Summer is the season for festivals, and one of the world's biggest is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Next month, for the second year running, Total Theatre will be presenting awards at Edinburgh to celebrate the most innovative work in the physical and visual theatre sector. In this issue we look back at last year's Total Theatre Awards and talk to some of the judges who picked the winning companies.

Watch out for news of the 1998 Total Theatre Award winners in the next issue. If you're a member of a company or an individual taking a show to Edinburgh, and have yet to nominate yourself for an award, turn to page eight for details.

Pursuing its commitment to theatrical innovation, BAC in London has been running a season of performances in the dark. In this issue we take a look at what visual and physical theatre companies can hope to learn from the experience of performing for a sightless audience.

Plus, in advance of September's International Workshop Festival, there's an interview with Festival Director Dick McCaw. And we continue with the theme of actor training, with articles on two of modern mime's most influential teachers: Jacques Lecoq and Étienne Decroux.

Finally, over the summer, many companies will be touring their work on the outdoor festival circuit. Street Arts are becoming increasingly recognised as an autonomous artform, and in this issue we report on the National Street Arts Meeting, which was organised by South East Arts for the second year running in Brighton in May.

Remember your ideas and feedback are always welcome. Have a good summer.