We're talking Fringed Out, my on-line real-time diary – or blog, if you prefer – which began life as a Festival diary, with details on the strange promotional products used by some shows, but which will now run throughout the year, bringing you all the latest big entertainment news from Edinburgh's theatres, concert halls and gig-land.

Keeping a diary has reinforced just how eclectic Edinburgh's theatre offerings can be, and also reminded me just how valuable the Capital's festival is as a sounding board for producers trying out shows before touring them or taking them to the West End.

Over the last month or so, I've watched no less than 17 productions. They have all been very different.

From Charlie Victor Romeo (CVR), a piece of verbatim theatre derived entirely from the Black Box transcripts of real-life airline emergencies to What's Wrong With Angry? which played on society's fear of difference.

It was a passionate and thought-provoking piece, as too was CVR, although for different reasons. Dark and powerful, it gave a fascinating insight into life in a doomed cockpit, although why I'm writing about it a couple of hours before jetting down to Birmingham for a preview of Mary Poppins (which comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse next month) escapes me. Let's hope it's a smooth flight.

The politics of war raised a comedic head in another play I saw, Boys of the Empire, by Taggart creator Glenn Chandler.

Imagine Jennings meets Ripping Yarns but with a poignant message on the state of the world today and a biting indictment of our current foreign policy.

After its success in Edinburgh I hear there's a possibility the piece may be developed for television.

Surviving Spike too (the life story of the damaged Spike Milligan told by Jill Halfpenny and Michael Barrymore, both of whom reduced audiences to tears), now looks set for a West End run at some point.

Punk legend Hazel O'Connor also returned with a tenth anniversary production of Beyond Breaking Glass – an emotional roller-coaster ride through her life and music.

In fact, there have been a lot of autobiographical tales in town recently, and more still to come – Allan Stewart plays Al Jolson at the King's next February.

Then there was Joan Rivers – A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress won the 75-year-old trouper a standing ovation and has already transferred to London.

Not everything that plays the city is as successful. The National Theatre of Scotland's 365 proved too worthy. It opens in London this week and it will be interesting to see what Southern audiences make of it.

Other plays staged in the city over the last week include Theatre Insaan's Jihad: Inner Struggle, Theatre Alba's St Joan and Good Mourning Mrs Brown. Three more different shows you couldn't find as you discover if you check out www.edinburghnews.com

Having said all that, 17 shows is nothing compared with the schedule of some of the reviewers that come to Edinburgh in August and can see a staggering 100 or so shows in just three weeks – that just over four a day.

Now that's what I call Fringed Out.