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Hysterical: Synonym: Over-emotional, deranged. The Brighton, Camden and Lambeth Fringe sell-out show is back! A satirical, educational comedy show exploring the historical views and issues surrounding sexuality and gender. Join the one-person powerhouse performer Callaghan on a journey from the uptight Victorian misunderstandings of female anatomy, to the "debauchery" of sexual pleasure. 'This show is delightful' **** (www.FringeFan.com). 'Everything that needs to be said... but said hilariously'(Wombshine). Developed with the support of Soho Theatre Labs
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
This play is based on the experiences of the playwright who, whilst working in an office between acting jobs, began to question why people get stuck in jobs and relationships they are unhappy in and begin to believe there is no way out. One day she went to lunch, and as she stood in the queue at the bagel shop, she realised she wasn't going back. After ending up in India and getting sober, she began writing the play exploring these themes through the eyes of an angel.
Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters
Maggie's Chamber
17 - 22 AugFive people walk into a room, and only one will make it out alive. 00:45:00 is an experiment that plays out in real time through the lens of a scientist pursuing an answer to the philosophical question: is one person's life more valuable than another's and how can anyone make that decision? This story is about daring those who sit back and watch to do something and exploring what happens when they do.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
24 - 28 AugFive people walk into a room, and only one will make it out alive. 00:45:00 is an experiment that plays out in real time through the lens of a scientist pursuing an answer to the philosophical question: is one person's life more valuable than another's and how can anyone make that decision? This story is about daring those who sit back and watch to do something and exploring what happens when they do.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Sold out in 2025. Back by popular demand. A king. A traitor. A villain. Or was he? Richard III returns to confront the myths that condemned him, challenging Shakespeare’s version of events and putting history itself on trial. In this gripping one-man performance, fact clashes with legend as Richard defends his reign and questions who gets to decide the truth. Provocative, compelling and darkly entertaining, this show asks whether history judged the wrong man. As power, propaganda, legacy and reputation collide on stage, you must decide whether history lied.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
‘1. an empty sky; 2. a girl, missing; 3. a community of collectors; 4. a past, forgotten…’Square Pegs are back with to a brand-new play about memories, tape recordings and the stories we tell to make sense of the impossible. Through unexpected interviews, forgotten fragments and half remembered truths, a town tries to understand an event no one can fully explain. Expect fast-paced, fun-filled ensemble storytelling delivered in Square Pegs’ characteristically sharp, simple and brilliantly absurd style.‘A short spectacular showcase’ ***** (MumbleTheatre.uk)‘Unlike anything I’ve ever seen’ **** (NorthWestEnd.com)The Company | Tae Ballantyne, Freddy Cawdron, Dan Faulkner, Josephine Lloyd, Francesca Odueyungbo, Isabel Riall, Harnek Sahota, Sammy WakayuWritten by | Maddie WakelingDirected by | Tim CokerMovement by | Florrie HarrisTechnician | Kyle ArrowsmithOriginal music | Finn Cokerfacebook.com/macreadysquarepegs
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
No name. No memory. No identity. Where to begin? 49 has been in the room for as long as they can remember. 64 is in the room next door. They can never see each other, but the two can talk and they can pass notes. Who are they? Where are they? And why are they being watched by someone called J. Doe? 113 is a thriller that asks if memory is what makes our identity, and if we were able to see ourselves objectively, could we change?
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Get ready to shake your a$$ and dance ‘til you (hopefully don’t) die. 1518: The Dancing Plague is a satirical comedy based on the very real mass hysteria that led to uncontrollable dancing in medieval Europe. As the city of Strasbourg descends into chaos, two (capital P) Peasants, Katherine and Anna, rekindle their long-fractured romance. Meanwhile, authorities and clergy scramble to contain the mysterious outbreak. The chaos of the plague, both absurd and dire, reveals uncanny parallels to the crises of our modern age. Come join us for a dance party you seriously can’t forget!
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. An era of passion and love, yet also a period of war and unrest. It is a time when AI can assist in almost everything, and yet a time when moral depravity reaches its highest point. Chickenshed Theatre collaborates with ActLoud Theater Shanghai for the first time on a bold new Tales series. This is not a drill – it's an opportunity to hear from young adults as they share their visions of the kind of planet they wish to live in.
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Woodbine Willie was the nickname of the Reverend. Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, who volunteered as a chaplain during WWI. He won the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed the greatest courage and disregard for his own safety and his cheerfulness and endurance had a splendid effect upon all ranks in the trenches. 'This joyful play of overwhelming sincerity and honesty is a moving and heart-warming tribute to Woodbine Willie' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'A resonant experience that manages to find humour and joy amidst the sorrow and grief' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info).
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
London, 1918. When wartime hysteria pillories Oscar Wilde's Salomé for corrupting the nation with homosexuality, Robert Ross – the late author’s literary executor, devoted friend, and "first boy" (or so he believes) – is once again made to defend the legacy he sacrificed his life to protect. As courtroom circus shatters the memories he has spent decades curating, the line between devotion and delusion begins to blur. This is a story about saints who are canonised by love and fools who sacrificed themselves for it. Oxford New Writing Festival runner-up: Best Play.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A fast-paced, funny and tender two-hander following queer drama school students navigating identity, friendship, cultural wounds and the journey to becoming their authentic selves. Set inside the heightened, performative world of drama school, where everyone is acting even when they’re trying not to. As Billy and Elliot stumble through relationships, therapy, family trauma and their own defences, the play explores what happens when you stop performing for approval and start telling the truth. It’s a love story about chosen family, the masks we wear to survive and the courage it takes to finally take them off.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
What does milk have to do with growing up privileged and Asian in America? In his Edinburgh Fringe debut, Kevin Qian shares stories about tasting flesh, private schools, and how his family’s love language is primarily milk. You'll meet the voices in his head and watch him drink so much milk.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
It's 2050. AJ storms forward with a manifesto to save humanity – and he's absolutely certain it's genius. But as he paints a picture of a world run by tech elites, where people live isolated in "bubble houses", producing data and energy, it sounds less visionary and more unhinged. Part clown, part prophet: he's blinded by his own ego. So he turns to the audience to help rebuild it. A sharp, playful reckoning with ambition, self-delusion and our dangerous dependence on technology.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Hello, I’m Daphne Bell. From my left profile I’m shy; from my right, I’m remarkable. I can sing – sometimes I even feel like a soprano. I’ve been trapped inside a claw machine for a long time; perhaps I wanted it, too. From behind the glass, I wait to be chosen, to be noticed, to be valued. Would you choose me? I think I need to hold me on stage. This play portrays Daphne’s struggle with invisibility and inadequacy as she seeks recognition. Social pressure and past traumas become her greatest obstacles.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
It's 1956 and The Susan B Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein is having their annual quiche breakfast. As the widows await the announcement of the society's prize-winning quiche, the atomic bomb sirens sound! Has the Communist threat come to pass? How will the widows respond as their idyllic town and lifestyle faces attacks? Secrets come out as they wrestle with hysteria, survival and a fate worse than death: a world without quiche! 2024 NJACT Perry Award-winner for Best Play. Written by Evan Linder and Andrew Hobgood. Featuring UK Olympian Sinead Kerr.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Ed was a normal guy, at least until his Growing Old Syndrome diagnosis. Now he's a mess on a mission to achieve a lifetime's worth of goals ASAP. Cue a hysterical romp through French lessons, 24 hour raves and a unique kind of bank robbery. He'll either live forever, or die trying! 'Filtering mortality through humour, denial, and a gently buoyant absurdity. Maxwell’s writing, wry, humane, and deceptively controlled, lands with clarity and confidence.' (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). Mid-life crisis? Who said anything about "mid"?
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
What if your gay awakening was Pam from The Office? Follow Second City NY alum Winnie Stack’s hilarious, heartfelt, autobiographical coming-of-age story, sparked at age 11. Blending immersive visuals, home videos, and unfiltered journal entries, the solo performance is as bold as it is intimate. Equal parts comedy and confession, it dives into identity, obsession, and growing up queer with warmth and wit, shifting seamlessly between live and digital formats. Laugh, cringe, and maybe cry… then leave reflecting on your own messy, beautiful path to self-acceptance.'A deeply vulnerable story told with verve and imagination ****' (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)Written, Created and Performed by | Winnie StackDirected by | Matt GeheringProduced by | Julia Zakinstagram.com/jennatheplay/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
A deeply personal solo play that tells a story everyone can relate to. Through darkly humorous and dramatic monologues, Tom explores love, loss and hope growing up in an alcoholic, dysfunctional family, showing how trauma shapes our lives. Offering that no matter how dark the past, the present holds the possibility of light. 'Nemec avoids all of the flaws of the genre that make autobiographical solo plays cringeworthy' (Showtones.com). 'For a moment, we were united in our collective experience, and in our resolve to heal' (ArtsIndependent.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
May 1606. In the Tower of London, Father Henry Garnet awaits a traitor’s death in the morning. Through his last confession, we follow the Gunpowder Plotters’ doomed conspiracy as Garnet wrestles with his own conscience and the indefatigable will of charismatic ringleader Robert Catesby. As Catesby recruits a group of desperate men, including the enigmatic soldier Guy Fawkes, we are led to question just how far a man will go for his friends and his faith. This exciting new play offers an intense, fast-paced and moving portrayal of one of the most infamous events in our history.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
Helen of Troy inspired desire, destruction and death…didn’t she? Or was she simply the face of it all? An infamous beauty seducing others, or seduced herself? A girl awaiting the life expected of her, or a woman taking control of her future? A FACE is a play that rebrands the ruination of Troy, interrogating Helen’s agency and responsibility as a woman making choices in a world built by, and for, men. Priceless to those around her – materially, politically and sexually – but forgotten as an individual, a human being, until she is nothing more than A FACE.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Constance Lloyd is rarely remembered in literary history, overshadowed by her infamous husband. Feminist, writer and mother, her life is told through letter excerpts written in her own hand, revealing wit to rival Oscar’s, with dry humour and fierce selfhood. From a troubled childhood to society womanhood and quiet tragedy, this intimate solo performance restores a voice history diminished, inviting audiences to root for a brilliant, resilient heroine. Her story unfolds with grace, courage, humour and defiance. ‘Gut-writhingly convincing’ **** (TheReviewsHub,com). ‘Wolfe excels’ **** (Fringe Guru).
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
A broke actor in New York turns to “gay massage” to make rent. What follows is a darkly funny, unfiltered descent into sex work, addiction, blurred boundaries and the relentless need to be wanted. From awkward first clients to a night that spirals out of control, this brutally honest solo show explores intimacy, shame and survival in a world where attention feels like love. How far would you go to feel desired – and what happens when that’s all you know how to be?
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Hot mess hairdresser Lola has a big secret. She's been faking it, all of it. Sanity, self-esteem, capable mother and salon owner. So just what the f**k is wrong with her? Lola is determined to figure it out, whatever "it" is. Join Lola on her journey from 70's Los Angeles to 90's London and beyond as she faces her past and learns what it means to be neurodivergent. Sesame Street meets The Exorcist in this solo character comedy with original music, songs and puppets about learning to love your weird.Created, Written and Performed by | Lela BergeronDirected by | Tippy ElgarMusic composed and arranged by | Jake MossArtwork by | PrawntriciaPuppets and properties by | Estella RoseThanks | Jonny and Chaos Theoryinstagram.com/lelajalenebergeron/
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
It’s the Continental Song Content 2026! But when competition royalty BABA are found garrotted inside a portaloo, 'the name of the game' is catching the killer! Award-winning mystery maestros Highly Suspect return to the Fringe with a new hilarious interactive murder mystery for the audience to solve! Featuring a fiendish plot, evidence packs to examine and cryptic clues to crack, can you deduce whodunnit? Fun, frivolity and fatalities guaranteed! Sold out show 2021-2025. ‘Prepare to have your funny bones and little grey cells equally tickled!’ (BroadwayWorld.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
A famous author. An impossible murder. Knives are out for renowned detective Beignet Blank, but can he peel back the layers before he wakes up a dead man? Award-winning mystery maestros Highly Suspect return to the Fringe with a brand-new hilarious interactive murder mystery for the audience to solve! Featuring a fiendish plot, evidence packs to examine and cryptic clues to crack, can you deduce whodunnit? Fun, frivolity and fatalities guaranteed! Sold out show 2021-2025. ‘Prepare to have your funny bones and little grey cells equally tickled!’ (BroadwayWorld.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
07 - 15 AugA Little Green Leaf is inspired by the life of Odette Hallowes (MBE, Legion d’Honneur, George Cross), Britain’s most highly decorated spy of the Second World War. This play tells the story of Odette’s service as an agent of the Special Operations Executive, resilience in the face of Gestapo brutality, survival of Ravensbruck concentration camp, and her remarkable ability to retain her light, humanity and compassion in the face of unimaginable suffering. A Little Green Leaf is a poignant and timely reminder of sacrifice, courage and how one achieves peace.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
17 - 22 AugA Little Green Leaf is inspired by the life of Odette Hallowes (MBE, Legion d’Honneur, George Cross), Britain’s most highly decorated spy of the Second World War. This play tells the story of Odette’s service as an agent of the Special Operations Executive, resilience in the face of Gestapo brutality, survival of Ravensbruck concentration camp, and her remarkable ability to retain her light, humanity and compassion in the face of unimaginable suffering. A Little Green Leaf is a poignant and timely reminder of sacrifice, courage and how one achieves peace.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Step into a world of magic, mischief and romance in Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. When four young lovers flee into an enchanted forest, they find themselves caught in a tangled web of spells, mistaken identities and mischievous fairies. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors prepares a hilariously chaotic play for the duke’s wedding, unaware that the fairy kingdom is watching and meddling at every turn. Bursting to life with sparkling wit and a touch of theatrical magic. Expect laughter, love and a little bit of chaos as worlds collide under the midsummer moon.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Time to share a well-earned morning 'tease' break with absurdist provocateur Queenie Tea. Savour every sip of this uplifting brew of surreal shenanigans, with deliciously catchy ditties and sugared buffoonery. Expect prizes!
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
A Nation Divided. 2026 or 1970? Dive into the world of 1970 Vietnam politics and the infamous May 4th shooting at Kent State University, an act of governmental violence perpetrated by a troop of National Guardsmen against peaceful protesters. Devised and performed by students from Kent State University, A Nation Divided explores the connections between the political and social tensions of the 1970s and our fraught and combative world of today. Can we learn from the past and, together, make change in today’s divisive world of 2026?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A kingdom built on murder, thievery and chaos. Can an unwilling and inexperienced teenage peasant really take over the throne? One stupid mistake may have altered Karalyne’s life forever, and changed the fate of her country. Now overcome with new responsibilities and threats, Karalyne wonders why so many aspire to rule the world and if fame is worth the stress. In this medieval satire, characters and audiences alike will ask the question: what is the value of power?
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Follow a new traitors series, with all the melodrama that we know and love, plus some panto pizzazz. Our Dame, Claudia, and her fringe will guide us through the twists and turns of each roundtable. A devious trio of traitors, a comical set of faithfuls, and a Romeo-and-Juliet love story; this series will be unlike any other. Using the power of deduction and a predictable parody (or two), will good win out? Or will evil take all the money, money, money for itself? (Yes, that is an Abba reference). Come and find out!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
(Wed 12 Aug) Following acclaimed performances at Adelaide Fringe and sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, Morna Burdon brings Bonnie Fechters home to the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of A Triptych for Our Times, a ten-year celebration of her acclaimed one-woman shows. Bonnie Fechters stand up for themselves or what they believe in. Morna weaves an inspiring tapestry of songs and stories, shedding light on remarkable women whose courage, love, inventiveness and human spirit ripple through time to affect us all – whether we know it or not. ‘Deeply moving... mellow singing... charismatic’ ★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 19 Aug) Courage, creativity and resilience are celebrated as Morna Burdon highlights women worldwide who have found inventive, daring ways to rebel against war and take a stand for peace. Threaded through with songs and punctuated with humour, this moving spoken word show also looks at how war affects the loved ones of these brave women. Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. 'With her first song Morna Burdon plunges us straight into the brilliantly dark humour with which women have creatively waged peace' ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 26 Aug) Artificial intelligence, Thatcher's children, Gaza, the actions of the homed, the voices of the homeless, Scots language and the joy of blowing raspberries. A critically-acclaimed combination of personal and political poetry and song. Morna Burdon's unique perspectives and observations offer incisive, gentle, provocative, poetic contributions to the wider story we all share. Interspersed with stories and songs ranging from climate change and immigration to that need we all have sometimes to just scream! Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. ★★★★(NorthWestEnd.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Picture the worst theme park you've ever visited – and you have Bill Crisp's Animation Studio. Once a venerable British institution, the suits behind the show appear to have lost their head. Squeezing himself into a skin-tight, filthy canary costume, new-comer Jack will do anything to get his foot in the door of the TV industry. Even if it means being locked inside a boardroom with the worst four people you'll ever have the displeasure of meeting. From heart, to screen.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
A haunting historical docudrama that reconstructs the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire, one of the greatest urban disasters of its time in the United States. Through a series of vivid monologues, the play weaves together the voices of performers, technicians and audience members, exploring the events that led to the chaos and tragedy that claimed over seventy lives, as well as the sombre aftermath that reshaped the community. It highlights the personal losses, including the death of Virginia's governor, and the rise of evangelical fervour that contributed to a ban on public performances.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
(Fri 7-Fri 29 Aug) Respected by ancient cultures but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Ancient myth, mesmeric imagery and dreamlike soundscapes open a liminal space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Live music stirs the soul. Shadow puppetry and animation portray terror and playfulness. Stories about our oldest ally ask: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Originally commissioned by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024. 'Powerful and magical' ★★★★ (List)'Richly textured' ★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk) BSL interpreted Sun 9 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
17 - 22 AugWoolwich hospital. A&E waiting room. No sign of a doctor. Orla Wyatt’s fierce new play, A&E, invites the audience to sit in the A&E waiting room and participate in humanity’s favourite activity: voyeurism. It follows the encounter of a hospital regular, a volatile and twitching addict seeking help for her meth problem, and a cocky prisoner with a broken hand, who, together, seem to see what others can’t. Wide Eye Productions presents a bold and witty take on class prejudice, moral ambiguity and Maltesers. In the fluorescent light of the waiting room, who’s really sick and who’s still human?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Welcome... Come closer... This is no ordinary fire. Step into an intimate, immersive campfire where mythical forces of nature meet in the shadow of a changing world. Once again guided by AI database, Symbiolene, as she conjures figures from her past: The Green Man, Brigid and the Cailleach. These beings, woven into her code, are a clear reminder that nature has memory and that when the earth is pushed too far, its spirits may seek vengeance. Through haunting audiovisuals evoking gentle warnings and broken covenants, this atmospheric experience lifts the veil from past to present.
Venue 13
Main Space
'And what is Sunday Mass if not the original Drag Brunch?' How did a wee Catholic Glesga boy end up being one of Spain's power house Drag Queens? And how is it the Catholic Church's fault? Follow young Gerrard as he goes through the many "acts" and "drags" he had to put on all in order to hide in the closet in early 2000s Glasgow. With the help of Madonna, a Zealous Nun and a dark encounter – Gerrard flees to España, only to collide straight into the fabulous Queen he was always meant to be.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Dunedin Theatre
From the writer of Jimmy, the totally sold-out, smash-hit, one-man show of Summerhall 2024 – '...solo shows are ten a penny at the Edinburgh Fringe, but this feels like one in a million' ***** (Telegraph) – comes the true story of Captain Matthew Webb, the first man to ever swim the English Channel. The bravery! The fortitude! The sheer outright insanity! It's time to remember this most humble of men, this Shopshire lad, whose extraordinary feat ought to be far more celebrated than it is. A man who died as he lived, chasing the impossible.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
(Tue 18-Sat 22 Aug) Atop a far-off mountain, birds gather to perch on the fate-shaping hands of an old mountain man – stories stirring in the murmuration, waiting to glide into the human world. In this Harebell Tellers production, traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips follow the flight paths of bird mythology across ancient Britain; oceans, forests, in and out of this world and that. Weaving together Welsh and Scots language, music and story into a meditative hour of storytelling magic, breathing new life into ancient myths and re-enchanting old folktales. 'A captivating hour of bardic wonder' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Bedlam. A mind in pieces. Enter a descent into madness through the prism of Renfield, a man on his last legs. Nothing feels safe. Blurring reality and delusion, Admitted invites audiences to laugh, question, and confront the chaos lurking just beneath his unsettling storytelling in Archie Barton’s brave first one-man show.‘An astonishing piece of theatre, brave and compelling, moving with ease… a compelling psychological journey with detailed attention to the audience experience’ (Trinity College, London).‘Pulling together all elements of performance in an electrifying one-man show that will convince you… Arts thrive on madness’ (Nichola McQuade-Powell).Created and Performed by | Archie BartonThanks | Jo Macfarlane, Stuart Barton, Nicky McQuade-Powell, St Leonards School, Megan Read, St Leonards School, Paul Shiells, St Leonards School, Robert Nee..instagram.com/archiebartonofficial/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Thea is freshly 18 and eager to work as a bartender at her local nightclub. Nike is the head bartender with dreams of spreading her wings and seeing the world but is burdened with responsibility and financial troubles. Dion, the general manager of the venue, has his eyes set on Thea, while Lachie, a fellow bartender, is a romantic after Nike's heart. This show has flair, drama, comedy, physical theatre, and, for those lucky enough, a free shot.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Getting a job is hard. It’s especially hard when you have an arts degree, don’t know what sort of work you want to do, have vague notions of grandeur and can’t pay your rent. After Careful Consideration explores the experience of four friends thrust into post university life, where secret romances, jobs, lack of jobs, jealousy, uncertainty and ultimately an inability to match each other's ideas on how to live a good life leads to breakdown. Brought to you by JumpShip theatre.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Returning for its third Edinburgh season, After Shakespeare asks what happens to Shakespeare’s heroes and villains once the curtain falls. Lady Macbeth, Portia, Hamlet and King Hal reflect on power, love and survival, beyond the endings we think we know. In this acclaimed solo show, Lexi Wolfe transforms seamlessly between four iconic characters, weaving Shakespeare’s language with historical insight and fresh dramatic imagination. Witty, poignant, surprising; a thoughtful, inventive celebration of voice and consequence, long after the lights fade. 'A must-see show' ***** (EdinburghGuide.com). 'One of this year's stand-out shows' **** (GetYourCoatsOn.com). 'Refreshing and gifted writing' **** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk).
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Set in 1980s Scotland during the Cold War, when nuclear bombs were a very real threat. The play is inspired by true events and real experiences, when one night in Peebleshire, Scotland, the unimaginable happened. Five scared, lost, turbulent young women grapple with the adversities and joys of life in the 80s, with the constant knowledge that their lives could be obliterated at any moment. In the face of nuclear war, how do they cope, love, and live?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Winter, 1943. As the Siege of Leningrad tightens its grip, two scientists guard a seed vault designed to preserve humanity. Faced with starvation, yet surrounded by food they refuse to touch. When a desperate intruder forces his way in, the moral line they have defended for years suddenly becomes unbearable. Nina and Olga must confront an impossible question: will they save the world or save themselves? A thrilling new work inspired by true events.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
(Sat 15 & Sun 23 Aug) Allow me to give you some advice, Billy... Alan Bissett, award-winning creator of Fringe hit The Moira Monologues, performs as two Scottish cultural giants, asking what (might’ve!) happened when Billy Connolly attended the launch for Alasdair Gray’s 1981 masterpiece, Lanark. Bissett unearths the origin stories of these Glasgow geniuses, exploring their struggles in an uplifting tale of triumph against the odds. Directed by Kirstin McLean. Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2025. Longlisted for Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025.★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)★★★★★ (National)★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.co.uk)★★★★ (Herald)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Or, Benjamin Franklin’s Scottish Enlightenment. The Founding Father loved Edinburgh. He visited in 1759 and made pals with David Hume and Adam Smith. But what does Auld Reekie have to do with America's Declaration of Independence? Exactly 250 years after the Declaration, Rick Conte retraces his countryman's steps in a warm, funny and historically grounded account of how Enlightenment Edinburgh influenced a nation, and how a native of that nation found a home here centuries later. 'Delightful' ★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com)'A beguiling show' ★★★★ (Scotsman)'Storytelling at its best!' ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)'Heartwarming' ★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com) Captioned Mon 24 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Aspiring national treasure and quintessential luvvie Gerald Lloyd-Davies amuses the audience and himself in a comprehensive career retrospective, from his humble beginnings in the Rhondda to playing an ageing Peter Parker in Spiderman: Never Too Late. But when confronted with an inconvenient opinion about his past, Gerald must adapt in order to secure his future. Can he do so before the curtain falls? Laurie Stevens's theatre debut follows her hit character show David's One-Man Band: 'Gleefully funny' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). 'Evocative... well-written... nails something universal' **** (List). 'So relatable' **** (LothianLife.co.uk). 'Touching' **** (ThreeWeeks).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey given eternity and a typewriter will write the works of William Shakespeare. Even though one (arguably very famous) monkey already written it once already, our monkeys / performers will attempt the impossible, doing a full hour performance while also trying to prove the theorem. Armed with a typewriter and a monkey mask – no performance will be the same, with a wide variety of acts from music to improv, we will attempt the as yet impossible!
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A fast, funny Tempest packed with magic, mischief and spectacularly poor decisions. Edinburgh Youth Theatre returns with a bold 50-minute adaptation performed by a brilliant young ensemble. Critically acclaimed for hugely entertaining, fast-paced, relevant productions that are accessible to audiences aged 8 to 108, the youth company brings shipwrecks, scheming nobles, mischievous spirits and one very chaotic island to life. Expect physical comedy, a foot stomping soundtrack and a storm of bad choices as power, revenge and forgiveness spiral hilariously out of control. Perfect for families, Shakespeare connoisseurs and newcomers alike.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
An Opportunity in Kind is a darkly comic tale about wasted potential, loyalty and the seductive pull of easy fortune. Three disaffected young men drift through life in a haze of bravado, drugs and half-baked philosophies, masking their fear of failure and mortality with banter and delusion. When an unexpected crisis disrupts their aimless routine, cracks in their friendship widen, exposing greed, insecurity and moral weakness. Blending absurd humour with sudden brutality, the play explores how some men rationalise the unforgivable and how quickly dreams of opportunity curdle into chaos, consequence and bitter irony.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
And The Little One Said is a grotesquely dark comedy that follows Sasha and her three friends, Henry, Cedric and Rose, as they spend two weeks at her uncle’s country home for a summer holiday. With a backdrop of late 90s Britain (a time of innovation, new ideas and excitement for the future), the group's fate is about to be destroyed forever by a series of disturbing events that will expose evils and completely change their lives. And amongst all the discomfort, death and despair, as the little one says... roll over.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Sign up to Saving Squatina: a summer camp focused on Shetland's returning population of Angel Sharks! The only catch? You might have to solve a marine murder whilst you’re at it. Camp members Mira, Harry and Lottie decide to take things into their own fins and dive deeper into this mystery. The three will have to push against the tide of the island to find the truth that lies beneath the sandy exterior, but what surfaces will force them to confront themselves, scales and all.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
George Orwell's revolutionary masterpiece comes to life in this fast-moving, physical adaptation. After revolting against their negligent master, the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow Farmer Jones to create a self-ruled utopia. Guided by democratic ideals, they strive for a paradise of equality where every voice matters. However, their virtuous mission is soon betrayed as the temptations of power and privilege take hold. Ruthless new tyranny replaces the old, proving that power corrupts even the noblest of causes. Experience this spellbinding, high-energy production – a painfully relevant warning that while all animals are equal, some are more equal.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Miriam's son has been on death row for 22 years. At midnight the state will execute him. His last request: his mother's apple pie. As Miriam bakes the perfect pie, this extraordinarily powerful and deeply compassionate one-woman play by Jennifer Fawcett invites us to reflect on the impact of violent crime on its hidden victims. 'An absolute must-see... an immensely powerful performance that will leave you shaken and devastated and furious' (TheBlogofTheatreThings.com). 'Astonishing performance... directed brilliantly' (TheFamilyStage.co.uk). 'Moving, nuanced, intelligent theatre' (Prison Advice and Care Trust). Winner Smith Prize: Political Theatre. OFFIE finalist: Solo Performance.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Stuck in a codependent and toxic relationship, Aries drives blindly down a boulevard of broken dreams. His life, a shit storm of dysfunction. Aquarius Rising is a darkly hilarious story about detaching with love to save yourself. Survival means letting things die. Ben Fallaci is a writer and performer who takes laughter very seriously. This is his second Edinburgh Fringe following a successful run of his debut solo-show Show Chair which received four-star reviews, was considered a Highly Recommended Show by Fringe Review and celebrated for 'deftly combining moving self-reflection with uproarious anecdotal humour' (EdFringeReview).
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
A surprising hybrid of theatre and film that is at once highly theatrical and wonderfully cinematic. Paris, 1925. In a tiny toy shop inside the Montparnasse train station, film and special effects pioneer Georges Méliès, now forgotten, faces eviction. A toy comes to life. Using hidden cameras, a movie screen, miniatures and magic, Georges creates an epic cinematic universe and voyage that leads to his rediscovery. Theatrical wizard Thaddeus Phillips 'could have been a great silent-movie comedian' (New York Times) and 80 eclectic vintage toys star in this visually stunning tour de force.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
YESYESNONO (we were promised honey, Nation) return to Summerhall with another prophetic act of storytelling. Written and performed by Sam Ward, it's a hallucinogenic road trip through a world of anomalies. It's about holes appearing in the ground and prices that just go up. It's about cartographers, bubbles, crashes and psychics. It's about trying to understand what's going wrong... and a world that refuses to be understood. Praise for previous work: 'Something really special' ***** (BritishTheatre.com). 'An aerial feat of storytelling' ***** (Scotsman). 'An apocalyptic, strange hour of theatre' ***** (Financial Times).
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
An experimental theatre work adapted from the story of Yu Rang in Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian, the first major Chinese historian. Writing from prison, he meets the loyal assassin who disfigured himself and muted his voice to avenge his lord and becomes the narrator of this tale of Yu Rang's struggles. Through his encounter with a fellow soul in despair, he forges a bond of loyalty to him and affirms his own life mission. Blending devised theatre and realism, this is a raw, visceral reflection on faith, fate and legacy.Directed by | Yin YuhaoPlaywright | Li SiyiComposer | Liu Rong
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
A meditative, moving Aufguss show choreographed to the transcendental music of German minimalist composer Nils Frahm. Aufguss is a sauna ritual which circulates steam and scent though beautiful towel waving dance. Here in our magical sauna theatre our state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound fuse with the mastery our Aufguss artists to dazzle your every sense. Aching piano, ecstatic electronica and blissed out house beats envelop you as the heat rises and towels twirl. The most sensuous immersive show you'll ever live inside.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
A bewitching reimagining of Virginia Woolf's masterpiece in a sauna. Woolf's exquisite story refracted through dance, heat, scent, sound and light for a truly immersive experience that feels like falling in love on a summer afternoon. Here in our magical sauna theatre actors meet Aufguss – a sauna ritual which circulates steam and scent though beautiful towel waving choreography. Experience Woolf's dazzling words infused in a warm breeze of gently caressing heat, waves conjured by water on hot rocks hissing steam, and the transcendent scents of essential oils. Theatre like you've never felt it before.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Faced with limitless opportunity, the start of the rest of your life ahead, with endless questions that have no right answer. What else is there to do but take solace in the outrageous company of a meaningful companion? A high school administrative office, rules, routine, superiors and peers. In this world, Sid and Ali are left to their adolescent quandaries of identity, purpose and affection, turning in a perpetual limbo, waiting in vain for the principal's arrival. Always on the move but never quite moving on, Sid and Ali continuously spin in place.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
A new kind of IUD insertion leads to rats being shoved down a cervix. Punch and Judy perform a gender swapped adaptation of Moby Dick. A trad-wife hawks her questionable raw milk wares and ultimately breastfeeds a member of the audience with one of her dozens of pendulous burlap boobs. B*tch Eat Dog is a puppet-filled sketch show that uses classical texts, feminist theory and singing willies to interrogate the gendered ethics of pursuit. The evening is hosted by a well-intentioned white man who flails wildly as his misguided attempts at ally-ship lead to a painful realization.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Condemned in history as a brutal queen unfit to rule, 'Bloody' Queen Mary converses both with her own historical legacy and the archbishop she has condemned to burn at the stake in this defiant, feminist play. Mary, a queen vilified in history, a delusional madwoman. Cranmer, a historical martyr. History tells us so. But what of the woman behind the bloody reputation? What of the man behind the martyr? BURN gives a voice to the first woman to dare to hold royal power in England – and questions how villains are made and how we write women into history.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Have you seen the news today? Isn't it awful? Is now the best or worst time to be alive? In all of history? American comedian Lee Minora is Baby. Baby's worried sick over the state of the world. Literally. She might really be sick this time. Join Baby for a hypochondria-filled morning doomscroll as she careens from ancestral homeland to art museum; from calling an emergency doctor's appointment to calling her Mom a fascist. When suffering comes faster than you can refresh your feed, how much are you meant to see? Everything? 'Must-see satire' **** (Skinny). **** (List).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
From award-winning writer and performer Nick Tipa (Kaai Tahu) comes Babyface: a solo play about big-time wrestling and small-town Aotearoa. Part stage play / part wrestling show, Babyface explores one boy's experience of growing up, fitting in and landing a suplex in rural Aotearoa. Debuting to a sold-out season at the 2025 Dunedin Fringe Festival, and taking home multiple awards, including the UNESCO City of Literature Beyond Words award, Whiplash and Kahu arrive in Edinburgh to lay the smack down. So paint your signs, put on your favourite wrestling t-shirt and let's get ready to rrrrrumble!
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Our college stalker is facing a felony. We skipped depositions for rehearsals. Picture this conservatory fairy tale: BFA besties, chaotic sublets, borrowed underwear and one super-fan who confused method acting with method stalking. Partners stolen, careers nuked, faculty too dazzled by "genius" to spot the red flags. Bachelors of Fine Arts is a dark two-person comedy that roasts ambition gone cultish, institutions that shrug at sabotage because "talent," and the noble tradition of smiling through betrayal. Not true crime. Not therapy. Come watch us process publicly and affordably, or... something like that.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Nature versus nurture? Are villains born or bred? Can they ever find true redemption? TheatreOCU explores Shakespeare's most villainous characters – Macbeth, Iago, Aaron, Tamora and Lady Macbeth – and asks the question: what is bad Shakespeare?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
The light flickers out. Within the confined space of a small bathroom, a once-devoted couple appear embroiled in an argument. The man insists he loves her deeply, yet she perceives otherwise. Two whirlpools swirl beside the drain, yet no matter how they churn, they refuse to merge… Bathroom is an original theatrical work that is both a reflection on “love” and a microscopic portrayal of affection. The audience witnesses their quarrel, their wounds, their bloodshed, yet cannot simply judge right from wrong. Through intensely focused spatial storytelling, they are immersed in an emotional vortex, prompting a re-examination of relationships.Producer and Stage Manager | Qiannuo LyuDirector and Sound Designer | Yijing ZouDramaturg | Qingchuan FuTechnical Director and Customer | Ruoqi ZhuSet Designer and Lighting Operator | Yijie CaoSet Operator | Ziyue Zhuinstagram.com/limpidtheatre/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Set in 1964, four teenage girls are sent to a church-run mother and baby home, hidden away by a society that refuses to acknowledge them. As they wait for their babies to be adopted, unexpected friendships form and courage quietly emerges. Warm, witty and ultimately heartbreaking, Amanda Whittington’s powerful drama explores love, shame and resilience in a world ruled by judgement and silence. Performed by the Parker & Snell Youth Company, this moving production brings to life a hidden chapter of recent history with honesty, humanity and hope.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
Bean is trapped inside her spaceship. And now you’re trapped with her. Unfortunately for you, Bean lost her memories and must play sad little songs on her keyboard in order to get them back. While she sings, you start to lose all sense of time. But don’t worry. In space, there’s always time. Or is there? As Bean unravels, she remembers why she, and perhaps you, needed to go to space in the first place. A sci-fi exploration of grief through the funny, wistful and weird eyes of a lost space traveller.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Under Burnley’s grey skies, a group of teenagers try to find where they fit. When two friends announce an impulsive engagement, the group is swept into a blur of cheap suits and reckless love. They feel invincible, until one night changes everything. Before the Sun Comes Up is a warm, gritty exploration of growing up in a place that doesn’t wait for you, navigating the space between childhood dreams and the reality of adulthood. When the laughter fades and the future looms, FirstByte Theatre asks what remains of the friendships and places that defined you?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
A raw and intimate two hander exploring a gay relationship pushed to breaking point. When Charlie uncovers Jude’s secrets, a late-night confrontation spirals into something far more dangerous. As trust collapses, themes of addiction, violence and suicide rise to the surface; exposing the fragile line between love and control. Behind Closed Doors is an unflinching look at emotional abuse, obsession and the devastating impact of betrayal. Stripped back and intense, the piece places audiences inside a relationship unravelling in real time; asking how far someone can be pushed before everything fractures beyond repair.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Alba Theatre
In this raw and riveting one woman show, JinHi lays bare the moments that fracture and forge a life. Through fierce honesty, sharp humour and unexpected grace, her monologue traces love, illness, art and resilience, inviting audiences into an intimate reckoning with survival and selfhood.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Belly is a one-person play about girls, eating, grief and control. Told through an interwoven stories of three women across one family: Ellie, a high-school swimmer groomed into an eating disorder by a well-meaning, incredibly harmful coach; Katie, her pregnant aunt, trying to “do everything right” for her baby inside of wellness culture and medical fatphobia; and Susan, Katie’s mother, newly widowed and learning how to live with grief and appetite in an empty house. Performed by a single actor, the piece moves between sharp, funny, conversational monologues and scenes and more heightened, poetic sequences.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Following sell-out Welsh tours, Her Story Theatre Company presents Betsi – the electrifying story of Betsi Cadwaladr. From humble beginnings to globetrotting adventures, Betsi's extraordinary life culminates in her most daring venture: in her sixties, defying all conventions, she sailed to the Crimean battlefield to serve as a nurse, where she famously clashed with Florence Nightingale herself. Through flashbacks and poignant interviews, this superb script by Welsh playwright Adele Cordner brings Betsi's indomitable spirit to life with heart-stopping excitement and tender humanity. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be swept away by this unforgettable theatrical experience celebrating a true trailblazer.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Betsy and Patty are a couple of cows passing time while waiting in line in their factory farm home. While in line they engage in a very interesting and revealing discussion. This play gets political, yet it's a comedy. Or maybe tragedy. Fresh off a sold-out run at the Hollywood Fringe! It made me laugh. It hit me right in the feels. Sometimes both at the same time. Sometimes you need animals to tell you about the human experience. Darkly funny and surprisingly touching. Who knew cows could be so profound?
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
After death, Othello and Desdemona meet again. In a quiet, intimate dialogue, love, doubt and memory collide revealing what remains after the tragedy, and what was never understood.
C ARTS | C venues | C digital
portal – on demand
Not your “Abby Normal” relationship? Get ready for a whirlwind of laughter, music and storytelling in Big Hair: A Rad and Wild Love Affair, written and performed by Maegan Mandarino. This one-hour spectacle brings Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder to the stage, with modville-style musical numbers, film and interview clips highlighting their dynamic relationship in absurdist, fun theatre. 'A nuanced, tender, life-affirming story about love and loss that you would not expect from a retro stand up vaudeville show, and I cherished every strange, hilarious, moving moment of it' (BroadwayWorld.com).
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Two teenagers perform fake Bigfoot sightings in their Appalachian town, until a neighbour's dog turns up torn to pieces. Aside from sparking a panic that spirals out of their control, it forces them to question what might actually be terrorizing their under-resourced and already superstitious community. From 2022, 2023 and 2024 Fringe First award-winners and 'the Fringe's most dynamic theatrical duo' (Telegraph), Xhloe and Natasha, comes a Brechtian puppet show ripped in two about conspiracy, misdirection and seeing something with your own eyes.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
Step into a wildly off-beat, unique audience-powered adventure where you are part of the story. This immersive, interactive and inclusive experience blends live music, offbeat comedy, unusual acts, audience play, improv and unexpected twists into one unforgettable journey. Join Billie as they transform into Sniffany, an unusual "scent-sational" cycling superhero in the making, and become part of the action every step of the way. This isn't just a show – it's a playful, inspiring invitation to discover your own hidden superpowers. Come curious, leave energised and experience something truly different, daring and joyfully original.
The Royal Scots Club
The Speakeasy
Twenty-one-year-old Riley spends her time regurgitating her chewed-up thoughts into her journal, finding comfort in her words. Riley's closest confidant, Anna, knows what is really eating away at her, keeping Riley all to herself. The family says Anna leaves a bad taste in their mouths. But to Riley... she is insatiable. Inspired by a true story, Bite opens the door into the complex world of atypical anorexia, bringing to life the small thoughts and voices that nibble away at a person. Because some people just don't get it?! So come on, have a bite. Just for us.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Learn how to beat the house... in the house! All it takes is basic strategy, a little luck and three easy payments of $7.77. Come hear how to beat the odds from the biggest beater himself. With teaser lessons, call-ins and a story of fortune in the unlikeliest place, you’ll be glad you risked it on this show. And who knows – maybe a lifetime in the red will be worth it. A darkly comic solo show about luck, delusion and the stories we tell ourselves to keep playing.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
When a Lower East Side tailor is plucked from obscurity to dress a king – well, not a king, but the King, Elvis Presley – he learns that beyond the seductive lights of Las Vegas, nothing is quite what it seams. Will our tailor survive the trappings of fame? Will Elvis’ jumpsuit hold up under his, er, “overindulgence”? Or will they both end up Bloated In Vegas?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
Set in 1823, an Edinburgh riddled with greed and decay, Mary McKinnon is the queen of the night. Her brothel, Bloody Mary’s, is successful, her reputation untouched... Until one night of violence changes it all. When gentlemen turn ungentlemanly and demand more than Mary is willing to give, tragedy creeps under the red curtain and blood becomes the new currency. Come join us for a night of song and dance where the women from Edinburgh's past reclaim their voices.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
What's in a name? Revered, despised, forgotten; the past is packed with remarkable Marys. From Biblical times to the present day, across cultures and continents, Marys, Mariams and Marias have featured in news reports, gossip columns, storybooks and holy tracts. Who wouldn’t love the chance to talk fashion with Mary Quant, politics with Mary Robinson or childcare with Mary Poppins? The team behind Fringe hit Chopped Liver & Unions invites you to take an interactive plunge into history, rediscover these uncommon women with a common name and answer the big question: which Mary are you inviting to dinner?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
What's in a name? Revered, despised, forgotten; the past is packed with remarkable Marys. From Biblical times to the present day, across cultures and continents, Marys, Mariams and Marias have featured in news reports, gossip columns, storybooks and holy tracts. Who wouldn’t love the chance to talk fashion with Mary Quant, politics with Mary Robinson or childcare with Mary Poppins? The team behind Fringe hit Chopped Liver & Unions invites you to take an interactive plunge into history, rediscover these uncommon women with a common name and answer the big question: which Mary are you inviting to dinner?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Recently widowed May (60s) is visiting her eldest, Carmel (32), in her new house in rural Scotland. She brings her youngest, Margot (22), who suffers from immense Catholic guilt. May begins an affair with Carmel’s long-term boyfriend. Using cutting-edge facial mapping software invented by our collaborator, Alensi Studios, Body Parts is a taste of the future of theatre. Live art and technology meet in this experimental dark comedy which confronts ageing, guilt and the insatiable sexual appetite of an older woman.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In Body of Evidence, Hazel Katherine Larkin brings you on a tour of her body. She explains how various parts were impacted by the sexual violence perpetrated on her – by her father, brothers, and others – throughout her childhood. Audiences may be surprised to learn that more than sexual and reproductive areas of the body are affected. Honest, euphemism-free and surprisingly funny, this piece will affect all who see it.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
When River's cosy affluence is shattered, he enlists two disorderly youngsters to plot increasingly riotous acts in search of a higher truth. As the threat of global war looms over Newcastle's Byker Estate, will this unlikely cohort expose the false prophets who seek to determine their fate? Written and performed by Lucas English, this dynamic solo play questions class prejudice, social conditioning and faith as it debuts at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Lucas' 2024 play The Shadow Boxer was shortlisted for both the Leading Light and Bright Spark awards by the Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
A political musical play set in Soviet-era Moscow, where a youth subculture resists conformity through jazz, dance and underground culture. Music is carved onto X-ray discs and passed in secret as young people search for their voice and dream of a freer world beyond the USSR. As pressure from the state intensifies, friendships shift, choices become dangerous and those dreams begin to fracture. What starts as rebellion through music turns into a struggle to hold on to identity, love and freedom under constant threat.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Grab your wine, nibbles and notebooks and get ready to join Linda and her fellow “book clubbers” as they attempt to dissect the classics. This award-winning comedy explores the idiosyncrasies of a mismatched group brought together (through Linda’s heavy persuasion) by their love, or mild interest, in books. As they journey through the novels, free-flowing wine and endless crisps, one question remains: can this motley group of strangers actually become friends? And what exactly is a cheese puff?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
24 - 29 AugGordon suffers from panic attacks and is obsessed with Berlin. Nat is a recovering alcoholic who has visions of the Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel. And Pieter, the great observer of wit and folly, has something he needs to tell us. As cracks appear in Nat and Gordon's routines and their story begins to overlap with Pieter's, this ‘kooky, self-assured tragicomedy with instant cult classic potential’ (Cherwell) asks the big questions: what is the difference between community and suffocation? Can creativity be home-grown? And is it a good idea to start a brewery if you don't like beer?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
17 - 22 AugGordon suffers from panic attacks and is obsessed with Berlin. Nat is a recovering alcoholic who has visions of the Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel. And Pieter, the great observer of wit and folly, has something he needs to tell us. As cracks appear in Nat and Gordon's routines and their story begins to overlap with Pieter's, this ‘kooky, self-assured tragicomedy with instant cult classic potential’ (Cherwell) asks the big questions: what is the difference between community and suffocation? Can creativity be home-grown? And is it a good idea to start a brewery if you don't like beer?
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
James is stuck. Literally. Adrenalised and alone with an unconscious cellmate in a police holding cell after throwing a brick during a queer rights protest, he unpacks the experiences that brought him here: a lifelong battle with identity, over-achievement masking loneliness, and a family tragedy that left deep fractures. Pulled into protest culture through a crush on an artist‑activist, personal grief and political fury collide. With dark humour and confession, this powerful new play – winner of the 2026 BoonDog Theatre Edinburgh Mentorship Scheme – examines how systemic neglect pushes vulnerable people toward dangerous obsessions and extreme acts.James | Noah XavierThe Man | Cai GruffuddWritten by | Noah XavierDirected by | Ren Flashner and Maria RamjeeThanks | Boondog Theatre, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Eli Randle at Unity Theatre, Nottingham College, Josie Inceinstagram.com/leftfordeadtheatre/tiktok.com/@leftfordeadtheatre
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
After the success of her debut five-star solo show, Meg Millane is at it again with a new sharp, character-driven comedy about a woman deep in wedding planning. As she navigates cakes, DJs and family expectations, she unravels the history and cultural weight of marriage, forcing herself to confront what commitment actually means to her. Torn between spectacle and substance, she must decide if she’s planning a wedding... or redefining it. Meg has been described as 'quite literally a star' (BeyondTheCurtain.co.uk) and having 'the energy of a chihuahua who’s had a triple shot espresso' (EvulveProductions.com).
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Nick Cassenbaum's sell-out Fringe and international mega hit returns to Summerhall... but this time in an actual sauna! An all new promenade version conjures the warmth of Canning Town Schvitz in the UK's first purpose-built theatre sauna as Nick takes you on a journey to find the place he belongs. Amidst the steam, live klezmer and ritual, will he find what he is looking for? Bubble Schmeisis is full of intimate and personal true stories about identity, home and getting schmeised (washed) by old men. Sure to be a hot ticket.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Alan Rivers, former bowling world champion, has it all – glory (Bowling World Championship trophy), riches (semi-detached house in Milton Keynes), hair (thinning). Or rather, he almost has it all: Alan is alone. He’s on a mission to find love, with the help of Geraldine Bucksomly, the owner of Bucksomly Betrothals, a matchmaking agency. But Geraldine is facing financial ruin, Alan’s bowling success is perhaps not all that it seems, and a mysterious stranger has appeared in town with a thirst for revenge…
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Andalucia, 1936. The poet Lorca is shot. A shallow grave. Unmarked. Through the eyes of a travelling theatre company Bull / Fight searches for the lost poet's beauty among the dusty roads and white-washed villages of Spain, as the country spirals into civil war and political violence sweeps the stage... A breathless and intimate journey to the dark roots of tragedy from Edinburgh's newest ensemble. Previous work: 'Unequivocally magnetic... entrances and enthrals' ***** (EdFringeReview.com for Antigone, sell-out show 2024/5). 'Perfect... made me sing in my heart' ***** (FringeReview.com for Lipsync, Fringe First, Lustrum Award).
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Bumpo tells the story of two women in the midst of a divorce. Sam, an underachieving writer and Eileen, an emotionally reserved scientist with a highly secretive government job are meeting to finalise the terms of their divorce and to arrange custody for Bumpo, a genetically spliced human/dog hybrid created by Eileen after the couple couldn't decide between getting a dog or having a baby. Though Sam does not want to lose Eileen, she cannot separate herself from her resentment of Bumpo. A bizarre exploration of heartbreak and identity, Bumpo walks the tight rope of drama and black comedy.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Meet Bunny, an aspiring theatre starlet looking for her big break. She's also a serial killer, streamlining the talent pool through cold-blooded murder to increase her chances of landing a role. After getting rid of the country's actors, emerging theatre companies and even some big hitters, she's still no closer to achieving her dreams. But a revolution is starting to unfold, and Bunny is at the heart of it. Her murderous ways inspire a radical movement hell-bent on destroying billionaires, celebrity culture and artistic fascism. But Bunny just wants to be on Broadway...
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
After two sell-out Fringe runs, Burning Down the Horse is back! This immersive comedy epic drops you into the heart of the most iconic wooden animal in history – the Trojan Horse. Become part of this 'infectiously funny' (FringeReview.co.uk) tale as you contend with heroic egos, class clashes and sword supply issues. There's only one rule: Odysseus' word is law. And for the love of gods – no naked flames! Join us for an 'entertaining slice of lunchtime laughs' (Scotsman) and experience what really went on inside the belly of the beast.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Friesian
It’s 24 hours before Alfie’s birthday party. 24 hours before someone’s going to die. What happens next has everything to do with what happened before. Charlotte has made the cake. Dani has made a mistake – an unforgivable, best-friend-destroying, boyfriend-involving mistake. Darkly funny and deliciously unhinged, this reverse murder mystery slices through jealousy, friendship and the fragile line between telling the truth and protecting the people you love. Because sometimes honesty is an act of violence – and sometimes love is the crime. CAKE asks, who gets to have their cake and eat it too?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In this award-winning comedy and Off-Broadway hit, two actors play eight interconnected characters in a fast, funny daisy chain of sexual encounters. A country music star, an exchange student, a cybersex novice, an estranged husband, an S&M submissive, a frat boy and a lesbian bestie collide in a witty, provocative exploration of sex, power, intimacy and the universal longing for human connection. Bold, timely and sharply observed, CIRCLE turns desire into a revealing – and hilarious – map of modern relationships. 'CIRCLE delivers belly laughs from beginning to end!' **** (London Free Press). 'Ingenious!' (New York Times).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
It's 12:15AM, April 15th, 1912. Titanic has hit an iceberg. In approximately two hours, over 2,000 people will be in the freezing water of the Atlantic Ocean, with survival counted in minutes. Their lives depend on three men – Titanic radio operators Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, and Carpathia radio operator Harold Cottam – and the radio set that broke the day before. Fate has placed Phillips, Bride and Cottam, three working men doing a job, at the centre of one of the biggest peace-time tragedies of the twentieth century.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
The most critically acclaimed production of CS Lewis' masterpiece is back! This award-winning satirical comedy is returning to the Fringe for its 12th year. Nigel Forde's 'sparkling script' and David Robinson's 'impressive Screwtape' (Stage) bring to life Lewis' classic book, which has sold millions of copies worldwide. A true popular classic live on stage. 'The performances are well honed, with Screwtape himself standing out as an embodiment of snide evil' ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'Yes Minister in space indicates not only the vibe of The Screwtape Letters, but also its quality, a joy' ***** (EdFringeReview.com).
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
A one-Cardinal-show exploring power, faith, hypocrisy and how much tea that cup can hold before it runneth over. Inspired by the hottest film of recent times: Conclave. But queer(er). During conclave, cardinals are locked inside the Vatican together to elect the next Pope. It's a spiritual gathering. It's not a war – all the fighting has to be invisible. Enter the confessional of Cardinal Cvntvs, who wouldn't dream of plotting to take down his competitors, because Cvntvs' Vatican is definitely not an endless repository of salacious queer drama, petty squabbles and psychosexual, above-tepid rivalries. Nope. This is serious shit.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Six friends gather in a remote cabin for a weekend away, hoping to reconnect and escape the noise of everyday life. But as night falls, something shifts. One by one, a friend disappears not just from the room, but from memory itself. Relationships subtly rewrite, shared histories distort and the group’s reality begins to fracture and the only person who realises it is the next one to go. As paranoia and grief intertwine, the cabin becomes a space where truth feels fragile and loyalty is tested. Cabin is an intimate, unsettling exploration of friendship, and truth.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
An Enchantress from beyond the bounds of time shares a fable about the circus of dating in the 21st century. The Ringmaster attempts to corral the circus acts, which run the gamut from white knights to evil sorcerers! Can The Ringmaster tame the "tigers" or will she be thrown to the lions in the quest for love? Enter the tent and be forever changed!
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Muse
Lesbians, vampires and... communists? When love and desire are made monstrous, what beautiful monsters lovers make. Carmilla retells the lesser-known Gothic classic with a mid-century McCarthy twist. At the height of the Lavender Scare, Laura faces scrutiny over her entanglement one summer six years ago with an allegedly perverse and dangerous woman: Carmilla. What was once a cautionary tale, detailing the dangers of female sexuality, is reimagined as a queer love story. Charismatic, introspective and seductive – this show is a must-see.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Carys is campaigning to become the UK’s next Eurovision entry. In this one-woman musical comedy, she builds her case through bold vocals, unshakable self-belief and a growing list of signatures on her petition. Part manifesto, part love letter to Eurovision, the show celebrates big dreams and the reckless optimism required to think that this is going to get the BBC’s attention. Expect abundant ESC references, a curated track list and the joyful delusion to accept nil points if required. A heartfelt, hilarious tribute to the world’s most chaotic international song contest.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
It's hard to free yourself from your childhood. Ce de Lu' is a theatrical project exploring family memory, inherited trauma, and emotional violence through a visual and symbolic language that moves fluidly between realism and vision. Set in a mountain house, a liminal space that is at once refuge and prison, nest and den, the play follows two siblings (played and directed by Paulette Rufin and Pietro Moser) who, through a series of returns, are forced to reckon with the material and psychological remains of a past they cannot lay to rest. Written by Annalisa Scopinich.Performed by | Pietro Moser, Paulette Rufin, Annalisa ScopinichWritten by | Annalisa ScopinichProduced by | Pietro MoserA special thanks to Zio Sandro and Babbo di Annalisa
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
Cellotape follows the intricate relationship between two girls as they grow up and navigate the world of teenage drama, peer pressure and sex. However, we are soon exposed to the harsh reality that even from a young age, some friendships can be toxic and detrimental, as not everything is as it seems between the two main characters. Cellotape uses what I describe as ‘traumatic nostalgia’ in order to reflect on very real societal issues such as the indoctrination of children into abusive patterns.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
When Mom with Alzheimer’s hears her son-in-law lament being a serial entrepreneur rather than the artist he would like to be, she decides to create new 'cereals' to lighten his load and give him more time. She embarks on a new range of breakfast cereals even creating the advertising and composing the jingles. Her daughter and son-in-law must keep their laughter hidden and her ramblings confined to the home. Always supportive and loving, it takes a lot of skill to allow Mom to keep her dignity and quality of life no matter how bizarre that might be.Cast | Jack LeeMaddy May DevineStacey HaberWritten, Created and Performed by | Stacey HaberWritten by | Paula Haber, Wendy Scher, Curtis GardnerMusic Performed by SwimminglyMusic Written by Mackenzie Hofbergwww.shhh.media/#/theatreX.com/TheMusicFirmHQfacebook.com/TheMusicFirmHQinstagram.com/staceyhaberofficial/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Did Neville Chamberlain indisputably fail to keep the peace? Or was he simply the right man, at the wrong time? Experience the final hour leading up to his radio announcement declaring war with Germany – interspersed with music from the period. 'It’s thoroughly entertaining theatre, of the calibre that is to be expected from Searchlight' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'David Robinson in the title role was absolutely phenomenal' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Historical drama as it ought to be done' **** (FringeGuru.com). 'Strong performances from the entire cast' **** (ThreeWeeks). A must see and relevant for today.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
'She comes towards me on the floor; always approaching; never coming nearer; always visible as if by moonlight whether the moon shines or not'. A writer struggling to reignite his creative vision. A real-life crime. And a visit to a supposedly haunted inn. As darkness descends, a ghostly tale is played out. But what is real and what is not? A tale of passion, deceit and the ethereal dance between the realms of life and death as the Hanged Man's Bride beckons from the shadows of the past.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
A traveller meets a solitary railway signalman – and steps straight into a mystery he cannot explain. Ghostly warnings, fatal accidents and mounting dread haunt this faithful stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Inspired by the real-life 1861 Clayton Tunnel disaster, The Signalman explores fear, progress and the darkness beneath the steam-driven optimism of Victorian Britain. Blue Orange Arts delivers a tense, atmospheric production that crackles with suspense and psychological unease. Beware the signalman's bell...
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Teddy and Polly are lost, twenty-something queers flying from London to Shanghai for Niki, Polly's ex-girlfriend's funeral. This traditional mourning ritual celebrating Niki's life is on the same day as the Nanjing Massacre memorial (13th December). This brings up Teddy's own connection with the controversial historical figure, the "good Nazi in Nanjing", who has been haunting him since his breakup with his ex. Following these unresolved separations in death and misunderstandings in life, Chestnuts tells a story about friendship, migration, queer identity, relationship across cultures, feeling like an outsider and searching for peace when it never truly existed.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
A blisteringly brilliant comedy of two oddball men playing ping-pong in a rundown upstate New York bar. Their chemistry explodes with hilarious, heart-breaking revelations. Gus, a flamboyantly stoic professor of philosophy and socially inept genius, spouts jokes and pedantry. Chip is a goofy struggling music teacher and composer, whose life hangs by a thread. A spectacular, gripping, rapid-fire human symphony. Overall Excellence for Ensemble winner (FringeNYC). ‘Bright, funny and cathartic. An emotionally resonant buddy comedy for thinking audiences’ **** (Time Out). ‘One of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen’ (BroadwayRadio.com).
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Set in Scotland, 1848, Chopin’s Last Tour offers an insight into the year before the composer's death. In Scotland at the invitation of Lady Jane Stirling who loves him, it is the story of his life told through his feelings and music, with live piano during the show. Who was Chopin? What was he really like? Who were his friends and influences? Discover all in this production which has been performed to rave reviews in Edinburgh, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Avignon(FR), London, Tallinn and New Zealand. If you love Chopin's music this is a must see show.Written,Directed and performed by | Phillip Augheyfacebook.com/phillip.aughey
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
A gothic fairytale for the culturally confused. A Chinese exchange student at an American high school sees herself in Frankenstein’s monster – stitched together and out of place. When the drama club stages Cinderella, she auditions to prove her worth, only to find herself longing for the Mandarin rhymes she once sang with pride. As foreign stories glitch into nightmares, she realises: both the princess and the monster are dead. She’s neither. Critically acclaimed at 2025 Brighton Fringe: 'raw, eye-opening' **** (TheatreInBrighton.co.uk), 'refreshing and linguistically aware take on identity construction' **** (SoundBehindCurtain.com).
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
What happens when a diagnosis makes you a target? As the audience "checks in," a medical crisis spirals into a surreal chase led by Mike, a relentless billings collector. Through a kaleidoscope of uncomfortable characters, this show satirizes the absurdity of the American medical system. Wildly funny and deeply unsettling, it's a high stakes journey into the heart of a broken system. Hilarious yet harrowing glimpse into a future the UK may soon inherit. Created by viral sketch artist Stacy Price (Groundlings, Actors Gang) this show blends comedy with total chaos, leaving the audience asking: is this real?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
Claudwick is young, wealthy and heir to a large fortune from a noble family. Being raised in some backwater town, he decides to leave his ivory tower and invest in a renovated warehouse loft in Peckham, looking for the exhilarating, gritty urban life. The life he finds though, is not the one he looks for. Fairly disappointed, he starts to educate his new friends and neighbours to make his world make sense again. A sharp, satirical comedic theatre show on the choking reality of gentrification and the intellectual bewilderment of obscene wealth. Directed by award-winning director Katharina Boll.
Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Nic 9 (Nicolson Square Gardens)
Cluedo is brought to life in this fast-moving stage whodunnit packed with secrets, suspicion and dark humour! Six suspects are gathered. A murder is committed. Everyone has something to hide! This playful theatrical adaptation leans into bold characters, sharp dialogue and escalating chaos as alliances shift and accusations fly. Perfect for Fringe audiences who love classic mysteries with a comic edge, this is a lively, audience-friendly whodunnit where the clues don't always help... and the truth is rarely where you would expect it!
St Ninian's Hall
Theatre
'You can’t force someone to open up, can you?' In the aftermath of tragedy, a mother drowns her sorrows, one daughter lashes out at the world, while another soldiers on through the storm. The Laing family have been through thick and thin together but now lead separate lives. In the wake of Alex Laing’s release from prison, can they mend the rift between them, or have some wounds been cut too deep? Collateral Damage is a new-writing drama, tackling themes of generational trauma, mental health and recovery, through the lens of working class and queer Scottish women.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
The whole family gathers to celebrate Katherine’s birthday; her husband, her kids, her best friends and her brother-in-law. Her lovely, stress-free evening seems to be going exactly to plan, until her brother arrives – it would seem he did not make the invite list. He barges his way through her ineffectual husband, with the assistance of her enthusiastic children and autocratic brother-in-law and finds himself in the midst of a dinner party he ought not attend.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Come Back Home is a solo contemporary theatre work exploring ongoing grief and how the past continues to inhabit the present. It moves through self-criticism, fear and the unknown through absurdity and the logic of the subconscious. Through text, video and sound, Fadi Murad questions how loss shapes ambition, identity and the idea of return. The performance shifts between humour and catharsis, exposing doubt, ego, tenderness and contradiction, while asking what it means to carry home within you.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
(Fri 7-Mon 31 Aug) Common Tongue is a play aboot imperfect Scots. A fast-paced, riotous one-person show exploring the impact of language, identity and their intersections in Scotland. Bonnie’s life has been defined by words; the right ones, the wrong ones and the ones used against her. Now, Bonnie has a chance to speak about it. But she’s not really sure what she’s going to say, or how she’s going to say it. Written and directed by Fraser Scott (director, Athens of the North), this ‘quick-witted, damning, and gorgeous’ (★★★★★ CorrBlimey.uk) play is delivered with deft humour and big heart. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Every choice creates a universe. A simple conversation begins… and begins again. Slightly different each time. A word changes. A silence shifts. A life unfolds another way. In Constellations, time fractures and possibilities multiply as two people navigate love, loss, and everything in between. What changes us isn't just what happens – but what could have happened. Witty, intimate and quietly devastating, this is a play about connection in a world where nothing is certain… except the moments we choose to hold onto.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Curious about what it's actually like to be a teacher? Join Kelvin, a young, idealistic educator as he unsuccessfully navigates a teacher's day-to-day challenges, courtesy of the education system. Contrary to popular belief, teaching is not a calling. Countdown is a play that exposes what teachers go through on a daily basis and challenges the stigma surrounding discourse on teachers' mental health. Written from personal experience, it highlights the lack of support that teachers receive, demarcates the fine line separating dedication and burnout, and is a stark reminder that teachers are, at the end of the day, only human.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
An original piece making its international debut, Couture tells the story of an aspiring playwright and seamstress, who is presented with the opportunity to write for a major theatre company. Holding onto ideals about the intrinsic value and meaning of art, the playwright descends into a spiral of destruction fuelled by insecurity of not looking the part and grappling with what should be used for inspiration. The descent into madness is framed using discussions and visuals around fashion and textiles, with an absurdist twist, to highlight the overlapping complexities and issues found in the arts industry and in fashion.Cast | Charlie Bradstreet, Elodie Connellan, Martha MeagerWritten by | Charlotte BradstreetDirected by | Ché Powers
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
A modern Shakespearean tragedy set over one night in a shared kitchen, Cowards! follows the charged interactions between Daphne and Oleander, two masters of disguise who must conceal their feelings for each other as they reconcile and recalibrate in the wake of a recent emotional bombshell. Playfully engaging the audience through asides and modern spins on the classics, the pair dance around the elephant in the room. They are two cowards locked in a battle of wits, at their wits’ end.Written, Created and Performed by | K. Quinn Hamptoninstagram.com/k.q.hq/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
After too many romantic offences cost them their Dating Licence, Charlie is sent to the Last Chance Programme – a rehabilitation course for heartbreakers. Under the Intimacy Coordinator's strict supervision, Charlie is paired with Lou, an unlikely acquaintance. Together, they must pass a series of bizarre relational-exercises to earn one final shot at love. As the Insurance Office tracks every emotional leakage, Charlie and Lou begin to discover each other beyond the framework meant to contain them. Blending institutional logic with painfully human interactions, Crash Course is a fast-paced, absurd comedy about risk-free intimacy and what it costs.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Visit the heartfelt stories of a vibrant Italian American home from childhood hijinks to haunting moments of pain. A granddaughter pieces together her grandma's youth to solve a family mystery and reaches a deeper understanding of her own journey, uncovering a legacy of silent trauma. It’s a celebration of storytelling. All stories hold power. Shared stories unite us through time – to laugh, to cry, to remember, to heal. Our stories can illuminate our darkest shadows and free us from generations of shameful silence. Brazen resistance starts by simply whispering: 'Once upon a time...'
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
A clinic waiting room. Two Somali teens. One awkward meet-cute. Najma has been in treatment for years. Zakariya’s just starting out. She sketches. He writes poems. Neither of them is ready to talk. Until they meet each other. As their sessions continue, so do the chats. And the jokes. And the secrets. Crush is a tender, funny and honest story about identity, connection and the messy path to healing. Longlisted for the Tony Craze Award 2025.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
When Julia Atkin loses her big toenail, she gains an unlikely spiritual advisor: her Ukrainian podiatrist. In this preposterous, dark comedy, Julia revisits the worst three years of her life-medical mishaps, identity crises and giggling through grief. Crying At My Podiatrist blends absurd body horror with a reluctant search for meaning in the world's least spiritual office. Existential dread and unexpected tenderness collide in an Edinburgh Fringe debut.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
Tensions are running high at Wessex District Council! As Labour falters nationally and Reform surges locally, inside a struggling local council office three civil servants and their boss find neutrality increasingly impossible. Cubicle Dialogue is a sharp British political satire where Angie, a Conservative councillor, faces a choice: loyalty or survival. Private arguments spill into public consequences as local elections loom and the future of the ward hangs in the balance. Funny, biting and uncomfortably familiar, Cubicle Dialogue turns a council office into a microcosm of modern Britain – where ideology, ambition and insecurity collide.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
It's Wednesday, and Sam has found himself in handcuffs in a local field after a night of heavy drinking and mistakes. He decides his life needs a new purpose instead of romance. A new play by Oscar Buxton.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Cyn – set in 1995, explores the consequences of colliery closures on mining communities across South Wales. We follow Emyr, the sole drinker on a bleak morning at the village pub. He is the son of a miner, who's life trajectory had been scrambled by the closure of the mine. Into this sombre setting stumbles Simon, an Englishman who is out of petrol and, evidently lost. Over the next hour, accompanied by Max Boyce's music, the tensions between the two simmer as the past is interrogated as we look back and ask the question: Where did the heart go?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Power. Desire. Control. Set within a harsh military world, The Prussian Officer charts the explosive relationship between a young orderly and his commanding officer. What starts as obedience twists into dangerous obsession as authority and attraction collide. Ben Mills-Wood’s charged new adaptation of D H Lawrence’s story shines a fierce light on repression, class and the human cost of desire denied. With striking performances and bold direction, this taut psychological drama reveals how passion, when silenced, becomes destructive – a gripping battle between control and surrender that leaves lasting scars.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
After getting COVID, Spencer can’t stop telling the truth. Desperate to be "fixed," he seeks professional help. But as his clinical sessions unfold, Spencer spirals into revealing every secret he swore to keep buried forever. Like being attracted to older (much older) men. DADDY ISSUES is a bold solo show about identity, upbringing and what happens when the stories we tell stop protecting us.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Joel has Daddy issues. In a party of pick'n'mix participation, acclaimed Aboriginal choreographer, Joel Bray, hankers for his father and their lost mother tongue. Creating a candy-coloured world he folds and sifts his way amongst the audience, playfully seducing the room with a dollop of queer desire while prodding the deep cavities of colonisation. Heartbreaking and hilarious, Daddy is a provocative confection of conversation, choreography and (actual) cream. Joel soft-serves a sugar rush of spontaneous community where everyone is safe and licking is optional. 'Does performance art get more powerful and intimate?' ***** (Sydney Morning Herald).
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
Returning to the Fringe, Viva bring you this fast-paced, much-loved romp through 1920s girlhood by Denise Deegan. Daisy Meredith is off to Grangewood School for ‘Gals’ but she finds herself the target of a mean campaign of tricks and false accusations. Undeterred, Daisy launches into a mission of her own – to find the Beaumont Treasure – beat the bullies and save the school! An affectionate and hilarious parody, Viva’s Daisy Pulls it Off delivers a feel-good, charming and utterly spiffing show. Complete with a gripping on-stage hockey match and daring clifftop rescue!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Sophia’s family has always had a plan. A way out. A route to survive. She assumed everyone did, until she asked her friends, 'what do you want to do if there’s a catastrophe?' and they stared at her like she had three heads. Her family’s caution came from a real place, and multiple generations were raised with the mantra: 'You have to be ready to run.' Danger Plan! is part solo show and part cabaret, featuring personal stories, original songs, and dark humour exploring generational trauma, anxiety, and the absurdities of living in uncertain times.
Hoots @ Potterrow
Wee Container 2
Award-winning one-woman show, bringing royal scandal and the high seas to life. When Sweden's 19-year-old Princess Cecilia Vasa is caught with a lover in 1559, Europe thinks the scandal will tame the harlot. But Cecilia is just getting started. Condemned, filthy rich and yearning for freedom, she enters Renaissance Europe where war, chastity and men rule. Could friendship with Queen Elizabeth I of England grant her the independence she craves – or why not a life of piracy? Translated into English.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Dead Wrong is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls audiences into the aftermath of a night that may have ended in murder. Best friends Fiadh and Nolan have disappeared, hiding from the world and from the truth of what really happened. As fear tightens and outside pressure creeps closer, their bond is tested by suspicion, manipulation, and moral compromise. What begins as unwavering loyalty slowly fractures, forcing Nolan to question whether standing by the person he loves most is an act of devotion, or a dangerous refusal to see the truth.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Written and directed by John Brindley and co-directed by Georgia Emily Scott, performed by Amelia Sweetland, with an original music score by Polo Piatti. Dear Cathy follows one woman's struggle to confront the truth of infertility and what an out of the ordinary, brutal biology has imposed on her marriage, on her past life – and on every aspect of her future. An unflinching and unconventional look at the emotional toll of infertility and the often-unspoken mental health struggles that accompany it, this play explores grief, isolation, resilience and the pressure to remain silent around deeply personal loss.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
A woman dies in London and wakes in an afterlife divided by language. Assigned to an “English Heaven”, she must navigate memory, identity and belonging while slowly losing her mother tongue. Dear Lihua is a bilingual theatre piece blending English and Mandarin, exploring migration, assimilation and the emotional cost of translation. Combining text, movement and multimedia, the work invites audiences into an intimate and unsettling space between languages, where communication is fragile and meaning is never fixed.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Set in the early 2010s, four teen figure skaters rehearse for their annual holiday show, led by their bizarre and obsessive coach. They pray to Michelle Kwan, their god, for guidance. In the locker room, the girls navigate friend drama, twerking and IBS. When a blizzard traps them in the ice rink, reality warps. Their prayers to Michelle Kwan turn into violent rituals and life becomes a never-ending rehearsal… a never-ending ritual. A dark comedy about the beauty, violence and camaraderie of girlhood in hyper-competitive spaces.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Joseph, an abrasive pushing-40 talent agent, is awoken in the middle of the night to a call from his top-billing client – she’s on Catalina Island for a photoshoot without any of her wardrobe or glam. Joseph arrives at the dock ready to set sail but waits on one last thing: his assistant Fiona. Join Joseph and Fiona as they embark on a tumultuous journey aboard a failing speedboat in this comedic look at the divide between agent and assistant. Fresh off a sell-out run in Los Angeles, Deckhand makes it's Edinburgh Fringe debut!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
How do you define queerness? What was your first exposure to queerness? What does being queer mean to you? Define Queerness is a verbatim piece which explores gender, sexuality and identity within relationships, friendships and social pressures. Written using text from recorded interviews with two queer couples, Define Queerness showcases a variety of experiences and issues regarding queer love in an authentic and personal way. Built through a devised theatre process, Define Queerness aims to uplift queer communities and create a space for queer joy.
Venue 13
Main Space
1918. Debussy has died and is at the Pearly Gates waiting to be processed. Calculaties, a staff member at the Pearly Gates, has to decide whether his music was great enough for him to spend his eternity in the composer’s room, mixing with all the greats. This absurd comedy tells Debussy's history – from a less than fashionable beginning, to his attempts to implement a new style of music – Impressionism. Delivering Debussy explains impressionism in music whilst exploring this popular composer's personality, his circumstances, and his relationships and rapport with his contemporaries.Written, directed and performed by | Phillip Augheyfacebook.com/phillip.aughey
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Theatre Movement Bazaar returns with a modern Ancient Greek musical comedy set backstage at the Oracle of Delphi. Once the preeminent oracle, Delphi has lost patronage and needs money. Hope arrives with Imperial Secretaries from Rome, but the nefarious plans of the authoritarian Emperor throw the existence of the Oracle, and its retinue, into question. Will Delphi’s team bend the knee? Will loyalties fracture as fame and fortune beckon? Singing, dancing and mysterious vapours tell all. From the award-winning creators of Tiny Little Town. 'The gold standard in wry literary remakes' (LA Times).
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
From the company behind The Italians in England comes an extraordinary tale about democracy and dictatorship, told through Balinese mask, music and physical theatre with Edoardo Vanoni and Denis Haugh. Cycling through the countryside of a tropical island, an Italian tourist loses his way when his phone battery dies. He enters the home of an old mask maker and from then on a remarkable political story unfolds. This play explores the lure of populism and the common traits shared by dictators, reflecting the political realities shaping our world today. The show is dedicated to Alexei Navalny.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Is it fate that the Water Dwellers were born into drifting? Having once forgotten their choice to live at sea, yet later chose land – leaving both sea and home to become the first families to settle ashore. This performance, composed of body, sound and imagery, reveals how their wandering abruptly ended. Through whispered conversations with Water Dwellers on Hong Kong’s outlying islands – sharing stories once forgotten – it weaves lineage, history and imagination, piecing together fragments left between ocean and land, in an endeavour to return to the village left four decades ago.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
When icy blonde bombshell Felicia Frost hires Detective Blank to find her missing husband and a priceless statuette, he finds himself embroiled in a case that isn’t what it seems.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Detective Heartbreak, a detective trained in solving the mysteries and complexities of love and desire, tackles what might just be his most unsolvable case yet: why did Connor's Hinge date leave him on read? An offbeat detective parody tackling some of the biggest problems in the modern world; clowns, magicians and... dating apps!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
Do you know the story of Diana? Probably. But do you know our story of Diana? We very much doubt it. Join Diana in heaven as she shares the untold and untrue tale of her extraordinary life. Combining drag, multimedia, audience interaction, puppetry and queer joy, this unique celebration of the people's princess has won multiple awards and sold out venues across the world. A loving celebration of Ar Di that is as hilarious as it is ridiculous. From the creators of Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Ermintrude
The year is 2034. A city-demolishing asteroid is heading for Brooklyn. The government refuses to alert the public of the impending catastrophe until a boutique advertising agency can come up with a positive rebrand for the calamitous asteroid.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
‘May we get what we want, may we get what we need but may we never get what we deserve.' Around a dining table in East London, four friends are forced on a trip down memory lane. From Cabourg to Tokyo, past to present, they drink too much, laugh too loudly and await the arrival of the guest of honour, Mr Wolfe. Dinner with the Wolves is a satirical exploration of friendship, power and the costs of modern masculinity.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Dinosaurs begins when Claire comes home to an unexpected guest: a real-life dinosaur rummaging through her apartment. After retracing her steps, she concludes the dinosaur is a strange manifestation of unresolved trauma she carries after being sexually assaulted as a teenager. Claire then determines the only way to send the dinosaur back in time is to find closure. For fear that the very fabric of time and space could collapse at any moment, her quick solution is to confront her abuser, and somehow, what she discovers in the process is even more unexpected than a spontaneously appearing dinosaur.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
1848. London’s surgical golden age. A parlour room. Cassandra Thwaite has misplaced her new husband, Adelaide Hall wants out of the countryside and Maud Flemming is pining to go back. Three women, the wives of eminent medical men, endure an excruciating afternoon tea as the table is set for calamity. Tense, darkly funny and true to life, Disciples of Anatomy champions Autistic-led theatre through its protagonist Maud, the first neurodivergent heroine in a period drama. Anatomy is a nasty business, and if the past won’t stay dead, you might as well dig it up again...
