The Theatre Ninjas are an award-winning group who have been filling thousands of otherwise empty seats throughout the Edinburgh Fringe by offering free and discounted last minute show tickets.

The idea is simple: browse the Theatre Ninjas website or iPhone app, find a show you want to see, and then just tell the box office the codeword written on that listing for free/cheap tickets.

It almost sounds too good to be true, but it's a real deal - show producers and comedians are getting involved in the scheme as a way of ensuring they have full-houses, plus using it as a tool for attracting new audiences and, potentially, new fans. So it's win-win for all involved.

To find out more visit www.theatreninjas.co.uk

The Theatre Ninjas team have been out and about in Edinburgh recruiting those brave and bold enough to be Ninja'd, including a host of well known comedy faces. We're publishing some of their pictures below, along with the Ninjas' own photo captions:

Al Murray: Caught him outside the Bosco tent in new Assembly field. He has previously had one of the Ninja girls carry the chicken in on stage in is show Compete for the Meat.

The Hoff: We found him in the Abattoir bar handing out 'Don't hassle the Hoff' t-shirts and singing The Wheels on the Bus! He was up for a good Ninja'ing.

Shappi Khorsandi was up with her son in the Udderbelly pasture when she got ninja'd. She is on at the Pleasance Courtyard till the 28th August.

Tim Vine: We found this Ninja in the Abattoir bar (the new Udderbelly members bar). He is up in Edinburgh doing The Tim Vine Chat Show, which is on at the Pleasance Courtyard.

A picture of Tom Green in the Abattoir bar after his show. He is currently planning a sequel to his hit film Freddie got Fingered, we suggested Freddie got Ninja'd... he seems to have something less polite in mind.

Jonny Sweet: He is up in Edinburgh to see friends and catch shows.

Nick Mohammed, who is in Edinburgh for two days to see friends, popped by the Ninja residency.

We met Alexis Dubus (better known as Marcel Lucont) at the Cow Cafe residency. This naughty Frenchman was too much for the Ninja ladies, who he left swooning with his Gaelic charm. It was only the night before he had crowd surfed over us at The Horne Section, where he was a guest. His show is on at the Underbelly, where he entertains the audience and special guests.