Summerhall Arts has launched its inaugural Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme (the 14th to take place in the Summerhall building), with a programme that foregrounds a roster of diverse, intersectional work. Taking place from 1 – 25 August, tickets for all announced shows are on sale now. 

In a programme which explores female rage, feminist empowerment, gender exploration, trans joy, environmentalism and a great night out, this year will welcome acts from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Mallorca, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA as well as a cohort of grassroots works from Scotland and across the UK, including Colours Run by 4PLAY, Waxen Figures by Cryptic, and Balfour Reparations by Palestinian-Scottish choreographer and performer Farah Saleh. It promises to feature a 50% female-led line-up, with 20% led by artists of colour and 25% with an LGBTQ+ narrative.

Receiving top billing is SKYE: A Thriller, Summerhall Arts’ first ever co-production from Sunday Times best-selling author Ellie Keel, with direction from Matthew Iliffe. The show explores ghostly apparitions on a small Scottish island when a group of four siblings see their father standing on a beach, five years after his death. 

Keel commented: ‘I’m very excited to be making my first foray into playwriting this year. I’ve spent many happy(ish) summers producing brilliant new plays in Edinburgh, and I’m thrilled that SKYE: A Thriller will have its première at the greatest arts festival in the world, alongside two wonderful plays I’m co-producing. It’s a bonus that SKYE will be a co-production with Summerhall, a venue I’ve always loved, as it enters a very exciting new chapter.’ 

Also on the bill, BAFTA Rising Star Award winner David Jonsson will make his playwriting debut with Paldem, an ‘anti-romantic comedy’ set in the amateur porn industry; writer and performer Gaia Mondadori will look at the narcissism of social media in Centre Of The Universe; No Apologies dives into internet discourse and classical mythology by radically mis-remembering Nirvana’s iconic 1993 MTV Unplugged concert; while Aethēr promises to ‘understand the unknown’, in a show which was developed in the performance space of Summerhall itself by Emma Howlett of TheatreGoose. 

As well as the busy cohort of theatre, drama, visual art, dance and live conversation, the charity has promised to continue its Summerhall Festival Fringe initiatives including Summerhall Surgeries, a paid opportunity for artists to showcase their work to industry experts and peers; the Support The Artists ticket scheme, which allows audiences to add a £2 ticket levy onto their ticket purchase, 100% of which will go to the artists; an opt-in option for a 100% box office split in favour of the artists; subsidised Lanyard Drinks for Fringe performers and staff; and free shows for Scotland-based creatives and arts workers. 

Summerhall Arts Fringe producer and programmer, Tom Forster, commented: ‘As promised back in January, our 2025 Fringe performance programme continues to be exactly what we know and love. It’s the same beating heart - consisting of colleagues old and new - but underneath brand-new skin, an approach that denotes quality not quantity. By handing over the keys to the Demonstration Room and Old Lab for singular, breathtaking immersive experiences, we’re giving companies a better share of the industry marketplace and our audience’s limited time.’

Summerhall Arts chief executive, Sam Gough, commented: ‘The quality of work in this year’s programme is sublime, and we are so excited to be welcoming back old friends and can't wait to make new ones. The Summerhall building will continue to be a home for incredible talent on and off stages and will provide a safe environment to those wanting to experience a true fringe festival. I can’t wait to see what collaborations and friendships are formed. There is truly no better place to be in the world than here in August.’

Find the full programme on the Summerhall site. 

The announcement comes at a time of relative stability after an uncertain year-and-a-half for the building itself (which is distinct from Summerhall Arts). After news in 2024 that the Summerhall building was set to be sold by the owners of the building (Isle of Man-based Oesselmann Estates Limited), Summerhall Arts announced that it was looking to take on the lease with an ambition to ensure the consistent provision of a year-round arts programme in the former vet school. Scot Art, alongside Summerhall Arts as subtenant, have signed leases for the continued use of Summerhall for a minimum of three years. Edinburgh-based developer AMA is currently in talks to procure the venue. 

As reported in The National, Dr Ali Afshar, co-founder and managing director of AMA, said: ‘As a family owned, Edinburgh based company, we understand how deeply valued Summerhall is to the community here, and as its future custodian we will protect its historic legacy and forge a bright future for the estate.

‘Having now formally entered a contract to acquire Summerhall, we will begin to consider the next steps to shape its plans for the future. In the coming months, we will begin to undertake consultations with the local community and the City Of Edinburgh Council.

‘We anticipate that this consultation period will take a considerable time as we prepare to lodge a planning application, given Summerhall is a highly sensitive site. This lengthy period will enable us all to agree a way forward. The redevelopment will be critical to maintaining the integrity of Summerhall and the fabric of its buildings, many of which are significantly underused, protecting them for the long term.

‘We foresee that the result will be a mixed-use development, including both living and commercial space, while providing a facility to sustainably continue the provision of the arts. Our aim is to build a legacy that we can all be proud of, and we want to assure all parties that our guiding principle will be a commitment to creating a high-quality redevelopment for the benefit of all.’ 

The company refused to comment on whether it would retain Summerhall as a Fringe venue.