The 7 Military Productions You Shouldn't Miss At The Edinburgh Fringe
With over 50,000 performances of more than 3,000 shows at last year's Edinburgh fringe, it can be difficult to decide what to see.
But fear not - if you're looking for a military-themed production to go see this time round, we've done the hard work for you.
Just take a look below at our selection of shows based around forces life, that aren't to be missed in 2017.
1. 5 SOLDIERS: The Body is the Frontline
This dance production themed on the British Army is hoping to humanise warfare in a way that civilians would understand.
The gritty and honest work by choreographer Rosie Kay is the Army's headline act at the fringe as it plays host to the festival for the first time.
It's offered up an Army Reserve Centre staffed by real serving soldiers as one of the fringe's venues.
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5 SOLDIERS, meanwhile, has received rave reviews from a number of national newspapers, and after finishing its run at the fringe will start a six-week tour of British Army drill halls in London, Hull, Aldershot, Swindon, Colchester and Birmingham.
Click here to find out more...
2. Iraq Out & Loud
Last fringe, 1,444 people read the entire 2.6 million word Chilcot Report in a garden shed next to a double-decker bus, non-stop.
The entire process took 284 hours and 45 minutes - making it the longest continuous fringe show ever performed.
Now, you can see a documentary about that experience - in the very same shed. Find out more here.
3. There Was A Soldier
Now in its second year at the fringe, this musical show was inspired by letters found in an attic, written between a First World War soldier of and his sweetheart.
This musical tribute focuses on 2nd Lieutenant David Wallace Dinwoodie, who fought in France, was horrifically injured after being shot in the face, and was then sent back again to fight.
Our reporter Ali Gibson went to find out more when the show opened at the fringe last year...
Stephen MacDonald's Fringe First-winning play looks at the encounter between WWI poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen in Edinburgh's Craiglockhart War Hospital.
The pair bonded over a mutual hatred of war and love of poetry, and this show looks at their friendship during the chaos of war.
MORE: Historic Hospital Remembers War Poets A Century On
Commemorating the centenary of both the meeting depicted in the play and the Armistice, it won a Best Actor accolade at the Wales Theatre Awards and is embarking on a world tour.
If you're interested in catching it before then, click here.
5. Wired
Wired deals with the story of a young woman soldier's experiences with post-traumatic stress.
By award-winning playwright Lesley Wilson, and developed in collaboration with the British Army, it follows its character's deployment to Afghanistan and the mental struggles she faces.
You can find out about upcoming performances here.
6. Private Peaceful
Adapted for stage by Simon Reade, this one-man show is based on the much-loved WWI novel by Michael Morpurgo, writer of War Horse.
George Stagnell plays 17-year-old Tommo Peaceful and everyone else he remembers as he looks back on his short but inspiring life - from growing up in rural England with his brother Charlie to the terrors they face together in the trenches.
Click here to find out more about where to see it.
7. Charlie's Letters
Charlie's Letters tells the story of a soldier's escape from a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War, making its debut at the fringe on Monday.
The film is based on a true story and was remarkably written, filmed, produced and edited by the soldier's 17-year-old great-grandson.
Elliot Hasler is now the youngest ever director to screen a film at the festival.
He said: "It’s about my great grandparents, mainly focusing on my great grandfather who was a POW in Italy and then he escaped and made a 400km journey south to Monte Casino.
"It's a remarkable story, I mean he made this journey through an alien landscape and actually managed to get home safe to his wife and children."
Charlie's Letters has now completed its run at the fringe - but this is definitely one to look out for in future.
MORE: Inside The Abandoned British Military Hospital in Germany
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