The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the UK’s biggest arts festivals and draws in thousands of comedy and theatre fans every August.

If you’re heading to this year’s festival, here are three brilliant shows from Kent-based performers that you should add to your must-see list…

PUBLIC THE MUSICAL

This new musical is a pop-rock explosion of social commentary, tongue-in-cheek comedy and compassion created by three creatives from West Kent.

Schoolfriends Kyla Stroud, Natalie Stroud and Olivia Zacharia, who grew up in the Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks areas, wrote the musical, including its energetic original score, from an initial idea that only came to life less than 12 months ago.

The show follows four unlikely strangers who get trapped in a gender-neutral public toilet and are forced to navigate unexpected challenges and face uncomfortable conversations, all with a touch of comedy and sensitivity.

“The fact we’re debuting this show at Edinburgh Fringe, less than a year after coming up with the initial idea, is a testament to the incredible hard work from team Stroud and Notes and the belief we all have in this piece of work,” says singer-songwriter Kyla.

“The conversations in this show are relevant and important in the world right now, and what better way to get them out there than through a musical?”

Public the Musical will be at the Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Two) from Wednesday, August 2 to Monday, August 28 (excluding August 9 and 21) at 6:30pm.

BOWJANGLES: DRACULA IN SPACE

Members of the string quartet company Bowjangles are taking their quirky horror sci-fi musical to this year’s Fringe.

Dracula in Space, which will see four performers from the Kent-based music group take to the stage, combines classic horror characters, a science fiction setting, irreverent comedy and impressive music to create this genre-defying show.

The musical, which follows four people who meet a mysterious bloodsucking benefactor in outer space, is a love letter to horror films and movie scores.

“Bowjangles started in 2008 as a busking group, then our movements got a bit more choreographed, and over the years we also started singing and acting,” says director Ezme Gaze. “We never set out to be funny, but we do seem to make people laugh.

“We’re marking our anniversary with an out-of-this-world production which brings to life an intergalactic horror.”

Dracula in Space will be at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Doonstairs) from Wednesday, August 2 to Sunday, August 27 at 4:30pm.

SAD

Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy, two music artists from Margate, are bringing this touching show based around Kent residents to Edinburgh this summer.

SAD was initially created by Quiet Boy, whose real name is Gaz Tomlinson, who lost his mum and turned to music to help him cope with his grief.

He teamed up with Brigitte to develop the show, which blends music, poetry and recording of real people’s stories of loss, grief and hope.

The show also looks at the science behind SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), the ways in which the disorder can affect chemical and hormone levels and how sound and music can make people feel more positive.

Early versions of the show were recorded in cafes in Kent, and stories from these first few recordings will be used in the Fringe performances.

SAD will be at the Anatomy Lecture Theatre (Summerhall Place) from Wednesday, August 2 to Thursday, August 2 at 3pm.