Swindon musicians and actors are taking the high road to Edinburgh this week to perform at the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Wrong Shoes Theatre and Shaun Buswell's Fringe Orchestra are flying the flag for the town with two very different Fringe offerings.

The Anima Project by Wrong Shoes is a promenade piece of theatre, meaning the audience can walk around the action.

Founder of Wrong Shoes, Luke Marquez, said: “We like to take people out of their comfort zone and break down the barrier between actor and audience.’’ The Anima Project is a dark comedy written and presented by the Swindon company.

The plot surrounds four patients who are rated as undesirables in a society where genetic screening determines what position a person is granted in society. The famous four are subjected to controversial therapy that is allegedly a cure for their unfavourable personality traits. The only alternative facing them is death or work camp! The audience play the part of the press or the investors in the Anima Project, who are invited to witness the first live clinic trial of the research.

The play will be at 2.20pm daily in the India Buildings in Victoria Street, Edinburgh until August 9. The actors are sending a regular blog of their experiences in Scotland’s capital to the Adver. Check out what they are saying here: www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/theatre/edinburgh_fringe/11376597.

Two years ago Swindon musician, Shaun Buswell, set himself the challenge of forming an orchestra from strangers travelling as passengers on the London Underground. In 346 days he asked 328 people, who were carrying a musical instrument, not buskers, to join the Underground Orchestra. With good humour and determination Shaun pulled it off, performing with his 70-piece symphony orchestra at the O2 Academy at Shepherd’s Bush in aid of charity.

Now he has taken up the baton again, this time with the Fringe Orchestra Challenge, running alongside his show at the Electric Circus in Edinburgh at 12.45pm daily.

“I had an incredible journey in 2012 and it is great to tell the story of my orchestra challenge. There were lots of highs and lows throughout, from quitting my job to playing on the London Eye, the orchestra appearing on BBC TV and all the while raising awareness for the children’s charity Daytrippers.’’ Shaun’s Fringe Challenge performance is on Monday August 11 at The Jam House at 5pm. For more details of Fringe events visit www.edfringe.com - Flicky Harrison