Adelaide comes to Edinburgh Fringe 2017

The sun does not have to set on the Fringe at the end of August. One of Edinburgh's legacies is how its open access Festival Fringe inspired many others around the world.

One of the biggest and brightest of Edinburgh's siblings is Adelaide Fringe, the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere which attracts some 5,000 acts to South Australia each February and March. Its history also mirrors its Edinburgh counterpart. A little over 57 years ago performers arrived unannounced, and this became an open access Fringe. Like Edinburgh, Adelaide has lots of hills and is on the coast, but there the similarities end. One advantage for Adelaide is that the Australian summer does not suggest a heavy downpour. And so there's a better chance of fashioning a tan on Glenelg beach than on Portobello.

This year the Adelaide Fringe team are bringing two events to Edinburgh, hoping to entice Scottish audiences and acts to take a trip down under. One is an Information Session aimed at performers (Tue 15 Aug, Fringe Central, 4.30pm). Several of Adelaide's top brass will be on hand with advice on all aspects of putting on a great show in Australia. Then, for arts fans who wish to travel around the world, it just happens there's an app for that.

The GooseChase game will turn Edinburgh into both a playground and scavenger hunt. Participants are given missions and must solve puzzles. These missions are unique, with extra points awarded for the most creative solutions, even if that may mean performing a handstand or breaking into a display of interpretative dance. Those with the most points get the chance to swap the dull tail end of winter in Edinburgh for the summer Fringe madness of Adelaide, with a trip for two (including flights and accommodation) on offer for the winners.

An added bonus for arts fans going to Adelaide is the opportunity to be ahead of the UK in knowing what to watch. The way the Fringe cycle operates, many Australian acts look to have shows finished for Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival. If shows have gained traction in Australia that's often a good predictor of great work arriving in Edinburgh.

For instance, the cabaret crowd may want to catch up with Reuben Kaye (Assembly Checkpoint, 9pm). Both camp and contemptuous in equal measure, he scooped the BankSA Fringe Award for Best Cabaret in Adelaide. Then there's Hannah Gadsby (Assembly George Square Studios – Five, 5.30pm). Her stand-up swansong Nanette examines the influence of divisive prejudice debates on children and teenagers growing up. It picked up the prestigious Barry Award at Melbourne Comedy Festival, but Adelaide got there first – crowning Gadsby with the BankSA award for Best Comedy.

Among others gaining recognition were three characters. Demi Lardner (Underbelly, 9.20pm) takes on the guise of a middle aged man trapped in his basement sorting out life insurance. She won the Underbelly Edinburgh Award in Adelaide and now heads into Underbelly itself. Also there's Deanna Fleysher, checking out of the Film Noir genre and into Pleasance Dome (Ace Dome, 8.10pm). Her Private Dick character Butt Kapinski picked up the John Chataway Innovation Award at Adelaide this year's. Meanwhile, Josh Glanc's (Gilded Balloon, 9.30pm) creation Dicky Rosenthal is pumping iron on a power diet of protein shakes. Manful opens up to explore masculinity and won a weekly award for best comedy show.

Finally there's Pussy Play Masterclass (Gilded Balloon, 10.45pm). It's everything you always wanted to know about sex education, but were too afraid to ask. It is no surprise it picked up an award for Best Interactive, Film or Digital show.