A public toilet hosts one of this year's shows

The venues were revealed on Thursday as the event's organisers unveiled some of the highlights of the 57th annual Fringe, one of the biggest arts festivals in Europe.

The festival, from 2 to 25 August, will include more venues than before - more than 200 - and this is in spite of three of its long-running sites being damaged by fire in December.

The Fringe runs alongside a number of other separate arts and entertainment festivals in the Scottish capital and is known for showcasing an eclectic range of innovative productions.

Sir Anthony Hopkins directs a play about Dylan Thomas

Fringe director, Paul Gudgin, said: "At the end of last year, we were faced with one of the most serious problems in our organisation's recent history, as images and reports of a city consumed by fire were appearing across the world.

"I am extremely grateful to the Edinburgh community for continuing to prove itself as the perfect host, providing a record number of spaces to present our world-famous programme."

This year one of the more bizarre venues will be a man-made waterfall where dance group Materiali Resistenti will perform under 16,000 litres of water in the city's Old College Quad.

Theatre group Semper Fi's show will be in a public toilet behind Edinburgh's St James Centre.

Edinburgh Fringe facts 12,940 performers will take part in the 2003 Fringe 10% of all Fringe shows are free Last year, the Fringe sold 975,110 tickets This year will involve more than 200 venues

Comedian Alfie Joey will entertain four people in his car each day - one in the front seat and three in the back.

The festival's more traditional highlights will include Sir Anthony Hopkins' direction of the play Dylan Thomas - Return Journey.

Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy, will also be on the bill.

Other familiar faces making a festival appearance include comic Jo Brand, who will be taking an acting role in the new drama Mental.

Comic Rhona Cameron and magician Paul Daniels will also be appearing.