Artist Bryony Kimmings will give the official welcome address to participants of the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, kick-starting 85 free events.

August 7 will mark the third year of The Fringe Central Opening Address, which is designed to welcome participants and introduce them to Fringe Central.

The events on offer to them throughout August will be free to anyone involved in a show.

Kath Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “I’m absolutely delighted Bryony Kimmings – an extraordinarily talented artist with a huge array of skills – has agreed to deliver this year’s welcome address to Fringe Participants.

“I’m absolutely sure that Bryony will be an inspiration to participants.

“The Fringe Central Welcome Address has been created to introduce people to the Participants’ Events Programme which is absolutely free to all Fringe participants.

“It really is their home-away-from-home and this year we have over 85 free events taking place which will develop their performance skills, offer advice, expand their networks and advance their career.”

As an Associate Artist at Soho Theatre and a Fringe participant, Ms Kimmings has toured her work to Finland, Portugal, Texas, Australia and Croatia.

An Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society spokesperson said: “The Fringe Participants’ Events Programme has been designed to help participants make the most of the festival by providing events to expand their skills, meet new people and gather all the information they need to develop and enhance their career.

“They include workshops, panels, drop-in sessions and discussions and is presented by the Fringe Society in partnership with a range of organisations who are all experts in their field.”

The Edinburgh Fringe starts on August 7. For more information, and to buy tickets, click here.