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
'Side-splittingly humorous, completely confounding, and absolutely heart-rending' (Audience Review). Do Better is a one-person comedic drama with magic (a Dramagedy) that explores how we navigate life after unwavering grief. After experiencing unimaginable loss at 10 years old, the only way forward was to laugh through the pain and do a card trick. In essence, this is how we Do Better. Written and performed by Izzy Salant, directed by Peyton Ashby, produced by SpotCorp Events.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
Exhausted at the end of a late shift, Nneka, a junior doctor, is suddenly forced to navigate a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) conversation with a relative she has never met – about a patient she does not know – under immense time pressure. Set entirely within this single encounter, the play explores the emotional dissonance, absurdity and humour of end-of-life decision-making in a system stretched to its breaking point.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Modern day worshippers seek answers from the Oracle – the speaker of gods – to help them through their past, present and future. But how long will this support last?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Two minor characters from Much Ado About Nothing bumble their way through the plot of Shakespeare’s greatest comedy (suck it, Midsummer). The stakes could not be higher and their competence could not be lower. Will they be able to save the day? Will their friendship stand up to the stresses of their new position? Will the playwrights be sued by the Tom Stoppard estate? Find out in this raucous new-age classic full of heart, full of farts, and a treasure trove of easter eggs for Shakespeare nerds.‘A fast-paced, smart, and heartfelt buddy comedy’ (Metro Philadelphia)CastDogberry | Scott GreerVerges | Austin TichenorThe Messenger | Sami MaLeonato | Jeremy DubinDon John | Elizabeth Chinn MolloyHero | Courtney LucienPlaywrights, Producers | Michael Doherty and Will MobleyDirected by | Matthew DeckerCostume Designer | Rainy EdwardsProducer | Brian Isaac PhillipsStage Manager | Cole SweasySet Designer | Samantha RenoSound Designer and Production Manager | Robert Carlton Stimmelwww.dogberryandvergesarescared.comfacebook.com/cincyshakesinstagram.com/dogberryandvergesarescared/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
When a lonely man’s poo becomes sentient and begs not to be flushed, Patrick is dragged into an absurd odyssey through Brighton. As the pair flee Thames Water, encounter drag bars, fortune tellers and a sinister scientist, Patrick is forced to confront his own repression, loneliness and emotional constipation. Ridiculous, heartfelt and gloriously unhinged, Don’t Flush Me Yet is a surreal new comedy about friendship, freedom and what happens when a lifetime of blockage finally gives way.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
17 - 22 AugDaisy is lost in the middle of a desert rave. Your job: keep her alive, no matter what. Through a ridiculous, winding journey through every danger imaginable, Don't Kill Daisy is a choose-your-own-adventure comedy where the audience determines how Daisy’s night ends. And begins. And ends again.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
07 - 15 AugDaisy is lost in the middle of a desert rave. Your job: keep her alive, no matter what. Through a ridiculous, winding journey through every danger imaginable, Don't Kill Daisy is a choose-your-own-adventure comedy where the audience determines how Daisy’s night ends. And begins. And ends again.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Where do forgotten memories go? What’s the meaning of life? Why is this so hard to answer? Don't know? Well lets have a go! Welcome back for one last time to everyone's favourite quiz show. One lucky contestant will trudge through the trials of the evening in an attempt to enter The Tunnel of Mystery. Fast Snail Productions invites you to their brand new one man show that explores the power of memory, the pressures of living and the hope that love and music can give us. You won’t want to forget this!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Don’t Rain on My Parade is a bold, hilarious and heartfelt 50-minute cabaret-theatre show starring award-winning Highland icon Miss Lossie Mouth. Featuring hit songs from stage and screen, razor-sharp comedy and moments of moving honesty, it tells the story of a boy who loved a fabulous dress and grew up under Section 28 – turning shame into sequins. With council-estate courage, queer resilience and gloriously camp theatricality, Miss Lossie Mouth celebrates identity, survival and sparkle in an uplifting show packed with heart, humour and powerhouse diva spirit.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
With America entering the Great War, Private Sandes has finally arrived at the Western Front with just one problem. A problem that must be kept secret from the bumbling Sergeant... Sandes is a woman. Disguised as an American Doughboy, Sandes isn’t the only drag king in the trench. Bianconi, a desperate bachelorette, has come to No Man’s Land to land... a man. And Furse, an orphan, is looking for her MIA brother. With battle looming and the Sergeant’s second-in-command threatening to reveal them, the women have just hours to find love, family and themselves before all hell breaks loose.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Dr Jonathan Faustus is fed up with his life and desperate for the recognition he deserves. Cue the powers that be. In a vain bid to secure his glory Faustus turns to the occult. Experience the carnage that comes with literally... making a deal with the devil. Marlowe's classic, reimagined into the modern day (with one or two tweaks). 'An engaging version of the classic tale that keeps the message intact throughout its modernised adaptation' (Everything-Theatre.co.uk).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
In the darkness of night, scholar and monster hunter Van Helsing arrives at Purley Sanatorium hot on the trail of an ancient demon. Within the walls of the sanatorium dark visions are seen and bad dreams disturb the sleep of the sane and madmen alike. In the shadows a restless evil stirs, wearing the face of an angel of light. Descend into the madness if you dare and come face-to-face with the King of Vampires.
Central Hall
Auditorium
Dream Walking invites the audience into a multi-disciplinary interactive storytelling performance. Performed by Jordon Waters, Harry Waters Jr and Kevin Belisario. A journey in shadow work through your dreams. Each performance has a different ending depending on the path you choose (dream, nightmare, fantasy). Which path will you walk!?
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Dream Watcher invites the audience into a multi-disciplinary interactive, storytelling performance. Performed by Jordon Waters, Harry Waters Jr and Kevin Belisario. Are you awake? In the bodies of butterflies and of the inner child. They tell us what our dreams might mean. What is now, what was and what will be. Are you a Dream Watcher?
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
A woman travels through Europe to secretly pursue a man she hardly knows. Captivated by the sparkle in his eyes, she follows clues and misses him at every turn. A magical adventure about chasing love. Originally from New York City, Jackie is a writer and performer who has lived in Viareggio, Paris, and now Stockholm. Her solo shows and original plays have been performed across the US and on international stages. Dreaming of Max will receive its premiere at the Fringe, with a screenplay adaptation currently in development.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
The Sixth Sense pulls you into a world of decay and possession, following five fractured identities navigating darkness when guidance is absent. At it’s centre is Girl, confined to her home and to Mother, Dust, Air and Narrator. Experience our world of chaos and the original soundtrack that pierces through dimensions. This play insists on listening. On recognising. Dust is a story about the unstable sense of self and how we are shaped by our fortunate and unfortunate events alike. We invite you to sit with the parts of yourself the cracked mirror reflects.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
ERAS: no stadium, no backup dancer, no glitter (not much talent either). A woman traces her life through ten Eras. From childhood chaos to a wedding in Edinburgh, this solo show blends storytelling, cultural commentary and dark humour. Just one woman reclaiming her narrative. Set against cultural shifts from 9/11 to #MeToo to COVID and beyond, this solo autobiographical piece explores trauma, generational inheritance, addiction, academia, love and the radical act of choosing yourself. Blending sharp political observation with intimate confession, ERAS examines what we carry, what we inherit and what we refuse to pass on.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Enter the darkness. A single body, a single light, a universe unfolding. Espécie is an intimate and immersive solo performance where theatre and dance collide in raw physical presence. Stripped of theatrical artifice, the audience is drawn into a sensory journey through memory, instinct and transformation. Guided only by the glow of a mobile phone, the performer moves through shifting states where human and animal merge. Breath, silence and sound become the language of a body in constant metamorphosis. No stage tricks. No technical effects. Only presence. What happens when vision dissolves – and who is really watching?
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Alba Theatre
07 - 15 AugThe American dream meets the American nightmare on a bench in Central Park. TCTP's wickedly funny, shocking and heart-breaking show shines a timely light on masculinity and the need to escape our own zoo.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
A collection of searing monologues from contemporary Britain, each offering a distinct and uncompromising voice. From privilege and politics to identity, faith and personal responsibility, these characters wrestle with the beliefs that shape their lives and the society around them. Sharp, provocative and darkly funny, this acclaimed play examines the fault lines running through modern culture. Each story stands alone, yet together they form a striking portrait of a nation questioning itself. Bold, intelligent and unflinching, this compelling production invites audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and consider where they stand.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Strangers, eight hours, one connection they can't quite explain. Eight hours follows two queer women through the only eight hours they'll ever spend together, it might mean everything – or nothing at all. As the night unfolds, they navigate tension, vulnerability and the question of what if. Upon their first meeting, a fantasy is created between them but when morning comes they are to never see each other again. Is eight hours long enough to fall in love?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
The third child of Gaelic-speaking crofters, William McTaggart became one of Scotland’s most celebrated artists through sheer determination and hard work. What is his legacy a century on, for his country and family? Songwriter Elsa McTaggart tells the story of her great-grandfather’s extraordinary life and talent, and how it shaped her own creative identity. Made in the Outer Hebrides – and part of the Made in Scotland showcase – this visually striking new theatre show is written by Elsa McTaggart and directed by Fringe First winner Laura Cameron-Lewis. Production design by Robbie Thomson. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Where has all the whimsy gone? How can we find it again and at what cost? God, gardens and familial trauma figure prominently in this prosaic, philosophical two-hander all about the younger generation’s cerebral approach to life and love. From NYC’s hit underground playwright, Luc D’Arcy, Emma and Warren signifies a formal shift away from traditional theatricality toward simple situations, complex characters and fluid ideologies. D’Arcy is one of the first playwrights to capture the voice of the next generation – a generation that is only now becoming aware of itself.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
A funny, intimate solo show about people-pleasing, self-growth and dating after healing, Emotionally Undercooked traces Lisa Sa’s reflections on childhood, love and the patterns that shape us. From early lessons in performing to the complexities of adult relationships, Lisa explores boundaries, attraction and the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability. With warmth, honesty and sharply observed humour, the show navigates the messiness of emotions, the tension between desire and self-respect, and the moments that help us grow.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
With wicked humour and stories from his professional journey, LSE and World Bank veteran Dimis Michaelides highlights the contributions and contradictions of economists from the 18th century to today. How does breakfast get to your table? Who creates value? Capitalism: savage or tame? How do we justify inequalities? Why did students occupy the LSE? What was special about a loan to Colombia? Are economists rational? Why do they forget women? Economics is often revered as nebulous or simplified into populist pseudo-science. This show promises to explore the nebulae and expose the pretenders.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Set in Paris, during the 1924 Olympic Games, we see the struggles Eric Liddell faces around him in staying true to his principles. When given the chance to become the fastest man in the world, will his convictions buckle? Should he stay true to his beliefs? And can he bring home a medal for King and country? The production toured throughout 2024 to mark the centenary – including performances in Paris and the Royal Albert Hall. 'Searchlight elevate this from mere biography to an exploration of determination, ambition and faith' **** (ThreeWeeks). A winner.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
The play explores the power of the arts in general, and theatre in particular, as a tool for resisting the rise in violence and war in contemporary society. Erika is a Jewish woman born in Germany who now lives in Madrid. She is the director of a cadet residence and the central figure in the story. She is caught in a conflict between two residents: Adrian, who is preparing to enter the Spanish Army, and Khalil, a Syrian refugee training to enter drama school.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Welcome to Fairytale Land, the world’s most successful theme park, where happily-ever-afters run on a loop. Run by Grimm Corp, it exploits a dimensional rift, forcing fairytale characters to relive their stories for public entertainment. Enter Andie, who knows the park isn’t what it seems. With two documentary filmmakers, she sneaks inside, exposing the truth and daring a midnight character heist. But inside, nothing is straightforward. Memories shift. Stories clash. And some characters may not want to leave. Fast, funny and unsettling, this darkly comic show asks: Is escape freedom, or just another story we’re told?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Tr*mp got elected – again, the environment is fucked and capitalism rules. But this show isn’t about that – Eve and Adam explores a modern day woman, obsessed with enemies to lovers, seeking honour as a way to get back with her ex and wanting to right the wrongs of the world, in a desperate attempt to change the world by going back to the very beginning... to make Adam eat the Apple instead of Eve.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Inspired by online forums where people air their dirty laundry and seek vindication (or judgment) for their actions, The Clemson Players have created a comic romp through four true stories ripped from the internet. Are these characters guilty of being a**holes? Set up in a game show format, these characters go head-to-head in competition; each show is different as the audience decides winners and losers. Bee stings, mixtapes, exiled exes and a catheter bag (yes, you read that correctly), make for a rousing episode of Jerk or Justified.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
MJ dives headfirst into a chaotic and destructive romance with alcohol, driven by a deep need for validation. As her nights spiral and the blackouts escalate, the stories she collects become her legacy – memorable to others, but hazy or even non-existent to herself. Join Michelle Renee Johnson as she takes us into these dark and sometimes dangerous moments, leaving us to question: is it better to be remembered, even if the memories are unflattering? Or is it best to fade into obscurity? Directed by O'Neill finalist, Lila Rachel Becker.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
This foreigner hopes his genius performance gets him naturalised or deported. A dizzying solo that refuses to explain Sohrab's experience as an Iranian asylum seeker. A paradoxical autobiographical anti-identity, anti-comedy clown show inspired by Rumi's call to kill yourself. 'Unconventional. Undismissable. Unforgettable' (Plays Unpleasant). FORIEGNER is co-created by Koan Brothers (Sohrab Haghverdi, Benjamin Rosenthal, Mason Rosenthal). The show received the Al-Bustan Award for SWANA Artists and the Tyler Touring Fund. Mason Rosenthal is a founding member of Lightning Rod Special, the company behind Underground Railroad Game (Edinburgh Fringe First and Edinburgh Stage Awards) and a 2026 Creative Capital Awardee.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Two failing writers recalling a drunken night remember a stroke of fortune which motivates them to finish their play. However, as creative tensions flare and truths are revealed, the narrative of their own struggles takes centre stage… Famous Last Words is a darkly comic exploration of art and its place in the world; through narrative playfulness, striking visuals and dynamic dialogue, this original work aims not just to bring our stories to life but to show the real life in all of our stories.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
Join us for a one-of-a-kind adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Fear and Misery of the Third Reich in a re-imagined setting. Across seven playlets, this 45-minute performance will immerse viewers in themes of betrayal, violence, bureaucracy and dictatorship. Ordinary people struggle and fight against extraordinary pressures, creating an urgent and thought-provoking theatrical experience. This striking production allows audiences to reflect on the connections between the past and present and consider the importance of defending democracy then and today.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Fight or Flight is a one-act play with two alternate endings that follows the story of two trans men who find and lose love for one another. Showcasing 14 scenes in a non-linear timeline, Fight or Flight is sure to keep the audience on their toes! With a twist ending, the audience chooses the characters' fate. The jury are aware it is life or death.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Film Noir Frog, gripped by a dirty sense of morality, continues their pledge to clean the crime-ridden city. Finding themselves the number one webbed suspect of a recent arson attack on a city landmark, The Bowling Alley, they seek to wash the city with a slippery, slimy hard truth. With the whole of the morally ambiguous police force and their local pub against them, what secrets will they find amongst the rubble? How many prop cigarettes will they get through? Will Martha ever leave them alone? No, she won't. Screw Martha.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Experience a bold theatrical adaptation of one of Japan’s most powerful war novels: Ōoka Shōhei’s classic Fires on the Plain reimagined for the stage. This solo performance brings to life the harrowing journey of a soldier lost in the chaos of World War II. Through multiple roles, one actor explores the depths of war, solitude, and human survival. Explores themes of faith, dignity and humanity through the loneliness, hunger and moral dilemma of the Philippine front. A visceral, intimate take on Ooka’s classic, confronting the darkness of war with haunting clarity.Original Text by | Ōoka ShōheiAdapted and Directed by | Horikawa HonohPerformed by | Nagai HidekiPhotos by | Igaki Photo Studio (use courtesy of Toyooka Theatre Festival, Japan)www.setagaya-silk.com Watch Trailer
C ARTS | C venues | C digital
portal – on demand
'I know that life won’t break me, when I come to call, she won’t forsake me – I’m loving Angel instead...' Some say you should never meet your heroes, but four die-hard superfans are about to get closer than ever to theirs. Angel is a global sensation: chart-topper, social media goddess, the voice of a generation. She’s perfection. She’s family. She’s fantasy. Tonight, after the final show of her tour, dreams are coming true backstage. But in a world built on likes and curated connection, how real is love and fame? And who’s truly following who?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
It’s just a regular day in the Last Chance saloon, that is until foul mouthed regular Sam finds a bag of gold stashed away by the barkeep. The other patrons join in on the action, arguing over who is most deserving of the gold and what it should be spent on. They are quickly interrupted, however, by the most fearsome bandit in the west, and the true owner of the gold, intent on reclaiming his property by any means necessary... A farcical caper about cowboys, dynamite, and property damage.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
17 - 22 AugEttie Best Comedy in a Fringe Venue nominee – here lies a dark comedy about a long underrepresented group: grave robbers (covert-excavators). A twisting show which keeps you guessing and 'balances grotesque dark depths with pure, ridiculous joy' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). Grave-robbing can be a sticky business, so whack on your marigolds and observe this unhinged odyssey with marathon runners, ghosts and… Take That? 'The best show about grave robbers I’ve ever seen!' **** (PinkPrinceTheatre.com). One more dig and David can leave the game, but has he already dug his own grave?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
07 - 15 AugEttie Best Comedy in a Fringe Venue nominee – here lies a dark comedy about a long underrepresented group: grave robbers (covert-excavators). A twisting show which keeps you guessing and 'balances grotesque dark depths with pure, ridiculous joy' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). Grave-robbing can be a sticky business, so whack on your marigolds and observe this unhinged odyssey with marathon runners, ghosts and… Take That? 'The best show about grave robbers I’ve ever seen!' **** (PinkPrinceTheatre.com). One more dig and David can leave the game, but has he already dug his own grave?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Gwen Lally who? A visionary. Rule-breaker. Leader. A pioneer whose gender non-conformity challenged social norms and the societal expectations of her time. A cast of the famous and forgotten orbit around Gwen Lally in this reimagining of her life. Gwen Lally paved the way for future generations of artists and revolutionaries. Whimsical yet sharp-edged, 'Pageant Master' Gwen’s world is beautiful and broken; a delicate palace built on applause and dismissal. At its heart, this piece is a reclamation and tribute to a woman erased by the history she helped create.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
(Sat 8-Sat 29 Aug) Multi-instrumentalist Tom Oakes returns with Forge. Traditional music is set against live composition and improvisation, threaded with archive broadcast and new writing by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. Stories of resistance surface in sound and speech, carried in music that changes from night to night. Forge is a new work building the 2024 hit The Hearth, which was nominated for Best New Work at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe before appearing at major festivals including Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Stories. Everything we are, everything that exists, is made up of stories. But what happens when a story can no longer be told? What happens when we forget? Forgotten is a new one act play from first-time writer and director Richard Wright. This moving piece explores a world where creativity meets bureaucracy and asks the question – what happens to stories when they die?
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Dark humour hides dark secrets. Martin has always tried to deflect things with laughter (he’s even trying to make his therapist laugh). But behind the jokes there’s a frightened young boy hiding from the horrors he’s facing. This autobiographical dark comedy explores what happens when the laughter stops and you’re forced to explore the darkness that shaped you. Can Martin face his past? Nominated for an Impact Award at Reykjavik Fringe 2025. 'A deeply moving piece of personal theatre' (Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer). 'Genuinely heartfelt' (AllEdinburghTheatre.com). Writer and performer Martin Bearne has appeared on BBC Scotland.
Hoots @ The Apex
Hoot 3
How to find yourself in a bonkers world. With writer Lyndsay Lomax and director Courtney Beamish at the helm, three actors explore the ups and downs of identity in a modern world and all that that entails. Through a collection of new monologues and scenes, audiences will be taken on a captivating journey across perspectives that may seem both familiar and foreign at any given moment. This is more than a collection of stories about identity, it is a reflection of people living their lives, and the laughs and tears that appear along the way.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
When visiting her old gay best friend, Maddy is introduced to his new friend Steph, and sparks fly. One disagreement over Chappell Roan tickets later, and the two fruit flies find themselves sucked into a bizarre world where they are pitted against each other again, and again, and again...
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Writer-performer Emily Weitzman’s riotous solo comedy turns boyfriends into futons and lampshades, and breakups into broken chairs. A surprising meditation on impermanence, Furniture Boys is hailed by the Guardian (****) as ‘ingenious,’ ‘shimmeringly silly,’ and ‘ridiculous and revelatory.’ Weitzman blends theatre, comedy, clown, spoken word and furniture showroom in her search for what endures: a relationship, a memory, a sofa-bed? Direct from Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse, winner of Fringiest Show at Orlando Fringe. This ‘inventive, playful, and surprisingly heartfelt comedy... will surprise you with its tenderness and grandiosity’ ****½ (The Student).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Jersey
An inept lawyer, his strait-laced girlfriend, a Dutch polymath, two sock puppets and an asylum owner walk into a castle. What could go wrong? When the not-at-all sinister Countess Gagula and her manservant Igor invite Jonathan Harker to help with… "acquisitions", he and his gang find themselves thrust into a battle between good and as much evil as we can pull off under a 12+ age rating. Gagula: The Panto with Teeth! is a 50-minute romp through Victorian Europe, packed with jokes, blood and audience participation! It’s Dracula. It’s pantomime. What more could you want?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
An intimate, immersive performance about reclaiming the whole self through storytelling, embodiment and encounter. Gathering Stones traces the stories within us, shame, desire, longing, joy and more, inviting them into connection. Blending participatory ritual and live performance, audiences are gently welcomed into a shared experience where memory, sensation and imagination meet. As these parts gather, a more integrated, alive sense of being emerges. Both personal and collective, raw and reflective: this work offers a space to witness the full spectrum of self and return to a deeper sense of belonging and meaning. Step inside and meet your life.
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Studio
Genius? Madman? Saint? The story of Antoni Gaudí, internationally renowned visionary architect responsible for Barcelona's towering Sagrada Familia. The sell-out 2024 Fringe show written and directed by Stephen Callaghan returns with a revised version marking the centenary of Gaudi's death. As all eyes turn towards Barcelona for the completion of Gaudi's masterpiece and the case opens for Gaudi's canonisation, Callaghan heads a cast of three bringing to life the powerful and enigmatic events and characters surrounding God's Architect. ‘Acting is strong throughout... engrossing’ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com). 'Superb writing' (Derek Awards). 'Sincere storytelling' (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Fun and educational' (Scotsman).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
From nursery school to cocktail parties. Joyce Grenfell conjured colourful characters for our pleasure. Spend time with Lumpy Latimer, Mrs Fanshawe and George, in this timeless collection of songs and monologues.
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
Some might say Georgina is a narcissist, but she prefers the term Soprano. Trapped in the echo chamber of her own vibrato, Georgina is forced to confront her greatest obstacle: herself. 'Satirical gold' **** (Spectator). 'Effortless comedy timing' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). 'Loud' (her neighbours). Hysterical Soprano is her solo debut and magnum opus. Directed by Will Jackson. 'Thomas shows a huge amount of potential' **** (TheUpcoming.co.uk).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dexter
The best way to start your day: relax and recharge with chilled tunes and good vibes in our beautiful sauna theatre. Take time to recline on the benches of the UK's largest sauna with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound for the most immersive and indulgent experience in Edinburgh. Sink into the moment in quiet solitude or easy conversation as the music washes over you, fragrant steam caresses you and our Aufguss Masters circulate waves of delicious heat. A social space to supercharge your day with a natural high... you're looking HOT.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Ghosts of West Hollywood is a solo performance exploring the pursuit of an acting career in Hollywood and the personal cost of reinvention. Drawing on experiences of drama school expulsion, immigration, coming out, addiction and recovery, the show blends confessional storytelling with dark humour and theatrical flair. Set against the neon-lit mythology of LA, the piece examines ambition, identity and survival – asking what we leave behind when chasing a dream, and what continues to haunt us when we finally stop running. Orsini's work spans theatre and screen, including a cameo as Banksy in Ted Lasso.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
A true-enough, one-woman, cross-country cabaret-play. Drive across the USA in 2014 with one impulsive, weepy 22-year-old in a spray-painted Honda Civic. She will sing for gasoline, frighten bears with Shakespeare, try out vibrators in Texas, learn to smoke by Arizona and how to heal her heart by Zion. All while travelling with a stranger. Featuring radio hits sung live, Shakespeare proclaimed wildly, feminine pleasure found, and denied truths explored. Following a sold-out run Off-Off Broadway in NYC, Girlfriends is a play that couldn't help but wonder... when it comes to relationships... were they ever just... girlfriends?
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
From Scottish underclass to teenage Westminster career. An all-night chippy and town-centre tower blocks backdrop a prudish schoolgirl’s path to politics when she's seduced from her studies to the streets, in favour of plunking it and partying, before U-turning. Paved with pink shell suits, Playboy garms, and Britpop’s parting cries. A portrayal of ambition, social mobility and culture shock within one’s home country when you’re coming from benefits class Britain.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
A one-act psychological dark comedy about a Scottish sociopath named William, who believes his sole purpose in life is to fix the brokenness of the world person by person. We follow his dysfunctional life through his eyes, and we realise very quickly his tendencies, although wanting to be good, only end up creating more damage than fixing it. Through his picky nature we meet his next victim who ends up winning the game William didn’t even know he’d started, but in doing so, ruins her own life.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Five Olympian Gods discover that no one believes in them anymore. As they grapple with existential dread, dysfunctional relationships and much-needed family therapy, the almighty deities reveal just how human they really are. Bridging 2000s nostalgia and Greek mythology, this sit-com style show confirms that sleeping with your flatmates is messy – especially when they’re family. Written and directed by the exuberant radio host Felix Glanville and ‘dazzling’ (PlaysInternational.org.uk) comedy-actor Leah Pollard, ‘God Complex’ playfully reimagines iconic mythological characters as morally dubious everymen.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
A King defends their crown against all comers. A shop keeper fights the scourge of battery theft within his store. A man carefully traps and nurses the homeless back to health. Join us in the surreal world of Golden Beryl for fragmented monologues, absurd character studies and off-kilter narratives in the beautifully iconic Pianodrome Amphitheatre, Bruntsfield. An hour of classic tales from the Golden Beryl archives performed with a full cast and live music and foley. As heard on the BBC and your podcast application of choice. Think the League of Gentlemen, The Goons, Mr Show.
St Oswald's Centre
Pianodrome
Winner Solas Nua New Voices Award 2025. Garrick has tidied her living room and put out the good biscuits. But social worker Hegarty is there to interrogate. Why has her son got a mysterious bruise? Is she fit to care for him? What is she hiding? As power shifts and facades drop it becomes clear Garrick and Hegarty desperately need each other. A taut thriller, a struggle for power between a worried mother and concerned social worker. But who is telling the truth? A complex interrogation of parenting, power and what it means to care.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
24 - 29 AugA love letter to Educating Rita for an age that can't agree on anything. A fierce, funny and unsettling two-hander about grief, reinvention and the fragile possibility of dialogue. When mature student Susan is accused of transphobia, charged encounters with her tutor force buried grief and long-suppressed truths to the surface. Written by Lucy Linford, a TV writer and graduate of the NFTS and GCU. 'Her bruised characters twitch with hunger' (Colin McLaren, BAFTA-winning screenwriter).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
07 - 15 AugA love letter to Educating Rita for an age that can't agree on anything. A fierce, funny and unsettling two-hander about grief, reinvention and the fragile possibility of dialogue. When mature student Susan is accused of transphobia, charged encounters with her tutor force buried grief and long-suppressed truths to the surface. Written by Lucy Linford, a TV writer and graduate of the NFTS and GCU. 'Her bruised characters twitch with hunger' (Colin McLaren, BAFTA-winning screenwriter).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Clothes, cats and counterculture. Sheffield, 1989. Loveable, eccentric septuagenarian, Hilda, has run a second-hand clothes shop for decades. The profits feed 30 stray cats. One day, a journalist from The Guardian walks in... Hilda's granddaughter, Julie Flower, returns with her 5-star Fringe 2024 hit! A solo, multi-character show about family history subverting expectations. Step inside Grandma's shop, a nostalgic world of old carrier bags, pools coupons and vintage clothes... presided over by an unlikely punk icon. ***** (ThreeWeeks). **** (List). 'You will leave bathed in the warm glow of humanity at its best' **** (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
The last train of the day to France, 11:54pm. Three siblings embark on an emergency journey from London to the south of France, to be with their dad in hospital, experiencing some bizarre moments and encounters en route. This fast-paced, silly, tender one woman show will leave you wanting to tell everyone in your life you love them. We don't have long on this earth, let's make it count.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Navigating youth is a universal challenge, but with the constant threat of firearms, American students are faced with their own mortality before they stop wearing tutus to school. Fortunately, these kids don’t have to face this horror alone, meet the guardian angels of America’s youth: dragons. Created and presented by students, Guns in Dragonland is a series of vignettes exploring American school society and its shocking overlap with America's gun culture. Witness as these children and their dragon guardians grapple with the dangers of gun violence with humour, bravery, and compassion. 'Surprising and extraordinary' (David Henry Hwang).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A grief-stricken vegan seeks revenge for the death of a pig. First, he thinks for a long time. Second, he blames his mother. Finally, he wreaks the ultimate vengeance... by putting on a play. HAM is a kinky eco-hijacking of Shakespeare’s Hamlet about meat, madness and the power of shame. The 'vividly, viscerally alive' ***** (Guardian) Hotter Project twists this high-brow tragedy into a sordid wrestle between a vegan and a sausage-lover. As we hurtle towards the end of humankind, every one of us must decide: to eat, or not to eat? That is the question.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Hadid follows Helena Hadid, the one normal sibling in a hyper-famous family of supermodels and Real Housewives. After Gigi and Bella fall down a flight of stairs (they’re fine!) the family goes on a PR rehabilitation campaign that forces Helena to grapple with jealousy, familial loyalty and her own ambitions. This heartfelt, funny show is for anyone who has been rejected, anyone who has felt the pangs of envy, and anyone who has a well-known celebrity sibling. We imagine that’s a more niche audience, but those people in particular are going to love this play.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Halfway Home follows the rippling effects of addiction and confronting mistakes of a past life. Davie is just out of prison and cooped up with his policeman-hopeful brother, Freddie. Caught in the middle is Laura, an overworked nurse in an underfunded NHS, who finds herself at wits end with both of them. Perspectives collide on treatment and attitudes, in the backdrop of austerity-hit Scotland, providing a bold, relatable story of a broken family trying to mend themselves.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is the single play in the Western tradition that encompasses the central questions of existence that apply to all humans across social, political, economic, educational, environmental, religious and racial boundaries. Who Am I? Why Do I Exist? What Must I Do? Rooted in classical principles of examining these essential questions, it follows, that when we understand Hamlet, we understand ourselves. Adapted and directed by visionary Ukrainian theatre artist Dmitry Troyanovsky it stars Kevin Hopkins and Claire Nichols of the Australian Shakespeare Company alongside emerging professionals from PSC's 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive.CastClaudius | Kevin HopkinsPolonius | Claire NichollsHamlet and Ensemble | members of the PSC 2026 Summer Shakespeare IntensiveWritten by | William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by | Dmitry TroyanovskyProduced by | Prague Shakespeare Companywww.pragueshakespeare.com/hamletfacebook.com/pragueshakespearecompany/instagram.com/pragueshakes/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
(Fri 7-Mon 17 Aug) Hamlet has the questions. Do you have the answers? A prince of Denmark needs your help. Take on the roles, journey through the play and resolve the great questions of life together, immersed in the story as never before. From multi award-winning Brite Theater, creators of Richard III (a one-person show) and Deliverance. Starring Emily Carding, directed by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. ‘Sigfusdottir’s adaptation and Carding’s sensitive interpretation provide a shortcut to the empathy that many Hamlets crave but seldom achieve’ ★★★★ (Stage)‘Will leave you feeling closer and more empathetic to Hamlet than ever before’ ★★★★★ (TheFrontRowCenter.com).
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Hello Princess! The Princess Party Planners are here to make your day magical – nothing less will do. But behind the glitter, one performer starts to realise the fairytale she’s selling isn’t so magical for her. As her job intensifies, feelings become harder to ignore, and cracks in the fairytale start to show. Can she take off the princess mask and face the story she’s been avoiding? A funny and heartfelt dive into the messy magic of becoming yourself. Expect laughter, discomfort, and a tear or two – but no guarantees of happily ever after.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The journey to motherhood is fraught with the most painful and awkward moments for all women. This comedic and brutally honest one woman show takes the audience on an emotional and at times highly entertaining rollercoaster. From morning sickness to hypnobirthing classes to labour, you won’t find this stuff in the pregnancy books! No holds barred; get ready for a whirlwind of witty anecdotes and graphic storytelling with an ending no mother could ever imagine.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
A young woman is attempting her first STI kit and this clinical act becomes a confession. Their ages, professions, maybe star signs? She clings to these superficial information as if they might offer explanations for her “mistakes” or “poor choices”. While she unfolds the quiet power dynamics that shaped her sexual history, the nature of the question transforms: ‘He’s six years older than me.’ So was he and so was he. How is that relevant in this situation, in this conversation, in this performance?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Ian is the youngest man at his village church, which dwindles in numbers every year. When Ian finds a Stone Head, which only he can hear speaking, he decides to listen to its wisdom and build a religion of his own.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
His gut has a voice and it's relentless. A darkly comic ventriloquist show about a gut gone rogue. Half healthy, half sick, Hendrik performs alongside a sharp-tongued dummy embodying his illness: a chronic, invisible, inflammatory force, a dysfunctional double act turning against him. Blending theatre, comedy and musical elements, Quast argues with his puppet about shame and what spills out. Beginning as a classic act, spiralling into chaos: the illness doesn't just disrupt his gut, it speaks. And Quast listens: to his illness, to the medical system and to the healthy faces watching him.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
A hilarious and moving new play that explores the unlikely friendship between King Henry VIII and his Groom of the Stool, William Compton. Set in the opulent world of the Tudor court, this play offers a unique perspective on the complexities of power, loyalty and grief. Toilet humour has never been so sophisticated or heartbreaking.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
What happens when the Queen (really) wants her son-in-law, the Prince? Drums. Movement. Taboo! Euripides' shocking Greek tragedy, Hippolytos, presented in a poetic and percussion-based adaptation by the Burbank H.S. Drama troupe and its award-winning director. Witness this powerful choral work, inspired by theatre icons Jerzy Grotowski, Frederico G. Lorca, and Carol Churchill in telling the mythic tale of forbidden love.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
On the set of The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1939, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce tackle the mystery and the ups and downs of playing the famous Baker Street sleuths for the first time. They became firm friends on and off set – whilst becoming synonymous with playing Sherlock and Watson – for one of them, it would be "hound" on their back that they were unable to shake off, no matter how hard they tried. A wonderfully evocative piece, with music and songs from the era. Howls of laughter.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
Our heroine can't come anymore... While orgasms are the inciting incident (and an entertaining one), they're really an invitation into a much larger conversation about mental health, depression, shame and self-worth. This isn't a story about sex (maybe a little), it's a story about healing. Inspired by real life, Homecumming explores the taboos surrounding female sexuality with honesty, humour and tenderness. Her journey is messy, funny, sexy, vulnerable and painfully relatable. Through therapy, self-reflection and a growing desire to reconnect with herself, she begins a transformation – from caterpillar to butterfly – rediscovering her taste for life.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Art is the best revenge. The Off-Off-Broadway camp cult sell-out hit makes landfall in Edinburgh at last! It’s their umpteenth break-up, but this time feels different to artist and self-styled sorceress Mimi. The obvious solution? Sculpt an idol of her ex during a thunderstorm and top it off with the foulest love-hate potion alchemy can brew! An 'impish word-drunk play' giving 'big laughs and sharp plot turns with confidence' (Rob Weinert-Kendt, American Theatre Magazine), Homunculus is a classic farce in modern verse, a romance for the ages, an explosion of creativity and a monstrously good time.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Welcome to The Retreat, where guests can log off, detox and connect with nature (or perfectly kept astroturf). Five eccentric internet addicts search for an easy fix for their mounting problems, in the hopes that cucumber peels and trust exercises can buy back their happiness. When a violent storm threatens to uproot their plans, they are forced to question whether you can ever really go ‘off the grid’. Hope This Helps! is a satirical comedy by Shark Bait Theatre about wellness culture, connection in the digital age, and touching grass for once.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Dan's got a rucksack full of stolen weed and a plan that'll definitely work. Ollie's got his A-level reading list and serious reservations. They've been mates their whole lives. They're also becoming strangers. Set against the 00s music festival that swallows their town every summer, this gig theatre show tears into class, nostalgia and masculinity, backed by a live band playing original songs that hit like a headline set. Messy, honest and completely on your side, from multi award-winning theatre company Chronic Insanity.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
BoYz may come and Go, bUt hOrSes aRe 4ever... A dark comedy play about a group of pre-teen girls in an exclusive South Florida horse club, the Lady Jean Ladies, who navigate middle school drama, insecurities and their obsession with horses, especially when their leader Ashleigh's family stables are threatened. The play explores themes of friendship, deception and the desperate need to belong, focusing on the characters' intense world of equestrianism and social hierarchy. 'Pitch-perfect... a 50-minute pop descent into madness' (New York Times).
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
The year is 1924. Harry Houdini is at the peak of his fame, touring the country with performance-lectures that expose fraudulent mediums and challenge the growing Spiritualist movement. At the same moment, his friend (and eventual adversary) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is lecturing in passionate defense of Spiritualism, convinced it represents a profound philosophical and moral evolution for humanity. Watch these two legends battle out the true nature of magic, science and faith through a historically based, largely verbatim play from writer-director Beth Burns and writer-magician Patrick Terry.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
24 - 29 AugBzzzz. Enter the surrealist world of a house fly. She’s come to share her story before she dies! In an astonishing historical first, a house fly has learnt human behaviour. Wanting to warn us about the worldwide insect shortage but getting lost along the way. This is Tess O'Shea's first show after training at Gaulier clown school – it's a theatrical exploration on the life of a fly and their cultural history. Come and see a fly's observations on the absurdity of modern life, inspired by Kafka and the surrealism of Dali. Swatters strictly prohibited!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
07 - 07 AugBzzzz. Enter the surrealist world of a house fly. She’s come to share her story before she dies! In an astonishing historical first, a house fly has learnt human behaviour. Wanting to warn us about the worldwide insect shortage but getting lost along the way. This is Tess O'Shea's first show after training at Gaulier clown school – it's a theatrical exploration on the life of a fly and their cultural history. Come and see a fly's observations on the absurdity of modern life, inspired by Kafka and the surrealism of Dali. Swatters strictly prohibited!
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Tabatha spent decades dreaming of seeing her favourite reclusive musician perform. When the chance finally came, she flew from the US to London alone, ready for a life-changing experience. Her life changed for sure. After a sudden assault by a stranger, she was faced with navigating shock, confusion, and the impossible task of explaining what happened. In this darkly funny and deeply personal solo show, Tabatha examines the absurd mechanics of survival: how we process trauma, where language breaks down and why humour sometimes becomes the only way through. A bold, intimate story about resilience.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Grinding is hard when you're an Alpha. Between looksmaxxing, assessing female options, making body investments and being high value, there's barely anytime to kill your friends and do a podcast. PROD return to Fringe with a new dark satirical comedy. Six friends, driven by a divine intervention, decide to drop out of university and plan a heist. Strange and twisted things happen, leading to the creation of the new smash hit podcast: How My Hormonal Imbalances Killed My Friends! This comedy play explores toxic masculinity, internalised homophobia and pack-mentality. Four shows only.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
It's 2001. A naive young Australian actor arrives in New York. One man plays twenty-eight characters in this heartbreakingly funny award-winning play about 9/11 and chasing your dreams. Twenty-five years after September 11 changed the world, performer James Smith transforms from a hopeful Aussie to a weary New York lawyer to a British compulsive liar (to name a few), in a fragmented story inspired by playwright Emily Steel's real-life experiences. 'Beautifully told, deeply resonant' ***** (List). 'Go see it and take all of your friends' ***** (GlamAdelaide.com.au).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Five supporters of a fallen authoritarian regime are sentenced to group therapy to help them get in touch with their feelings and find out why they were, like... so into fascism. Cuz, weird, right? Like, we got the big baddies, no worries. But what about the rest of them? Like, all those, maybe, not-so-innocent bystanders? This semi-devised dark comedy from Berlin-based theatre collective great thing going proposes the perfect, ultimate, most supreme solution: therapize them into repenting.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Sam, obsessed with stars and stuck in middle-of-nowhere British Colombia, is given an out-of-this world opportunity the night of her 14th birthday. An alien (who looks suspiciously like her missing mother) visits and promises a whirlwind adventure with deadly repercussions. Escape isn’t easy, and sometimes you have to blast off in order to survive. If you want your mother to hold you, if you want your current life to go up in flames, or if you want the kind of revenge that puts people in jail, this is the show for you.
Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull
Cellar
Award-winning storyteller Kona Morris tells the astonishing true story of how she fell in love with a Native Alaskan and moved to a remote village north of the Arctic Circle. Grizzly bears, whirlpools, northern lights and the transformation that happens when you embrace the unknown. Hilarious, exhilarating, heart-warming storytelling that will transport you to the top of the world! And yes, you will learn tips for using an outhouse at -58°C. Winner of five awards from New York City Fringe and Theatre Beyond Broadway, including Audience Choice and Staff Choice. ***** (Frigid.NYC).
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
A woman of a certain age is forced to trace the unruly manuscript of her life when a hijacking shatters the ordinary. Life snaps, twists, tumbles. Fear, fury, faith collide. Old choices that sting yet refuse burial. Her fierce devotion to animals becomes refuge and rebellion, a way of loving without condition. Like a ghost walk through the Eternal City’s layered past, memory flickers as she confronts truths avoided about survival, reinvention and resilience. Gathering fragments of experience, she discovers that the hardest story to write is the one that begins again.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
This science-performance art show bounces from Jane Goodall’s discoveries to AI analyses of cat language to evolution and empathy, using storytelling, puppetry, singing, video and animal drag to ask how close we really are to other animals. From the multiple award-winning group that previously brought the musical Hiya Dolly! – the story of Dolly the sheep – to the Fringe. Ranging from personal experience with animal behaviour, to animal research so new it’s warm to the touch – this solo performance asks: what do we know about the minds of other animals, and are humans really that unique?
Dynamic Earth
Salisbury Suite
Boys, are you shirkin for a gherkin? Attempting openness while navigating the pressures of his troubled masculinity, Johnny finds himself off-piste in the world of spoken-word poetry. I AM JOHNNY is an unsettlingly funny, absurd and politically sharp solo performance that dives head-first into fragile power dynamics, performative masculinity and ownership of the female body. Blending surreal humour with piercing insight, this is a hilarious, raw and unforgettable interrogation of gender, class and vulnerability.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
One-woman show about a good girl who meets her soulmate, gets in way over her head, suffers a brain injury, starts an art movement, and comes roaring back. Forbes called this show 'All soul.' Kristina Libby is an award-winning creative force who has been published in places like The New Yorker, McSweeney's, Elle, the Boston Globe and has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS. A Moth StorySLAM and Best Storytelling Show (United Solo Fest) winner, she founded the Floral Heart Project, a COVID memorial, and runs the Ampersand Cohort.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
In this one-woman show, Sarah Dealy reveals something so personal, so vulnerable that you, Great Britain, and the world will never be the same. But she does need to go over a few things with the audience first to make sure that you aren’t going to judge her for anything she reveals. A searing personal story with twists and turns. Unflinching and raw... if she can get to it...
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Billy Mason, a working-class lad done good and now tycoon of the bar-snack industry, visits his soon-to-be pop star daughter, Mariella, at a strange hotel where she is dreaming up her debut album. Hopes of celebration and champagne collide with industry collapse, failing health and the looming steps of a god-like label exec which threatens to force them apart. Father and daughter are left asking: ‘What now?’, as songs, suspicion and surreal turns collide in this exploration of ambition and familial love.'Passionate, raw, full of emotion' Audience Review'Honestly stunning writing' Audience ReviewCompany | Abbey Gillett, Andrew Pearson - WrightCreated and Peformed by | Abbey GillettDirected by | Elsa StrachanSound and Set Designer | Lucinda Plummerinstagram.com/milkandmallet/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
'This is the story of how I killed my father. Mostly.' Between demeaning beer auditions and his mother’s relentless calls, Irving performs a bitingly funny, "mostly true" autopsy on his own masculinity. From the salt-aired trauma of Veracruz to the grit of Mexico City, he dissects a paternal lineage of absentee biological fathers and the ghosts of men who only knew how to leave. A visceral, darkly comedic excavation of what we inherit, what we kill, and the high cost of a graceful exit.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Problems in your love life? Never fear, the Bard is here! From wooing your first true love to consolidating an alliance with the king of Naples through political marriage, Shakespeare's got you covered. Join two professionally trained RADA thespians (Regular Academy of Decent Actors) who shall present you with an hour-long cocktail of the most famous Shakespearean couples to date. Whether a seasoned stage veteran or if you've never heard of Billy Shakes before, this show is decidedly for thee! There will be comedy. There will be tragedy. There will be Shakespeare!
The Royal Scots Club
The Speakeasy
This sleeper agent is on his most important mission ever. Only problem – he has no idea what it is. From the clown/game show creators of last year's Edinburgh Fringe hit Help Me!!!! (an interactive mime séance) comes I Was Never Here: a highly interactive, gonzo spy thriller featuring an overzealous secret agent searching for activation phrases which will help him regain sections of his memory. Play along, decode cyphers, answer phones and most importantly remember – you never saw any of this.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
INTRUSIVE is a psychologically charged drama about anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the weight of unspoken experiences. Set during a seemingly ordinary night with friends, the story follows Jess as her inner world begins to overwhelm reality. Blurring the line between memory and imagination, the play invites audiences to experience the unsettling intensity of a mind struggling for control. Honest, intimate, and unsettling, INTRUSIVE offers a raw exploration of mental health and trauma.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Jane is sensible, Sam is annoying, Harry is tired and Benji might be in love with an alien. A new sci-fi comedy following a group of friends as a meteorite lands in the local playground, kicking off an alien invasion. Set in their living room, the friends start to panic as more information is revealed to them about their impending doom, and accusations of secretly being Aliens start to fly about. It's a fast-paced, manic exploration of group dynamics and desperation – with a bit of ABBA added for good measure.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
In the months following her husband Zach's death, Zoe's life remains intact. She moves through the world with her happiness and her certainty untouched, accompanied by a man only she can see. As those around her insist on naming his death, Zoe begins to question whether absence is real or merely agreed upon, asking where existence ends when love refuses to let it.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
What might’ve happened if real witches dropped in on the witch hunts? Comedy, we’re sure. Summoned by the ghost of a witch hunt victim, real witches Mildred, Agnes and Suds arrive to rescue innocent Obediently Snead and serve up justice of their own. When challenged by The Pricks of Puritanical Piety Guild and Social Club, the witches turn the tide on those who harm others out of ignorance and fear. This riotous four-person comedy makes its way to Edinburgh after premiering in New York City and selling out performances at the Scranton Fringe Festival.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Love, sex and death – inside one woman’s head. This darkly funny solo show follows a middle-aged woman who doesn’t quite fit, arguing with her own unconscious about how to live. As libido and mortality interrupt her thoughts, she uses sharp humour to open a playful and revealing exploration of identity, desire and grief. Blending text, movement and flamenco-inspired dance, the piece shifts from comedy into a more physical and poetic space. Intimate, bold and unfiltered, it invites audiences into the inner voices we carry but rarely dare to speak aloud.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
(Thu 6-Tue 18 Aug) An incendiary retelling of Homer’s Iliad, sung through the voice of Thetis, Achilles’ mother. Two performers fluidly shifting: god/mortal, mother/warrior, goddess/lover, masculine/feminine, collapsing the boundaries of gender, power and fate. Love – maternal, erotic, spiritual – collides with the brutal machinery of war. Developed through international residencies and informed by artistic exchange with Lebanese and Palestinian artists working amid ongoing conflict, the production refuses nostalgia. Olympus is not distant; it is political, volatile, human. Nearly three millennia later, the epic burns with the same question: who wages war, and who pays the price?
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Imogen would rather stay home and knit, but her mother, famed mountaineer Clarantine Hilbig, pushes her to conquer the treacherous Flugelhorn in the Austrian Alps. Facing a disgraced guide, a boastful rival and an overly enthusiastic ghost, Imogen must navigate more than the mountain’s dangers. As she climbs, she confronts the weight of her mother’s expectations and her own identity. Imogen Up the Mountain is a Victorian-era absurdist comedy with a modern twist about family pressure and finding your own path – even while hanging off a cliff.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
In Her Hand draws on real journals and letters from women serving with the Scottish Women’s Hospitals in the First World War. This defiant, darkly witty play follows an unlikely friendship forged through service on the Balkan front. Through the pages of Francis’s journal, an unlikely friendship sparks amid chaos. Thrown together, two very different women confront catastrophic injuries, scarce supplies and constant danger. Armed with quick thinking, gallows humour and fierce determination, they forge a bond strong enough to survive the harshest conditions. Go Home and Sit Still? Aye Right! Ticket includes Surgeons’ Hall Museum entry.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
This 95th office floor houses the world’s hardest workers, where the highest productivity levels equal the greatest success, and one idle day means demotion. Melody, masterful at the art of high production, fights for her place at the top with grit and determination. Heated rivalry escalates with her fellow co-workers who are hell-bent on her failure, whilst she desperately seeks approval from her unforgiving boss. But as Melody climbs the ranks, the battle for promotion threatens to destroy her. Will she make it to the apex or will she succumb to the Institute of Perpetual Despair?
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
The gripping dark comedy of an ambitious Black accountant fighting for a seat at the table in the high-stakes world of Wall Street. Shortlisted for the Popcorn Writing Award, the show follows a man torn between love, family expectations, and the relentless pursuit of success, as he navigates power, class, and identity in a system never built for him. How far will he go to survive... and who will he become in the process? 'Degraft is marked as a star of the future' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'It’s a privilege to watch a young master at work' ***** (TheRealChristparkle.com).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
The gravestones of two friends pull a journalist into an investigation he hopes will bury the past. Instead, it unearths the harsh reality of staying silent, confronting him with the one story he refused to tell. Following his five-star run in 2025, Scottish playwright George Grant returns with this powerful meditation on identity and grief. Making it’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut, In the Cold Light is a sharp, funny and quietly devastating exploration of how we mourn – and what we leave unsaid.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Alex, a young man navigates first love, friendships and the quiet pressure of growing up. At school, between lessons and late-night messages, he tries to balance who he is with who he feels he should be. As relationships shift, the audience is drawn inside his private world, where every word is rehearsed, every silence is loud and what he thinks rarely matches what he says. While classmates see an ordinary student stumbling through young love, we witness his doubts, his hopes and the quiet struggle to understand himself.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Experience the world's greatest Aufguss artists right here in Edinburgh. Stunning choreography and extraordinary storytelling using steam and scent in a beautiful sauna theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound. Aufguss is a sauna ritual that circulates steam and scent through mesmeric towel waving as part of a story told through words, music, dance, scent and heat. Two different artists perform every day with line-ups announced in advance on @saunatheatre socials, featuring world class Aufguss artists from across Europe and around the world. This is theatre to captivate all of your senses.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Invasion, a bold multimedia spectacle from Philippine Theatre UK’s 23rd anniversary season, leaps across time – from the tense streets of 1940s Manila to the quiet corners of modern-day Oxford. Three mischievous spirits, a teacher, a lawyer and a nun crash into the present, pulling audiences into a haunting yet humorous journey blending horror, drama, comedy, music, film and history. At its heart is a stark look at Imperial Japan’s wartime atrocities, including the silenced suffering of Comfort Women. Guided by award-winning writer-director Ramon C. Teñoso, JoMarZeb explores memory, faith, loyalty and the lingering shadows of colonial trauma.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Two teenage girls stand on the brink of adulthood, their futures just beginning to take shape. In parallel worlds, both are pulled into wars they didn’t choose, can’t control, and have no voice in. As their stories unfold side by side, ancient myth meets the present day, drawing on both Euripides' Iphigenia plays to expose how little has changed. Their lives begin to echo and collide, revealing the enduring cost of conflict across time. An intimate, unflinching portrait of youth interrupted, voices unheard and the devastating human consequences of war.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Irene Cleans Up is about a middle-aged London cleaner with a remarkable palate for wine, and decades of social conditioning telling her to stay in her place. When a highly successful and fiercely competitive sommelier bets she can transform Irene into an elite expert, an unlikely partnership begins. As ambition, class and confidence collide, both women confront what it means to change direction later in life. Warm, funny and sharply observed, Irene Cleans Up is a new play about reinvention, female friendship and the courage to redefine yourself after years of expectation when it matters most.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
(Thu 6-Sun 16 Aug) The diagonal of the square is incommensurable with its side. Few words, but with unexpected implications: a number like this – neither whole nor fraction, thinkable but unknowable, wild, irrational – is a chaos element threatening the very order of things. The step from mathematics to heresy is short, and in Pythagoras’ time, mathematics could even cost you your life. A performance balancing mathematics and storytelling, where the story of Hippasus of Metapontum becomes an occasion to reflect on the role of mathematics in Western culture. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
We've all said things we wish we could un-say. Done things we wish we could undo. Broken things we wish we could un-break. But is one word enough to fix all our regrets? Acclaimed theatre-maker Adam Lenson returns to Summerhall with a new collision of gig, storytelling and autobiographical investigation. Moving from synagogue to school playground, from online feuds to family drama, Is It Too Late Now To Say Sorry? examines the way we apologise, the pain we carry and the opportunities for healing amidst the damage.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
A new comedy set within a police interrogation. When Tim is brought in for questioning, he knows he's in for the third degree. But nothing can prepare him for what the desperate detectives have in store! From cops undercover to rehashed routines, from skittish psychologists to a problematic polygraph, watch the insane interrogation unfold, as the police pull out every trick in the book to get Tim's confession! Will they succeed? Or will Tim walk free? And are there more secrets at play? Who else has something they need to confess?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Maggie is lost at sea after the Margarita Boat Tour Incident. Who even knew Edinburgh had one of those? As a storm closes in, her mother Judy and her fiancée Claire find themselves locked inside a lighthouse with only each other's opposing ideologies. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the pair desperately search for the person who ties it all together. It couldn’t get worse. Probably.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Six employees. An ordinary Tuesday in the office. One of them stole £60,000. To solve the mystery, the boss asks each of his employees to walk him through their day, leading to absurd recreations and ridiculous revelations. It Happened on a Tuesday is a new comedy play that merges the workplace sitcom with a whodunnit mystery, in the structure of Rashomon. In a world where everyone believes their own version of the truth, how can we ever be objective?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
When four Evangelical teens plan to convert citizens for their debutante ball, a closeted goth teen falls for a vampire, igniting a campy crusade of repression, romance and religious hysteria – forcing her to choose between her church, friends and thirst for authenticity. Written and performed by students at USC and fresh off a sold-out run in Los Angeles, It’s A Struggle Coming Out makes its international debut!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
For those who have ever wondered ‘whodunnit’ and why... Detective Tim Benzie examines the clues that drew him to the genre as a child – from Scooby Doo to Encylopedia Brown, to gobbling up the entire works of Agatha Christie as a teenager. Along the way he draws draws connections between obsessions with detective films the the TV series Murder, She Wrote.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Calvino’s stunning language springs to life in a cascade of trapdoors, surprises and reveals. As Kublai Khan feels his empire eroding beneath him, Marco Polo forms the slipping sands into the cities of the emperor's dreams. This adaptation in miniature casts a dreamlike spell over the audience using live projection, puppetry, paper mechanics and living sculpture as two performers manipulate tiny cameras on a small table. This show has been stunning audiences in theaters and barns across the United States, including a sold-out run at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.Co created and performed by | Matt GawrykCo created and performed by | Dan Kerr-HobertAdditional Artwork by | Lizi Briet, Bernie McGovern, Hugh Spector, David HawcockSpecial Thanks | Jenny Byrd, Chelsea M. Warren, Michael Gaudio, Bill Healy, Cristina Cocchi, Starshaped Press, Lara Johnson, Myra Su, The Jungle Theater, The Neofuturists, The University of Minnesota, The James Ford Bell Librarywww.toy-atlas.comfacebook.com/ToyAtlasTheaterinstagram.com/toyatlascity/
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
The Olympians have won the war with the Titans. The cosmos is theirs. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hermes and Athena find themselves in the uncomfortable position of organising everything. Roles must be chosen, leaders must be appointed, worlds must be created and cared for – this is not what they signed up for. Egos clash, relationships are stretched thin, and the Earth is in peril from day one. The universe might be doomed before it’s even begun.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
17 - 22 AugBased on the autobiography of Josiah Henson. Born into slavery in Maryland, enduring 41 years of unimaginable brutality and persecution before escaping to Canada. The play dramatises his unwavering resilience, determination and faith; the indomitable spirit which led him to become a respected leader, minister and teacher. His story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to create Uncle Tom in the seminal novel of the 19th Century – Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This is a story that matters today in a time when histories are being erased and challenged. It is a compelling true Canadian story of triumph over adversity.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
24 - 29 AugBased on the autobiography of Josiah Henson. Born into slavery in Maryland, enduring 41 years of unimaginable brutality and persecution before escaping to Canada. The play dramatises his unwavering resilience, determination and faith; the indomitable spirit which led him to become a respected leader, minister and teacher. His story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to create Uncle Tom in the seminal novel of the 19th Century – Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This is a story that matters today in a time when histories are being erased and challenged. It is a compelling true Canadian story of triumph over adversity.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW is the worst audition you've ever had. A Black actor, a woman actor, and a straight white male actor walk into a Shakespeare audition in a condemned theatre space. Amidst a riot outside the theatre, three auditionees attempt to impress an intensely respected director set on reinventing the play in "unorthodox" styles. As the audition unfolds, the actors' identities are called into the audition room and exploited for better performances.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
A grizzled private investigator partners with a dewy-eyed homicide detective to solve the mysterious murder of a journalist that dug too deep. Together, they work to outmanoeuvre the crooked cops and scheming politicians that deal in the shadows of Metroville. But will they finish the case before the case finishes them?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
When violent insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol on 6th January 2021, they ruined a birthday forever. Kiely and Jessie are best friends who share the same birthday and the same big dreams of theatrical stardom. On the fateful day of the insurrection, their birthday goes from bad to worse when allegations emerge of their involvement in the attempted coup. Faced with their special day going down in infamy and spending the rest of their lives in prison, can Kiely and Jessie sing and dance their way to innocence?
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Joanne has spent years working towards a life on stage. Neptune arrives there effortlessly. As their paths continue to cross, comparison turns corrosive and envy becomes obsession. In this psychologically driven solo performance, Joanne confronts the trauma, class barriers and survival instincts shaping her ambition. An intimate and unflinching exploration of burnout, neurodivergence and what it costs to pursue a creative life while carrying what remains unhealed.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Everyone has another face they hide behind... A radical re-imagining of Stevenson’s classic tale, where Victorian morality and modern feminist issues collide. This adaptation begins with Dr Jekyll’s wife, Harriet, continuing his work and exploring the duality of the soul – but her transformation is not all it seems. With powerful links between past and present, this gripping ensemble piece explores the timely question of how social change can be won, and at what cost. And crucially, do we all have a Hyde inside us?
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
After her mother's death, a British-Pakistani woman moves to Boston – where a 6'5" Puerto Rican hip hop dancer from the Bronx teaches her how to dance, how to take up space and how to battle. She doesn't realise she's being trained to fight him. A darkly funny solo show featuring electrifying hip hop and astonishing character transformations.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
Winner of the Creative Arts Award at the Proud Scotland Awards 2025, this powerful new play follows three unforgettable drag queens – The Jessies – and the staff of the infamous Jessie’s Bar in Scotland. Spanning from 1980 to 1995, the story dives into the highs and lows of queer life during a time of upheaval, hope and hard-won joy. Set against the backdrop of a changing world, this hilarious and deeply moving play is a celebration of resilience, love and the enduring power of community.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
'I've dreamed of this day. My whole life.' There's one hour to go before the wedding, but now the wedding may not be going ahead. From Lyn Gardner-recommended double act Britney – aka Ellen Robertson (Vladimir, Mickey17, The Pale Horse) and Charly Clive (Rooster, Pure, The Lazarus Project) – comes a brand new two-hander about ownership, tradition and the all-important 'L' word of any relationship: leverage. Praise for previous shows: 'Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson's wonderfully infectious relationship radiates warmth and mischief from the stage' **** (Scotsman). 'A surreal, sensitive triumph' **** (Independent). 'Funny, heart-wrenching and honest' (i Paper).
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Gacy was one of the most prolific serial killers in US history. Between 1972 and 1978 in Chicago, he was responsible for the rape, torture and murder of at least 33 innocent teenage boys and young men. He became known as the Killer Clown due to his public performances as a clown prior to his crimes. In this theatrical piece, his story is told from his own perspective in chilling, vivid and unrelenting detail. This production is in memory of the 33 who died at the hands of a 'devil in disguise'.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
One woman’s journey to reclaim agency after trauma, blending humour and heartbreak to transform silence, shame and survival into connection and empowerment. Between hook-ups, vibrators and Tinder, she navigates the chaotic hellscape of modern dating. With wit and no-holds-barred honesty, it confronts a culture of sexual misbehaviour while celebrating resilience and desire. Raw, funny and disarmingly intimate, it asks the unaskable – like whether survivors should wear matching sashes – and invites audiences to laugh, reflect and heal alongside her as she rewrites her story on her terms.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
William Brown requests the pleasure of your company in the audience for the play wot he has wrote, directed and also starred in for your delectation. The programme was supposed to tell you that: but Jumble ate it. I am presenting this theatrical in association with Talking Shadows Theatre, who sold out all their shows in 2025. They have also asked me to mention previous reviews such as: 1966 ***** (CounterCulture), Crime and Punishment **** (BroadwayBaby.com), 1612 **** (TheMumble.uk). Please tip the leading man generously (sweets accepted). Adapted with kind permission of the Richmal Crompton estate.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Engaging, moving and hopeful, this one-person show examines links between what magicians do and what child sexual abusers do – and how secrets can be powerful in positive and destructive ways. Based on the performer’s true-life story from 1970s Boston to today, Keeping Secrets combines acting, visuals and a magic trick or two. A riveting performance, the show explores how traumatic experiences can be transformed into positive action. Creator Jim Vetter has enchanted fans internationally as a magician, mime and actor. Preview audiences call Keeping Secrets: Amazing, riveting, raw, funny, hopeful and that it 'should be on Netflix.’
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Kill Your Darlings is a student-created, imaginative exploration of theatre-making by Horace Mann students. On the eve of opening night, a young director discovers the elements of theatre coming to life. Costumes demand attention. Lighting refuses cues. Sound interrupts scenes. Props wander, music swells, stage directions argue back. Acting, motivation, blocking and design become characters of their own, each insisting on control of the stage. What begins as rehearsal becomes chaos as the director struggles to keep the production on track. Through humour, invention and physical storytelling, the ensemble celebrates the unpredictable magic of theatre.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A real-life ghost story from an award-winning comedian. Kirsty bought a house. Sure, it was derelict. And in a dodgy area. And OK someone just died in it. But she didn't mind because she didn't believe in ghosts. She does now. 'The Woman in Black meets Catherine Tate' ***** (The Fourth Wall, Perth). ***** (Fringefeed, FRINGE WORLD). ***** (TheScoop.au). ***** (Fringe Benefits Podcast). ***** (Scenestr). Winner: Best Theatre, Adelaide Fringe 2026. Winner: Best Comedy, FRINGE WORLD 2024.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Work in progress of a new play, written and performed by Shaparak Khorsandi, based on true life experiences of her Iranian family, scattered around the globe after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Featuring original live music by Jean Delkhaste, aka Smiling Beth. Can two sisters from different generations hold the same inheritance without collapsing into resentment, fantasy or ideology?
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
How an unexpected cat turned award-winning monologist Bob Brader's life upside down. After weeks of hissing and growling from under Bob’s bed, his brand-new surprise feline, Jade, is determined to be alone, inspiring Bob to confront his own desire for isolation. A funny and touching examination of rage, love and healing. And how one impurrfect kitty can change everything. 'Storytelling gold!' (TheatreInLondon.com). 'Brader keeps the audience mesmerized with his dark comic relief!' ***** (Uptown Magazine). 'A must-see performance that will make you laugh, cry and just feel good' ****½ (London Free Press).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
When the last plane left Kabul, Afghanistan vanished from Ariana’s reach. In LANDSFRAU, the return of the Taliban and the withdrawal of the western troops in 2021 triggers an autofictional reckoning with war, memory and responsibility. Onstage, Ariana dismantles images of Afghanistan and builds her own counter-archive: fragments of family history, imagined pasts, longing and rage. Afghan folk music collides with electronic beats; Attan meets contemporary dance. Through a feminist lens, she confronts the quiet guilt of living safely abroad. Refusing explanation or absolution, this performance becomes a personal act of political resistance.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Turkish-Norwegian theatre-maker Guliz Portakaloglu travels to Edinburgh with her new show. It is a solo theatre performance where a former actress creates a theatre play through improvisation, using objects found on stage to reflect on love, home, and music, as emotions awaken through sounds and theatrical remnants.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
The women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service were crucial to the domestic and international efforts of the British Army during World War II. Over 250,000 young girls signed to the ATS: many working out of Larkhill in Wiltshire. This new piece explores their stories using verbatim testimony and contemporaneous musical numbers. Talking Shadows has a passion for presenting forgotten, true stories which have been described as being 'Not a dry history lesson but a living memory' (1966: ***** CounterCultureUK.com); 'Intense, emotional, excellent' (OTMA: **** TheRealChrisparkle.com); 'Wonderful' (1612: **** The Mumble). Sell-out shows 2025.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
John and Jeremy own a bar. Once their father’s, it now belongs to these two hunks of meat: the manliest men in town. With the help of a waitress, this team of three run the bar on lip-syncing, line-dancing and 7am pints. That is, until a name from the past shows up in town after years. Now, the truth about why he left is about to come out... Join an all-female cast in a geographically ambiguous US town in the 80’s, as they charm you with their impressive facial hair and ability to down a pint of Budweiser.
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
Half stand-up show, half play, Laughing Matters follows Chris, an up-and-coming comedian forced to throw out his material following the tragic loss of his girlfriend. As the audience watches his grief reshape both his life and his comedy set, he must figure out how to be funny, and how to live, without her. Fresh from successful London runs, Alec Watson's 'laugh out loud funny' (TheReviewsHub.com) solo show lays bare the complex and deeply personal relationship between a comedian, their material and their life. A bittersweet exploration of grief, creativity and starting again from a blank page.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Laughing Out Lonely (LOL) is a portrait of contemporary loneliness. With a universal relevance, and a tour de tour performance from acclaimed countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen, this thrilling new opera is a thought-provoking performance that pushes the boundaries of what opera can be. Created using English lyrics that are based on posts from young people on social media, and staged by Louise Beck as a theatrical echo chamber where the audience is part of the setting, Laughing Out Lonely is a compelling work that is relevant for audiences of all ages.
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
After the loss of her daughter, young mother Edna must navigate the shifting terrain of grief as memory begins to consume her present. Movement, music, dialogue, puppetry and shadow-play converge in this visually arresting production. Within the cluttered familiarity of her apartment, grief erupts amidst the mundane like the sudden chorus of a song: supermarket flowers, intrusive cold calls and the apparition of Launa herself. This is a world in which the echo of childhood imagination and devastating loss co-exist, asking whether we have to let go of the past to remain present with the living?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Summer 1916. Following a shrapnel injury to his shoulder, WWI Captain Edward Beaumont returns home to his devoted fiancée’s estate. Yet the peaceful convalescence he longs for is unsettled not only by the disturbing effects of shellshock, but also a new presence on the estate – one that awakens forbidden emotions he thought he buried in the trenches. Over a series of encounters, he grows close with new farmhand, Sam, and battles the boundary between duty and desire. Exploring war trauma and queer romance, Lavender is a must-see for history enthusiasts and fans of original queer media.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Hollywood needed a cast of thousands, David Lean, and won seven Oscars. Eamonn Gearon had a camel called Osama. This Oxford-trained historian spent decades in the Middle East – living with Bedu, risking his neck and uncovering secrets Britain buried with Lawrence. History and comedy collide; a sharper image emerges. Neither villain nor hero, but something more interesting. What was promised? What was broken? What would Lawrence make of Peter O’Toole’s performance? With the wit of a raconteur and authority of a scholar, Gearon reveals man, myth, movie... plus camels.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
The riveting tale of what happened to the Fool, who mysteriously disappears halfway through Shakespeare’s tragedy. 'A gorgeous, lyrical and heartbreaking variation on the themes of Shakespeare’s play...' (Scotsman). 'David Henry Wilson’s one-act play is a self-contained, self-imagined work of genius' (GlasgowWestEndToday.scot). A brand-new production, directed by Liz Carruthers, following the sell-out production by Bard in the Botanics, for which Nicole Cooper was shortlisted for Performance of the Year at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland. In this production, the Fool will be played by Jill Riddiford, who herself has twice been on the short list.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Friends. Comrades. Enemies... Caillte Lighthouse. The North Sea just after WWI. The story follows two keepers and their training of a third before things occur that question their loyalty, friendship and ultimately, their sanity. Lighthouse is a gripping piece that delves into the human psyche of trust, paranoia and greed with stylish, well-placed humour, jeopardy, suspense and a stellar cast. Listed by The Herald as one of the Top 20 Must-See Shows of Edinburgh Fringe 2022, Lighthouse will take you on a 50-minute journey to hell and back like no other. It's not just the past that haunts you.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
He's here to help! Exploring friendship, bullying and the concept of the clothing chair. Jake tells the story of trying to save a stray cat in an alley, and everything that came after (trauma, blood, tears, etc) all while he attempts to help some of you with your day-to-day problems in real time. Immediately inviting you into the living room of an internal monologue, Like a Good Neighbor is a warm, welcoming and hilariously self-conscious show about just that: being a good neighbour. Written and performed by Jake Alexander, and directed by Hayley Moir.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Joey’s 17. Joey knows everything. Except why Callie won’t call her back. Let her gut punch your funny bone in Likewise: a biting comedy from the trenches of girlhood. A hilarious, heartbreaking, and so relatable story about friendship, fighting dirty, and performing for the voices in your head. Joey is your winningly unreliable narrator, fired up and ready to speed run all the crazy things you do when you lose someone – and the even crazier things you’d do to get them back.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
The continuing adventures of America's second favourite orphan adventurer come to life in a live radio play you'll have to hear to believe! Join Lil' Miss Kate, Deputy Mayor of New York City Solomon Russell, Former Heavyweight Champion of the World Lucinda Sheraton, and that faithful horse companion Fiorello for all manner of old-timey adventures. Featuring live sound effects! Don't miss this hilarious tribute to the action-adventure radio serials of the 1930's and 40's that's Little Orphan Annie meets The Naked Gun.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
An experimental drama tracing three generations of men – William, Liam and Jack – as they confront the addictions that shape and bind them. Through interwoven timelines, folk music and a visually segmented stage, the play reveals how obsession, substance abuse and control emerge from the same inherited impulse. As Jack struggles to care for his unravelling father, he is forced to question whether love can truly save someone, or if it means learning to let go. Lineage is a raw, character-driven exploration of masculinity and inheritance that asks if we can ever outrun the ghosts of our fathers.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Just before Fringe 2024, Linus Karp (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, Gwyneth Goes Skiing, The Fit Prince) was the victim of a homophobic attack. The case never went to trial... Until now. Linus Karp was hit with an umbrella. The attacker shouted that he would've killed him. The show retells the events and the aftermath – the police investigation, the public response, performing at Edinburgh Fringe days after and the heroic acts of Joseph Martin, and then dramatises the trial that never came to be... It's also funny.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Friesian
Fringe First winners return with a sweaty mustache of a comedy about the business of letting our dads die. With a dose of Kafka and 'A Christmas Carol,' Lions disassembles the myths our fathers told themselves about becoming great men. Part clown show and part deconstructed eulogy, Lions honors our fathers by not denying them the humanity they could not offer themselves. 'Lions made me laugh, cry and consider my doomed legacy' (8 Best Shows at Philadelphia Fringe, Philadelphia Inquirer). From the creators of UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME (Fringe First Award, The Stage Award, Obie Award, **** Guardian, ***** Stage).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
A post-apocalyptic tale of beauty, misogyny and bisexual baggage. Amidst societal collapse, Mila and Sam find comfort in their close friendship and budding attraction. It seems possible that the end of the old world could be the beginning of something better. All that changes when a strange man arrives. Joe is desperate for Mila’s companionship, and in exchange he can give her an artefact of her former life: a lipstick. As tensions among the three rise, Mila finds herself caught between Sam’s hopes of a better future and Joe’s offer of the safety of male approval.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
After a failed attempt to get Oasis tickets, a group of friends meet for another night in the pub. Once discovering The Hardest Geezer’s marathon, the group decide to walk the Fife Coastal Path hoping to achieve something in their lives. Will this adventure be enough to break their midlife crisis, or have they bitten off more than they can chew? Living the Dream is a Scottish coming of age comedy drama, exploring mental health, friendship and a love of the Scottish Coast.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
After a devastating loss at the last general election, politician Liz Wesleydale finds herself in a scary place – the Shadow cabinet. Desperate for attention and relevancy, Liz embarks on a number of campaigns in order to win over the public before the next election.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Four fast-paced comedies about love, life, murder and... houseplants. From dating disasters to domestic dramas and a good old-fashioned whodunit. Two Sides: a couple replay their break up, two memories, two truths, both are right obviously. Hello Plant: a woman finds unlikely relationship advice from her houseplant. I Wrote A Play: a mum unveils her "masterpiece" with an unexpected twist. And, award-winning whodunit, 15 Minutes To Solve a Murder: a period farce where everyone is desperate to solve Tubby's murder. Four Plays. Plenty of laughs.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
A Uruguayan model. Diana Spencer. The Doors. Montevideo. The future as longing. Collapse as an inevitable destiny. 'Come on, baby, light my fire.' Between image, memory and fracture, Los Años Maravillosos explores the distance between who we imagined we would become and who we were not. Through real archive, music and living presence, the performance moves between illusion and the wound of the real, confronting what remains when narratives we believed in fall apart. A theatrical experience about who we were, the future we imagined and the moment everything begins to collapse.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
Paris, 1928. A bent and squinting old woman in rags shuffles out of a caravan in a slum market. This is Louise Weber: the woman who invented the cancan, seduced princes and made the Moulin Rouge famous. Toulouse-Lautrec painted her. Journalists destroyed her. Nobody let her speak. Until now. A solo multidisciplinary performance with live dance, projection and theatre, Louise: The Last Dance reclaims the story of the most famous woman you've never heard of. Loud, queer, working class and unforgettable. She was leered at her entire life. This time, she gets to talk back.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
On a barge in East London, a polycule raucously celebrates the marriage of two of its members. All the while, Max and Mila grapple with the new shape of their relationship, which now includes five more people. Love, jealousy, Cornish independence and group sex combine in this outrageous laugh-out-loud, multi-rolling show about sexual diversity and the challenges of relationships (whether they’re with one person or five). Join Max and Mila as they find their way through: it’s messy, tender and real. Love (5 ways) will leave you laughing, crying and maybe, just maybe, swinging.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Inspired by the ancient Chinese myth of Nüwa mending the aky, Love in the Cracks explores the bond between a terminally-ill mother and her daughter. Seeking to extend her care, the mother transfers her memories and habits into an embodied AI presence. Through human-machine performance, the global boundaries of contemporary theatre are redefined as the nature of human intimacy, loss, and identity, are closely examined in the light of interaction with artificial intelligence. Ultimately the play asks whether In an age where technology can replicate memory and behaviour love can remain unique?
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Facing redundancy after years of lacklustre publications, lecturers Jackie and Kate hatch an audacious plan to save their skins – they announce the discovery of Shakespeare’s long-lost play. What begins as a harmless white lie quickly spirals out of control when they’re invited to perform the “new” work at the 45th Shakespearean History International Teaching Conference the next day. With no script, no knowledge and barely any time, they scramble to invent a masterpiece overnight. As their manager’s suspicion grows, their desperate improvisation becomes a farcical web of deception, threatening humiliation and friendship.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
All through the night, lonely souls call the hotlines at the Troika Communication Tower looking for something. Whether it’s sex, God’s guidance or a song for the drive home, the voice on the other end is there to provide – but as the night shift wears on, the roles she plays on the air begin to blur and the magic of the switchboard begins to unravel.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Experience a vibrant and witty reimagining of Shakespeare’s hilarious romantic comedy, Love's Labour's Lost, directed by the award-winning visionary Evren Odcikin. This heartwarming production brings the Bard’s sharp-tongued battle of the sexes to life with modern flair and infectious energy. Don't miss this brilliant meditation on the folly of youth and the enduring power of attraction featuring a dynamic ensemble of international professionals and rising stars from Prague Shakespeare Company’s 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive.Ensemble | faculty and participants of the PSC 2026 Summer Shakespeare IntensiveWritten by | William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by | Evren OdcikinProduced by | Prague Shakespeare Companywww.pragueshakespeare.com/loves-labours-lostfacebook.com/pragueshakespearecompany/instagram.com/pragueshakes/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Most people have an unbelievable, fantastical story from their life; the kind that makes others question if that really, truly, happened. Thanks to an unconventional life, Lucy Best has collected more than most. In this one-woman storytelling show, Lucy unpacks a treasure trove of hard to believe but true tales. Do you know anyone else who held a baby dolphin as it died? Or was expelled from boarding school? Did you know bisexuals are actually real? Pocket rocket Lucy Best will share (mostly) hilarious true tales about these things and more!
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
A literary salon in a sauna. Mellifluous phrases, magical worlds and radical ideas float in the heat as stories unspool in steam. Poems, extracts of novels, fragments of plays, sonnets, myths, manifestos and more while you relax, revive and re-energise in our saunas and cold plunges. Our purpose-built sauna theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound transforms into a luxurious portal to escapism. Let words wash over you; lie back, listen in and leave inspired. Literature has never been this hot.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Bear your testimony and watch your tongue! Luscinia brings Ovid’s Philomela and Procne myth to the American South at the height of the Great Depression. An upbeat folk-musical with a tragic end: this Gothic adaptation combines comedy and tragedy as sisters attempt to escape their fundamentalist cult. Who will sing when you’ve lost your voice? And who will save you when the Gods won’t? The girls will have to navigate their love and hate for the charismatic preacher, Bo, and decide if salvation and freedom can be found in the same man.
