Edinburgh festival: The worst posters in town

Lisa Scott promises a night of song. So why does it appear that she's offering psychic services at £1.49 a minute? Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

This poster combines two quintessential elements at this year's festival: intimations of violence and poorly applied Photoshop. Craig Campbell's shocked expression relates less to his recent decapitation than to the terrible colouring-in of his neck Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Ferris Bueller's Way Of... what exactly? Sticking your arms behind your head? Looking cocky? Wearing red leather? A mystery indeed Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Every comic needs a theme and Martha McBrier's is obviously leopardprint. But in case anyone suspects this of being a Bet Lynch tribute show, she's also leaning on some books. This implies learning Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

More bad Photoshopping, and while it's less gory, it's still more likely to haunt your dreams Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Even the big names can bugger it up. Here's current if.comedy holder Brendan Burns looking as if he's advertising a rave in Milton Keynes Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

What, A Cloud in Trousers is not elliptical enough? Then how about a woman in trousers, hat and boob tube, looking melancholic? The bloke on the right has the correct idea Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

The title refers to our interest in the play, the longer we look at the poster Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Donald Mack, adventures of an orgasm donor? Donald Mack, adventures of an easily confused dildo purchaser, more like Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Student drama is, of course, welcome at the Fringe. Over-excitable students who like pretending they're Dracula are not Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Any show that has to insist it's good on its own behalf is already struggling. Add an incomprehensible concept, and the game, we're afraid, is up Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Sexual misery eh? So why are you smiling? And what is it with the Austria reference? Either way, Benson and Hill are jealous Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

This is maybe a little petty, as the poster isn't all that bad. It's just the fonts; why are there three of them? And why are they all from 1981? Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

We know what you're thinking ... why did you pay a Covent Garden caricaturist to come up with your poster? Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

OK, this one is actually quite good - it's just that the idea of Gordon Brown as Indiana Jones is slightly discomfiting Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Kevin Hayes is missing. Last seen heading to the Edinburgh festival. There is no reward Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk

Sexy pudding is the name of the show. No wonder the flyerer doesn't want to show his face Photograph: Beth Elliott/guardian.co.uk