hurt, she did recover sufficiently to be released but has since been readmitted suffering from further complications.
"We are grateful for all the support we have received from Universal Arts in this difficult time.
"But the company have decided, collectively, that we need to go home and regroup. Despite our difficulties, we have had a great time here in Edinburgh and we hope to come back soon."
The Year That I Got Younger's solo performer Aindrias de Staic is sending out a request to all Edinburgh Residents - and generally all Fringe-goers.
Aindrias needs a dynamo to use as an essential prop in his show. Aindrias is offering a 15-minute show in exchange for the essential prop (in full working order), he is happy to perform in living rooms and kitchens.
The award winning Irishman will perform on his fiddle some of his original jazz theatre for whomever comes forward with a working dynamo.
Just before the live recording of cult Radio Four programme, Just A Minute, at The Pleasance Grand, began when a women in the front of the audience called out "emergency".
Everyone rushed to pick up the woman who had passed out. Doctors and nurses from across the auditorium went to assist the woman who was unconscious for several minutes.
Nicholas Parsons, joined by Paul Merton and Lynn Ferguson stood on the stage aghast as audience members helped the women and an ambulance was called.
The women came round after 10 minutes and walked away feeling ok but shaken.
Henning Wehn and Otto Kuhle have their work cut out at this year's Fringe.
The German comics are trying to rebuild the reputation of Teutonic humour with their show A Thousand Years Of German Humour.
Although ticket sales are up on last year's show, they've been encountering a few morale problems while handing out flyers on the Royal Mile.
Here's their top five reasons for people being reluctant to embrace German humour.
1. You're joking. We're Dutch - (Two girls from Holland)
2. They bombed our "chippie" - (A Scottish local)
3. I don't speak English - (An Italian)
4. Germans don't have a sense of humour - (Only remarkable because it was the response of a German tourist)
5. I don't have a beach towel - (An English wit!)
Actress Hannah Gordon - appearing in the opening concert at the Usher Hall for the Edinburgh International Festival - last appeared here in 1987 in a festival production of Schiller's Mary Stuart at the Assembly Hall on the Royal Mile.
"I'd always nursed a passion for Mary Queen of Scots so when I was asked to play her, it was very exciting," she said.
"The festival has a real buzz about it. Long may it live - I like the idea that anyone can come along and put on their own show.
"My son's friend has done that - I'm going to see his show and I'm off to the Tattoo for the first time in many years."
Offers of free tickets to those who helped with the Herculean task of reopening the Usher Hall in time for this year's festival have been taken up happily.
The international festival made the offer to say thanks to the team of electricians, painters, carpenters and cleaners who got the venue open.
A spokesman for the festival said 40 workers had already secured tickets and they expected more to get in touch.
Dovecot Studios - one of Edinburgh's newest venues and a key location for the Edinburgh Art Festival - were cutting things fine at their grand opening.
The former Infirmary Street Baths - now transformed into a home for the city's oldest tapestry studio hosted a party for 300 guests to celebrate the opening.
The party began at 5.30pm - just five minutes after an official from the city council arrived with their operating licence.
The venue hopes to offer former swimmers at the pool the chance to look around in the future - but meantime, two exhibitions celebrating tapestry will be on at Dovecot till the end of September.
The fringe isn't famously family friendly - at least not in the late night drinking holes.
And the couple with a tiny baby in the Spiegeltent for the Tiger Lilies new show may have chosen in error.
The baby seemed unfazed by lead singer Martyn Jacques' garish Joker-style make-up, the lewd songs of their new cabaret show The Seven Deadly Sins and the gay Punch and Judy Show, which punctuated the performance.
But when the band launched into a number entitled "I love to kick a baby down the stairs", it seemed like the right time for the family to make a sharp exit.
Any new sport involves an element of risk to those brave pioneers who lead the way.
But Joe Baker of This Stand-Up Show Belongs to Lionel Richie got more than he bargained for when demonstrating the phenomenon that is 'tape measure extension, known as TME.
Joe, a veteran of the sport, sustained the first reported injury in an event that has taken London by storm and is now capturing the imagination of audiences in Edinburgh.
He said: "It all happened so fast. One minute I was 5cm from the world record. The next I was flat on my back in agony."
As Joe extended the tape it snapped back catching him in the eye. At first the audience thought it was part of the show, but it soon became apparent that this was no joke.
In the true spirit of the free fringe an audience whip-round provided enough money for a hasty taxi to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Doctors at A&E said the corneal abrasion would not affect his TME career but they did recommend he wear goggles in all future competitions.
A break-in at the Roxy Art House theatre in Roxburgh Place on Thursday night left theatre company About Turn without a set and props for its show Outward Bound, minutes before the performance.
"A mad-dash" around Edinburgh followed, "treasure-hunt-style", to find everything they needed.
Actor Dan Hyde said: "We have to laugh about it now - especially as they stole a vodka bottle full of water. They must be so disappointed."
The Noise Next Door Company - at the Fringe with their show Improphecy Chronicles have agreed to pose nude for a painting - wearing only their show's signature coloured ties.
Artist Martin Valentine will then be exhibiting the work at a public exhibition at the end of this year's Fringe, where it will be up for sale.
Comedian Ricky Payne had more of a reaction to his interactive show than he had hoped for when a man in his 50s began convulsing in the audience.
The Wombman writer and star stopped the show at C Soco at C venues in Chambers Street and called the emergency services.
The suspected heart attack turned out to be a fainting fit and the man is now well again.
The If.comedy award's publicist, Anna Arthur, caused a stir at Edinburgh Airport security checks when she tried to take two handgun-shaped water pistols through in her hand luggage.
Ms Arthur had been at the event's end of launch lunch where the toy guns had been handed out.
But Ms Arthur's plans to smuggle them back for her children ended in them being confiscated by security.
With the title "Lough/Rain", the tip tap of a shower on the roof should add to the ambiance of the show, but it was ironic that a downpour led to Lough/Rain's first performance having to be cancelled.
The play is on at the Underbelly's Iron Belly, a stone vault that already has tarpaulin draped across the roof to help protect audiences from the dampness.
But very heavy showers last Thursday night led to parts of the floor flooding and damage to the lighting desk.
The show's producer Anna Bewick said: "We tried to get a replacement but by the time we managed it was too late and we felt it would be better for the audience to pull the show.
"We managed to transfer their tickets to another day but secretly now every time it rains we have our fingers crossed."
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