Venue 13
Main Space
Imagine 20 years of war. A war in Ancient Greece, between Sparta and Athens. Now picture Lysistrata, an ordinary Athenian woman who says, 'Enough war! We women will end this war!' But how? 'By going on a sex strike! Are you with me?' Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata gets an explosive, modern reimagining through protest, politics and power.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
A new play by satirist playwright Eoin Carney featuring someone who may or may not be Melania Trump, and which asks the question: why are we so interested in her? M portrays Melania from her early teens in what was formerly Yugoslavia, through her modelling career in Europe, and then in America where she becomes involved with a certain two-time President, right through to today, ending in the present moment. Carney’s other political comedy, The Last Days of Trump, touring around the UK and the USA, is showing at C ARTS this Fringe.Created, Directed and Produced by | Eoin Carney
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Leaving home to find yourself was a good idea until you lose yourself, find yourself and don’t know yourself All. In. One. Year. MNÁ (women) is an exploration of two women adapting to life following their return from New York. Francesca Garry and Jodie Sweeney take us on a journey of two women and the choices they make that ultimately shape their adult lives. Through the guise of humour and spoken word, we are invited into their worlds. Young, broke and trying to make it as an artist in 2026? Go see MNÁ.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Critically acclaimed, highly original adaptation of the Bard’s dark tale. Tragic yet uplifting, tender, raucous, poignant and high-energy. Set to a live score of Americana and bluegrass music, the multi-award-winning New Zealand troupe blend classic literature with a modern twist alongside original arrangements of Mumford and Sons, Dolly Parton and The SteelDrivers, creating an emotional, accessible, toe-tapping theatrical experience. Winner Best Theatre Award Adelaide Fringe 2025. Received multiple five-star reviews Edinburgh Fringe 2025, including: 'Fantastically gifted team' ***** (TheatreWeekly.com), 'Macbeth as you’ve never seen it before' ***** (MusicalTheatreReview.com), 'Bravo' ***** (TheWeeReview.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
This is not the Macbeth you know; he might be your neighbour. In this modern absurdist adaptation, Macbeth is no longer a character; he embodies the human condition. A Macbeth who kills for power, seeks escape in potions and chooses his mother's early death. Lady Macbeth is clearer-headed but unable to flee. In a collision between gritty realism and surreal distortion, and between classical tragedy and modern absurdity, three pairs of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth mutate across time and space. Two actors. Six souls. Fifty minutes. How do they descend into a midsummer nightmare?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Seattle is known for Frasier, coffee and tech bros. But it's not known for its history, and that's a shame because Seattle’s history is bonkers. It honours its founding fathers, but there is a founding mother who is written out of history books because of her trade: Madam Lou Graham. Join award-winning performer, Kate Danley, for a funny, fascinating, meticulously researched look at one of Seattle's most influential and erased power players. Truth is stranger than fiction, and you couldn't make this up. For You’re Dead to Me and Horrible Histories fans.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Set in a decaying attic by the sea, this radical reworking of Rachilde’s French Symbolist play traces two people entangled in cycles of violence, care and control. Language fractures between clinical detachment and intimate confession as survival becomes performance. Lucie constructs narratives to contain horror; Paul absorbs and repeats them. Outside, the world remains distant, almost imagined. Blurring tenderness with complicity, the piece interrogates how violence and pain are rationalised, inherited and finally, endured. Visceral and claustrophobic, Madame La Mort stages the moment where care turns dangerous – and escape becomes implausible.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Let the Magic Lantern Anthology guide you through future folklore and forgotten myths. Through the power of puppetry, science and light, puppeteer Jacob Graham lures you into distant worlds, aided by Michael Vandergard's light puppets, the art of magic, and strange physics. Explore how the world around us manipulates our identity and how the confines of our physical world can never stop us from taking a joyride or flying toward the stars.
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Max is eighteen, autistic and spiralling into outbursts that his parents, Harry and Miranda, can no longer manage. When a job offer poses a new beginning in America, it feels like a fresh start – until they realise the world they’re entering views Max as an epidemic to be cured. Max's younger brother, Daniel, is caught amongst these rising concerns. As the plot unfolds, Daniel’s own sensory world begins to fracture and he must face a terrifying question: is he more like Max than he knows?
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Make Yourself at Home follows Michael, a man struggling with agoraphobia at the height of his anxiety. After losing his girlfriend, Michael attempts to heal in the confines of his home. His need for connection becomes so dire that he starts to imagine his household objects as people from his past. As imagination and reality begin to blur, we ask audience members to investigate how trauma and mental illness intersect, how we can treat the connections in our lives as a gift, and how to move forward when that is taken away from us.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Man or Bear is a fast-moving, darkly comic new play about fear, friendship and survival inspired by the viral question: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? Blending kitchen sink realism, music and bold physical sequences, it follows three generations of women in the lead up to an act of violence. Rather than centreing the perpetrator, the play turns its focus to women's resilience, humour and solidarity, offering a poetic and unsettling reflection on modern day misogyny.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Peter Mandelson, the Machiavelli of our times. His rise and fall, rise and rise and fall – and beyond? In nothing but his own words.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
(Mon 24-Sun 30 Aug) Shetland storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson travels across the sea to the UK’s most northerly isles for an hour of immersive tales – beautiful, sad, funny and magical. Told with Marjolein's signature mix of Shetlandic and English, enjoy the mother tongue of the once-Nordic lands on your escape to another world. 'Robertson is simply outstanding' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Hauntingly lyrical storytelling' ★★★★★ (List)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Award-winning Fringe favourites Grid Iron present the world premiere of Mayflies, a site-specific adaptation of Andrew O'Hagan's best-selling novel. Everyone has a Tully Dawson: the friend that defines your life. This tale of 80s youth and facing mortality in middle age is a joyous and heart-breaking elegy to the young people we still carry within us. With an epic soundtrack forged straight from the heart of the 80s, a former metalworks in Leith echoes the iconic venues of Manchester's music scene, providing an ideal setting for this love letter to friendship, and a pledge: go at life differently. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
Brown's of Leith
Rear Warehouse ((Tower Street Entrance)
An incredibly poignant and relevant production of one of Shakespeare's least-performed shows that will make you think about your own actions and how you treat others. Performed by the defending champions from the National Utah Shakespeare Festival high school competition and direct from a sold-out run in the United States.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
What is normal when algorithms decide? Data analysts synthesise the distorted live experiment that is ‘the Samsa family’. Gregor wakes grotesquely transformed — every movement tracked, predicted, judged. Is he broken, or just outside the data set? They measure behaviour, forecast reaction. If productivity defines worth, what happens when you can’t perform? Are we shaping society — or being shaped? Inspired by Franz Kafka's classic novella, this reimagining explores AI algorithms, manipulated lives, and human mutability. Am I normal — or just compliant? Step inside. Scroll. Accept?x.com/mortonplayers
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
Grief. Stars. Mums. Lasagne. 'Among the more than a thousand works on offer in the Fringe, Meteors is likely a standout – both entertaining and emotional, offering a chance for real connection' ***** (InDaily.com.au). Grief isn't part of the conversation. Especially not as a young person. No one knows what to say, so it's simply left unsaid. An acclaimed breakout at the 2026 Adelaide Fringe, Melissa traverses the messy, non-linear aftermath of losing a mother at age 20, the vastness of the universe, too many lasagnes and the search for light in the dark.
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Crackling with humour and vulnerability, writer-performer Cathleen O'Malley plunges headfirst and tit-deep into childbirth, milk and what it takes to be a nursing mammal in a modern world. 'A hilarious one-woman hurricane of a show' (RocCityMag.com). 'Brilliant' ****½ (AllAboutSOLO.com, Critics' Choice).
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
How do you know what is reality and what is not? Mind Full: new writing by Lewis Teckkam. This surreal, Brechtian and Beckett-esque play combines quirky humour with existential thoughtfulness. Conscience, Memory, Imagination and Intrusive Thoughts explore what it means to live in a body that needs help with everything. Except thinking. Entertaining, provocative and darkly funny, Mind Full examines society, disability, politics, and the arts. It questions our individual and collective responsibilities and hopes to inspire audiences to imagine real change. For the better.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Four teenagers. Twelve months. Endless possibilities. Four teenagers are ready for a taste of the real world before they embark on... whatever comes next. As they plan their adventures and start to figure out who they’ll be, a frightening realisation hits: a gap year can’t last forever. There’s so much to do and only so much time. Will they rise to the challenge and forge an iconic legacy, or crumble and question everything? Only time will tell... Filled with laughs, live music and a touch of pathos, you can't miss it.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Magic in the monotonous. Magnetism in the mundane. Weighty or wasted? Mind the Gap is a one-act play following strangers as they get chatting – by chance – in the churning belly of the London Underground. One unsuspecting duo nurses an emerging friendship over daily rides on the Piccadilly Line. Can such connections transcend their vacuous circumstances? Can the content of their conversations? Words unspoken between the rails, some sung by a live busker, screech questions about the world they live in and how - despite the trundle of the trains – it’s getting quieter.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Muse
In this queer-coded modern-day witch hunt, Eve, a woman working on the fringe of the mental health system, works a strange job that blurs the line between hired advocate and spy. Eve prides herself on professionalism, but Meda, her alluringly witchy, enigmatic new client, challenges her entire sense of truth and perception. On a sexy rollercoaster of ethical gray areas and spiritual awakening, Eve finds herself in the fight of her life, questioning the concept of loyalty and who gets to judge and ultimately shape reality, all in the midst of deep deception.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
The village of Acklesford is holding their annual charity beauty pageant – and you’re invited! While all eyes are on the stage, the real drama is happening behind the scenes in the storage-cupboard-turned-dressing-room. Will reigning champion Carmen hold on to her crown after the death of her mother? Or will newcomer Felicity finally shake things up? And does anybody know when they’re going to fix the village hall roof?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Three heroes. One dungeon. No dragons. They’re back, and this time they’re on a boat! Bottoms Up Theatre returns with Mistakes Were Made: Shiver Me Timbers! When the crew’s treasure hunt takes an unexpected turn, it’ll take all their daring to set sail... and to survive your dice rolls. You shape the action from the comfort of your seat in this exhilarating and hilarious show! This is Mistakes Were Made’s third outing at the Edinburgh Fringe and we’re back once again at Surgeon’s Hall. Will this magical tabletop improv show sell out yet again?!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Monster Made is the story of two people who could not be further apart. Amanda Crowley is an unyielding lawyer who will not be intimidated by a man accused of murder. This man is Thomas Duncan who committed a heinous massacre. He is guilty. Without a doubt, the case is lost. Nevertheless, Amanda wants the case. She does not want to win it, but rather to understand how someone can become such a monster and possibly set a development into motion that will finally change something. 'Monster Made is a captivating, psychological, intimate play' (Audience Review).
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
A vivid exploration of how three sheltered young women from a remote Yorkshire parsonage created some of the most raw, violent and passionate literary works of all time. Charlotte: the ambitious dreamer. Emily: the intense loner. Anne: the gentle, would-be social reformer. And their brother Branwell: the brilliant "lost" boy whose disappointments served only to highlight the extraordinary success of his sisters. 'Gripping and unforgettable' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'A cut above' **** (TheWeeReview.com).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Welcome to the hottest dancefloor in town. Our DJs serve blissed-out, body-moving beats as you flow between the ecstatic heat of our sauna theatre and a bracing plunge in our ice baths. The UK's largest sauna with state-of-the-art lighting and full immersion surround sound becomes the most chilled club you've ever raved in. No booze. No hangover. Just bass, endorphins and a natural high that leaves you energised and elated. There's no better way to turbocharge your day.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Abby is the daughter of five mothers (mostly lesbians). Turkey-basted into existence, her immaculate-conception-adjacent origin story has always defined her. But when your conception is iconic, you become the mystery. Cue: identity crisis. There’s gay divorce, coming out as straight, OCD, Jewishness and Germans who fetishize it, and career heartache. And instead of going to therapy, Abby wrote this musical.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
By the receding of my gums... Something wicked this way comes. A comedic and farcical retelling of Macbeth from the witches perspective... If the witches were a bimbo shot boy, a klepto DJ and a drag queen. Set on an imaginary strip in Edinburgh, colleagues of Club Limbo, Mother, Maiden and Crone, are confronted with McBride and her heinous hen party who are soon to find out the dos and don'ts of queer spaces.
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
A basement in Sligo town, Ireland. An embalmer and a mysterious stranger. One of them wants to disappear, leaving no trace, while the other is desperate to be remembered forever. A brand-new play based on the extraordinary true story of the so-called Peter Bergmann, Ireland’s most famous unidentified man, who spent three days in Sligo town deleting himself and was later found deceased at Rosses Point, Sligo. A mysterious, comic tale exploring legacy, reputation and what it is to live close to death. Created by the multi award-winning Nth Degree Productions. 'Unforgettable' **** (Advertiser, Galway).
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
If you hear everything and say nothing, does that make you complicit? From multi award-winning writer and performer Susanna Hamnett (Nearly Lear, Hotel Elsinore), Mrs Macbeth is a new solo show exploring the complexities of integrity in dark times. Set in the aftermath of Macbeth's fascist rule, explanations are being demanded from those closest to the murderous couple, including Margaret, Lady Macbeth's gentlewoman, who happens to share her last name. Tragic, funny, and unsettling, Mrs Macbeth is presented here in a 50 minute version. 'A virtuosic performer' (New York Times).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Raw, chaotic, heartbreaking; much like motherhood. God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers. Of course, he could be everywhere, he's God, he chose not to be, he knew mothers have the hardest job. This dark comedy from Paris dramatizes the relentless nature of motherhood by following the often ridiculous but sometimes moving journey of four diverse mothers. The play opens as each one is dealing with a 'die or kill' moment of mothering. The acting is compelling, the writing is painfully funny and, at times, painfully painful. It'll change your perspective.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Winner of Creative Corner Festival 2026! If you can read this, you’re one step ahead of Hannah! With a mix of humour and heart, this autobiographical play sheds light on the misunderstood world of dyslexia. Get ready to laugh, cry and meet my BRIAN! Find out how Hannah navigates her way through life without being able to read the map. A fast paced, light-hearted look at the realities of a mixed-up girl in a world full of words. Hannah’s story is both relatable and inspiring, with heartwarming scenes, quirky characters and audience participation!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Carrie’s mum is dead. Her last wishes were for her daughter to drive her ashes back to her childhood home in Anglesey, Wales, to be scattered. However, there is one catch – Carrie has to take Aled with her. Aled is her mum’s secret boyfriend. Aled was with her for 8 years. Aled is a chatbot. 'Heartfelt and deeply funny' (TheOxfordBlue.co.uk). 'Quintessentially irreverent' (Cherwell.org). 'Radically human' (RoomWithReviewBlog.blogspot.com). 'Within ten seconds, the audience is genuinely captivated' (The Last Act Critic, Substack).
Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Nic 3 (Nicolson Square Venues)
Charlie Katz found true love in a prep school seminar on Shakespeare’s sonnets – but he let it slip away. Now a chance encounter has given him new hope. Is it ever too late for love? That’s the question posed by this touching and comic solo show, written and performed by Eric Daniel Weiner, the acclaimed six-time Emmy nominee. Touching on mental health issues such as dissociation, depression and rage, the hero tries to face his own role in his life’s unhappiness. At long last, can he make himself vulnerable enough to experience true joy?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
My Oh My, Mr Dream. He is older than stars, lonelier than gods and he has stories to tell – stories before the cold. From a cage deep in the dark, Mr Dream emerges. Ancient. Alone. Holding three tokens, three dreams. A sailor rowing towards the edge of the world. A king commanding an army of mice. A voiceless boy who speaks only to birds. You choose the order. He does the rest. Part dream, part ritual: he will watch you back. Be gentle with the tokens. Some of them bite.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Step into ancient moonlight and encounter Persephone as you’ve never seen her before. A daring solo performance blends Greek myth, dark humour and immersive storytelling to explore love, friendship, betrayal and power. Join the journey, dance with gods, from the living world to the underground, experience a story of rebellion and survival that’s as mesmerizing as it is unforgettable. Will she rise, or remain trapped beneath the shadows?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Smoke, scent and steam conjure the sweathouses of ancient Scotland and the mysterious painted Picts who gathered there. Traditional sauna rituals invoke our legendary ancestors who congregated in the dark of underground shelters to summon spirits and tattoo each other with magical symbols. In the warmth of our modern-day sauna theatre, stories emerge like hazy memories in Highlands mist and the mysterious symbols and vanished kingdoms of the Pictish slowly reveal themselves. A show about how sauna rituals can connect us with traditions that history forgot, forged in heat and steam.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
There are lots of different Sara(h)s in the world. Some Saras are naked... Other Sarahs are clothed... Keep this in mind, and you'll spot the difference a mile away! This Sara has a lot she wants to talk about, and I'll bet $7,000 you like what she has to say. There will be lots of sexy talk, so I'll say this once – no prudes! And maybe leave the children with the nanny (you still have those here, right?). Topics include: sex, gay, autism, religion, family. Or, as I always say: SGARF! (Warning: no nudity.)
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A father dreams of dying. A daughter dreams of living. A seagull dreams of being human. Francis is caged in his home by devotion, duty and a devastating diagnosis. A seagull offers an escape: it will nest inside his body, take control and free his pregnant daughter from the burden of his care. But what begins as selfless sacrifice risks becoming violent surrender. An absurd, darkly comic new play with an electrifying score, Nesting is a visceral exploration of love, death and duty from Trolley Problem, following their sold-out production of Mistero Buffo at the Citizens Theatre.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Thrown together in one of the most horrific battles in human history, three very different young soldiers must bond to ensure the success of the military machine they are part of. If their bonds become closer than expected is it a weakness or a strength? When many of the freedoms we take for granted are under threat, Night Falls On Burma tells the stories of people whose sacrifices to win them are seldom celebrated in the ‘official histories’. Writer Paul Stone has researched the experiences of Indian Army and queer soldiers to celebrate our shared history.Written by | Paul StoneDirected by | Scott Le Crass
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Attie can’t stop dreaming of a fox-masked truth-teller who lives deep in the woods, a mysterious figure said to reveal who you really are. When Attie dares to summon him, he vanishes. As his friends struggle with a sudden social media ban, they follow him into the forest, hoping to bring him home. But the deeper they go, the more they’re forced to face painful truths. In a place where every truth must be spoken aloud, saving Attie may come at a cost. Will they risk revealing their true selves or lose their friend forever?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Written by Adison Schwab this original play follows Joe, a battle-weary soldier, and Willa, a firecracker of a nurse, set against the tumultuous panorama of World War I. As fate exerts its pull, Joe and Willa face the ultimate trial: the resilience of a love born in the shadow of turmoil. No Man's invites audiences to reflect on the unyielding courage of the human soul and the transcendent power of hope amidst the darkest of times.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
The thought of killing someone should be terrifying: if it’s your job, you’re probably in the wrong line of work. Months into an incredibly unsuccessful career, Brad has just about managed not to get himself fired, or worse… He’s been asking himself if "or worse" is worse than going back to Caffe Nero, but might not have long enough to find out. Fed up with beans for dinner, Brad swears that something has to change. Will he walk away with his morals intact, or crumble under the pressures of his “assassin" line manager.
Le Monde
Shanghai
A darkly comic, movement-led play about love working against the clock. When NHS call-handler Alice is swapped onto night shifts, her relationship with nine-to-five Ben begins to unravel. Using an inventive ensemble and striking physicality, the show explores exhaustion, intimacy and working whilst the world sleeps. Fast, funny and painfully human, this absurdist love story asks whether being loved means being seen and what happens when you disappear in plain sight. Perfect for afternoon audiences, Fringe romantics and anyone who has ever felt invisible at work or in love. Overnight.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
An experimental smell-o-vision play following Mr. Hollywood on a drive that may or may not be an escape. What begins as a simple act of leaving unfolds into a surreal, multi-sensory journey through memory, desire, avoidance, and inevitability. A blend of audio collage, projected visuals, live performance, and an evolving sequence of scents guide the audience through as external landscape and internal psyche collapses. Campy, poetic, and deliberately disorienting Nose Country for Old Men is like a late-night radio show that is as much about running away as it is about being unable to escape.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
A nose. With a dream: to be adored! To be a West End star! To be the hottest girl in the world! But attention is fickle and the crowd is already turning away... Nose Job is a wild comedic ride about beauty, disgust, what we choose to look at and how our gaze shapes our reality. A reimagining of Gogol’s The Nose for easily distracted times. Look. Don’t look. Come. Don’t come. What difference will it make?
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Two women. No names. No age. They are slowly losing their grip on the world – forgetting, fading. But they choose to go on a journey together, holding each other up. Along the way, they argue, fall silent, repeat the same words. No big drama. Just small talk, small gestures. Bit by bit, the quiet frustration builds into a fierce clash. Then everything collapses. This is not a story about illness. It’s about two people facing loss and still trying to reach each other. At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, come and see Not There Yet.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
Award-winning solo show by Elizabeth June (Blackish, Hightown), Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words is a dramedy detailing her childhood and clergy sexual abuse and cancer survival. All songs, stories, spoken word and stand-up sets are a testimony of her triumph over trauma. Explicit language and situations.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
'No, but how funny would it be though? Like, he turns up, and it’s just me – with my tits out. His model student.' Clara has a plan. It involves a life drawing class, her favourite lecturer and stripping naked in front of a room full of strangers. What could go wrong? A lot, it turns out. Funny and devastating, Nude is a solo play about desire, fantasy and the seductive idea that being seen is the same as being empowered.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Roll up your sleeves, and go under the knife as we enter into an anaesthetic world turned upside down. Like a live theatre version of the game of Operation – but make it trans. A work-in-progress by Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, S.E. Grummett, combining live-feed video, interactive surgery and trash puppets. From the creators of SLUGS 'Brilliantly smart and beautifully stupid' **** (Guardian), Creepy Boys ***** (ToDoList.org.uk) and Something in the Water (Winner of Best Theatre award at Adelaide Fringe), comes a glittery and gory dissection of bodies, queerness and identity.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Teeth. Talons. Toxicity. This brutal and hilarious one-act play was declared one of the greatest plays of all time for women. Set in an all-girls' boarding school, Numbers depicts a vicious battle of wills between four Sixth Form girls in the hour before a new Head Girl is announced. As the girls vie for the coveted position, old friendships and loyalties give way to ambition and betrayal. Nothing is too extreme in a battle which increasingly proves less about being Head Girl and more about how the girls' conflicting ideologies will affect the rest of their lives.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch... and for Maya the rain wouldn’t stop coming. Her parents are away, tending to her sibling in hospital, leaving Maya in a house that doesn’t feel like home. Her saving grace is a garage of junk left by the previous owners. With the help of her cat, she fetches stories from across town, bringing them to life. But when the town floods, she is forced to step into the real world and find her place amongst the community. Fringe First winners return.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
Nobody would think Eileen is capable of murder – oh, but she definitely is. She’s also probably a sex-addict and a pyromaniac. She cannot sleep for visions of hitting her sisters over the head with a frying pan. There are musical numbers encouraging strangulation in her skull. Hardcore praying is now her only hope – so she invests in the Bible, in the rosary beads, a full set of holy equipment. She’s quite happy to give up anything – anything at all – to cure her definite homicidal instincts.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
A migrant journalist goes live from a protest and breaks script on air. A fierce, darkly funny solo play about migration, motherhood and the cost of speaking up. Caught between neutrality and truth, Anna steps into a moment she cannot take back. Off Script explores belonging, language and moral courage in a world that rewards silence. An intimate, urgent story about what happens when safety collides with honesty – and a voice refuses to stay contained.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Flight. Mode. The two most wonderful words... but even with his mobile blocking the outside world, can our desperate, overworked hero ever switch off? It's time to go to his favourite place: Offgridland. Just ignore the knocks on the door. And that slightly worrying internal narrative that he's actually just living in a sitcom. A frantic, claustrophobic comedy play by multi award-winning writer/performer, Paul Richards, Offgridland is the true story of a man trying to switch off from the perils of technology and, you know, other people.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
Forget the presents – your presence is required. One Hour Wedding is a high-stakes, crowd-built ceremony where the audience are wedding planners and we've got sixty minutes to pull it off. From vows written on the fly to a first dance choreographed in real time, hosts Roz and Rachel weaponise their skills in music, theatre and event production for maximum chaos. The couple have said yes; now the theme, music, vows, dance are yours to decide. The clock is ticking, the bouquet is ready and this wedding must happen.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Friesian
From the Fringe First winning Mulberry Theatre Company, One House on Brick Lane is an original play rooted in East London. Set in a single house, centuries collide with the voices of past and present. In 1985, a Bangladeshi family faces eviction amid protests. Through stories told by Huguenot weavers of anti-fascist resistance, migration and community struggle, the house reveals its memories. Drawing on oral histories and lived experience, this powerful production asks who gets to belong when home is under threat. Created by young East London voices, it celebrates resilience, humour and collective hope.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
Immerse yourselves in two timeless Edgar Allan Poe classics. Arguably Poe's darkest tale, The Black Cat depicts an alcoholic's last confession on the eve of his death. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, an elderly man laments the loss of his love, when an ominous visitor is heard tapping on his chamber door. One Man Poe returns after sell-out runs in 2024 and 2025, bringing Poe's words to life as never before. Voted Best Overall Show at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 by the Derek Awards.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Discover two lesser-known stories from Edgar Allan Poe. First, in Poe's dark and comedic political satire on American capitalism, the dubious, "self-made" businessman Peter Proffit wants your vote as President of the United States. Then, a gruesome account of an experiment gone wrong, when a renowned mesmerist hypnotises his willing patient at the very moment of his death. Brand new for the 2026 Fringe, One Man Poe adds this more obscure, yet distinctly unsettling, double bill to its critically acclaimed repertoire of the finest examples of gothic literature.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Using the original Edgar Allan Poe publications from 1840s, award-winning storyteller Stephen Smith faithfully brings to life the most terrifying tales, from the pioneering Godfather of Gothic Horror. In The Tell-Tale Heart, we meet a madman convincing us of his sanity, whilst explaining a murder he's committed, with meticulous detail. Then, in The Pit and the Pendulum, we join a prisoner attempting to escape the various torture devices of the dreaded Spanish Inquisition. 'Could not have been more wow-ed by this 'marathon of the macabre'' ***** (National).
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A paper boat becomes the path through which an elderly woman revisits the regrets she left unresolved. Wrapped in humour and heartbreak, she finally comes to terms with her past.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Shakespeare's Macbeth is a violent and disturbing play. This stage adaptation contains some of the same disturbing elements. In this case, two high school seniors are plotting murder. Elizabeth, through the urging of her best friend Mackenzie and the supernatural intervention of three restaurant servers, gives into 'vaulting ambition' and surrenders to her bloodiest impulses. Like the classic play by Shakespeare that inspired this story, it includes witchcraft and 'prophesy'.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Someone has dropped an atom bomb on Copenhagen! With all-out war looming, one junior minister in the British Government must somehow stimulate a response from his hopeless superiors. There’s just one thing standing in his way: Microsoft Teams. Welcome to Operation Blank, the subversive dark comedy debut from up-and-coming Scottish writer, George Grant. Delve into this biting critique of modern online working, that weaves laugh-out-loud humour to themes of unfulfillment and existential dread. It’s the show where nothing happens, and nothing has ever been more entertaining. Leading Light Prize nominee, Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe 2025.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
A powerful new piece of verbatim theatre, inspired by the wartime diary of Welsh paratrooper Neville Neads, captured during the 1944 operation of the same name. Offering a raw, personal perspective on war, identity and survival as a prisoner of war, the show centres the real testimony of the often-overlooked foot soldier. This is a story of resilience and remembrance, told from the ground up. Drawn directly from Neads’ own diary and letters to his fiancée, the production traces his experience and that of his comrades during almost a year in captivity.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Operotica: The UK's premier kinky opera duo. Classically trained, fetish-approved and, as of yesterday, dead. Their bodies are cold, but their spirits are restless. Join psychic extraordinaire Séayoncé for a journey through Operotica's many past lives. From star-crossed nuns to 18th-century ladies-in-waiting, these theatrical reincarnations reveal the true purpose of history's horniest souls. Will their story of love after death be the greatest (and sexiest) ever told? Witness a haunting that will tear down the opera house and transport you through time.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
William Shakespeare's Othello performed by the Prague Shakespeare Company. Directed by PSC Artistic Director Guy Roberts and Rosie Ward it stars Aldo Billingslea as Othello, Matthew Radford Davies as Iago, with Rosie Ward as Desdemona, Carolyn Johnson as Emilia, and Jim Johnson as Brabantio alongside emerging professionals from Prague Shakespeare Company's 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive. Othello, is an astonishing epic of sweeping passions and murderous ambition – a thrilling meditation on the power of love and the destructiveness of suspicion, all triggered by one of literature’s most seductively manipulative villains.CastOthello | Aldo BillingsleaIago | Matthew Radford DaviesDesdemona | Rosie WardEmilia | Carolyn JohnsonBrabantio | Jim JohnsonEnsemble | members of the PSC 2026 Summer Shakespeare IntensiveWritten by | William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by | Guy Roberts and Rosie WardProduced by | Prague Shakespeare CompanyOriginal Music Composed by | Patrick Neil Doylewww.pragueshakespeare.com/othellofacebook.com/pragueshakespearecompany/instagram.com/pragueshakes/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Follows a young woman named Deniz facing afflictions of sexual assault by her boyfriend Emir, coinciding with the withdrawal of the Istanbul Convention. This treaty signed in Istanbul is relevant across Europe, meant to protect women from sexual and domestic violence. Otuz bir (31) is a slang word that means to masturbate in Turkish. Turks laugh and see it as a joke, but like every joke, it carries a dark truth. Otuz Bir tells the story of Deniz’s journey exploring masturbation as a means to heal sexual trauma by meeting her vagina (yes, literally!) and reconnecting with herself.
Venue 13
Main Space
(Wed 26-Sun 30 Aug) England, 1945. The lives of two strangers are changed forever by a chance meeting at a railway station. But this isn't Brief Encounter... We're all extras in the lives of others, but the stars of our own. What happens when you pan the camera away from the leading players? Mark Kydd’s solo show turns the spotlight onto a supporting artist with his own surprising tale of first, forbidden love. Our Martin in the Background is the queer love story Noël Coward didn't write. ★★★★ (Scotsman)★★★★ (QueerGuru.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
With brutality and humour, Boaz Barkan digs into a living body to uncover a new organ – the place where our racism resides. Our Other Organ dissects antisemitism and its impact on Jewish identity, culminating in the creation of a new Zionist body and structures of violence and domination. The performance explores the anatomy of victims and oppressors as simultaneous conditions within the same body. Moving through bodies and time, it connects personal histories to collective trauma, tracing how oppression is embodied, reproduced and transformed into systems of power, fear and ultimately, genocide.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
School is a nightmare, boys are infuriating and Maccies is the only place open after 6pm. Growing up isn’t easy, but it’s even harder when you are from a place where no one expects anything of you. Especially if you’re queer or the new girl at school. Beth, Rachel, Zahidah, Ellie and Chloe are stuck: stuck in their drama group, stuck in school and stuck in their small town. Gossip, chaos and brutal honesty build into a funny, painfully familiar look at friendship, sexuality and teenage girlhood in a town that feels far too small.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
In 1974, with the Troubles escalating in Northern Ireland, two bombs explode in Birmingham – the biggest mass murder the UK had ever seen. Six Irishmen are given 21 life sentences and left to die in prison as the most despised convicts in history. It would take superhuman strength and indomitable courage for them to prove their innocence. They found it in a diminutive giant called Paddy Joe Hill. This is his astonishing, uplifting true story of redemption against seemingly insurmountable odds.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Guy prepares himself for a bondage session with his Grindr hook-up, the alluring but elusive Fabio. Once the chains are on, there’s no escape – certainly not from Guy’s problems. As the minutes tick by, Guy must face a reckoning with all the responsibilities of his life. It’s Pillion without motorbikes; Gerald’s Game without Gerald; Locke with locks! Revealing, exposing comedy drama. Sex positive, life negative. Definitely adults only.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Haunted by his family's past, Vincent van Gogh wrestles with his demons in the coal mines of southern Belgium in order to find his true voice as an artist. In this one-man play, Theo van Gogh shares his perspective with his wife, Johanna, recounting Vincent's childhood in Zundert, the influence of Les Misérables, Vincent's ministry in the coal mines, his mental insecurities, and his ultimate decision to pick up the brush. With keen specificity, actor Joe Coffey brings multiple characters to life to share this unknown tale of Vincent's earlier years.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
An absurd piece exploring themes around immigration, patriotism and what it means to belong. The project takes both inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic work of fiction Alice in Wonderland, and the reality of the past six months, where we have seen a rise in overt nationalism. In the words of Carroll; ‘the time has come,’ the walrus said, ‘to talk of many things: of shoes and ships, and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings'.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Pajama Talks is a coming-of-age story following childhood best friends Abby and Nina as they relive memories of their sleepovers. Together they are forced to confront their friendship, their girlhood and their personal identity. The show examines the joys and hardships of growing up and grief in all forms, asking the question: Are the people we’ve loved and lost still with us? A play about platonic love, figuring out life and existential conversations in the middle of the night.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A spiralling woman finds herself accidentally attending a children's origami class, where she has to endure paper cuts, screaming children and her inability to fold a piece of paper. Will she crumple under the pressure?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Step into a Parisian cafe – relive the music, romance and glamour of the Jazz Age through the eyes of chanteuse Eloise DeFleur and her talented band. Featuring vintage swing, evocative chanson and timeless classics performed live, this stylish cabaret transports audiences to the smoky clubs of 1930s Paris and beyond. 'As Eloise, Airlie Scott sparkles like a coupe of champagne at one of Gatsby’s shindigs' (GetYourCoatsOn.com). The five-star reviewed show blends storytelling, music and charm.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Porn star wannabe, retired accountant, Croatian student on a gap year, Christian proselytizer and a drag queen in training. We all live and work together in a remote corner of one of America’s most beautiful national parks. Parkies is a train wreck of humour, mischief and intrigue. Come take a look at what happens when this land of misfit toys collides with greedy corporate America and the National Park Service.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
They say you should never meet your hero. My hero should never have met me. Lizzy is 27 years old and packing up her Dublin hovel to move back in with ‘Daddy Dearest’, which was not the plan. Inspired by the feared and radical investigative journalist Margo Murphy, Lizzy has only ever wanted one thing: to humiliate bullies in the national press. Even if she must work two jobs and rent a mouldy room for €800 a month, she’ll do it. Except it's 2026, and hard work gets you nowhere, so she’ll need to be ruthless…Written and performed by | Neysa KilleenDirected by | Licie Woodfacebook.com/paywall2026instagram.com/paywall_2026/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
London, 1969. Albie, an anxious out-of-work actor, is caught between the suffocating affections of an older playwright and the chaotic influence of his roommate, Turner. When a chance encounter at the cinema leads him to Peggy Day, Albie seizes the opportunity to reinvent himself. But as one night spirals into a farcical web of lies, and with Albie disastrously out of his depth, Turner begins to suspect Peggy may not be what she seems. A dark, off-beat comedy backdropped by 1960s Soho, Peggy Day explores desire, delusion and the dangers of being double-booked.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Deliciously disturbing. Award-winning, sold out LAMDA graduate company Namesake Theatre returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with their new play Persona, a gripping, darkly comic and cathartically unsettling reunion. Four boarding-school alumni gather in a secluded country house to divide a dead friend’s trust, but the night quickly begins to unravel. Insults are flung, compliments concealed and civility begins to fracture under the weight of social grace pushed to its breaking point. By turns hilarious and hellish, Persona peels back the curtain on the masks we wear to survive, and asks what, if anything, lies beneath.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Big old things are happening in the smallest city in Britain. A sir – prise is on it’s way to Meryl, Dilys and Rona. A bomb. A sex bomb... On the front pew of St David's Cathedral sit three (seemingly) sweet, predictable old ladies. Pillars of their community and the town gossip for all. Perfectly content to spend their days with their noses planted in the business of every relationship, secret and Welsh cake recipe of the local area. Until responsibility of a special guest’s arrival falls into their hands. But they can’t do it alone...
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Lizzie Bean’s Phuckets and Rainbows is clever, chaotic, witty and wise. One woman takes you on a wildly honest ride through her outwardly ordinary life. Sharing laughter, tears and mayhem, exploring freedom, joy and self-love. Expect swearing, absurdity and truth bombs, as Lizzie bends reality, breaks rules and asks the big questions in the small moments. It’s messy, magical and joyous. A celebration of being alive, human and gloriously imperfect. By the end, you might laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh and leave feeling a little liberated, braver and more free to be.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Albert Pierrepoint was an English hangman who executed an estimated 435 people in a 25-year career with HMP Prisons between the 1930s and 1950s. During his tenure, he was responsible for the executions of several high-profile murderers including the Acid Bath Killer – John Haigh, and Ruth Ellis – the last woman to be hung in England. Another was the case of one John Reginald Christie of 10 Rillington Place infamy. Through the executioner's eyes, this theatrical production dissects and scrutinises Christie's crimes and examines how he came to be on the end of a rope.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
When a hapless husband accidentally steps on a bee that his wife has been trying to save, it seems that their marriage really has hit rock bottom. But when he inadvertently gets back into her good books by saving an injured pigeon that's flown into the window, he finally believes he's found a way to restore their former passion for each other. An absurdist comedy, with a dash of dark humour and questionable puppetry, that explores the fundamentals of relationships.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
'Does there always have to be a girl? Does she always have to be the prize?' Hailed as provocative, poetic and playwrighting at its peak, this haunting drama, by award-winning writer Elinor Cook, tells of a very modern love-triangle: between feminist academic Rachel, and mountaineering prodigies Dan and Will. Tracing their interwoven trajectories, Pilgrims dramatises the conflicting attractions of freedom and belonging, and interrogates inherited assumptions about gender, storytelling and nature. How far do we all remain trapped in narratives beyond our own making? What might escape cost us? And what better stories do we have to guide us?
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
What is masculinity from a gay perspective? A one-man comedy about a mixed race gay guy, masculinity and breakups. Jordan, and his much smarter ‘professor’ alter ego, has just broken up with his first boyfriend, and has dreams of entering his healing era. From nights out, to hook-ups, to joining a football team, Pimm’s Without the Cucumber tells the all too familiar story of the lasting effect someone can have, highlighting every queer boy’s experience of unexpected relationships and learning to accept who they are.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Fiona's boredom with life has sunk to new lows, perhaps an attractive new-start at the office will be a good distraction. Pink Dolphin is a comic tale of overthinking and repressing what's important.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Amna is a good Muslim daughter. Mostly. At home she’s modest, obedient, invisible. Online she’s PersianBaby – bold, flirtatious, watched. Pink Rabbit is a fierce, coming-of-age, darkly funny solo play about faith, female desire and the intoxicating power of attention. As Amna hides her OnlyFans from her strict mother, the lies start to fracture. Caught between mosque and male gaze, shame and thrill, she begins to ask: who is she performing for? Raw, intimate and electric, Pink Rabbit explores intergenerational and cultural conflict – and the dangerous moment when being seen finally feels better than being honest.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
It's 2013. Euan's got a camcorder, a bowl cut and a dream. Combining live performance with Euan Munro's real childhood YouTube videos, this cringe-filled comedy nostalgia trip spirals into a story of dark ambition, online predators and digital ghosts.
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Music. It surrounds us and invades our homes, cars and work. We exercise and shop to it. Share it, talk about it and even travel to hear it live. Playlist is an exploration of the role of music (and silence) in our lives. How music brings us together, separates us, changes us, defines us and ultimately – why we need it.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
A five-year-old pageant contestant, an ex-Etonian turned delusional DJ and a mute schoolgirl whose entire personality is her ginormous rucksack. The link? Pending. But they’re all played by a girl. She’s 25 but she’s got no tits. Plaything is a masterfully crafted hour of clown and character comedy. Satirical, infantilising, absurd, this is what happens when you combine spectatorship, a youthful appearance and existential dread. With 'girl' written all over her body, this woman's work is yet to be taken seriously. Developed at Soho Theatre Labs, Plaything is an unconsciously hard-hitting product of unbridled play.
Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Nic 9 (Nicolson Square Gardens)
Inspired by iconic American portraits, this devised performance invites audiences into the imagined inner lives of contemporary youth. Young Los Angeles artists transform still images into raw, funny and deeply personal monologues – each a confession, a protest, or a dream. What begins as art on a wall becomes living testimony, capturing the contradictions, urgency, and fragile hope of a generation coming of age in America today. By giving voice to those often unseen, the piece reframes Americana through honesty, vulnerability and wit. This 45-minute ensemble work is intimate, unfiltered and unapologetically human.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A man finds himself trapped in the cyclical world of TV. A plethora of channels he encounters. A fast paced comedy with multi-rolling actors, this new-written piece of theatre brings TV to Fringe.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Teachers win wars. When a group of history students make a film about their town, they uncover a past they were never meant to know. From youth theatre company Lund, Propaganda is a new play about youth, resistance and the making of history.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Punch and Judy: a British entertainment institution famously contained within the confines of a small striped box. But what happens when the chaotic lives of these iconic characters tumbles out of the booth and spills into the real world? This is a one-hour tragicomedy exploring the public and private lives of Punch and Judy alongside the host of characters that have for centuries populated their world. With a blend of slapstick comedy and puppetry vs naturalistic drama, as the two sides begin to blur it makes for a dark and unsettling comedy that is no longer for kids.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Puttana is a work that questions the boundary between body and commodity, between desire and power. In a society that normalises consumption, the buying and selling of bodies, follows the same rules as any other market: I pay, therefore I can. A single actress gives voice to five characters, through music and words, to tell an uncomfortable and cruel story. Will you be the one be who casts the first stone?
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Soap suds, brass bands and a 1970s sexual awakening. A cornet-playing youth cheerfully derailed by bum notes, feisty women and very questionable choices. From analogue grime to digital chaos, I've stumbled, squeaked and occasionally hit the right note, uncovering embarrassing truths and buried stories along the way. This one-man romp is a noisy, nostalgic revelation of identity and heritage from bigotry to the digital age. Sharp, cheeky and utterly unpolished, it's a blast through the past with all the wrong notes, laughs and just enough courage to blow me right out of the closet.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
A place between somewhere and nowhere. Three men. One mannequin. Harrison has been coming here for a year. Or maybe it’s his first time. Or his last. It depends which Harrison you ask. They've all been summoned here for the same reason – if only they could figure out what that is. The mannequin stands at the centre of it all, unravelling Harrison's life before his eyes, as it becomes clear that there are darker truths about his world threatening to break his fantasies. Pyg is tender until it's unnerving, funny until it's horrifying. A wickedly inventive new play.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
You are reading about QFWFQ, Best Solo Show at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe. A surrealist labyrinth that stretches time and space. Inspired by Italo Calvino's If On a Winter's Night a Traveller, this razor-sharp, absurdly funny and deeply personal show breaks all genres and has no fourth wall. Join Gregory Nussen as they rummage through the power and peril of storytelling, growing up Jewish and queer, grappling with geopolitics, and art that saves your life. QFWFQ neither begins, nor ends. How does it come together? I can't explain, but it does. Directed by Hannah Pilkes.
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Drinking, dancing and debauchery – just another night at The Middlesbrough Empire! And Lizzie, Boro's resident party girl, loves nothing more than a wild night out. But behind the dresses, drunks and drama, her family fractures under the weight of a devastating illness. When Lizzie is ultimately forced to face her reality, is it all too late? Queen of the Empire is a tale of grief, addiction and what it means to be a sister. Darkly entertaining and based on a true story, Sasha Snowdon's Fringe debut promises laughter, complexity, and a cheeky little dance.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Styled after Dante’s Inferno, and mixing spoken word and shadow-play puppetry, this new play follows Quinn as she navigates the perilous pit between the cliffs of expectations and reality. With friends and family by her side, Quinn must traverse through the different realms of depression, encountering other lost souls along the way, as she overcomes all the obstacles designed to lure her deeper into the abyss. Not for the faint of heart, this work offers a glimmer of hope for all who have found themselves in the chasm dark.Written, Created and Performed by | K. Quinn Hamptoninstagram.com/k.q.hq/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
In the aftermath of tragedy, a community gathers to ask what went wrong. This bold reimagining of Romeo and Juliet frames the story as an investigation into the forces that led two young people to their deaths. Blending theatrical storytelling with a documentary lens, The Lost Children of Verona explores accountability, memory, and the systems that fail the young. As testimony unfolds and narratives collide, the familiar tale fractures –revealing not just what happened, but why it was allowed to happen.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
Hey slut! A broke feminist podcaster reinvents herself as a provocative slutfluencer in pursuit of fame, only to lose herself in the performance. Darkly hilarious, gripping and surreal, ROLEPLAY is a ferocious interrogation of modern sex, the commodification of feminism and the era of the personal brand. Writer, actress and comic Hannah Reilly brings her 'fresh, female-first approach' (Elle) to the Fringe in this NSFW one-woman show directed by Paige Rattray (Fangirls). From award-winning producers Francesca Moody Productions (Fleabag, Baby Reindeer) and Global Creatures (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Muriel's Wedding The Musical).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Who are you when everything you were suddenly gets taken away? Sophie was once a Los Angeles it-girl, living a life of enviable, aspirational chaos. Now on the eve of her 30th birthday, she's stuck in a treatment facility with only one VIP on the birthday party guest list: her 18-year-old schizophrenic roommate Molly. ROOMIES is a darkly funny solo show based on a true story about friendship, identity and the fragile line between control and collapse, where glamour, madness and survival all crash the same table. Written and performed by Julia Stephens (Really It's Rita, Ctrl+Alt+Underground).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Jersey
Rattlepole! is a completely improvised Shakespearean comedy in which a ten-strong cast creates a brand-new play every night from audience suggestions. Inspired by the Bard’s language, themes and characters, the show blends storytelling with fast, playful comedy and direct audience interaction. A live pianist improvises the score and occasionally bursts into song, while a mischievous drinking element, directed by the audience, heightens the chaos. After sold-out London runs and a hit Edinburgh Fringe debut, Rattlepole! returns this summer. Expect romance, tragedy, mischief and constant surprises in a joyfully unpredictable theatrical experience for all audiences everywhere.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A show that explores the way music can be woven through life – using personal experience, a bassoon and a loop pedal. It is a story about living and learning, unexpected paths and places, and about finding your way through. Written and performed by Ursula Leveaux. Original script development and direction by Rosemary Harris. A work-in-progress version of this show was first performed at Open Space at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick in April 2024.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Rebellious Women is a bold, exhilarating production that brings together fierce female voices through the real life Suffragettes. The play explores resistance against patriarchy, power and imposed silence. Sharp humour, raw emotion and moments of intimacy sit alongside physical storytelling, creating a vibrant and inspiring experience. Celebrating solidarity, defiance and the cost of speaking out, Rebellious Women asks what it means to choose freedom in a world determined to control women’s bodies, voices and futures – and why rebellion, joy and collective courage still matter today.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
A funny, heartwarming journey through classic cinema, seen through the lens of five friends who know… absolutely nothing about film history. As they encounter legends like Charlie Chaplin, Ginger Rogers and Alfred Hitchcock, they discover far more than they expected. Combining music, dance and film, Reel to Real is a joyful exploration of creativity and self-discovery. Bedazzle Inclusive Productions celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, marking two decades of championing and amplifying disabled actors. Previous productions include Mythic Trials at the Cambridge Arts Theatre and a site-specific Sleeping Beauty in Essex, exploring life with chronic fatigue.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Pilates is the complete co-ordination of body, mind and spirit... plus it gives you a bum like a Victoria's Secret model. Two women meet at a reformer Pilates class, but can female friendship withstand the battleground of the studio, where everyone wants to be the best (read: hottest) in the room? Sophie and Lottie tackle trending beauty standards, conspiracies and femininity – all whilst doing sit-ups and trying not to queef.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A moving reimagining of Corrie Ten Boom's biographical tale of forgiveness and reconciliation in the shadows of WWII. Her family bravely hide Jews in their small clock shop and the consequences are dark and devastating. The production looks not only at the story from Corrie's viewpoint, but from a German army officer's as well. How do they both regard their families, their faith, the Jewish people and the occupation of Holland? They begin in different worlds, but eventually come face to face with each other. Wonderfully inspiring and still very relevant for today. Must see.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
A wonderfully nostalgic tale of the clerical railway enthusiast who brought us Thomas and his friends. The Reverend Awdry created stories for his son who was sick in bed, the result was some of the most endearing children's books and characters of all time. 'Deceptively sophisticated, interdisciplinary storytelling that entertains, informs and, like a fully functioning railway network, moves' **** (Scotsman). A must see. Includes some wonderful songs, plenty of laughs and a game of cricket. All aboard for some fun for all the family. And leaves on time. First class.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
The four horsemen gather at Mama Ruby’s Restaurant in Nowhere, North Carolina for their annual apocalypse conference, convinced that this is the year that the world will finally crash and burn. Unfortunately for them, humanity seems to have other plans. Created by an ensemble of students from Ithaca College, this world premiere explores humanity’s stubborn dedication to doing good even when the forces (or the horses) that be are trying as hard as they can to make it impossible. Will civilisation finally crumble, or will the horsemen's plans be halted by the power of human connection?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A chilling tale of greed, guilt and the macabre, The Body Snatcher exposes one of the darkest truths in history – the grisly pursuits of the so-called Resurrection Men. When medical student Fettes is recruited to assist the enigmatic scholar Wolfe Macfarlane, a chilling chain of events is set in motion. To what lengths will they go for the advancement of medical knowledge? This stunning adaptation brings to the stage Stevenson’s masterfully weaved story of suspense and morality – exploring the dark depths of human ambition and its terrifying consequences.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
After a sold-out, head-banging debut, Rockbeth returns to the Fringe: louder, darker, and even more deliriously doomed. A prophecy. A power-hungry frontman. A band teetering between glorious world domination and total backstage collapse. When ambition collides with reverb and blood-red stage lights, the fallout is spectacular. Featuring classic rock anthems from AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and The Sex Pistols, this is Shakespeare with riffs, fate with fuzz pedals, and murder most metal. Expect shredded guitar solos, unhinged visions, thunderous drums and tragedy at full volume. Part live gig, part Shakespearean meltdown... all killer, no mercy.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
A newly devised piece focusing on the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence. The performance follows a politician named Jane, whose life crumbles when she becomes the victim of deepfaked porn. This causes Jane to isolate herself from the world, taking comfort in an AI chatbot – who she affectionately names Romeo. The performance focuses on the progression of their relationship as it takes on a more romantic nature, and confronts the risk of replacing human connection with AI. Eventually Jane is forced to chose between her real life and her new, idealised virtual life.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Hotel St Francis, San Francisco, September 1921. The principal players – silent movie star Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, actress Virginia Rappe and rabble-rouser Maude Delmont. Room 1219 – a room of secrets. Roscoe Arbuckle – the man who turned slapstick into gold – is at the top of his profession; but a charge of murder sees his world come crashing down. With his future career in tatters, Arbuckle becomes Hollywood’s first fall guy! This is Roscoe Arbuckle’s story – his rise to fame and his shameful downfall at the hands of the public, the press and Hollywood.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Pasuz Productions presents their new darkly comedic show about reputations and how you lose them, how one version of events becomes "the truth", and what your options are when your terribly worthy one-woman show is repeatedly interrupted by rowdy hecklers. This playful meta-theatrical piece juggles the stories of a well-meaning student, a director with a dark secret, a serially misunderstood monarch and a long dead literary giant. Who gets to tell their truth before the final curtain falls? (Do we have budget for a curtain? Join us to find out!).
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
SUCCUBUS follows a young woman whose body goes delightfully rogue as her appetite blooms, putting the men in menu. As she navigates medical shrugs, moral chaos and a dawning hunger for power, she discovers others thriving in the dark alongside her. This one-woman show revels in gore, pop-culture parody and unapologetic desire. A coming-of-rage fable with delicious heart, SUCCUBUS invites audiences to savour a richer, wilder vision of feminine possibility. A debut play written and performed by Georgina Collins, directed by Grainne Robson, produced by Halfway Productions.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dexter
The protagonist is ready to board a one-way flight to a destination unknown, but a series of delays delivers an unexpected passenger: the antagonist, his older, more accomplished self. What begins as a reunion quickly spirals into a surreal showdown – who really knows him best, and who gets to move forward? Part Waiting for Godot, part Looper, Sabotage is a tender battleground of ego, regret and missed connections, skewering ambition and holding self-love under siege in a wry take on the quarter-life crisis. Because when you’re boarding a flight to nowhere, all runways lead back to you.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
When psychotherapist Adam reconnects with a former patient outside his consulting room, he only wants to help. But slowly, something between them begins to shift. Is everything as it seems? A new play about power, obsession and the stories we tell to keep ourselves safe. Written and performed by Michael Reid. Directed by Chloe Champken ('Crafting raw and unfiltered theater' BroadwayWorld.com). Finalist, VCA Playwriting Award 2026.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
Neutral Milk Hotel's indie-rock triumph In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and Anne Frank's stunning and candid The Diary of a Young Girl fuse with confessions from Salty's adolescent longings in this genre-defying cabaret with wit, spectacle and heart. Sparks fly, time bends, and the ghosts of our past return to us in this hilarious and devastating work from Salty's acclaimed and expansive Living Record Collection. 'Astounding' ***** (Stage). ***** (List). 'A storyteller in total command of voice, a cocked eyebrow and his audience' **** (Guardian).
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
You, your mates, hot sauna, cold plunge, our resident DJs on the decks, plus a host of special guests. Surprising, delighting theatrics, comedy, music, Aufguss and much more in the UK's largest sauna with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound for a fully immersive experience. Watch a performance in the sauna, plunge in an ice bath, have a dance with your mates, grab a chilled 0% beer and step back into the heat of the moment. This is the coolest/hottest arts party around.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
A little boy answers every doorbell hoping it's his daddy. Decades later, after surviving sexual abuse, cult indoctrination and a terminal AIDS diagnosis, that boy – now a man – still hasn't stopped searching. Armed with a name his teenage mother gave him and unwavering determination, Michael calls every Robert Hennessey he can find, chases DNA matches, tries Beetlejuicing the guy into existence and never gives up hope. Until Father's Day 2020 brings a Facebook message shattering everything he thought he knew about his identity and his quest. Hollywood Fringe's sold-out sensation comes to Edinburgh.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Harrie's workday ends like any other... until her journey home takes a sudden, unthinkable turn. In the following days, she's swept into a system of police reports, questions and courtrooms-demanding clarity from a memory that isn't there. Not just a story about trauma; it's a darkly-comic odyssey through the absurd machinery of justice, where truth is slippery and certainty feels out of reach. When reality hits like a shower of shit, sometimes the only thing left to fight for is your version of the story: whether it can be proven or not. Based on true events.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
A lost son. A desperate father. A teenage hustler with secrets he won't share. When Bud, a sales agronomist for a big seed company, checks into an Iowa motel hunting for his boy, he finds Holler, a young hustler reeling from his boyfriend's suicide. Each thinks the other holds the key to escape. A fragile and dangerously paternal bond forms. As a spectre of his lost boy circles the motel, Bud leads Holler toward a terrifying mutation neither can outrun.‘A gripping, genre-blending drama that masterfully intertwines tension, horror, and poignant human connections’ (Danielle Wirsansky)CastBud | Neil David SeibelHoller | Maggz DayWritten by | Scott BradleyDirected by | Wendy-Marie MartinProduced by | Maggz Day and Wendy-Marie MartinSet design by | Arne JohnsonCostume design by | Faith SmithStage managed by | Gwyn LloydStage crew | Cate Orrx.com/hollinstheatrefacebook.com/people/Hollins-Theatre
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Transforming the stage to a 'meta-lab' of uncertainty, 'who' and 'not sure who' navigate the intersection of spiritual desire and tech-worship. Inspired by the phenomenon of China's youth using AI chatbots as fortune tellers, Seeksaw explores our desperate craving for omniscience and the wanting of control. This funny, existential, original devised performance – part philosophical inquiry into fate, part mutual consulting for dog-shit level anxieties – captures a snapshot of our contemporary era: in a time of no questions or no answers, what is next?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In the name of Russia, Seledka and his new troupe are here to stop the war. His goal? Make sure his soldiers eat sleep bleed Soviet. However, his meeting is hijacked by young Ukrainian women recounting tales from the war. Who’s entitled to claim ownership of a country? How different are we from those fighting for their freedom? One-woman show, Seledka, is a political satire written to educate and relate the distant world of Ukraine to audiences who have never had to question what it’s like to live with war. We are more similar than we think.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
(Wed 19-Sun 30 Aug) Niall Moorjani (Fringe First winner) and Ailsa Dixon (★★★★★, Scotsman) present an evocative and moving exploration of what it is to be human, as they lyrically synthesise storytelling with live music and Orcadian folk song. Come for the music, stories and songs, stay for the deep exploration of trans experience in Scotland today, through three queered and reimagined selkie stories set in past, present and future. BSL interpreted Fri 21 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill. Image credit Binski
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
In seeking to explore how social media defines our reality, this play reimagines the story of Narcissus and Echo for the social media age. Weaving in Plato's allegory of the cave, we ask questions of the nature of the reality we glimpse through the screens of our phones. At what point does reflection become distortion and what is left behind as a digital echo once the screen has been turned off? How easily does the illusion of reality we see projected towards us consume and devour us – are we willing participants or slaves to the algorithm?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Cowboys, karaoke and a different cast every night. And it’s all determined by a roll of the dice! This immersive adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy celebrates the unpredictable ride of falling in love and finding yourself. Step into a karaoke bar full of crooning cowboys, line dancing jesters and lovesick shepherds. Grab a drink and hold onto your hats because no one knows what’s coming next: audience members roll dice to randomly cast the show, so no two performances are remotely alike. Hope you can keep up, partner!
Venue 13
Main Space
The Bardic Breakfasters are back with a brand-new show, breakfast included! Fringe favourites since 1992, C theatre’s sensational Shakespearience returns for another year of pentameter, puns and pastries. Perfect for hardened fans and blank verse virgins alike.Free coffee and croissants! Fringe favourite since 1992. Book early.‘A bouncy and boisterous take on Willie’s work’ (List)‘Well worth getting out of bed for’ (Independent)‘No holds Bard ‘(FringeGuru.com)‘Irreverent humour... clever’ (Stage)‘Side-splitting... glorious’ (BroadwayBaby)‘Full of fun’ (RemoteGoat.com)‘Sizzling’ (ScottishDailyExpress.co.uk)
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Shakespeare's Big Brother puts all your favourite Shakespearean characters in the Big Brother House. What will Hamlet say to Romeo? What will Juliet make of Macbeth? Who gets kicked out first? Lots of fun from one of the Fringe's classic theatre companies. At last we can answer the big questions: who is funnier, Richard III or Bottom? Why does Lady Macbeth have spots and will they respond to Clearasil? And better jokes than that!
Paradise in Augustines
Sanctuary
After their in-performance deaths, six female Shakespearean characters find themselves in a holding area until the play they are a character in gets revived by another Shakespeare company so that they can (re)live their tragedy over (and over) again.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A spiritual traumedy. A series of mysterious debilitating seizures and a freak elevator accident send actor Dede Lovejoy on an off-road scavenger hunt for healing. From sound baths to bean diets, this deeply personal solo-play traces one woman’s unconventional recovery, as she flips the bird to western medicine and swan dives into otherworldly remedies to reintegrate body, mind and soul. A mystical post-traumatic stress fantasia featuring bad choices, safety tips, spirit guides and shamanism – with cameos by polyamory and the patriarchy. Written and performed by Dede Lovejoy (The Wire, The Blacklist, Daredevil: Born Again).
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Shatter Resistant is a darkly comic one-woman show exploring the frustrations of modern life. Thirty-year-old Cassie is having a tough time of it lately; she’s just lost her job to an AI chatbot and her life is imploding from every angle. Cassie is forced on an odyssey of self-discovery and begins to question why she puts up with crappy jobs, terrible dates and psycho flatmates. Why can’t she say no? Knock after knock, the cracks begin to show. Maybe Cassie won’t be able to keep her positive mental attitude after all.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Whilst clearing out her mother's belongings from her care home, Kelly discovers a hidden family secret. Her grandfather was Dr John Watson. As she digs further, Kelly uncovers the truth of the untold final case of Sherlock Holmes: a case involving an otherworldly crown of mysterious origin, and the abandoned American coastal town of Innsmouth.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Abby works three jobs. Her bills keep going up, her car keeps breaking down and her 12 year old, Baxter, keeps growing. When she’s summoned to school to talk about her son’s behaviour, her carefully constructed world topples. Baxter's teacher fears he’s been radicalised by the manosphere. Abby’s astounded – all she’s ever tried to do is equip him to stand up for women’s rights. Headteacher Sam offers support. But Abby and Sam have unfinished business. How far will Abby go to protect what matters most? A darkly funny exploration of women’s choices in a man’s world.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A raw, intimate psychological drama set in a Leith bar, where two lost souls collide in a world built on mistrust. Connor, a merchant seaman, spiralling after a violent incident at sea, returns home intent on self-destruction. Alex, a sharp-tongued barmaid, carrying grief and a destructive history, meets him with wit and wariness until a buried connection resurfaces. Darkly funny, unflinching and thought-provoking new work from an exciting Edinburgh theatre company explores masculinity, race, mental health and the fragile possibility of redemption, asking whether love can survive when both are drowning in their past.
Leith Arches
Ground Level
The St Anne's County Debutante Class of 2000 has been struck with a plague of lice – maybe because God hates them, maybe because of what happened last summer to Emma. They decide to revive the ancient ritual of sin-eating to cleanse them of their misdeeds before their presentation to society. Instead they uncover secrets about each other and themselves that will rock the foundation of their friendships forever. This dark comedy explores guilt, grief and girlhood in the vicious world of country club debutantes.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
Domestic routine curdles into something erotic as the couple’s everyday antics take a sexual turn. Playfulness hums beneath the mundanity of their dusty flat living room: BBC nonsense blares from the television while they eat their third TV dinner of the week. What happens when a famous television cross-dresser Pete Burns is forced to live with his stalker? Inspired by the events of Pete Burns Unspun, but told through the eyes of the modern onlooker allowing us to revel in absurdity and oddity making it an all round funny, very cheeky and dare I say Fringey time.
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
Sissy Boy is the story of a Bristolian teen on his way to uni and his online relationship with his femdom goddess. Through humiliation kink in his boyish teenage room, to confused feelings with the lads down at the local, Sissy Boy challenges our taboos while exploring its own, and begs the question of our own desires in a changing world. This one-hour and one-man show is a coming of age comedy that aims to push us past our own insecurities to explore the unspoken taboos in our society.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
'The divine wisdom of the Holy She', delves into the humorous and serious revelations of Sister Sophia, an aging nun in crisis. As she grieves the loss of her friend, she grapples with her own restless night of the soul. Through musings and songs, Sophia confronts g(G)od and in her quest, she discovers a newfound outlook on life. 'Sister Sophia is witty, curious, and easy to root for... a stellar performance from the very talented Lisa Randall, the one-nun show is cheeky, introspective and thoughtful' (Hamilton City Magazine). 'Randall has a helluva voice' (Hammer Monthly).
Venue 13
Main Space
Two female pirates are condemned to hang for sailing with Calico Jack and terrorising the high seas. Anne Bonny and Mary Read are saved from execution at the last moment, but how? In an age of brutality and adventure, these two outcasts chose to fight alongside and against men. Their pirate careers were short, but their legacy endures. Acting Coach Scotland presents an original theatre show combining physical theatre, music and storytelling to explore the true story of these extraordinary women. Devised by acting graduates, written and directed by Jake Norton in a bold new production.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Kid has come to "find herself", but quickly gets caught up in Dad's wild antics. When the two share a rare moment of privacy in the heavenly garden, what begins as whispers, a telling off and a hilarious culture clash slowly shifts, growing heavier with each passing word. A comic yet haunting exploration of grief, Sitting (In Silence) will leave you reflecting on the things we choose not to say, the silence that divides us and what healing really means. Could those real moments of laughter and connection ultimately be what saves us?
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Welcome to Slim for Life. A friendly local slimming group... with a taste for the dramatic – and perhaps something darker. Newcomer(s) welcome. Results guaranteed. Side effects may include eternal damnation. When heartbroken Lily joins her first session, she expects weigh-ins, wellness jargon and forced positivity. Instead, she finds a devoted leader, eccentric regulars and an atmosphere feeling increasingly ritualistic. As mantras become chants and discipline turns to devotion, Lily must decide how far she’s willing to go for transformation. A sharp, fast-paced dark comedy with live-musical flair from the team behind The Caper Trail (Fringe 2023).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
High-flyers Imogen and Rich like wine. It drips into their lives as their love language and helps them to cope with their stressful lives. But after twenty years of excess, Imogen is wavering. She’s tired of waking up with unexplained bruises, tired of the mornings thick with shame, tired of being tired, but is it enough? When life has become so intertwined with the powerful nectar is it easy to break away, or do relationships start to unravel? Perhaps a wake-up call is all she needs? Filled with humour and drama, Soaked seeks to unnerve.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
What do people reach for when certainty disappears? Inspired by true events, this play brings together intimate monologues and dialogues moving through love, doubt, grief, humour and everything in between. As voices across ages and experiences are given room to speak, the stage becomes a space for recognition, connection and reflection. Here, hope is not a perfect ending. It is something searched for, questioned and rediscovered, often in the moments when life asks us to keep going without all the answers. From Switzerland, this show makes its international debut at Edinburgh Fringe.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Sonder: the realisation that every random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Sonder is a short play which speaks to lived human experience and the discovery of a profound feeling in which you appreciate the beauty of others as equals and other main characters rather than side characters in your own world. Everyone’s journey is the same, yet so vastly different. Sonder stories of people's lived experience and their point in their journey on a shared train ride.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Inspired by true events, the five-star smash hit play Spare Room follows Jodie as she takes the plunge and applies for a room in a house share. Confronted with the unexpected world of chunder charts, STIs and tangible testosterone, this wasn’t the fresh start Jodie imagined. Entirely set in a student living room, expect to be thoroughly immersed in the lives of these badly behaved twenty-somethings who’ll leave you cackling one minute and speechless the next, in this honest insight into masculinity, mental health and consent. Nominated for five Fringe theatre awards including Best New Play.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets The L Word in this bittersweet, absurdist launderette meet-cute. Eyes lock. Hearts thump. Palms sweat. But something is off. Secrets of the past are whispered, hidden under the thrum of the washing machines – can what's forgotten be remembered? This OffWestEnd Award-nominated five-star Irish play examines the space between loving someone and not, forgetting and remembering, dirty and clean clothes. A seriously refreshing show on queer love, whirring memory and finding the truth in it all. ***** (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
After a violent, sleepless night with her abusive boyfriend, Meg goes back to her spin studio like nothing happened. It doesn't take long for her to spiral into a manic breakdown as she realizes her version of self-care (perfectionism, calorie-counting and people pleasing) is self-destruction. Throughout this one-woman show, Meg faces body dysmorphia, internalized abuse and the exhausting need to be adored. Physically relentless, brutally funny and surprisingly moving, SpinQueen™ is theatre you can feel in every muscle. A show that will leave you questioning how far we go to keep up and what it really takes to stop.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Witch! Hag! Spinster! Words are powerful – even one can tell a whole story. This storytelling show welcomes you into the spinster's cottage, but what will you find there? A financially independent woman with a honed skill and craft, or an evil-doing hag waiting to snatch your child? Journey through three Scottish folktales that illustrate the change in the meaning of the word spinster, and thus the changing role of women in the Middle Ages. Spin together the threads of ancient tales and unpick the tapestry of the demonisation of women with storyteller Frankie Regalia.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
'You've tried everything. Yoga. Acupuncture. You floated in salt water in the pitch black dark. You juiced, you cleansed. You got a mattress that fitted itself to your foetal form. You ate only rinds for three days and nights. You reached out, you looked within. You have tried, and yet here you are.' So begins this new play by Olivier-nominated playwright John Kolvenbach. Jim Ortlieb delivers a tour-de-force performance as a man bent by isolation and deeply in love with the audience itself.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
Five women went to teach theatre for the summer. They just didn’t know the world would end before camp did. In Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse, life at a theatre camp in the northern woods of Maine takes a shocking turn when five counsellors suddenly become responsible for more than forty campers after the world ends on the final day of camp. Their artistic dreams collide with the abrupt demands of survival, forcing women who once built imaginary worlds onstage to confront a terrifying new reality offstage.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Esther knows she's destined to be a pop star. The Pop Princess Programme of Prestige Produces Protégés. Will she become the pop star of her dreams? Or a nightmare like you've never seen?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In a world increasingly close to the brink: how far are you willing to go? Gay, divorced, unemployed merch-maker Ethan is down on his luck. After months of no work, he's ready to close up shop. When a mysterious woman places a large order, Ethan is faced with a pivotal decision – go broke with his integrity, or mass-produce a series of anonymous merchandise orders that glorify the world’s most divisive politician. This raucous, incendiary battle of morality and money asks the question: would you trade your conscience for cash?
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Studio
Say hello to Scott – the finest "Edutainment Officer" in the business, a leading expert in overhead animation and lo-fi storytelling, a renowned descendent of the Turnbull Family Edutainment programme and a grieving son. The only problem is, he’s gone a little bit freaky-deaky. With the Wilkes Booth Corporation breathing down his neck, our charming yet unreliable narrator is struggling with the pressure of real life. The award-winning show (Best Performance, Newcastle Fringe) is back at Edinburgh Fringe for a second year! 'Nothing else like it at the festival' (Scotsman). 'Weird and wonderfully warm' (Guardian).
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
When a disgraced director launches a show to secure his return to the spotlight, he will spill the secrets of some powerful people he ought not to f*ck with. Boasting divas, deceit and Sarah-Jessica from HR – Swan Song bristles with comedic absurdity! With a distinctly abstract and whacky style, this show promises to bring fun, drama and much-needed criticism of mainstream media to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Cory Dagg makes a solemn promise to Mae Axton, the co-writer of Heartbreak Hotel, to tell the true story behind the song. His journey weaves his own life with the tragic tale of the man who inspired the hit song, the meteoric rise of Elvis Presley and the impact his music had on The Beatles, revealing how a single song can change the world. After years self-doubt, Cory reaffirms his commitment to his promise, presenting the interconnected stories of Elvis and John Lennon as a testament to fate, sacrifice and the enduring power of music.
Paradise in Augustines
Sanctuary
Doug Lemons has gone missing in a town where no one trusts each other. His mother, Pam, searches obsessively for Doug without ever leaving her couch. She has lived there for infinity – smoking, sipping, waiting – watching shiny ladies on TV, accompanied by a twitch she cannot shake. The town begins to visit her: doctors, start-ups, grifters, psychics, strangers from Craigslist, lost animals. Perhaps Pam is imagining them. Or remembering them. Or rehearsing conversations she never had. In this surreal American town, Pam claws for certainty, a witness and evidence that she was ever chosen.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
Follow Lilian, Richard, Cassandra, Chloe, Aidan and William as they navigate New Year’s Day working in a care home for adults with learning disabilities. While the rest of the world celebrates, they remain on shift, taking care of those who rely on them. Amid outings, new arrivals and the unexpected chaos of the day, these carers face fresh starts, mounting responsibilities, and the quiet resilience required to keep going. Thoughtful, funny and profoundly human, Take Care offers an intimate glimpse into the realities of care work – and the people who show up, every single day.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
In post-war England: shame, secrecy and societal pressure forced unmarried mothers to part with their children, through the institutionalised and systemic coercion that is still awaiting an official apology. Between the Adoption Acts of 1949 and 1976, thousands of babies were taken from their families in a scandal which continues to ripple through the lives of those affected. Talking Shadows has a passion for telling lost female stories in shows such as 1966 ***** (CounterCulture), 1612 **** (TheMumble.uk), OTMA **** (TheRealChrisparkle.com). Sell-out shows 2025.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Noah is dead. He spends his afterlife in limbo, passing the time with failed 90s grunge rocker Elijah. When he starts seeing his living brother Alex, Noah finds himself torn between the worlds of the living and the dead. Finding out that his time in limbo might soon be up, he must tie up all the loose ends of both his life and after-life before he dies... again. Part coming-of-age comedy and part ghost story, Teen Spirit is a bittersweet comedy about grief, ghosts and grunge rock, complete with alternative fashion and a concert atmosphere.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Ten audience members are randomly chosen from the crowd and can decide whether to step on stage or remain seated. Those who accept begin a new life and receive flowers representing their energy: year after year, they decide how to spend it. Love, ambition, security, risk. Every decision creates connections, encounters and conflicts, while the rest of the audience shapes the world around them. When the flowers run out, their life ends. Can they find happiness before then? A participatory, funny and deeply human theatre experience – different every day.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Cowbarn
Award-winning artist Duane Forrest brings the timeless music of Nat King Cole to life through soulful performance and storytelling. Blending velvety renditions with personal reflection, he explores how a Black artist in 1950s America became a cultural pioneer while navigating a world that celebrated him onstage but resisted him off it. Raised in Toronto, Forrest reflects on his own journey with jazz and belonging, discovering how Cole’s presence opened doors. Tenderly is a moving exploration of legacy, dignity and the quiet power of simply showing up.
The Jazz Bar
Venue (Partially Seated)
Part ceilidh, part play, and a good night out, Tether is a bold new collaboration between Scotland's Wonder Fools and South Korea's Theatre SAN. Spanning 60 years and three generations, the piece weaves folk songs, love letters and war stories into a shared experience of music and memory. Beginning as a joyous communal gathering, it gradually reveals an intimate love story shaped by migration, oppression and time. Playful, powerful and deeply human, Tether invites audiences to collectively dance, laugh, listen and remember – tracing the invisible threads that bind two nations together.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
A middle-aged woman sheepishly turns to her recently bereaved mother: 'We'll move in with you, if you like.' (Thinking she’ll refuse. She doesn’t.) A raw, darkly funny look at a family in chaos. A marriage breakdown, teenage upheaval, dependency, love (whatever that is), a mother loudly preparing for the end, and the joys of becoming a bad mother and a bad daughter at exactly the same time. An exploration of assisted dying within modern family dynamics. Winner: Best Solo Show at Riverside Studios Bitesize Festival. 'Truly life – and death – affirming' (Polly Vernon).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
At 40 years old, Chris Davis seizes on ballet class as a way to replace all other addictions – drugs, alcohol, Modern Family and the toxic tropes of 90s John Cusack movies. With only a barre for support, Fringe favourite Chris Davis mixes dance and storytelling in a 50-minute comedy that shows you change is always possible, no matter what your age. 'The kind of innovative spirit that the Fringe was originally created to showcase' **** (List).
Venue 13
Main Space
You’re going to die.* Have questions? The osseous oracle has answers! Visit The Augur for an unforgettably macabre and darkly comedic puppetry fortune-telling experience. Each performance is bespoke (and the puppet is built from bones)! After slumbering for thousands of years, The Augur is a misanthropic and ornery oracle with a penchant for ornithological oration. This intimate performance fuses puppetry, improv and the occult. 'The Augur is so very special. Everything you dream of when you think of Fringe.' (Nancy Kenny, Executive Producer of award-winning documentary On The Fringe). Winner: Outstanding Design, Halifax Fringe 2025. *eventually.
Laughing Horse @ City Cafe
Hollywood
Growing up with a stutter is a complicated thing. You're not normal enough to be treated like the others and yet you're not disabled enough to receive help. You're left to fend for yourself with an invisible muzzle that flares at the worst times. When everyone treats your seemingly singular defining trait as something unspeakable, what do you start believing about yourself? In the most unconventional of places, The Bathroom Floor explores one woman's messy journey of fighting with faith, self-perception, and ultimately having to choose a life worth fighting for.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A widow swears eternal devotion to her late husband – until an irate, blustering creditor arrives demanding repayment of a debt. What begins as just an impolite visitation erupts into a ferocious battle of wills, wits and wildly inconvenient desire. Slammed doors, smashed furniture and loaded pistols give way to something even more fierce: love, as a duel of honour spirals into a reckless courtship neither combatant can truly control. EGTG's energetic, fast-paced, destructive rendition of Chekhov’s comedy farce: The Bear revels in the thin line between loathing and longing – and the thrill of crossing it!
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
A zany comedy in the style of Italian commedia dell'arte about the planned marriage of Flaminia and Orazio by their money-grubbing fathers Pantalone and Gratiano. On the day of the wedding, the braggart warrior Captain Spavento, thought lost at sea, arrives to rescue his beloved Flaminia from the clutches of a forced marriage. Meanwhile, Spavento's sister, the fiery Isabella, arrives incognito, seeking her lost love Orazio. As the spurned lovers pursue their quests, the servants get involved, and with the help of hapless bystanders, surprising discoveries are revealed and the world is somehow happily realigned.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
POV: you and hubby are fresh off the altar, driving to your Niagara Falls honeymoon, sipping on your fave bevvy. It's the middle of the night and you haven't had service for miles, but it's okay – you're drunk off the bliss of married life! Or... trying to be? Out of nowhere, your drink is in your lap, and the car is in a ditch. Shit, what (or who) did he just hit??? A dark comedy about where the mind takes us when faced with the questions we never wanted to answer.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
Join Jane on a search for her missing uncle, leading her to The Boline Inn and its strange, captivating women. Beneath her calm exterior, tensions simmer. Will the women bring her to boiling point? With its quirky humour, eerie atmosphere and unforgettable aesthetic, The Boline Inn – an award nominated production – 'has the ornaments of a cult classic' (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk). From Liverpool’s all-female company Meadow Report, this Edinburgh Fringe debut is a bold, uncanny exploration of community, mystery and female friendships.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
In a Zurich university hallway, a group of academics become obsessed with a mysterious “beast” lurking just out of sight. As speculation spirals into certainty, language begins to distort, alliances shift and reality itself feels unstable. The Colour of Water is a sharp, character-led dark comedy exploring grief, perception and the absurdity of intellectual authority. Blending humour with unease, the play examines how quickly certainty can become delusion – and how fragile our understanding of the world truly is.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
After falling into a steampunk pirate universe, Martin Hathaway is now firmly ensconced as Personal Assistant (and husband) to Captain Daisy Fitzgerald McNamara of the A.S. Nephthys. In this final instalment of Kathryn Clare Glen's steampunk fantasy trilogy, the Free People of the Lost Valley (formerly known as the Unpredictables), struggle to find a balance between the temptations of domestic bliss and a life rich with adventures. But the protection is fading... how will they navigate these challenges – even as the man who killed Daisy's father seeks revenge?
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
(Fri 21-Sat 22 Aug) Across northern England, roads wend their way through picturesque countryside. Ancient dry stone walls hold the ghostly stories of the dead that were carried past on these secret and haunted trails. The Corpse Road follows the rise and fall, the twists and turns of these paths to tell the tale of characters that were carried to their final resting place. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright weave together story and song in this evocative and unnerving folkloric journey to the grave. 'Captivating storytelling' ★★★★ (BingeFringe.com)'A Fringe must-see' ★★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk, for Orpheus/Orfeo) Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Osgood is known for Inverewe Gardens in Wester Ross. Less known is his personal story, with his redoubtable mother, mistreated wife and The House of Lords divorce case she won. Curious to know more?
