Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, is an educational charity operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis to provide public benefit throughout Scotland.

What's On @ Royal Society of Edinburgh

Theatre

Bing!

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Jason Woods Written and performed by Jason Woods, Bing! captivated New York audiences and critics, and received a 2023 Off-Broadway Alliance Award nomination for Best Solo Performance. Woods morphs into Jasper, Casper, the witch, the ghost, the dragon, the herald, the henchman, the witch’s mother and more with rapid–fire dexterity and heartfelt authenticity in this razor–sharp magical comedy about family and fantasy, and the lines we blur with both. In addition to writing and directing, Woods is also the composer of the John Williams–esque orchestral score for Bing! None Age category: 12+

Theatre

Alice

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Slow Theatre Company A powerful, immersive journey into one woman’s struggle to reclaim her past. On the eve of her 50th birthday, Alice sets out to confront the trauma of her 10th birthday, which, instead of being a day of celebration, became the painful beginning of her abuse. Join her and her guests as her fragile reality is threatened throughout the day, as Alice fights to take back what is hers. Alice is a voice-hearer and a survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA). Optional immersive element available. 'Very strong future ahead of it' \*\*\*\*\* (BroadwayBaby.com). Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of sexual violence, Strong language/swearing, More information References to childhood sexual abuse, voice-hearing, drugs and alcohol addiction. Potentially triggering for those who have experience of voice hearing or who are sensitive to noise. Age category: 16+

Theatre

A Mad, Mad Wonderland!

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Jason Woods Jason Woods tackles the madcap world of Wonderland, embodying every zany character in A Mad, Mad Wonderland! – from the anxious White Rabbit to the volatile Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat (who might sound suspiciously like Jack Nicholson) to Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee (who might sound suspiciously like Jeff Goldblum and Alan Rickman). When the Queen of Hearts’ song vanishes, Alice must brave the chaos of Wonderland and its bizarre inhabitants to save the White Rabbit from a chocolate-dipped doom, rediscovering the magic she thought she'd outgrown. None Age category: 12+

Music

Folk

Island Spirit

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Beyond the Blue Island Spirit is a captivating musical where a young Polish woman returns to Scotland to trace her roots. She takes a job at a whisky distillery on a remote Scottish island, discovering the story of her mother, and the father she never knew. This Fringe-style performance offers original songs from the musical, in between which the tale unfolds as she learns about her family’s past and her own identity. The show features soulful melodies with Scottish musical influences, weaving together powerful storytelling and emotive songs. Beyond the Blue return to the Fringe with this heartfelt performance. None Age category: 12+

Theatre

Women in War

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Out of Office Theatre 'Buckle up! And hold on to what you can. This ride is gonna get bumpy, but them blessie’s need us'. The Red Cross nurse carries our soldiers out of sickness, out of darkness, back to the light of good health. During WWI, over 38,000 women and men worked as nurses, assistant nurses, ambulance drivers and cooks. This is their story. Over the course of a few days, we see a small glimpse of life through the eyes of a young nurse as she works with Lady Dorothy Feilding and the famous Munro Flying Ambulance Corps. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes Age category: 12+

The Unexpected Mayfly

19 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

The Antic Company The Unexpected Mayfly follows a nobody – a man struggling with the search for purpose in his monotonous life. When a delayed performance unwillingly thrusts him into the spotlight, he seizes the opportunity to entertain the audience, not considering the consequences. In this emotional dark comedy we see the hilarious struggles of a man who constantly battles with his own self, often blaming the world around him for these challenges. Audience participation, Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strobe lighting, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Dance

False Tongues

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Britt Fishel and Artists In False Tongues, Britt Fishel and Artists will share narrative pathways of the women accused of witchcraft globally in the 17th century. The work focuses around the women's peril, while navigating their place as scapegoats within their community. Through dance and performance, we hope to share truth where there are misconceptions, find empathy though lived experiences and examine a cautionary tale of mass hysteria, the dangers of superstition and the consequences of societal paranoia. None

Theatre

Bake Off: The Great British Pantomime

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

MTAO Productions The contestants on this year's Bake Off have been doing much much worse than usual. It's almost like... sabotage? Join our crew of almost-recognisable faces as they band together to defeat the world’s greatest evil: Ratt Lucas. Using the power of friendship and a predictable parody (or two), will they succeed in the endeavour? Or will there be egg on their faces? Come and find out. Returning for another year of Fringe performances, there will be puns, buns and tonnes of funs! Audience participation

Theatre

Comedy

For the Plot

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Microwave Meals Could you go on a reality dating show? Could you and your useless friends convince the producers that you’re actually cool and marketable? Could you be honest with yourself about how much you want the attention? What if it was all For the Plot? This is the true story of two friends who fell in love in front of the nation. But their televised romance is just as real as Romeo and Juliet's – it’s entirely fictional. Can they keep a handle on the lie or will reality slip from their grasp? Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Theatre

Tides (An Autism Story)

