Lyn Gardner picks the best things to see beyond the beaten track of London's West End in our regular Fringe benefits column and blog.
It's hard to believe that the People Show is 40 years old this year. This experimental company may have had as many misses as hits in its long life, but its anarchic spirit and ability to change shape and direction means that it has always been close to the cutting edge. The company will be celebrating in style with People Show 117: The Birthday Show at its Pollards Row headquarters in Bethnal Green E2 for four performances only from July 12. (Box office: 020 7729 7729)
If the People Show represents a link with our theatre past, the James Menzies-Kitchen award has, over the years, thrown up plenty of new talent. Recent winners include Thea Sharrock and Anne Tipton. This year's award winner is Jamie Harper, a young director around whom there is already something of a buzz. His production of Sam Shepard's A Lie of the Mind is at BAC in SW11 from July 7. (Box office: 020 7223 2223)
London's fringe has become increasingly cosmopolitan over recent years but I can't recall ever seeing a play from Estonia. That is about to be righted with the arrival of Highway Crossing, a play about the choices we make in life written by Jaan Tatte. At the Arcola until July 15, 020 7503 1646.
September 11 has spawned a number of plays but few of them have been up to much. Francine Volpe's Late Fragment (Tristan Bates, WC2, 020 7240 6283) is the latest in the genre as it delves into the mind of a survivor of the World Trade Centre attacks. It runs until July 29.