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
17 - 22 AugA wicked, gin-soaked dark comedy set on a stormy Edinburgh Hogmanay. Belinda Crabbs’ husband disappears, leaving behind police tape and three decades of marital fatigue. Enter Barbara, the cleaner with forensic instincts and impeccable timing. What follows is a razor-sharp dismantling of marriage, class and sex. Delivered with biting one-liners and delicious cruelty. Female rage detonates. Widowhood, it turns out, can be an upgrade and menopause absolute murder. From the multi award-winning writer of Sex, Chips & Ouzo, Glasgow Hard Tickets, Death of a Playboy, The Devil Wears Primark. 'A rip-roaring delight!' (Independent). 'Brilliant' (Scotsman).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
07 - 15 AugA wicked, gin-soaked dark comedy set on a stormy Edinburgh Hogmanay. Belinda Crabbs’ husband disappears, leaving behind police tape and three decades of marital fatigue. Enter Barbara, the cleaner with forensic instincts and impeccable timing. What follows is a razor-sharp dismantling of marriage, class and sex. Delivered with biting one-liners and delicious cruelty. Female rage detonates. Widowhood, it turns out, can be an upgrade and menopause absolute murder. From the multi award-winning writer of Sex, Chips & Ouzo, Glasgow Hard Tickets, Death of a Playboy, The Devil Wears Primark. 'A rip-roaring delight!' (Independent). 'Brilliant' (Scotsman).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
(Sun 23-Mon 24 Aug) A young girl wears her heart on her sleeve. Her father struggles to support the family and accepts a devastating offer from a strange figure... Can a woman without hands reach into a pool of dark memories to reclaim her own future? Based on the Grimm story of the Handless Maiden, this storytelling show explores disability and resilience in the face of trauma and societal expectations. Cara Silversmith has lived with a chronic condition for most of her adult life. Her storytelling celebrates diverse identities, the environment and the creation of a better world.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
He's a #1 podcaster. He's a #1 rapper. He's a landlord. He's Darren! New York's #1 podcaster / rapper / landlord! Step into The Darren Podcast Show studio, as they do it live to celebrate episode #25O featuring celebrities from the US of A! Games! Giveaways! Darren's interview with the podcast's most requested guest of all time! And we'll open up the phone lines and hear real New Yorkers. Maybe even rap! (Disclaimer: Not all New Yorkers are rappers, like not all Californians are surfers). It's truth or Darren time!
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Inspired by Zhuangzi’s parable of Hundun, this physically charged solo performance follows a woman living with depression as she sets out on seven journeys to escape pain. Each attempt seems to offer hope, yet leaves her more broken, as the things she once believed in slowly fall apart. Blending intense physical theatre with an emotional monologue, the piece becomes a raw encounter with herself. Pushed to the edge of death, she begins to question the need to understand and control everything, and finally finds a way to coexist with her pain.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
He's been running his whole life. Time to catch up. When the football pitch freezes, Chris is forced into cross-country. Everyone hates it, but something in Chris ignites. A coming-of-age story set in the world of elite sport where everything is measured, every meal, every metre, every moment, asking why we push ourselves as far as we can... Then further. From former GB athlete Ben Norris, The Distance is part play, part extreme workout – a sweat-drenched exploration of ambition, identity and letting go. Directed by Julia Locascio. From the producers of SIX, Choir of Man and Playfight.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
How do you justify bringing a child into this world? When she was a teenager, she vowed she never would. Yet, when babies start appearing in her dreams, her resolve is challenged by a monstrous desire for a baby of her own. Channelling a wide array of personas and worlds, The Dreaming sees us lost between landscapes of fantasy and nightmare. Here we seek answers to the questions: What drives us to create life? How do we grieve the futures the economic and climate crises have taken from us? What makes our lives meaningful?
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Directed by Emmy-winning director Karen Arthur, an aimless fighter and his rising rockstar sister collide in a high-energy play that fuses mixed martial arts with live music. This bold, first-of-its-kind production explores courage, identity and the consequences of choice. As one sibling charges forward and the other hesitates, both are forced to confront who they are and what they truly want. Blending the spectacle of sport with the electricity of live performance, the show captures the raw immediacy only theatre can offer.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
17 - 22 AugEver wondered what the person next to you is thinking? Eva is just a regular rat racer. Single mother to a six-year-old boy, she is desperately trying to play the game – pay the bills, get him to football, survive mum’s comments. Her mind has different plans. On the way to an important job interview, Eva gets bombarded by a series of ever-worsening intrusive thoughts. So prepare for the uncomfortable and dive into Eva’s mind. Guided by Arthur, a sadistic, half-real figure, this two-hander surreal dark comedy will shift your concept of normality.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
07 - 15 AugEver wondered what the person next to you is thinking? Eva is just a regular rat racer. Single mother to a six-year-old boy, she is desperately trying to play the game – pay the bills, get him to football, survive mum’s comments. Her mind has different plans. On the way to an important job interview, Eva gets bombarded by a series of ever-worsening intrusive thoughts. So prepare for the uncomfortable and dive into Eva’s mind. Guided by Arthur, a sadistic, half-real figure, this two-hander surreal dark comedy will shift your concept of normality.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
With a swirl of his motley cape, Limkin, a grand storyteller commands the stage, dazzling the crowd with his glittering 'flash tales.' Backstage, sharp-eyed Millie sees through the spectacle. When she boldly confronts the man who tells lies, the theatre trembles – both are swept into the realm where stories are born. There, amid wonder and danger, they discover that neither cynicism nor falsehood can silence a story that is true. Co-created with New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Brad Montague (Fail-a-bration).
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society ladies mount yet another assault on the classics with a startlingly original production of Macbeth. Under the carefully massacred eye of adjudicator George Peach, events conspire hilariously against them, leading to yet another play that goes horribly and wonderfully wrong! 50 years on from its Edinburgh premiere, this brand new production of David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr's mangled Macbeth is brought to the Fringe by Edinburgh People's Theatre, the only company to perform at every Fringe since 1947.
Newington Trinity Parish Church
Church Hall
You're invited to The First Annual Inaugural Grief Awards! After losing his father to pancreatic cancer in 2020, Andreas Tsironis grieved. He grieved pretty hard. Now, he's decided he is "totally over it" and will be hosting an award ceremony to commemorate the feat! Join the comedian for an absurd and heartfelt evening in which he honours his late father and explores how grief connects those of us it leaves in its wake. Except for Andreas. Who is totally over it.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
(Fri 7-Thu 27 Aug) Enlightenment Edinburgh. Robert Burns and Walter Scott meet only once, at a salon in the Sciennes home of Adam Fergusson. Or so history tells us. In the School of Scottish Studies archives, a Scottish Traveller recounts another version; a fantastical gathering of 'all the great writers', locked in poetic flyting – until tragedy strikes. Scots folksinger Kirsty Law weaves together documented fact, imagined rivalry and a childhood memory of hearing the tale in the very building where it happened. A meditation on truth and fiction, and on the ordinary people who quietly carry on Scotland's living tradition.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
‘If you survive the apocalypse, don’t you get to help build what comes after?' The Forever Wave is an audio experience set in drowned San Francisco, circa 2070 inspired by Dylan Thomas’ iconic play for voices, Under Milk Wood. Drawing on geography, climate science and local Bay Area history it offers a comprehensive look at a what-if future should climate change and economic inequality continue to fail to be addressed. An array of almost 70 voices – survivors and dead alike – are brought to vivid life by a multicultural, multigenerational, and multilingual cast of 12.‘A true feat of audio performance’ theatreview.org.nz‘Patient, immersive world-building filled with humanity and hope’ Artmurmurs.nz‘A seamless and deeply immersive auditory experience’ salient.org.nzCastEl Capitán, Mariner Two, Mister Kincaid, King of Strawberry Hill, Old Bill, Ohlone Grandfather, Karl Maldorf | Roy ConboyFifth Drowned, Isabel Flores, Neighbor Two, Feral Three, Hyacinth Galang, Scraper Kid Five, Watcher Five, Siren of Nautical Hall | Jerikka GamboaSoraya Broussard, Girl One, Woman One, Neighbor One, Feral Two, Ohlone Voice Four, Barfly One, Child | Aaliyah GilliardFirst Drowned, Mariner Three, Jax, Sister Precious Little, Ohlone Voice One, Barfly Two, Dr Hashemi | Peter GriggsFourth Drowned, Carolyn Tsongas, Feral One, Alina Kruschev, Gemma Baxter, Scraper Kid Four, Watcher Four | Nathaniel Justiniano BerkeleyFourth Drowned, Carolyn Tsongas, Feral One, Alina Kruschev, Gemma Baxter, Scraper Kid Four, Watcher Four | Julia LetzelCalliope Carter, Girl Two, Woman Two, Missus Kincaides, Ohlone Voice Three, Maggy McCarthy, Barfly Three, Mam | Mia PaschalSixth Drowned, Grace Han, Neighbor Three, Feral Four, Ahn Nguyen, Scraper Kid One, Watcher One, Barfly Four | Krystle PiamonteThird Drowned, Jaz, Señora Hernandez, Ohlone Voice Two, Scraper Kid Three, Watcher Three, Ra’ja, Yasmine | Edna Mira RaiaLuis Mendoza, Mariner One, Alexi Tsongas, Mister Kincaide, Alfonzo, Scraper Kid Two, Watcher Two, Valtteri Lahti | Lluis VallsHappy DuBois | Patrick SimmsWrittren by Nicole GlucksternSound Designer | Cliff CaruthersDirected by Nicole GlucksternAudio Engineer | Patrick Simms
C ARTS | C venues | C digital
portal – on demand
The Gas Station at the Edge of the Universe follows Sawyer, a recent university graduate, as they return to their hometown in rural northern Canada. After reuniting with their childhood best friend Casey, it becomes clear that something is amiss as masked creatures start seeking them out, threatening both their relationship and their lives. As their once familiar hometown becomes unrecognizable, the two must learn to forgive and let go before they lose themselves to their crumbling realities.
Venue 13
Main Space
Spurs and Scotland star John White was one of the best footballers of the 1960s. However, in July 1964, aged 27, he was struck by lightning and killed. From humble beginnings growing up outside Edinburgh, through to football fame and his tragic death, this play shares John's cheeky humour. It also follows the story of his son Rob White, just five months old when his dad died. Loved by audiences and critics, this unique tale of nostalgia shines a deeply personal perspective on grief, life growing up without a father and male mental health.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
The Girls Who Made Us is a tribute to the women who shaped us. After the loss of Auntie Jane, five girls discover a box of memories revealing how Jane met each of their mothers and the lifelong bonds they formed. Through multi-rolling, the performers bring to life their mothers' journeys and how they lend themselves to resilience, sacrifice and identity. As past and present intertwine, the girls confront what it means to grow up as women today. This heartfelt play celebrates survival, friendship and the quiet victories that define who we become.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Deep in the vaults of the Vatican lies the Chronovisor: a mysterious "camera" that allows the past, present and future to be seen... even if the future isn't quite what they had been promised! The doubting and alcoholic Father McGill, straight-laced Sister Agatha, and their hapless new recruit Father Samuel embark on the adventure of a lifetime. It's off to Edinburgh for them, to stop an evil, world-ending Witchy-woo. Leave your common sense at the door, because they have the dead people of the village to contend with. That's right: the village people...
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A lively musical play telling the true story of the Grant family of Rothes, founders of the world-renowned Glen Grant distillery. From illicit distilling and family enterprise to innovation and global success, the show blends history, humour and song. Performed by a community cast, it celebrates Speyside life, whisky heritage and the bonds of family, bringing local voices and lived experience to the stage with warmth, pride and a generous measure of spirit. Perfect for Fringe audiences seeking authentic Scottish storytelling, music, laughter and heart, rooted in real people and place.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Alba Theatre
Fitzgerald’s classic is re-imagined for the Edinburgh Fringe in a bold, multi-perspective adaptation that shatters the myth of the American Dream. Told through shifting viewpoints, the story unfolds in dynamic vignettes seamlessly stitched together. An immersive party atmosphere give ways to moments of raw intimacy, revealing the contradictions, illusions and social barriers that drive – and destroy – its characters. As desire, wealth and identity collide, the pace builds relentlessly toward the devastating deaths of three central figures, exposing the true cost of dreaming too big.CastJay Gatsby | Oliver GardnerNick Carraway | Dale BarrellDaisy Buchanan | Alice RylandTom Buchanan | Ricky BevinsJordan Baker | Georgia ToutMyrtle Wilson | Chloe Porter-TwiggGeorge Wilson | Samuel JoliffeMeyer Wolfshiem | Fran McAteerKey supporting roles | Lucy Egan and Chloe TaylorWritten by | F.Scott FitzgeraldAdapted, Directed and Produced by | Sophie KeyLighting Designed by | Ruairi McNultyAssistant Directors | Clare Chesworth and Summer WaliaChoreographed by | Charlotte ThompsonStage Manager by | Jess GioiaAssistant Stage Manager | Claire Ilettwww.keyplayerstheatre.co.ukfacebook.com/keyplayersfarnhaminstagram.com/key_players
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Draw your quills, sharpen your wits and polish your pickaxes for the Great Shakespeare Showdown! Cheer, hiss and boo with the silver miners of Leadville, Colorado through this highfalutin verbal duel as the acclaimed Shakespeareans and renowned thespians, England’s Sir Charles GoodKnight and America’s Mrs. Twelvetrees, do battle using Shakespeare’s own words to be crowned The Wild West’s Best Bard 1882.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
August 1963. One train. £2.6 million. And a plan bold enough to change British criminal history forever. A gang of ordinary men attempt an extraordinary heist, stopping the Glasgow to London mail train and vanishing with a fortune. What follows is ambition at full tilt: The Great Train Robbery hurtles through a high-speed, anarchic retelling of Britain’s most infamous heist, and the moment a perfect plan begins to fracture. KCS Theatre Co’s signature blend of razor-sharp realism and cinematic stylisation powers this super-slick, swinging 60s, inventive comedy-thriller. All aboard for the heist of the century!x.com/dramakcsfacebook.com/KCSTheatreCoinstagram.com/kcstheatreco/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Six actors. Dozens of characters. One dragon. Adventure awaits in this bold, imaginative adaptation of The Hobbit, authorized by Middle-earth Enterprises. With only six actors, a few props and limitless creativity, Tolkien's epic tale springs to life through inventive staging, physical storytelling and playful theatrical magic. The ensemble transforms into trolls, elves, goblins, eagles and Smaug, the dragon, as Bilbo Baggins leaves the comfort of the Shire and discovers courage he never knew he had. Fast-paced, funny, filled with surprises, the production uses movement, lights and shadows, puppetry and imagination to create a world larger than the stage.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Hollowed: a state of passive depletion. We earn and spend under the guise of normalcy, yet when balance falters, we slip into a hollowed existence. Society, wealth, space and freedom fade into the nihility of a mirror’s image. Pray to God? Who is the devil? Even the divine is emptied by human arrogance. Autonomy is our birthright. Let us strip away the layers of self and confront the demons hollowing us from within. As the void burns to ashes, we rise through the fire to reclaim our spiritual freedom.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Horse That Jumped at the Moon (formerly Boat Horse) is an exciting and funny musical romp through the days of the horse drawn boats on the English canals. John and Molly Swift (played by real canal boat people) tell the story of Tommy, the horse that hated the moon, and other tales, through original music, poetry and puppetry. It's fast paced, funny, poignant and highly entertaining. 'One of this year's sparkling gems. Singalong choruses, make sure you catch it' (SidmouthHerald.co.uk).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
17 - 22 AugMegan and Deborah live alone on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales. What was once their home has now become their only refuge from an increasingly dangerous outside world. They have their farm, their food and each other. But when their fragile harmony is sent into a dark, downward spiral, the cost of survival is chillingly laid bare. Kitchen sink drama meets post-apocalyptic horror, The Hunger is about morality and motherhood at the end of the world.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
07 - 15 AugMegan and Deborah live alone on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales. What was once their home has now become their only refuge from an increasingly dangerous outside world. They have their farm, their food and each other. But when their fragile harmony is sent into a dark, downward spiral, the cost of survival is chillingly laid bare. Kitchen sink drama meets post-apocalyptic horror, The Hunger is about morality and motherhood at the end of the world.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A satire comedy about a wealthy eccentric, Argan, with delusions of illness. His greed for answers has led to him arranging his daughter, Angelique, to marry a doctor to selfishly fuel this obsession, whilst she pines for her true love. Hilarity ensues as Argan's family and his witty maid attempt to guide him to see reason as he falls further into his hypochondria due to a capitalistic healthcare system feeding his fantasies. Will Argan break away from his wife? Will Angelique end up with her true love? Or will Argan succumb to his hallucinations?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
"It’s growing. It’s heavy. It’s angry. And it’s about to come out." A teenage girl has something growing inside her. She doesn't know what it is but she knows it's not a baby. It expands. It has claws. Eventually, it takes over her entire body. No one must know about it. But she can't contain it forever. Sooner or later something's got to give... This surreal psychological thriller viscerally explores the teenage mental health crisis. Blending sharp social commentary with heightened storytelling, The IT captures the internal rage of a generation pushed to the brink.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Insanity of Mary Girard tells the haunting true story of a Philadelphia woman committed to an asylum by her husband in 1790. Inside, ghostly furies from her past accuse and torment her as memory and reality blur. The play exposes the cruelty and psychological abuse of early mental institutions, revealing how women could be silenced and labelled mad for defying societal norms. This gripping drama confronts injustice, power and the devastating cost of being unheard.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Inspired by the strange world of Netherlandish proverbs, The Inverted Realm is a visually driven psychological drama where illusion distorts reality and nothing is quite as it seems. As lost souls move through a world of absurdity, faith, self-deception and inner conflict, the play explores how people become trapped in patterns of thought they cannot see. Surreal, intimate and unsettling, this is a theatrical journey through human folly towards the possibility of hope.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Early 1570s. Some years before Shakespeare. Commedia dell' Arte's combination of mask, comedy, wild plots, hilarious improvisation and women performing on stage is taking Europe by storm. Queen Elizabeth I insists on seeing the Italian players at her royal court. Following their success at the 2024 Fringe, the Italians are back in an adaptation of Flaminio Scala's canovaccio, The Jealous Old Man, featuring a ten-strong troupe, leather half masks, exquisite costumes, live music and four-part harmony. 'A rare chance to see such work done this well' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). ***** (GetYourCoatsOn.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
17 - 29 AugFive years after splitting, former comedy duo Sid and Larry reunite at the 1980 Edinburgh Fringe. One's a star, the other's failing. Before Larry takes the stage, old truths threaten to steal the spotlight...
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
07 - 15 Aug1960s. Two comedians meet at the Fringe. They discuss...things.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Who is the king of all birds? This tongue-in-cheek gig for voice and vocoder by award-winning sound artist Martha Knight is a love letter to the history of flight. Based on the phenomenon of aerial photos being displayed in Irish homes from the 1960s, the one-woman play expands this story to include explorations of ancient mythological birds, bringing us to the present, where airplanes and satellites rule the sky. Conjuring tales through traditional Irish music, using live electronics and effects to bring the ancient Irish tradition of song into the present day. **** (Irish Times).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Three sisters pack up their deceased mother's house during a thunderstorm. They discover an ancient story that is close to home and has resonance with their childhoods. Together, all three, reluctantly confront the past and – with the help of another figure in the room – reconcile the future.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
A darkly comic, present-day battle of wits, of the sexes, and of Shakespearean bonafides. The Fool, a self-made "scholar," clings to the Bard for relevance, until a stranger refuses to stay polite and the room tips into an absurd cage match. In 2026, when whose voice is heard is still a question, this show makes the classics feel urgent and hilariously combustible. Fast, physical and sharp. Come for the comedy, stay for the moment you realise you’re part of the argument. When the text is stripped bare, what humanity is left glowing beneath?
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
One man, one garden, one last day. On his last day in Blackpool before the waves take it away, Ted, an old-timer with a big heart, recalls the stories and people who made his beloved community garden so special. This new play, written and performed by acclaimed poet Nathan Parker, is full of love, hope and heartbreak as it celebrates community spirit and shines a light on the reality of climate change for seaside towns. This evocative story will leave you feeling inspired, moved and ready to change the world! 'Brilliant, emotional, powerful' (Audience Review).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
The Last Audition. A once-celebrated Shakespearean actor returns to an empty stage to rehearse King Lear and prove he can still live independently. As memory falters, voices from his past intrude, turning rehearsal into reckoning. Darkly funny and deeply moving, this intimate solo play explores ageing, caregiving, legacy and the courage to keep stepping into the light. European Premiere. Written and performed by international actor Paul Shearman, it blends Shakespeare with contemporary storytelling and emotional truth, resonating with audiences across generations. Perfect for Fringe-goers seeking powerful, human theatre.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
In a land where music has been losing its ground in the dreary desert of despair, a voice arrives with latent promise. Among the mysterious world of mythical sea creatures, guardians of ancient secrets and enticingly melodic voices, one soul discovers that compassion can ripple through even the deepest darkness. As destiny intertwines beneath moonlit waves, the courage of a single human being heals old wounds and awakens lost dreams. This play is a journey through pain, love and redemption, reminding us that even one heart, steadfast in hope, can transform the entire world.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
1914. The Great War rages. Britain recruits 30,000 Bantams, men between five-foot and five-foot-three to fight in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. 1918. A group of reporters visit the Front to write about the Bantams. One Bantam remains, Patrick Michael Wolfe, a Dubliner who signed up to secure Home Rule for Ireland. This is his story. A story about patriotism, prejudice, courage and betrayal. Inspired by real events. 'A perfect example of the great Irish storyteller' ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'Excellent' ***** (UKTW.co.uk). 'Giant of a show' ***** (Derek Awards).
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
Join Liz, on her last morning at number 10, in an exploration – equally comic and tragic – of the tensions in politics: between ambition and ability, vision and reality, going short and playing it long. Can a fighter ever quit? This award-winning production (Emma Wilkinson Wright, Best Actor, London Pub Theatres Awards 2025) comes to Edinburgh after a West End Transfer to London at The Other Palace Theatre in March 2026.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
This new play begins with a declining Trump watching the results of the 2028 US election. Yes, it’s set in the future. The Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff is concerned and engages White-House-intern-cum-Chief-of-Staff Morgan to keep Trump occupied developing his Presidential Library. But the library project reinvigorates Trump and fate hands him a chance to achieve the dictatorial status. Will fate intervene for the liberals? Less a partisan political hit-job than a farce about unintended consequences, this uproarious play explores how we all would love to be a dictator.CastCarly McCann | Morgan VaughnJohn Smeathers | General ReeseKitty Ball | Carla HeartConnor Cunningham | Donald TrumpCreated, Directed and Produced by Eoin Carneyfacebook.com/trumplastdaysinstagram.com/trumplastdays/tiktok.com/@trumplastdays
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
When a university student is found dead in her flat, there are no signs of forced entry. No strangers. No one else who could have done it. The only suspects are the three girls who were with her that night – her closest friends. Exploring sisterhood, loyalty and the complicated reality of female friendship – where love and resentment can exist side by side. Because if it wasn’t a stranger, it had to be one of them.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
A once-proud mariachi singer confronts his life's final chapter with nothing but his voice and a lifetime of memories. Through beloved Mexican songs and intimate monologues, he reflects on the woman he lost, the paths he chose, and the quiet that now surrounds him. Past and present blur, music becomes confession and comfort. Haunting, humorous, and deeply moving, The Last Song is a meditation on love, regret, and the stories we carry with us long after the music fades. It asks what remains when the applause ends, and whether one final song can say everything left unsaid.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Dunedin Theatre
Who are the people on the subway? What lies beneath the surface? Every person has a story, and they all connect. Through shared glances, communal frustrations, spontaneous decisions and unexpected intersections, this group of New Yorkers slowly realise they are more than just strangers on a train. Beneath the city streets, this will be no mere commute but a journey of discovery and shared humanity.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
A reading that you participate in! All audience members enjoy four craft cocktails designed to match each act of the show. Brave volunteers will become part of the cast and read the script with us! Join for a night of laughs, drinks, and appreciating the little things. Story: Chartreuse is a real-life liquor that only two monks know how to make. When Mike finds one dying in the woods and is given the only known copy of the recipe, he has to decide if he can return it to the monastery or die trying.
Cask and Vine
Cellar Tasting Room
Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this staged production of The Little Prince explores growing up, opening one's heart and discovering the true meaning of love. Travelling from planet to planet, the Little Prince encounters vanity, loneliness, ambition and absurdity – reflections of the adult world seen through a child's clear and questioning gaze. Each meeting brings him closer to a simple but profound truth: to care for someone is to accept responsibility for them. Through distance, wonder and longing, he learns that love is neither possession nor perfection.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
In this deeply personal and universally relatable piece, Deborah Unger (Gotham, Orange Is The New Black) invites audiences into the lifelong battle and posthumous reconciliation with her mother. Blending humour and heartbreak, pathos and poignancy, Unger’s journey explores the unspoken dynamics of mother-daughter relationships. Mom gets to tell her side of the relationship as well, albeit from the grave, transforming the play into a moving meditation on love, understanding and letting go. 'A tender and joyful evening full of discovery and celebration' (TheFrontRowCenter.com).
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
This eerie, supernatural play rooted in Appalachian folklore, tells the story of two sisters, Bun and Gowdie, who live alone in the woods of Clinch Mountain, Virginia. On St John’s Day, the longest day of the year, fourteen-year-old Gowdie is newly tempted and enamored by the charms of the seductive Love Talker and the impish Red Head. Meanwhile, Bun fights to protect her younger sister from their spells but unwittingly finds herself caught up in their magic. Despite the resistance, both spirits are determined to lead the sisters into earthly awakenings, madness and betrayal.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Can two people be together if they always say exactly what’s on their mind? That’s the question in this smutty but sweet film noir comedy for the stage. A private investigator can’t keep his thoughts, including his fantasies about the dames that come to his office, to himself. His poker game has gone to shit. Could there be someone out there for him in this ramshackle world of gumshoes, gangsters and broken promises? It will be a night of cynicism, femme fatales, musings on gaydar and the benefits of smoking, and general perversion.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A romantic tragicomedy following lonely teenagers who meet on New Year’s Eve in an online roleplay chatroom. May is May. Perry is British actor Matt Smith. Their conversation that night, unexpectedly intimate, forms a bond between the two: they become each other’s best friend, confidant, and lifeline through the turmoil's of adolescence. That is, until “real life” intrudes...
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Charlotte comes from a world of castles and court jesters, full of adventure and excitement. Except none of it is real. It’s a best-selling novel written by Margot, an up-and-coming author just out of grad school, with Charlotte as the main character. But when Margot and Charlotte can’t agree on the plot of the sequel, they find themselves in therapy with Vivian, a couples therapist. The Next Chapter follows Margot and Charlotte in their therapy session as they troubleshoot ideas for a sequel and find themselves learning about growth, taking risks and learning how to move on.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
A gripping, cinematic and award-winning solo thriller about a man who becomes dangerously out of his depth in the criminal underworld. Ali is wanted dead by a vicious London gangster and is placed under police surveillance for the protection of himself and his family, yet for some reason, Ali decides to sneak out into the night, sparking a bloody domino effect that ricochets through the sleepy streets of his city. Through the accounts of Ali, a henchman, a detective, and a mob boss, find out what on earth happened on the Night Ali Died.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
A boy jumps from a thirty-foot oak tree and survives unmarked. It's the first day of the evangelical summer festival, The Orchard, and newcomer Lucas immediately makes an impression among the other children. The younger kids believe he’s a miracle maker. But Benji is the pastor’s son, and he won’t give up his assumed leadership easily. Meanwhile eldest girl, Ruth, isn’t sure that what Lucas is doing are acts of God. But as the "miracles" grow in extremity, so too does Lucas’s influence.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
(Mon 10-Sun 23 Aug) The greatest stories have always opened our eyes, pricked our ears and loosened our tongues; not easy when the chaos makes us want to bury our heads. When faced with injustice, oppression and tyranny how long can we afford compliance? How long do we excuse the beast once it has learned to bite? Two traditional storytellers rally myths, legends and folk songs in this rousing call to arms. Now is the time to pull our heads from the sand, look darkness in the eye and make a stand.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Painted Revolutionary is a new political satire where political concepts are (strange, deeply flawed and unrelenting) people. Struggle lives amongst words in her bookshop with Order popping by to make sure she's well and in check. But something's about to happen that hasn't occurred in years – Struggle will have an audience and a burden of responsibility. Bringing change won’t be easy and with a host of complicated concepts and characters, will it be worth it?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus are recreated in this moving, memorable and ultimately joyful retelling of the Easter story, through monologue and song. Told from the perspectives of Peter, Mary Magdalene and a Roman centurion named Marcus, this powerful contemporary drama leads us up to and through the events of Holy Week, to the cross and beyond. 'A very moving and beautiful portrayal of the most amazing story in history. Phenomenal performers!' 'Absolutely mesmerising. Really helped me get into the characters of the people involved – who represent us all really' (Audience reviews).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
The People in Our Lives is a one-man show written and performed by Jack Palmer. Making his Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2026, Jack Palmer takes on the role of Jason McDonald, who is the landlord of The Golden Ball. After a raucous night at the bar, Jason reflects upon what has brought him to where he is in life today. Despite losing his way after his dad's death and his mum's multiple convictions, Jason finds himself again as a pub landlord and reunites with his childhood sweetheart, proving that life can always be turned around.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
5th November. 1605. London. A plot foiled. A trial imminent. A story rewritten. Two brothers stand accused of high treason for a plot they bet their lives to pull off, and on the other side of the Thames, a playwright weaves their story into a new masterpiece to save his own skin. The Plot is a show about the power of great stories, those who wield them, and the imagination. It is the fourth show by Emma Howlett with her company theatregoose, makers of consecutive Fringe hits Aether, Sisters Three and Her Green Hell.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
Prepare for the end... If you can afford it. Kaia and Adam win a bizarre lottery and move into The Pod – a doomsday bunker that might jettison into space when the world ends in eight minutes and 19 seconds. Unless it doesn't, in which case the countdown will reset until it does finally end! The Pod is an LGBTQIA+ led absurd comedy play about grief, the state of the world and the importance of human connection.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
How will history remember you? As the person you are or, the person you want to be? It’s 1939 and Philomena is on her way from Dublin to London to join the British war effort. But can she live true to the poet inside her when she is constantly being defined by her role in the war? Philomena is a poignant and funny solo play, infused with poetry and inspired by the true stories of Irish nurses in WWII. 'Charming, funny, soulful and heartfelt' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (TheWeeReview.com). ***** (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk). ***** (TheatreAndArtReviews.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Dystopia or utopia? You decide. This episodic play follows the consequences of power and desire in modern day Britain. It starts at the top and trickles down, each player a servant and master, with no care who is beneath them. A spa, a salon, a hairdressers' and a bedroom. Six people climbing the social ladder and stepping on fingers as they go. If you wanted something, what would you do, who would you hurt, to get it?
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
The play is a camp workplace comedy set in a celestial bureaucracy where pop divas are treated as religious figures. When a rogue employee accidentally merges the religions of three modern pop icons, the department must deal with the chaos of creating an entirely new faith before it spreads to Earth.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Problem With Kate Winslet’s Dress is a witty and heartfelt theatre piece exploring life through the lens of cinema. Inspired by iconic films and television, the show reflects on love, loss, self-discovery and the expectations movies place on our lives. Blending humour, nostalgia and music, it celebrates storytelling and those moments when reality feels nothing like the movies – and the surprising times when it feels exactly like one. Warm, playful and deeply human, this show invites audiences on a joyful, cinematic journey.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
August, a young waiter at a failing family-run restaurant is tasked with organizing a marriage proposal for the owner's wealthy nephew. However, the plan is disrupted when Sally Clief – the nephew’s former wife, posing as his future bride – arrives determined to sabotage the proposal. Caught between loyalty, ambition and moral responsibility, August agrees to help Sally stop the proposal, unaware that her intentions escalate toward revenge.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
This sharp, playful comedy follows a delightfully miswired mind as it attempts to navigate… well everything. From conversations that de-rail like running trains, to plans that mutate to entirely new plans mid-sentence, The Quiet Between is a chaotic celebration of an unconventional mind. As the actors bounce off each other, sometimes in harmony and sometimes with spectacular confusion this performance is not for the faint-hearted. Come and watch this fast, funny and unpredictable piece of theatre and join us on the journey of a lifetime.Created And Performed by | Rhys Bloy and Sophie Methuen-TurnerWritten by | Michael MolloyThanks | C venues, The Working Actor and Murder Actually.facebook.com/theworkingactor/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
No bombs. No witnesses. No one looking back. A place suspended after war, where time stretches and everything slowly disappears. In this fragile stillness, a boy takes shape – gradually, almost imperceptibly – formed by absence, silence, and what remains unspoken. Without recognition, without resistance, his sense of self begins to shift. And within this quiet, something else starts to emerge: a subtle, unsettling proximity to violence. A solo performance where text and body collide.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
In the cutthroat world of a 2000s fashion empire, a pair of red-hot shoes becomes the driving force behind a young girl’s dazzling yet dangerous decline. As she navigates regret born of temptation and uncontrollable power, the shoes cling to her with a pulse of their own, tightening as she weakens. Each strut thrusts her deeper into a labyrinth of vanity, manipulation and sacrifice. Her spirit soon shatters as she discovers that the only thing more frightening than the shoes themselves, are the price they demand...
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Summer 2025, and Mackenzie Millar has spent three years at University hiding the fact that he’s on a scholarship and pretending he went to Eton. It’s all going to plan until his Dad turns up to his graduation with two tickets to the reunion of Oasis. The only problem is that it’s two days away and at the opposite end of the country. Their hitchhiking journey from England to Scotland will force both father and son to recognise what that means, and what it is to be working-class in a modern world.Written and Directed by | Grant MacIverProduced by | Megan Brannigan Vazquezinstagram.com/gagglehousetheatreco/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
The Seat of Me is a raw, intimate one-woman show about memory, identity and the moments that shape us. With just a chair, a few symbolic objects and fragments of Edith Piaf’s music, Giulia retraces a journey from Rome to New York to Los Angeles – through ballet, vanished mentors, an immigration scare at LAX and an unexpected love story – to ask: what happens when we finally sit with our past so we can stand in our life?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
One man’s decision determines the fate of the family. Where they’ll live, who they’ll interact with, what they’ll believe… The patriarchal idea that the father is the head of the home, while the system below him, never equal in standing nor given equal respect, suffers on behalf of his decisions. What happens when decisions go too far and we neglect the individual identities of our children? Through Suraya’s life we explore the inherited burden and what it means to carry it. One woman. Four characters. A journey into family dynamics and how they affect us…
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Three sisters. One lie. What's the worst that could happen? Besides, don’t you feel like every time you blink, there’s a new Skarsgård actor on the scene...? Follow the adventures of three ordinary girls as they stumble headfirst into the disorderly world of fame, and transform themselves from nobodies to global superstars. The Skarsgård Effect is a comedy about hubris, nepotism, AI deepfakes and what happens when you lie too close to the sun. It’s a love-letter to the paradoxical world of the performing arts and the fantastic Skarsgård family.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Hidden within the old Dick Vet School lies a clandestine tavern where Edinburgh's rogue doctors and veterinarians gather. Surrounded by animal skulls and illicit research, you are invited into the medical underground's inner circle. Sign the ledger and swear a binding oath of secrecy before being administered two potent, gin-based trials. From an eerie tonic designed to stir the senses to a controversial elixir inspired by bizarre early-century surgical grafts, this immersive experience blends local history with forbidden anatomy.
Summerhall Festival
Summerhall Lobby
On the morning of February 8, 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots enters the great hall where she'll soon be executed for treason. There she meets Barnaby Fulke, an enigmatic actor sent to provide merriment before the chop. With one last chance to set the record straight, Mary stages her story, revisiting the spies, secrets and betrayals that sealed her fate. Secret codes, espionage and treason propel this gripping three-hander through Scotland’s turbulent past. But history isn’t always written until the last act and in the life of Mary, there is still one final scene left to play.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
The world moved on from the OceanGate Titan sub implosion. Captain* Sophie Smyth hasn't (rip). Armed with laptop, Logitech F710 controller and autism, she's spent three years (and counting!) diving deeper and deeper, descending the depths of the internet and herself. A dark multimedia comedy about neurodivergence, mortality and the risk/reward of going too far. *self-declared
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Deacon Brodie isn't that well known outside of Edinburgh. Yet he inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Jekyll and Hyde. Similarly, Stanley isn't that well known outside of Stockport. Yet he's campaigned with Napoleon and been up Everest with Mallory. Maybe. Perhaps. By day, in the 18th century, Deacon Brodie was a respectable cabinetmaker. By night, he was a masked burglar in Edinburgh's Old Town. Against his will, Stanley gets roped into his escapades. And he could flipping well swing for it. A public hanging!
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Inspired by the book Novas Cartas Portuguesas, this original play tells the story of three Portuguese women who challenged a dictatorship with words, courage and conviction. Maria Teresa Horta, Maria Isabel Barreno and Maria Velho da Costa risked everything for freedom of expression, sparking a trial that echoed worldwide. Voices Collective Company brings their story to life through theatre, poetry and contemporary performance, exploring resistance, friendship and the ongoing struggle for women’s voices to be heard. Performed in English, this bold, timely production reflects on artistic freedom, feminist courage and the power of language across generations.
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Studio
This world premiere comedy play spotlights a pivotal moment in Scottish football history through the eyes of two great adversaries, as David Narey confronts his nemesis Jimmy Hill, the Englishman who notoriously described Narey's glorious 1982 World Cup goal against Brazil as 'a toe poke.' Can legendary commentator Archie McPherson broker a resolution to one of football’s longest-running feuds? Spanning Scotland’s World Cup matches against Brazil in 1982, 1998 and 2026, The Toe Poke captures the triumph and despair of the Tartan Army as their team battle the world’s best team and the biased English media.
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Committee Room
A broken fairy tale for broken people. In a whimsical land of broken toys, Magnus Coffinkey must fix a bell atop an impossibly high spire. Success will make his wish come true. The price of failure is a permanently broken heart. Funny, honest and deeply devastating, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is a dark fairy tale where the power of storytelling is used to make sense of great personal trauma. Outstanding Theatre Award at Brighton Fringe, 2024. 'Sublime. Heart-wrenching. Perfect' ***** (TheReviewsHub.com).
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Stevie’s finally landed her big break, but her jealous boyfriend isn’t thrilled about her performing sex scenes on stage. In an effort to ease tensions, she arranges a meeting between him, her co-star, and her intensely uninhibited intimacy coordinator. What begins as reassurance quickly spirals as boundaries blur, egos clash, and personal and professional lines tangle. As tensions rise, Stevie is forced to ask: what would she sacrifice for true intimacy?
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A therapeutic unravelling in four sessions. 'Oh God, you know I don't do this self-analysis thing very well.' Through imagined conversations with a therapist, Keir Starmer grapples with the transformation from respected lawyer to national leader – finally ending up in a present-day crisis. What went wrong? And is it solvable? This is a wryly comic look at a political unravelling of frankly criminal proportions.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Pigeon Patter Productions presents their debut show The Unwilling Accomplice. A horror comedy, following two sisters – Riley a serial killer, Emily her unwilling accomplice. We step into their world as cracks begin to form and the sisters learn that sometimes family shouldn’t be forever... This show tackles the difficulties that come when you can no longer rely on the few people you grew up with, and we ask the question of whether blood relation should be held sacred if all it's doing is poisoning your life.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A ground-breaking play by Eve Ensler, this internationally-celebrated work gives voice to women’s experiences with honesty, humour and unflinching courage. Through a series of powerful, intimate monologues, stories of love, sexuality, identity, violence, joy and resilience are brought vividly to life. Hilarious, shocking and deeply moving, this bold production invites audiences to listen, reflect and celebrate the strength and complexity of women’s lives. Raw, empowering and unapologetic, it remains as urgent and relevant today as when it first electrified audiences around the world. Don't miss The Vagina Monologues – six performances only!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Vampire of Rio is a 40-minute psychological thriller solo-show starring Haysam Ali and directed by Jenn O'Brien. A forensic psychiatrist evaluates the mental sanity of a serial killer at the request of the courts to determine whether he can be held accountable for his 13 violent crimes against young boys. Inspired by the true story of Marcelo Costa de Andrade, the play draws upon real dialogues and interviews conducted with Marcelo, delving into the darkest depth of the mind of a schizophrenic, psychopathic murderer.
Rotunda Theatre, George Heriot's School
Squeak
The Wedding Date is an intimate two-hander about best friends Iris and Selena navigating singlehood, love and adulthood. With the audience as wedding guests, secrets surface and friendships fracture. Relatable for anyone in their twenties, it explores life living in London, the financial and emotional struggles no one talks about and the pressure to do “the right thing”. Society convinces us that the centre of our puzzle is a romantic partner – and without one we are incomplete. This show is a love letter to single people and friendships.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
The folks that produced Osgood and Kelpie now bring you more tales from the edge of the land: inspired by the people, legends and landscapes of Wester Ross. Settle back and listen to our stories.
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
A bold, fresh take on Macbeth as a pagan ritual, in which three immortal witches enchant an unsuspecting man to become the bloody Thane. This innovative production mashes the glorious text of the Shakespeare classic with a 4000-year-old Sumerian epic poem, recasting Macbeth as a sacrificial king. You'll be on the edge of your seat as the immortals lead Macbeth to the heights of power, then use his own dark impulses to destroy him. The ensemble of four actors brings all the roles to life in this fast-paced, spellbinding show. An age-old drama made startlingly new.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
She is alive... but trapped! In a pristine gallery, a woman stands inside a glass box watched, commodified and silenced. Over the course of one night, the thief and a janitor collide in a fragile space, between fear and rebellion, when the thief breaks in and vows to free her. As tension builds, so does the question: who is truly imprisoned? Blending poetic physical theatre with raw, intimate realism, it is a haunting dystopian exploration of patriarchy, power and control. It lingers, unsettles and leaves you questioning the systems they accept.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Two siblings dive a shipwreck and decide the fate of their family's seaside nightclub. A live-cinema show about diving, dancing and descendants. Combining live camera work, practical filmmaking, puppetry, and a live score. Following the sell-out run of Bark Bark – **** (Scotsman), **** (Skinny), **** (Fest) – Buzzcut return to Summerhall with a new live animation. Wes Anderson meets Katie Mitchell underwater in this delicate, funny, high-tech spectacle about returning home and diving into your family history.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
This psychological thriller follows Jane, a 19th-century woman suffering from postpartum depression, and her husband John, who prescribes her 'the rest cure', the era’s leading treatment for “female hysteria.” Isolated for months in a room covered in yellow wallpaper, she is forbidden from reading, writing or mental stimulation. To pass the time in her confinement, Jane studies the patterns in the wallpaper and becomes convinced that a woman is trapped within it. Losing her grip on reality, she determines that it is up to her to set this imprisoned figure free.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
This is group therapy. It requires each actor to have a different psychological disorder. The group works well together until a new member arrives and then it doesn’t.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
There Was A Time is a psychologically driven drama that unfolds inside the fractured mind of Dot, a woman haunted by a love she was never brave enough to choose. As past and present collide, Dot revisits her teenage relationship with Stacey – a first love shaped and ultimately destroyed by fear, repression and societal expectation. The play moves fluidly between humor and devastation, realism and abstraction, exploring how memory can both protect and imprison us.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Four people enter a sauna, three walk out. Over an hour, a group of strangers get hotter and hotter. So hot, they start to cook. Coco Cottam's new play Thermodrama measures the costs of a culture of self-improvement on four precarious lives. Following a sell-out run of BLANDY – 'Riotous, visceral and whip-smart' ***** (BingeFringe.com) – Lovelock Productions have taken a room in Summerhall and are going to make it sizzle.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Boys are shaped by the men around them. So what makes a man? It’s Y2K, and a teenage boy has been caught between two very different influences: a volatile father and a gentle Windrush-era grandfather. But when he’s uprooted to a working-class Northern town, he quickly learns the rules - who the hard lads are, what to say on MSN Messenger, and how to be a “proper” lad. Blending vivid storytelling with sharp humour, this nostalgia-drenched autobiographical show explores boyhood, masculinity, and the moments young boys must decide what kind of men they will become.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Last year retired playwright Jonas Müller received a box from an unknown sender. It contained an enormous handwritten book, a pink flash drive and a firm but friendly threat. This is the tale of what happened next. It's also about an elephant named Marcel, but let's not dwell on that. A never-ending tale about unbelievably true stories and the art of honest deception. 'A magical journey into one of the most fascinating experimental theatrical minds at the Fringe' (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'A marvellous invention with Fargo-like claim to truth-telling' (FringeReview.co.uk).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
Convinced his time has come, Jojo invites you to the funniest funeral: his own! Through chaotic conversations with family, friends and therapists, join him on this journey of what it means to die – and most importantly, what it means to live. This dark comedy was originally written for writer-performer Jonas Feind's thesis on the use of playwriting as therapy. It features the voices of many creatives you probably share mutuals with on Instagram and is perfect for fans of comedy, pop culture references and the exploration of mental health.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A woman's mouth speaks faster than thought can follow. A man alone with the voice he cannot silence. A figure in a rocking chair, descending into stillness. Three lives. Three reckonings. Three short plays about people on the edge of catharsis, alone. Together, they form an art-house triptych of extraordinary intimacy and power – spare, beautiful and haunting in its insistence that language might set us free.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
(6-31 Aug: 4:45pm) Returning to venues across Scotland following a critically-acclaimed tour in 2025, National Theatre of Scotland’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show which explores the story of the greatest literary hoax of all time. 1760: Scottish poet James Macpherson sets the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian - but is it built on deceit? 2026: Martin O’Connor questions his own relationship with Scottish culture. Sporrans, stags, and shortbread; do these gift-shop images hold us back or bring us forward? Performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, Through the Shortbread Tin returns to explore the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. A National Theatre of Scotland production. Part of the Made In Scotland Showcase 2026.Written by Martin O'ConnorRemount directed by Joanna BowmanOriginal production directed by Lu Kemp 'Witty and provocative' ★★★★ (Guardian)'A tartan-wrapped gift of a show' ★★★★ (Herald)'Fierce, funny and challenging' ★★★★ (Scotsman) BSL interpreted Tue 25 & Sat 29 Aug.Captioned Thu 13 & Sat 22 Aug.Audio described Fri 14 & Mon 24 Aug.Chilled Thu 20 & Sun 30 Aug.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Tue 18 Aug) Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe, to the venue where it won a Herald Angel Award and built a reputation as a smash hit of modern Scottish theatre, Thunderstruck is the tragic, comic and epic tale of the greatest bagpiper that ever lived. The story of a Pitlochry bin man who rocked tradition, flew beyond the summit of his art and changed Scottish music forever. Whatever notions you have of bagpipes, leave them at the door. 'A stunning, staggering piece of modern Scottish folk theatre' ★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)'Elucidating, charming and rip-roaringly inspirational' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Masterful' ★★★★ (BroadwayWorld.com)★★★★ (Fest)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
17 - 22 AugAfter their professor, Tim Kenneth, suffers a mental breakdown in class, obnoxious prankster Scooter and teacher's pet Pencil embark on an odyssey through New Jersey, saddled by the weight of their own existence and with complicated feelings towards their lecturer. After its sold-out run in New York and debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, this academia-set dark comedy returns, bolder and brighter than before!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
11 - 15 AugAfter their professor, Tim Kenneth, suffers a mental breakdown in class, obnoxious prankster Scooter and teacher's pet Pencil embark on an odyssey through New Jersey, saddled by the weight of their own existence and with complicated feelings towards their lecturer. After its sold-out run in New York and debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, this academia-set dark comedy returns, bolder and brighter than before!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
John Harper and Joseph Ismay. Passengers on the Titanic. A church minister and an executive of the White Star Line. One a branded hero, one a coward. Both have a story to tell and a journey to make. 'A heartfelt and moving tribute to the heroism of the common man, and that the heart of even the richest men can be opened and brought into the light' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'I can hardly pay the author a higher compliment. My penultimate show at Fringe 2023 was an unexpected gem' **** (PlaysInternational.org.uk).
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
As his melanoma worsens, a young husband is forced to reflect on how his wife will have to live and love after his passing. He begins to document his favourite things and advice about his wife for her future lover in his journal. But as the cancer begins to wear on his mental state, the journal delves into the dark nature of jealousy, fidelity and sacrifice.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
One skint actor versus universal credit. What's the worst that can happen? Living off f*cking toast apparently. With the bennys at stake, it's time for their best performance yet: Absolutely Not Angry At All. But the oh-so-polite convos in their best phone voice quickly descend into absurdity and chaos as they try to decide whether it's worth starving for your art after all. A brutally funny show about broken systems, broken artists, and breadstuffs. 'An impeccably written and well-crafted piece from a completely captivating performer. Hilarious and gut-punching! Not one to miss' (Liv Ello, Body Show). Shedload-of-Future Fund 2026 recipient.
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
'Storytelling at its best!' (Playbill.com). Sold-out runs in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This highly awarded, internationally touring, inspirational true story is about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of the arts, and is told with warmth, humour and banjo music! Through donations, including 100% of all artist fees, the show has raised over $1.2 million dollars (CAD) as of December 2025 for various charities, including cancer organisations, music programmes, community groups and artist funding and development. All proceeds from this Edinburgh Fringe run will benefit Summerhall Arts.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Freedom Party leader and founder of the Scots Mission, Big Jimmy, is here to tell you how to keep yur grannies safe and Make Scotland Cis Again! Hilarious, curious and deeply human, Transmission is a darkly comedic, tender-hearted performance by playwright and drag artist Nelly Kelly, exploring Scotland's shift from world-leading on LGBT+ rights, to fertile ground for the anti-trans movement. Blending DIY-cabaret with political theatre, male impersonation and a heap of mischief, Transmission examines how public perception of trans people is shaped – not by trans voices – but by 'single issue' campaigners, political-footballing and media distortion. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Brace the main sails, land ahoy, and shiver me timbers! Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless classic comes to life in this new interactive adaptation. This show is designed to entertain audiences of all ages. Following on from their successful debut with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School returns with their favorite Scottish author's tale of pirates, castaways and hidden gold. A fast paced swashbuckling romp accompanied by music and flashing child-friendly plastic blades. We invite you to set sail and join the adventure! Singing and dancing is optional.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
(Fri 7-Sun 30 Aug) Leaping salmon, fishtail women, mythical raves and sacred springs – these legends celebrate those who question the fixed and find their own flow. Troubled Waters transports audiences into a world where ancient folklore intertwines with contemporary themes. Whether you come for the laughs or the watery wisdom, you'll dip your toes into vital waters and explore what moves beneath the surface. Described by audiences as ‘delicious’, ‘captivating', ‘sexy’ and ‘brilliant’, this storytelling show explores our connection to waterways, wetlands and their inhabitants. 'Genuinely very funny... A masterful storyteller’ (BackstageBristol.com) BSL interpreted Thu 13 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Dr Rose Pratts is a respected GP who spends her days reassuring patients that everything will be fine – despite secretly battling crippling health anxiety herself. Her carefully controlled life begins to unravel when she develops feelings for a much younger junior doctor at the practice. As professional boundaries blur and panic sets in, Rose is forced to confront the one thing she has always avoided: herself. Trust Me, I’m a Doctor is a sharp, warm comedy about anxiety, desire and the terrifying possibility that it’s never too late to change your life.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Hi. Thanks for making time for whatever this is. I suppose it's a theatre show. Perhaps it's an interdisciplinary, interactive, mixed-media piece of performance art. An ambitious, impactful and timely exploration of human connection in the information age. A town hall meeting at the end of the world. A karaoke booth in a nuclear bunker. A clear-the-air chat between you, me and the rest of our plane of existence mates. A thrilling and vital new work from the multi award-winning theatre maker. As voted for audiences at BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG. 'Unmissable' ***** (ToDoList.org.uk).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to find yourself trapped by destiny in an independent bingo hall? So has Jo. Jo’s life has taken a turn for the worse. She’s eighteen, grieving the loss of her mother, and at risk of losing her flat. Through a mix of desperation and a pull of fate, she stumbles into her local bingo hall. As events unfold, Jo is offered a job and becomes part of the hall’s great history. Can she overcome her anxiety, find out the truth and turn her life around?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
Locked in a jury room on a sweltering day, twelve strangers must decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. What begins as an open-and-shut case unravels as one juror dares to question the evidence. Tensions rise, prejudices surface and tempers flare as reason battles bias. Twelve Angry Men is a gripping courtroom drama about justice.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
Sean is an ageing, downtrodden professional rugby player from Wales. When he meets world-famous US soccer star Sophie, they begin an unlikely romance. Can they survive the pressures that come with elite sport? Two Halves offers a window into their private lives as they try to enhance or preserve their own reputations, navigate the cut-throat world of social media, and balance personal ambition with home life expectations. Past secrets are revealed. Mistakes are made. Consequences are inevitable. Integrity, morality, resilience and love are all tested in this tense and explosive relationship drama.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
An ensemble of actors rehearse their new production of James Joyce’s Ulysses, but as they progress through the infamously "impossible to adapt" work, they find the line between text and real life starts to dissolve. A theatrical remix of Joyce’s classic novel in which the voices and humour of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2026 blend with the Dublin of the early 20th-century – the play keeps the heartbeat of the original while layering in contemporary stories to produce a fast-paced, funny and emotionally direct work. Knowledge of the original book is not essential for enjoyment!
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
In 1968, Nottinghamshire housewife Emma Smith traded her kitchen for a coffin. Buried beneath the Skegness seafront in a record breaking attempt, Emma invites us into a subterranean world of Radio Caroline, cream crackers and DH Lawrence. As she battles claustrophobia and public scrutiny, she unearths her past as a Belgian refugee and former nun. Unearthed explores the "everyday housewife's" desperate search for identity. A haunting, gritty portrait of a woman finding freedom in the dark. Previous production, Waiting for Elvis **** (TheWeeReview.com), ‘Life affirming’ ***** (ThreeWeeks).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Set during the smallpox outbreak, the play follows Ali, a young man anxiously waiting at an old harbour for the return of his father, who had left for Bombay, India, to find a cure for his ill wife. Trapped in an endless cycle of waiting, Ali never sees the medicine arrive, and his mother passes away, leaving only her and her husband’s story behind.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
This striking one-woman show blends projection and sound to reveal the inner life of Maggie, an actress recovering from surgery and learning to live with a colostomy bag. While rehearsing for her boyfriend’s adaptation of the myth of Phaethon, their worlds begin to merge. His fall ends in fire; hers becomes a quiet act of self-recognition. Following its debut at the View Festival, and four-star reviews at Central Saint Martins, this is a story of faint, steady courage – the kind of female heroism found in small, honest acts of departure.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
They were supposed to follow the script. They absolutely did not. Verona Nights is a playful ensemble musical comedy, created and performed by nine college artists. Inspired by classic tales of star-crossed love, the show follows rival groups whose loyalties are thrown into chaos when unexpected romance sparks. Through energetic movement, music and storytelling, the ensemble explores the thrill, awkwardness and drama of young love. As friendships shift and emotions escalate, one ordinary night becomes anything but predictable. Because sometimes the person you're supposed to hate turns out to be the one you can't stop thinking about.
Central Hall
Auditorium
A part of the Very trilogy, Very Cheap is a dazzling cabaret-philosophical ride about capitalism and the price of art. Fat and Dumb boldly compare creating art to sex work, exposing how both are shaped by performance, demand and the elusive promise of “authenticity.” With sharp humour and theatrical flair, they explore desire, value, and what it really means to sell yourself in a system that turns talent, emotions, even the body – into a commodity. Playful, biting and deeply relevant, Very Cheap makes you laugh while questioning the cost of creativity in today’s market-driven world.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
A bold, hilarious performance and a key part of Fat and Dumb’s Very trilogy. Stepping into the shoes of Shakespearean fools, they mix clowning, contemporary performance and self-ironic humour to tear apart the fantasy of the artist-genius. With their own bodies and careers as the battleground, they expose stereotypes, ambition, insecurity and the absurd pressures of artistic success. At once playful and brutally honest, Very Funny turns laughter into a tool for reflection – revealing what it really means to create, perform and survive in today’s art world.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
A part of the Very trilogy – a sharp, auto-ironic performance inspired by Schubert’s Winterreise. It takes the form of a 'sit-up' show, because standing up is tiring already. Blending music, brutal honesty and dark humour, the performers explore aging bodies, psychophysical exhaustion, illnesses and the slow comedy of falling apart. Echoing the melancholy journey of Schubert’s song cycle, Very Sad turns vulnerability into punchlines and fatigue into rhythm. It’s intimate, absurd and strangely uplifting: very sad, and therefore very funny.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Through the medium of theatre, David Hare gives a dramatic account of his travels though Israel and Palestine, from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to Gaza and Ramallah. The playwright was given unique access to a range of public and private figures, each with a different perspective on the region and its troubles. The resultant drama draws together these very different voices, exposing the passions and opinions that run deep throughout the region. At the end, like its author, the audience is left wiser but exhausted by the experience.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Voltei, a true story, begins by telling us what it takes for young people to leave their home country, what those big changes are, and the challenges they face. Voltei takes us back to England in 2006, when smartphones weren't yet a thing and YouTube had just become part of our lives. It explores the various social and cultural differences between Portugal and the UK, through various first-hand emigrant stories and through the real impact of Brexit on the decision made by so many to return to their home country. Voltei is interdisciplinary and combines theatre with stand-up comedy.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
March 3, 1960. Elvis is returning to the US after completing his military service in Germany. His flight stops at Prestwick Airport for refuelling. Margaret Rutherford (the definitive Miss Marple) while waiting in the departure lounge for her London flight, meets Elvis fan, Albert, hoping to glimpse the King. 'Quietly moving two-hander imagines a meeting that changed a life' **** (TheWeeReview.com). 'Life affirming' **** (ThreeWeeks). Previous productions Noiseless & Patient, 'Beautiful and lyrical' (FringeGuru.com), and When Kurt Met Thora, ‘As an imagined piece of entertainment folklore, it’s priceless’ (TheStage.co.uk).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Adapted from Elton Lau-Ho Cheung's award-winning script at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, this one-act play begins when a matchmaking agency famed for its "100% success rate" sees two clients abruptly thrown off script. A young man, pressured by family expectations, confesses a long-hidden love for another man. A successful, controlling woman confronts the fracture beneath her perfect marriage. Drawn into a private room, they face interrogation from a mysterious voice that seems to know their secrets. Under the unblinking camera, their social masks crack. Performed in Cantonese with English surtitles.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Michael is waiting for a very important call. But he is continuously distracted from his anxious wait by some uninvited guests: his siblings, who are all arriving at Mike’s apartment to collect pieces of work that Michael “helped” with. Arriving as well is Michael’s adoring neighbour who shares his profession of being a writer, as well as sharing a secret they keep from each other. They fancy one another! Finding out their little brother has a crush on his neighbour, the family members attempt to coach Mike in the mysterious ways of love!
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
In a coastal studio, a portrait takes shape and old roles are redrawn. The talented artist is no longer a woman her children recognise. Her adored son and overlooked daughter are rocked by the change. What washes up when the tide retreats – and what stories vanish with the shifting sands? Waving is a moving and humorous look at the nerve centre of a creative yet destructive family. In Rosalind Philp’s debut play, time and reality blur in a vivid exploration of life, loss and identity.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Where did it all go wrong? Well, it depends who you ask. Close friends Oscar and Ela navigate the fallout of a drunken sexual encounter as their conflicting versions of events are replayed, rewound and re-written against the sensory medley of a wild night out. Olivier and Tony nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX the Musical) directs the world premiere of this distinctly un-romantic dark comedy and 'fascinating exploration' (Daniel Finkelstein, The Times) of the greyest areas of consent and sexual politics.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
The Tartan Army are back! Four friends follow Scotland across the Euros, hauling flags, hangovers and secrets they barely share. Lost tickets, packed stands and late-night pints force moments of honesty. As the team falls short, so do their attempts to ignore drifting friendships, hidden fears and personal struggles. Laughter, arguments and warm cans expose the cracks between them. Turning a football trip into a reckoning with their own lives – where loyalty, fear and the messy truths of adulthood hit harder than any final whistle.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
The world is on the brink. Few can doubt that. But what are any of us really willing to do – or to give – in order to hold back the tide? Charting the course of one all-too-possible 21st-century life, Ruth Gilligan's thrilling, audacious, new play encourages us to think the unthinkable: to save the world as we know it, how much are we each prepared to sacrifice – not just for ourselves, but for those we love? And, what if we fail? Will those sacrifices still then seem worth it?
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
What happens when your supposed "built-in best friend" becomes someone you can't stand? When Celia loses her phone after a night out, it sets off a chain of small, seemingly inconsequential, events that force Celia and Josie to accept their incompatibility. Beginning as a morning-after comedy of errors, the fuse is lit for the play to slowly develop into the unravelling of sisterhood. Through clashing personalities and different life stages, distance creeps in. This funny and honest play begs the question: how well do we understand the people we love, and what happens when we don't?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Stunned by the revelation of her husband's infidelity, Bea feels heartbroken and alone. If only she knew that her neighbours, Sonia, Van and Ian, were each also trying to get over the pain in their hearts, unable to articulate how they feel. Maybe the mysterious Lou can help them? A poignant and uplifting celebration of the power of sad music: 'a subtle and intelligent combination of words, movement and music' (Stage). Performed by five actor-musicians, including the music of Hank Williams, Orange Juice, Etta James, JS Bach and more.
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
Dani, a young and reckless stand-up comedian with endometriosis has everything and nothing going for her all at once. She lives with her childhood BFF Molly, and Jarred her college sweetheart. When Dani is fired from her job, by her influencer, nepo-baby boss Tasha, Dani is forced to attempt to navigate post-graduate life against an unforgiving New York City backdrop. Dani begins to have doubts about her relationship, career and future... She doesn't know what's ahead and she definitely doesn't have control, but one thing she does have is time.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Attention: multiple new occurrences are now confirmed and verified. Healthy citizens must report to their safehouses by sunset and shelter in place. Three ill-equipped wardens keep watch over a makeshift community who must learn to work together. But as the threat outside takes shape, the atmosphere inside begins to turn. A gripping blend of thriller and comedy that pulls you into an immersive world of suspicion, survival and uneasy laughter. With heart-pounding sound design, razor-sharp performances and a daring, darkly funny style, this international cult hit asks: when night falls – who do you trust? ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
In this heart-pulling and comedic play, two lost souls in a constant battle with their self-worth get set up on an awkward blind date. But when the date proves to actually be worth their time, the two are led into a relationship they never expected and an ending they never knew they needed.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
17 - 22 AugIn this laugh-out-loud, award-winning farce, the lights are "opposite" – what’s dark to the characters is fully visible to you. When a burglar breaks into a married couple’s home, long-buried secrets come spilling out. Over one chaotic night, they must outwit the intruder, maintain their compounding lies and somehow save their marriage, all while navigating total darkness. Packed with wild physical comedy, mistaken identities and escalating mayhem, this high-energy comedy keeps audiences laughing from start-to-finish. Winner of the StageCrafts Freeway Circuit Award and Nominee for Hollywood Fringe Best Comedy.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
07 - 15, 24 - 29 AugIn this laugh-out-loud, award-winning farce, the lights are "opposite" – what’s dark to the characters is fully visible to you. When a burglar breaks into a married couple’s home, long-buried secrets come spilling out. Over one chaotic night, they must outwit the intruder, maintain their compounding lies and somehow save their marriage, all while navigating total darkness. Packed with wild physical comedy, mistaken identities and escalating mayhem, this high-energy comedy keeps audiences laughing from start-to-finish. Winner of the StageCrafts Freeway Circuit Award and Nominee for Hollywood Fringe Best Comedy.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
They locked him up. Today he must be heard. Step into the asylum room of poet John Clare as he sings for his freedom. This performance is his one chance to prove himself: to hold onto his name, his past and his sanity. But the recital unravels. Memories and demons swirl around. He’s racing to complete his greatest poem. And he needs your help. English folk and electronics collide in a close up experience where the audience becomes part of the story. A story about identity, the creative spirit and the fight for a voice.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Monday, 9am. Welcome to Last Resort Incorporated! Robin is the newest employee in the office and they’re not sure what’s worse: dealing with the broken printer or their eccentric co-workers. There’s a buzz in the air as Jones’ retirement party grows near... or maybe that’s the sound of flies circling the leftover lasagne. It’s almost time for the employees at Last Resort Inc to reap what they’ve sown or continue to look the other way. A show about capitalism, the stages of grief, and what it takes to break the cycle.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
An original play commissioned by Hungry Wolf Visionary Youth Theatre Company and written by Naomi Denny in collaboration with the young company. As nine young people approach the end of their GCSEs, a celebratory gathering on the beach takes a devastating turn. A singular, defining event inexplicably binds the group, forcing them to grapple questions of collective responsibility and individual guilt. Hungry Wolf VYT represents a new generation of youth theatre. With work both thought provoking and relevant, Hungry Wolf has established a reputation for hard-hitting, truthful and uncompromising material.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Vincent van Gogh died in 1890, John Lennon died in 1980, both of gunshot wounds to the chest. But Imagine what might have happened had they actually met? Five years before their deaths both men underwent profound change. Vincent renounced his religious ambitions and began painting in earnest, creating his greatest masterworks. John renounced sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll for five years seclusion as a family, creating a son, and his last album. Taking place at their exact moment of crisis and decision, this is a spiralling shout of love, death, art and legacy.'Witty, fast-paced and effortlessly engaging’ ***** British Theatre Guide‘An exceptional play with captivating performances’ ***** Theatre and Arts Reviews‘Nuanced, believable performances that bring these icons vividly to life’ ***** Stage Talk MagazineCastJohn Lennon | Nick WilkesVincent Van Gogh | Murray AndrewsWritten and Produced by | Nick WilkesStage Manager | Isla Wilkeswww.malvernbard.inkfacebook.com/WhenVincentMetJohninstagram.com/whenvincentmetjohn/
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
The public and critically acclaimed multi award-winning When We Were Young is back for 2026. This five-star show goes beyond the tabloid stereotype of ‘neds’ to tell a powerful and hilarious story about the realities of gang culture and young team mentality in Glasgow during the 90s. Follow the lives of one of the many young teams who polluted the streets of the city during a time when it was known as the murder capital of Europe.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Written anonymously and first staged in the Renaissance, Swetnam The Woman-Hater, is where the word misogyny comes from. Star-crossed lovers, swordfights and sexism in the 16th century – it has it all. But how could that possibly be relevant today? Come and judge for yourself... The second show brought to you by Cumbrian production company Acting Speaks Louder, creators of Disco, Baby? 'Outstanding' (FringeReview.co.uk). Created and produced by three up-and-coming artists working across music and theatre. If they don’t take the Fringe by storm, at least there'll be plenty of rain when they get home!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Award-winning, five-star production of two one-acts by a Pulitzer Prize winner. The first, a two-hander, captures a pre-dawn hotel room encounter between a couple. The second, a monologue, is set in a Manhattan police station, where a tense interrogation becomes a searching exploration of love, identity and human connection. Distinct in tone yet thematically linked, these plays trace private moments when ordinary lives are tested and reshaped. ‘Tragic themes… superbly acted’ (The Student Newspaper). ‘Stoner gives a superb performance’ (ReviewsHub.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Award-winning, five-star production of a play by a Pulitzer Prize winner. In this compelling monologue, Diane, a successful writer, returns to her Missouri hometown to help her ageing mother. Responding to questions from an unseen local interviewer, she revisits pivotal moments from her past. Written with Wilson’s signature lyricism and emotional clarity, the play explores memory, identity and the moments when lives quietly change course. ‘Perhaps one of the best performances you will see at the Fringe this year’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Incredible’ (Independent).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Join your host, Barry Ruffles, and his glamorous assistant, Jenny Flannel, for a game show like no other! 18 pieces of theatre in 50 minutes; all you have to do is guess the genre, playwright or year to win a speedboat, cuddly toy or a holiday for two on the Isle of Fernando!
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
An original performance piece of real-life loss and grief, Widow delves into subjects often considered too delicate or uncomfortable to tackle. To avoid the isolation that can result from a well-intentioned hands-off approach – for the grieving party and their supporters – Widow instead offers unfiltered perspective into the author's experience. Through longing and laughter, humour and heartache, Widow sheds light on the unique and horrific realities of grief and loss, with insights for the audience on how to navigate trauma for themselves and those they love. Widow helps to connect understanding with grief, building bridges across unspeakable subjects.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Along Highway 401, as you approach Kitchener from Toronto, you will see two notable billboards. One, an icon, an idol and a symbol of home. The other, a distant figure, often passed without a second thought. When Catherine’s car spins out in a snowstorm, she is launched into the world of Schneider and Jesus Saves. She stays at their house, eats wieners with them and listens to their marital problems. Wiener Beacon explores themes of selfishness, greed, love and power and begs the question: What does it take for a giver to start taking?
Venue 13
Main Space
William Street is a gripping drama set in Derry during the height of the Troubles. It follows the O’Shea family, led by Sean, a high-ranking IRA member, whose world is shaken when his wife Patricia reveals a dangerous connection to an English soldier. As tensions rise within the home, their daughter Jane embarks on a secret relationship with a member of the opposing group (the UVF), unaware that he is a target of her brother, Ruairi. Loyalties fracture and trust unravels in this intense story of family, conflict and survival.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Dunedin Theatre
Witches Corner is a comedic socio-political play written by Eilidh Smith with original songs composed by Rona Johnston. Born out of injustice and a burning desire for more female-led storytelling, Witches Corner explores the fear of feminine power and the misogynistic roots of the witch trials. Challenging gender-based stereotypes and asking the question – are women still on trial today? Step into the shoes of both the accuser and the accused. Would you follow the crowd, be a bystander or stand up for what is right? Witches Corner will leave you aching for justice.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
If Donald Trump ever faced the likes of an Abraham Lincoln, wouldn't you want front-row seats? One fateful night in the Lincoln Bedroom, with the 2020 election in the balance, a sleepless Trump encounters a tall lawyer from Illinois. This enigmatic visitor charms and challenges Trump, and finally does what no living person seems capable of doing: wrestling the truth out of Trump. By morning nothing's the same. This moving, insightful and surprising political drama reflects on loss, legacy, hubris and honesty, and presents a cathartic clash you won't want to miss.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
Harper unknowingly slept with her sperm-donor father. After that, nothing was ever quite the same. Making its Edinburgh Fringe debut from New York City, this darkly comic, confessional one-woman show traces that event’s fallout – as shame, grief and reckless desire collide in one woman’s messy, defiant search for love. In a landscape of dating apps, modern polyamory and kink acronyms, boundaries blur and destiny feels algorithm-driven. Raw, funny and unflinchingly honest, Emmy-nominated writer Renwick McAslan asks, in a culture obsessed with connection, why is it still so hard to feel held?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Jack, an aging actor, walks into a pub. Ava, a bartender auditioning, once again, for drama school, pours him a drink. Jack offers to help Ava with her monologues, and the two wend their way through the Shakespeare canon, clashing and connecting as they do. Based on the ineffable Tina Packer's Women of Will, this production charts the way Shakespeare's writing for women changed across his career. Intimate, epic; what emerges is an homage to some of the Bard's heroines, a love song to connection, as they learn to listen to both the text and each other.
Summerhall Festival
The Library Gallery
Returning from the USA, only child John Anthony Gorman (Daredevil, Lioness, Blacklist) clears out his late parents’ home in Glasgow in this autobiographical one-man show. Armed with cardboard boxes, he tackles each room layered with traditions, celebrations and heartache. Between the dust and daft keepsakes, every object sparks a story – from stealing his mum’s diamond earrings to be like David Beckham to pouring his dad's last Guinness. As the house empties, the past grows louder. Blisteringly funny and brutally honest, Woodcutter confronts what we can’t quite pack away while rediscovering what 'home' truly means.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Woyzeck, a soldier who is slowly going mad, tries to make sense of the world around him. Abused by his doctor, suffering class inequalities, religious pressures, and the traumas of war, he is forced into a downward spiral that has violent consequences. A commentary on misogyny, class inequalities, and the effects of war, Woyzeck is a timeless reflection on the need for social change.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Set inside a cramped catering van, Wrap Party lifts the hatch on the film industry. South Londoners Harry and Ollie keep the set fuelled and their dreams brewing, but between A-list demands, surprise inspections and romantic revelations, will they hold it together or go off script? Multi-rolled by two performers, the show blurs performance and reality as friendship and ambition collide. Fast, funny and rooted in real film-set experience, Wrap Party is a comedy about invisible labour, class and behind-the-scenes chaos. Following a sold-out Jack Studio Theatre run, it was nominated for a Standing Ovation Award.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
You Are What You Eat is a comedy about friendship, tenacity and outrageous misadventures that dives into the gritty underbelly of fictional 1970s London through the eyes of two aspiring detectives. In this action-packed adventure, Lewis and Tom find themselves embroiled in a deadly mystery involving corrupt police, a crime boss and the death of a young woman. With the odds stacked high and bullets flying, their only weapons are their wits, awkward heroics, a sarcastic sister and the belief that they might just be the city's last hope. 'Excellent' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
This bilingual play transforms the language barrier into a stage for unlikely encounters: a delayed train reuniting strangers, a Duolingo lesson straining a relationship. Speaking the same words doesn’t always mean understanding one another, for language is more than a communication tool, it's a vessel for identity, memory, and emotion. As we try to bridge the gap between what we say and what we mean, how much gets lost, twisted, or buried? You So blends realism and surrealism to reflect how relationships operate simultaneously in the literal and the emotional – in translation, and in feeling.Written and Performed by | Alexander Wardach and Carolina GarçãoDirected by | César VelascoSet and Costume Design by | Holly SimProjection Design by | Hannah YipProduced by | Bruno Águas and Pedro MonteiroThanks | The BOLD Theatre, The Royal Central School of Speech and Dramainstagram.com/meraki.theatreinstagram.com/_embuscada_
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Three vaguely incompetent gangsters decide to unionise against their tyrannical boss. With the help of a recently graduated, unemployed lawyer, the fight begins to bring about a more stable work environment despite no one knowing what that actually means. But after a failed robbery, personalities clash, loyalties are tested and it becomes clear that forming a union isn't going to be as straightforward as they thought.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Recipient of the 2026 Mary Dick Award. Keron Day is disabled. Dani is his Personal Assistant (not as fancy as it sounds). A touching and funny exploration of how care goes both ways. A world-premiere play with live music from the acclaimed Patch of Blue (Lyn Gardner's Best Theatre of Edinburgh Fringe, Stage) and 3 hearts canvas (SPIN - Best Solo Show of The Fringe, Theatre Weekly).
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Returning to the Fringe, Your Therapist Is Clueless is a comedy theatre show from Nathaniel Tresise, a former front-line mental health worker. Drawing directly from real-life experiences, it weaves stories and unexpected moments of insight, from everyday absurdities to profound connections, formed with clients and colleagues. Set within a mental health service, it offers a unique and deeply human perspective on the highs and lows of front-line care. Through humour and honesty, Nathaniel invites audiences behind the scenes of a system rarely seen on stage. Laugh, reflect and maybe even shed a tear with us.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Astrid Fisher is an influencer who goes from tradwife to trapped-wife when her husband locks her in their attic. She says she’s soooo happy to be up there, but some of her viewers aren’t so convinced. When one of those concerned viewers breaks into the attic to try and rescue her, she is forced to question if the life she’s made as a “traditional woman” is as perfect as she’s always claimed... or if she’s in serious danger.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Bodyswap romcom chaos erupts when Simon, a trans man, and Kevin, a cis man, meet in a gay club and are instantly drawn to each other. Their hookup derails when Kevin realises Simon is trans, but before things turn ugly, a magical twist traps them in each other’s bodies. Forced to navigate insecurities and prejudice, they must work together to reverse the swap - whether they understand each other or not. From the creators of Fckboy - winner of the Binge Fringe Queer Award and The Stagey Best LGBTQ+ Production.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
What happens when a Third Culture Kid ex-teacher stops running and sits in ten days of solitary meditative silence? Follow Lucy (half-English, half-Turkish, raised in Indonesia) as she sheds her teacher skin for the arts, forced to face the void in the process. With a late ADHD diagnosis, Lucy mastered the chameleon art of blending in, but adaptation has a visceral cost: the fawn response. Moving between the classroom and internal chaos, this solo show explores the mirage of insatiable human greed and seeking groundedness externally. A lyrical search for meaning, equanimity and an inner home.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Muse
07 - 15 AugGraham has been the star contestant of a popular gameshow for either 4 or 327 days. Led by a series of violently charming hosts, Graham and the audience compete in a game neither party understands. The tasks are invasive, the stakes mysteriously high and the audience increasingly implicated. Part performance art, part improv show, part ethics inquiry, How to Win a Gameshow blurs the line between performer and audience-rendering everyone subject to scrutiny under the watchful eye of an ever-present, controlling, overarching force.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
17 - 22 AugGraham has been the star contestant of a popular gameshow for either 4 or 327 days. Led by a series of violently charming hosts, Graham and the audience compete in a game neither party understands. The tasks are invasive, the stakes mysteriously high and the audience increasingly implicated. Part performance art, part improv show, part ethics inquiry, How to Win a Gameshow blurs the line between performer and audience-rendering everyone subject to scrutiny under the watchful eye of an ever-present, controlling, overarching force.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Hysterical: Synonym: Over-emotional, deranged. The Brighton, Camden and Lambeth Fringe sell-out show is back! A satirical, educational comedy show exploring the historical views and issues surrounding sexuality and gender. Join the one-person powerhouse performer Callaghan on a journey from the uptight Victorian misunderstandings of female anatomy, to the "debauchery" of sexual pleasure. 'This show is delightful' **** (www.FringeFan.com). 'Everything that needs to be said... but said hilariously'(Wombshine). Developed with the support of Soho Theatre Labs
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
This play is based on the experiences of the playwright who, whilst working in an office between acting jobs, began to question why people get stuck in jobs and relationships they are unhappy in and begin to believe there is no way out. One day she went to lunch, and as she stood in the queue at the bagel shop, she realised she wasn't going back. After ending up in India and getting sober, she began writing the play exploring these themes through the eyes of an angel.
Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters
Maggie's Chamber
17 - 22 AugFive people walk into a room, and only one will make it out alive. 00:45:00 is an experiment that plays out in real time through the lens of a scientist pursuing an answer to the philosophical question: is one person's life more valuable than another's and how can anyone make that decision? This story is about daring those who sit back and watch to do something and exploring what happens when they do.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
24 - 28 AugFive people walk into a room, and only one will make it out alive. 00:45:00 is an experiment that plays out in real time through the lens of a scientist pursuing an answer to the philosophical question: is one person's life more valuable than another's and how can anyone make that decision? This story is about daring those who sit back and watch to do something and exploring what happens when they do.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Sold out in 2025. Back by popular demand. A king. A traitor. A villain. Or was he? Richard III returns to confront the myths that condemned him, challenging Shakespeare’s version of events and putting history itself on trial. In this gripping one-man performance, fact clashes with legend as Richard defends his reign and questions who gets to decide the truth. Provocative, compelling and darkly entertaining, this show asks whether history judged the wrong man. As power, propaganda, legacy and reputation collide on stage, you must decide whether history lied.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
‘1. an empty sky; 2. a girl, missing; 3. a community of collectors; 4. a past, forgotten…’Square Pegs are back with to a brand-new play about memories, tape recordings and the stories we tell to make sense of the impossible. Through unexpected interviews, forgotten fragments and half remembered truths, a town tries to understand an event no one can fully explain. Expect fast-paced, fun-filled ensemble storytelling delivered in Square Pegs’ characteristically sharp, simple and brilliantly absurd style.‘A short spectacular showcase’ ***** (MumbleTheatre.uk)‘Unlike anything I’ve ever seen’ **** (NorthWestEnd.com)The Company | Tae Ballantyne, Freddy Cawdron, Dan Faulkner, Josephine Lloyd, Francesca Odueyungbo, Isabel Riall, Harnek Sahota, Sammy WakayuWritten by | Maddie WakelingDirected by | Tim CokerMovement by | Florrie HarrisTechnician | Kyle ArrowsmithOriginal music | Finn Cokerfacebook.com/macreadysquarepegs
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
No name. No memory. No identity. Where to begin? 49 has been in the room for as long as they can remember. 64 is in the room next door. They can never see each other, but the two can talk and they can pass notes. Who are they? Where are they? And why are they being watched by someone called J. Doe? 113 is a thriller that asks if memory is what makes our identity, and if we were able to see ourselves objectively, could we change?
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Get ready to shake your a$$ and dance ‘til you (hopefully don’t) die. 1518: The Dancing Plague is a satirical comedy based on the very real mass hysteria that led to uncontrollable dancing in medieval Europe. As the city of Strasbourg descends into chaos, two (capital P) Peasants, Katherine and Anna, rekindle their long-fractured romance. Meanwhile, authorities and clergy scramble to contain the mysterious outbreak. The chaos of the plague, both absurd and dire, reveals uncanny parallels to the crises of our modern age. Come join us for a dance party you seriously can’t forget!
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. An era of passion and love, yet also a period of war and unrest. It is a time when AI can assist in almost everything, and yet a time when moral depravity reaches its highest point. Chickenshed Theatre collaborates with ActLoud Theater Shanghai for the first time on a bold new Tales series. This is not a drill – it's an opportunity to hear from young adults as they share their visions of the kind of planet they wish to live in.
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Woodbine Willie was the nickname of the Reverend. Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, who volunteered as a chaplain during WWI. He won the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed the greatest courage and disregard for his own safety and his cheerfulness and endurance had a splendid effect upon all ranks in the trenches. 'This joyful play of overwhelming sincerity and honesty is a moving and heart-warming tribute to Woodbine Willie' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'A resonant experience that manages to find humour and joy amidst the sorrow and grief' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info).
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
London, 1918. When wartime hysteria pillories Oscar Wilde's Salomé for corrupting the nation with homosexuality, Robert Ross – the late author’s literary executor, devoted friend, and "first boy" (or so he believes) – is once again made to defend the legacy he sacrificed his life to protect. As courtroom circus shatters the memories he has spent decades curating, the line between devotion and delusion begins to blur. This is a story about saints who are canonised by love and fools who sacrificed themselves for it. Oxford New Writing Festival runner-up: Best Play.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A fast-paced, funny and tender two-hander following queer drama school students navigating identity, friendship, cultural wounds and the journey to becoming their authentic selves. Set inside the heightened, performative world of drama school, where everyone is acting even when they’re trying not to. As Billy and Elliot stumble through relationships, therapy, family trauma and their own defences, the play explores what happens when you stop performing for approval and start telling the truth. It’s a love story about chosen family, the masks we wear to survive and the courage it takes to finally take them off.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
What does milk have to do with growing up privileged and Asian in America? In his Edinburgh Fringe debut, Kevin Qian shares stories about tasting flesh, private schools, and how his family’s love language is primarily milk. You'll meet the voices in his head and watch him drink so much milk.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
It's 2050. AJ storms forward with a manifesto to save humanity – and he's absolutely certain it's genius. But as he paints a picture of a world run by tech elites, where people live isolated in "bubble houses", producing data and energy, it sounds less visionary and more unhinged. Part clown, part prophet: he's blinded by his own ego. So he turns to the audience to help rebuild it. A sharp, playful reckoning with ambition, self-delusion and our dangerous dependence on technology.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Hello, I’m Daphne Bell. From my left profile I’m shy; from my right, I’m remarkable. I can sing – sometimes I even feel like a soprano. I’ve been trapped inside a claw machine for a long time; perhaps I wanted it, too. From behind the glass, I wait to be chosen, to be noticed, to be valued. Would you choose me? I think I need to hold me on stage. This play portrays Daphne’s struggle with invisibility and inadequacy as she seeks recognition. Social pressure and past traumas become her greatest obstacles.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
It's 1956 and The Susan B Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein is having their annual quiche breakfast. As the widows await the announcement of the society's prize-winning quiche, the atomic bomb sirens sound! Has the Communist threat come to pass? How will the widows respond as their idyllic town and lifestyle faces attacks? Secrets come out as they wrestle with hysteria, survival and a fate worse than death: a world without quiche! 2024 NJACT Perry Award-winner for Best Play. Written by Evan Linder and Andrew Hobgood. Featuring UK Olympian Sinead Kerr.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Ed was a normal guy, at least until his Growing Old Syndrome diagnosis. Now he's a mess on a mission to achieve a lifetime's worth of goals ASAP. Cue a hysterical romp through French lessons, 24 hour raves and a unique kind of bank robbery. He'll either live forever, or die trying! 'Filtering mortality through humour, denial, and a gently buoyant absurdity. Maxwell’s writing, wry, humane, and deceptively controlled, lands with clarity and confidence.' (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). Mid-life crisis? Who said anything about "mid"?
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
What if your gay awakening was Pam from The Office? Follow Second City NY alum Winnie Stack’s hilarious, heartfelt, autobiographical coming-of-age story, sparked at age 11. Blending immersive visuals, home videos, and unfiltered journal entries, the solo performance is as bold as it is intimate. Equal parts comedy and confession, it dives into identity, obsession, and growing up queer with warmth and wit, shifting seamlessly between live and digital formats. Laugh, cringe, and maybe cry… then leave reflecting on your own messy, beautiful path to self-acceptance.'A deeply vulnerable story told with verve and imagination ****' (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)Written, Created and Performed by | Winnie StackDirected by | Matt GeheringProduced by | Julia Zakinstagram.com/jennatheplay/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
A deeply personal solo play that tells a story everyone can relate to. Through darkly humorous and dramatic monologues, Tom explores love, loss and hope growing up in an alcoholic, dysfunctional family, showing how trauma shapes our lives. Offering that no matter how dark the past, the present holds the possibility of light. 'Nemec avoids all of the flaws of the genre that make autobiographical solo plays cringeworthy' (Showtones.com). 'For a moment, we were united in our collective experience, and in our resolve to heal' (ArtsIndependent.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
May 1606. In the Tower of London, Father Henry Garnet awaits a traitor’s death in the morning. Through his last confession, we follow the Gunpowder Plotters’ doomed conspiracy as Garnet wrestles with his own conscience and the indefatigable will of charismatic ringleader Robert Catesby. As Catesby recruits a group of desperate men, including the enigmatic soldier Guy Fawkes, we are led to question just how far a man will go for his friends and his faith. This exciting new play offers an intense, fast-paced and moving portrayal of one of the most infamous events in our history.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
Helen of Troy inspired desire, destruction and death…didn’t she? Or was she simply the face of it all? An infamous beauty seducing others, or seduced herself? A girl awaiting the life expected of her, or a woman taking control of her future? A FACE is a play that rebrands the ruination of Troy, interrogating Helen’s agency and responsibility as a woman making choices in a world built by, and for, men. Priceless to those around her – materially, politically and sexually – but forgotten as an individual, a human being, until she is nothing more than A FACE.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Constance Lloyd is rarely remembered in literary history, overshadowed by her infamous husband. Feminist, writer and mother, her life is told through letter excerpts written in her own hand, revealing wit to rival Oscar’s, with dry humour and fierce selfhood. From a troubled childhood to society womanhood and quiet tragedy, this intimate solo performance restores a voice history diminished, inviting audiences to root for a brilliant, resilient heroine. Her story unfolds with grace, courage, humour and defiance. ‘Gut-writhingly convincing’ **** (TheReviewsHub,com). ‘Wolfe excels’ **** (Fringe Guru).
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
A broke actor in New York turns to “gay massage” to make rent. What follows is a darkly funny, unfiltered descent into sex work, addiction, blurred boundaries and the relentless need to be wanted. From awkward first clients to a night that spirals out of control, this brutally honest solo show explores intimacy, shame and survival in a world where attention feels like love. How far would you go to feel desired – and what happens when that’s all you know how to be?
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Hot mess hairdresser Lola has a big secret. She's been faking it, all of it. Sanity, self-esteem, capable mother and salon owner. So just what the f**k is wrong with her? Lola is determined to figure it out, whatever "it" is. Join Lola on her journey from 70's Los Angeles to 90's London and beyond as she faces her past and learns what it means to be neurodivergent. Sesame Street meets The Exorcist in this solo character comedy with original music, songs and puppets about learning to love your weird.Created, Written and Performed by | Lela BergeronDirected by | Tippy ElgarMusic composed and arranged by | Jake MossArtwork by | PrawntriciaPuppets and properties by | Estella RoseThanks | Jonny and Chaos Theoryinstagram.com/lelajalenebergeron/
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
It’s the Continental Song Content 2026! But when competition royalty BABA are found garrotted inside a portaloo, 'the name of the game' is catching the killer! Award-winning mystery maestros Highly Suspect return to the Fringe with a new hilarious interactive murder mystery for the audience to solve! Featuring a fiendish plot, evidence packs to examine and cryptic clues to crack, can you deduce whodunnit? Fun, frivolity and fatalities guaranteed! Sold out show 2021-2025. ‘Prepare to have your funny bones and little grey cells equally tickled!’ (BroadwayWorld.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
A famous author. An impossible murder. Knives are out for renowned detective Beignet Blank, but can he peel back the layers before he wakes up a dead man? Award-winning mystery maestros Highly Suspect return to the Fringe with a brand-new hilarious interactive murder mystery for the audience to solve! Featuring a fiendish plot, evidence packs to examine and cryptic clues to crack, can you deduce whodunnit? Fun, frivolity and fatalities guaranteed! Sold out show 2021-2025. ‘Prepare to have your funny bones and little grey cells equally tickled!’ (BroadwayWorld.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
07 - 15 AugA Little Green Leaf is inspired by the life of Odette Hallowes (MBE, Legion d’Honneur, George Cross), Britain’s most highly decorated spy of the Second World War. This play tells the story of Odette’s service as an agent of the Special Operations Executive, resilience in the face of Gestapo brutality, survival of Ravensbruck concentration camp, and her remarkable ability to retain her light, humanity and compassion in the face of unimaginable suffering. A Little Green Leaf is a poignant and timely reminder of sacrifice, courage and how one achieves peace.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
17 - 22 AugA Little Green Leaf is inspired by the life of Odette Hallowes (MBE, Legion d’Honneur, George Cross), Britain’s most highly decorated spy of the Second World War. This play tells the story of Odette’s service as an agent of the Special Operations Executive, resilience in the face of Gestapo brutality, survival of Ravensbruck concentration camp, and her remarkable ability to retain her light, humanity and compassion in the face of unimaginable suffering. A Little Green Leaf is a poignant and timely reminder of sacrifice, courage and how one achieves peace.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Step into a world of magic, mischief and romance in Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. When four young lovers flee into an enchanted forest, they find themselves caught in a tangled web of spells, mistaken identities and mischievous fairies. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors prepares a hilariously chaotic play for the duke’s wedding, unaware that the fairy kingdom is watching and meddling at every turn. Bursting to life with sparkling wit and a touch of theatrical magic. Expect laughter, love and a little bit of chaos as worlds collide under the midsummer moon.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Time to share a well-earned morning 'tease' break with absurdist provocateur Queenie Tea. Savour every sip of this uplifting brew of surreal shenanigans, with deliciously catchy ditties and sugared buffoonery. Expect prizes!
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
A Nation Divided. 2026 or 1970? Dive into the world of 1970 Vietnam politics and the infamous May 4th shooting at Kent State University, an act of governmental violence perpetrated by a troop of National Guardsmen against peaceful protesters. Devised and performed by students from Kent State University, A Nation Divided explores the connections between the political and social tensions of the 1970s and our fraught and combative world of today. Can we learn from the past and, together, make change in today’s divisive world of 2026?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A kingdom built on murder, thievery and chaos. Can an unwilling and inexperienced teenage peasant really take over the throne? One stupid mistake may have altered Karalyne’s life forever, and changed the fate of her country. Now overcome with new responsibilities and threats, Karalyne wonders why so many aspire to rule the world and if fame is worth the stress. In this medieval satire, characters and audiences alike will ask the question: what is the value of power?
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Follow a new traitors series, with all the melodrama that we know and love, plus some panto pizzazz. Our Dame, Claudia, and her fringe will guide us through the twists and turns of each roundtable. A devious trio of traitors, a comical set of faithfuls, and a Romeo-and-Juliet love story; this series will be unlike any other. Using the power of deduction and a predictable parody (or two), will good win out? Or will evil take all the money, money, money for itself? (Yes, that is an Abba reference). Come and find out!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
(Wed 12 Aug) Following acclaimed performances at Adelaide Fringe and sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, Morna Burdon brings Bonnie Fechters home to the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of A Triptych for Our Times, a ten-year celebration of her acclaimed one-woman shows. Bonnie Fechters stand up for themselves or what they believe in. Morna weaves an inspiring tapestry of songs and stories, shedding light on remarkable women whose courage, love, inventiveness and human spirit ripple through time to affect us all – whether we know it or not. ‘Deeply moving... mellow singing... charismatic’ ★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 19 Aug) Courage, creativity and resilience are celebrated as Morna Burdon highlights women worldwide who have found inventive, daring ways to rebel against war and take a stand for peace. Threaded through with songs and punctuated with humour, this moving spoken word show also looks at how war affects the loved ones of these brave women. Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. 'With her first song Morna Burdon plunges us straight into the brilliantly dark humour with which women have creatively waged peace' ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 26 Aug) Artificial intelligence, Thatcher's children, Gaza, the actions of the homed, the voices of the homeless, Scots language and the joy of blowing raspberries. A critically-acclaimed combination of personal and political poetry and song. Morna Burdon's unique perspectives and observations offer incisive, gentle, provocative, poetic contributions to the wider story we all share. Interspersed with stories and songs ranging from climate change and immigration to that need we all have sometimes to just scream! Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. ★★★★(NorthWestEnd.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Picture the worst theme park you've ever visited – and you have Bill Crisp's Animation Studio. Once a venerable British institution, the suits behind the show appear to have lost their head. Squeezing himself into a skin-tight, filthy canary costume, new-comer Jack will do anything to get his foot in the door of the TV industry. Even if it means being locked inside a boardroom with the worst four people you'll ever have the displeasure of meeting. From heart, to screen.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
A haunting historical docudrama that reconstructs the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire, one of the greatest urban disasters of its time in the United States. Through a series of vivid monologues, the play weaves together the voices of performers, technicians and audience members, exploring the events that led to the chaos and tragedy that claimed over seventy lives, as well as the sombre aftermath that reshaped the community. It highlights the personal losses, including the death of Virginia's governor, and the rise of evangelical fervour that contributed to a ban on public performances.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
(Fri 7-Fri 29 Aug) Respected by ancient cultures but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Ancient myth, mesmeric imagery and dreamlike soundscapes open a liminal space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Live music stirs the soul. Shadow puppetry and animation portray terror and playfulness. Stories about our oldest ally ask: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Originally commissioned by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024. 'Powerful and magical' ★★★★ (List)'Richly textured' ★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk) BSL interpreted Sun 9 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
17 - 22 AugWoolwich hospital. A&E waiting room. No sign of a doctor. Orla Wyatt’s fierce new play, A&E, invites the audience to sit in the A&E waiting room and participate in humanity’s favourite activity: voyeurism. It follows the encounter of a hospital regular, a volatile and twitching addict seeking help for her meth problem, and a cocky prisoner with a broken hand, who, together, seem to see what others can’t. Wide Eye Productions presents a bold and witty take on class prejudice, moral ambiguity and Maltesers. In the fluorescent light of the waiting room, who’s really sick and who’s still human?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Welcome... Come closer... This is no ordinary fire. Step into an intimate, immersive campfire where mythical forces of nature meet in the shadow of a changing world. Once again guided by AI database, Symbiolene, as she conjures figures from her past: The Green Man, Brigid and the Cailleach. These beings, woven into her code, are a clear reminder that nature has memory and that when the earth is pushed too far, its spirits may seek vengeance. Through haunting audiovisuals evoking gentle warnings and broken covenants, this atmospheric experience lifts the veil from past to present.
Venue 13
Main Space
'And what is Sunday Mass if not the original Drag Brunch?' How did a wee Catholic Glesga boy end up being one of Spain's power house Drag Queens? And how is it the Catholic Church's fault? Follow young Gerrard as he goes through the many "acts" and "drags" he had to put on all in order to hide in the closet in early 2000s Glasgow. With the help of Madonna, a Zealous Nun and a dark encounter – Gerrard flees to España, only to collide straight into the fabulous Queen he was always meant to be.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Dunedin Theatre
From the writer of Jimmy, the totally sold-out, smash-hit, one-man show of Summerhall 2024 – '...solo shows are ten a penny at the Edinburgh Fringe, but this feels like one in a million' ***** (Telegraph) – comes the true story of Captain Matthew Webb, the first man to ever swim the English Channel. The bravery! The fortitude! The sheer outright insanity! It's time to remember this most humble of men, this Shopshire lad, whose extraordinary feat ought to be far more celebrated than it is. A man who died as he lived, chasing the impossible.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
(Tue 18-Sat 22 Aug) Atop a far-off mountain, birds gather to perch on the fate-shaping hands of an old mountain man – stories stirring in the murmuration, waiting to glide into the human world. In this Harebell Tellers production, traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips follow the flight paths of bird mythology across ancient Britain; oceans, forests, in and out of this world and that. Weaving together Welsh and Scots language, music and story into a meditative hour of storytelling magic, breathing new life into ancient myths and re-enchanting old folktales. 'A captivating hour of bardic wonder' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Bedlam. A mind in pieces. Enter a descent into madness through the prism of Renfield, a man on his last legs. Nothing feels safe. Blurring reality and delusion, Admitted invites audiences to laugh, question, and confront the chaos lurking just beneath his unsettling storytelling in Archie Barton’s brave first one-man show.‘An astonishing piece of theatre, brave and compelling, moving with ease… a compelling psychological journey with detailed attention to the audience experience’ (Trinity College, London).‘Pulling together all elements of performance in an electrifying one-man show that will convince you… Arts thrive on madness’ (Nichola McQuade-Powell).Created and Performed by | Archie BartonThanks | Jo Macfarlane, Stuart Barton, Nicky McQuade-Powell, St Leonards School, Megan Read, St Leonards School, Paul Shiells, St Leonards School, Robert Nee..instagram.com/archiebartonofficial/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Thea is freshly 18 and eager to work as a bartender at her local nightclub. Nike is the head bartender with dreams of spreading her wings and seeing the world but is burdened with responsibility and financial troubles. Dion, the general manager of the venue, has his eyes set on Thea, while Lachie, a fellow bartender, is a romantic after Nike's heart. This show has flair, drama, comedy, physical theatre, and, for those lucky enough, a free shot.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Getting a job is hard. It’s especially hard when you have an arts degree, don’t know what sort of work you want to do, have vague notions of grandeur and can’t pay your rent. After Careful Consideration explores the experience of four friends thrust into post university life, where secret romances, jobs, lack of jobs, jealousy, uncertainty and ultimately an inability to match each other's ideas on how to live a good life leads to breakdown. Brought to you by JumpShip theatre.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Returning for its third Edinburgh season, After Shakespeare asks what happens to Shakespeare’s heroes and villains once the curtain falls. Lady Macbeth, Portia, Hamlet and King Hal reflect on power, love and survival, beyond the endings we think we know. In this acclaimed solo show, Lexi Wolfe transforms seamlessly between four iconic characters, weaving Shakespeare’s language with historical insight and fresh dramatic imagination. Witty, poignant, surprising; a thoughtful, inventive celebration of voice and consequence, long after the lights fade. 'A must-see show' ***** (EdinburghGuide.com). 'One of this year's stand-out shows' **** (GetYourCoatsOn.com). 'Refreshing and gifted writing' **** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk).
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Set in 1980s Scotland during the Cold War, when nuclear bombs were a very real threat. The play is inspired by true events and real experiences, when one night in Peebleshire, Scotland, the unimaginable happened. Five scared, lost, turbulent young women grapple with the adversities and joys of life in the 80s, with the constant knowledge that their lives could be obliterated at any moment. In the face of nuclear war, how do they cope, love, and live?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Winter, 1943. As the Siege of Leningrad tightens its grip, two scientists guard a seed vault designed to preserve humanity. Faced with starvation, yet surrounded by food they refuse to touch. When a desperate intruder forces his way in, the moral line they have defended for years suddenly becomes unbearable. Nina and Olga must confront an impossible question: will they save the world or save themselves? A thrilling new work inspired by true events.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
(Sat 15 & Sun 23 Aug) Allow me to give you some advice, Billy... Alan Bissett, award-winning creator of Fringe hit The Moira Monologues, performs as two Scottish cultural giants, asking what (might’ve!) happened when Billy Connolly attended the launch for Alasdair Gray’s 1981 masterpiece, Lanark. Bissett unearths the origin stories of these Glasgow geniuses, exploring their struggles in an uplifting tale of triumph against the odds. Directed by Kirstin McLean. Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2025. Longlisted for Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025.★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)★★★★★ (National)★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.co.uk)★★★★ (Herald)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Or, Benjamin Franklin’s Scottish Enlightenment. The Founding Father loved Edinburgh. He visited in 1759 and made pals with David Hume and Adam Smith. But what does Auld Reekie have to do with America's Declaration of Independence? Exactly 250 years after the Declaration, Rick Conte retraces his countryman's steps in a warm, funny and historically grounded account of how Enlightenment Edinburgh influenced a nation, and how a native of that nation found a home here centuries later. 'Delightful' ★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com)'A beguiling show' ★★★★ (Scotsman)'Storytelling at its best!' ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)'Heartwarming' ★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com) Captioned Mon 24 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Aspiring national treasure and quintessential luvvie Gerald Lloyd-Davies amuses the audience and himself in a comprehensive career retrospective, from his humble beginnings in the Rhondda to playing an ageing Peter Parker in Spiderman: Never Too Late. But when confronted with an inconvenient opinion about his past, Gerald must adapt in order to secure his future. Can he do so before the curtain falls? Laurie Stevens's theatre debut follows her hit character show David's One-Man Band: 'Gleefully funny' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). 'Evocative... well-written... nails something universal' **** (List). 'So relatable' **** (LothianLife.co.uk). 'Touching' **** (ThreeWeeks).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey given eternity and a typewriter will write the works of William Shakespeare. Even though one (arguably very famous) monkey already written it once already, our monkeys / performers will attempt the impossible, doing a full hour performance while also trying to prove the theorem. Armed with a typewriter and a monkey mask – no performance will be the same, with a wide variety of acts from music to improv, we will attempt the as yet impossible!
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A fast, funny Tempest packed with magic, mischief and spectacularly poor decisions. Edinburgh Youth Theatre returns with a bold 50-minute adaptation performed by a brilliant young ensemble. Critically acclaimed for hugely entertaining, fast-paced, relevant productions that are accessible to audiences aged 8 to 108, the youth company brings shipwrecks, scheming nobles, mischievous spirits and one very chaotic island to life. Expect physical comedy, a foot stomping soundtrack and a storm of bad choices as power, revenge and forgiveness spiral hilariously out of control. Perfect for families, Shakespeare connoisseurs and newcomers alike.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
An Opportunity in Kind is a darkly comic tale about wasted potential, loyalty and the seductive pull of easy fortune. Three disaffected young men drift through life in a haze of bravado, drugs and half-baked philosophies, masking their fear of failure and mortality with banter and delusion. When an unexpected crisis disrupts their aimless routine, cracks in their friendship widen, exposing greed, insecurity and moral weakness. Blending absurd humour with sudden brutality, the play explores how some men rationalise the unforgivable and how quickly dreams of opportunity curdle into chaos, consequence and bitter irony.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
And The Little One Said is a grotesquely dark comedy that follows Sasha and her three friends, Henry, Cedric and Rose, as they spend two weeks at her uncle’s country home for a summer holiday. With a backdrop of late 90s Britain (a time of innovation, new ideas and excitement for the future), the group's fate is about to be destroyed forever by a series of disturbing events that will expose evils and completely change their lives. And amongst all the discomfort, death and despair, as the little one says... roll over.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Sign up to Saving Squatina: a summer camp focused on Shetland's returning population of Angel Sharks! The only catch? You might have to solve a marine murder whilst you’re at it. Camp members Mira, Harry and Lottie decide to take things into their own fins and dive deeper into this mystery. The three will have to push against the tide of the island to find the truth that lies beneath the sandy exterior, but what surfaces will force them to confront themselves, scales and all.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
George Orwell's revolutionary masterpiece comes to life in this fast-moving, physical adaptation. After revolting against their negligent master, the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow Farmer Jones to create a self-ruled utopia. Guided by democratic ideals, they strive for a paradise of equality where every voice matters. However, their virtuous mission is soon betrayed as the temptations of power and privilege take hold. Ruthless new tyranny replaces the old, proving that power corrupts even the noblest of causes. Experience this spellbinding, high-energy production – a painfully relevant warning that while all animals are equal, some are more equal.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Miriam's son has been on death row for 22 years. At midnight the state will execute him. His last request: his mother's apple pie. As Miriam bakes the perfect pie, this extraordinarily powerful and deeply compassionate one-woman play by Jennifer Fawcett invites us to reflect on the impact of violent crime on its hidden victims. 'An absolute must-see... an immensely powerful performance that will leave you shaken and devastated and furious' (TheBlogofTheatreThings.com). 'Astonishing performance... directed brilliantly' (TheFamilyStage.co.uk). 'Moving, nuanced, intelligent theatre' (Prison Advice and Care Trust). Winner Smith Prize: Political Theatre. OFFIE finalist: Solo Performance.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Stuck in a codependent and toxic relationship, Aries drives blindly down a boulevard of broken dreams. His life, a shit storm of dysfunction. Aquarius Rising is a darkly hilarious story about detaching with love to save yourself. Survival means letting things die. Ben Fallaci is a writer and performer who takes laughter very seriously. This is his second Edinburgh Fringe following a successful run of his debut solo-show Show Chair which received four-star reviews, was considered a Highly Recommended Show by Fringe Review and celebrated for 'deftly combining moving self-reflection with uproarious anecdotal humour' (EdFringeReview).
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
A surprising hybrid of theatre and film that is at once highly theatrical and wonderfully cinematic. Paris, 1925. In a tiny toy shop inside the Montparnasse train station, film and special effects pioneer Georges Méliès, now forgotten, faces eviction. A toy comes to life. Using hidden cameras, a movie screen, miniatures and magic, Georges creates an epic cinematic universe and voyage that leads to his rediscovery. Theatrical wizard Thaddeus Phillips 'could have been a great silent-movie comedian' (New York Times) and 80 eclectic vintage toys star in this visually stunning tour de force.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
YESYESNONO (we were promised honey, Nation) return to Summerhall with another prophetic act of storytelling. Written and performed by Sam Ward, it's a hallucinogenic road trip through a world of anomalies. It's about holes appearing in the ground and prices that just go up. It's about cartographers, bubbles, crashes and psychics. It's about trying to understand what's going wrong... and a world that refuses to be understood. Praise for previous work: 'Something really special' ***** (BritishTheatre.com). 'An aerial feat of storytelling' ***** (Scotsman). 'An apocalyptic, strange hour of theatre' ***** (Financial Times).
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
An experimental theatre work adapted from the story of Yu Rang in Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian, the first major Chinese historian. Writing from prison, he meets the loyal assassin who disfigured himself and muted his voice to avenge his lord and becomes the narrator of this tale of Yu Rang's struggles. Through his encounter with a fellow soul in despair, he forges a bond of loyalty to him and affirms his own life mission. Blending devised theatre and realism, this is a raw, visceral reflection on faith, fate and legacy.Directed by | Yin YuhaoPlaywright | Li SiyiComposer | Liu Rong
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
A meditative, moving Aufguss show choreographed to the transcendental music of German minimalist composer Nils Frahm. Aufguss is a sauna ritual which circulates steam and scent though beautiful towel waving dance. Here in our magical sauna theatre our state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound fuse with the mastery our Aufguss artists to dazzle your every sense. Aching piano, ecstatic electronica and blissed out house beats envelop you as the heat rises and towels twirl. The most sensuous immersive show you'll ever live inside.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
A bewitching reimagining of Virginia Woolf's masterpiece in a sauna. Woolf's exquisite story refracted through dance, heat, scent, sound and light for a truly immersive experience that feels like falling in love on a summer afternoon. Here in our magical sauna theatre actors meet Aufguss – a sauna ritual which circulates steam and scent though beautiful towel waving choreography. Experience Woolf's dazzling words infused in a warm breeze of gently caressing heat, waves conjured by water on hot rocks hissing steam, and the transcendent scents of essential oils. Theatre like you've never felt it before.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Faced with limitless opportunity, the start of the rest of your life ahead, with endless questions that have no right answer. What else is there to do but take solace in the outrageous company of a meaningful companion? A high school administrative office, rules, routine, superiors and peers. In this world, Sid and Ali are left to their adolescent quandaries of identity, purpose and affection, turning in a perpetual limbo, waiting in vain for the principal's arrival. Always on the move but never quite moving on, Sid and Ali continuously spin in place.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
A new kind of IUD insertion leads to rats being shoved down a cervix. Punch and Judy perform a gender swapped adaptation of Moby Dick. A trad-wife hawks her questionable raw milk wares and ultimately breastfeeds a member of the audience with one of her dozens of pendulous burlap boobs. B*tch Eat Dog is a puppet-filled sketch show that uses classical texts, feminist theory and singing willies to interrogate the gendered ethics of pursuit. The evening is hosted by a well-intentioned white man who flails wildly as his misguided attempts at ally-ship lead to a painful realization.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Condemned in history as a brutal queen unfit to rule, 'Bloody' Queen Mary converses both with her own historical legacy and the archbishop she has condemned to burn at the stake in this defiant, feminist play. Mary, a queen vilified in history, a delusional madwoman. Cranmer, a historical martyr. History tells us so. But what of the woman behind the bloody reputation? What of the man behind the martyr? BURN gives a voice to the first woman to dare to hold royal power in England – and questions how villains are made and how we write women into history.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Have you seen the news today? Isn't it awful? Is now the best or worst time to be alive? In all of history? American comedian Lee Minora is Baby. Baby's worried sick over the state of the world. Literally. She might really be sick this time. Join Baby for a hypochondria-filled morning doomscroll as she careens from ancestral homeland to art museum; from calling an emergency doctor's appointment to calling her Mom a fascist. When suffering comes faster than you can refresh your feed, how much are you meant to see? Everything? 'Must-see satire' **** (Skinny). **** (List).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
From award-winning writer and performer Nick Tipa (Kaai Tahu) comes Babyface: a solo play about big-time wrestling and small-town Aotearoa. Part stage play / part wrestling show, Babyface explores one boy's experience of growing up, fitting in and landing a suplex in rural Aotearoa. Debuting to a sold-out season at the 2025 Dunedin Fringe Festival, and taking home multiple awards, including the UNESCO City of Literature Beyond Words award, Whiplash and Kahu arrive in Edinburgh to lay the smack down. So paint your signs, put on your favourite wrestling t-shirt and let's get ready to rrrrrumble!
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Our college stalker is facing a felony. We skipped depositions for rehearsals. Picture this conservatory fairy tale: BFA besties, chaotic sublets, borrowed underwear and one super-fan who confused method acting with method stalking. Partners stolen, careers nuked, faculty too dazzled by "genius" to spot the red flags. Bachelors of Fine Arts is a dark two-person comedy that roasts ambition gone cultish, institutions that shrug at sabotage because "talent," and the noble tradition of smiling through betrayal. Not true crime. Not therapy. Come watch us process publicly and affordably, or... something like that.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Nature versus nurture? Are villains born or bred? Can they ever find true redemption? TheatreOCU explores Shakespeare's most villainous characters – Macbeth, Iago, Aaron, Tamora and Lady Macbeth – and asks the question: what is bad Shakespeare?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
The light flickers out. Within the confined space of a small bathroom, a once-devoted couple appear embroiled in an argument. The man insists he loves her deeply, yet she perceives otherwise. Two whirlpools swirl beside the drain, yet no matter how they churn, they refuse to merge… Bathroom is an original theatrical work that is both a reflection on “love” and a microscopic portrayal of affection. The audience witnesses their quarrel, their wounds, their bloodshed, yet cannot simply judge right from wrong. Through intensely focused spatial storytelling, they are immersed in an emotional vortex, prompting a re-examination of relationships.Producer and Stage Manager | Qiannuo LyuDirector and Sound Designer | Yijing ZouDramaturg | Qingchuan FuTechnical Director and Customer | Ruoqi ZhuSet Designer and Lighting Operator | Yijie CaoSet Operator | Ziyue Zhuinstagram.com/limpidtheatre/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Set in 1964, four teenage girls are sent to a church-run mother and baby home, hidden away by a society that refuses to acknowledge them. As they wait for their babies to be adopted, unexpected friendships form and courage quietly emerges. Warm, witty and ultimately heartbreaking, Amanda Whittington’s powerful drama explores love, shame and resilience in a world ruled by judgement and silence. Performed by the Parker & Snell Youth Company, this moving production brings to life a hidden chapter of recent history with honesty, humanity and hope.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
Bean is trapped inside her spaceship. And now you’re trapped with her. Unfortunately for you, Bean lost her memories and must play sad little songs on her keyboard in order to get them back. While she sings, you start to lose all sense of time. But don’t worry. In space, there’s always time. Or is there? As Bean unravels, she remembers why she, and perhaps you, needed to go to space in the first place. A sci-fi exploration of grief through the funny, wistful and weird eyes of a lost space traveller.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Under Burnley’s grey skies, a group of teenagers try to find where they fit. When two friends announce an impulsive engagement, the group is swept into a blur of cheap suits and reckless love. They feel invincible, until one night changes everything. Before the Sun Comes Up is a warm, gritty exploration of growing up in a place that doesn’t wait for you, navigating the space between childhood dreams and the reality of adulthood. When the laughter fades and the future looms, FirstByte Theatre asks what remains of the friendships and places that defined you?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
A raw and intimate two hander exploring a gay relationship pushed to breaking point. When Charlie uncovers Jude’s secrets, a late-night confrontation spirals into something far more dangerous. As trust collapses, themes of addiction, violence and suicide rise to the surface; exposing the fragile line between love and control. Behind Closed Doors is an unflinching look at emotional abuse, obsession and the devastating impact of betrayal. Stripped back and intense, the piece places audiences inside a relationship unravelling in real time; asking how far someone can be pushed before everything fractures beyond repair.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Alba Theatre
In this raw and riveting one woman show, JinHi lays bare the moments that fracture and forge a life. Through fierce honesty, sharp humour and unexpected grace, her monologue traces love, illness, art and resilience, inviting audiences into an intimate reckoning with survival and selfhood.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Belly is a one-person play about girls, eating, grief and control. Told through an interwoven stories of three women across one family: Ellie, a high-school swimmer groomed into an eating disorder by a well-meaning, incredibly harmful coach; Katie, her pregnant aunt, trying to “do everything right” for her baby inside of wellness culture and medical fatphobia; and Susan, Katie’s mother, newly widowed and learning how to live with grief and appetite in an empty house. Performed by a single actor, the piece moves between sharp, funny, conversational monologues and scenes and more heightened, poetic sequences.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Following sell-out Welsh tours, Her Story Theatre Company presents Betsi – the electrifying story of Betsi Cadwaladr. From humble beginnings to globetrotting adventures, Betsi's extraordinary life culminates in her most daring venture: in her sixties, defying all conventions, she sailed to the Crimean battlefield to serve as a nurse, where she famously clashed with Florence Nightingale herself. Through flashbacks and poignant interviews, this superb script by Welsh playwright Adele Cordner brings Betsi's indomitable spirit to life with heart-stopping excitement and tender humanity. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be swept away by this unforgettable theatrical experience celebrating a true trailblazer.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Betsy and Patty are a couple of cows passing time while waiting in line in their factory farm home. While in line they engage in a very interesting and revealing discussion. This play gets political, yet it's a comedy. Or maybe tragedy. Fresh off a sold-out run at the Hollywood Fringe! It made me laugh. It hit me right in the feels. Sometimes both at the same time. Sometimes you need animals to tell you about the human experience. Darkly funny and surprisingly touching. Who knew cows could be so profound?
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
After death, Othello and Desdemona meet again. In a quiet, intimate dialogue, love, doubt and memory collide revealing what remains after the tragedy, and what was never understood.
C ARTS | C venues | C digital
portal – on demand
Not your “Abby Normal” relationship? Get ready for a whirlwind of laughter, music and storytelling in Big Hair: A Rad and Wild Love Affair, written and performed by Maegan Mandarino. This one-hour spectacle brings Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder to the stage, with modville-style musical numbers, film and interview clips highlighting their dynamic relationship in absurdist, fun theatre. 'A nuanced, tender, life-affirming story about love and loss that you would not expect from a retro stand up vaudeville show, and I cherished every strange, hilarious, moving moment of it' (BroadwayWorld.com).
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Two teenagers perform fake Bigfoot sightings in their Appalachian town, until a neighbour's dog turns up torn to pieces. Aside from sparking a panic that spirals out of their control, it forces them to question what might actually be terrorizing their under-resourced and already superstitious community. From 2022, 2023 and 2024 Fringe First award-winners and 'the Fringe's most dynamic theatrical duo' (Telegraph), Xhloe and Natasha, comes a Brechtian puppet show ripped in two about conspiracy, misdirection and seeing something with your own eyes.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
Step into a wildly off-beat, unique audience-powered adventure where you are part of the story. This immersive, interactive and inclusive experience blends live music, offbeat comedy, unusual acts, audience play, improv and unexpected twists into one unforgettable journey. Join Billie as they transform into Sniffany, an unusual "scent-sational" cycling superhero in the making, and become part of the action every step of the way. This isn't just a show – it's a playful, inspiring invitation to discover your own hidden superpowers. Come curious, leave energised and experience something truly different, daring and joyfully original.
The Royal Scots Club
The Speakeasy
Twenty-one-year-old Riley spends her time regurgitating her chewed-up thoughts into her journal, finding comfort in her words. Riley's closest confidant, Anna, knows what is really eating away at her, keeping Riley all to herself. The family says Anna leaves a bad taste in their mouths. But to Riley... she is insatiable. Inspired by a true story, Bite opens the door into the complex world of atypical anorexia, bringing to life the small thoughts and voices that nibble away at a person. Because some people just don't get it?! So come on, have a bite. Just for us.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Learn how to beat the house... in the house! All it takes is basic strategy, a little luck and three easy payments of $7.77. Come hear how to beat the odds from the biggest beater himself. With teaser lessons, call-ins and a story of fortune in the unlikeliest place, you’ll be glad you risked it on this show. And who knows – maybe a lifetime in the red will be worth it. A darkly comic solo show about luck, delusion and the stories we tell ourselves to keep playing.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
When a Lower East Side tailor is plucked from obscurity to dress a king – well, not a king, but the King, Elvis Presley – he learns that beyond the seductive lights of Las Vegas, nothing is quite what it seams. Will our tailor survive the trappings of fame? Will Elvis’ jumpsuit hold up under his, er, “overindulgence”? Or will they both end up Bloated In Vegas?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
Set in 1823, an Edinburgh riddled with greed and decay, Mary McKinnon is the queen of the night. Her brothel, Bloody Mary’s, is successful, her reputation untouched... Until one night of violence changes it all. When gentlemen turn ungentlemanly and demand more than Mary is willing to give, tragedy creeps under the red curtain and blood becomes the new currency. Come join us for a night of song and dance where the women from Edinburgh's past reclaim their voices.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
What's in a name? Revered, despised, forgotten; the past is packed with remarkable Marys. From Biblical times to the present day, across cultures and continents, Marys, Mariams and Marias have featured in news reports, gossip columns, storybooks and holy tracts. Who wouldn’t love the chance to talk fashion with Mary Quant, politics with Mary Robinson or childcare with Mary Poppins? The team behind Fringe hit Chopped Liver & Unions invites you to take an interactive plunge into history, rediscover these uncommon women with a common name and answer the big question: which Mary are you inviting to dinner?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
What's in a name? Revered, despised, forgotten; the past is packed with remarkable Marys. From Biblical times to the present day, across cultures and continents, Marys, Mariams and Marias have featured in news reports, gossip columns, storybooks and holy tracts. Who wouldn’t love the chance to talk fashion with Mary Quant, politics with Mary Robinson or childcare with Mary Poppins? The team behind Fringe hit Chopped Liver & Unions invites you to take an interactive plunge into history, rediscover these uncommon women with a common name and answer the big question: which Mary are you inviting to dinner?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Recently widowed May (60s) is visiting her eldest, Carmel (32), in her new house in rural Scotland. She brings her youngest, Margot (22), who suffers from immense Catholic guilt. May begins an affair with Carmel’s long-term boyfriend. Using cutting-edge facial mapping software invented by our collaborator, Alensi Studios, Body Parts is a taste of the future of theatre. Live art and technology meet in this experimental dark comedy which confronts ageing, guilt and the insatiable sexual appetite of an older woman.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In Body of Evidence, Hazel Katherine Larkin brings you on a tour of her body. She explains how various parts were impacted by the sexual violence perpetrated on her – by her father, brothers, and others – throughout her childhood. Audiences may be surprised to learn that more than sexual and reproductive areas of the body are affected. Honest, euphemism-free and surprisingly funny, this piece will affect all who see it.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
When River's cosy affluence is shattered, he enlists two disorderly youngsters to plot increasingly riotous acts in search of a higher truth. As the threat of global war looms over Newcastle's Byker Estate, will this unlikely cohort expose the false prophets who seek to determine their fate? Written and performed by Lucas English, this dynamic solo play questions class prejudice, social conditioning and faith as it debuts at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Lucas' 2024 play The Shadow Boxer was shortlisted for both the Leading Light and Bright Spark awards by the Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
A political musical play set in Soviet-era Moscow, where a youth subculture resists conformity through jazz, dance and underground culture. Music is carved onto X-ray discs and passed in secret as young people search for their voice and dream of a freer world beyond the USSR. As pressure from the state intensifies, friendships shift, choices become dangerous and those dreams begin to fracture. What starts as rebellion through music turns into a struggle to hold on to identity, love and freedom under constant threat.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Grab your wine, nibbles and notebooks and get ready to join Linda and her fellow “book clubbers” as they attempt to dissect the classics. This award-winning comedy explores the idiosyncrasies of a mismatched group brought together (through Linda’s heavy persuasion) by their love, or mild interest, in books. As they journey through the novels, free-flowing wine and endless crisps, one question remains: can this motley group of strangers actually become friends? And what exactly is a cheese puff?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
24 - 29 AugGordon suffers from panic attacks and is obsessed with Berlin. Nat is a recovering alcoholic who has visions of the Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel. And Pieter, the great observer of wit and folly, has something he needs to tell us. As cracks appear in Nat and Gordon's routines and their story begins to overlap with Pieter's, this ‘kooky, self-assured tragicomedy with instant cult classic potential’ (Cherwell) asks the big questions: what is the difference between community and suffocation? Can creativity be home-grown? And is it a good idea to start a brewery if you don't like beer?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
17 - 22 AugGordon suffers from panic attacks and is obsessed with Berlin. Nat is a recovering alcoholic who has visions of the Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel. And Pieter, the great observer of wit and folly, has something he needs to tell us. As cracks appear in Nat and Gordon's routines and their story begins to overlap with Pieter's, this ‘kooky, self-assured tragicomedy with instant cult classic potential’ (Cherwell) asks the big questions: what is the difference between community and suffocation? Can creativity be home-grown? And is it a good idea to start a brewery if you don't like beer?
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
James is stuck. Literally. Adrenalised and alone with an unconscious cellmate in a police holding cell after throwing a brick during a queer rights protest, he unpacks the experiences that brought him here: a lifelong battle with identity, over-achievement masking loneliness, and a family tragedy that left deep fractures. Pulled into protest culture through a crush on an artist‑activist, personal grief and political fury collide. With dark humour and confession, this powerful new play – winner of the 2026 BoonDog Theatre Edinburgh Mentorship Scheme – examines how systemic neglect pushes vulnerable people toward dangerous obsessions and extreme acts.James | Noah XavierThe Man | Cai GruffuddWritten by | Noah XavierDirected by | Ren Flashner and Maria RamjeeThanks | Boondog Theatre, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Eli Randle at Unity Theatre, Nottingham College, Josie Inceinstagram.com/leftfordeadtheatre/tiktok.com/@leftfordeadtheatre
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
After the success of her debut five-star solo show, Meg Millane is at it again with a new sharp, character-driven comedy about a woman deep in wedding planning. As she navigates cakes, DJs and family expectations, she unravels the history and cultural weight of marriage, forcing herself to confront what commitment actually means to her. Torn between spectacle and substance, she must decide if she’s planning a wedding... or redefining it. Meg has been described as 'quite literally a star' (BeyondTheCurtain.co.uk) and having 'the energy of a chihuahua who’s had a triple shot espresso' (EvulveProductions.com).
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Nick Cassenbaum's sell-out Fringe and international mega hit returns to Summerhall... but this time in an actual sauna! An all new promenade version conjures the warmth of Canning Town Schvitz in the UK's first purpose-built theatre sauna as Nick takes you on a journey to find the place he belongs. Amidst the steam, live klezmer and ritual, will he find what he is looking for? Bubble Schmeisis is full of intimate and personal true stories about identity, home and getting schmeised (washed) by old men. Sure to be a hot ticket.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Alan Rivers, former bowling world champion, has it all – glory (Bowling World Championship trophy), riches (semi-detached house in Milton Keynes), hair (thinning). Or rather, he almost has it all: Alan is alone. He’s on a mission to find love, with the help of Geraldine Bucksomly, the owner of Bucksomly Betrothals, a matchmaking agency. But Geraldine is facing financial ruin, Alan’s bowling success is perhaps not all that it seems, and a mysterious stranger has appeared in town with a thirst for revenge…
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Andalucia, 1936. The poet Lorca is shot. A shallow grave. Unmarked. Through the eyes of a travelling theatre company Bull / Fight searches for the lost poet's beauty among the dusty roads and white-washed villages of Spain, as the country spirals into civil war and political violence sweeps the stage... A breathless and intimate journey to the dark roots of tragedy from Edinburgh's newest ensemble. Previous work: 'Unequivocally magnetic... entrances and enthrals' ***** (EdFringeReview.com for Antigone, sell-out show 2024/5). 'Perfect... made me sing in my heart' ***** (FringeReview.com for Lipsync, Fringe First, Lustrum Award).
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Bumpo tells the story of two women in the midst of a divorce. Sam, an underachieving writer and Eileen, an emotionally reserved scientist with a highly secretive government job are meeting to finalise the terms of their divorce and to arrange custody for Bumpo, a genetically spliced human/dog hybrid created by Eileen after the couple couldn't decide between getting a dog or having a baby. Though Sam does not want to lose Eileen, she cannot separate herself from her resentment of Bumpo. A bizarre exploration of heartbreak and identity, Bumpo walks the tight rope of drama and black comedy.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Meet Bunny, an aspiring theatre starlet looking for her big break. She's also a serial killer, streamlining the talent pool through cold-blooded murder to increase her chances of landing a role. After getting rid of the country's actors, emerging theatre companies and even some big hitters, she's still no closer to achieving her dreams. But a revolution is starting to unfold, and Bunny is at the heart of it. Her murderous ways inspire a radical movement hell-bent on destroying billionaires, celebrity culture and artistic fascism. But Bunny just wants to be on Broadway...
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
After two sell-out Fringe runs, Burning Down the Horse is back! This immersive comedy epic drops you into the heart of the most iconic wooden animal in history – the Trojan Horse. Become part of this 'infectiously funny' (FringeReview.co.uk) tale as you contend with heroic egos, class clashes and sword supply issues. There's only one rule: Odysseus' word is law. And for the love of gods – no naked flames! Join us for an 'entertaining slice of lunchtime laughs' (Scotsman) and experience what really went on inside the belly of the beast.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Friesian
It’s 24 hours before Alfie’s birthday party. 24 hours before someone’s going to die. What happens next has everything to do with what happened before. Charlotte has made the cake. Dani has made a mistake – an unforgivable, best-friend-destroying, boyfriend-involving mistake. Darkly funny and deliciously unhinged, this reverse murder mystery slices through jealousy, friendship and the fragile line between telling the truth and protecting the people you love. Because sometimes honesty is an act of violence – and sometimes love is the crime. CAKE asks, who gets to have their cake and eat it too?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In this award-winning comedy and Off-Broadway hit, two actors play eight interconnected characters in a fast, funny daisy chain of sexual encounters. A country music star, an exchange student, a cybersex novice, an estranged husband, an S&M submissive, a frat boy and a lesbian bestie collide in a witty, provocative exploration of sex, power, intimacy and the universal longing for human connection. Bold, timely and sharply observed, CIRCLE turns desire into a revealing – and hilarious – map of modern relationships. 'CIRCLE delivers belly laughs from beginning to end!' **** (London Free Press). 'Ingenious!' (New York Times).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
It's 12:15AM, April 15th, 1912. Titanic has hit an iceberg. In approximately two hours, over 2,000 people will be in the freezing water of the Atlantic Ocean, with survival counted in minutes. Their lives depend on three men – Titanic radio operators Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, and Carpathia radio operator Harold Cottam – and the radio set that broke the day before. Fate has placed Phillips, Bride and Cottam, three working men doing a job, at the centre of one of the biggest peace-time tragedies of the twentieth century.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
The most critically acclaimed production of CS Lewis' masterpiece is back! This award-winning satirical comedy is returning to the Fringe for its 12th year. Nigel Forde's 'sparkling script' and David Robinson's 'impressive Screwtape' (Stage) bring to life Lewis' classic book, which has sold millions of copies worldwide. A true popular classic live on stage. 'The performances are well honed, with Screwtape himself standing out as an embodiment of snide evil' ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'Yes Minister in space indicates not only the vibe of The Screwtape Letters, but also its quality, a joy' ***** (EdFringeReview.com).
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
A one-Cardinal-show exploring power, faith, hypocrisy and how much tea that cup can hold before it runneth over. Inspired by the hottest film of recent times: Conclave. But queer(er). During conclave, cardinals are locked inside the Vatican together to elect the next Pope. It's a spiritual gathering. It's not a war – all the fighting has to be invisible. Enter the confessional of Cardinal Cvntvs, who wouldn't dream of plotting to take down his competitors, because Cvntvs' Vatican is definitely not an endless repository of salacious queer drama, petty squabbles and psychosexual, above-tepid rivalries. Nope. This is serious shit.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Six friends gather in a remote cabin for a weekend away, hoping to reconnect and escape the noise of everyday life. But as night falls, something shifts. One by one, a friend disappears not just from the room, but from memory itself. Relationships subtly rewrite, shared histories distort and the group’s reality begins to fracture and the only person who realises it is the next one to go. As paranoia and grief intertwine, the cabin becomes a space where truth feels fragile and loyalty is tested. Cabin is an intimate, unsettling exploration of friendship, and truth.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
An Enchantress from beyond the bounds of time shares a fable about the circus of dating in the 21st century. The Ringmaster attempts to corral the circus acts, which run the gamut from white knights to evil sorcerers! Can The Ringmaster tame the "tigers" or will she be thrown to the lions in the quest for love? Enter the tent and be forever changed!
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Muse
Lesbians, vampires and... communists? When love and desire are made monstrous, what beautiful monsters lovers make. Carmilla retells the lesser-known Gothic classic with a mid-century McCarthy twist. At the height of the Lavender Scare, Laura faces scrutiny over her entanglement one summer six years ago with an allegedly perverse and dangerous woman: Carmilla. What was once a cautionary tale, detailing the dangers of female sexuality, is reimagined as a queer love story. Charismatic, introspective and seductive – this show is a must-see.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Carys is campaigning to become the UK’s next Eurovision entry. In this one-woman musical comedy, she builds her case through bold vocals, unshakable self-belief and a growing list of signatures on her petition. Part manifesto, part love letter to Eurovision, the show celebrates big dreams and the reckless optimism required to think that this is going to get the BBC’s attention. Expect abundant ESC references, a curated track list and the joyful delusion to accept nil points if required. A heartfelt, hilarious tribute to the world’s most chaotic international song contest.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
It's hard to free yourself from your childhood. Ce de Lu' is a theatrical project exploring family memory, inherited trauma, and emotional violence through a visual and symbolic language that moves fluidly between realism and vision. Set in a mountain house, a liminal space that is at once refuge and prison, nest and den, the play follows two siblings (played and directed by Paulette Rufin and Pietro Moser) who, through a series of returns, are forced to reckon with the material and psychological remains of a past they cannot lay to rest. Written by Annalisa Scopinich.Performed by | Pietro Moser, Paulette Rufin, Annalisa ScopinichWritten by | Annalisa ScopinichProduced by | Pietro MoserA special thanks to Zio Sandro and Babbo di Annalisa
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
Cellotape follows the intricate relationship between two girls as they grow up and navigate the world of teenage drama, peer pressure and sex. However, we are soon exposed to the harsh reality that even from a young age, some friendships can be toxic and detrimental, as not everything is as it seems between the two main characters. Cellotape uses what I describe as ‘traumatic nostalgia’ in order to reflect on very real societal issues such as the indoctrination of children into abusive patterns.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
When Mom with Alzheimer’s hears her son-in-law lament being a serial entrepreneur rather than the artist he would like to be, she decides to create new 'cereals' to lighten his load and give him more time. She embarks on a new range of breakfast cereals even creating the advertising and composing the jingles. Her daughter and son-in-law must keep their laughter hidden and her ramblings confined to the home. Always supportive and loving, it takes a lot of skill to allow Mom to keep her dignity and quality of life no matter how bizarre that might be.Cast | Jack LeeMaddy May DevineStacey HaberWritten, Created and Performed by | Stacey HaberWritten by | Paula Haber, Wendy Scher, Curtis GardnerMusic Performed by SwimminglyMusic Written by Mackenzie Hofbergwww.shhh.media/#/theatreX.com/TheMusicFirmHQfacebook.com/TheMusicFirmHQinstagram.com/staceyhaberofficial/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Did Neville Chamberlain indisputably fail to keep the peace? Or was he simply the right man, at the wrong time? Experience the final hour leading up to his radio announcement declaring war with Germany – interspersed with music from the period. 'It’s thoroughly entertaining theatre, of the calibre that is to be expected from Searchlight' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'David Robinson in the title role was absolutely phenomenal' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Historical drama as it ought to be done' **** (FringeGuru.com). 'Strong performances from the entire cast' **** (ThreeWeeks). A must see and relevant for today.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
'She comes towards me on the floor; always approaching; never coming nearer; always visible as if by moonlight whether the moon shines or not'. A writer struggling to reignite his creative vision. A real-life crime. And a visit to a supposedly haunted inn. As darkness descends, a ghostly tale is played out. But what is real and what is not? A tale of passion, deceit and the ethereal dance between the realms of life and death as the Hanged Man's Bride beckons from the shadows of the past.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
A traveller meets a solitary railway signalman – and steps straight into a mystery he cannot explain. Ghostly warnings, fatal accidents and mounting dread haunt this faithful stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Inspired by the real-life 1861 Clayton Tunnel disaster, The Signalman explores fear, progress and the darkness beneath the steam-driven optimism of Victorian Britain. Blue Orange Arts delivers a tense, atmospheric production that crackles with suspense and psychological unease. Beware the signalman's bell...
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Teddy and Polly are lost, twenty-something queers flying from London to Shanghai for Niki, Polly's ex-girlfriend's funeral. This traditional mourning ritual celebrating Niki's life is on the same day as the Nanjing Massacre memorial (13th December). This brings up Teddy's own connection with the controversial historical figure, the "good Nazi in Nanjing", who has been haunting him since his breakup with his ex. Following these unresolved separations in death and misunderstandings in life, Chestnuts tells a story about friendship, migration, queer identity, relationship across cultures, feeling like an outsider and searching for peace when it never truly existed.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
A blisteringly brilliant comedy of two oddball men playing ping-pong in a rundown upstate New York bar. Their chemistry explodes with hilarious, heart-breaking revelations. Gus, a flamboyantly stoic professor of philosophy and socially inept genius, spouts jokes and pedantry. Chip is a goofy struggling music teacher and composer, whose life hangs by a thread. A spectacular, gripping, rapid-fire human symphony. Overall Excellence for Ensemble winner (FringeNYC). ‘Bright, funny and cathartic. An emotionally resonant buddy comedy for thinking audiences’ **** (Time Out). ‘One of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen’ (BroadwayRadio.com).
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Set in Scotland, 1848, Chopin’s Last Tour offers an insight into the year before the composer's death. In Scotland at the invitation of Lady Jane Stirling who loves him, it is the story of his life told through his feelings and music, with live piano during the show. Who was Chopin? What was he really like? Who were his friends and influences? Discover all in this production which has been performed to rave reviews in Edinburgh, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Avignon(FR), London, Tallinn and New Zealand. If you love Chopin's music this is a must see show.Written,Directed and performed by | Phillip Augheyfacebook.com/phillip.aughey
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
A gothic fairytale for the culturally confused. A Chinese exchange student at an American high school sees herself in Frankenstein’s monster – stitched together and out of place. When the drama club stages Cinderella, she auditions to prove her worth, only to find herself longing for the Mandarin rhymes she once sang with pride. As foreign stories glitch into nightmares, she realises: both the princess and the monster are dead. She’s neither. Critically acclaimed at 2025 Brighton Fringe: 'raw, eye-opening' **** (TheatreInBrighton.co.uk), 'refreshing and linguistically aware take on identity construction' **** (SoundBehindCurtain.com).
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
What happens when a diagnosis makes you a target? As the audience "checks in," a medical crisis spirals into a surreal chase led by Mike, a relentless billings collector. Through a kaleidoscope of uncomfortable characters, this show satirizes the absurdity of the American medical system. Wildly funny and deeply unsettling, it's a high stakes journey into the heart of a broken system. Hilarious yet harrowing glimpse into a future the UK may soon inherit. Created by viral sketch artist Stacy Price (Groundlings, Actors Gang) this show blends comedy with total chaos, leaving the audience asking: is this real?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
Claudwick is young, wealthy and heir to a large fortune from a noble family. Being raised in some backwater town, he decides to leave his ivory tower and invest in a renovated warehouse loft in Peckham, looking for the exhilarating, gritty urban life. The life he finds though, is not the one he looks for. Fairly disappointed, he starts to educate his new friends and neighbours to make his world make sense again. A sharp, satirical comedic theatre show on the choking reality of gentrification and the intellectual bewilderment of obscene wealth. Directed by award-winning director Katharina Boll.
Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Nic 9 (Nicolson Square Gardens)
Cluedo is brought to life in this fast-moving stage whodunnit packed with secrets, suspicion and dark humour! Six suspects are gathered. A murder is committed. Everyone has something to hide! This playful theatrical adaptation leans into bold characters, sharp dialogue and escalating chaos as alliances shift and accusations fly. Perfect for Fringe audiences who love classic mysteries with a comic edge, this is a lively, audience-friendly whodunnit where the clues don't always help... and the truth is rarely where you would expect it!
St Ninian's Hall
Theatre
'You can’t force someone to open up, can you?' In the aftermath of tragedy, a mother drowns her sorrows, one daughter lashes out at the world, while another soldiers on through the storm. The Laing family have been through thick and thin together but now lead separate lives. In the wake of Alex Laing’s release from prison, can they mend the rift between them, or have some wounds been cut too deep? Collateral Damage is a new-writing drama, tackling themes of generational trauma, mental health and recovery, through the lens of working class and queer Scottish women.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
The whole family gathers to celebrate Katherine’s birthday; her husband, her kids, her best friends and her brother-in-law. Her lovely, stress-free evening seems to be going exactly to plan, until her brother arrives – it would seem he did not make the invite list. He barges his way through her ineffectual husband, with the assistance of her enthusiastic children and autocratic brother-in-law and finds himself in the midst of a dinner party he ought not attend.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Come Back Home is a solo contemporary theatre work exploring ongoing grief and how the past continues to inhabit the present. It moves through self-criticism, fear and the unknown through absurdity and the logic of the subconscious. Through text, video and sound, Fadi Murad questions how loss shapes ambition, identity and the idea of return. The performance shifts between humour and catharsis, exposing doubt, ego, tenderness and contradiction, while asking what it means to carry home within you.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
(Fri 7-Mon 31 Aug) Common Tongue is a play aboot imperfect Scots. A fast-paced, riotous one-person show exploring the impact of language, identity and their intersections in Scotland. Bonnie’s life has been defined by words; the right ones, the wrong ones and the ones used against her. Now, Bonnie has a chance to speak about it. But she’s not really sure what she’s going to say, or how she’s going to say it. Written and directed by Fraser Scott (director, Athens of the North), this ‘quick-witted, damning, and gorgeous’ (★★★★★ CorrBlimey.uk) play is delivered with deft humour and big heart. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Every choice creates a universe. A simple conversation begins… and begins again. Slightly different each time. A word changes. A silence shifts. A life unfolds another way. In Constellations, time fractures and possibilities multiply as two people navigate love, loss, and everything in between. What changes us isn't just what happens – but what could have happened. Witty, intimate and quietly devastating, this is a play about connection in a world where nothing is certain… except the moments we choose to hold onto.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Curious about what it's actually like to be a teacher? Join Kelvin, a young, idealistic educator as he unsuccessfully navigates a teacher's day-to-day challenges, courtesy of the education system. Contrary to popular belief, teaching is not a calling. Countdown is a play that exposes what teachers go through on a daily basis and challenges the stigma surrounding discourse on teachers' mental health. Written from personal experience, it highlights the lack of support that teachers receive, demarcates the fine line separating dedication and burnout, and is a stark reminder that teachers are, at the end of the day, only human.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
An original piece making its international debut, Couture tells the story of an aspiring playwright and seamstress, who is presented with the opportunity to write for a major theatre company. Holding onto ideals about the intrinsic value and meaning of art, the playwright descends into a spiral of destruction fuelled by insecurity of not looking the part and grappling with what should be used for inspiration. The descent into madness is framed using discussions and visuals around fashion and textiles, with an absurdist twist, to highlight the overlapping complexities and issues found in the arts industry and in fashion.Cast | Charlie Bradstreet, Elodie Connellan, Martha MeagerWritten by | Charlotte BradstreetDirected by | Ché Powers
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
A modern Shakespearean tragedy set over one night in a shared kitchen, Cowards! follows the charged interactions between Daphne and Oleander, two masters of disguise who must conceal their feelings for each other as they reconcile and recalibrate in the wake of a recent emotional bombshell. Playfully engaging the audience through asides and modern spins on the classics, the pair dance around the elephant in the room. They are two cowards locked in a battle of wits, at their wits’ end.Written, Created and Performed by | K. Quinn Hamptoninstagram.com/k.q.hq/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
After too many romantic offences cost them their Dating Licence, Charlie is sent to the Last Chance Programme – a rehabilitation course for heartbreakers. Under the Intimacy Coordinator's strict supervision, Charlie is paired with Lou, an unlikely acquaintance. Together, they must pass a series of bizarre relational-exercises to earn one final shot at love. As the Insurance Office tracks every emotional leakage, Charlie and Lou begin to discover each other beyond the framework meant to contain them. Blending institutional logic with painfully human interactions, Crash Course is a fast-paced, absurd comedy about risk-free intimacy and what it costs.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Visit the heartfelt stories of a vibrant Italian American home from childhood hijinks to haunting moments of pain. A granddaughter pieces together her grandma's youth to solve a family mystery and reaches a deeper understanding of her own journey, uncovering a legacy of silent trauma. It’s a celebration of storytelling. All stories hold power. Shared stories unite us through time – to laugh, to cry, to remember, to heal. Our stories can illuminate our darkest shadows and free us from generations of shameful silence. Brazen resistance starts by simply whispering: 'Once upon a time...'
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
A clinic waiting room. Two Somali teens. One awkward meet-cute. Najma has been in treatment for years. Zakariya’s just starting out. She sketches. He writes poems. Neither of them is ready to talk. Until they meet each other. As their sessions continue, so do the chats. And the jokes. And the secrets. Crush is a tender, funny and honest story about identity, connection and the messy path to healing. Longlisted for the Tony Craze Award 2025.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
When Julia Atkin loses her big toenail, she gains an unlikely spiritual advisor: her Ukrainian podiatrist. In this preposterous, dark comedy, Julia revisits the worst three years of her life-medical mishaps, identity crises and giggling through grief. Crying At My Podiatrist blends absurd body horror with a reluctant search for meaning in the world's least spiritual office. Existential dread and unexpected tenderness collide in an Edinburgh Fringe debut.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
Tensions are running high at Wessex District Council! As Labour falters nationally and Reform surges locally, inside a struggling local council office three civil servants and their boss find neutrality increasingly impossible. Cubicle Dialogue is a sharp British political satire where Angie, a Conservative councillor, faces a choice: loyalty or survival. Private arguments spill into public consequences as local elections loom and the future of the ward hangs in the balance. Funny, biting and uncomfortably familiar, Cubicle Dialogue turns a council office into a microcosm of modern Britain – where ideology, ambition and insecurity collide.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
It's Wednesday, and Sam has found himself in handcuffs in a local field after a night of heavy drinking and mistakes. He decides his life needs a new purpose instead of romance. A new play by Oscar Buxton.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Cyn – set in 1995, explores the consequences of colliery closures on mining communities across South Wales. We follow Emyr, the sole drinker on a bleak morning at the village pub. He is the son of a miner, who's life trajectory had been scrambled by the closure of the mine. Into this sombre setting stumbles Simon, an Englishman who is out of petrol and, evidently lost. Over the next hour, accompanied by Max Boyce's music, the tensions between the two simmer as the past is interrogated as we look back and ask the question: Where did the heart go?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Power. Desire. Control. Set within a harsh military world, The Prussian Officer charts the explosive relationship between a young orderly and his commanding officer. What starts as obedience twists into dangerous obsession as authority and attraction collide. Ben Mills-Wood’s charged new adaptation of D H Lawrence’s story shines a fierce light on repression, class and the human cost of desire denied. With striking performances and bold direction, this taut psychological drama reveals how passion, when silenced, becomes destructive – a gripping battle between control and surrender that leaves lasting scars.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
After getting COVID, Spencer can’t stop telling the truth. Desperate to be "fixed," he seeks professional help. But as his clinical sessions unfold, Spencer spirals into revealing every secret he swore to keep buried forever. Like being attracted to older (much older) men. DADDY ISSUES is a bold solo show about identity, upbringing and what happens when the stories we tell stop protecting us.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Joel has Daddy issues. In a party of pick'n'mix participation, acclaimed Aboriginal choreographer, Joel Bray, hankers for his father and their lost mother tongue. Creating a candy-coloured world he folds and sifts his way amongst the audience, playfully seducing the room with a dollop of queer desire while prodding the deep cavities of colonisation. Heartbreaking and hilarious, Daddy is a provocative confection of conversation, choreography and (actual) cream. Joel soft-serves a sugar rush of spontaneous community where everyone is safe and licking is optional. 'Does performance art get more powerful and intimate?' ***** (Sydney Morning Herald).
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
Returning to the Fringe, Viva bring you this fast-paced, much-loved romp through 1920s girlhood by Denise Deegan. Daisy Meredith is off to Grangewood School for ‘Gals’ but she finds herself the target of a mean campaign of tricks and false accusations. Undeterred, Daisy launches into a mission of her own – to find the Beaumont Treasure – beat the bullies and save the school! An affectionate and hilarious parody, Viva’s Daisy Pulls it Off delivers a feel-good, charming and utterly spiffing show. Complete with a gripping on-stage hockey match and daring clifftop rescue!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Sophia’s family has always had a plan. A way out. A route to survive. She assumed everyone did, until she asked her friends, 'what do you want to do if there’s a catastrophe?' and they stared at her like she had three heads. Her family’s caution came from a real place, and multiple generations were raised with the mantra: 'You have to be ready to run.' Danger Plan! is part solo show and part cabaret, featuring personal stories, original songs, and dark humour exploring generational trauma, anxiety, and the absurdities of living in uncertain times.
Hoots @ Potterrow
Wee Container 2
Award-winning one-woman show, bringing royal scandal and the high seas to life. When Sweden's 19-year-old Princess Cecilia Vasa is caught with a lover in 1559, Europe thinks the scandal will tame the harlot. But Cecilia is just getting started. Condemned, filthy rich and yearning for freedom, she enters Renaissance Europe where war, chastity and men rule. Could friendship with Queen Elizabeth I of England grant her the independence she craves – or why not a life of piracy? Translated into English.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Dead Wrong is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls audiences into the aftermath of a night that may have ended in murder. Best friends Fiadh and Nolan have disappeared, hiding from the world and from the truth of what really happened. As fear tightens and outside pressure creeps closer, their bond is tested by suspicion, manipulation, and moral compromise. What begins as unwavering loyalty slowly fractures, forcing Nolan to question whether standing by the person he loves most is an act of devotion, or a dangerous refusal to see the truth.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Written and directed by John Brindley and co-directed by Georgia Emily Scott, performed by Amelia Sweetland, with an original music score by Polo Piatti. Dear Cathy follows one woman's struggle to confront the truth of infertility and what an out of the ordinary, brutal biology has imposed on her marriage, on her past life – and on every aspect of her future. An unflinching and unconventional look at the emotional toll of infertility and the often-unspoken mental health struggles that accompany it, this play explores grief, isolation, resilience and the pressure to remain silent around deeply personal loss.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
A woman dies in London and wakes in an afterlife divided by language. Assigned to an “English Heaven”, she must navigate memory, identity and belonging while slowly losing her mother tongue. Dear Lihua is a bilingual theatre piece blending English and Mandarin, exploring migration, assimilation and the emotional cost of translation. Combining text, movement and multimedia, the work invites audiences into an intimate and unsettling space between languages, where communication is fragile and meaning is never fixed.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Set in the early 2010s, four teen figure skaters rehearse for their annual holiday show, led by their bizarre and obsessive coach. They pray to Michelle Kwan, their god, for guidance. In the locker room, the girls navigate friend drama, twerking and IBS. When a blizzard traps them in the ice rink, reality warps. Their prayers to Michelle Kwan turn into violent rituals and life becomes a never-ending rehearsal… a never-ending ritual. A dark comedy about the beauty, violence and camaraderie of girlhood in hyper-competitive spaces.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Joseph, an abrasive pushing-40 talent agent, is awoken in the middle of the night to a call from his top-billing client – she’s on Catalina Island for a photoshoot without any of her wardrobe or glam. Joseph arrives at the dock ready to set sail but waits on one last thing: his assistant Fiona. Join Joseph and Fiona as they embark on a tumultuous journey aboard a failing speedboat in this comedic look at the divide between agent and assistant. Fresh off a sell-out run in Los Angeles, Deckhand makes it's Edinburgh Fringe debut!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
How do you define queerness? What was your first exposure to queerness? What does being queer mean to you? Define Queerness is a verbatim piece which explores gender, sexuality and identity within relationships, friendships and social pressures. Written using text from recorded interviews with two queer couples, Define Queerness showcases a variety of experiences and issues regarding queer love in an authentic and personal way. Built through a devised theatre process, Define Queerness aims to uplift queer communities and create a space for queer joy.
Venue 13
Main Space
1918. Debussy has died and is at the Pearly Gates waiting to be processed. Calculaties, a staff member at the Pearly Gates, has to decide whether his music was great enough for him to spend his eternity in the composer’s room, mixing with all the greats. This absurd comedy tells Debussy's history – from a less than fashionable beginning, to his attempts to implement a new style of music – Impressionism. Delivering Debussy explains impressionism in music whilst exploring this popular composer's personality, his circumstances, and his relationships and rapport with his contemporaries.Written, directed and performed by | Phillip Augheyfacebook.com/phillip.aughey
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Theatre Movement Bazaar returns with a modern Ancient Greek musical comedy set backstage at the Oracle of Delphi. Once the preeminent oracle, Delphi has lost patronage and needs money. Hope arrives with Imperial Secretaries from Rome, but the nefarious plans of the authoritarian Emperor throw the existence of the Oracle, and its retinue, into question. Will Delphi’s team bend the knee? Will loyalties fracture as fame and fortune beckon? Singing, dancing and mysterious vapours tell all. From the award-winning creators of Tiny Little Town. 'The gold standard in wry literary remakes' (LA Times).
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
From the company behind The Italians in England comes an extraordinary tale about democracy and dictatorship, told through Balinese mask, music and physical theatre with Edoardo Vanoni and Denis Haugh. Cycling through the countryside of a tropical island, an Italian tourist loses his way when his phone battery dies. He enters the home of an old mask maker and from then on a remarkable political story unfolds. This play explores the lure of populism and the common traits shared by dictators, reflecting the political realities shaping our world today. The show is dedicated to Alexei Navalny.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Is it fate that the Water Dwellers were born into drifting? Having once forgotten their choice to live at sea, yet later chose land – leaving both sea and home to become the first families to settle ashore. This performance, composed of body, sound and imagery, reveals how their wandering abruptly ended. Through whispered conversations with Water Dwellers on Hong Kong’s outlying islands – sharing stories once forgotten – it weaves lineage, history and imagination, piecing together fragments left between ocean and land, in an endeavour to return to the village left four decades ago.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
When icy blonde bombshell Felicia Frost hires Detective Blank to find her missing husband and a priceless statuette, he finds himself embroiled in a case that isn’t what it seems.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Detective Heartbreak, a detective trained in solving the mysteries and complexities of love and desire, tackles what might just be his most unsolvable case yet: why did Connor's Hinge date leave him on read? An offbeat detective parody tackling some of the biggest problems in the modern world; clowns, magicians and... dating apps!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
Do you know the story of Diana? Probably. But do you know our story of Diana? We very much doubt it. Join Diana in heaven as she shares the untold and untrue tale of her extraordinary life. Combining drag, multimedia, audience interaction, puppetry and queer joy, this unique celebration of the people's princess has won multiple awards and sold out venues across the world. A loving celebration of Ar Di that is as hilarious as it is ridiculous. From the creators of Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Ermintrude
The year is 2034. A city-demolishing asteroid is heading for Brooklyn. The government refuses to alert the public of the impending catastrophe until a boutique advertising agency can come up with a positive rebrand for the calamitous asteroid.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
‘May we get what we want, may we get what we need but may we never get what we deserve.' Around a dining table in East London, four friends are forced on a trip down memory lane. From Cabourg to Tokyo, past to present, they drink too much, laugh too loudly and await the arrival of the guest of honour, Mr Wolfe. Dinner with the Wolves is a satirical exploration of friendship, power and the costs of modern masculinity.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Dinosaurs begins when Claire comes home to an unexpected guest: a real-life dinosaur rummaging through her apartment. After retracing her steps, she concludes the dinosaur is a strange manifestation of unresolved trauma she carries after being sexually assaulted as a teenager. Claire then determines the only way to send the dinosaur back in time is to find closure. For fear that the very fabric of time and space could collapse at any moment, her quick solution is to confront her abuser, and somehow, what she discovers in the process is even more unexpected than a spontaneously appearing dinosaur.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
1848. London’s surgical golden age. A parlour room. Cassandra Thwaite has misplaced her new husband, Adelaide Hall wants out of the countryside and Maud Flemming is pining to go back. Three women, the wives of eminent medical men, endure an excruciating afternoon tea as the table is set for calamity. Tense, darkly funny and true to life, Disciples of Anatomy champions Autistic-led theatre through its protagonist Maud, the first neurodivergent heroine in a period drama. Anatomy is a nasty business, and if the past won’t stay dead, you might as well dig it up again...