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Joe Dennis Dylan Ward is autistic. He has his own way of thinking and his own way of doing things, but no one seems to understand him. How do you navigate a world which operates on a completely different wavelength to the one that you’re on? Following its critically acclaimed run at Camden Fringe last year, and based on real experiences of growing up autistic, Tides (An Autism Story) combines Monty Pythonesque humour with a touch of real-world drama to offer an insight into the wonderful, yet challenging world of autism... From one particularly silly individual. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strobe lighting, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

The Three Marias: Women of Word

19 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Voices Collective Company Censored. Prosecuted. Defiant. In 1970s Portugal, three women’s groundbreaking book New Portuguese Letters sparked a historic trial. The Three Marias brings this compelling narrative to life, exploring the clash between art, oppression, and freedom. Bold and poetic, this urgent play delves into the courage of women who dared to speak out during a time of political and social upheaval. Through passion, rebellion and resilience, their voices continue to resonate today. Don’t miss this powerful exploration of revolution, identity and the enduring strength of women’s voices in the face of censorship. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Scenes of sexual violence, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Comedy

Charming

19 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Fringe Management Cinderella wants a divorce?! Prince Charming’s already trying day is about to get worse. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother has presented him with a list of demands that Prince Charming must agree to in order to change Cinderella’s mind. Is the Prince willing to change? Are Cinderella’s demands even reasonable? Is divorce even possible in the realm of fairytale? Can the Prince remain charming even when Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother barges in with her own list of demands? Stay tuned for the answers to these and other questions as this comedy unfolds! None Age category: 14+

Comedy

Stand-up

Heather Marulli: Blunt Force Drama

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Heather Marulli Heather got hit by a car and she’s never, ever going to shut up about it! Infused with honesty, wit, and dark humour, this show is a unique perspective on almost dying. Told by doctors that she would recover well because of her model “positive attitude,” Heather spent nearly a month hospitalized and over a year recovering. Combining stand up with dramatic reenactments and visual aids, Heather weaves an entertaining yarn about getting knocked down but being tough enough to still get up. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Around the Table

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Hurtwood House Where do we sit through it all? Who are we with our friends? Six separate lives interwoven over meals. This is where we start, but also how it ends. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence Age category: 16+

Theatre

Letters to Joan

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Finding Forests / Samantha Streit and Kevin Cahill In 1956 Brooklyn, an aspiring playwright falls in love, her letters brimming with desire and ambition. Decades later, her granddaughter, a writer herself, uncovers them – tracing the arc of a love story cut short and a dream left unfinished. Between a summer alive with possibility and a present-day American diner steeped in nostalgia, past and present blur. She sits across from the man who once held her grandmother’s heart, wrestling with the choices that shaped two lives. Explores the dreams we chase, the ones we abandon and the longing for the life that might have been. None Age category: 12+

Theatre

Wenches!

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Hysterie Theater In 1423 Berlin, two peasants find themselves at the center of hysteria, hypocrisy and impending doom. How… fun! As the flames of persecution rise, they must decide: will they take a stand or simply watch? A darkly comedic dive into fear, guilt and the price of inaction. Wenches! blends historical absurdity with modern relevance, revealing how easy it is to mistake performance for purpose. Fast-paced, sharp-witted and unapologetically satirical, this play will make you laugh, squirm and go 'huh?' But worry not! The wenches are right there with you. It all starts with a step into the woods... Scenes of violence, Strobe lighting, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

Comedy

Pain Killer

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Evelyne Tollman After losing two family members in the same week, Eve wonders if God is a sadistic prick or if life holds deeper meaning. Embarking on an ayahuasca ceremony for answers, she meets God and her G-spot and becomes convinced that she may be the next Jesus. Determined to heal others, she attempts to save a woman dying of cancer, but her efforts unravel into an unexpected lesson of humility and acceptance. A true story about the chaos of existence and surrender. Scenes of a sexual nature

Comedy

Theatre

Gimme a Sign!

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Bailey Swilley Welcome to comedian Bailey Swilley's ghost tour, complete with tales of haunted tampons, magical spells and life lessons on family expectations, grief and growing up. Gimme a Sign! is a storytelling comedy, based on a family tragedy and the strange but funny antics that ensued after. Join Bailey as she reflects on the stages of grief and her endless search for signs from the universe! Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Comedy

Kings on Thrones

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

The Duncomblé Ensemblé Seven men are trapped in toilet cubicles within purgatory. Will this punishment prepare their souls for the afterlife? Struggling with their unresolved sins, they anonymously share their frustrations and desires experiencing conflict, reflection and confession. Each man is challenged by the contrasting personalities that are also trapped. On top of the absurdity, this new comedy concentrates on deep themes of male health and existential reflection, challenging the view of male tropes in the modern age. Kings on Thrones is an absurd comedy about self-realisation, transformation and the messy journey towards redemption. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Strong language/swearing, More information Depictions of bodily fluids Age category: 16+

