The Free fringe has been around for 17 years, and has become a Fringe within a Fringe. Performers need not pay the £295-£395 to go in the official brochure, and instead appear in the Free Fringe’s own brochure, circulation of 100,000, for free. Its spoken word section has been in existence for three years under its head, Richard Tyrone Jones, pictured, of 'Utter!' spoken word, who said: "I wouldn't be able to afford to go to Edinburgh in a paid venue. Instead it makes me proud to have programmed poets from around the world to do their shows with us, often debuts, and including Tim Turnbull, Helen Mort, Aisle 16, Baba Brinkman and Peterborough's Dead Poets, who got five four-star reviews. 

"We've already got 29 spoken word shows confirmed this year, including Rob Auton, Hull's Joe Hakim and Catherine Brogan, and with this new venue, the 40-capacity Fiddler's Elbow, we can give probably another 24 poets their own one-week run. You have to be prepared to chip in with helping keep the venue happy, and to give out Free Fringe programmes with your flyers, but you'll get to know other writers from around the world and audiences are bigger than for paid shows. The disadvantage is that you are less likely to be reviewed but it is more about the sense of cameraderie, and the other shows you get to share."

Those interested are invited to read the FAQs at www.freefringe.org.uk to decide if it is for them, then to contact   schedules@freefringe.org.uk with a show title, proposal, a few samples of work in video, audio or documents, how long a run they would like to do, when during the festival and at what time of day. The Free Fringe are particularly interested in getting more poets from the north, women, Wales, Ireland and Scotland itself - but add that all are welcome.