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
'Side-splittingly humorous, completely confounding, and absolutely heart-rending' (Audience Review). Do Better is a one-person comedic drama with magic (a Dramagedy) that explores how we navigate life after unwavering grief. After experiencing unimaginable loss at 10 years old, the only way forward was to laugh through the pain and do a card trick. In essence, this is how we Do Better. Written and performed by Izzy Salant, directed by Peyton Ashby, produced by SpotCorp Events.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
Exhausted at the end of a late shift, Nneka, a junior doctor, is suddenly forced to navigate a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) conversation with a relative she has never met – about a patient she does not know – under immense time pressure. Set entirely within this single encounter, the play explores the emotional dissonance, absurdity and humour of end-of-life decision-making in a system stretched to its breaking point.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Modern day worshippers seek answers from the Oracle – the speaker of gods – to help them through their past, present and future. But how long will this support last?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Two minor characters from Much Ado About Nothing bumble their way through the plot of Shakespeare’s greatest comedy (suck it, Midsummer). The stakes could not be higher and their competence could not be lower. Will they be able to save the day? Will their friendship stand up to the stresses of their new position? Will the playwrights be sued by the Tom Stoppard estate? Find out in this raucous new-age classic full of heart, full of farts, and a treasure trove of easter eggs for Shakespeare nerds.‘A fast-paced, smart, and heartfelt buddy comedy’ (Metro Philadelphia)CastDogberry | Scott GreerVerges | Austin TichenorThe Messenger | Sami MaLeonato | Jeremy DubinDon John | Elizabeth Chinn MolloyHero | Courtney LucienPlaywrights, Producers | Michael Doherty and Will MobleyDirected by | Matthew DeckerCostume Designer | Rainy EdwardsProducer | Brian Isaac PhillipsStage Manager | Cole SweasySet Designer | Samantha RenoSound Designer and Production Manager | Robert Carlton Stimmelwww.dogberryandvergesarescared.comfacebook.com/cincyshakesinstagram.com/dogberryandvergesarescared/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
When a lonely man’s poo becomes sentient and begs not to be flushed, Patrick is dragged into an absurd odyssey through Brighton. As the pair flee Thames Water, encounter drag bars, fortune tellers and a sinister scientist, Patrick is forced to confront his own repression, loneliness and emotional constipation. Ridiculous, heartfelt and gloriously unhinged, Don’t Flush Me Yet is a surreal new comedy about friendship, freedom and what happens when a lifetime of blockage finally gives way.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
17 - 22 AugDaisy is lost in the middle of a desert rave. Your job: keep her alive, no matter what. Through a ridiculous, winding journey through every danger imaginable, Don't Kill Daisy is a choose-your-own-adventure comedy where the audience determines how Daisy’s night ends. And begins. And ends again.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
07 - 15 AugDaisy is lost in the middle of a desert rave. Your job: keep her alive, no matter what. Through a ridiculous, winding journey through every danger imaginable, Don't Kill Daisy is a choose-your-own-adventure comedy where the audience determines how Daisy’s night ends. And begins. And ends again.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Where do forgotten memories go? What’s the meaning of life? Why is this so hard to answer? Don't know? Well lets have a go! Welcome back for one last time to everyone's favourite quiz show. One lucky contestant will trudge through the trials of the evening in an attempt to enter The Tunnel of Mystery. Fast Snail Productions invites you to their brand new one man show that explores the power of memory, the pressures of living and the hope that love and music can give us. You won’t want to forget this!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Don’t Rain on My Parade is a bold, hilarious and heartfelt 50-minute cabaret-theatre show starring award-winning Highland icon Miss Lossie Mouth. Featuring hit songs from stage and screen, razor-sharp comedy and moments of moving honesty, it tells the story of a boy who loved a fabulous dress and grew up under Section 28 – turning shame into sequins. With council-estate courage, queer resilience and gloriously camp theatricality, Miss Lossie Mouth celebrates identity, survival and sparkle in an uplifting show packed with heart, humour and powerhouse diva spirit.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
With America entering the Great War, Private Sandes has finally arrived at the Western Front with just one problem. A problem that must be kept secret from the bumbling Sergeant... Sandes is a woman. Disguised as an American Doughboy, Sandes isn’t the only drag king in the trench. Bianconi, a desperate bachelorette, has come to No Man’s Land to land... a man. And Furse, an orphan, is looking for her MIA brother. With battle looming and the Sergeant’s second-in-command threatening to reveal them, the women have just hours to find love, family and themselves before all hell breaks loose.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Dr Jonathan Faustus is fed up with his life and desperate for the recognition he deserves. Cue the powers that be. In a vain bid to secure his glory Faustus turns to the occult. Experience the carnage that comes with literally... making a deal with the devil. Marlowe's classic, reimagined into the modern day (with one or two tweaks). 'An engaging version of the classic tale that keeps the message intact throughout its modernised adaptation' (Everything-Theatre.co.uk).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
In the darkness of night, scholar and monster hunter Van Helsing arrives at Purley Sanatorium hot on the trail of an ancient demon. Within the walls of the sanatorium dark visions are seen and bad dreams disturb the sleep of the sane and madmen alike. In the shadows a restless evil stirs, wearing the face of an angel of light. Descend into the madness if you dare and come face-to-face with the King of Vampires.
Central Hall
Auditorium
Dream Walking invites the audience into a multi-disciplinary interactive storytelling performance. Performed by Jordon Waters, Harry Waters Jr and Kevin Belisario. A journey in shadow work through your dreams. Each performance has a different ending depending on the path you choose (dream, nightmare, fantasy). Which path will you walk!?
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Dream Watcher invites the audience into a multi-disciplinary interactive, storytelling performance. Performed by Jordon Waters, Harry Waters Jr and Kevin Belisario. Are you awake? In the bodies of butterflies and of the inner child. They tell us what our dreams might mean. What is now, what was and what will be. Are you a Dream Watcher?
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
A woman travels through Europe to secretly pursue a man she hardly knows. Captivated by the sparkle in his eyes, she follows clues and misses him at every turn. A magical adventure about chasing love. Originally from New York City, Jackie is a writer and performer who has lived in Viareggio, Paris, and now Stockholm. Her solo shows and original plays have been performed across the US and on international stages. Dreaming of Max will receive its premiere at the Fringe, with a screenplay adaptation currently in development.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
The Sixth Sense pulls you into a world of decay and possession, following five fractured identities navigating darkness when guidance is absent. At it’s centre is Girl, confined to her home and to Mother, Dust, Air and Narrator. Experience our world of chaos and the original soundtrack that pierces through dimensions. This play insists on listening. On recognising. Dust is a story about the unstable sense of self and how we are shaped by our fortunate and unfortunate events alike. We invite you to sit with the parts of yourself the cracked mirror reflects.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
ERAS: no stadium, no backup dancer, no glitter (not much talent either). A woman traces her life through ten Eras. From childhood chaos to a wedding in Edinburgh, this solo show blends storytelling, cultural commentary and dark humour. Just one woman reclaiming her narrative. Set against cultural shifts from 9/11 to #MeToo to COVID and beyond, this solo autobiographical piece explores trauma, generational inheritance, addiction, academia, love and the radical act of choosing yourself. Blending sharp political observation with intimate confession, ERAS examines what we carry, what we inherit and what we refuse to pass on.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Enter the darkness. A single body, a single light, a universe unfolding. Espécie is an intimate and immersive solo performance where theatre and dance collide in raw physical presence. Stripped of theatrical artifice, the audience is drawn into a sensory journey through memory, instinct and transformation. Guided only by the glow of a mobile phone, the performer moves through shifting states where human and animal merge. Breath, silence and sound become the language of a body in constant metamorphosis. No stage tricks. No technical effects. Only presence. What happens when vision dissolves – and who is really watching?
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Alba Theatre
07 - 15 AugThe American dream meets the American nightmare on a bench in Central Park. TCTP's wickedly funny, shocking and heart-breaking show shines a timely light on masculinity and the need to escape our own zoo.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
A collection of searing monologues from contemporary Britain, each offering a distinct and uncompromising voice. From privilege and politics to identity, faith and personal responsibility, these characters wrestle with the beliefs that shape their lives and the society around them. Sharp, provocative and darkly funny, this acclaimed play examines the fault lines running through modern culture. Each story stands alone, yet together they form a striking portrait of a nation questioning itself. Bold, intelligent and unflinching, this compelling production invites audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and consider where they stand.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Strangers, eight hours, one connection they can't quite explain. Eight hours follows two queer women through the only eight hours they'll ever spend together, it might mean everything – or nothing at all. As the night unfolds, they navigate tension, vulnerability and the question of what if. Upon their first meeting, a fantasy is created between them but when morning comes they are to never see each other again. Is eight hours long enough to fall in love?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
The third child of Gaelic-speaking crofters, William McTaggart became one of Scotland’s most celebrated artists through sheer determination and hard work. What is his legacy a century on, for his country and family? Songwriter Elsa McTaggart tells the story of her great-grandfather’s extraordinary life and talent, and how it shaped her own creative identity. Made in the Outer Hebrides – and part of the Made in Scotland showcase – this visually striking new theatre show is written by Elsa McTaggart and directed by Fringe First winner Laura Cameron-Lewis. Production design by Robbie Thomson. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Where has all the whimsy gone? How can we find it again and at what cost? God, gardens and familial trauma figure prominently in this prosaic, philosophical two-hander all about the younger generation’s cerebral approach to life and love. From NYC’s hit underground playwright, Luc D’Arcy, Emma and Warren signifies a formal shift away from traditional theatricality toward simple situations, complex characters and fluid ideologies. D’Arcy is one of the first playwrights to capture the voice of the next generation – a generation that is only now becoming aware of itself.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
A funny, intimate solo show about people-pleasing, self-growth and dating after healing, Emotionally Undercooked traces Lisa Sa’s reflections on childhood, love and the patterns that shape us. From early lessons in performing to the complexities of adult relationships, Lisa explores boundaries, attraction and the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability. With warmth, honesty and sharply observed humour, the show navigates the messiness of emotions, the tension between desire and self-respect, and the moments that help us grow.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
With wicked humour and stories from his professional journey, LSE and World Bank veteran Dimis Michaelides highlights the contributions and contradictions of economists from the 18th century to today. How does breakfast get to your table? Who creates value? Capitalism: savage or tame? How do we justify inequalities? Why did students occupy the LSE? What was special about a loan to Colombia? Are economists rational? Why do they forget women? Economics is often revered as nebulous or simplified into populist pseudo-science. This show promises to explore the nebulae and expose the pretenders.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Set in Paris, during the 1924 Olympic Games, we see the struggles Eric Liddell faces around him in staying true to his principles. When given the chance to become the fastest man in the world, will his convictions buckle? Should he stay true to his beliefs? And can he bring home a medal for King and country? The production toured throughout 2024 to mark the centenary – including performances in Paris and the Royal Albert Hall. 'Searchlight elevate this from mere biography to an exploration of determination, ambition and faith' **** (ThreeWeeks). A winner.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
The play explores the power of the arts in general, and theatre in particular, as a tool for resisting the rise in violence and war in contemporary society. Erika is a Jewish woman born in Germany who now lives in Madrid. She is the director of a cadet residence and the central figure in the story. She is caught in a conflict between two residents: Adrian, who is preparing to enter the Spanish Army, and Khalil, a Syrian refugee training to enter drama school.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Welcome to Fairytale Land, the world’s most successful theme park, where happily-ever-afters run on a loop. Run by Grimm Corp, it exploits a dimensional rift, forcing fairytale characters to relive their stories for public entertainment. Enter Andie, who knows the park isn’t what it seems. With two documentary filmmakers, she sneaks inside, exposing the truth and daring a midnight character heist. But inside, nothing is straightforward. Memories shift. Stories clash. And some characters may not want to leave. Fast, funny and unsettling, this darkly comic show asks: Is escape freedom, or just another story we’re told?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Tr*mp got elected – again, the environment is fucked and capitalism rules. But this show isn’t about that – Eve and Adam explores a modern day woman, obsessed with enemies to lovers, seeking honour as a way to get back with her ex and wanting to right the wrongs of the world, in a desperate attempt to change the world by going back to the very beginning... to make Adam eat the Apple instead of Eve.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Inspired by online forums where people air their dirty laundry and seek vindication (or judgment) for their actions, The Clemson Players have created a comic romp through four true stories ripped from the internet. Are these characters guilty of being a**holes? Set up in a game show format, these characters go head-to-head in competition; each show is different as the audience decides winners and losers. Bee stings, mixtapes, exiled exes and a catheter bag (yes, you read that correctly), make for a rousing episode of Jerk or Justified.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
MJ dives headfirst into a chaotic and destructive romance with alcohol, driven by a deep need for validation. As her nights spiral and the blackouts escalate, the stories she collects become her legacy – memorable to others, but hazy or even non-existent to herself. Join Michelle Renee Johnson as she takes us into these dark and sometimes dangerous moments, leaving us to question: is it better to be remembered, even if the memories are unflattering? Or is it best to fade into obscurity? Directed by O'Neill finalist, Lila Rachel Becker.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
This foreigner hopes his genius performance gets him naturalised or deported. A dizzying solo that refuses to explain Sohrab's experience as an Iranian asylum seeker. A paradoxical autobiographical anti-identity, anti-comedy clown show inspired by Rumi's call to kill yourself. 'Unconventional. Undismissable. Unforgettable' (Plays Unpleasant). FORIEGNER is co-created by Koan Brothers (Sohrab Haghverdi, Benjamin Rosenthal, Mason Rosenthal). The show received the Al-Bustan Award for SWANA Artists and the Tyler Touring Fund. Mason Rosenthal is a founding member of Lightning Rod Special, the company behind Underground Railroad Game (Edinburgh Fringe First and Edinburgh Stage Awards) and a 2026 Creative Capital Awardee.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Two failing writers recalling a drunken night remember a stroke of fortune which motivates them to finish their play. However, as creative tensions flare and truths are revealed, the narrative of their own struggles takes centre stage… Famous Last Words is a darkly comic exploration of art and its place in the world; through narrative playfulness, striking visuals and dynamic dialogue, this original work aims not just to bring our stories to life but to show the real life in all of our stories.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
Join us for a one-of-a-kind adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Fear and Misery of the Third Reich in a re-imagined setting. Across seven playlets, this 45-minute performance will immerse viewers in themes of betrayal, violence, bureaucracy and dictatorship. Ordinary people struggle and fight against extraordinary pressures, creating an urgent and thought-provoking theatrical experience. This striking production allows audiences to reflect on the connections between the past and present and consider the importance of defending democracy then and today.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Fight or Flight is a one-act play with two alternate endings that follows the story of two trans men who find and lose love for one another. Showcasing 14 scenes in a non-linear timeline, Fight or Flight is sure to keep the audience on their toes! With a twist ending, the audience chooses the characters' fate. The jury are aware it is life or death.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Film Noir Frog, gripped by a dirty sense of morality, continues their pledge to clean the crime-ridden city. Finding themselves the number one webbed suspect of a recent arson attack on a city landmark, The Bowling Alley, they seek to wash the city with a slippery, slimy hard truth. With the whole of the morally ambiguous police force and their local pub against them, what secrets will they find amongst the rubble? How many prop cigarettes will they get through? Will Martha ever leave them alone? No, she won't. Screw Martha.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Experience a bold theatrical adaptation of one of Japan’s most powerful war novels: Ōoka Shōhei’s classic Fires on the Plain reimagined for the stage. This solo performance brings to life the harrowing journey of a soldier lost in the chaos of World War II. Through multiple roles, one actor explores the depths of war, solitude, and human survival. Explores themes of faith, dignity and humanity through the loneliness, hunger and moral dilemma of the Philippine front. A visceral, intimate take on Ooka’s classic, confronting the darkness of war with haunting clarity.Original Text by | Ōoka ShōheiAdapted and Directed by | Horikawa HonohPerformed by | Nagai HidekiPhotos by | Igaki Photo Studio (use courtesy of Toyooka Theatre Festival, Japan)www.setagaya-silk.com Watch Trailer
C ARTS | C venues | C digital
portal – on demand
'I know that life won’t break me, when I come to call, she won’t forsake me – I’m loving Angel instead...' Some say you should never meet your heroes, but four die-hard superfans are about to get closer than ever to theirs. Angel is a global sensation: chart-topper, social media goddess, the voice of a generation. She’s perfection. She’s family. She’s fantasy. Tonight, after the final show of her tour, dreams are coming true backstage. But in a world built on likes and curated connection, how real is love and fame? And who’s truly following who?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
It’s just a regular day in the Last Chance saloon, that is until foul mouthed regular Sam finds a bag of gold stashed away by the barkeep. The other patrons join in on the action, arguing over who is most deserving of the gold and what it should be spent on. They are quickly interrupted, however, by the most fearsome bandit in the west, and the true owner of the gold, intent on reclaiming his property by any means necessary... A farcical caper about cowboys, dynamite, and property damage.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
17 - 22 AugEttie Best Comedy in a Fringe Venue nominee – here lies a dark comedy about a long underrepresented group: grave robbers (covert-excavators). A twisting show which keeps you guessing and 'balances grotesque dark depths with pure, ridiculous joy' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). Grave-robbing can be a sticky business, so whack on your marigolds and observe this unhinged odyssey with marathon runners, ghosts and… Take That? 'The best show about grave robbers I’ve ever seen!' **** (PinkPrinceTheatre.com). One more dig and David can leave the game, but has he already dug his own grave?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
07 - 15 AugEttie Best Comedy in a Fringe Venue nominee – here lies a dark comedy about a long underrepresented group: grave robbers (covert-excavators). A twisting show which keeps you guessing and 'balances grotesque dark depths with pure, ridiculous joy' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). Grave-robbing can be a sticky business, so whack on your marigolds and observe this unhinged odyssey with marathon runners, ghosts and… Take That? 'The best show about grave robbers I’ve ever seen!' **** (PinkPrinceTheatre.com). One more dig and David can leave the game, but has he already dug his own grave?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Gwen Lally who? A visionary. Rule-breaker. Leader. A pioneer whose gender non-conformity challenged social norms and the societal expectations of her time. A cast of the famous and forgotten orbit around Gwen Lally in this reimagining of her life. Gwen Lally paved the way for future generations of artists and revolutionaries. Whimsical yet sharp-edged, 'Pageant Master' Gwen’s world is beautiful and broken; a delicate palace built on applause and dismissal. At its heart, this piece is a reclamation and tribute to a woman erased by the history she helped create.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
(Sat 8-Sat 29 Aug) Multi-instrumentalist Tom Oakes returns with Forge. Traditional music is set against live composition and improvisation, threaded with archive broadcast and new writing by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. Stories of resistance surface in sound and speech, carried in music that changes from night to night. Forge is a new work building the 2024 hit The Hearth, which was nominated for Best New Work at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe before appearing at major festivals including Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Stories. Everything we are, everything that exists, is made up of stories. But what happens when a story can no longer be told? What happens when we forget? Forgotten is a new one act play from first-time writer and director Richard Wright. This moving piece explores a world where creativity meets bureaucracy and asks the question – what happens to stories when they die?
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Dark humour hides dark secrets. Martin has always tried to deflect things with laughter (he’s even trying to make his therapist laugh). But behind the jokes there’s a frightened young boy hiding from the horrors he’s facing. This autobiographical dark comedy explores what happens when the laughter stops and you’re forced to explore the darkness that shaped you. Can Martin face his past? Nominated for an Impact Award at Reykjavik Fringe 2025. 'A deeply moving piece of personal theatre' (Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer). 'Genuinely heartfelt' (AllEdinburghTheatre.com). Writer and performer Martin Bearne has appeared on BBC Scotland.
Hoots @ The Apex
Hoot 3
How to find yourself in a bonkers world. With writer Lyndsay Lomax and director Courtney Beamish at the helm, three actors explore the ups and downs of identity in a modern world and all that that entails. Through a collection of new monologues and scenes, audiences will be taken on a captivating journey across perspectives that may seem both familiar and foreign at any given moment. This is more than a collection of stories about identity, it is a reflection of people living their lives, and the laughs and tears that appear along the way.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
When visiting her old gay best friend, Maddy is introduced to his new friend Steph, and sparks fly. One disagreement over Chappell Roan tickets later, and the two fruit flies find themselves sucked into a bizarre world where they are pitted against each other again, and again, and again...
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Writer-performer Emily Weitzman’s riotous solo comedy turns boyfriends into futons and lampshades, and breakups into broken chairs. A surprising meditation on impermanence, Furniture Boys is hailed by the Guardian (****) as ‘ingenious,’ ‘shimmeringly silly,’ and ‘ridiculous and revelatory.’ Weitzman blends theatre, comedy, clown, spoken word and furniture showroom in her search for what endures: a relationship, a memory, a sofa-bed? Direct from Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse, winner of Fringiest Show at Orlando Fringe. This ‘inventive, playful, and surprisingly heartfelt comedy... will surprise you with its tenderness and grandiosity’ ****½ (The Student).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Jersey
An inept lawyer, his strait-laced girlfriend, a Dutch polymath, two sock puppets and an asylum owner walk into a castle. What could go wrong? When the not-at-all sinister Countess Gagula and her manservant Igor invite Jonathan Harker to help with… "acquisitions", he and his gang find themselves thrust into a battle between good and as much evil as we can pull off under a 12+ age rating. Gagula: The Panto with Teeth! is a 50-minute romp through Victorian Europe, packed with jokes, blood and audience participation! It’s Dracula. It’s pantomime. What more could you want?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
An intimate, immersive performance about reclaiming the whole self through storytelling, embodiment and encounter. Gathering Stones traces the stories within us, shame, desire, longing, joy and more, inviting them into connection. Blending participatory ritual and live performance, audiences are gently welcomed into a shared experience where memory, sensation and imagination meet. As these parts gather, a more integrated, alive sense of being emerges. Both personal and collective, raw and reflective: this work offers a space to witness the full spectrum of self and return to a deeper sense of belonging and meaning. Step inside and meet your life.
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Studio
Genius? Madman? Saint? The story of Antoni Gaudí, internationally renowned visionary architect responsible for Barcelona's towering Sagrada Familia. The sell-out 2024 Fringe show written and directed by Stephen Callaghan returns with a revised version marking the centenary of Gaudi's death. As all eyes turn towards Barcelona for the completion of Gaudi's masterpiece and the case opens for Gaudi's canonisation, Callaghan heads a cast of three bringing to life the powerful and enigmatic events and characters surrounding God's Architect. ‘Acting is strong throughout... engrossing’ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com). 'Superb writing' (Derek Awards). 'Sincere storytelling' (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Fun and educational' (Scotsman).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
From nursery school to cocktail parties. Joyce Grenfell conjured colourful characters for our pleasure. Spend time with Lumpy Latimer, Mrs Fanshawe and George, in this timeless collection of songs and monologues.
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
Some might say Georgina is a narcissist, but she prefers the term Soprano. Trapped in the echo chamber of her own vibrato, Georgina is forced to confront her greatest obstacle: herself. 'Satirical gold' **** (Spectator). 'Effortless comedy timing' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). 'Loud' (her neighbours). Hysterical Soprano is her solo debut and magnum opus. Directed by Will Jackson. 'Thomas shows a huge amount of potential' **** (TheUpcoming.co.uk).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dexter
The best way to start your day: relax and recharge with chilled tunes and good vibes in our beautiful sauna theatre. Take time to recline on the benches of the UK's largest sauna with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound for the most immersive and indulgent experience in Edinburgh. Sink into the moment in quiet solitude or easy conversation as the music washes over you, fragrant steam caresses you and our Aufguss Masters circulate waves of delicious heat. A social space to supercharge your day with a natural high... you're looking HOT.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Ghosts of West Hollywood is a solo performance exploring the pursuit of an acting career in Hollywood and the personal cost of reinvention. Drawing on experiences of drama school expulsion, immigration, coming out, addiction and recovery, the show blends confessional storytelling with dark humour and theatrical flair. Set against the neon-lit mythology of LA, the piece examines ambition, identity and survival – asking what we leave behind when chasing a dream, and what continues to haunt us when we finally stop running. Orsini's work spans theatre and screen, including a cameo as Banksy in Ted Lasso.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
A true-enough, one-woman, cross-country cabaret-play. Drive across the USA in 2014 with one impulsive, weepy 22-year-old in a spray-painted Honda Civic. She will sing for gasoline, frighten bears with Shakespeare, try out vibrators in Texas, learn to smoke by Arizona and how to heal her heart by Zion. All while travelling with a stranger. Featuring radio hits sung live, Shakespeare proclaimed wildly, feminine pleasure found, and denied truths explored. Following a sold-out run Off-Off Broadway in NYC, Girlfriends is a play that couldn't help but wonder... when it comes to relationships... were they ever just... girlfriends?
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
From Scottish underclass to teenage Westminster career. An all-night chippy and town-centre tower blocks backdrop a prudish schoolgirl’s path to politics when she's seduced from her studies to the streets, in favour of plunking it and partying, before U-turning. Paved with pink shell suits, Playboy garms, and Britpop’s parting cries. A portrayal of ambition, social mobility and culture shock within one’s home country when you’re coming from benefits class Britain.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
A one-act psychological dark comedy about a Scottish sociopath named William, who believes his sole purpose in life is to fix the brokenness of the world person by person. We follow his dysfunctional life through his eyes, and we realise very quickly his tendencies, although wanting to be good, only end up creating more damage than fixing it. Through his picky nature we meet his next victim who ends up winning the game William didn’t even know he’d started, but in doing so, ruins her own life.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Five Olympian Gods discover that no one believes in them anymore. As they grapple with existential dread, dysfunctional relationships and much-needed family therapy, the almighty deities reveal just how human they really are. Bridging 2000s nostalgia and Greek mythology, this sit-com style show confirms that sleeping with your flatmates is messy – especially when they’re family. Written and directed by the exuberant radio host Felix Glanville and ‘dazzling’ (PlaysInternational.org.uk) comedy-actor Leah Pollard, ‘God Complex’ playfully reimagines iconic mythological characters as morally dubious everymen.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
A King defends their crown against all comers. A shop keeper fights the scourge of battery theft within his store. A man carefully traps and nurses the homeless back to health. Join us in the surreal world of Golden Beryl for fragmented monologues, absurd character studies and off-kilter narratives in the beautifully iconic Pianodrome Amphitheatre, Bruntsfield. An hour of classic tales from the Golden Beryl archives performed with a full cast and live music and foley. As heard on the BBC and your podcast application of choice. Think the League of Gentlemen, The Goons, Mr Show.
St Oswald's Centre
Pianodrome
Winner Solas Nua New Voices Award 2025. Garrick has tidied her living room and put out the good biscuits. But social worker Hegarty is there to interrogate. Why has her son got a mysterious bruise? Is she fit to care for him? What is she hiding? As power shifts and facades drop it becomes clear Garrick and Hegarty desperately need each other. A taut thriller, a struggle for power between a worried mother and concerned social worker. But who is telling the truth? A complex interrogation of parenting, power and what it means to care.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
24 - 29 AugA love letter to Educating Rita for an age that can't agree on anything. A fierce, funny and unsettling two-hander about grief, reinvention and the fragile possibility of dialogue. When mature student Susan is accused of transphobia, charged encounters with her tutor force buried grief and long-suppressed truths to the surface. Written by Lucy Linford, a TV writer and graduate of the NFTS and GCU. 'Her bruised characters twitch with hunger' (Colin McLaren, BAFTA-winning screenwriter).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
07 - 15 AugA love letter to Educating Rita for an age that can't agree on anything. A fierce, funny and unsettling two-hander about grief, reinvention and the fragile possibility of dialogue. When mature student Susan is accused of transphobia, charged encounters with her tutor force buried grief and long-suppressed truths to the surface. Written by Lucy Linford, a TV writer and graduate of the NFTS and GCU. 'Her bruised characters twitch with hunger' (Colin McLaren, BAFTA-winning screenwriter).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Clothes, cats and counterculture. Sheffield, 1989. Loveable, eccentric septuagenarian, Hilda, has run a second-hand clothes shop for decades. The profits feed 30 stray cats. One day, a journalist from The Guardian walks in... Hilda's granddaughter, Julie Flower, returns with her 5-star Fringe 2024 hit! A solo, multi-character show about family history subverting expectations. Step inside Grandma's shop, a nostalgic world of old carrier bags, pools coupons and vintage clothes... presided over by an unlikely punk icon. ***** (ThreeWeeks). **** (List). 'You will leave bathed in the warm glow of humanity at its best' **** (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
The last train of the day to France, 11:54pm. Three siblings embark on an emergency journey from London to the south of France, to be with their dad in hospital, experiencing some bizarre moments and encounters en route. This fast-paced, silly, tender one woman show will leave you wanting to tell everyone in your life you love them. We don't have long on this earth, let's make it count.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Navigating youth is a universal challenge, but with the constant threat of firearms, American students are faced with their own mortality before they stop wearing tutus to school. Fortunately, these kids don’t have to face this horror alone, meet the guardian angels of America’s youth: dragons. Created and presented by students, Guns in Dragonland is a series of vignettes exploring American school society and its shocking overlap with America's gun culture. Witness as these children and their dragon guardians grapple with the dangers of gun violence with humour, bravery, and compassion. 'Surprising and extraordinary' (David Henry Hwang).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A grief-stricken vegan seeks revenge for the death of a pig. First, he thinks for a long time. Second, he blames his mother. Finally, he wreaks the ultimate vengeance... by putting on a play. HAM is a kinky eco-hijacking of Shakespeare’s Hamlet about meat, madness and the power of shame. The 'vividly, viscerally alive' ***** (Guardian) Hotter Project twists this high-brow tragedy into a sordid wrestle between a vegan and a sausage-lover. As we hurtle towards the end of humankind, every one of us must decide: to eat, or not to eat? That is the question.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Hadid follows Helena Hadid, the one normal sibling in a hyper-famous family of supermodels and Real Housewives. After Gigi and Bella fall down a flight of stairs (they’re fine!) the family goes on a PR rehabilitation campaign that forces Helena to grapple with jealousy, familial loyalty and her own ambitions. This heartfelt, funny show is for anyone who has been rejected, anyone who has felt the pangs of envy, and anyone who has a well-known celebrity sibling. We imagine that’s a more niche audience, but those people in particular are going to love this play.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Halfway Home follows the rippling effects of addiction and confronting mistakes of a past life. Davie is just out of prison and cooped up with his policeman-hopeful brother, Freddie. Caught in the middle is Laura, an overworked nurse in an underfunded NHS, who finds herself at wits end with both of them. Perspectives collide on treatment and attitudes, in the backdrop of austerity-hit Scotland, providing a bold, relatable story of a broken family trying to mend themselves.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is the single play in the Western tradition that encompasses the central questions of existence that apply to all humans across social, political, economic, educational, environmental, religious and racial boundaries. Who Am I? Why Do I Exist? What Must I Do? Rooted in classical principles of examining these essential questions, it follows, that when we understand Hamlet, we understand ourselves. Adapted and directed by visionary Ukrainian theatre artist Dmitry Troyanovsky it stars Kevin Hopkins and Claire Nichols of the Australian Shakespeare Company alongside emerging professionals from PSC's 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive.CastClaudius | Kevin HopkinsPolonius | Claire NichollsHamlet and Ensemble | members of the PSC 2026 Summer Shakespeare IntensiveWritten by | William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by | Dmitry TroyanovskyProduced by | Prague Shakespeare Companywww.pragueshakespeare.com/hamletfacebook.com/pragueshakespearecompany/instagram.com/pragueshakes/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
(Fri 7-Mon 17 Aug) Hamlet has the questions. Do you have the answers? A prince of Denmark needs your help. Take on the roles, journey through the play and resolve the great questions of life together, immersed in the story as never before. From multi award-winning Brite Theater, creators of Richard III (a one-person show) and Deliverance. Starring Emily Carding, directed by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. ‘Sigfusdottir’s adaptation and Carding’s sensitive interpretation provide a shortcut to the empathy that many Hamlets crave but seldom achieve’ ★★★★ (Stage)‘Will leave you feeling closer and more empathetic to Hamlet than ever before’ ★★★★★ (TheFrontRowCenter.com).
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Hello Princess! The Princess Party Planners are here to make your day magical – nothing less will do. But behind the glitter, one performer starts to realise the fairytale she’s selling isn’t so magical for her. As her job intensifies, feelings become harder to ignore, and cracks in the fairytale start to show. Can she take off the princess mask and face the story she’s been avoiding? A funny and heartfelt dive into the messy magic of becoming yourself. Expect laughter, discomfort, and a tear or two – but no guarantees of happily ever after.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The journey to motherhood is fraught with the most painful and awkward moments for all women. This comedic and brutally honest one woman show takes the audience on an emotional and at times highly entertaining rollercoaster. From morning sickness to hypnobirthing classes to labour, you won’t find this stuff in the pregnancy books! No holds barred; get ready for a whirlwind of witty anecdotes and graphic storytelling with an ending no mother could ever imagine.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
A young woman is attempting her first STI kit and this clinical act becomes a confession. Their ages, professions, maybe star signs? She clings to these superficial information as if they might offer explanations for her “mistakes” or “poor choices”. While she unfolds the quiet power dynamics that shaped her sexual history, the nature of the question transforms: ‘He’s six years older than me.’ So was he and so was he. How is that relevant in this situation, in this conversation, in this performance?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Ian is the youngest man at his village church, which dwindles in numbers every year. When Ian finds a Stone Head, which only he can hear speaking, he decides to listen to its wisdom and build a religion of his own.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
His gut has a voice and it's relentless. A darkly comic ventriloquist show about a gut gone rogue. Half healthy, half sick, Hendrik performs alongside a sharp-tongued dummy embodying his illness: a chronic, invisible, inflammatory force, a dysfunctional double act turning against him. Blending theatre, comedy and musical elements, Quast argues with his puppet about shame and what spills out. Beginning as a classic act, spiralling into chaos: the illness doesn't just disrupt his gut, it speaks. And Quast listens: to his illness, to the medical system and to the healthy faces watching him.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
A hilarious and moving new play that explores the unlikely friendship between King Henry VIII and his Groom of the Stool, William Compton. Set in the opulent world of the Tudor court, this play offers a unique perspective on the complexities of power, loyalty and grief. Toilet humour has never been so sophisticated or heartbreaking.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
What happens when the Queen (really) wants her son-in-law, the Prince? Drums. Movement. Taboo! Euripides' shocking Greek tragedy, Hippolytos, presented in a poetic and percussion-based adaptation by the Burbank H.S. Drama troupe and its award-winning director. Witness this powerful choral work, inspired by theatre icons Jerzy Grotowski, Frederico G. Lorca, and Carol Churchill in telling the mythic tale of forbidden love.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
On the set of The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1939, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce tackle the mystery and the ups and downs of playing the famous Baker Street sleuths for the first time. They became firm friends on and off set – whilst becoming synonymous with playing Sherlock and Watson – for one of them, it would be "hound" on their back that they were unable to shake off, no matter how hard they tried. A wonderfully evocative piece, with music and songs from the era. Howls of laughter.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
Our heroine can't come anymore... While orgasms are the inciting incident (and an entertaining one), they're really an invitation into a much larger conversation about mental health, depression, shame and self-worth. This isn't a story about sex (maybe a little), it's a story about healing. Inspired by real life, Homecumming explores the taboos surrounding female sexuality with honesty, humour and tenderness. Her journey is messy, funny, sexy, vulnerable and painfully relatable. Through therapy, self-reflection and a growing desire to reconnect with herself, she begins a transformation – from caterpillar to butterfly – rediscovering her taste for life.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Art is the best revenge. The Off-Off-Broadway camp cult sell-out hit makes landfall in Edinburgh at last! It’s their umpteenth break-up, but this time feels different to artist and self-styled sorceress Mimi. The obvious solution? Sculpt an idol of her ex during a thunderstorm and top it off with the foulest love-hate potion alchemy can brew! An 'impish word-drunk play' giving 'big laughs and sharp plot turns with confidence' (Rob Weinert-Kendt, American Theatre Magazine), Homunculus is a classic farce in modern verse, a romance for the ages, an explosion of creativity and a monstrously good time.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Welcome to The Retreat, where guests can log off, detox and connect with nature (or perfectly kept astroturf). Five eccentric internet addicts search for an easy fix for their mounting problems, in the hopes that cucumber peels and trust exercises can buy back their happiness. When a violent storm threatens to uproot their plans, they are forced to question whether you can ever really go ‘off the grid’. Hope This Helps! is a satirical comedy by Shark Bait Theatre about wellness culture, connection in the digital age, and touching grass for once.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Dan's got a rucksack full of stolen weed and a plan that'll definitely work. Ollie's got his A-level reading list and serious reservations. They've been mates their whole lives. They're also becoming strangers. Set against the 00s music festival that swallows their town every summer, this gig theatre show tears into class, nostalgia and masculinity, backed by a live band playing original songs that hit like a headline set. Messy, honest and completely on your side, from multi award-winning theatre company Chronic Insanity.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
BoYz may come and Go, bUt hOrSes aRe 4ever... A dark comedy play about a group of pre-teen girls in an exclusive South Florida horse club, the Lady Jean Ladies, who navigate middle school drama, insecurities and their obsession with horses, especially when their leader Ashleigh's family stables are threatened. The play explores themes of friendship, deception and the desperate need to belong, focusing on the characters' intense world of equestrianism and social hierarchy. 'Pitch-perfect... a 50-minute pop descent into madness' (New York Times).
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
The year is 1924. Harry Houdini is at the peak of his fame, touring the country with performance-lectures that expose fraudulent mediums and challenge the growing Spiritualist movement. At the same moment, his friend (and eventual adversary) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is lecturing in passionate defense of Spiritualism, convinced it represents a profound philosophical and moral evolution for humanity. Watch these two legends battle out the true nature of magic, science and faith through a historically based, largely verbatim play from writer-director Beth Burns and writer-magician Patrick Terry.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
24 - 29 AugBzzzz. Enter the surrealist world of a house fly. She’s come to share her story before she dies! In an astonishing historical first, a house fly has learnt human behaviour. Wanting to warn us about the worldwide insect shortage but getting lost along the way. This is Tess O'Shea's first show after training at Gaulier clown school – it's a theatrical exploration on the life of a fly and their cultural history. Come and see a fly's observations on the absurdity of modern life, inspired by Kafka and the surrealism of Dali. Swatters strictly prohibited!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
07 - 07 AugBzzzz. Enter the surrealist world of a house fly. She’s come to share her story before she dies! In an astonishing historical first, a house fly has learnt human behaviour. Wanting to warn us about the worldwide insect shortage but getting lost along the way. This is Tess O'Shea's first show after training at Gaulier clown school – it's a theatrical exploration on the life of a fly and their cultural history. Come and see a fly's observations on the absurdity of modern life, inspired by Kafka and the surrealism of Dali. Swatters strictly prohibited!
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Tabatha spent decades dreaming of seeing her favourite reclusive musician perform. When the chance finally came, she flew from the US to London alone, ready for a life-changing experience. Her life changed for sure. After a sudden assault by a stranger, she was faced with navigating shock, confusion, and the impossible task of explaining what happened. In this darkly funny and deeply personal solo show, Tabatha examines the absurd mechanics of survival: how we process trauma, where language breaks down and why humour sometimes becomes the only way through. A bold, intimate story about resilience.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Grinding is hard when you're an Alpha. Between looksmaxxing, assessing female options, making body investments and being high value, there's barely anytime to kill your friends and do a podcast. PROD return to Fringe with a new dark satirical comedy. Six friends, driven by a divine intervention, decide to drop out of university and plan a heist. Strange and twisted things happen, leading to the creation of the new smash hit podcast: How My Hormonal Imbalances Killed My Friends! This comedy play explores toxic masculinity, internalised homophobia and pack-mentality. Four shows only.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
It's 2001. A naive young Australian actor arrives in New York. One man plays twenty-eight characters in this heartbreakingly funny award-winning play about 9/11 and chasing your dreams. Twenty-five years after September 11 changed the world, performer James Smith transforms from a hopeful Aussie to a weary New York lawyer to a British compulsive liar (to name a few), in a fragmented story inspired by playwright Emily Steel's real-life experiences. 'Beautifully told, deeply resonant' ***** (List). 'Go see it and take all of your friends' ***** (GlamAdelaide.com.au).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Five supporters of a fallen authoritarian regime are sentenced to group therapy to help them get in touch with their feelings and find out why they were, like... so into fascism. Cuz, weird, right? Like, we got the big baddies, no worries. But what about the rest of them? Like, all those, maybe, not-so-innocent bystanders? This semi-devised dark comedy from Berlin-based theatre collective great thing going proposes the perfect, ultimate, most supreme solution: therapize them into repenting.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Sam, obsessed with stars and stuck in middle-of-nowhere British Colombia, is given an out-of-this world opportunity the night of her 14th birthday. An alien (who looks suspiciously like her missing mother) visits and promises a whirlwind adventure with deadly repercussions. Escape isn’t easy, and sometimes you have to blast off in order to survive. If you want your mother to hold you, if you want your current life to go up in flames, or if you want the kind of revenge that puts people in jail, this is the show for you.
Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull
Cellar
Award-winning storyteller Kona Morris tells the astonishing true story of how she fell in love with a Native Alaskan and moved to a remote village north of the Arctic Circle. Grizzly bears, whirlpools, northern lights and the transformation that happens when you embrace the unknown. Hilarious, exhilarating, heart-warming storytelling that will transport you to the top of the world! And yes, you will learn tips for using an outhouse at -58°C. Winner of five awards from New York City Fringe and Theatre Beyond Broadway, including Audience Choice and Staff Choice. ***** (Frigid.NYC).
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
A woman of a certain age is forced to trace the unruly manuscript of her life when a hijacking shatters the ordinary. Life snaps, twists, tumbles. Fear, fury, faith collide. Old choices that sting yet refuse burial. Her fierce devotion to animals becomes refuge and rebellion, a way of loving without condition. Like a ghost walk through the Eternal City’s layered past, memory flickers as she confronts truths avoided about survival, reinvention and resilience. Gathering fragments of experience, she discovers that the hardest story to write is the one that begins again.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
This science-performance art show bounces from Jane Goodall’s discoveries to AI analyses of cat language to evolution and empathy, using storytelling, puppetry, singing, video and animal drag to ask how close we really are to other animals. From the multiple award-winning group that previously brought the musical Hiya Dolly! – the story of Dolly the sheep – to the Fringe. Ranging from personal experience with animal behaviour, to animal research so new it’s warm to the touch – this solo performance asks: what do we know about the minds of other animals, and are humans really that unique?
Dynamic Earth
Salisbury Suite
Boys, are you shirkin for a gherkin? Attempting openness while navigating the pressures of his troubled masculinity, Johnny finds himself off-piste in the world of spoken-word poetry. I AM JOHNNY is an unsettlingly funny, absurd and politically sharp solo performance that dives head-first into fragile power dynamics, performative masculinity and ownership of the female body. Blending surreal humour with piercing insight, this is a hilarious, raw and unforgettable interrogation of gender, class and vulnerability.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
One-woman show about a good girl who meets her soulmate, gets in way over her head, suffers a brain injury, starts an art movement, and comes roaring back. Forbes called this show 'All soul.' Kristina Libby is an award-winning creative force who has been published in places like The New Yorker, McSweeney's, Elle, the Boston Globe and has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS. A Moth StorySLAM and Best Storytelling Show (United Solo Fest) winner, she founded the Floral Heart Project, a COVID memorial, and runs the Ampersand Cohort.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
In this one-woman show, Sarah Dealy reveals something so personal, so vulnerable that you, Great Britain, and the world will never be the same. But she does need to go over a few things with the audience first to make sure that you aren’t going to judge her for anything she reveals. A searing personal story with twists and turns. Unflinching and raw... if she can get to it...
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Billy Mason, a working-class lad done good and now tycoon of the bar-snack industry, visits his soon-to-be pop star daughter, Mariella, at a strange hotel where she is dreaming up her debut album. Hopes of celebration and champagne collide with industry collapse, failing health and the looming steps of a god-like label exec which threatens to force them apart. Father and daughter are left asking: ‘What now?’, as songs, suspicion and surreal turns collide in this exploration of ambition and familial love.'Passionate, raw, full of emotion' Audience Review'Honestly stunning writing' Audience ReviewCompany | Abbey Gillett, Andrew Pearson - WrightCreated and Peformed by | Abbey GillettDirected by | Elsa StrachanSound and Set Designer | Lucinda Plummerinstagram.com/milkandmallet/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
'This is the story of how I killed my father. Mostly.' Between demeaning beer auditions and his mother’s relentless calls, Irving performs a bitingly funny, "mostly true" autopsy on his own masculinity. From the salt-aired trauma of Veracruz to the grit of Mexico City, he dissects a paternal lineage of absentee biological fathers and the ghosts of men who only knew how to leave. A visceral, darkly comedic excavation of what we inherit, what we kill, and the high cost of a graceful exit.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Problems in your love life? Never fear, the Bard is here! From wooing your first true love to consolidating an alliance with the king of Naples through political marriage, Shakespeare's got you covered. Join two professionally trained RADA thespians (Regular Academy of Decent Actors) who shall present you with an hour-long cocktail of the most famous Shakespearean couples to date. Whether a seasoned stage veteran or if you've never heard of Billy Shakes before, this show is decidedly for thee! There will be comedy. There will be tragedy. There will be Shakespeare!
The Royal Scots Club
The Speakeasy
This sleeper agent is on his most important mission ever. Only problem – he has no idea what it is. From the clown/game show creators of last year's Edinburgh Fringe hit Help Me!!!! (an interactive mime séance) comes I Was Never Here: a highly interactive, gonzo spy thriller featuring an overzealous secret agent searching for activation phrases which will help him regain sections of his memory. Play along, decode cyphers, answer phones and most importantly remember – you never saw any of this.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
INTRUSIVE is a psychologically charged drama about anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the weight of unspoken experiences. Set during a seemingly ordinary night with friends, the story follows Jess as her inner world begins to overwhelm reality. Blurring the line between memory and imagination, the play invites audiences to experience the unsettling intensity of a mind struggling for control. Honest, intimate, and unsettling, INTRUSIVE offers a raw exploration of mental health and trauma.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Jane is sensible, Sam is annoying, Harry is tired and Benji might be in love with an alien. A new sci-fi comedy following a group of friends as a meteorite lands in the local playground, kicking off an alien invasion. Set in their living room, the friends start to panic as more information is revealed to them about their impending doom, and accusations of secretly being Aliens start to fly about. It's a fast-paced, manic exploration of group dynamics and desperation – with a bit of ABBA added for good measure.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
In the months following her husband Zach's death, Zoe's life remains intact. She moves through the world with her happiness and her certainty untouched, accompanied by a man only she can see. As those around her insist on naming his death, Zoe begins to question whether absence is real or merely agreed upon, asking where existence ends when love refuses to let it.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
What might’ve happened if real witches dropped in on the witch hunts? Comedy, we’re sure. Summoned by the ghost of a witch hunt victim, real witches Mildred, Agnes and Suds arrive to rescue innocent Obediently Snead and serve up justice of their own. When challenged by The Pricks of Puritanical Piety Guild and Social Club, the witches turn the tide on those who harm others out of ignorance and fear. This riotous four-person comedy makes its way to Edinburgh after premiering in New York City and selling out performances at the Scranton Fringe Festival.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Love, sex and death – inside one woman’s head. This darkly funny solo show follows a middle-aged woman who doesn’t quite fit, arguing with her own unconscious about how to live. As libido and mortality interrupt her thoughts, she uses sharp humour to open a playful and revealing exploration of identity, desire and grief. Blending text, movement and flamenco-inspired dance, the piece shifts from comedy into a more physical and poetic space. Intimate, bold and unfiltered, it invites audiences into the inner voices we carry but rarely dare to speak aloud.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
(Thu 6-Tue 18 Aug) An incendiary retelling of Homer’s Iliad, sung through the voice of Thetis, Achilles’ mother. Two performers fluidly shifting: god/mortal, mother/warrior, goddess/lover, masculine/feminine, collapsing the boundaries of gender, power and fate. Love – maternal, erotic, spiritual – collides with the brutal machinery of war. Developed through international residencies and informed by artistic exchange with Lebanese and Palestinian artists working amid ongoing conflict, the production refuses nostalgia. Olympus is not distant; it is political, volatile, human. Nearly three millennia later, the epic burns with the same question: who wages war, and who pays the price?
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Imogen would rather stay home and knit, but her mother, famed mountaineer Clarantine Hilbig, pushes her to conquer the treacherous Flugelhorn in the Austrian Alps. Facing a disgraced guide, a boastful rival and an overly enthusiastic ghost, Imogen must navigate more than the mountain’s dangers. As she climbs, she confronts the weight of her mother’s expectations and her own identity. Imogen Up the Mountain is a Victorian-era absurdist comedy with a modern twist about family pressure and finding your own path – even while hanging off a cliff.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
In Her Hand draws on real journals and letters from women serving with the Scottish Women’s Hospitals in the First World War. This defiant, darkly witty play follows an unlikely friendship forged through service on the Balkan front. Through the pages of Francis’s journal, an unlikely friendship sparks amid chaos. Thrown together, two very different women confront catastrophic injuries, scarce supplies and constant danger. Armed with quick thinking, gallows humour and fierce determination, they forge a bond strong enough to survive the harshest conditions. Go Home and Sit Still? Aye Right! Ticket includes Surgeons’ Hall Museum entry.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
This 95th office floor houses the world’s hardest workers, where the highest productivity levels equal the greatest success, and one idle day means demotion. Melody, masterful at the art of high production, fights for her place at the top with grit and determination. Heated rivalry escalates with her fellow co-workers who are hell-bent on her failure, whilst she desperately seeks approval from her unforgiving boss. But as Melody climbs the ranks, the battle for promotion threatens to destroy her. Will she make it to the apex or will she succumb to the Institute of Perpetual Despair?
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
The gripping dark comedy of an ambitious Black accountant fighting for a seat at the table in the high-stakes world of Wall Street. Shortlisted for the Popcorn Writing Award, the show follows a man torn between love, family expectations, and the relentless pursuit of success, as he navigates power, class, and identity in a system never built for him. How far will he go to survive... and who will he become in the process? 'Degraft is marked as a star of the future' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'It’s a privilege to watch a young master at work' ***** (TheRealChristparkle.com).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
The gravestones of two friends pull a journalist into an investigation he hopes will bury the past. Instead, it unearths the harsh reality of staying silent, confronting him with the one story he refused to tell. Following his five-star run in 2025, Scottish playwright George Grant returns with this powerful meditation on identity and grief. Making it’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut, In the Cold Light is a sharp, funny and quietly devastating exploration of how we mourn – and what we leave unsaid.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Alex, a young man navigates first love, friendships and the quiet pressure of growing up. At school, between lessons and late-night messages, he tries to balance who he is with who he feels he should be. As relationships shift, the audience is drawn inside his private world, where every word is rehearsed, every silence is loud and what he thinks rarely matches what he says. While classmates see an ordinary student stumbling through young love, we witness his doubts, his hopes and the quiet struggle to understand himself.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Experience the world's greatest Aufguss artists right here in Edinburgh. Stunning choreography and extraordinary storytelling using steam and scent in a beautiful sauna theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound. Aufguss is a sauna ritual that circulates steam and scent through mesmeric towel waving as part of a story told through words, music, dance, scent and heat. Two different artists perform every day with line-ups announced in advance on @saunatheatre socials, featuring world class Aufguss artists from across Europe and around the world. This is theatre to captivate all of your senses.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Invasion, a bold multimedia spectacle from Philippine Theatre UK’s 23rd anniversary season, leaps across time – from the tense streets of 1940s Manila to the quiet corners of modern-day Oxford. Three mischievous spirits, a teacher, a lawyer and a nun crash into the present, pulling audiences into a haunting yet humorous journey blending horror, drama, comedy, music, film and history. At its heart is a stark look at Imperial Japan’s wartime atrocities, including the silenced suffering of Comfort Women. Guided by award-winning writer-director Ramon C. Teñoso, JoMarZeb explores memory, faith, loyalty and the lingering shadows of colonial trauma.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Two teenage girls stand on the brink of adulthood, their futures just beginning to take shape. In parallel worlds, both are pulled into wars they didn’t choose, can’t control, and have no voice in. As their stories unfold side by side, ancient myth meets the present day, drawing on both Euripides' Iphigenia plays to expose how little has changed. Their lives begin to echo and collide, revealing the enduring cost of conflict across time. An intimate, unflinching portrait of youth interrupted, voices unheard and the devastating human consequences of war.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Irene Cleans Up is about a middle-aged London cleaner with a remarkable palate for wine, and decades of social conditioning telling her to stay in her place. When a highly successful and fiercely competitive sommelier bets she can transform Irene into an elite expert, an unlikely partnership begins. As ambition, class and confidence collide, both women confront what it means to change direction later in life. Warm, funny and sharply observed, Irene Cleans Up is a new play about reinvention, female friendship and the courage to redefine yourself after years of expectation when it matters most.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
(Thu 6-Sun 16 Aug) The diagonal of the square is incommensurable with its side. Few words, but with unexpected implications: a number like this – neither whole nor fraction, thinkable but unknowable, wild, irrational – is a chaos element threatening the very order of things. The step from mathematics to heresy is short, and in Pythagoras’ time, mathematics could even cost you your life. A performance balancing mathematics and storytelling, where the story of Hippasus of Metapontum becomes an occasion to reflect on the role of mathematics in Western culture. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
We've all said things we wish we could un-say. Done things we wish we could undo. Broken things we wish we could un-break. But is one word enough to fix all our regrets? Acclaimed theatre-maker Adam Lenson returns to Summerhall with a new collision of gig, storytelling and autobiographical investigation. Moving from synagogue to school playground, from online feuds to family drama, Is It Too Late Now To Say Sorry? examines the way we apologise, the pain we carry and the opportunities for healing amidst the damage.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
A new comedy set within a police interrogation. When Tim is brought in for questioning, he knows he's in for the third degree. But nothing can prepare him for what the desperate detectives have in store! From cops undercover to rehashed routines, from skittish psychologists to a problematic polygraph, watch the insane interrogation unfold, as the police pull out every trick in the book to get Tim's confession! Will they succeed? Or will Tim walk free? And are there more secrets at play? Who else has something they need to confess?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Maggie is lost at sea after the Margarita Boat Tour Incident. Who even knew Edinburgh had one of those? As a storm closes in, her mother Judy and her fiancée Claire find themselves locked inside a lighthouse with only each other's opposing ideologies. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the pair desperately search for the person who ties it all together. It couldn’t get worse. Probably.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Six employees. An ordinary Tuesday in the office. One of them stole £60,000. To solve the mystery, the boss asks each of his employees to walk him through their day, leading to absurd recreations and ridiculous revelations. It Happened on a Tuesday is a new comedy play that merges the workplace sitcom with a whodunnit mystery, in the structure of Rashomon. In a world where everyone believes their own version of the truth, how can we ever be objective?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
When four Evangelical teens plan to convert citizens for their debutante ball, a closeted goth teen falls for a vampire, igniting a campy crusade of repression, romance and religious hysteria – forcing her to choose between her church, friends and thirst for authenticity. Written and performed by students at USC and fresh off a sold-out run in Los Angeles, It’s A Struggle Coming Out makes its international debut!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
For those who have ever wondered ‘whodunnit’ and why... Detective Tim Benzie examines the clues that drew him to the genre as a child – from Scooby Doo to Encylopedia Brown, to gobbling up the entire works of Agatha Christie as a teenager. Along the way he draws draws connections between obsessions with detective films the the TV series Murder, She Wrote.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Calvino’s stunning language springs to life in a cascade of trapdoors, surprises and reveals. As Kublai Khan feels his empire eroding beneath him, Marco Polo forms the slipping sands into the cities of the emperor's dreams. This adaptation in miniature casts a dreamlike spell over the audience using live projection, puppetry, paper mechanics and living sculpture as two performers manipulate tiny cameras on a small table. This show has been stunning audiences in theaters and barns across the United States, including a sold-out run at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.Co created and performed by | Matt GawrykCo created and performed by | Dan Kerr-HobertAdditional Artwork by | Lizi Briet, Bernie McGovern, Hugh Spector, David HawcockSpecial Thanks | Jenny Byrd, Chelsea M. Warren, Michael Gaudio, Bill Healy, Cristina Cocchi, Starshaped Press, Lara Johnson, Myra Su, The Jungle Theater, The Neofuturists, The University of Minnesota, The James Ford Bell Librarywww.toy-atlas.comfacebook.com/ToyAtlasTheaterinstagram.com/toyatlascity/
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
The Olympians have won the war with the Titans. The cosmos is theirs. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hermes and Athena find themselves in the uncomfortable position of organising everything. Roles must be chosen, leaders must be appointed, worlds must be created and cared for – this is not what they signed up for. Egos clash, relationships are stretched thin, and the Earth is in peril from day one. The universe might be doomed before it’s even begun.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
17 - 22 AugBased on the autobiography of Josiah Henson. Born into slavery in Maryland, enduring 41 years of unimaginable brutality and persecution before escaping to Canada. The play dramatises his unwavering resilience, determination and faith; the indomitable spirit which led him to become a respected leader, minister and teacher. His story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to create Uncle Tom in the seminal novel of the 19th Century – Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This is a story that matters today in a time when histories are being erased and challenged. It is a compelling true Canadian story of triumph over adversity.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
24 - 29 AugBased on the autobiography of Josiah Henson. Born into slavery in Maryland, enduring 41 years of unimaginable brutality and persecution before escaping to Canada. The play dramatises his unwavering resilience, determination and faith; the indomitable spirit which led him to become a respected leader, minister and teacher. His story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to create Uncle Tom in the seminal novel of the 19th Century – Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This is a story that matters today in a time when histories are being erased and challenged. It is a compelling true Canadian story of triumph over adversity.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW is the worst audition you've ever had. A Black actor, a woman actor, and a straight white male actor walk into a Shakespeare audition in a condemned theatre space. Amidst a riot outside the theatre, three auditionees attempt to impress an intensely respected director set on reinventing the play in "unorthodox" styles. As the audition unfolds, the actors' identities are called into the audition room and exploited for better performances.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
A grizzled private investigator partners with a dewy-eyed homicide detective to solve the mysterious murder of a journalist that dug too deep. Together, they work to outmanoeuvre the crooked cops and scheming politicians that deal in the shadows of Metroville. But will they finish the case before the case finishes them?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
When violent insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol on 6th January 2021, they ruined a birthday forever. Kiely and Jessie are best friends who share the same birthday and the same big dreams of theatrical stardom. On the fateful day of the insurrection, their birthday goes from bad to worse when allegations emerge of their involvement in the attempted coup. Faced with their special day going down in infamy and spending the rest of their lives in prison, can Kiely and Jessie sing and dance their way to innocence?
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Joanne has spent years working towards a life on stage. Neptune arrives there effortlessly. As their paths continue to cross, comparison turns corrosive and envy becomes obsession. In this psychologically driven solo performance, Joanne confronts the trauma, class barriers and survival instincts shaping her ambition. An intimate and unflinching exploration of burnout, neurodivergence and what it costs to pursue a creative life while carrying what remains unhealed.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Everyone has another face they hide behind... A radical re-imagining of Stevenson’s classic tale, where Victorian morality and modern feminist issues collide. This adaptation begins with Dr Jekyll’s wife, Harriet, continuing his work and exploring the duality of the soul – but her transformation is not all it seems. With powerful links between past and present, this gripping ensemble piece explores the timely question of how social change can be won, and at what cost. And crucially, do we all have a Hyde inside us?
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
After her mother's death, a British-Pakistani woman moves to Boston – where a 6'5" Puerto Rican hip hop dancer from the Bronx teaches her how to dance, how to take up space and how to battle. She doesn't realise she's being trained to fight him. A darkly funny solo show featuring electrifying hip hop and astonishing character transformations.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
Winner of the Creative Arts Award at the Proud Scotland Awards 2025, this powerful new play follows three unforgettable drag queens – The Jessies – and the staff of the infamous Jessie’s Bar in Scotland. Spanning from 1980 to 1995, the story dives into the highs and lows of queer life during a time of upheaval, hope and hard-won joy. Set against the backdrop of a changing world, this hilarious and deeply moving play is a celebration of resilience, love and the enduring power of community.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
'I've dreamed of this day. My whole life.' There's one hour to go before the wedding, but now the wedding may not be going ahead. From Lyn Gardner-recommended double act Britney – aka Ellen Robertson (Vladimir, Mickey17, The Pale Horse) and Charly Clive (Rooster, Pure, The Lazarus Project) – comes a brand new two-hander about ownership, tradition and the all-important 'L' word of any relationship: leverage. Praise for previous shows: 'Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson's wonderfully infectious relationship radiates warmth and mischief from the stage' **** (Scotsman). 'A surreal, sensitive triumph' **** (Independent). 'Funny, heart-wrenching and honest' (i Paper).
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Gacy was one of the most prolific serial killers in US history. Between 1972 and 1978 in Chicago, he was responsible for the rape, torture and murder of at least 33 innocent teenage boys and young men. He became known as the Killer Clown due to his public performances as a clown prior to his crimes. In this theatrical piece, his story is told from his own perspective in chilling, vivid and unrelenting detail. This production is in memory of the 33 who died at the hands of a 'devil in disguise'.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
One woman’s journey to reclaim agency after trauma, blending humour and heartbreak to transform silence, shame and survival into connection and empowerment. Between hook-ups, vibrators and Tinder, she navigates the chaotic hellscape of modern dating. With wit and no-holds-barred honesty, it confronts a culture of sexual misbehaviour while celebrating resilience and desire. Raw, funny and disarmingly intimate, it asks the unaskable – like whether survivors should wear matching sashes – and invites audiences to laugh, reflect and heal alongside her as she rewrites her story on her terms.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
William Brown requests the pleasure of your company in the audience for the play wot he has wrote, directed and also starred in for your delectation. The programme was supposed to tell you that: but Jumble ate it. I am presenting this theatrical in association with Talking Shadows Theatre, who sold out all their shows in 2025. They have also asked me to mention previous reviews such as: 1966 ***** (CounterCulture), Crime and Punishment **** (BroadwayBaby.com), 1612 **** (TheMumble.uk). Please tip the leading man generously (sweets accepted). Adapted with kind permission of the Richmal Crompton estate.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Engaging, moving and hopeful, this one-person show examines links between what magicians do and what child sexual abusers do – and how secrets can be powerful in positive and destructive ways. Based on the performer’s true-life story from 1970s Boston to today, Keeping Secrets combines acting, visuals and a magic trick or two. A riveting performance, the show explores how traumatic experiences can be transformed into positive action. Creator Jim Vetter has enchanted fans internationally as a magician, mime and actor. Preview audiences call Keeping Secrets: Amazing, riveting, raw, funny, hopeful and that it 'should be on Netflix.’
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Kill Your Darlings is a student-created, imaginative exploration of theatre-making by Horace Mann students. On the eve of opening night, a young director discovers the elements of theatre coming to life. Costumes demand attention. Lighting refuses cues. Sound interrupts scenes. Props wander, music swells, stage directions argue back. Acting, motivation, blocking and design become characters of their own, each insisting on control of the stage. What begins as rehearsal becomes chaos as the director struggles to keep the production on track. Through humour, invention and physical storytelling, the ensemble celebrates the unpredictable magic of theatre.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A real-life ghost story from an award-winning comedian. Kirsty bought a house. Sure, it was derelict. And in a dodgy area. And OK someone just died in it. But she didn't mind because she didn't believe in ghosts. She does now. 'The Woman in Black meets Catherine Tate' ***** (The Fourth Wall, Perth). ***** (Fringefeed, FRINGE WORLD). ***** (TheScoop.au). ***** (Fringe Benefits Podcast). ***** (Scenestr). Winner: Best Theatre, Adelaide Fringe 2026. Winner: Best Comedy, FRINGE WORLD 2024.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Work in progress of a new play, written and performed by Shaparak Khorsandi, based on true life experiences of her Iranian family, scattered around the globe after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Featuring original live music by Jean Delkhaste, aka Smiling Beth. Can two sisters from different generations hold the same inheritance without collapsing into resentment, fantasy or ideology?
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
How an unexpected cat turned award-winning monologist Bob Brader's life upside down. After weeks of hissing and growling from under Bob’s bed, his brand-new surprise feline, Jade, is determined to be alone, inspiring Bob to confront his own desire for isolation. A funny and touching examination of rage, love and healing. And how one impurrfect kitty can change everything. 'Storytelling gold!' (TheatreInLondon.com). 'Brader keeps the audience mesmerized with his dark comic relief!' ***** (Uptown Magazine). 'A must-see performance that will make you laugh, cry and just feel good' ****½ (London Free Press).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
When the last plane left Kabul, Afghanistan vanished from Ariana’s reach. In LANDSFRAU, the return of the Taliban and the withdrawal of the western troops in 2021 triggers an autofictional reckoning with war, memory and responsibility. Onstage, Ariana dismantles images of Afghanistan and builds her own counter-archive: fragments of family history, imagined pasts, longing and rage. Afghan folk music collides with electronic beats; Attan meets contemporary dance. Through a feminist lens, she confronts the quiet guilt of living safely abroad. Refusing explanation or absolution, this performance becomes a personal act of political resistance.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Turkish-Norwegian theatre-maker Guliz Portakaloglu travels to Edinburgh with her new show. It is a solo theatre performance where a former actress creates a theatre play through improvisation, using objects found on stage to reflect on love, home, and music, as emotions awaken through sounds and theatrical remnants.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
The women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service were crucial to the domestic and international efforts of the British Army during World War II. Over 250,000 young girls signed to the ATS: many working out of Larkhill in Wiltshire. This new piece explores their stories using verbatim testimony and contemporaneous musical numbers. Talking Shadows has a passion for presenting forgotten, true stories which have been described as being 'Not a dry history lesson but a living memory' (1966: ***** CounterCultureUK.com); 'Intense, emotional, excellent' (OTMA: **** TheRealChrisparkle.com); 'Wonderful' (1612: **** The Mumble). Sell-out shows 2025.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
John and Jeremy own a bar. Once their father’s, it now belongs to these two hunks of meat: the manliest men in town. With the help of a waitress, this team of three run the bar on lip-syncing, line-dancing and 7am pints. That is, until a name from the past shows up in town after years. Now, the truth about why he left is about to come out... Join an all-female cast in a geographically ambiguous US town in the 80’s, as they charm you with their impressive facial hair and ability to down a pint of Budweiser.
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
Half stand-up show, half play, Laughing Matters follows Chris, an up-and-coming comedian forced to throw out his material following the tragic loss of his girlfriend. As the audience watches his grief reshape both his life and his comedy set, he must figure out how to be funny, and how to live, without her. Fresh from successful London runs, Alec Watson's 'laugh out loud funny' (TheReviewsHub.com) solo show lays bare the complex and deeply personal relationship between a comedian, their material and their life. A bittersweet exploration of grief, creativity and starting again from a blank page.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Laughing Out Lonely (LOL) is a portrait of contemporary loneliness. With a universal relevance, and a tour de tour performance from acclaimed countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen, this thrilling new opera is a thought-provoking performance that pushes the boundaries of what opera can be. Created using English lyrics that are based on posts from young people on social media, and staged by Louise Beck as a theatrical echo chamber where the audience is part of the setting, Laughing Out Lonely is a compelling work that is relevant for audiences of all ages.
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
After the loss of her daughter, young mother Edna must navigate the shifting terrain of grief as memory begins to consume her present. Movement, music, dialogue, puppetry and shadow-play converge in this visually arresting production. Within the cluttered familiarity of her apartment, grief erupts amidst the mundane like the sudden chorus of a song: supermarket flowers, intrusive cold calls and the apparition of Launa herself. This is a world in which the echo of childhood imagination and devastating loss co-exist, asking whether we have to let go of the past to remain present with the living?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Summer 1916. Following a shrapnel injury to his shoulder, WWI Captain Edward Beaumont returns home to his devoted fiancée’s estate. Yet the peaceful convalescence he longs for is unsettled not only by the disturbing effects of shellshock, but also a new presence on the estate – one that awakens forbidden emotions he thought he buried in the trenches. Over a series of encounters, he grows close with new farmhand, Sam, and battles the boundary between duty and desire. Exploring war trauma and queer romance, Lavender is a must-see for history enthusiasts and fans of original queer media.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Hollywood needed a cast of thousands, David Lean, and won seven Oscars. Eamonn Gearon had a camel called Osama. This Oxford-trained historian spent decades in the Middle East – living with Bedu, risking his neck and uncovering secrets Britain buried with Lawrence. History and comedy collide; a sharper image emerges. Neither villain nor hero, but something more interesting. What was promised? What was broken? What would Lawrence make of Peter O’Toole’s performance? With the wit of a raconteur and authority of a scholar, Gearon reveals man, myth, movie... plus camels.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
The riveting tale of what happened to the Fool, who mysteriously disappears halfway through Shakespeare’s tragedy. 'A gorgeous, lyrical and heartbreaking variation on the themes of Shakespeare’s play...' (Scotsman). 'David Henry Wilson’s one-act play is a self-contained, self-imagined work of genius' (GlasgowWestEndToday.scot). A brand-new production, directed by Liz Carruthers, following the sell-out production by Bard in the Botanics, for which Nicole Cooper was shortlisted for Performance of the Year at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland. In this production, the Fool will be played by Jill Riddiford, who herself has twice been on the short list.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Friends. Comrades. Enemies... Caillte Lighthouse. The North Sea just after WWI. The story follows two keepers and their training of a third before things occur that question their loyalty, friendship and ultimately, their sanity. Lighthouse is a gripping piece that delves into the human psyche of trust, paranoia and greed with stylish, well-placed humour, jeopardy, suspense and a stellar cast. Listed by The Herald as one of the Top 20 Must-See Shows of Edinburgh Fringe 2022, Lighthouse will take you on a 50-minute journey to hell and back like no other. It's not just the past that haunts you.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
He's here to help! Exploring friendship, bullying and the concept of the clothing chair. Jake tells the story of trying to save a stray cat in an alley, and everything that came after (trauma, blood, tears, etc) all while he attempts to help some of you with your day-to-day problems in real time. Immediately inviting you into the living room of an internal monologue, Like a Good Neighbor is a warm, welcoming and hilariously self-conscious show about just that: being a good neighbour. Written and performed by Jake Alexander, and directed by Hayley Moir.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Joey’s 17. Joey knows everything. Except why Callie won’t call her back. Let her gut punch your funny bone in Likewise: a biting comedy from the trenches of girlhood. A hilarious, heartbreaking, and so relatable story about friendship, fighting dirty, and performing for the voices in your head. Joey is your winningly unreliable narrator, fired up and ready to speed run all the crazy things you do when you lose someone – and the even crazier things you’d do to get them back.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
The continuing adventures of America's second favourite orphan adventurer come to life in a live radio play you'll have to hear to believe! Join Lil' Miss Kate, Deputy Mayor of New York City Solomon Russell, Former Heavyweight Champion of the World Lucinda Sheraton, and that faithful horse companion Fiorello for all manner of old-timey adventures. Featuring live sound effects! Don't miss this hilarious tribute to the action-adventure radio serials of the 1930's and 40's that's Little Orphan Annie meets The Naked Gun.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
An experimental drama tracing three generations of men – William, Liam and Jack – as they confront the addictions that shape and bind them. Through interwoven timelines, folk music and a visually segmented stage, the play reveals how obsession, substance abuse and control emerge from the same inherited impulse. As Jack struggles to care for his unravelling father, he is forced to question whether love can truly save someone, or if it means learning to let go. Lineage is a raw, character-driven exploration of masculinity and inheritance that asks if we can ever outrun the ghosts of our fathers.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
Just before Fringe 2024, Linus Karp (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, Gwyneth Goes Skiing, The Fit Prince) was the victim of a homophobic attack. The case never went to trial... Until now. Linus Karp was hit with an umbrella. The attacker shouted that he would've killed him. The show retells the events and the aftermath – the police investigation, the public response, performing at Edinburgh Fringe days after and the heroic acts of Joseph Martin, and then dramatises the trial that never came to be... It's also funny.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Friesian
Fringe First winners return with a sweaty mustache of a comedy about the business of letting our dads die. With a dose of Kafka and 'A Christmas Carol,' Lions disassembles the myths our fathers told themselves about becoming great men. Part clown show and part deconstructed eulogy, Lions honors our fathers by not denying them the humanity they could not offer themselves. 'Lions made me laugh, cry and consider my doomed legacy' (8 Best Shows at Philadelphia Fringe, Philadelphia Inquirer). From the creators of UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME (Fringe First Award, The Stage Award, Obie Award, **** Guardian, ***** Stage).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
A post-apocalyptic tale of beauty, misogyny and bisexual baggage. Amidst societal collapse, Mila and Sam find comfort in their close friendship and budding attraction. It seems possible that the end of the old world could be the beginning of something better. All that changes when a strange man arrives. Joe is desperate for Mila’s companionship, and in exchange he can give her an artefact of her former life: a lipstick. As tensions among the three rise, Mila finds herself caught between Sam’s hopes of a better future and Joe’s offer of the safety of male approval.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
After a failed attempt to get Oasis tickets, a group of friends meet for another night in the pub. Once discovering The Hardest Geezer’s marathon, the group decide to walk the Fife Coastal Path hoping to achieve something in their lives. Will this adventure be enough to break their midlife crisis, or have they bitten off more than they can chew? Living the Dream is a Scottish coming of age comedy drama, exploring mental health, friendship and a love of the Scottish Coast.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
After a devastating loss at the last general election, politician Liz Wesleydale finds herself in a scary place – the Shadow cabinet. Desperate for attention and relevancy, Liz embarks on a number of campaigns in order to win over the public before the next election.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Four fast-paced comedies about love, life, murder and... houseplants. From dating disasters to domestic dramas and a good old-fashioned whodunit. Two Sides: a couple replay their break up, two memories, two truths, both are right obviously. Hello Plant: a woman finds unlikely relationship advice from her houseplant. I Wrote A Play: a mum unveils her "masterpiece" with an unexpected twist. And, award-winning whodunit, 15 Minutes To Solve a Murder: a period farce where everyone is desperate to solve Tubby's murder. Four Plays. Plenty of laughs.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
A Uruguayan model. Diana Spencer. The Doors. Montevideo. The future as longing. Collapse as an inevitable destiny. 'Come on, baby, light my fire.' Between image, memory and fracture, Los Años Maravillosos explores the distance between who we imagined we would become and who we were not. Through real archive, music and living presence, the performance moves between illusion and the wound of the real, confronting what remains when narratives we believed in fall apart. A theatrical experience about who we were, the future we imagined and the moment everything begins to collapse.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
Paris, 1928. A bent and squinting old woman in rags shuffles out of a caravan in a slum market. This is Louise Weber: the woman who invented the cancan, seduced princes and made the Moulin Rouge famous. Toulouse-Lautrec painted her. Journalists destroyed her. Nobody let her speak. Until now. A solo multidisciplinary performance with live dance, projection and theatre, Louise: The Last Dance reclaims the story of the most famous woman you've never heard of. Loud, queer, working class and unforgettable. She was leered at her entire life. This time, she gets to talk back.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
On a barge in East London, a polycule raucously celebrates the marriage of two of its members. All the while, Max and Mila grapple with the new shape of their relationship, which now includes five more people. Love, jealousy, Cornish independence and group sex combine in this outrageous laugh-out-loud, multi-rolling show about sexual diversity and the challenges of relationships (whether they’re with one person or five). Join Max and Mila as they find their way through: it’s messy, tender and real. Love (5 ways) will leave you laughing, crying and maybe, just maybe, swinging.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Inspired by the ancient Chinese myth of Nüwa mending the aky, Love in the Cracks explores the bond between a terminally-ill mother and her daughter. Seeking to extend her care, the mother transfers her memories and habits into an embodied AI presence. Through human-machine performance, the global boundaries of contemporary theatre are redefined as the nature of human intimacy, loss, and identity, are closely examined in the light of interaction with artificial intelligence. Ultimately the play asks whether In an age where technology can replicate memory and behaviour love can remain unique?
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Facing redundancy after years of lacklustre publications, lecturers Jackie and Kate hatch an audacious plan to save their skins – they announce the discovery of Shakespeare’s long-lost play. What begins as a harmless white lie quickly spirals out of control when they’re invited to perform the “new” work at the 45th Shakespearean History International Teaching Conference the next day. With no script, no knowledge and barely any time, they scramble to invent a masterpiece overnight. As their manager’s suspicion grows, their desperate improvisation becomes a farcical web of deception, threatening humiliation and friendship.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
All through the night, lonely souls call the hotlines at the Troika Communication Tower looking for something. Whether it’s sex, God’s guidance or a song for the drive home, the voice on the other end is there to provide – but as the night shift wears on, the roles she plays on the air begin to blur and the magic of the switchboard begins to unravel.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Experience a vibrant and witty reimagining of Shakespeare’s hilarious romantic comedy, Love's Labour's Lost, directed by the award-winning visionary Evren Odcikin. This heartwarming production brings the Bard’s sharp-tongued battle of the sexes to life with modern flair and infectious energy. Don't miss this brilliant meditation on the folly of youth and the enduring power of attraction featuring a dynamic ensemble of international professionals and rising stars from Prague Shakespeare Company’s 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive.Ensemble | faculty and participants of the PSC 2026 Summer Shakespeare IntensiveWritten by | William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by | Evren OdcikinProduced by | Prague Shakespeare Companywww.pragueshakespeare.com/loves-labours-lostfacebook.com/pragueshakespearecompany/instagram.com/pragueshakes/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Most people have an unbelievable, fantastical story from their life; the kind that makes others question if that really, truly, happened. Thanks to an unconventional life, Lucy Best has collected more than most. In this one-woman storytelling show, Lucy unpacks a treasure trove of hard to believe but true tales. Do you know anyone else who held a baby dolphin as it died? Or was expelled from boarding school? Did you know bisexuals are actually real? Pocket rocket Lucy Best will share (mostly) hilarious true tales about these things and more!
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
A literary salon in a sauna. Mellifluous phrases, magical worlds and radical ideas float in the heat as stories unspool in steam. Poems, extracts of novels, fragments of plays, sonnets, myths, manifestos and more while you relax, revive and re-energise in our saunas and cold plunges. Our purpose-built sauna theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound transforms into a luxurious portal to escapism. Let words wash over you; lie back, listen in and leave inspired. Literature has never been this hot.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Bear your testimony and watch your tongue! Luscinia brings Ovid’s Philomela and Procne myth to the American South at the height of the Great Depression. An upbeat folk-musical with a tragic end: this Gothic adaptation combines comedy and tragedy as sisters attempt to escape their fundamentalist cult. Who will sing when you’ve lost your voice? And who will save you when the Gods won’t? The girls will have to navigate their love and hate for the charismatic preacher, Bo, and decide if salvation and freedom can be found in the same man.
