With literally thousands of shows to choose from sometimes you need a little help guiding you through the various Edinburgh festival brochures. Luckily The List Edinburgh Festival Guide is on hand to distill the very best of the Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and more into one handy publication, featuring previews on over 280 theatre, comedy, dance, music and cabaret shows from this year's packed summer programme.

Highlights include:

A round up of the best and most innovative circus shows
'When all is said and done, some audiences just want to see other humans swinging from great heights, spiralling down lengthy ropes and spinning through the air at virtually inhuman angles. Happily, this lot have no fear.'

An interview with Juliette Binoche, star of Antigone
'I saw Antigone when I was 18 years old. It stayed in me like a print.’

Peter York discusses photographer David Bailey's major exhibition, Bailey's Stardust
'It all came together for Bailey in that wonder year of 1963. He knew exactly what to do with it; with those early 60s people and their breakthrough moments, because he was interested in people and in what defines star quality.'

An interview with comedian Luisa Omielan as she returns to conquer Edinburgh
‘It’s 110% real. It’s truthful, I’m not in character.'

A round up of American comedians at this years Fringe
Including Abigoliah Schamaun, Alex Edelman, Lewis Schaffer, Michael Che, Stephen Tobolowsky and Will Durst. 'Live stand-up in the States is awesome. It’s electric and creative, and comedy nerds are eager to drink it in.'

Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson teams up with her husband Malcolm for a new approach to entertaining children
'There’s something very enjoyable about being stretched and re-thinking how you do things.'

In conversation with musicians Bills Wells and Aidan Moffat
‘I was trying to find a more honest approach to the love song and a more Scottish one. Using language that people really use. My feelings behind the words are still the same; I don’t want to poeticise things too much.’

John Hannah discusses returning to the Fringe for the first time in three decades
'30 years after leaving drama school, it seemed like a nice round number to be getting back to Edinburgh and playing the Festival again. Theatre’s not something you can ever completely turn your back on.'

An interview with contemporary composer Max Richter
‘I assumed no one would ever listen to my music.'

Citizens Theatre's new adaptation of Alasdair Gray's Lanark
'I read Lanark when I went to Glasgow School of Art. Walking in the footsteps of that character was inspiring and it really did alter my way of thinking.'

And many many more including the Festival of Politics, the Tattoo, Fringe By the Sea and the Mela. Plus a full city guide to the best pubs, shops, attractions and restaurants in Edinburgh.

Get The List Edinburgh Festival Guide 2015 from a range of retailers in Edinburgh and Glasgow, including selected outlets of Waterstones, Waitrose, RS McColl's, WH Smith, Sainsbury's and Blackwell's. You can also buy it online.