The Beehive pub is set to host the second Swindon fringe festivalIF Edinburgh is big enough for two festivals then so is Swindon.

That seems to be the thinking behind the organisers of the Swindon Fringe, which will run at the same time as this year's Festival of Literature.

Now in its second year, the Fringe aims to bring a sense of fun and culture to unusual places.

Organiser Peter Green said: "The whole intention is to be laid back and have fun with things that are vaguely cultural."

And just as Edinburgh has become famous for its festival and its fringe, Mr Green believes it could be the same for Swindon.

"We're supporting the literature festival in the sense that Edinburgh has a fringe.

"It's a measure of how successful the literature festival has been here.

"It's not a competition. It's just taking it to places that would not normally be thought of."

Last year people travelled from Canada, Scotland and British Columbia to attend a short play and reading from cult author Jasper Fforde, whose best-selling books are set in Swindon.

The Beehive pub hosted a version of the 'audience participation Richard III' which featured in Fforde's first novel, The Eyre Affair.

It was a world premiere that had the people flocking to the pub.

And this year Fforde will return to the Beehive to take part in Hamlet at the Odium.

Mr Green said: "The advice for that one is if you want to see it get there early.

"Last year we had to shut the doors for Richard III it was so popular."

And Mr Green is hoping this year will be an even bigger bash.

"It was all done very much in a rush last year," he said.

"This year is a lot bigger and there's much more going on.

"There is a far bigger variety and there is a bit for everyone."

The fortnight of frivolity runs from May 1 to May 15 with one exhibition going on till the end of the month.

The Beehive Pub on Prospect Hill will be home to most of the events.

The first part of the Fringe has already begun with what the organisers are calling a 'book liberation'.

Works of literature have been left in airports, stations and bars around the world. To keep track of the books go online at www.swindonfringe.com

What's on

May 1 May 28

Surreal covers from Chemistry and Life 21st Century.

May 2: 11.30am, charity pub-crawl meet at the Beehive, 55 Prospect Hill. 3pm Martin Newell poetry workshop. 8.30pm Martin Newell poetry reading.

May 3: 8.30pm Pete Snowman screens short films and previews the Swindon Short Film Festival.

May 4: 8.30pm Competitive traditional monologuing.

May 6: 4.30pm book sale.

May 8: 8.30pm Fish Brothers music.

May 9: 8.30pm Sue Vale, Radio 4 sketch writer.

May 10: 7pm Nicholas Fogg talks about his book, Voyages of the SS Great Britain. 9pm Fletcher Harrison music.

May 11: 8.30pm Tom Harris and other story tellers

May 12: 8.30pm Hamlet at the Odium, a Plain Stupid Production, guest appearance by Jasper Fforde.

May 13: 8.30pm Literary fancy dress party.

Gareth Bethell