Venue 13
Main Space
Imagine 20 years of war. A war in Ancient Greece, between Sparta and Athens. Now picture Lysistrata, an ordinary Athenian woman who says, 'Enough war! We women will end this war!' But how? 'By going on a sex strike! Are you with me?' Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata gets an explosive, modern reimagining through protest, politics and power.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
A new play by satirist playwright Eoin Carney featuring someone who may or may not be Melania Trump, and which asks the question: why are we so interested in her? M portrays Melania from her early teens in what was formerly Yugoslavia, through her modelling career in Europe, and then in America where she becomes involved with a certain two-time President, right through to today, ending in the present moment. Carney’s other political comedy, The Last Days of Trump, touring around the UK and the USA, is showing at C ARTS this Fringe.Created, Directed and Produced by | Eoin Carney
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Leaving home to find yourself was a good idea until you lose yourself, find yourself and don’t know yourself All. In. One. Year. MNÁ (women) is an exploration of two women adapting to life following their return from New York. Francesca Garry and Jodie Sweeney take us on a journey of two women and the choices they make that ultimately shape their adult lives. Through the guise of humour and spoken word, we are invited into their worlds. Young, broke and trying to make it as an artist in 2026? Go see MNÁ.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Critically acclaimed, highly original adaptation of the Bard’s dark tale. Tragic yet uplifting, tender, raucous, poignant and high-energy. Set to a live score of Americana and bluegrass music, the multi-award-winning New Zealand troupe blend classic literature with a modern twist alongside original arrangements of Mumford and Sons, Dolly Parton and The SteelDrivers, creating an emotional, accessible, toe-tapping theatrical experience. Winner Best Theatre Award Adelaide Fringe 2025. Received multiple five-star reviews Edinburgh Fringe 2025, including: 'Fantastically gifted team' ***** (TheatreWeekly.com), 'Macbeth as you’ve never seen it before' ***** (MusicalTheatreReview.com), 'Bravo' ***** (TheWeeReview.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
This is not the Macbeth you know; he might be your neighbour. In this modern absurdist adaptation, Macbeth is no longer a character; he embodies the human condition. A Macbeth who kills for power, seeks escape in potions and chooses his mother's early death. Lady Macbeth is clearer-headed but unable to flee. In a collision between gritty realism and surreal distortion, and between classical tragedy and modern absurdity, three pairs of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth mutate across time and space. Two actors. Six souls. Fifty minutes. How do they descend into a midsummer nightmare?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Seattle is known for Frasier, coffee and tech bros. But it's not known for its history, and that's a shame because Seattle’s history is bonkers. It honours its founding fathers, but there is a founding mother who is written out of history books because of her trade: Madam Lou Graham. Join award-winning performer, Kate Danley, for a funny, fascinating, meticulously researched look at one of Seattle's most influential and erased power players. Truth is stranger than fiction, and you couldn't make this up. For You’re Dead to Me and Horrible Histories fans.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Set in a decaying attic by the sea, this radical reworking of Rachilde’s French Symbolist play traces two people entangled in cycles of violence, care and control. Language fractures between clinical detachment and intimate confession as survival becomes performance. Lucie constructs narratives to contain horror; Paul absorbs and repeats them. Outside, the world remains distant, almost imagined. Blurring tenderness with complicity, the piece interrogates how violence and pain are rationalised, inherited and finally, endured. Visceral and claustrophobic, Madame La Mort stages the moment where care turns dangerous – and escape becomes implausible.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Let the Magic Lantern Anthology guide you through future folklore and forgotten myths. Through the power of puppetry, science and light, puppeteer Jacob Graham lures you into distant worlds, aided by Michael Vandergard's light puppets, the art of magic, and strange physics. Explore how the world around us manipulates our identity and how the confines of our physical world can never stop us from taking a joyride or flying toward the stars.
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Max is eighteen, autistic and spiralling into outbursts that his parents, Harry and Miranda, can no longer manage. When a job offer poses a new beginning in America, it feels like a fresh start – until they realise the world they’re entering views Max as an epidemic to be cured. Max's younger brother, Daniel, is caught amongst these rising concerns. As the plot unfolds, Daniel’s own sensory world begins to fracture and he must face a terrifying question: is he more like Max than he knows?
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Make Yourself at Home follows Michael, a man struggling with agoraphobia at the height of his anxiety. After losing his girlfriend, Michael attempts to heal in the confines of his home. His need for connection becomes so dire that he starts to imagine his household objects as people from his past. As imagination and reality begin to blur, we ask audience members to investigate how trauma and mental illness intersect, how we can treat the connections in our lives as a gift, and how to move forward when that is taken away from us.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Man or Bear is a fast-moving, darkly comic new play about fear, friendship and survival inspired by the viral question: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? Blending kitchen sink realism, music and bold physical sequences, it follows three generations of women in the lead up to an act of violence. Rather than centreing the perpetrator, the play turns its focus to women's resilience, humour and solidarity, offering a poetic and unsettling reflection on modern day misogyny.
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Peter Mandelson, the Machiavelli of our times. His rise and fall, rise and rise and fall – and beyond? In nothing but his own words.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
(Mon 24-Sun 30 Aug) Shetland storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson travels across the sea to the UK’s most northerly isles for an hour of immersive tales – beautiful, sad, funny and magical. Told with Marjolein's signature mix of Shetlandic and English, enjoy the mother tongue of the once-Nordic lands on your escape to another world. 'Robertson is simply outstanding' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Hauntingly lyrical storytelling' ★★★★★ (List)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Award-winning Fringe favourites Grid Iron present the world premiere of Mayflies, a site-specific adaptation of Andrew O'Hagan's best-selling novel. Everyone has a Tully Dawson: the friend that defines your life. This tale of 80s youth and facing mortality in middle age is a joyous and heart-breaking elegy to the young people we still carry within us. With an epic soundtrack forged straight from the heart of the 80s, a former metalworks in Leith echoes the iconic venues of Manchester's music scene, providing an ideal setting for this love letter to friendship, and a pledge: go at life differently. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
Brown's of Leith
Rear Warehouse ((Tower Street Entrance)
An incredibly poignant and relevant production of one of Shakespeare's least-performed shows that will make you think about your own actions and how you treat others. Performed by the defending champions from the National Utah Shakespeare Festival high school competition and direct from a sold-out run in the United States.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
What is normal when algorithms decide? Data analysts synthesise the distorted live experiment that is ‘the Samsa family’. Gregor wakes grotesquely transformed — every movement tracked, predicted, judged. Is he broken, or just outside the data set? They measure behaviour, forecast reaction. If productivity defines worth, what happens when you can’t perform? Are we shaping society — or being shaped? Inspired by Franz Kafka's classic novella, this reimagining explores AI algorithms, manipulated lives, and human mutability. Am I normal — or just compliant? Step inside. Scroll. Accept?x.com/mortonplayers
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
Grief. Stars. Mums. Lasagne. 'Among the more than a thousand works on offer in the Fringe, Meteors is likely a standout – both entertaining and emotional, offering a chance for real connection' ***** (InDaily.com.au). Grief isn't part of the conversation. Especially not as a young person. No one knows what to say, so it's simply left unsaid. An acclaimed breakout at the 2026 Adelaide Fringe, Melissa traverses the messy, non-linear aftermath of losing a mother at age 20, the vastness of the universe, too many lasagnes and the search for light in the dark.
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Crackling with humour and vulnerability, writer-performer Cathleen O'Malley plunges headfirst and tit-deep into childbirth, milk and what it takes to be a nursing mammal in a modern world. 'A hilarious one-woman hurricane of a show' (RocCityMag.com). 'Brilliant' ****½ (AllAboutSOLO.com, Critics' Choice).
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
How do you know what is reality and what is not? Mind Full: new writing by Lewis Teckkam. This surreal, Brechtian and Beckett-esque play combines quirky humour with existential thoughtfulness. Conscience, Memory, Imagination and Intrusive Thoughts explore what it means to live in a body that needs help with everything. Except thinking. Entertaining, provocative and darkly funny, Mind Full examines society, disability, politics, and the arts. It questions our individual and collective responsibilities and hopes to inspire audiences to imagine real change. For the better.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Four teenagers. Twelve months. Endless possibilities. Four teenagers are ready for a taste of the real world before they embark on... whatever comes next. As they plan their adventures and start to figure out who they’ll be, a frightening realisation hits: a gap year can’t last forever. There’s so much to do and only so much time. Will they rise to the challenge and forge an iconic legacy, or crumble and question everything? Only time will tell... Filled with laughs, live music and a touch of pathos, you can't miss it.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Magic in the monotonous. Magnetism in the mundane. Weighty or wasted? Mind the Gap is a one-act play following strangers as they get chatting – by chance – in the churning belly of the London Underground. One unsuspecting duo nurses an emerging friendship over daily rides on the Piccadilly Line. Can such connections transcend their vacuous circumstances? Can the content of their conversations? Words unspoken between the rails, some sung by a live busker, screech questions about the world they live in and how - despite the trundle of the trains – it’s getting quieter.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Muse
In this queer-coded modern-day witch hunt, Eve, a woman working on the fringe of the mental health system, works a strange job that blurs the line between hired advocate and spy. Eve prides herself on professionalism, but Meda, her alluringly witchy, enigmatic new client, challenges her entire sense of truth and perception. On a sexy rollercoaster of ethical gray areas and spiritual awakening, Eve finds herself in the fight of her life, questioning the concept of loyalty and who gets to judge and ultimately shape reality, all in the midst of deep deception.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
The village of Acklesford is holding their annual charity beauty pageant – and you’re invited! While all eyes are on the stage, the real drama is happening behind the scenes in the storage-cupboard-turned-dressing-room. Will reigning champion Carmen hold on to her crown after the death of her mother? Or will newcomer Felicity finally shake things up? And does anybody know when they’re going to fix the village hall roof?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Three heroes. One dungeon. No dragons. They’re back, and this time they’re on a boat! Bottoms Up Theatre returns with Mistakes Were Made: Shiver Me Timbers! When the crew’s treasure hunt takes an unexpected turn, it’ll take all their daring to set sail... and to survive your dice rolls. You shape the action from the comfort of your seat in this exhilarating and hilarious show! This is Mistakes Were Made’s third outing at the Edinburgh Fringe and we’re back once again at Surgeon’s Hall. Will this magical tabletop improv show sell out yet again?!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Monster Made is the story of two people who could not be further apart. Amanda Crowley is an unyielding lawyer who will not be intimidated by a man accused of murder. This man is Thomas Duncan who committed a heinous massacre. He is guilty. Without a doubt, the case is lost. Nevertheless, Amanda wants the case. She does not want to win it, but rather to understand how someone can become such a monster and possibly set a development into motion that will finally change something. 'Monster Made is a captivating, psychological, intimate play' (Audience Review).
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
A vivid exploration of how three sheltered young women from a remote Yorkshire parsonage created some of the most raw, violent and passionate literary works of all time. Charlotte: the ambitious dreamer. Emily: the intense loner. Anne: the gentle, would-be social reformer. And their brother Branwell: the brilliant "lost" boy whose disappointments served only to highlight the extraordinary success of his sisters. 'Gripping and unforgettable' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'A cut above' **** (TheWeeReview.com).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Welcome to the hottest dancefloor in town. Our DJs serve blissed-out, body-moving beats as you flow between the ecstatic heat of our sauna theatre and a bracing plunge in our ice baths. The UK's largest sauna with state-of-the-art lighting and full immersion surround sound becomes the most chilled club you've ever raved in. No booze. No hangover. Just bass, endorphins and a natural high that leaves you energised and elated. There's no better way to turbocharge your day.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
Abby is the daughter of five mothers (mostly lesbians). Turkey-basted into existence, her immaculate-conception-adjacent origin story has always defined her. But when your conception is iconic, you become the mystery. Cue: identity crisis. There’s gay divorce, coming out as straight, OCD, Jewishness and Germans who fetishize it, and career heartache. And instead of going to therapy, Abby wrote this musical.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
By the receding of my gums... Something wicked this way comes. A comedic and farcical retelling of Macbeth from the witches perspective... If the witches were a bimbo shot boy, a klepto DJ and a drag queen. Set on an imaginary strip in Edinburgh, colleagues of Club Limbo, Mother, Maiden and Crone, are confronted with McBride and her heinous hen party who are soon to find out the dos and don'ts of queer spaces.
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
A basement in Sligo town, Ireland. An embalmer and a mysterious stranger. One of them wants to disappear, leaving no trace, while the other is desperate to be remembered forever. A brand-new play based on the extraordinary true story of the so-called Peter Bergmann, Ireland’s most famous unidentified man, who spent three days in Sligo town deleting himself and was later found deceased at Rosses Point, Sligo. A mysterious, comic tale exploring legacy, reputation and what it is to live close to death. Created by the multi award-winning Nth Degree Productions. 'Unforgettable' **** (Advertiser, Galway).
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
If you hear everything and say nothing, does that make you complicit? From multi award-winning writer and performer Susanna Hamnett (Nearly Lear, Hotel Elsinore), Mrs Macbeth is a new solo show exploring the complexities of integrity in dark times. Set in the aftermath of Macbeth's fascist rule, explanations are being demanded from those closest to the murderous couple, including Margaret, Lady Macbeth's gentlewoman, who happens to share her last name. Tragic, funny, and unsettling, Mrs Macbeth is presented here in a 50 minute version. 'A virtuosic performer' (New York Times).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Raw, chaotic, heartbreaking; much like motherhood. God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers. Of course, he could be everywhere, he's God, he chose not to be, he knew mothers have the hardest job. This dark comedy from Paris dramatizes the relentless nature of motherhood by following the often ridiculous but sometimes moving journey of four diverse mothers. The play opens as each one is dealing with a 'die or kill' moment of mothering. The acting is compelling, the writing is painfully funny and, at times, painfully painful. It'll change your perspective.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Winner of Creative Corner Festival 2026! If you can read this, you’re one step ahead of Hannah! With a mix of humour and heart, this autobiographical play sheds light on the misunderstood world of dyslexia. Get ready to laugh, cry and meet my BRIAN! Find out how Hannah navigates her way through life without being able to read the map. A fast paced, light-hearted look at the realities of a mixed-up girl in a world full of words. Hannah’s story is both relatable and inspiring, with heartwarming scenes, quirky characters and audience participation!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Carrie’s mum is dead. Her last wishes were for her daughter to drive her ashes back to her childhood home in Anglesey, Wales, to be scattered. However, there is one catch – Carrie has to take Aled with her. Aled is her mum’s secret boyfriend. Aled was with her for 8 years. Aled is a chatbot. 'Heartfelt and deeply funny' (TheOxfordBlue.co.uk). 'Quintessentially irreverent' (Cherwell.org). 'Radically human' (RoomWithReviewBlog.blogspot.com). 'Within ten seconds, the audience is genuinely captivated' (The Last Act Critic, Substack).
Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Nic 3 (Nicolson Square Venues)
Charlie Katz found true love in a prep school seminar on Shakespeare’s sonnets – but he let it slip away. Now a chance encounter has given him new hope. Is it ever too late for love? That’s the question posed by this touching and comic solo show, written and performed by Eric Daniel Weiner, the acclaimed six-time Emmy nominee. Touching on mental health issues such as dissociation, depression and rage, the hero tries to face his own role in his life’s unhappiness. At long last, can he make himself vulnerable enough to experience true joy?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
My Oh My, Mr Dream. He is older than stars, lonelier than gods and he has stories to tell – stories before the cold. From a cage deep in the dark, Mr Dream emerges. Ancient. Alone. Holding three tokens, three dreams. A sailor rowing towards the edge of the world. A king commanding an army of mice. A voiceless boy who speaks only to birds. You choose the order. He does the rest. Part dream, part ritual: he will watch you back. Be gentle with the tokens. Some of them bite.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Step into ancient moonlight and encounter Persephone as you’ve never seen her before. A daring solo performance blends Greek myth, dark humour and immersive storytelling to explore love, friendship, betrayal and power. Join the journey, dance with gods, from the living world to the underground, experience a story of rebellion and survival that’s as mesmerizing as it is unforgettable. Will she rise, or remain trapped beneath the shadows?
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Smoke, scent and steam conjure the sweathouses of ancient Scotland and the mysterious painted Picts who gathered there. Traditional sauna rituals invoke our legendary ancestors who congregated in the dark of underground shelters to summon spirits and tattoo each other with magical symbols. In the warmth of our modern-day sauna theatre, stories emerge like hazy memories in Highlands mist and the mysterious symbols and vanished kingdoms of the Pictish slowly reveal themselves. A show about how sauna rituals can connect us with traditions that history forgot, forged in heat and steam.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
There are lots of different Sara(h)s in the world. Some Saras are naked... Other Sarahs are clothed... Keep this in mind, and you'll spot the difference a mile away! This Sara has a lot she wants to talk about, and I'll bet $7,000 you like what she has to say. There will be lots of sexy talk, so I'll say this once – no prudes! And maybe leave the children with the nanny (you still have those here, right?). Topics include: sex, gay, autism, religion, family. Or, as I always say: SGARF! (Warning: no nudity.)
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A father dreams of dying. A daughter dreams of living. A seagull dreams of being human. Francis is caged in his home by devotion, duty and a devastating diagnosis. A seagull offers an escape: it will nest inside his body, take control and free his pregnant daughter from the burden of his care. But what begins as selfless sacrifice risks becoming violent surrender. An absurd, darkly comic new play with an electrifying score, Nesting is a visceral exploration of love, death and duty from Trolley Problem, following their sold-out production of Mistero Buffo at the Citizens Theatre.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Thrown together in one of the most horrific battles in human history, three very different young soldiers must bond to ensure the success of the military machine they are part of. If their bonds become closer than expected is it a weakness or a strength? When many of the freedoms we take for granted are under threat, Night Falls On Burma tells the stories of people whose sacrifices to win them are seldom celebrated in the ‘official histories’. Writer Paul Stone has researched the experiences of Indian Army and queer soldiers to celebrate our shared history.Written by | Paul StoneDirected by | Scott Le Crass
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Attie can’t stop dreaming of a fox-masked truth-teller who lives deep in the woods, a mysterious figure said to reveal who you really are. When Attie dares to summon him, he vanishes. As his friends struggle with a sudden social media ban, they follow him into the forest, hoping to bring him home. But the deeper they go, the more they’re forced to face painful truths. In a place where every truth must be spoken aloud, saving Attie may come at a cost. Will they risk revealing their true selves or lose their friend forever?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Written by Adison Schwab this original play follows Joe, a battle-weary soldier, and Willa, a firecracker of a nurse, set against the tumultuous panorama of World War I. As fate exerts its pull, Joe and Willa face the ultimate trial: the resilience of a love born in the shadow of turmoil. No Man's invites audiences to reflect on the unyielding courage of the human soul and the transcendent power of hope amidst the darkest of times.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
The thought of killing someone should be terrifying: if it’s your job, you’re probably in the wrong line of work. Months into an incredibly unsuccessful career, Brad has just about managed not to get himself fired, or worse… He’s been asking himself if "or worse" is worse than going back to Caffe Nero, but might not have long enough to find out. Fed up with beans for dinner, Brad swears that something has to change. Will he walk away with his morals intact, or crumble under the pressures of his “assassin" line manager.
Le Monde
Shanghai
A darkly comic, movement-led play about love working against the clock. When NHS call-handler Alice is swapped onto night shifts, her relationship with nine-to-five Ben begins to unravel. Using an inventive ensemble and striking physicality, the show explores exhaustion, intimacy and working whilst the world sleeps. Fast, funny and painfully human, this absurdist love story asks whether being loved means being seen and what happens when you disappear in plain sight. Perfect for afternoon audiences, Fringe romantics and anyone who has ever felt invisible at work or in love. Overnight.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
An experimental smell-o-vision play following Mr. Hollywood on a drive that may or may not be an escape. What begins as a simple act of leaving unfolds into a surreal, multi-sensory journey through memory, desire, avoidance, and inevitability. A blend of audio collage, projected visuals, live performance, and an evolving sequence of scents guide the audience through as external landscape and internal psyche collapses. Campy, poetic, and deliberately disorienting Nose Country for Old Men is like a late-night radio show that is as much about running away as it is about being unable to escape.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
A nose. With a dream: to be adored! To be a West End star! To be the hottest girl in the world! But attention is fickle and the crowd is already turning away... Nose Job is a wild comedic ride about beauty, disgust, what we choose to look at and how our gaze shapes our reality. A reimagining of Gogol’s The Nose for easily distracted times. Look. Don’t look. Come. Don’t come. What difference will it make?
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Two women. No names. No age. They are slowly losing their grip on the world – forgetting, fading. But they choose to go on a journey together, holding each other up. Along the way, they argue, fall silent, repeat the same words. No big drama. Just small talk, small gestures. Bit by bit, the quiet frustration builds into a fierce clash. Then everything collapses. This is not a story about illness. It’s about two people facing loss and still trying to reach each other. At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, come and see Not There Yet.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
Award-winning solo show by Elizabeth June (Blackish, Hightown), Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words is a dramedy detailing her childhood and clergy sexual abuse and cancer survival. All songs, stories, spoken word and stand-up sets are a testimony of her triumph over trauma. Explicit language and situations.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
'No, but how funny would it be though? Like, he turns up, and it’s just me – with my tits out. His model student.' Clara has a plan. It involves a life drawing class, her favourite lecturer and stripping naked in front of a room full of strangers. What could go wrong? A lot, it turns out. Funny and devastating, Nude is a solo play about desire, fantasy and the seductive idea that being seen is the same as being empowered.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Roll up your sleeves, and go under the knife as we enter into an anaesthetic world turned upside down. Like a live theatre version of the game of Operation – but make it trans. A work-in-progress by Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, S.E. Grummett, combining live-feed video, interactive surgery and trash puppets. From the creators of SLUGS 'Brilliantly smart and beautifully stupid' **** (Guardian), Creepy Boys ***** (ToDoList.org.uk) and Something in the Water (Winner of Best Theatre award at Adelaide Fringe), comes a glittery and gory dissection of bodies, queerness and identity.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Teeth. Talons. Toxicity. This brutal and hilarious one-act play was declared one of the greatest plays of all time for women. Set in an all-girls' boarding school, Numbers depicts a vicious battle of wills between four Sixth Form girls in the hour before a new Head Girl is announced. As the girls vie for the coveted position, old friendships and loyalties give way to ambition and betrayal. Nothing is too extreme in a battle which increasingly proves less about being Head Girl and more about how the girls' conflicting ideologies will affect the rest of their lives.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch... and for Maya the rain wouldn’t stop coming. Her parents are away, tending to her sibling in hospital, leaving Maya in a house that doesn’t feel like home. Her saving grace is a garage of junk left by the previous owners. With the help of her cat, she fetches stories from across town, bringing them to life. But when the town floods, she is forced to step into the real world and find her place amongst the community. Fringe First winners return.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
Nobody would think Eileen is capable of murder – oh, but she definitely is. She’s also probably a sex-addict and a pyromaniac. She cannot sleep for visions of hitting her sisters over the head with a frying pan. There are musical numbers encouraging strangulation in her skull. Hardcore praying is now her only hope – so she invests in the Bible, in the rosary beads, a full set of holy equipment. She’s quite happy to give up anything – anything at all – to cure her definite homicidal instincts.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
A migrant journalist goes live from a protest and breaks script on air. A fierce, darkly funny solo play about migration, motherhood and the cost of speaking up. Caught between neutrality and truth, Anna steps into a moment she cannot take back. Off Script explores belonging, language and moral courage in a world that rewards silence. An intimate, urgent story about what happens when safety collides with honesty – and a voice refuses to stay contained.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
Flight. Mode. The two most wonderful words... but even with his mobile blocking the outside world, can our desperate, overworked hero ever switch off? It's time to go to his favourite place: Offgridland. Just ignore the knocks on the door. And that slightly worrying internal narrative that he's actually just living in a sitcom. A frantic, claustrophobic comedy play by multi award-winning writer/performer, Paul Richards, Offgridland is the true story of a man trying to switch off from the perils of technology and, you know, other people.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Pickle Studio
Forget the presents – your presence is required. One Hour Wedding is a high-stakes, crowd-built ceremony where the audience are wedding planners and we've got sixty minutes to pull it off. From vows written on the fly to a first dance choreographed in real time, hosts Roz and Rachel weaponise their skills in music, theatre and event production for maximum chaos. The couple have said yes; now the theme, music, vows, dance are yours to decide. The clock is ticking, the bouquet is ready and this wedding must happen.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Friesian
From the Fringe First winning Mulberry Theatre Company, One House on Brick Lane is an original play rooted in East London. Set in a single house, centuries collide with the voices of past and present. In 1985, a Bangladeshi family faces eviction amid protests. Through stories told by Huguenot weavers of anti-fascist resistance, migration and community struggle, the house reveals its memories. Drawing on oral histories and lived experience, this powerful production asks who gets to belong when home is under threat. Created by young East London voices, it celebrates resilience, humour and collective hope.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
Immerse yourselves in two timeless Edgar Allan Poe classics. Arguably Poe's darkest tale, The Black Cat depicts an alcoholic's last confession on the eve of his death. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, an elderly man laments the loss of his love, when an ominous visitor is heard tapping on his chamber door. One Man Poe returns after sell-out runs in 2024 and 2025, bringing Poe's words to life as never before. Voted Best Overall Show at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 by the Derek Awards.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Discover two lesser-known stories from Edgar Allan Poe. First, in Poe's dark and comedic political satire on American capitalism, the dubious, "self-made" businessman Peter Proffit wants your vote as President of the United States. Then, a gruesome account of an experiment gone wrong, when a renowned mesmerist hypnotises his willing patient at the very moment of his death. Brand new for the 2026 Fringe, One Man Poe adds this more obscure, yet distinctly unsettling, double bill to its critically acclaimed repertoire of the finest examples of gothic literature.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Using the original Edgar Allan Poe publications from 1840s, award-winning storyteller Stephen Smith faithfully brings to life the most terrifying tales, from the pioneering Godfather of Gothic Horror. In The Tell-Tale Heart, we meet a madman convincing us of his sanity, whilst explaining a murder he's committed, with meticulous detail. Then, in The Pit and the Pendulum, we join a prisoner attempting to escape the various torture devices of the dreaded Spanish Inquisition. 'Could not have been more wow-ed by this 'marathon of the macabre'' ***** (National).
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A paper boat becomes the path through which an elderly woman revisits the regrets she left unresolved. Wrapped in humour and heartbreak, she finally comes to terms with her past.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Shakespeare's Macbeth is a violent and disturbing play. This stage adaptation contains some of the same disturbing elements. In this case, two high school seniors are plotting murder. Elizabeth, through the urging of her best friend Mackenzie and the supernatural intervention of three restaurant servers, gives into 'vaulting ambition' and surrenders to her bloodiest impulses. Like the classic play by Shakespeare that inspired this story, it includes witchcraft and 'prophesy'.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Someone has dropped an atom bomb on Copenhagen! With all-out war looming, one junior minister in the British Government must somehow stimulate a response from his hopeless superiors. There’s just one thing standing in his way: Microsoft Teams. Welcome to Operation Blank, the subversive dark comedy debut from up-and-coming Scottish writer, George Grant. Delve into this biting critique of modern online working, that weaves laugh-out-loud humour to themes of unfulfillment and existential dread. It’s the show where nothing happens, and nothing has ever been more entertaining. Leading Light Prize nominee, Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe 2025.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
A powerful new piece of verbatim theatre, inspired by the wartime diary of Welsh paratrooper Neville Neads, captured during the 1944 operation of the same name. Offering a raw, personal perspective on war, identity and survival as a prisoner of war, the show centres the real testimony of the often-overlooked foot soldier. This is a story of resilience and remembrance, told from the ground up. Drawn directly from Neads’ own diary and letters to his fiancée, the production traces his experience and that of his comrades during almost a year in captivity.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Operotica: The UK's premier kinky opera duo. Classically trained, fetish-approved and, as of yesterday, dead. Their bodies are cold, but their spirits are restless. Join psychic extraordinaire Séayoncé for a journey through Operotica's many past lives. From star-crossed nuns to 18th-century ladies-in-waiting, these theatrical reincarnations reveal the true purpose of history's horniest souls. Will their story of love after death be the greatest (and sexiest) ever told? Witness a haunting that will tear down the opera house and transport you through time.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
William Shakespeare's Othello performed by the Prague Shakespeare Company. Directed by PSC Artistic Director Guy Roberts and Rosie Ward it stars Aldo Billingslea as Othello, Matthew Radford Davies as Iago, with Rosie Ward as Desdemona, Carolyn Johnson as Emilia, and Jim Johnson as Brabantio alongside emerging professionals from Prague Shakespeare Company's 2026 Summer Shakespeare Intensive. Othello, is an astonishing epic of sweeping passions and murderous ambition – a thrilling meditation on the power of love and the destructiveness of suspicion, all triggered by one of literature’s most seductively manipulative villains.CastOthello | Aldo BillingsleaIago | Matthew Radford DaviesDesdemona | Rosie WardEmilia | Carolyn JohnsonBrabantio | Jim JohnsonEnsemble | members of the PSC 2026 Summer Shakespeare IntensiveWritten by | William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by | Guy Roberts and Rosie WardProduced by | Prague Shakespeare CompanyOriginal Music Composed by | Patrick Neil Doylewww.pragueshakespeare.com/othellofacebook.com/pragueshakespearecompany/instagram.com/pragueshakes/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Follows a young woman named Deniz facing afflictions of sexual assault by her boyfriend Emir, coinciding with the withdrawal of the Istanbul Convention. This treaty signed in Istanbul is relevant across Europe, meant to protect women from sexual and domestic violence. Otuz bir (31) is a slang word that means to masturbate in Turkish. Turks laugh and see it as a joke, but like every joke, it carries a dark truth. Otuz Bir tells the story of Deniz’s journey exploring masturbation as a means to heal sexual trauma by meeting her vagina (yes, literally!) and reconnecting with herself.
Venue 13
Main Space
(Wed 26-Sun 30 Aug) England, 1945. The lives of two strangers are changed forever by a chance meeting at a railway station. But this isn't Brief Encounter... We're all extras in the lives of others, but the stars of our own. What happens when you pan the camera away from the leading players? Mark Kydd’s solo show turns the spotlight onto a supporting artist with his own surprising tale of first, forbidden love. Our Martin in the Background is the queer love story Noël Coward didn't write. ★★★★ (Scotsman)★★★★ (QueerGuru.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
With brutality and humour, Boaz Barkan digs into a living body to uncover a new organ – the place where our racism resides. Our Other Organ dissects antisemitism and its impact on Jewish identity, culminating in the creation of a new Zionist body and structures of violence and domination. The performance explores the anatomy of victims and oppressors as simultaneous conditions within the same body. Moving through bodies and time, it connects personal histories to collective trauma, tracing how oppression is embodied, reproduced and transformed into systems of power, fear and ultimately, genocide.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
School is a nightmare, boys are infuriating and Maccies is the only place open after 6pm. Growing up isn’t easy, but it’s even harder when you are from a place where no one expects anything of you. Especially if you’re queer or the new girl at school. Beth, Rachel, Zahidah, Ellie and Chloe are stuck: stuck in their drama group, stuck in school and stuck in their small town. Gossip, chaos and brutal honesty build into a funny, painfully familiar look at friendship, sexuality and teenage girlhood in a town that feels far too small.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
In 1974, with the Troubles escalating in Northern Ireland, two bombs explode in Birmingham – the biggest mass murder the UK had ever seen. Six Irishmen are given 21 life sentences and left to die in prison as the most despised convicts in history. It would take superhuman strength and indomitable courage for them to prove their innocence. They found it in a diminutive giant called Paddy Joe Hill. This is his astonishing, uplifting true story of redemption against seemingly insurmountable odds.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Guy prepares himself for a bondage session with his Grindr hook-up, the alluring but elusive Fabio. Once the chains are on, there’s no escape – certainly not from Guy’s problems. As the minutes tick by, Guy must face a reckoning with all the responsibilities of his life. It’s Pillion without motorbikes; Gerald’s Game without Gerald; Locke with locks! Revealing, exposing comedy drama. Sex positive, life negative. Definitely adults only.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Haunted by his family's past, Vincent van Gogh wrestles with his demons in the coal mines of southern Belgium in order to find his true voice as an artist. In this one-man play, Theo van Gogh shares his perspective with his wife, Johanna, recounting Vincent's childhood in Zundert, the influence of Les Misérables, Vincent's ministry in the coal mines, his mental insecurities, and his ultimate decision to pick up the brush. With keen specificity, actor Joe Coffey brings multiple characters to life to share this unknown tale of Vincent's earlier years.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
An absurd piece exploring themes around immigration, patriotism and what it means to belong. The project takes both inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic work of fiction Alice in Wonderland, and the reality of the past six months, where we have seen a rise in overt nationalism. In the words of Carroll; ‘the time has come,’ the walrus said, ‘to talk of many things: of shoes and ships, and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings'.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Pajama Talks is a coming-of-age story following childhood best friends Abby and Nina as they relive memories of their sleepovers. Together they are forced to confront their friendship, their girlhood and their personal identity. The show examines the joys and hardships of growing up and grief in all forms, asking the question: Are the people we’ve loved and lost still with us? A play about platonic love, figuring out life and existential conversations in the middle of the night.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A spiralling woman finds herself accidentally attending a children's origami class, where she has to endure paper cuts, screaming children and her inability to fold a piece of paper. Will she crumple under the pressure?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Step into a Parisian cafe – relive the music, romance and glamour of the Jazz Age through the eyes of chanteuse Eloise DeFleur and her talented band. Featuring vintage swing, evocative chanson and timeless classics performed live, this stylish cabaret transports audiences to the smoky clubs of 1930s Paris and beyond. 'As Eloise, Airlie Scott sparkles like a coupe of champagne at one of Gatsby’s shindigs' (GetYourCoatsOn.com). The five-star reviewed show blends storytelling, music and charm.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Porn star wannabe, retired accountant, Croatian student on a gap year, Christian proselytizer and a drag queen in training. We all live and work together in a remote corner of one of America’s most beautiful national parks. Parkies is a train wreck of humour, mischief and intrigue. Come take a look at what happens when this land of misfit toys collides with greedy corporate America and the National Park Service.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
They say you should never meet your hero. My hero should never have met me. Lizzy is 27 years old and packing up her Dublin hovel to move back in with ‘Daddy Dearest’, which was not the plan. Inspired by the feared and radical investigative journalist Margo Murphy, Lizzy has only ever wanted one thing: to humiliate bullies in the national press. Even if she must work two jobs and rent a mouldy room for €800 a month, she’ll do it. Except it's 2026, and hard work gets you nowhere, so she’ll need to be ruthless…Written and performed by | Neysa KilleenDirected by | Licie Woodfacebook.com/paywall2026instagram.com/paywall_2026/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
London, 1969. Albie, an anxious out-of-work actor, is caught between the suffocating affections of an older playwright and the chaotic influence of his roommate, Turner. When a chance encounter at the cinema leads him to Peggy Day, Albie seizes the opportunity to reinvent himself. But as one night spirals into a farcical web of lies, and with Albie disastrously out of his depth, Turner begins to suspect Peggy may not be what she seems. A dark, off-beat comedy backdropped by 1960s Soho, Peggy Day explores desire, delusion and the dangers of being double-booked.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Deliciously disturbing. Award-winning, sold out LAMDA graduate company Namesake Theatre returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with their new play Persona, a gripping, darkly comic and cathartically unsettling reunion. Four boarding-school alumni gather in a secluded country house to divide a dead friend’s trust, but the night quickly begins to unravel. Insults are flung, compliments concealed and civility begins to fracture under the weight of social grace pushed to its breaking point. By turns hilarious and hellish, Persona peels back the curtain on the masks we wear to survive, and asks what, if anything, lies beneath.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Big old things are happening in the smallest city in Britain. A sir – prise is on it’s way to Meryl, Dilys and Rona. A bomb. A sex bomb... On the front pew of St David's Cathedral sit three (seemingly) sweet, predictable old ladies. Pillars of their community and the town gossip for all. Perfectly content to spend their days with their noses planted in the business of every relationship, secret and Welsh cake recipe of the local area. Until responsibility of a special guest’s arrival falls into their hands. But they can’t do it alone...
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Lizzie Bean’s Phuckets and Rainbows is clever, chaotic, witty and wise. One woman takes you on a wildly honest ride through her outwardly ordinary life. Sharing laughter, tears and mayhem, exploring freedom, joy and self-love. Expect swearing, absurdity and truth bombs, as Lizzie bends reality, breaks rules and asks the big questions in the small moments. It’s messy, magical and joyous. A celebration of being alive, human and gloriously imperfect. By the end, you might laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh and leave feeling a little liberated, braver and more free to be.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Albert Pierrepoint was an English hangman who executed an estimated 435 people in a 25-year career with HMP Prisons between the 1930s and 1950s. During his tenure, he was responsible for the executions of several high-profile murderers including the Acid Bath Killer – John Haigh, and Ruth Ellis – the last woman to be hung in England. Another was the case of one John Reginald Christie of 10 Rillington Place infamy. Through the executioner's eyes, this theatrical production dissects and scrutinises Christie's crimes and examines how he came to be on the end of a rope.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
When a hapless husband accidentally steps on a bee that his wife has been trying to save, it seems that their marriage really has hit rock bottom. But when he inadvertently gets back into her good books by saving an injured pigeon that's flown into the window, he finally believes he's found a way to restore their former passion for each other. An absurdist comedy, with a dash of dark humour and questionable puppetry, that explores the fundamentals of relationships.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
'Does there always have to be a girl? Does she always have to be the prize?' Hailed as provocative, poetic and playwrighting at its peak, this haunting drama, by award-winning writer Elinor Cook, tells of a very modern love-triangle: between feminist academic Rachel, and mountaineering prodigies Dan and Will. Tracing their interwoven trajectories, Pilgrims dramatises the conflicting attractions of freedom and belonging, and interrogates inherited assumptions about gender, storytelling and nature. How far do we all remain trapped in narratives beyond our own making? What might escape cost us? And what better stories do we have to guide us?
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
What is masculinity from a gay perspective? A one-man comedy about a mixed race gay guy, masculinity and breakups. Jordan, and his much smarter ‘professor’ alter ego, has just broken up with his first boyfriend, and has dreams of entering his healing era. From nights out, to hook-ups, to joining a football team, Pimm’s Without the Cucumber tells the all too familiar story of the lasting effect someone can have, highlighting every queer boy’s experience of unexpected relationships and learning to accept who they are.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
Fiona's boredom with life has sunk to new lows, perhaps an attractive new-start at the office will be a good distraction. Pink Dolphin is a comic tale of overthinking and repressing what's important.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Amna is a good Muslim daughter. Mostly. At home she’s modest, obedient, invisible. Online she’s PersianBaby – bold, flirtatious, watched. Pink Rabbit is a fierce, coming-of-age, darkly funny solo play about faith, female desire and the intoxicating power of attention. As Amna hides her OnlyFans from her strict mother, the lies start to fracture. Caught between mosque and male gaze, shame and thrill, she begins to ask: who is she performing for? Raw, intimate and electric, Pink Rabbit explores intergenerational and cultural conflict – and the dangerous moment when being seen finally feels better than being honest.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
It's 2013. Euan's got a camcorder, a bowl cut and a dream. Combining live performance with Euan Munro's real childhood YouTube videos, this cringe-filled comedy nostalgia trip spirals into a story of dark ambition, online predators and digital ghosts.
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Music. It surrounds us and invades our homes, cars and work. We exercise and shop to it. Share it, talk about it and even travel to hear it live. Playlist is an exploration of the role of music (and silence) in our lives. How music brings us together, separates us, changes us, defines us and ultimately – why we need it.
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
A five-year-old pageant contestant, an ex-Etonian turned delusional DJ and a mute schoolgirl whose entire personality is her ginormous rucksack. The link? Pending. But they’re all played by a girl. She’s 25 but she’s got no tits. Plaything is a masterfully crafted hour of clown and character comedy. Satirical, infantilising, absurd, this is what happens when you combine spectatorship, a youthful appearance and existential dread. With 'girl' written all over her body, this woman's work is yet to be taken seriously. Developed at Soho Theatre Labs, Plaything is an unconsciously hard-hitting product of unbridled play.
Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Nic 9 (Nicolson Square Gardens)
Inspired by iconic American portraits, this devised performance invites audiences into the imagined inner lives of contemporary youth. Young Los Angeles artists transform still images into raw, funny and deeply personal monologues – each a confession, a protest, or a dream. What begins as art on a wall becomes living testimony, capturing the contradictions, urgency, and fragile hope of a generation coming of age in America today. By giving voice to those often unseen, the piece reframes Americana through honesty, vulnerability and wit. This 45-minute ensemble work is intimate, unfiltered and unapologetically human.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A man finds himself trapped in the cyclical world of TV. A plethora of channels he encounters. A fast paced comedy with multi-rolling actors, this new-written piece of theatre brings TV to Fringe.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Teachers win wars. When a group of history students make a film about their town, they uncover a past they were never meant to know. From youth theatre company Lund, Propaganda is a new play about youth, resistance and the making of history.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Punch and Judy: a British entertainment institution famously contained within the confines of a small striped box. But what happens when the chaotic lives of these iconic characters tumbles out of the booth and spills into the real world? This is a one-hour tragicomedy exploring the public and private lives of Punch and Judy alongside the host of characters that have for centuries populated their world. With a blend of slapstick comedy and puppetry vs naturalistic drama, as the two sides begin to blur it makes for a dark and unsettling comedy that is no longer for kids.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Puttana is a work that questions the boundary between body and commodity, between desire and power. In a society that normalises consumption, the buying and selling of bodies, follows the same rules as any other market: I pay, therefore I can. A single actress gives voice to five characters, through music and words, to tell an uncomfortable and cruel story. Will you be the one be who casts the first stone?
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Soap suds, brass bands and a 1970s sexual awakening. A cornet-playing youth cheerfully derailed by bum notes, feisty women and very questionable choices. From analogue grime to digital chaos, I've stumbled, squeaked and occasionally hit the right note, uncovering embarrassing truths and buried stories along the way. This one-man romp is a noisy, nostalgic revelation of identity and heritage from bigotry to the digital age. Sharp, cheeky and utterly unpolished, it's a blast through the past with all the wrong notes, laughs and just enough courage to blow me right out of the closet.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
A place between somewhere and nowhere. Three men. One mannequin. Harrison has been coming here for a year. Or maybe it’s his first time. Or his last. It depends which Harrison you ask. They've all been summoned here for the same reason – if only they could figure out what that is. The mannequin stands at the centre of it all, unravelling Harrison's life before his eyes, as it becomes clear that there are darker truths about his world threatening to break his fantasies. Pyg is tender until it's unnerving, funny until it's horrifying. A wickedly inventive new play.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
You are reading about QFWFQ, Best Solo Show at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe. A surrealist labyrinth that stretches time and space. Inspired by Italo Calvino's If On a Winter's Night a Traveller, this razor-sharp, absurdly funny and deeply personal show breaks all genres and has no fourth wall. Join Gregory Nussen as they rummage through the power and peril of storytelling, growing up Jewish and queer, grappling with geopolitics, and art that saves your life. QFWFQ neither begins, nor ends. How does it come together? I can't explain, but it does. Directed by Hannah Pilkes.
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Drinking, dancing and debauchery – just another night at The Middlesbrough Empire! And Lizzie, Boro's resident party girl, loves nothing more than a wild night out. But behind the dresses, drunks and drama, her family fractures under the weight of a devastating illness. When Lizzie is ultimately forced to face her reality, is it all too late? Queen of the Empire is a tale of grief, addiction and what it means to be a sister. Darkly entertaining and based on a true story, Sasha Snowdon's Fringe debut promises laughter, complexity, and a cheeky little dance.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Styled after Dante’s Inferno, and mixing spoken word and shadow-play puppetry, this new play follows Quinn as she navigates the perilous pit between the cliffs of expectations and reality. With friends and family by her side, Quinn must traverse through the different realms of depression, encountering other lost souls along the way, as she overcomes all the obstacles designed to lure her deeper into the abyss. Not for the faint of heart, this work offers a glimmer of hope for all who have found themselves in the chasm dark.Written, Created and Performed by | K. Quinn Hamptoninstagram.com/k.q.hq/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
studio
In the aftermath of tragedy, a community gathers to ask what went wrong. This bold reimagining of Romeo and Juliet frames the story as an investigation into the forces that led two young people to their deaths. Blending theatrical storytelling with a documentary lens, The Lost Children of Verona explores accountability, memory, and the systems that fail the young. As testimony unfolds and narratives collide, the familiar tale fractures –revealing not just what happened, but why it was allowed to happen.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
Hey slut! A broke feminist podcaster reinvents herself as a provocative slutfluencer in pursuit of fame, only to lose herself in the performance. Darkly hilarious, gripping and surreal, ROLEPLAY is a ferocious interrogation of modern sex, the commodification of feminism and the era of the personal brand. Writer, actress and comic Hannah Reilly brings her 'fresh, female-first approach' (Elle) to the Fringe in this NSFW one-woman show directed by Paige Rattray (Fangirls). From award-winning producers Francesca Moody Productions (Fleabag, Baby Reindeer) and Global Creatures (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Muriel's Wedding The Musical).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Who are you when everything you were suddenly gets taken away? Sophie was once a Los Angeles it-girl, living a life of enviable, aspirational chaos. Now on the eve of her 30th birthday, she's stuck in a treatment facility with only one VIP on the birthday party guest list: her 18-year-old schizophrenic roommate Molly. ROOMIES is a darkly funny solo show based on a true story about friendship, identity and the fragile line between control and collapse, where glamour, madness and survival all crash the same table. Written and performed by Julia Stephens (Really It's Rita, Ctrl+Alt+Underground).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Jersey
Rattlepole! is a completely improvised Shakespearean comedy in which a ten-strong cast creates a brand-new play every night from audience suggestions. Inspired by the Bard’s language, themes and characters, the show blends storytelling with fast, playful comedy and direct audience interaction. A live pianist improvises the score and occasionally bursts into song, while a mischievous drinking element, directed by the audience, heightens the chaos. After sold-out London runs and a hit Edinburgh Fringe debut, Rattlepole! returns this summer. Expect romance, tragedy, mischief and constant surprises in a joyfully unpredictable theatrical experience for all audiences everywhere.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A show that explores the way music can be woven through life – using personal experience, a bassoon and a loop pedal. It is a story about living and learning, unexpected paths and places, and about finding your way through. Written and performed by Ursula Leveaux. Original script development and direction by Rosemary Harris. A work-in-progress version of this show was first performed at Open Space at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick in April 2024.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Rebellious Women is a bold, exhilarating production that brings together fierce female voices through the real life Suffragettes. The play explores resistance against patriarchy, power and imposed silence. Sharp humour, raw emotion and moments of intimacy sit alongside physical storytelling, creating a vibrant and inspiring experience. Celebrating solidarity, defiance and the cost of speaking out, Rebellious Women asks what it means to choose freedom in a world determined to control women’s bodies, voices and futures – and why rebellion, joy and collective courage still matter today.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
A funny, heartwarming journey through classic cinema, seen through the lens of five friends who know… absolutely nothing about film history. As they encounter legends like Charlie Chaplin, Ginger Rogers and Alfred Hitchcock, they discover far more than they expected. Combining music, dance and film, Reel to Real is a joyful exploration of creativity and self-discovery. Bedazzle Inclusive Productions celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, marking two decades of championing and amplifying disabled actors. Previous productions include Mythic Trials at the Cambridge Arts Theatre and a site-specific Sleeping Beauty in Essex, exploring life with chronic fatigue.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Pilates is the complete co-ordination of body, mind and spirit... plus it gives you a bum like a Victoria's Secret model. Two women meet at a reformer Pilates class, but can female friendship withstand the battleground of the studio, where everyone wants to be the best (read: hottest) in the room? Sophie and Lottie tackle trending beauty standards, conspiracies and femininity – all whilst doing sit-ups and trying not to queef.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A moving reimagining of Corrie Ten Boom's biographical tale of forgiveness and reconciliation in the shadows of WWII. Her family bravely hide Jews in their small clock shop and the consequences are dark and devastating. The production looks not only at the story from Corrie's viewpoint, but from a German army officer's as well. How do they both regard their families, their faith, the Jewish people and the occupation of Holland? They begin in different worlds, but eventually come face to face with each other. Wonderfully inspiring and still very relevant for today. Must see.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
A wonderfully nostalgic tale of the clerical railway enthusiast who brought us Thomas and his friends. The Reverend Awdry created stories for his son who was sick in bed, the result was some of the most endearing children's books and characters of all time. 'Deceptively sophisticated, interdisciplinary storytelling that entertains, informs and, like a fully functioning railway network, moves' **** (Scotsman). A must see. Includes some wonderful songs, plenty of laughs and a game of cricket. All aboard for some fun for all the family. And leaves on time. First class.
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
The four horsemen gather at Mama Ruby’s Restaurant in Nowhere, North Carolina for their annual apocalypse conference, convinced that this is the year that the world will finally crash and burn. Unfortunately for them, humanity seems to have other plans. Created by an ensemble of students from Ithaca College, this world premiere explores humanity’s stubborn dedication to doing good even when the forces (or the horses) that be are trying as hard as they can to make it impossible. Will civilisation finally crumble, or will the horsemen's plans be halted by the power of human connection?
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A chilling tale of greed, guilt and the macabre, The Body Snatcher exposes one of the darkest truths in history – the grisly pursuits of the so-called Resurrection Men. When medical student Fettes is recruited to assist the enigmatic scholar Wolfe Macfarlane, a chilling chain of events is set in motion. To what lengths will they go for the advancement of medical knowledge? This stunning adaptation brings to the stage Stevenson’s masterfully weaved story of suspense and morality – exploring the dark depths of human ambition and its terrifying consequences.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
After a sold-out, head-banging debut, Rockbeth returns to the Fringe: louder, darker, and even more deliriously doomed. A prophecy. A power-hungry frontman. A band teetering between glorious world domination and total backstage collapse. When ambition collides with reverb and blood-red stage lights, the fallout is spectacular. Featuring classic rock anthems from AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and The Sex Pistols, this is Shakespeare with riffs, fate with fuzz pedals, and murder most metal. Expect shredded guitar solos, unhinged visions, thunderous drums and tragedy at full volume. Part live gig, part Shakespearean meltdown... all killer, no mercy.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
A newly devised piece focusing on the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence. The performance follows a politician named Jane, whose life crumbles when she becomes the victim of deepfaked porn. This causes Jane to isolate herself from the world, taking comfort in an AI chatbot – who she affectionately names Romeo. The performance focuses on the progression of their relationship as it takes on a more romantic nature, and confronts the risk of replacing human connection with AI. Eventually Jane is forced to chose between her real life and her new, idealised virtual life.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Hotel St Francis, San Francisco, September 1921. The principal players – silent movie star Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, actress Virginia Rappe and rabble-rouser Maude Delmont. Room 1219 – a room of secrets. Roscoe Arbuckle – the man who turned slapstick into gold – is at the top of his profession; but a charge of murder sees his world come crashing down. With his future career in tatters, Arbuckle becomes Hollywood’s first fall guy! This is Roscoe Arbuckle’s story – his rise to fame and his shameful downfall at the hands of the public, the press and Hollywood.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Pasuz Productions presents their new darkly comedic show about reputations and how you lose them, how one version of events becomes "the truth", and what your options are when your terribly worthy one-woman show is repeatedly interrupted by rowdy hecklers. This playful meta-theatrical piece juggles the stories of a well-meaning student, a director with a dark secret, a serially misunderstood monarch and a long dead literary giant. Who gets to tell their truth before the final curtain falls? (Do we have budget for a curtain? Join us to find out!).
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
SUCCUBUS follows a young woman whose body goes delightfully rogue as her appetite blooms, putting the men in menu. As she navigates medical shrugs, moral chaos and a dawning hunger for power, she discovers others thriving in the dark alongside her. This one-woman show revels in gore, pop-culture parody and unapologetic desire. A coming-of-rage fable with delicious heart, SUCCUBUS invites audiences to savour a richer, wilder vision of feminine possibility. A debut play written and performed by Georgina Collins, directed by Grainne Robson, produced by Halfway Productions.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dexter
The protagonist is ready to board a one-way flight to a destination unknown, but a series of delays delivers an unexpected passenger: the antagonist, his older, more accomplished self. What begins as a reunion quickly spirals into a surreal showdown – who really knows him best, and who gets to move forward? Part Waiting for Godot, part Looper, Sabotage is a tender battleground of ego, regret and missed connections, skewering ambition and holding self-love under siege in a wry take on the quarter-life crisis. Because when you’re boarding a flight to nowhere, all runways lead back to you.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
When psychotherapist Adam reconnects with a former patient outside his consulting room, he only wants to help. But slowly, something between them begins to shift. Is everything as it seems? A new play about power, obsession and the stories we tell to keep ourselves safe. Written and performed by Michael Reid. Directed by Chloe Champken ('Crafting raw and unfiltered theater' BroadwayWorld.com). Finalist, VCA Playwriting Award 2026.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
Neutral Milk Hotel's indie-rock triumph In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and Anne Frank's stunning and candid The Diary of a Young Girl fuse with confessions from Salty's adolescent longings in this genre-defying cabaret with wit, spectacle and heart. Sparks fly, time bends, and the ghosts of our past return to us in this hilarious and devastating work from Salty's acclaimed and expansive Living Record Collection. 'Astounding' ***** (Stage). ***** (List). 'A storyteller in total command of voice, a cocked eyebrow and his audience' **** (Guardian).
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
You, your mates, hot sauna, cold plunge, our resident DJs on the decks, plus a host of special guests. Surprising, delighting theatrics, comedy, music, Aufguss and much more in the UK's largest sauna with state-of-the-art lighting and surround sound for a fully immersive experience. Watch a performance in the sauna, plunge in an ice bath, have a dance with your mates, grab a chilled 0% beer and step back into the heat of the moment. This is the coolest/hottest arts party around.
Summerhall Festival
Sauna Theatre
A little boy answers every doorbell hoping it's his daddy. Decades later, after surviving sexual abuse, cult indoctrination and a terminal AIDS diagnosis, that boy – now a man – still hasn't stopped searching. Armed with a name his teenage mother gave him and unwavering determination, Michael calls every Robert Hennessey he can find, chases DNA matches, tries Beetlejuicing the guy into existence and never gives up hope. Until Father's Day 2020 brings a Facebook message shattering everything he thought he knew about his identity and his quest. Hollywood Fringe's sold-out sensation comes to Edinburgh.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Harrie's workday ends like any other... until her journey home takes a sudden, unthinkable turn. In the following days, she's swept into a system of police reports, questions and courtrooms-demanding clarity from a memory that isn't there. Not just a story about trauma; it's a darkly-comic odyssey through the absurd machinery of justice, where truth is slippery and certainty feels out of reach. When reality hits like a shower of shit, sometimes the only thing left to fight for is your version of the story: whether it can be proven or not. Based on true events.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
A lost son. A desperate father. A teenage hustler with secrets he won't share. When Bud, a sales agronomist for a big seed company, checks into an Iowa motel hunting for his boy, he finds Holler, a young hustler reeling from his boyfriend's suicide. Each thinks the other holds the key to escape. A fragile and dangerously paternal bond forms. As a spectre of his lost boy circles the motel, Bud leads Holler toward a terrifying mutation neither can outrun.‘A gripping, genre-blending drama that masterfully intertwines tension, horror, and poignant human connections’ (Danielle Wirsansky)CastBud | Neil David SeibelHoller | Maggz DayWritten by | Scott BradleyDirected by | Wendy-Marie MartinProduced by | Maggz Day and Wendy-Marie MartinSet design by | Arne JohnsonCostume design by | Faith SmithStage managed by | Gwyn LloydStage crew | Cate Orrx.com/hollinstheatrefacebook.com/people/Hollins-Theatre
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
Transforming the stage to a 'meta-lab' of uncertainty, 'who' and 'not sure who' navigate the intersection of spiritual desire and tech-worship. Inspired by the phenomenon of China's youth using AI chatbots as fortune tellers, Seeksaw explores our desperate craving for omniscience and the wanting of control. This funny, existential, original devised performance – part philosophical inquiry into fate, part mutual consulting for dog-shit level anxieties – captures a snapshot of our contemporary era: in a time of no questions or no answers, what is next?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In the name of Russia, Seledka and his new troupe are here to stop the war. His goal? Make sure his soldiers eat sleep bleed Soviet. However, his meeting is hijacked by young Ukrainian women recounting tales from the war. Who’s entitled to claim ownership of a country? How different are we from those fighting for their freedom? One-woman show, Seledka, is a political satire written to educate and relate the distant world of Ukraine to audiences who have never had to question what it’s like to live with war. We are more similar than we think.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
(Wed 19-Sun 30 Aug) Niall Moorjani (Fringe First winner) and Ailsa Dixon (★★★★★, Scotsman) present an evocative and moving exploration of what it is to be human, as they lyrically synthesise storytelling with live music and Orcadian folk song. Come for the music, stories and songs, stay for the deep exploration of trans experience in Scotland today, through three queered and reimagined selkie stories set in past, present and future. BSL interpreted Fri 21 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill. Image credit Binski
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
In seeking to explore how social media defines our reality, this play reimagines the story of Narcissus and Echo for the social media age. Weaving in Plato's allegory of the cave, we ask questions of the nature of the reality we glimpse through the screens of our phones. At what point does reflection become distortion and what is left behind as a digital echo once the screen has been turned off? How easily does the illusion of reality we see projected towards us consume and devour us – are we willing participants or slaves to the algorithm?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
Cowboys, karaoke and a different cast every night. And it’s all determined by a roll of the dice! This immersive adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy celebrates the unpredictable ride of falling in love and finding yourself. Step into a karaoke bar full of crooning cowboys, line dancing jesters and lovesick shepherds. Grab a drink and hold onto your hats because no one knows what’s coming next: audience members roll dice to randomly cast the show, so no two performances are remotely alike. Hope you can keep up, partner!
Venue 13
Main Space
The Bardic Breakfasters are back with a brand-new show, breakfast included! Fringe favourites since 1992, C theatre’s sensational Shakespearience returns for another year of pentameter, puns and pastries. Perfect for hardened fans and blank verse virgins alike.Free coffee and croissants! Fringe favourite since 1992. Book early.‘A bouncy and boisterous take on Willie’s work’ (List)‘Well worth getting out of bed for’ (Independent)‘No holds Bard ‘(FringeGuru.com)‘Irreverent humour... clever’ (Stage)‘Side-splitting... glorious’ (BroadwayBaby)‘Full of fun’ (RemoteGoat.com)‘Sizzling’ (ScottishDailyExpress.co.uk)
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
main house
Shakespeare's Big Brother puts all your favourite Shakespearean characters in the Big Brother House. What will Hamlet say to Romeo? What will Juliet make of Macbeth? Who gets kicked out first? Lots of fun from one of the Fringe's classic theatre companies. At last we can answer the big questions: who is funnier, Richard III or Bottom? Why does Lady Macbeth have spots and will they respond to Clearasil? And better jokes than that!
Paradise in Augustines
Sanctuary
After their in-performance deaths, six female Shakespearean characters find themselves in a holding area until the play they are a character in gets revived by another Shakespeare company so that they can (re)live their tragedy over (and over) again.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A spiritual traumedy. A series of mysterious debilitating seizures and a freak elevator accident send actor Dede Lovejoy on an off-road scavenger hunt for healing. From sound baths to bean diets, this deeply personal solo-play traces one woman’s unconventional recovery, as she flips the bird to western medicine and swan dives into otherworldly remedies to reintegrate body, mind and soul. A mystical post-traumatic stress fantasia featuring bad choices, safety tips, spirit guides and shamanism – with cameos by polyamory and the patriarchy. Written and performed by Dede Lovejoy (The Wire, The Blacklist, Daredevil: Born Again).
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Shatter Resistant is a darkly comic one-woman show exploring the frustrations of modern life. Thirty-year-old Cassie is having a tough time of it lately; she’s just lost her job to an AI chatbot and her life is imploding from every angle. Cassie is forced on an odyssey of self-discovery and begins to question why she puts up with crappy jobs, terrible dates and psycho flatmates. Why can’t she say no? Knock after knock, the cracks begin to show. Maybe Cassie won’t be able to keep her positive mental attitude after all.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Whilst clearing out her mother's belongings from her care home, Kelly discovers a hidden family secret. Her grandfather was Dr John Watson. As she digs further, Kelly uncovers the truth of the untold final case of Sherlock Holmes: a case involving an otherworldly crown of mysterious origin, and the abandoned American coastal town of Innsmouth.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Abby works three jobs. Her bills keep going up, her car keeps breaking down and her 12 year old, Baxter, keeps growing. When she’s summoned to school to talk about her son’s behaviour, her carefully constructed world topples. Baxter's teacher fears he’s been radicalised by the manosphere. Abby’s astounded – all she’s ever tried to do is equip him to stand up for women’s rights. Headteacher Sam offers support. But Abby and Sam have unfinished business. How far will Abby go to protect what matters most? A darkly funny exploration of women’s choices in a man’s world.
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A raw, intimate psychological drama set in a Leith bar, where two lost souls collide in a world built on mistrust. Connor, a merchant seaman, spiralling after a violent incident at sea, returns home intent on self-destruction. Alex, a sharp-tongued barmaid, carrying grief and a destructive history, meets him with wit and wariness until a buried connection resurfaces. Darkly funny, unflinching and thought-provoking new work from an exciting Edinburgh theatre company explores masculinity, race, mental health and the fragile possibility of redemption, asking whether love can survive when both are drowning in their past.
Leith Arches
Ground Level
The St Anne's County Debutante Class of 2000 has been struck with a plague of lice – maybe because God hates them, maybe because of what happened last summer to Emma. They decide to revive the ancient ritual of sin-eating to cleanse them of their misdeeds before their presentation to society. Instead they uncover secrets about each other and themselves that will rock the foundation of their friendships forever. This dark comedy explores guilt, grief and girlhood in the vicious world of country club debutantes.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
Domestic routine curdles into something erotic as the couple’s everyday antics take a sexual turn. Playfulness hums beneath the mundanity of their dusty flat living room: BBC nonsense blares from the television while they eat their third TV dinner of the week. What happens when a famous television cross-dresser Pete Burns is forced to live with his stalker? Inspired by the events of Pete Burns Unspun, but told through the eyes of the modern onlooker allowing us to revel in absurdity and oddity making it an all round funny, very cheeky and dare I say Fringey time.
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
Sissy Boy is the story of a Bristolian teen on his way to uni and his online relationship with his femdom goddess. Through humiliation kink in his boyish teenage room, to confused feelings with the lads down at the local, Sissy Boy challenges our taboos while exploring its own, and begs the question of our own desires in a changing world. This one-hour and one-man show is a coming of age comedy that aims to push us past our own insecurities to explore the unspoken taboos in our society.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
'The divine wisdom of the Holy She', delves into the humorous and serious revelations of Sister Sophia, an aging nun in crisis. As she grieves the loss of her friend, she grapples with her own restless night of the soul. Through musings and songs, Sophia confronts g(G)od and in her quest, she discovers a newfound outlook on life. 'Sister Sophia is witty, curious, and easy to root for... a stellar performance from the very talented Lisa Randall, the one-nun show is cheeky, introspective and thoughtful' (Hamilton City Magazine). 'Randall has a helluva voice' (Hammer Monthly).
Venue 13
Main Space
Two female pirates are condemned to hang for sailing with Calico Jack and terrorising the high seas. Anne Bonny and Mary Read are saved from execution at the last moment, but how? In an age of brutality and adventure, these two outcasts chose to fight alongside and against men. Their pirate careers were short, but their legacy endures. Acting Coach Scotland presents an original theatre show combining physical theatre, music and storytelling to explore the true story of these extraordinary women. Devised by acting graduates, written and directed by Jake Norton in a bold new production.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
Kid has come to "find herself", but quickly gets caught up in Dad's wild antics. When the two share a rare moment of privacy in the heavenly garden, what begins as whispers, a telling off and a hilarious culture clash slowly shifts, growing heavier with each passing word. A comic yet haunting exploration of grief, Sitting (In Silence) will leave you reflecting on the things we choose not to say, the silence that divides us and what healing really means. Could those real moments of laughter and connection ultimately be what saves us?
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Welcome to Slim for Life. A friendly local slimming group... with a taste for the dramatic – and perhaps something darker. Newcomer(s) welcome. Results guaranteed. Side effects may include eternal damnation. When heartbroken Lily joins her first session, she expects weigh-ins, wellness jargon and forced positivity. Instead, she finds a devoted leader, eccentric regulars and an atmosphere feeling increasingly ritualistic. As mantras become chants and discipline turns to devotion, Lily must decide how far she’s willing to go for transformation. A sharp, fast-paced dark comedy with live-musical flair from the team behind The Caper Trail (Fringe 2023).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
High-flyers Imogen and Rich like wine. It drips into their lives as their love language and helps them to cope with their stressful lives. But after twenty years of excess, Imogen is wavering. She’s tired of waking up with unexplained bruises, tired of the mornings thick with shame, tired of being tired, but is it enough? When life has become so intertwined with the powerful nectar is it easy to break away, or do relationships start to unravel? Perhaps a wake-up call is all she needs? Filled with humour and drama, Soaked seeks to unnerve.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
What do people reach for when certainty disappears? Inspired by true events, this play brings together intimate monologues and dialogues moving through love, doubt, grief, humour and everything in between. As voices across ages and experiences are given room to speak, the stage becomes a space for recognition, connection and reflection. Here, hope is not a perfect ending. It is something searched for, questioned and rediscovered, often in the moments when life asks us to keep going without all the answers. From Switzerland, this show makes its international debut at Edinburgh Fringe.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Sonder: the realisation that every random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Sonder is a short play which speaks to lived human experience and the discovery of a profound feeling in which you appreciate the beauty of others as equals and other main characters rather than side characters in your own world. Everyone’s journey is the same, yet so vastly different. Sonder stories of people's lived experience and their point in their journey on a shared train ride.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Inspired by true events, the five-star smash hit play Spare Room follows Jodie as she takes the plunge and applies for a room in a house share. Confronted with the unexpected world of chunder charts, STIs and tangible testosterone, this wasn’t the fresh start Jodie imagined. Entirely set in a student living room, expect to be thoroughly immersed in the lives of these badly behaved twenty-somethings who’ll leave you cackling one minute and speechless the next, in this honest insight into masculinity, mental health and consent. Nominated for five Fringe theatre awards including Best New Play.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets The L Word in this bittersweet, absurdist launderette meet-cute. Eyes lock. Hearts thump. Palms sweat. But something is off. Secrets of the past are whispered, hidden under the thrum of the washing machines – can what's forgotten be remembered? This OffWestEnd Award-nominated five-star Irish play examines the space between loving someone and not, forgetting and remembering, dirty and clean clothes. A seriously refreshing show on queer love, whirring memory and finding the truth in it all. ***** (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
After a violent, sleepless night with her abusive boyfriend, Meg goes back to her spin studio like nothing happened. It doesn't take long for her to spiral into a manic breakdown as she realizes her version of self-care (perfectionism, calorie-counting and people pleasing) is self-destruction. Throughout this one-woman show, Meg faces body dysmorphia, internalized abuse and the exhausting need to be adored. Physically relentless, brutally funny and surprisingly moving, SpinQueen™ is theatre you can feel in every muscle. A show that will leave you questioning how far we go to keep up and what it really takes to stop.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Witch! Hag! Spinster! Words are powerful – even one can tell a whole story. This storytelling show welcomes you into the spinster's cottage, but what will you find there? A financially independent woman with a honed skill and craft, or an evil-doing hag waiting to snatch your child? Journey through three Scottish folktales that illustrate the change in the meaning of the word spinster, and thus the changing role of women in the Middle Ages. Spin together the threads of ancient tales and unpick the tapestry of the demonisation of women with storyteller Frankie Regalia.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
'You've tried everything. Yoga. Acupuncture. You floated in salt water in the pitch black dark. You juiced, you cleansed. You got a mattress that fitted itself to your foetal form. You ate only rinds for three days and nights. You reached out, you looked within. You have tried, and yet here you are.' So begins this new play by Olivier-nominated playwright John Kolvenbach. Jim Ortlieb delivers a tour-de-force performance as a man bent by isolation and deeply in love with the audience itself.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
Five women went to teach theatre for the summer. They just didn’t know the world would end before camp did. In Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse, life at a theatre camp in the northern woods of Maine takes a shocking turn when five counsellors suddenly become responsible for more than forty campers after the world ends on the final day of camp. Their artistic dreams collide with the abrupt demands of survival, forcing women who once built imaginary worlds onstage to confront a terrifying new reality offstage.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Esther knows she's destined to be a pop star. The Pop Princess Programme of Prestige Produces Protégés. Will she become the pop star of her dreams? Or a nightmare like you've never seen?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
In a world increasingly close to the brink: how far are you willing to go? Gay, divorced, unemployed merch-maker Ethan is down on his luck. After months of no work, he's ready to close up shop. When a mysterious woman places a large order, Ethan is faced with a pivotal decision – go broke with his integrity, or mass-produce a series of anonymous merchandise orders that glorify the world’s most divisive politician. This raucous, incendiary battle of morality and money asks the question: would you trade your conscience for cash?
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Studio
Say hello to Scott – the finest "Edutainment Officer" in the business, a leading expert in overhead animation and lo-fi storytelling, a renowned descendent of the Turnbull Family Edutainment programme and a grieving son. The only problem is, he’s gone a little bit freaky-deaky. With the Wilkes Booth Corporation breathing down his neck, our charming yet unreliable narrator is struggling with the pressure of real life. The award-winning show (Best Performance, Newcastle Fringe) is back at Edinburgh Fringe for a second year! 'Nothing else like it at the festival' (Scotsman). 'Weird and wonderfully warm' (Guardian).
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
When a disgraced director launches a show to secure his return to the spotlight, he will spill the secrets of some powerful people he ought not to f*ck with. Boasting divas, deceit and Sarah-Jessica from HR – Swan Song bristles with comedic absurdity! With a distinctly abstract and whacky style, this show promises to bring fun, drama and much-needed criticism of mainstream media to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
Cory Dagg makes a solemn promise to Mae Axton, the co-writer of Heartbreak Hotel, to tell the true story behind the song. His journey weaves his own life with the tragic tale of the man who inspired the hit song, the meteoric rise of Elvis Presley and the impact his music had on The Beatles, revealing how a single song can change the world. After years self-doubt, Cory reaffirms his commitment to his promise, presenting the interconnected stories of Elvis and John Lennon as a testament to fate, sacrifice and the enduring power of music.
Paradise in Augustines
Sanctuary
Doug Lemons has gone missing in a town where no one trusts each other. His mother, Pam, searches obsessively for Doug without ever leaving her couch. She has lived there for infinity – smoking, sipping, waiting – watching shiny ladies on TV, accompanied by a twitch she cannot shake. The town begins to visit her: doctors, start-ups, grifters, psychics, strangers from Craigslist, lost animals. Perhaps Pam is imagining them. Or remembering them. Or rehearsing conversations she never had. In this surreal American town, Pam claws for certainty, a witness and evidence that she was ever chosen.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
Follow Lilian, Richard, Cassandra, Chloe, Aidan and William as they navigate New Year’s Day working in a care home for adults with learning disabilities. While the rest of the world celebrates, they remain on shift, taking care of those who rely on them. Amid outings, new arrivals and the unexpected chaos of the day, these carers face fresh starts, mounting responsibilities, and the quiet resilience required to keep going. Thoughtful, funny and profoundly human, Take Care offers an intimate glimpse into the realities of care work – and the people who show up, every single day.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
In post-war England: shame, secrecy and societal pressure forced unmarried mothers to part with their children, through the institutionalised and systemic coercion that is still awaiting an official apology. Between the Adoption Acts of 1949 and 1976, thousands of babies were taken from their families in a scandal which continues to ripple through the lives of those affected. Talking Shadows has a passion for telling lost female stories in shows such as 1966 ***** (CounterCulture), 1612 **** (TheMumble.uk), OTMA **** (TheRealChrisparkle.com). Sell-out shows 2025.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Noah is dead. He spends his afterlife in limbo, passing the time with failed 90s grunge rocker Elijah. When he starts seeing his living brother Alex, Noah finds himself torn between the worlds of the living and the dead. Finding out that his time in limbo might soon be up, he must tie up all the loose ends of both his life and after-life before he dies... again. Part coming-of-age comedy and part ghost story, Teen Spirit is a bittersweet comedy about grief, ghosts and grunge rock, complete with alternative fashion and a concert atmosphere.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Ten audience members are randomly chosen from the crowd and can decide whether to step on stage or remain seated. Those who accept begin a new life and receive flowers representing their energy: year after year, they decide how to spend it. Love, ambition, security, risk. Every decision creates connections, encounters and conflicts, while the rest of the audience shapes the world around them. When the flowers run out, their life ends. Can they find happiness before then? A participatory, funny and deeply human theatre experience – different every day.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Cowbarn
Award-winning artist Duane Forrest brings the timeless music of Nat King Cole to life through soulful performance and storytelling. Blending velvety renditions with personal reflection, he explores how a Black artist in 1950s America became a cultural pioneer while navigating a world that celebrated him onstage but resisted him off it. Raised in Toronto, Forrest reflects on his own journey with jazz and belonging, discovering how Cole’s presence opened doors. Tenderly is a moving exploration of legacy, dignity and the quiet power of simply showing up.
The Jazz Bar
Venue (Partially Seated)
Part ceilidh, part play, and a good night out, Tether is a bold new collaboration between Scotland's Wonder Fools and South Korea's Theatre SAN. Spanning 60 years and three generations, the piece weaves folk songs, love letters and war stories into a shared experience of music and memory. Beginning as a joyous communal gathering, it gradually reveals an intimate love story shaped by migration, oppression and time. Playful, powerful and deeply human, Tether invites audiences to collectively dance, laugh, listen and remember – tracing the invisible threads that bind two nations together.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
A middle-aged woman sheepishly turns to her recently bereaved mother: 'We'll move in with you, if you like.' (Thinking she’ll refuse. She doesn’t.) A raw, darkly funny look at a family in chaos. A marriage breakdown, teenage upheaval, dependency, love (whatever that is), a mother loudly preparing for the end, and the joys of becoming a bad mother and a bad daughter at exactly the same time. An exploration of assisted dying within modern family dynamics. Winner: Best Solo Show at Riverside Studios Bitesize Festival. 'Truly life – and death – affirming' (Polly Vernon).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Clover
At 40 years old, Chris Davis seizes on ballet class as a way to replace all other addictions – drugs, alcohol, Modern Family and the toxic tropes of 90s John Cusack movies. With only a barre for support, Fringe favourite Chris Davis mixes dance and storytelling in a 50-minute comedy that shows you change is always possible, no matter what your age. 'The kind of innovative spirit that the Fringe was originally created to showcase' **** (List).
Venue 13
Main Space
You’re going to die.* Have questions? The osseous oracle has answers! Visit The Augur for an unforgettably macabre and darkly comedic puppetry fortune-telling experience. Each performance is bespoke (and the puppet is built from bones)! After slumbering for thousands of years, The Augur is a misanthropic and ornery oracle with a penchant for ornithological oration. This intimate performance fuses puppetry, improv and the occult. 'The Augur is so very special. Everything you dream of when you think of Fringe.' (Nancy Kenny, Executive Producer of award-winning documentary On The Fringe). Winner: Outstanding Design, Halifax Fringe 2025. *eventually.
Laughing Horse @ City Cafe
Hollywood
Growing up with a stutter is a complicated thing. You're not normal enough to be treated like the others and yet you're not disabled enough to receive help. You're left to fend for yourself with an invisible muzzle that flares at the worst times. When everyone treats your seemingly singular defining trait as something unspeakable, what do you start believing about yourself? In the most unconventional of places, The Bathroom Floor explores one woman's messy journey of fighting with faith, self-perception, and ultimately having to choose a life worth fighting for.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A widow swears eternal devotion to her late husband – until an irate, blustering creditor arrives demanding repayment of a debt. What begins as just an impolite visitation erupts into a ferocious battle of wills, wits and wildly inconvenient desire. Slammed doors, smashed furniture and loaded pistols give way to something even more fierce: love, as a duel of honour spirals into a reckless courtship neither combatant can truly control. EGTG's energetic, fast-paced, destructive rendition of Chekhov’s comedy farce: The Bear revels in the thin line between loathing and longing – and the thrill of crossing it!
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
A zany comedy in the style of Italian commedia dell'arte about the planned marriage of Flaminia and Orazio by their money-grubbing fathers Pantalone and Gratiano. On the day of the wedding, the braggart warrior Captain Spavento, thought lost at sea, arrives to rescue his beloved Flaminia from the clutches of a forced marriage. Meanwhile, Spavento's sister, the fiery Isabella, arrives incognito, seeking her lost love Orazio. As the spurned lovers pursue their quests, the servants get involved, and with the help of hapless bystanders, surprising discoveries are revealed and the world is somehow happily realigned.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
POV: you and hubby are fresh off the altar, driving to your Niagara Falls honeymoon, sipping on your fave bevvy. It's the middle of the night and you haven't had service for miles, but it's okay – you're drunk off the bliss of married life! Or... trying to be? Out of nowhere, your drink is in your lap, and the car is in a ditch. Shit, what (or who) did he just hit??? A dark comedy about where the mind takes us when faced with the questions we never wanted to answer.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
Join Jane on a search for her missing uncle, leading her to The Boline Inn and its strange, captivating women. Beneath her calm exterior, tensions simmer. Will the women bring her to boiling point? With its quirky humour, eerie atmosphere and unforgettable aesthetic, The Boline Inn – an award nominated production – 'has the ornaments of a cult classic' (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk). From Liverpool’s all-female company Meadow Report, this Edinburgh Fringe debut is a bold, uncanny exploration of community, mystery and female friendships.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
In a Zurich university hallway, a group of academics become obsessed with a mysterious “beast” lurking just out of sight. As speculation spirals into certainty, language begins to distort, alliances shift and reality itself feels unstable. The Colour of Water is a sharp, character-led dark comedy exploring grief, perception and the absurdity of intellectual authority. Blending humour with unease, the play examines how quickly certainty can become delusion – and how fragile our understanding of the world truly is.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
After falling into a steampunk pirate universe, Martin Hathaway is now firmly ensconced as Personal Assistant (and husband) to Captain Daisy Fitzgerald McNamara of the A.S. Nephthys. In this final instalment of Kathryn Clare Glen's steampunk fantasy trilogy, the Free People of the Lost Valley (formerly known as the Unpredictables), struggle to find a balance between the temptations of domestic bliss and a life rich with adventures. But the protection is fading... how will they navigate these challenges – even as the man who killed Daisy's father seeks revenge?
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
(Fri 21-Sat 22 Aug) Across northern England, roads wend their way through picturesque countryside. Ancient dry stone walls hold the ghostly stories of the dead that were carried past on these secret and haunted trails. The Corpse Road follows the rise and fall, the twists and turns of these paths to tell the tale of characters that were carried to their final resting place. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright weave together story and song in this evocative and unnerving folkloric journey to the grave. 'Captivating storytelling' ★★★★ (BingeFringe.com)'A Fringe must-see' ★★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk, for Orpheus/Orfeo) Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
Osgood is known for Inverewe Gardens in Wester Ross. Less known is his personal story, with his redoubtable mother, mistreated wife and The House of Lords divorce case she won. Curious to know more?
