This year wasn’t my first first Fringe, of course – as a lifelong Edinburgher, I’ve been going to things in the festival since before I can remember – but it was my first as a participant. After a rough couple of years in tourism, joining in the return of the festival with my LGBTQ+ history tour was the perfect way to get back out guiding again and remind myself why I love this job so much.

As a theatre-lover who grew up in Edinburgh, August is my favourite time of year. When the festival rolls around, we have the enormous privilege of the world’s largest arts festival arriving on our doorsteps. The whole city bursts to life almost overnight – the fire jugglers and unicyclists spring up on the cobbles of the Royal Mile, the back room of almost every pub becomes a theatre, and the buzz of thousands of hopeful performers fills the air.