How we picked the shows for this article

We're giving you 20 events from everything that's on - and we've selected them incredibly - uncomplainably - fairly. If you like figures, read on. If not, skip this section, and the next (which is really for trainspotters and their friends) and on to the shows.

OK techies, we've used a random-number generator - the formula =RAND() against every event in Excel - on a couple of lists, then sorted the lists in the order of the random numbers and picked the first ten of each list. The first list is everyone who has emailed us about their Brighton show in the last month. The second list is every show in the official Brighton Fringe database. We've randomised the order of the 20 results, so even the order you'll read them in is mathematically fair. What's come out is a good indication of the range of events, from art to sex via comedy, theatre and children's shows. Separately at the end we've included a short selection of shows from 3 Brighton venues who do fringe theatre and/or comedy all year round.

Trains to Brighton, taxis and hotels

But how do I get there - and how do I escape? Have a look at the Fringe's official site for coming by trains, coaches, planes, cabs, ferries from Europe, and car - www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk - it has many details including websites. Fast trains from London on weekdays are half-hourly and take about 50 minutes.

Trains: We suggest regarding the daily (including Sundays) 23:19 from Brighton as the last train, although there's a slightly later one. Here's why:

Last train details as at today according to www.nationalrail.co.uk are 23:02 from Brighton (very slow train, arrives London Victoria 00:37 or 00:40 depending on day), 23:19 (every day including Sunday, fast train, arrives London Victoria 00:14 which is earlier than the previous train).

For the actual final train at night, quoting the Fringe website: 'First Capital Connect's last service from Brighton is at 23:37 Monday to Saturday calling at all stations to Gatwick Airport, then East Croydon, central London stations, St Albans, Luton and Bedford. On Sundays the last train is 23:44 calling at principal stations to London and Bedford.'

We asked railway staff about the reliability of trains and they strongly suggested catching the fast 23:19 if returning to London. This is also recommended if catching the last tubes from Victoria underground.

The 23:37 from Brighton officially arrives in London Bridge at 00:52. The Sunday 23:44 arrives London Bridge at 00:53. A further disadvantage of this train is that if for any reason it is cancelled, there is no fall back - the next, very slow, train is at nearly 4 in the morning.

Please check train times and details on the day you travel. National Rail's timetable changes on 18 May. It doesn't affect the time the three trains given above leave Brighton - the arrival times in London change by a minute or two, and generally those are the arrival times we've given above. In addition to the National Rail website given above, First Capital Connect is at www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk, and Southern is at www.southernrailway.com.

If you've missed the last train - TAXI: A taxi costs £120 from Brighton to London around midnight. Details:

On 9 May 08 we asked Brighton & Hove Radio Cabs (www.brightonradiocabs.com) for a quote for a taxi from Brighton to London around midnight, explaining that the amount was to be published in this article. Their spokeswoman said £120 (one hundred and twenty pounds) would cover Brighton to the centre of London. Would a tip be needed on top? No, she said, just the £120. Their phone number is 01273 20 40 60, and she estimated that around midnight a cab should take about 5-10 minutes to arrive after the phone call; at weekends longer.

If you've missed the last train - HOTEL / BED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATION: This needs forward planning to collect phone numbers, or walk down to the sea front and try the big hotels. Website:

It's a good idea before going to Brighton to have a look at the accommodation section of Brighton's official tourist site Visit Brighton (www.visitbrighton.com) and perhaps take the phone numbers of a few hotels in advance. Or visit their Information Centre at Royal Pavilion Shop, Royal Pavilion, 4-5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE during shop hours.

Random list of 20 Brighton Fringe shows

OK artistes thanks for your patience, you can open your eyes again now, and here we go.

Details are from the information we have to hand, which is not the same for each show - please double-check before you go with the official Brighton Fringe site www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk or the venue, particularly in case something has been cancelled.

