Packed programme and a '˜shiny' new venue at this year's Brighton Fringe

The month-long arts festival will include a broad range of theatre, comedy, music, exhibitions, tours and films.

There’s even a new venue - Shiny Town - at the Royal Pavilion Gardens.

The man behind the Fringe explained that he wanted the programme to be inclusive.

Managing director Julian Caddy said: “I’m delighted to see that Brighton Fringe is larger than ever but it’s important to understand why, and why it’s relevant to you. The arts should be open to everyone, not an exclusive preserve of the few, so the open-access platform that Brighton Fringe provides is a vital support for what is a universal means of self-expression.”

The programme includes 260 theatre pieces, 320 comedy shows and more than 100 music performances - and there’s always a swathe of free events.

The visual arts programme includes Hidden Voices, an exhibition and screening of digital stories by children and young people with family members in prison, produced by Zap Art.