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
17 - 22 AugA wicked, gin-soaked dark comedy set on a stormy Edinburgh Hogmanay. Belinda Crabbs’ husband disappears, leaving behind police tape and three decades of marital fatigue. Enter Barbara, the cleaner with forensic instincts and impeccable timing. What follows is a razor-sharp dismantling of marriage, class and sex. Delivered with biting one-liners and delicious cruelty. Female rage detonates. Widowhood, it turns out, can be an upgrade and menopause absolute murder. From the multi award-winning writer of Sex, Chips & Ouzo, Glasgow Hard Tickets, Death of a Playboy, The Devil Wears Primark. 'A rip-roaring delight!' (Independent). 'Brilliant' (Scotsman).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
07 - 15 AugA wicked, gin-soaked dark comedy set on a stormy Edinburgh Hogmanay. Belinda Crabbs’ husband disappears, leaving behind police tape and three decades of marital fatigue. Enter Barbara, the cleaner with forensic instincts and impeccable timing. What follows is a razor-sharp dismantling of marriage, class and sex. Delivered with biting one-liners and delicious cruelty. Female rage detonates. Widowhood, it turns out, can be an upgrade and menopause absolute murder. From the multi award-winning writer of Sex, Chips & Ouzo, Glasgow Hard Tickets, Death of a Playboy, The Devil Wears Primark. 'A rip-roaring delight!' (Independent). 'Brilliant' (Scotsman).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
(Sun 23-Mon 24 Aug) A young girl wears her heart on her sleeve. Her father struggles to support the family and accepts a devastating offer from a strange figure... Can a woman without hands reach into a pool of dark memories to reclaim her own future? Based on the Grimm story of the Handless Maiden, this storytelling show explores disability and resilience in the face of trauma and societal expectations. Cara Silversmith has lived with a chronic condition for most of her adult life. Her storytelling celebrates diverse identities, the environment and the creation of a better world.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
He's a #1 podcaster. He's a #1 rapper. He's a landlord. He's Darren! New York's #1 podcaster / rapper / landlord! Step into The Darren Podcast Show studio, as they do it live to celebrate episode #25O featuring celebrities from the US of A! Games! Giveaways! Darren's interview with the podcast's most requested guest of all time! And we'll open up the phone lines and hear real New Yorkers. Maybe even rap! (Disclaimer: Not all New Yorkers are rappers, like not all Californians are surfers). It's truth or Darren time!
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Inspired by Zhuangzi’s parable of Hundun, this physically charged solo performance follows a woman living with depression as she sets out on seven journeys to escape pain. Each attempt seems to offer hope, yet leaves her more broken, as the things she once believed in slowly fall apart. Blending intense physical theatre with an emotional monologue, the piece becomes a raw encounter with herself. Pushed to the edge of death, she begins to question the need to understand and control everything, and finally finds a way to coexist with her pain.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
He's been running his whole life. Time to catch up. When the football pitch freezes, Chris is forced into cross-country. Everyone hates it, but something in Chris ignites. A coming-of-age story set in the world of elite sport where everything is measured, every meal, every metre, every moment, asking why we push ourselves as far as we can... Then further. From former GB athlete Ben Norris, The Distance is part play, part extreme workout – a sweat-drenched exploration of ambition, identity and letting go. Directed by Julia Locascio. From the producers of SIX, Choir of Man and Playfight.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
How do you justify bringing a child into this world? When she was a teenager, she vowed she never would. Yet, when babies start appearing in her dreams, her resolve is challenged by a monstrous desire for a baby of her own. Channelling a wide array of personas and worlds, The Dreaming sees us lost between landscapes of fantasy and nightmare. Here we seek answers to the questions: What drives us to create life? How do we grieve the futures the economic and climate crises have taken from us? What makes our lives meaningful?
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Directed by Emmy-winning director Karen Arthur, an aimless fighter and his rising rockstar sister collide in a high-energy play that fuses mixed martial arts with live music. This bold, first-of-its-kind production explores courage, identity and the consequences of choice. As one sibling charges forward and the other hesitates, both are forced to confront who they are and what they truly want. Blending the spectacle of sport with the electricity of live performance, the show captures the raw immediacy only theatre can offer.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
17 - 22 AugEver wondered what the person next to you is thinking? Eva is just a regular rat racer. Single mother to a six-year-old boy, she is desperately trying to play the game – pay the bills, get him to football, survive mum’s comments. Her mind has different plans. On the way to an important job interview, Eva gets bombarded by a series of ever-worsening intrusive thoughts. So prepare for the uncomfortable and dive into Eva’s mind. Guided by Arthur, a sadistic, half-real figure, this two-hander surreal dark comedy will shift your concept of normality.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
07 - 15 AugEver wondered what the person next to you is thinking? Eva is just a regular rat racer. Single mother to a six-year-old boy, she is desperately trying to play the game – pay the bills, get him to football, survive mum’s comments. Her mind has different plans. On the way to an important job interview, Eva gets bombarded by a series of ever-worsening intrusive thoughts. So prepare for the uncomfortable and dive into Eva’s mind. Guided by Arthur, a sadistic, half-real figure, this two-hander surreal dark comedy will shift your concept of normality.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
With a swirl of his motley cape, Limkin, a grand storyteller commands the stage, dazzling the crowd with his glittering 'flash tales.' Backstage, sharp-eyed Millie sees through the spectacle. When she boldly confronts the man who tells lies, the theatre trembles – both are swept into the realm where stories are born. There, amid wonder and danger, they discover that neither cynicism nor falsehood can silence a story that is true. Co-created with New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Brad Montague (Fail-a-bration).
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society ladies mount yet another assault on the classics with a startlingly original production of Macbeth. Under the carefully massacred eye of adjudicator George Peach, events conspire hilariously against them, leading to yet another play that goes horribly and wonderfully wrong! 50 years on from its Edinburgh premiere, this brand new production of David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr's mangled Macbeth is brought to the Fringe by Edinburgh People's Theatre, the only company to perform at every Fringe since 1947.
Newington Trinity Parish Church
Church Hall
You're invited to The First Annual Inaugural Grief Awards! After losing his father to pancreatic cancer in 2020, Andreas Tsironis grieved. He grieved pretty hard. Now, he's decided he is "totally over it" and will be hosting an award ceremony to commemorate the feat! Join the comedian for an absurd and heartfelt evening in which he honours his late father and explores how grief connects those of us it leaves in its wake. Except for Andreas. Who is totally over it.
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
(Fri 7-Thu 27 Aug) Enlightenment Edinburgh. Robert Burns and Walter Scott meet only once, at a salon in the Sciennes home of Adam Fergusson. Or so history tells us. In the School of Scottish Studies archives, a Scottish Traveller recounts another version; a fantastical gathering of 'all the great writers', locked in poetic flyting – until tragedy strikes. Scots folksinger Kirsty Law weaves together documented fact, imagined rivalry and a childhood memory of hearing the tale in the very building where it happened. A meditation on truth and fiction, and on the ordinary people who quietly carry on Scotland's living tradition.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
‘If you survive the apocalypse, don’t you get to help build what comes after?' The Forever Wave is an audio experience set in drowned San Francisco, circa 2070 inspired by Dylan Thomas’ iconic play for voices, Under Milk Wood. Drawing on geography, climate science and local Bay Area history it offers a comprehensive look at a what-if future should climate change and economic inequality continue to fail to be addressed. An array of almost 70 voices – survivors and dead alike – are brought to vivid life by a multicultural, multigenerational, and multilingual cast of 12.‘A true feat of audio performance’ theatreview.org.nz‘Patient, immersive world-building filled with humanity and hope’ Artmurmurs.nz‘A seamless and deeply immersive auditory experience’ salient.org.nzCastEl Capitán, Mariner Two, Mister Kincaid, King of Strawberry Hill, Old Bill, Ohlone Grandfather, Karl Maldorf | Roy ConboyFifth Drowned, Isabel Flores, Neighbor Two, Feral Three, Hyacinth Galang, Scraper Kid Five, Watcher Five, Siren of Nautical Hall | Jerikka GamboaSoraya Broussard, Girl One, Woman One, Neighbor One, Feral Two, Ohlone Voice Four, Barfly One, Child | Aaliyah GilliardFirst Drowned, Mariner Three, Jax, Sister Precious Little, Ohlone Voice One, Barfly Two, Dr Hashemi | Peter GriggsFourth Drowned, Carolyn Tsongas, Feral One, Alina Kruschev, Gemma Baxter, Scraper Kid Four, Watcher Four | Nathaniel Justiniano BerkeleyFourth Drowned, Carolyn Tsongas, Feral One, Alina Kruschev, Gemma Baxter, Scraper Kid Four, Watcher Four | Julia LetzelCalliope Carter, Girl Two, Woman Two, Missus Kincaides, Ohlone Voice Three, Maggy McCarthy, Barfly Three, Mam | Mia PaschalSixth Drowned, Grace Han, Neighbor Three, Feral Four, Ahn Nguyen, Scraper Kid One, Watcher One, Barfly Four | Krystle PiamonteThird Drowned, Jaz, Señora Hernandez, Ohlone Voice Two, Scraper Kid Three, Watcher Three, Ra’ja, Yasmine | Edna Mira RaiaLuis Mendoza, Mariner One, Alexi Tsongas, Mister Kincaide, Alfonzo, Scraper Kid Two, Watcher Two, Valtteri Lahti | Lluis VallsHappy DuBois | Patrick SimmsWrittren by Nicole GlucksternSound Designer | Cliff CaruthersDirected by Nicole GlucksternAudio Engineer | Patrick Simms
C ARTS | C venues | C digital
portal – on demand
The Gas Station at the Edge of the Universe follows Sawyer, a recent university graduate, as they return to their hometown in rural northern Canada. After reuniting with their childhood best friend Casey, it becomes clear that something is amiss as masked creatures start seeking them out, threatening both their relationship and their lives. As their once familiar hometown becomes unrecognizable, the two must learn to forgive and let go before they lose themselves to their crumbling realities.
Venue 13
Main Space
Spurs and Scotland star John White was one of the best footballers of the 1960s. However, in July 1964, aged 27, he was struck by lightning and killed. From humble beginnings growing up outside Edinburgh, through to football fame and his tragic death, this play shares John's cheeky humour. It also follows the story of his son Rob White, just five months old when his dad died. Loved by audiences and critics, this unique tale of nostalgia shines a deeply personal perspective on grief, life growing up without a father and male mental health.
Underbelly Bristo Square
Dairy Room
The Girls Who Made Us is a tribute to the women who shaped us. After the loss of Auntie Jane, five girls discover a box of memories revealing how Jane met each of their mothers and the lifelong bonds they formed. Through multi-rolling, the performers bring to life their mothers' journeys and how they lend themselves to resilience, sacrifice and identity. As past and present intertwine, the girls confront what it means to grow up as women today. This heartfelt play celebrates survival, friendship and the quiet victories that define who we become.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Deep in the vaults of the Vatican lies the Chronovisor: a mysterious "camera" that allows the past, present and future to be seen... even if the future isn't quite what they had been promised! The doubting and alcoholic Father McGill, straight-laced Sister Agatha, and their hapless new recruit Father Samuel embark on the adventure of a lifetime. It's off to Edinburgh for them, to stop an evil, world-ending Witchy-woo. Leave your common sense at the door, because they have the dead people of the village to contend with. That's right: the village people...
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
A lively musical play telling the true story of the Grant family of Rothes, founders of the world-renowned Glen Grant distillery. From illicit distilling and family enterprise to innovation and global success, the show blends history, humour and song. Performed by a community cast, it celebrates Speyside life, whisky heritage and the bonds of family, bringing local voices and lived experience to the stage with warmth, pride and a generous measure of spirit. Perfect for Fringe audiences seeking authentic Scottish storytelling, music, laughter and heart, rooted in real people and place.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Alba Theatre
Fitzgerald’s classic is re-imagined for the Edinburgh Fringe in a bold, multi-perspective adaptation that shatters the myth of the American Dream. Told through shifting viewpoints, the story unfolds in dynamic vignettes seamlessly stitched together. An immersive party atmosphere give ways to moments of raw intimacy, revealing the contradictions, illusions and social barriers that drive – and destroy – its characters. As desire, wealth and identity collide, the pace builds relentlessly toward the devastating deaths of three central figures, exposing the true cost of dreaming too big.CastJay Gatsby | Oliver GardnerNick Carraway | Dale BarrellDaisy Buchanan | Alice RylandTom Buchanan | Ricky BevinsJordan Baker | Georgia ToutMyrtle Wilson | Chloe Porter-TwiggGeorge Wilson | Samuel JoliffeMeyer Wolfshiem | Fran McAteerKey supporting roles | Lucy Egan and Chloe TaylorWritten by | F.Scott FitzgeraldAdapted, Directed and Produced by | Sophie KeyLighting Designed by | Ruairi McNultyAssistant Directors | Clare Chesworth and Summer WaliaChoreographed by | Charlotte ThompsonStage Manager by | Jess GioiaAssistant Stage Manager | Claire Ilettwww.keyplayerstheatre.co.ukfacebook.com/keyplayersfarnhaminstagram.com/key_players
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Draw your quills, sharpen your wits and polish your pickaxes for the Great Shakespeare Showdown! Cheer, hiss and boo with the silver miners of Leadville, Colorado through this highfalutin verbal duel as the acclaimed Shakespeareans and renowned thespians, England’s Sir Charles GoodKnight and America’s Mrs. Twelvetrees, do battle using Shakespeare’s own words to be crowned The Wild West’s Best Bard 1882.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
August 1963. One train. £2.6 million. And a plan bold enough to change British criminal history forever. A gang of ordinary men attempt an extraordinary heist, stopping the Glasgow to London mail train and vanishing with a fortune. What follows is ambition at full tilt: The Great Train Robbery hurtles through a high-speed, anarchic retelling of Britain’s most infamous heist, and the moment a perfect plan begins to fracture. KCS Theatre Co’s signature blend of razor-sharp realism and cinematic stylisation powers this super-slick, swinging 60s, inventive comedy-thriller. All aboard for the heist of the century!x.com/dramakcsfacebook.com/KCSTheatreCoinstagram.com/kcstheatreco/
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Six actors. Dozens of characters. One dragon. Adventure awaits in this bold, imaginative adaptation of The Hobbit, authorized by Middle-earth Enterprises. With only six actors, a few props and limitless creativity, Tolkien's epic tale springs to life through inventive staging, physical storytelling and playful theatrical magic. The ensemble transforms into trolls, elves, goblins, eagles and Smaug, the dragon, as Bilbo Baggins leaves the comfort of the Shire and discovers courage he never knew he had. Fast-paced, funny, filled with surprises, the production uses movement, lights and shadows, puppetry and imagination to create a world larger than the stage.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Hollowed: a state of passive depletion. We earn and spend under the guise of normalcy, yet when balance falters, we slip into a hollowed existence. Society, wealth, space and freedom fade into the nihility of a mirror’s image. Pray to God? Who is the devil? Even the divine is emptied by human arrogance. Autonomy is our birthright. Let us strip away the layers of self and confront the demons hollowing us from within. As the void burns to ashes, we rise through the fire to reclaim our spiritual freedom.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Horse That Jumped at the Moon (formerly Boat Horse) is an exciting and funny musical romp through the days of the horse drawn boats on the English canals. John and Molly Swift (played by real canal boat people) tell the story of Tommy, the horse that hated the moon, and other tales, through original music, poetry and puppetry. It's fast paced, funny, poignant and highly entertaining. 'One of this year's sparkling gems. Singalong choruses, make sure you catch it' (SidmouthHerald.co.uk).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
17 - 22 AugMegan and Deborah live alone on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales. What was once their home has now become their only refuge from an increasingly dangerous outside world. They have their farm, their food and each other. But when their fragile harmony is sent into a dark, downward spiral, the cost of survival is chillingly laid bare. Kitchen sink drama meets post-apocalyptic horror, The Hunger is about morality and motherhood at the end of the world.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
07 - 15 AugMegan and Deborah live alone on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales. What was once their home has now become their only refuge from an increasingly dangerous outside world. They have their farm, their food and each other. But when their fragile harmony is sent into a dark, downward spiral, the cost of survival is chillingly laid bare. Kitchen sink drama meets post-apocalyptic horror, The Hunger is about morality and motherhood at the end of the world.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
A satire comedy about a wealthy eccentric, Argan, with delusions of illness. His greed for answers has led to him arranging his daughter, Angelique, to marry a doctor to selfishly fuel this obsession, whilst she pines for her true love. Hilarity ensues as Argan's family and his witty maid attempt to guide him to see reason as he falls further into his hypochondria due to a capitalistic healthcare system feeding his fantasies. Will Argan break away from his wife? Will Angelique end up with her true love? Or will Argan succumb to his hallucinations?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
"It’s growing. It’s heavy. It’s angry. And it’s about to come out." A teenage girl has something growing inside her. She doesn't know what it is but she knows it's not a baby. It expands. It has claws. Eventually, it takes over her entire body. No one must know about it. But she can't contain it forever. Sooner or later something's got to give... This surreal psychological thriller viscerally explores the teenage mental health crisis. Blending sharp social commentary with heightened storytelling, The IT captures the internal rage of a generation pushed to the brink.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Insanity of Mary Girard tells the haunting true story of a Philadelphia woman committed to an asylum by her husband in 1790. Inside, ghostly furies from her past accuse and torment her as memory and reality blur. The play exposes the cruelty and psychological abuse of early mental institutions, revealing how women could be silenced and labelled mad for defying societal norms. This gripping drama confronts injustice, power and the devastating cost of being unheard.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
Inspired by the strange world of Netherlandish proverbs, The Inverted Realm is a visually driven psychological drama where illusion distorts reality and nothing is quite as it seems. As lost souls move through a world of absurdity, faith, self-deception and inner conflict, the play explores how people become trapped in patterns of thought they cannot see. Surreal, intimate and unsettling, this is a theatrical journey through human folly towards the possibility of hope.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
Early 1570s. Some years before Shakespeare. Commedia dell' Arte's combination of mask, comedy, wild plots, hilarious improvisation and women performing on stage is taking Europe by storm. Queen Elizabeth I insists on seeing the Italian players at her royal court. Following their success at the 2024 Fringe, the Italians are back in an adaptation of Flaminio Scala's canovaccio, The Jealous Old Man, featuring a ten-strong troupe, leather half masks, exquisite costumes, live music and four-part harmony. 'A rare chance to see such work done this well' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). ***** (GetYourCoatsOn.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
17 - 29 AugFive years after splitting, former comedy duo Sid and Larry reunite at the 1980 Edinburgh Fringe. One's a star, the other's failing. Before Larry takes the stage, old truths threaten to steal the spotlight...
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
07 - 15 Aug1960s. Two comedians meet at the Fringe. They discuss...things.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Who is the king of all birds? This tongue-in-cheek gig for voice and vocoder by award-winning sound artist Martha Knight is a love letter to the history of flight. Based on the phenomenon of aerial photos being displayed in Irish homes from the 1960s, the one-woman play expands this story to include explorations of ancient mythological birds, bringing us to the present, where airplanes and satellites rule the sky. Conjuring tales through traditional Irish music, using live electronics and effects to bring the ancient Irish tradition of song into the present day. **** (Irish Times).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Three sisters pack up their deceased mother's house during a thunderstorm. They discover an ancient story that is close to home and has resonance with their childhoods. Together, all three, reluctantly confront the past and – with the help of another figure in the room – reconcile the future.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
A darkly comic, present-day battle of wits, of the sexes, and of Shakespearean bonafides. The Fool, a self-made "scholar," clings to the Bard for relevance, until a stranger refuses to stay polite and the room tips into an absurd cage match. In 2026, when whose voice is heard is still a question, this show makes the classics feel urgent and hilariously combustible. Fast, physical and sharp. Come for the comedy, stay for the moment you realise you’re part of the argument. When the text is stripped bare, what humanity is left glowing beneath?
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
One man, one garden, one last day. On his last day in Blackpool before the waves take it away, Ted, an old-timer with a big heart, recalls the stories and people who made his beloved community garden so special. This new play, written and performed by acclaimed poet Nathan Parker, is full of love, hope and heartbreak as it celebrates community spirit and shines a light on the reality of climate change for seaside towns. This evocative story will leave you feeling inspired, moved and ready to change the world! 'Brilliant, emotional, powerful' (Audience Review).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
The Last Audition. A once-celebrated Shakespearean actor returns to an empty stage to rehearse King Lear and prove he can still live independently. As memory falters, voices from his past intrude, turning rehearsal into reckoning. Darkly funny and deeply moving, this intimate solo play explores ageing, caregiving, legacy and the courage to keep stepping into the light. European Premiere. Written and performed by international actor Paul Shearman, it blends Shakespeare with contemporary storytelling and emotional truth, resonating with audiences across generations. Perfect for Fringe-goers seeking powerful, human theatre.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
In a land where music has been losing its ground in the dreary desert of despair, a voice arrives with latent promise. Among the mysterious world of mythical sea creatures, guardians of ancient secrets and enticingly melodic voices, one soul discovers that compassion can ripple through even the deepest darkness. As destiny intertwines beneath moonlit waves, the courage of a single human being heals old wounds and awakens lost dreams. This play is a journey through pain, love and redemption, reminding us that even one heart, steadfast in hope, can transform the entire world.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
1914. The Great War rages. Britain recruits 30,000 Bantams, men between five-foot and five-foot-three to fight in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. 1918. A group of reporters visit the Front to write about the Bantams. One Bantam remains, Patrick Michael Wolfe, a Dubliner who signed up to secure Home Rule for Ireland. This is his story. A story about patriotism, prejudice, courage and betrayal. Inspired by real events. 'A perfect example of the great Irish storyteller' ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'Excellent' ***** (UKTW.co.uk). 'Giant of a show' ***** (Derek Awards).
Paradise in Augustines
Snug
Join Liz, on her last morning at number 10, in an exploration – equally comic and tragic – of the tensions in politics: between ambition and ability, vision and reality, going short and playing it long. Can a fighter ever quit? This award-winning production (Emma Wilkinson Wright, Best Actor, London Pub Theatres Awards 2025) comes to Edinburgh after a West End Transfer to London at The Other Palace Theatre in March 2026.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Fleming Theatre
This new play begins with a declining Trump watching the results of the 2028 US election. Yes, it’s set in the future. The Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff is concerned and engages White-House-intern-cum-Chief-of-Staff Morgan to keep Trump occupied developing his Presidential Library. But the library project reinvigorates Trump and fate hands him a chance to achieve the dictatorial status. Will fate intervene for the liberals? Less a partisan political hit-job than a farce about unintended consequences, this uproarious play explores how we all would love to be a dictator.CastCarly McCann | Morgan VaughnJohn Smeathers | General ReeseKitty Ball | Carla HeartConnor Cunningham | Donald TrumpCreated, Directed and Produced by Eoin Carneyfacebook.com/trumplastdaysinstagram.com/trumplastdays/tiktok.com/@trumplastdays
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
When a university student is found dead in her flat, there are no signs of forced entry. No strangers. No one else who could have done it. The only suspects are the three girls who were with her that night – her closest friends. Exploring sisterhood, loyalty and the complicated reality of female friendship – where love and resentment can exist side by side. Because if it wasn’t a stranger, it had to be one of them.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
A once-proud mariachi singer confronts his life's final chapter with nothing but his voice and a lifetime of memories. Through beloved Mexican songs and intimate monologues, he reflects on the woman he lost, the paths he chose, and the quiet that now surrounds him. Past and present blur, music becomes confession and comfort. Haunting, humorous, and deeply moving, The Last Song is a meditation on love, regret, and the stories we carry with us long after the music fades. It asks what remains when the applause ends, and whether one final song can say everything left unsaid.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Dunedin Theatre
Who are the people on the subway? What lies beneath the surface? Every person has a story, and they all connect. Through shared glances, communal frustrations, spontaneous decisions and unexpected intersections, this group of New Yorkers slowly realise they are more than just strangers on a train. Beneath the city streets, this will be no mere commute but a journey of discovery and shared humanity.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Great Hall
A reading that you participate in! All audience members enjoy four craft cocktails designed to match each act of the show. Brave volunteers will become part of the cast and read the script with us! Join for a night of laughs, drinks, and appreciating the little things. Story: Chartreuse is a real-life liquor that only two monks know how to make. When Mike finds one dying in the woods and is given the only known copy of the recipe, he has to decide if he can return it to the monastery or die trying.
Cask and Vine
Cellar Tasting Room
Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this staged production of The Little Prince explores growing up, opening one's heart and discovering the true meaning of love. Travelling from planet to planet, the Little Prince encounters vanity, loneliness, ambition and absurdity – reflections of the adult world seen through a child's clear and questioning gaze. Each meeting brings him closer to a simple but profound truth: to care for someone is to accept responsibility for them. Through distance, wonder and longing, he learns that love is neither possession nor perfection.
Nicolson Square Venues
The Studio
In this deeply personal and universally relatable piece, Deborah Unger (Gotham, Orange Is The New Black) invites audiences into the lifelong battle and posthumous reconciliation with her mother. Blending humour and heartbreak, pathos and poignancy, Unger’s journey explores the unspoken dynamics of mother-daughter relationships. Mom gets to tell her side of the relationship as well, albeit from the grave, transforming the play into a moving meditation on love, understanding and letting go. 'A tender and joyful evening full of discovery and celebration' (TheFrontRowCenter.com).
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
This eerie, supernatural play rooted in Appalachian folklore, tells the story of two sisters, Bun and Gowdie, who live alone in the woods of Clinch Mountain, Virginia. On St John’s Day, the longest day of the year, fourteen-year-old Gowdie is newly tempted and enamored by the charms of the seductive Love Talker and the impish Red Head. Meanwhile, Bun fights to protect her younger sister from their spells but unwittingly finds herself caught up in their magic. Despite the resistance, both spirits are determined to lead the sisters into earthly awakenings, madness and betrayal.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Can two people be together if they always say exactly what’s on their mind? That’s the question in this smutty but sweet film noir comedy for the stage. A private investigator can’t keep his thoughts, including his fantasies about the dames that come to his office, to himself. His poker game has gone to shit. Could there be someone out there for him in this ramshackle world of gumshoes, gangsters and broken promises? It will be a night of cynicism, femme fatales, musings on gaydar and the benefits of smoking, and general perversion.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A romantic tragicomedy following lonely teenagers who meet on New Year’s Eve in an online roleplay chatroom. May is May. Perry is British actor Matt Smith. Their conversation that night, unexpectedly intimate, forms a bond between the two: they become each other’s best friend, confidant, and lifeline through the turmoil's of adolescence. That is, until “real life” intrudes...
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
Charlotte comes from a world of castles and court jesters, full of adventure and excitement. Except none of it is real. It’s a best-selling novel written by Margot, an up-and-coming author just out of grad school, with Charlotte as the main character. But when Margot and Charlotte can’t agree on the plot of the sequel, they find themselves in therapy with Vivian, a couples therapist. The Next Chapter follows Margot and Charlotte in their therapy session as they troubleshoot ideas for a sequel and find themselves learning about growth, taking risks and learning how to move on.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
A gripping, cinematic and award-winning solo thriller about a man who becomes dangerously out of his depth in the criminal underworld. Ali is wanted dead by a vicious London gangster and is placed under police surveillance for the protection of himself and his family, yet for some reason, Ali decides to sneak out into the night, sparking a bloody domino effect that ricochets through the sleepy streets of his city. Through the accounts of Ali, a henchman, a detective, and a mob boss, find out what on earth happened on the Night Ali Died.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
A boy jumps from a thirty-foot oak tree and survives unmarked. It's the first day of the evangelical summer festival, The Orchard, and newcomer Lucas immediately makes an impression among the other children. The younger kids believe he’s a miracle maker. But Benji is the pastor’s son, and he won’t give up his assumed leadership easily. Meanwhile eldest girl, Ruth, isn’t sure that what Lucas is doing are acts of God. But as the "miracles" grow in extremity, so too does Lucas’s influence.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
(Mon 10-Sun 23 Aug) The greatest stories have always opened our eyes, pricked our ears and loosened our tongues; not easy when the chaos makes us want to bury our heads. When faced with injustice, oppression and tyranny how long can we afford compliance? How long do we excuse the beast once it has learned to bite? Two traditional storytellers rally myths, legends and folk songs in this rousing call to arms. Now is the time to pull our heads from the sand, look darkness in the eye and make a stand.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Painted Revolutionary is a new political satire where political concepts are (strange, deeply flawed and unrelenting) people. Struggle lives amongst words in her bookshop with Order popping by to make sure she's well and in check. But something's about to happen that hasn't occurred in years – Struggle will have an audience and a burden of responsibility. Bringing change won’t be easy and with a host of complicated concepts and characters, will it be worth it?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus are recreated in this moving, memorable and ultimately joyful retelling of the Easter story, through monologue and song. Told from the perspectives of Peter, Mary Magdalene and a Roman centurion named Marcus, this powerful contemporary drama leads us up to and through the events of Holy Week, to the cross and beyond. 'A very moving and beautiful portrayal of the most amazing story in history. Phenomenal performers!' 'Absolutely mesmerising. Really helped me get into the characters of the people involved – who represent us all really' (Audience reviews).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
The People in Our Lives is a one-man show written and performed by Jack Palmer. Making his Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2026, Jack Palmer takes on the role of Jason McDonald, who is the landlord of The Golden Ball. After a raucous night at the bar, Jason reflects upon what has brought him to where he is in life today. Despite losing his way after his dad's death and his mum's multiple convictions, Jason finds himself again as a pub landlord and reunites with his childhood sweetheart, proving that life can always be turned around.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
5th November. 1605. London. A plot foiled. A trial imminent. A story rewritten. Two brothers stand accused of high treason for a plot they bet their lives to pull off, and on the other side of the Thames, a playwright weaves their story into a new masterpiece to save his own skin. The Plot is a show about the power of great stories, those who wield them, and the imagination. It is the fourth show by Emma Howlett with her company theatregoose, makers of consecutive Fringe hits Aether, Sisters Three and Her Green Hell.
Summerhall Festival
Main Hall
Prepare for the end... If you can afford it. Kaia and Adam win a bizarre lottery and move into The Pod – a doomsday bunker that might jettison into space when the world ends in eight minutes and 19 seconds. Unless it doesn't, in which case the countdown will reset until it does finally end! The Pod is an LGBTQIA+ led absurd comedy play about grief, the state of the world and the importance of human connection.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
How will history remember you? As the person you are or, the person you want to be? It’s 1939 and Philomena is on her way from Dublin to London to join the British war effort. But can she live true to the poet inside her when she is constantly being defined by her role in the war? Philomena is a poignant and funny solo play, infused with poetry and inspired by the true stories of Irish nurses in WWII. 'Charming, funny, soulful and heartfelt' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (TheWeeReview.com). ***** (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk). ***** (TheatreAndArtReviews.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Dystopia or utopia? You decide. This episodic play follows the consequences of power and desire in modern day Britain. It starts at the top and trickles down, each player a servant and master, with no care who is beneath them. A spa, a salon, a hairdressers' and a bedroom. Six people climbing the social ladder and stepping on fingers as they go. If you wanted something, what would you do, who would you hurt, to get it?
Paradise in The Vault
The Vault
The play is a camp workplace comedy set in a celestial bureaucracy where pop divas are treated as religious figures. When a rogue employee accidentally merges the religions of three modern pop icons, the department must deal with the chaos of creating an entirely new faith before it spreads to Earth.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Problem With Kate Winslet’s Dress is a witty and heartfelt theatre piece exploring life through the lens of cinema. Inspired by iconic films and television, the show reflects on love, loss, self-discovery and the expectations movies place on our lives. Blending humour, nostalgia and music, it celebrates storytelling and those moments when reality feels nothing like the movies – and the surprising times when it feels exactly like one. Warm, playful and deeply human, this show invites audiences on a joyful, cinematic journey.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
August, a young waiter at a failing family-run restaurant is tasked with organizing a marriage proposal for the owner's wealthy nephew. However, the plan is disrupted when Sally Clief – the nephew’s former wife, posing as his future bride – arrives determined to sabotage the proposal. Caught between loyalty, ambition and moral responsibility, August agrees to help Sally stop the proposal, unaware that her intentions escalate toward revenge.
Paradise in The Vault
The Annexe
This sharp, playful comedy follows a delightfully miswired mind as it attempts to navigate… well everything. From conversations that de-rail like running trains, to plans that mutate to entirely new plans mid-sentence, The Quiet Between is a chaotic celebration of an unconventional mind. As the actors bounce off each other, sometimes in harmony and sometimes with spectacular confusion this performance is not for the faint-hearted. Come and watch this fast, funny and unpredictable piece of theatre and join us on the journey of a lifetime.Created And Performed by | Rhys Bloy and Sophie Methuen-TurnerWritten by | Michael MolloyThanks | C venues, The Working Actor and Murder Actually.facebook.com/theworkingactor/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
No bombs. No witnesses. No one looking back. A place suspended after war, where time stretches and everything slowly disappears. In this fragile stillness, a boy takes shape – gradually, almost imperceptibly – formed by absence, silence, and what remains unspoken. Without recognition, without resistance, his sense of self begins to shift. And within this quiet, something else starts to emerge: a subtle, unsettling proximity to violence. A solo performance where text and body collide.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
In the cutthroat world of a 2000s fashion empire, a pair of red-hot shoes becomes the driving force behind a young girl’s dazzling yet dangerous decline. As she navigates regret born of temptation and uncontrollable power, the shoes cling to her with a pulse of their own, tightening as she weakens. Each strut thrusts her deeper into a labyrinth of vanity, manipulation and sacrifice. Her spirit soon shatters as she discovers that the only thing more frightening than the shoes themselves, are the price they demand...
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Summer 2025, and Mackenzie Millar has spent three years at University hiding the fact that he’s on a scholarship and pretending he went to Eton. It’s all going to plan until his Dad turns up to his graduation with two tickets to the reunion of Oasis. The only problem is that it’s two days away and at the opposite end of the country. Their hitchhiking journey from England to Scotland will force both father and son to recognise what that means, and what it is to be working-class in a modern world.Written and Directed by | Grant MacIverProduced by | Megan Brannigan Vazquezinstagram.com/gagglehousetheatreco/
C ARTS | C venues | C aurora
studio
The Seat of Me is a raw, intimate one-woman show about memory, identity and the moments that shape us. With just a chair, a few symbolic objects and fragments of Edith Piaf’s music, Giulia retraces a journey from Rome to New York to Los Angeles – through ballet, vanished mentors, an immigration scare at LAX and an unexpected love story – to ask: what happens when we finally sit with our past so we can stand in our life?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
One man’s decision determines the fate of the family. Where they’ll live, who they’ll interact with, what they’ll believe… The patriarchal idea that the father is the head of the home, while the system below him, never equal in standing nor given equal respect, suffers on behalf of his decisions. What happens when decisions go too far and we neglect the individual identities of our children? Through Suraya’s life we explore the inherited burden and what it means to carry it. One woman. Four characters. A journey into family dynamics and how they affect us…
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 3
Three sisters. One lie. What's the worst that could happen? Besides, don’t you feel like every time you blink, there’s a new Skarsgård actor on the scene...? Follow the adventures of three ordinary girls as they stumble headfirst into the disorderly world of fame, and transform themselves from nobodies to global superstars. The Skarsgård Effect is a comedy about hubris, nepotism, AI deepfakes and what happens when you lie too close to the sun. It’s a love-letter to the paradoxical world of the performing arts and the fantastic Skarsgård family.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Hidden within the old Dick Vet School lies a clandestine tavern where Edinburgh's rogue doctors and veterinarians gather. Surrounded by animal skulls and illicit research, you are invited into the medical underground's inner circle. Sign the ledger and swear a binding oath of secrecy before being administered two potent, gin-based trials. From an eerie tonic designed to stir the senses to a controversial elixir inspired by bizarre early-century surgical grafts, this immersive experience blends local history with forbidden anatomy.
Summerhall Festival
Summerhall Lobby
On the morning of February 8, 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots enters the great hall where she'll soon be executed for treason. There she meets Barnaby Fulke, an enigmatic actor sent to provide merriment before the chop. With one last chance to set the record straight, Mary stages her story, revisiting the spies, secrets and betrayals that sealed her fate. Secret codes, espionage and treason propel this gripping three-hander through Scotland’s turbulent past. But history isn’t always written until the last act and in the life of Mary, there is still one final scene left to play.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
The world moved on from the OceanGate Titan sub implosion. Captain* Sophie Smyth hasn't (rip). Armed with laptop, Logitech F710 controller and autism, she's spent three years (and counting!) diving deeper and deeper, descending the depths of the internet and herself. A dark multimedia comedy about neurodivergence, mortality and the risk/reward of going too far. *self-declared
Summerhall Festival
Former Womens Locker Room
Deacon Brodie isn't that well known outside of Edinburgh. Yet he inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Jekyll and Hyde. Similarly, Stanley isn't that well known outside of Stockport. Yet he's campaigned with Napoleon and been up Everest with Mallory. Maybe. Perhaps. By day, in the 18th century, Deacon Brodie was a respectable cabinetmaker. By night, he was a masked burglar in Edinburgh's Old Town. Against his will, Stanley gets roped into his escapades. And he could flipping well swing for it. A public hanging!
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Willow Studio
Inspired by the book Novas Cartas Portuguesas, this original play tells the story of three Portuguese women who challenged a dictatorship with words, courage and conviction. Maria Teresa Horta, Maria Isabel Barreno and Maria Velho da Costa risked everything for freedom of expression, sparking a trial that echoed worldwide. Voices Collective Company brings their story to life through theatre, poetry and contemporary performance, exploring resistance, friendship and the ongoing struggle for women’s voices to be heard. Performed in English, this bold, timely production reflects on artistic freedom, feminist courage and the power of language across generations.
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Studio
This world premiere comedy play spotlights a pivotal moment in Scottish football history through the eyes of two great adversaries, as David Narey confronts his nemesis Jimmy Hill, the Englishman who notoriously described Narey's glorious 1982 World Cup goal against Brazil as 'a toe poke.' Can legendary commentator Archie McPherson broker a resolution to one of football’s longest-running feuds? Spanning Scotland’s World Cup matches against Brazil in 1982, 1998 and 2026, The Toe Poke captures the triumph and despair of the Tartan Army as their team battle the world’s best team and the biased English media.
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge
Committee Room
A broken fairy tale for broken people. In a whimsical land of broken toys, Magnus Coffinkey must fix a bell atop an impossibly high spire. Success will make his wish come true. The price of failure is a permanently broken heart. Funny, honest and deeply devastating, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is a dark fairy tale where the power of storytelling is used to make sense of great personal trauma. Outstanding Theatre Award at Brighton Fringe, 2024. 'Sublime. Heart-wrenching. Perfect' ***** (TheReviewsHub.com).
Summerhall Festival
Red Lecture Theatre
Stevie’s finally landed her big break, but her jealous boyfriend isn’t thrilled about her performing sex scenes on stage. In an effort to ease tensions, she arranges a meeting between him, her co-star, and her intensely uninhibited intimacy coordinator. What begins as reassurance quickly spirals as boundaries blur, egos clash, and personal and professional lines tangle. As tensions rise, Stevie is forced to ask: what would she sacrifice for true intimacy?
Greenside @ George Street
Olive Studio
A therapeutic unravelling in four sessions. 'Oh God, you know I don't do this self-analysis thing very well.' Through imagined conversations with a therapist, Keir Starmer grapples with the transformation from respected lawyer to national leader – finally ending up in a present-day crisis. What went wrong? And is it solvable? This is a wryly comic look at a political unravelling of frankly criminal proportions.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Pigeon Patter Productions presents their debut show The Unwilling Accomplice. A horror comedy, following two sisters – Riley a serial killer, Emily her unwilling accomplice. We step into their world as cracks begin to form and the sisters learn that sometimes family shouldn’t be forever... This show tackles the difficulties that come when you can no longer rely on the few people you grew up with, and we ask the question of whether blood relation should be held sacred if all it's doing is poisoning your life.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A ground-breaking play by Eve Ensler, this internationally-celebrated work gives voice to women’s experiences with honesty, humour and unflinching courage. Through a series of powerful, intimate monologues, stories of love, sexuality, identity, violence, joy and resilience are brought vividly to life. Hilarious, shocking and deeply moving, this bold production invites audiences to listen, reflect and celebrate the strength and complexity of women’s lives. Raw, empowering and unapologetic, it remains as urgent and relevant today as when it first electrified audiences around the world. Don't miss The Vagina Monologues – six performances only!
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
The Vampire of Rio is a 40-minute psychological thriller solo-show starring Haysam Ali and directed by Jenn O'Brien. A forensic psychiatrist evaluates the mental sanity of a serial killer at the request of the courts to determine whether he can be held accountable for his 13 violent crimes against young boys. Inspired by the true story of Marcelo Costa de Andrade, the play draws upon real dialogues and interviews conducted with Marcelo, delving into the darkest depth of the mind of a schizophrenic, psychopathic murderer.
Rotunda Theatre, George Heriot's School
Squeak
The Wedding Date is an intimate two-hander about best friends Iris and Selena navigating singlehood, love and adulthood. With the audience as wedding guests, secrets surface and friendships fracture. Relatable for anyone in their twenties, it explores life living in London, the financial and emotional struggles no one talks about and the pressure to do “the right thing”. Society convinces us that the centre of our puzzle is a romantic partner – and without one we are incomplete. This show is a love letter to single people and friendships.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
The folks that produced Osgood and Kelpie now bring you more tales from the edge of the land: inspired by the people, legends and landscapes of Wester Ross. Settle back and listen to our stories.
The Royal Scots Club
The Hepburn Suite
A bold, fresh take on Macbeth as a pagan ritual, in which three immortal witches enchant an unsuspecting man to become the bloody Thane. This innovative production mashes the glorious text of the Shakespeare classic with a 4000-year-old Sumerian epic poem, recasting Macbeth as a sacrificial king. You'll be on the edge of your seat as the immortals lead Macbeth to the heights of power, then use his own dark impulses to destroy him. The ensemble of four actors brings all the roles to life in this fast-paced, spellbinding show. An age-old drama made startlingly new.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
She is alive... but trapped! In a pristine gallery, a woman stands inside a glass box watched, commodified and silenced. Over the course of one night, the thief and a janitor collide in a fragile space, between fear and rebellion, when the thief breaks in and vows to free her. As tension builds, so does the question: who is truly imprisoned? Blending poetic physical theatre with raw, intimate realism, it is a haunting dystopian exploration of patriarchy, power and control. It lingers, unsettles and leaves you questioning the systems they accept.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Two siblings dive a shipwreck and decide the fate of their family's seaside nightclub. A live-cinema show about diving, dancing and descendants. Combining live camera work, practical filmmaking, puppetry, and a live score. Following the sell-out run of Bark Bark – **** (Scotsman), **** (Skinny), **** (Fest) – Buzzcut return to Summerhall with a new live animation. Wes Anderson meets Katie Mitchell underwater in this delicate, funny, high-tech spectacle about returning home and diving into your family history.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
This psychological thriller follows Jane, a 19th-century woman suffering from postpartum depression, and her husband John, who prescribes her 'the rest cure', the era’s leading treatment for “female hysteria.” Isolated for months in a room covered in yellow wallpaper, she is forbidden from reading, writing or mental stimulation. To pass the time in her confinement, Jane studies the patterns in the wallpaper and becomes convinced that a woman is trapped within it. Losing her grip on reality, she determines that it is up to her to set this imprisoned figure free.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
This is group therapy. It requires each actor to have a different psychological disorder. The group works well together until a new member arrives and then it doesn’t.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
There Was A Time is a psychologically driven drama that unfolds inside the fractured mind of Dot, a woman haunted by a love she was never brave enough to choose. As past and present collide, Dot revisits her teenage relationship with Stacey – a first love shaped and ultimately destroyed by fear, repression and societal expectation. The play moves fluidly between humor and devastation, realism and abstraction, exploring how memory can both protect and imprison us.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Four people enter a sauna, three walk out. Over an hour, a group of strangers get hotter and hotter. So hot, they start to cook. Coco Cottam's new play Thermodrama measures the costs of a culture of self-improvement on four precarious lives. Following a sell-out run of BLANDY – 'Riotous, visceral and whip-smart' ***** (BingeFringe.com) – Lovelock Productions have taken a room in Summerhall and are going to make it sizzle.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Boys are shaped by the men around them. So what makes a man? It’s Y2K, and a teenage boy has been caught between two very different influences: a volatile father and a gentle Windrush-era grandfather. But when he’s uprooted to a working-class Northern town, he quickly learns the rules - who the hard lads are, what to say on MSN Messenger, and how to be a “proper” lad. Blending vivid storytelling with sharp humour, this nostalgia-drenched autobiographical show explores boyhood, masculinity, and the moments young boys must decide what kind of men they will become.
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Last year retired playwright Jonas Müller received a box from an unknown sender. It contained an enormous handwritten book, a pink flash drive and a firm but friendly threat. This is the tale of what happened next. It's also about an elephant named Marcel, but let's not dwell on that. A never-ending tale about unbelievably true stories and the art of honest deception. 'A magical journey into one of the most fascinating experimental theatrical minds at the Fringe' (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'A marvellous invention with Fargo-like claim to truth-telling' (FringeReview.co.uk).
Underbelly Bristo Square
Daisy
Convinced his time has come, Jojo invites you to the funniest funeral: his own! Through chaotic conversations with family, friends and therapists, join him on this journey of what it means to die – and most importantly, what it means to live. This dark comedy was originally written for writer-performer Jonas Feind's thesis on the use of playwriting as therapy. It features the voices of many creatives you probably share mutuals with on Instagram and is perfect for fans of comedy, pop culture references and the exploration of mental health.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
A woman's mouth speaks faster than thought can follow. A man alone with the voice he cannot silence. A figure in a rocking chair, descending into stillness. Three lives. Three reckonings. Three short plays about people on the edge of catharsis, alone. Together, they form an art-house triptych of extraordinary intimacy and power – spare, beautiful and haunting in its insistence that language might set us free.
Greenside @ George Street
Ivy Studio
(6-31 Aug: 4:45pm) Returning to venues across Scotland following a critically-acclaimed tour in 2025, National Theatre of Scotland’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show which explores the story of the greatest literary hoax of all time. 1760: Scottish poet James Macpherson sets the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian - but is it built on deceit? 2026: Martin O’Connor questions his own relationship with Scottish culture. Sporrans, stags, and shortbread; do these gift-shop images hold us back or bring us forward? Performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, Through the Shortbread Tin returns to explore the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. A National Theatre of Scotland production. Part of the Made In Scotland Showcase 2026.Written by Martin O'ConnorRemount directed by Joanna BowmanOriginal production directed by Lu Kemp 'Witty and provocative' ★★★★ (Guardian)'A tartan-wrapped gift of a show' ★★★★ (Herald)'Fierce, funny and challenging' ★★★★ (Scotsman) BSL interpreted Tue 25 & Sat 29 Aug.Captioned Thu 13 & Sat 22 Aug.Audio described Fri 14 & Mon 24 Aug.Chilled Thu 20 & Sun 30 Aug.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Tue 18 Aug) Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe, to the venue where it won a Herald Angel Award and built a reputation as a smash hit of modern Scottish theatre, Thunderstruck is the tragic, comic and epic tale of the greatest bagpiper that ever lived. The story of a Pitlochry bin man who rocked tradition, flew beyond the summit of his art and changed Scottish music forever. Whatever notions you have of bagpipes, leave them at the door. 'A stunning, staggering piece of modern Scottish folk theatre' ★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)'Elucidating, charming and rip-roaringly inspirational' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Masterful' ★★★★ (BroadwayWorld.com)★★★★ (Fest)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
17 - 22 AugAfter their professor, Tim Kenneth, suffers a mental breakdown in class, obnoxious prankster Scooter and teacher's pet Pencil embark on an odyssey through New Jersey, saddled by the weight of their own existence and with complicated feelings towards their lecturer. After its sold-out run in New York and debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, this academia-set dark comedy returns, bolder and brighter than before!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 1
11 - 15 AugAfter their professor, Tim Kenneth, suffers a mental breakdown in class, obnoxious prankster Scooter and teacher's pet Pencil embark on an odyssey through New Jersey, saddled by the weight of their own existence and with complicated feelings towards their lecturer. After its sold-out run in New York and debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, this academia-set dark comedy returns, bolder and brighter than before!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
John Harper and Joseph Ismay. Passengers on the Titanic. A church minister and an executive of the White Star Line. One a branded hero, one a coward. Both have a story to tell and a journey to make. 'A heartfelt and moving tribute to the heroism of the common man, and that the heart of even the richest men can be opened and brought into the light' **** (BritishTheatreGuide.info). 'I can hardly pay the author a higher compliment. My penultimate show at Fringe 2023 was an unexpected gem' **** (PlaysInternational.org.uk).
Palmerston Place Church
Church Sanctuary
As his melanoma worsens, a young husband is forced to reflect on how his wife will have to live and love after his passing. He begins to document his favourite things and advice about his wife for her future lover in his journal. But as the cancer begins to wear on his mental state, the journal delves into the dark nature of jealousy, fidelity and sacrifice.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
One skint actor versus universal credit. What's the worst that can happen? Living off f*cking toast apparently. With the bennys at stake, it's time for their best performance yet: Absolutely Not Angry At All. But the oh-so-polite convos in their best phone voice quickly descend into absurdity and chaos as they try to decide whether it's worth starving for your art after all. A brutally funny show about broken systems, broken artists, and breadstuffs. 'An impeccably written and well-crafted piece from a completely captivating performer. Hilarious and gut-punching! Not one to miss' (Liv Ello, Body Show). Shedload-of-Future Fund 2026 recipient.
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
'Storytelling at its best!' (Playbill.com). Sold-out runs in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This highly awarded, internationally touring, inspirational true story is about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of the arts, and is told with warmth, humour and banjo music! Through donations, including 100% of all artist fees, the show has raised over $1.2 million dollars (CAD) as of December 2025 for various charities, including cancer organisations, music programmes, community groups and artist funding and development. All proceeds from this Edinburgh Fringe run will benefit Summerhall Arts.
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
Freedom Party leader and founder of the Scots Mission, Big Jimmy, is here to tell you how to keep yur grannies safe and Make Scotland Cis Again! Hilarious, curious and deeply human, Transmission is a darkly comedic, tender-hearted performance by playwright and drag artist Nelly Kelly, exploring Scotland's shift from world-leading on LGBT+ rights, to fertile ground for the anti-trans movement. Blending DIY-cabaret with political theatre, male impersonation and a heap of mischief, Transmission examines how public perception of trans people is shaped – not by trans voices – but by 'single issue' campaigners, political-footballing and media distortion. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
Summerhall Festival
Anatomy Lecture Theatre
Brace the main sails, land ahoy, and shiver me timbers! Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless classic comes to life in this new interactive adaptation. This show is designed to entertain audiences of all ages. Following on from their successful debut with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School returns with their favorite Scottish author's tale of pirates, castaways and hidden gold. A fast paced swashbuckling romp accompanied by music and flashing child-friendly plastic blades. We invite you to set sail and join the adventure! Singing and dancing is optional.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Grand Theatre
(Fri 7-Sun 30 Aug) Leaping salmon, fishtail women, mythical raves and sacred springs – these legends celebrate those who question the fixed and find their own flow. Troubled Waters transports audiences into a world where ancient folklore intertwines with contemporary themes. Whether you come for the laughs or the watery wisdom, you'll dip your toes into vital waters and explore what moves beneath the surface. Described by audiences as ‘delicious’, ‘captivating', ‘sexy’ and ‘brilliant’, this storytelling show explores our connection to waterways, wetlands and their inhabitants. 'Genuinely very funny... A masterful storyteller’ (BackstageBristol.com) BSL interpreted Thu 13 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
Dr Rose Pratts is a respected GP who spends her days reassuring patients that everything will be fine – despite secretly battling crippling health anxiety herself. Her carefully controlled life begins to unravel when she develops feelings for a much younger junior doctor at the practice. As professional boundaries blur and panic sets in, Rose is forced to confront the one thing she has always avoided: herself. Trust Me, I’m a Doctor is a sharp, warm comedy about anxiety, desire and the terrifying possibility that it’s never too late to change your life.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Hi. Thanks for making time for whatever this is. I suppose it's a theatre show. Perhaps it's an interdisciplinary, interactive, mixed-media piece of performance art. An ambitious, impactful and timely exploration of human connection in the information age. A town hall meeting at the end of the world. A karaoke booth in a nuclear bunker. A clear-the-air chat between you, me and the rest of our plane of existence mates. A thrilling and vital new work from the multi award-winning theatre maker. As voted for audiences at BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG. 'Unmissable' ***** (ToDoList.org.uk).
Summerhall Festival
Former Gents Locker Room
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to find yourself trapped by destiny in an independent bingo hall? So has Jo. Jo’s life has taken a turn for the worse. She’s eighteen, grieving the loss of her mother, and at risk of losing her flat. Through a mix of desperation and a pull of fate, she stumbles into her local bingo hall. As events unfold, Jo is offered a job and becomes part of the hall’s great history. Can she overcome her anxiety, find out the truth and turn her life around?
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
Locked in a jury room on a sweltering day, twelve strangers must decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. What begins as an open-and-shut case unravels as one juror dares to question the evidence. Tensions rise, prejudices surface and tempers flare as reason battles bias. Twelve Angry Men is a gripping courtroom drama about justice.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
Sean is an ageing, downtrodden professional rugby player from Wales. When he meets world-famous US soccer star Sophie, they begin an unlikely romance. Can they survive the pressures that come with elite sport? Two Halves offers a window into their private lives as they try to enhance or preserve their own reputations, navigate the cut-throat world of social media, and balance personal ambition with home life expectations. Past secrets are revealed. Mistakes are made. Consequences are inevitable. Integrity, morality, resilience and love are all tested in this tense and explosive relationship drama.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
An ensemble of actors rehearse their new production of James Joyce’s Ulysses, but as they progress through the infamously "impossible to adapt" work, they find the line between text and real life starts to dissolve. A theatrical remix of Joyce’s classic novel in which the voices and humour of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2026 blend with the Dublin of the early 20th-century – the play keeps the heartbeat of the original while layering in contemporary stories to produce a fast-paced, funny and emotionally direct work. Knowledge of the original book is not essential for enjoyment!
Bedlam Theatre
Auditorium
In 1968, Nottinghamshire housewife Emma Smith traded her kitchen for a coffin. Buried beneath the Skegness seafront in a record breaking attempt, Emma invites us into a subterranean world of Radio Caroline, cream crackers and DH Lawrence. As she battles claustrophobia and public scrutiny, she unearths her past as a Belgian refugee and former nun. Unearthed explores the "everyday housewife's" desperate search for identity. A haunting, gritty portrait of a woman finding freedom in the dark. Previous production, Waiting for Elvis **** (TheWeeReview.com), ‘Life affirming’ ***** (ThreeWeeks).
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Set during the smallpox outbreak, the play follows Ali, a young man anxiously waiting at an old harbour for the return of his father, who had left for Bombay, India, to find a cure for his ill wife. Trapped in an endless cycle of waiting, Ali never sees the medicine arrive, and his mother passes away, leaving only her and her husband’s story behind.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
This striking one-woman show blends projection and sound to reveal the inner life of Maggie, an actress recovering from surgery and learning to live with a colostomy bag. While rehearsing for her boyfriend’s adaptation of the myth of Phaethon, their worlds begin to merge. His fall ends in fire; hers becomes a quiet act of self-recognition. Following its debut at the View Festival, and four-star reviews at Central Saint Martins, this is a story of faint, steady courage – the kind of female heroism found in small, honest acts of departure.
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
They were supposed to follow the script. They absolutely did not. Verona Nights is a playful ensemble musical comedy, created and performed by nine college artists. Inspired by classic tales of star-crossed love, the show follows rival groups whose loyalties are thrown into chaos when unexpected romance sparks. Through energetic movement, music and storytelling, the ensemble explores the thrill, awkwardness and drama of young love. As friendships shift and emotions escalate, one ordinary night becomes anything but predictable. Because sometimes the person you're supposed to hate turns out to be the one you can't stop thinking about.
Central Hall
Auditorium
A part of the Very trilogy, Very Cheap is a dazzling cabaret-philosophical ride about capitalism and the price of art. Fat and Dumb boldly compare creating art to sex work, exposing how both are shaped by performance, demand and the elusive promise of “authenticity.” With sharp humour and theatrical flair, they explore desire, value, and what it really means to sell yourself in a system that turns talent, emotions, even the body – into a commodity. Playful, biting and deeply relevant, Very Cheap makes you laugh while questioning the cost of creativity in today’s market-driven world.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
A bold, hilarious performance and a key part of Fat and Dumb’s Very trilogy. Stepping into the shoes of Shakespearean fools, they mix clowning, contemporary performance and self-ironic humour to tear apart the fantasy of the artist-genius. With their own bodies and careers as the battleground, they expose stereotypes, ambition, insecurity and the absurd pressures of artistic success. At once playful and brutally honest, Very Funny turns laughter into a tool for reflection – revealing what it really means to create, perform and survive in today’s art world.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
A part of the Very trilogy – a sharp, auto-ironic performance inspired by Schubert’s Winterreise. It takes the form of a 'sit-up' show, because standing up is tiring already. Blending music, brutal honesty and dark humour, the performers explore aging bodies, psychophysical exhaustion, illnesses and the slow comedy of falling apart. Echoing the melancholy journey of Schubert’s song cycle, Very Sad turns vulnerability into punchlines and fatigue into rhythm. It’s intimate, absurd and strangely uplifting: very sad, and therefore very funny.
theSpaceTriplex
Big
Through the medium of theatre, David Hare gives a dramatic account of his travels though Israel and Palestine, from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to Gaza and Ramallah. The playwright was given unique access to a range of public and private figures, each with a different perspective on the region and its troubles. The resultant drama draws together these very different voices, exposing the passions and opinions that run deep throughout the region. At the end, like its author, the audience is left wiser but exhausted by the experience.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Voltei, a true story, begins by telling us what it takes for young people to leave their home country, what those big changes are, and the challenges they face. Voltei takes us back to England in 2006, when smartphones weren't yet a thing and YouTube had just become part of our lives. It explores the various social and cultural differences between Portugal and the UK, through various first-hand emigrant stories and through the real impact of Brexit on the decision made by so many to return to their home country. Voltei is interdisciplinary and combines theatre with stand-up comedy.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
March 3, 1960. Elvis is returning to the US after completing his military service in Germany. His flight stops at Prestwick Airport for refuelling. Margaret Rutherford (the definitive Miss Marple) while waiting in the departure lounge for her London flight, meets Elvis fan, Albert, hoping to glimpse the King. 'Quietly moving two-hander imagines a meeting that changed a life' **** (TheWeeReview.com). 'Life affirming' **** (ThreeWeeks). Previous productions Noiseless & Patient, 'Beautiful and lyrical' (FringeGuru.com), and When Kurt Met Thora, ‘As an imagined piece of entertainment folklore, it’s priceless’ (TheStage.co.uk).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Adapted from Elton Lau-Ho Cheung's award-winning script at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, this one-act play begins when a matchmaking agency famed for its "100% success rate" sees two clients abruptly thrown off script. A young man, pressured by family expectations, confesses a long-hidden love for another man. A successful, controlling woman confronts the fracture beneath her perfect marriage. Drawn into a private room, they face interrogation from a mysterious voice that seems to know their secrets. Under the unblinking camera, their social masks crack. Performed in Cantonese with English surtitles.
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
Michael is waiting for a very important call. But he is continuously distracted from his anxious wait by some uninvited guests: his siblings, who are all arriving at Mike’s apartment to collect pieces of work that Michael “helped” with. Arriving as well is Michael’s adoring neighbour who shares his profession of being a writer, as well as sharing a secret they keep from each other. They fancy one another! Finding out their little brother has a crush on his neighbour, the family members attempt to coach Mike in the mysterious ways of love!
Paradise in Augustines
Studio
In a coastal studio, a portrait takes shape and old roles are redrawn. The talented artist is no longer a woman her children recognise. Her adored son and overlooked daughter are rocked by the change. What washes up when the tide retreats – and what stories vanish with the shifting sands? Waving is a moving and humorous look at the nerve centre of a creative yet destructive family. In Rosalind Philp’s debut play, time and reality blur in a vivid exploration of life, loss and identity.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Where did it all go wrong? Well, it depends who you ask. Close friends Oscar and Ela navigate the fallout of a drunken sexual encounter as their conflicting versions of events are replayed, rewound and re-written against the sensory medley of a wild night out. Olivier and Tony nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX the Musical) directs the world premiere of this distinctly un-romantic dark comedy and 'fascinating exploration' (Daniel Finkelstein, The Times) of the greyest areas of consent and sexual politics.
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
The Tartan Army are back! Four friends follow Scotland across the Euros, hauling flags, hangovers and secrets they barely share. Lost tickets, packed stands and late-night pints force moments of honesty. As the team falls short, so do their attempts to ignore drifting friendships, hidden fears and personal struggles. Laughter, arguments and warm cans expose the cracks between them. Turning a football trip into a reckoning with their own lives – where loyalty, fear and the messy truths of adulthood hit harder than any final whistle.
theSpace @ Symposium Hall
Annexe
The world is on the brink. Few can doubt that. But what are any of us really willing to do – or to give – in order to hold back the tide? Charting the course of one all-too-possible 21st-century life, Ruth Gilligan's thrilling, audacious, new play encourages us to think the unthinkable: to save the world as we know it, how much are we each prepared to sacrifice – not just for ourselves, but for those we love? And, what if we fail? Will those sacrifices still then seem worth it?
Greenside @ George Street
Lime Studio
What happens when your supposed "built-in best friend" becomes someone you can't stand? When Celia loses her phone after a night out, it sets off a chain of small, seemingly inconsequential, events that force Celia and Josie to accept their incompatibility. Beginning as a morning-after comedy of errors, the fuse is lit for the play to slowly develop into the unravelling of sisterhood. Through clashing personalities and different life stages, distance creeps in. This funny and honest play begs the question: how well do we understand the people we love, and what happens when we don't?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Theatre 2
Stunned by the revelation of her husband's infidelity, Bea feels heartbroken and alone. If only she knew that her neighbours, Sonia, Van and Ian, were each also trying to get over the pain in their hearts, unable to articulate how they feel. Maybe the mysterious Lou can help them? A poignant and uplifting celebration of the power of sad music: 'a subtle and intelligent combination of words, movement and music' (Stage). Performed by five actor-musicians, including the music of Hank Williams, Orange Juice, Etta James, JS Bach and more.
Summerhall Festival
Dissection Room
Dani, a young and reckless stand-up comedian with endometriosis has everything and nothing going for her all at once. She lives with her childhood BFF Molly, and Jarred her college sweetheart. When Dani is fired from her job, by her influencer, nepo-baby boss Tasha, Dani is forced to attempt to navigate post-graduate life against an unforgiving New York City backdrop. Dani begins to have doubts about her relationship, career and future... She doesn't know what's ahead and she definitely doesn't have control, but one thing she does have is time.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Thistle Theatre
Attention: multiple new occurrences are now confirmed and verified. Healthy citizens must report to their safehouses by sunset and shelter in place. Three ill-equipped wardens keep watch over a makeshift community who must learn to work together. But as the threat outside takes shape, the atmosphere inside begins to turn. A gripping blend of thriller and comedy that pulls you into an immersive world of suspicion, survival and uneasy laughter. With heart-pounding sound design, razor-sharp performances and a daring, darkly funny style, this international cult hit asks: when night falls – who do you trust? ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info).
Summerhall Festival
TechCube 0
In this heart-pulling and comedic play, two lost souls in a constant battle with their self-worth get set up on an awkward blind date. But when the date proves to actually be worth their time, the two are led into a relationship they never expected and an ending they never knew they needed.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
17 - 22 AugIn this laugh-out-loud, award-winning farce, the lights are "opposite" – what’s dark to the characters is fully visible to you. When a burglar breaks into a married couple’s home, long-buried secrets come spilling out. Over one chaotic night, they must outwit the intruder, maintain their compounding lies and somehow save their marriage, all while navigating total darkness. Packed with wild physical comedy, mistaken identities and escalating mayhem, this high-energy comedy keeps audiences laughing from start-to-finish. Winner of the StageCrafts Freeway Circuit Award and Nominee for Hollywood Fringe Best Comedy.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
07 - 15, 24 - 29 AugIn this laugh-out-loud, award-winning farce, the lights are "opposite" – what’s dark to the characters is fully visible to you. When a burglar breaks into a married couple’s home, long-buried secrets come spilling out. Over one chaotic night, they must outwit the intruder, maintain their compounding lies and somehow save their marriage, all while navigating total darkness. Packed with wild physical comedy, mistaken identities and escalating mayhem, this high-energy comedy keeps audiences laughing from start-to-finish. Winner of the StageCrafts Freeway Circuit Award and Nominee for Hollywood Fringe Best Comedy.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Upper Theatre
They locked him up. Today he must be heard. Step into the asylum room of poet John Clare as he sings for his freedom. This performance is his one chance to prove himself: to hold onto his name, his past and his sanity. But the recital unravels. Memories and demons swirl around. He’s racing to complete his greatest poem. And he needs your help. English folk and electronics collide in a close up experience where the audience becomes part of the story. A story about identity, the creative spirit and the fight for a voice.
Greenside @ George Street
Jade Studio
Monday, 9am. Welcome to Last Resort Incorporated! Robin is the newest employee in the office and they’re not sure what’s worse: dealing with the broken printer or their eccentric co-workers. There’s a buzz in the air as Jones’ retirement party grows near... or maybe that’s the sound of flies circling the leftover lasagne. It’s almost time for the employees at Last Resort Inc to reap what they’ve sown or continue to look the other way. A show about capitalism, the stages of grief, and what it takes to break the cycle.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
An original play commissioned by Hungry Wolf Visionary Youth Theatre Company and written by Naomi Denny in collaboration with the young company. As nine young people approach the end of their GCSEs, a celebratory gathering on the beach takes a devastating turn. A singular, defining event inexplicably binds the group, forcing them to grapple questions of collective responsibility and individual guilt. Hungry Wolf VYT represents a new generation of youth theatre. With work both thought provoking and relevant, Hungry Wolf has established a reputation for hard-hitting, truthful and uncompromising material.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
Vincent van Gogh died in 1890, John Lennon died in 1980, both of gunshot wounds to the chest. But Imagine what might have happened had they actually met? Five years before their deaths both men underwent profound change. Vincent renounced his religious ambitions and began painting in earnest, creating his greatest masterworks. John renounced sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll for five years seclusion as a family, creating a son, and his last album. Taking place at their exact moment of crisis and decision, this is a spiralling shout of love, death, art and legacy.'Witty, fast-paced and effortlessly engaging’ ***** British Theatre Guide‘An exceptional play with captivating performances’ ***** Theatre and Arts Reviews‘Nuanced, believable performances that bring these icons vividly to life’ ***** Stage Talk MagazineCastJohn Lennon | Nick WilkesVincent Van Gogh | Murray AndrewsWritten and Produced by | Nick WilkesStage Manager | Isla Wilkeswww.malvernbard.inkfacebook.com/WhenVincentMetJohninstagram.com/whenvincentmetjohn/
C ARTS | C venues | C alto
theatre
The public and critically acclaimed multi award-winning When We Were Young is back for 2026. This five-star show goes beyond the tabloid stereotype of ‘neds’ to tell a powerful and hilarious story about the realities of gang culture and young team mentality in Glasgow during the 90s. Follow the lives of one of the many young teams who polluted the streets of the city during a time when it was known as the murder capital of Europe.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
Written anonymously and first staged in the Renaissance, Swetnam The Woman-Hater, is where the word misogyny comes from. Star-crossed lovers, swordfights and sexism in the 16th century – it has it all. But how could that possibly be relevant today? Come and judge for yourself... The second show brought to you by Cumbrian production company Acting Speaks Louder, creators of Disco, Baby? 'Outstanding' (FringeReview.co.uk). Created and produced by three up-and-coming artists working across music and theatre. If they don’t take the Fringe by storm, at least there'll be plenty of rain when they get home!
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Award-winning, five-star production of two one-acts by a Pulitzer Prize winner. The first, a two-hander, captures a pre-dawn hotel room encounter between a couple. The second, a monologue, is set in a Manhattan police station, where a tense interrogation becomes a searching exploration of love, identity and human connection. Distinct in tone yet thematically linked, these plays trace private moments when ordinary lives are tested and reshaped. ‘Tragic themes… superbly acted’ (The Student Newspaper). ‘Stoner gives a superb performance’ (ReviewsHub.com).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Award-winning, five-star production of a play by a Pulitzer Prize winner. In this compelling monologue, Diane, a successful writer, returns to her Missouri hometown to help her ageing mother. Responding to questions from an unseen local interviewer, she revisits pivotal moments from her past. Written with Wilson’s signature lyricism and emotional clarity, the play explores memory, identity and the moments when lives quietly change course. ‘Perhaps one of the best performances you will see at the Fringe this year’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Incredible’ (Independent).
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Haldane Theatre
Join your host, Barry Ruffles, and his glamorous assistant, Jenny Flannel, for a game show like no other! 18 pieces of theatre in 50 minutes; all you have to do is guess the genre, playwright or year to win a speedboat, cuddly toy or a holiday for two on the Isle of Fernando!
theSpace on the Mile
Space 3
An original performance piece of real-life loss and grief, Widow delves into subjects often considered too delicate or uncomfortable to tackle. To avoid the isolation that can result from a well-intentioned hands-off approach – for the grieving party and their supporters – Widow instead offers unfiltered perspective into the author's experience. Through longing and laughter, humour and heartache, Widow sheds light on the unique and horrific realities of grief and loss, with insights for the audience on how to navigate trauma for themselves and those they love. Widow helps to connect understanding with grief, building bridges across unspeakable subjects.
Greenside @ George Street
Sprout Studio
Along Highway 401, as you approach Kitchener from Toronto, you will see two notable billboards. One, an icon, an idol and a symbol of home. The other, a distant figure, often passed without a second thought. When Catherine’s car spins out in a snowstorm, she is launched into the world of Schneider and Jesus Saves. She stays at their house, eats wieners with them and listens to their marital problems. Wiener Beacon explores themes of selfishness, greed, love and power and begs the question: What does it take for a giver to start taking?
Venue 13
Main Space
William Street is a gripping drama set in Derry during the height of the Troubles. It follows the O’Shea family, led by Sean, a high-ranking IRA member, whose world is shaken when his wife Patricia reveals a dangerous connection to an English soldier. As tensions rise within the home, their daughter Jane embarks on a secret relationship with a member of the opposing group (the UVF), unaware that he is a target of her brother, Ruairi. Loyalties fracture and trust unravels in this intense story of family, conflict and survival.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Dunedin Theatre
Witches Corner is a comedic socio-political play written by Eilidh Smith with original songs composed by Rona Johnston. Born out of injustice and a burning desire for more female-led storytelling, Witches Corner explores the fear of feminine power and the misogynistic roots of the witch trials. Challenging gender-based stereotypes and asking the question – are women still on trial today? Step into the shoes of both the accuser and the accused. Would you follow the crowd, be a bystander or stand up for what is right? Witches Corner will leave you aching for justice.
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
If Donald Trump ever faced the likes of an Abraham Lincoln, wouldn't you want front-row seats? One fateful night in the Lincoln Bedroom, with the 2020 election in the balance, a sleepless Trump encounters a tall lawyer from Illinois. This enigmatic visitor charms and challenges Trump, and finally does what no living person seems capable of doing: wrestling the truth out of Trump. By morning nothing's the same. This moving, insightful and surprising political drama reflects on loss, legacy, hubris and honesty, and presents a cathartic clash you won't want to miss.
Greenside @ George Street
Forest Theatre
Harper unknowingly slept with her sperm-donor father. After that, nothing was ever quite the same. Making its Edinburgh Fringe debut from New York City, this darkly comic, confessional one-woman show traces that event’s fallout – as shame, grief and reckless desire collide in one woman’s messy, defiant search for love. In a landscape of dating apps, modern polyamory and kink acronyms, boundaries blur and destiny feels algorithm-driven. Raw, funny and unflinchingly honest, Emmy-nominated writer Renwick McAslan asks, in a culture obsessed with connection, why is it still so hard to feel held?
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
Stephenson Theatre
Jack, an aging actor, walks into a pub. Ava, a bartender auditioning, once again, for drama school, pours him a drink. Jack offers to help Ava with her monologues, and the two wend their way through the Shakespeare canon, clashing and connecting as they do. Based on the ineffable Tina Packer's Women of Will, this production charts the way Shakespeare's writing for women changed across his career. Intimate, epic; what emerges is an homage to some of the Bard's heroines, a love song to connection, as they learn to listen to both the text and each other.
Summerhall Festival
The Library Gallery
Returning from the USA, only child John Anthony Gorman (Daredevil, Lioness, Blacklist) clears out his late parents’ home in Glasgow in this autobiographical one-man show. Armed with cardboard boxes, he tackles each room layered with traditions, celebrations and heartache. Between the dust and daft keepsakes, every object sparks a story – from stealing his mum’s diamond earrings to be like David Beckham to pouring his dad's last Guinness. As the house empties, the past grows louder. Blisteringly funny and brutally honest, Woodcutter confronts what we can’t quite pack away while rediscovering what 'home' truly means.
theSpaceTriplex
Studio
Woyzeck, a soldier who is slowly going mad, tries to make sense of the world around him. Abused by his doctor, suffering class inequalities, religious pressures, and the traumas of war, he is forced into a downward spiral that has violent consequences. A commentary on misogyny, class inequalities, and the effects of war, Woyzeck is a timeless reflection on the need for social change.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Set inside a cramped catering van, Wrap Party lifts the hatch on the film industry. South Londoners Harry and Ollie keep the set fuelled and their dreams brewing, but between A-list demands, surprise inspections and romantic revelations, will they hold it together or go off script? Multi-rolled by two performers, the show blurs performance and reality as friendship and ambition collide. Fast, funny and rooted in real film-set experience, Wrap Party is a comedy about invisible labour, class and behind-the-scenes chaos. Following a sold-out Jack Studio Theatre run, it was nominated for a Standing Ovation Award.
Greenside @ George Street
Mint Studio
You Are What You Eat is a comedy about friendship, tenacity and outrageous misadventures that dives into the gritty underbelly of fictional 1970s London through the eyes of two aspiring detectives. In this action-packed adventure, Lewis and Tom find themselves embroiled in a deadly mystery involving corrupt police, a crime boss and the death of a young woman. With the odds stacked high and bullets flying, their only weapons are their wits, awkward heroics, a sarcastic sister and the belief that they might just be the city's last hope. 'Excellent' **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk).
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
This bilingual play transforms the language barrier into a stage for unlikely encounters: a delayed train reuniting strangers, a Duolingo lesson straining a relationship. Speaking the same words doesn’t always mean understanding one another, for language is more than a communication tool, it's a vessel for identity, memory, and emotion. As we try to bridge the gap between what we say and what we mean, how much gets lost, twisted, or buried? You So blends realism and surrealism to reflect how relationships operate simultaneously in the literal and the emotional – in translation, and in feeling.Written and Performed by | Alexander Wardach and Carolina GarçãoDirected by | César VelascoSet and Costume Design by | Holly SimProjection Design by | Hannah YipProduced by | Bruno Águas and Pedro MonteiroThanks | The BOLD Theatre, The Royal Central School of Speech and Dramainstagram.com/meraki.theatreinstagram.com/_embuscada_
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila
temple
Three vaguely incompetent gangsters decide to unionise against their tyrannical boss. With the help of a recently graduated, unemployed lawyer, the fight begins to bring about a more stable work environment despite no one knowing what that actually means. But after a failed robbery, personalities clash, loyalties are tested and it becomes clear that forming a union isn't going to be as straightforward as they thought.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 1
Recipient of the 2026 Mary Dick Award. Keron Day is disabled. Dani is his Personal Assistant (not as fancy as it sounds). A touching and funny exploration of how care goes both ways. A world-premiere play with live music from the acclaimed Patch of Blue (Lyn Gardner's Best Theatre of Edinburgh Fringe, Stage) and 3 hearts canvas (SPIN - Best Solo Show of The Fringe, Theatre Weekly).
Summerhall Festival
Old Lab
Returning to the Fringe, Your Therapist Is Clueless is a comedy theatre show from Nathaniel Tresise, a former front-line mental health worker. Drawing directly from real-life experiences, it weaves stories and unexpected moments of insight, from everyday absurdities to profound connections, formed with clients and colleagues. Set within a mental health service, it offers a unique and deeply human perspective on the highs and lows of front-line care. Through humour and honesty, Nathaniel invites audiences behind the scenes of a system rarely seen on stage. Laugh, reflect and maybe even shed a tear with us.
Greenside @ Riddles Court
Clover Studio
Astrid Fisher is an influencer who goes from tradwife to trapped-wife when her husband locks her in their attic. She says she’s soooo happy to be up there, but some of her viewers aren’t so convinced. When one of those concerned viewers breaks into the attic to try and rescue her, she is forced to question if the life she’s made as a “traditional woman” is as perfect as she’s always claimed... or if she’s in serious danger.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Studio
Bodyswap romcom chaos erupts when Simon, a trans man, and Kevin, a cis man, meet in a gay club and are instantly drawn to each other. Their hookup derails when Kevin realises Simon is trans, but before things turn ugly, a magical twist traps them in each other’s bodies. Forced to navigate insecurities and prejudice, they must work together to reverse the swap - whether they understand each other or not. From the creators of Fckboy - winner of the Binge Fringe Queer Award and The Stagey Best LGBTQ+ Production.
theSpace on the Mile
Space 2
What happens when a Third Culture Kid ex-teacher stops running and sits in ten days of solitary meditative silence? Follow Lucy (half-English, half-Turkish, raised in Indonesia) as she sheds her teacher skin for the arts, forced to face the void in the process. With a late ADHD diagnosis, Lucy mastered the chameleon art of blending in, but adaptation has a visceral cost: the fawn response. Moving between the classroom and internal chaos, this solo show explores the mirage of insatiable human greed and seeking groundedness externally. A lyrical search for meaning, equanimity and an inner home.
Braw Venues @ Hill Street
Muse
07 - 15 AugGraham has been the star contestant of a popular gameshow for either 4 or 327 days. Led by a series of violently charming hosts, Graham and the audience compete in a game neither party understands. The tasks are invasive, the stakes mysteriously high and the audience increasingly implicated. Part performance art, part improv show, part ethics inquiry, How to Win a Gameshow blurs the line between performer and audience-rendering everyone subject to scrutiny under the watchful eye of an ever-present, controlling, overarching force.
theSpace @ Niddry St
Lower Theatre
17 - 22 AugGraham has been the star contestant of a popular gameshow for either 4 or 327 days. Led by a series of violently charming hosts, Graham and the audience compete in a game neither party understands. The tasks are invasive, the stakes mysteriously high and the audience increasingly implicated. Part performance art, part improv show, part ethics inquiry, How to Win a Gameshow blurs the line between performer and audience-rendering everyone subject to scrutiny under the watchful eye of an ever-present, controlling, overarching force.
theSpace @ Venue 45
Venue 45
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