Name: Van Badham
Occupation: Playwright and raconteur (author of Snatch Paradise at the Underbelly Cowgate - see it, it's naughty)
Hobbies: currently tweeting like a bird in a can for stv.tv twitter feed, perfecting the art of summoning taxis through sheer force of will and collecting a lot of unwashed laundry
Favourite part of Edinburgh festivals: Nothing beats a show well done. Makes everyone behave nicely to one another for at least 10 minutes afterwards. Jonny Berliner gigs at the Forest Cage also cause me to break out in spontaneous wild dancing.
Most excited to see: something that I stumble into accidentally and which leaves me changed forever
Most memorable festival experience: Nothing will beat the night of my first festival show back in 2002. Sold out - the director leaned over and said "they're here to see *your* play" and I was so happy I almost wet my pants
Top festival tip: Make like an Olsen and get an oversized handbag; remember, it's got to carry a weatherproof jacket (it's no good preparing for four days of sunshine when you'll get 26 of constant rain), a lighter (for making conversation), twice as much money as you think you'll need, breathmints (for late night kebabs), red lippie, at least half a ton of Berocca, Pro-plus and paracetamol, your mobile, the keys to your accommodation, the address of your accommodation (actually, pin this to the inside of aforementioned jacket), a plastic fork, two prophylactics and a roll of black gaffer tape. You will never regret bringing the gaffer tape.
