With this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe fast approaching, we’ve taken a look back in our archives for photos of the annual event during the 1980s.
That decade saw many TV and comedy stars who went onto become household names appear in Edinburgh, selling their shows on the streets of the city like everyone else, including comedians Rowan Atkinson, Alexi Sayle and Jo Brand, musician Jools Holland and Scottish US TV show host Craig Ferguson.
. Lion king
Members of the Chinese Theatre Circle in traditional costume performed the Lion Dance outside the Assembly Rooms in George Street to promote their Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, August 1988. Photo: Rod Fleming
. Rumpelstiltskin
One of the performers from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of Rumpelstiltskin presents a rose to some children in August 1980. Photo: Alan Macdonald
![The Black Theatre Co-Op [now called Nitro] were in Edinburgh to present '65 With a Bullet' at the Gilded Balloon during Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1989. Dancers from the group do an enthusiastic Highland Fling with a piper.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjRhOWVjYjMwLTgzZWMtNDZhNS1hNGQ3LTIxZGFkZTE2ZThkNjoyOTgyOWRiZS1jNjI3LTQxNTItYmFjZC04NGRlYWFkY2JkYzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
. Highland Fling
The Black Theatre Co-Op [now called Nitro] were in Edinburgh to present '65 With a Bullet' at the Gilded Balloon during Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1989. Dancers from the group do an enthusiastic Highland Fling with a piper. Photo: Rod Sibbald
. Acrobats
Members of the National Revue Company (radio and TV broadcaster Arthur Smith extreme right) promote their Fringe production of Acrobats in Parliament Square during Edinburgh Festival 1980. Photo: Albert Jordan
. Fringe Sunday
Performers ('pneumatic art') promoting their show in Holyrood Park on Fringe Sunday, during the Edinburgh Festival in 1983. Photo: Alan Macdonald
. Street performers
The High Street becomes pedestrian-only as Edinburgh Festival Fringe acts and street performers entertain the crowds in August 1981. Photo: Bill Stout
. Daring stunt
Controversial French circus Archaos drive a motorbike over a car on Waverley Bridge as a publicity stunt for their Edinburgh Festival Fringe show in August 1989. Photo: Joe Steele
. Mr Bean
Performer Rowan Atkinson (right), who went onto find fame as Blackadder and Mr Bean, pictured with Fringe director Alistair Moffat at a Fringe press conference during the Edinburgh Festival in 1980. Photo: Bill Newton
. Clowning around
Clowns from the Circus Lumiere, whose show came from the Meadows' Tent (Meadows Big Top) during Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1980. Photo: Jack Crombie
. Staying dry
A couple under their umbrella enjoy a view of Fringe Sunday and the Edinburgh skyline from Salisbury Crags at Holyrood Park in August 1987. Photo: Alan Macdonald
. Spot the famous faces
'An Evening Without' at the Assembly Rooms during the 1981 Edinburgh Festival. L to R Jimmy Mulville, Peter Fincham, Griff Rhys Jones, Martin Bergman, Rory McGrath and Clive Anderson. Photo: Ian Brand
1. Lion king
Members of the Chinese Theatre Circle in traditional costume performed the Lion Dance outside the Assembly Rooms in George Street to promote their Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, August 1988. Photo: Rod Fleming
2. Rumpelstiltskin
One of the performers from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of Rumpelstiltskin presents a rose to some children in August 1980. Photo: Alan Macdonald
3. Highland Fling
The Black Theatre Co-Op [now called Nitro] were in Edinburgh to present '65 With a Bullet' at the Gilded Balloon during Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1989. Dancers from the group do an enthusiastic Highland Fling with a piper. Photo: Rod Sibbald
4. Acrobats
Members of the National Revue Company (radio and TV broadcaster Arthur Smith extreme right) promote their Fringe production of Acrobats in Parliament Square during Edinburgh Festival 1980. Photo: Albert Jordan