Fly By Willow, 'A flying exhibition of Wind and Willow sculptures from Wales' by Valerie Bartlett at The Grange Art Gallery and Museum, The Green, Rottingdean, Venue 58, free, all month - www.valerieannebartlett.co.uk. The Jumble Book, 'a family show about a boy with dyslexia written by Justin Coe, which premieres at the Brighton Fringe Festival' at Upstairs at Three and Ten, 10 Steine Street, Brighton BN2 1TE, www.otherplaceproductions.co.uk, at 1pm on 3, 4, 24, 25 May, £5. Lunchtime Recitals At St Nicholas's Church, classical music, St Nicholas Church, Dyke Road, Venue 192, recital 12.30, £2, on 7, 14, 15, 21 May, www.stnicholasbrighton.org.uk. Estrondo '25 piece live percussion band play samba, samba-reggae, funk and breakbeats', Fringe City 3 May 17:30, The Volks Tavern 24 May 20:00, Joogleberry Playhouse 25 may 16:30, www.estrondo.co.uk. First Light: Still, 'A celebration of 27 years as an independent photo gallery in the Lanes', First Light Gallery, 3 Nile Street, Venue 172, free, various dates, www.firstlightclick.com.

Delovely!, Missy D (actress/singer Darrie Gardner), web.mac.com/darrie, www.lightsoflondonproductions.co.uk, Joogleberry Playhouse, 14-17 Manchester Street, Brighton, BN2 1TF 'A delightful, delicious and Delovely musical comedy cabaret with showtunes, standards and a cast of delirious characters played by one woman the deeply divine Missy D', 5, 9, 10 May. Os Loitadores (The Westlers), Redroaster Coffee House, 1d St James's Street, Venue 173, 'A new collection of thirty brightly coloured masks painted on hessian coffee sacks to hang dramatically from the ceiling', free, all month, www.jimsanders.info. Fringe Festival Masked Ball, www.kroonkat.com, myspace.com/thekroonkatlounge, Friday 23 May, Old Ship Hotel, Ship Street, 'Feelgood Floozies Can-Can Troupe and Marilyn Slightly, in the Grade 1 Listed, historic Paganini Ballroom, 20.30 to 02.00, £35, in advance only. Pin Ups!, Ben R Thomas, More, 98 Trafalgar Street, Venue 148, 'An intriguing exhibition of pictures which transform the functional drawing pin into beautiful images', free, all month. Spring into Summer! 2008, www.thealexandergallery.co.uk, The Alexander Gallery, 7 East Street, Venue 6, 'An exceptional selling exhibition of contemporary art and craft', free, all month.

7 North Road Window, Sanctuary Housing Association, 7 North Road Window Exhibition, 7 North Road, Venue 9, www.sanctuary-housing.co.uk, free, 'A vibrant and diverse display of art craft and poetry created by residents of Sanctuary Supported Housing', all month. Ragroof Theatre 'purveyors of quality tea dances, outdoor performances, events and entertainments' is putting on Spiegeltent Tea Dances, Shall We Dance, Desert Island Dance Club, see official programme and their website for details www.ragrooftheatre.co.uk, various venues and dates. Two sketch shows from the same writing team: The End Of The World Show 14 May, Komedia, 21:00; & Four D'Oeuvres 'radio show at The Hare and Hounds Upstairs', 20 and 22 May at 21:00. Cheeky Devil Comedy Late Night Festival Specials, Upstairs at Three and Ten, 10 Steine Street, Brighton BN2 1TE, Venue 310, 'Brighton comedian Paul McCaffrey comperes each show: headliners Paul Foot (3 May), Ali Cook (10 May), Sully O'Sullivan (17 May) and Rich Wilson (24 May); every show features three more acts including Seann Walsh (3 May), Julie Jepson (10 May), Dan Allen (24 May), Aaron Counter (17 May)', £10 / £8. www.cheekydevilcomedy.com. Eve Poland - Seven Deadly Sins at Nua, 59a Ship Street, The Lanes, Brighton BN1 1AE, all month, www.evepoland.com; and Eve Poland takes part in Seven Dials artists' trail www.sevendialsartists.co.uk

Tom Tom Club is Udderbelly's headline act, see www.underbelly.co.uk, Udderbelly, Old Steine Lawns, Brighton 'direct from the Adelaide Festival and a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe 2007; the hip hop and beat-boxing spectacular from Australia'. Catchy! The Great Plague Musical, Total Beast Theatre Company, Brighthelm Church and Community Centre, North Road, Venue 32, 'the great plague of London comes to life in this bawdy musical comedy', £8, £6, 19:30, dates include 14, 15, 16, 17 May, www.totalbeast.co.uk. Roger Bamber's 'UK at Home', North Laine Photography Gallery, Upstairs at 'Snoopers Paradise', Venue 237, free, till end of Fringe, 'fifty top photographers and the public depicted the 'UK at Home' (24-30 Sept '07); this exhibition is Roger's delightful portfolio from that week, www.brightonphotography.com. Naughty and Nice, Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 May, Nice show 21:30, Naughty show 23:00, 'Opt for early show hilarity or late night naughtiness!', comedy, Joogleberry Playhouse, Brighton. Fun at The Fringe, by The Birthday Club/ Comic Angels, Joogleberry Playhouse, 14–17 Manchester St, Venue 95, 'comedy, music & cake, international acts hosted by Sam Stone and Sajeela Kershi', £7, £3.50, dates include 3, 7, 11, 17, 18, 24, various times www.myspace.com/funatthefringe.

