If there’s one thing that’s essential in tackling the Brighton Festival Fringe (aside from stamina and a few stiff drinks) it is curiosity.

With a line-up of more than 700 events in just over three weeks, organisers advise: “See shows you wouldn’t normally see and visit venues you never knew existed.”

The Fringe offers the scope for unforgettable experiences, whether that’s taking part in a theremin séance, watching a shocking revisiting of the Soho pub bombing or touring an exhibition of plaster-cast genitals.

More than 200 venues throw open their doors, all of them very different.

There’s the decadent retro glamour of the Spiegeltent, the elegant Grade II-listed St Andrews Church, cosy Upstairs At Three And Ten, Gardner Street stalwart Komedia – right down to studios welcoming visitors as part of the visual arts programme. Aside from a dizzying array of new shows – cabaret spectacular And The Devil May Drag You Under, physical theatre Don’t Talk To Her, Frida Kahlo show Viva La Vida – we also see the return of old favourites like the Ladyboys of Bangkok and the Chinese State Circus.

If you are unsure where to begin, Fringe City offers a helping hand (more on this below). Then it is just a matter of visiting the Fringe website to book tickets online or calling the box office to secure your place at the third largest arts festival in the world.

There are plenty of ticket offers at www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk plus 2-for-1 deals in The Argus and other media outlets.

It’s also worth signing up as a Friend Of The Fringe on the website to take advantage of the many ticket offers available.

Fringe City Get a taster of some of the acts set to wow this year at the free Fringe City events.

Returning for its third year bigger and better, the events in New Road and Jubilee Street and Square every weekend will see theatre, music and dance staged on the streets.

The first runs from 1pm to 6pm on Saturday, May 2, with another on Saturday, May 9 (also 1pm-6pm).

On Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, Foodies At The Fringe promises a high-quality food and produce mini-festival within the Fringe City site (10am-6pm). Watch top chefs including Aldo Zilli in action, tempt your tastebuds with speciality food and drink and buy fresh ingredients to cook it yourself at home. Heather Mills will be joining the chefs in the demonstration theatre to show how to make a dish from her soon-to-be opened vegan restaurant in Hove.

The final event on Saturday, May 23, sees Fringe Street back with even more international street performers and artists in town, from acrobats to opera singing divas (noon-6pm).