Some shows from year-round Brighton venues

The Nightingale Theatre, Komedia, Upstairs At Three & Ten are three popular year-round venues in Brighton who show fringe-type productions, and we felt it fair to mention them separately here. If you feel there are other Brighton venues that should be included here, let us know. The random list above has produced shows from Komedia and Upstairs At Three & Ten, so to give Nightingale Theatre a special mention first:

The Nightingale Theatre (patron Steven Berkoff) is located next to Brighton Railway Station. It is, to quote its website www.nightingaletheatre.co.uk 'dedicated to supporting the creation of new theatre and dance and to the ongoing development of artists. The policy is underpinned by a ladder of development'. The theatre's resident company and management is Prodigal Theatre. It is headed by choreographer and contemporary dancer Miranda Henderson, and physical theatre specialist Alister O'Loughlin, who are appearing as part of Brighton Festival in The Urban Playground, (www.theurbanplayground.co.uk/html/choreography.htm), 12 May, 15:00, 17:00, New Rd, Brighton, www.farnhammaltingscaravan.com, 'combining Parkour with contemporary dance and breaking. Choreographer Miranda Henderson combines Prodigal's 10 year performance history with the philosophy of L'art du deplacement to investigate the relationship between the human body and the (built) environment'. And see www.theurbanplayground.co.uk, www.gravitystyle.fr. Performances in Brighton Fringe at the Nightingale include ON off, devised and performed by Charlie Morrissey, 9 & 10 May at 19.30, £8.50, £6.50, 'a highly physical performance composed live in front of the audience', www.small-wonder.i12.com; and The Death and Life of Sherlock Holmes, 21 & 22 May, 19:30, £8.50, £6.50, 'Arthur Conan Doyle tires of his famous sleuth and uses the arch villain Moriarty to dispose of him', by David Stuart Davies.

Komedia perhaps needs no introduction. With its two very large auditoria and one bijou-sized cabaret space, Brighton Komedia is one of the most adaptable and capacious venues in Europe. Historically (the name references Commedia dell'arte) it has a fine theatre tradition, though the diversion money from the Arts Council to pay for the UK hosting the Olympics places a question mark over continuing support of small productions. It is strong on bands and music, and comedy all year round. Its full Fringe production is listed at www.komedia.co.uk, which includes - to pick out a couple from a big programme - Miss Coco Peru (Sun 18 - Wed 21 May), 'the magnetic and mercurial Miss Coco Peru unleashes her confession of bittersweet personal baggage, deliciously laced with sassy songs'; and Follow Me (Mon 19 - Wed 21 May), 'the final moments of beautiful party girl, Ruth Ellis, the last woman in Britain to be hanged'.

Upstairs At Three & Ten (patron Sir Arnold Wesker), opposite Brighton Pavilion and a short walk from the surviving Pier, is a lively fringe venue majoring in theatre, comedy, and more. Quoting their website: 'A full and varied programme is on offer - ranging from music and cabaret through to live literature, comedy and theatre'. Artistic directors are Nicola Haydn and Eden Rivers. The theatre is both a producing house (put on their own shows) and receiving house (put on other people's shows), and Nicola Haydn is an accomplished actress and theatre director. They have an extensive list of shows in Brighton Fringe, and full listings are at their website www.otherplaceproductions.co.uk/. Taking a couple from their list: I Kissed a Frog and it Gave me Herpes, 5, 10, 11, 18, 25 May, £6, £5, various times; Sleeping Rough: A Duo of Duologues, Jacaranda Theatre, www.jacarandatheatre.com, 17, 18, 24, 25 May, 15:00, £9, £7.

END

John Park Friday 9 May 08

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008