Theatre

Boiler Room Six: A Titanic Story

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Tom Foreman Productions The impossible true survival story of Titanic stoker Frederick Barrett. Working in the boiler rooms of the maiden voyage, Barrett’s fight for survival is one of the most devastating accounts of the last few hours of Titanic. Boiler Room Six gives a voice to the sacrifice of the working men below deck who kept the ship afloat for as long as possible, saving hundreds of lives, whilst knowingly giving up on their own. Returning after a sell-out run in 2024. 'Electrifying' \*\*\*\*\* (Edinburgh Guide). Winner: Best Overall Show of the Festival (Derek Awards, 2024). Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes Age category: 12+

Theatre

Unshattered Matter

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Kate Stewart Unshattered Matter examines self-reflection, redemption and human capacity for growth amidst personal flaws and mistakes. The story follows Rena, a young woman caught between her carefree but reckless past and a moment of reckoning after a life-altering accident. Trapped in an introspective space between life and death, she confronts her choices, guilt and identity through conversations with her reflection, exploring the struggle to reconcile youthful escapism with the consequences of one's actions, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit. It speaks to the transformative power of acceptance and the courage to embrace imperfection while choosing to move forward. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Theatre

A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Eleanor May Blackburn Phoebe is the Queen of lists. Her favourite lists are: shopping, favourite stationary, least favourite numbers, past jobs in order of wanting to staple her earlobes to the table, the missed opportunities folder in her emails. When her lists are becoming an overwhelming list-athon, and a pink fluffy monster appears, she's sure there isn't a problem. But why is she suddenly listing all the ways she might die? Eleanor worked with an access consultant and the show comes with an audio description introduction and strong narrative storytelling well suited to a visually impaired audience. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Bear

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Coffee Cup Productions Man or bear? Which would you choose? Intertwining fairytales and folklore with the viral Man vs Bear debate, Bear is about a girl who goes on a camping trip, where she is saved from a bear attack by a knight in shining armour. She is brought into a log cabin, safe, only until his true colours show... This two-hander with Man and Bear played by the same actor explores duality, manipulation and revenge, discussing one of the most profound fears for women, and the reasons why most would rather face the cruelty of an animal than a human. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Dance

Best Worst Advice

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

The Best Worst Operators Need advice? We’re dancing it. Yep! The Operators have arrived, serving as the world's first dancing advice columnists. It’s giving, writing, re-righting, rites of passage through our resume of soft skills. We’ve got decades of antidotes for the bodies becoming mother-lovin' wisdom. Tired of outsourcing all your questions to the dive bar echo chamber that is the internet? Try insourcing them with some real-life dancers. Join us as we relocate, protest, undermine and go on the offensive! The Operators will work to connect you to the best worst advice we can give! Audience participation, Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Nudity, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Comedy

Feltman: World’s First Hot Dog

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Michael Quinn Before sliced bread, there was the hot dog! Actor, playwright, historian and former Feltman’s hot dog brand owner Michael Quinn brings this true story to life, performing every role in a dynamic one-person show. Travel to 19th-century Coney Island as German immigrant Charles Feltman rises from struggle to revolutionize street food. Quinn, who himself successfully revived the legendary brand before facing his own challenges, weaves a powerful parallel between past and present. Blending humor, heart and history, this must-see performance tells the story of resilience, reinvention and the food that changed the world! None Age category: 14+

Theatre

Cabaret

Comedy

Lucy Churchill: Big B**bs Long Legs

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Lucy Churchill Lucy Churchill (aka the leggy blonde with cracking t*ts) brings you her debut one-woman show. A lesson in self-love, feminine rage and the subtle art of not giving a f*ck, taught through original songs, high kicks and a whole load of rambling. At the age of 10, Lucy said a prayer to God one night, vowing she would do no wrong for the rest of her life if she received the most phenomenal pair of b**bs. Well, be careful what you wish for. Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Comedy

Werewolf – The Game: The Show!

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Napier University Drama Society The town of Stubbins is plagued by a beast, one that roams at night, tearing through livestock, howling to the skies – a werewolf... aka Derek, an awkward, loveable 16-year-old. Derek doesn’t want to be a werewolf. He’s been sneaking into the woods to transform in secret. No one’s been harmed, but unless Derek finds a cure, it’s only a matter of time. Time which he doesn’t have. With a monster hunter arriving in town, Derek must find help before he’s discovered, or worse, someone is killed. But is the “help” all seems? Strobe lighting, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

Woman in the Arena

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Jen DiGiacomo Neurodivergence, trauma, dead bodies – and other light-hearted topics. Jen DiGiacomo delivers a sharp, funny, and unexpectedly tender conversation with herself – and the audience. Expect secrets, sharp turns, surprising laughs, and moments that hit unexpectedly hard. A darkly comedic blend of stand-up wit, visual storytelling, and gut-punch honesty, this moving and quietly radical one-woman show is about the consequences of the secrets we bury – and what comes next. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

The Last Bantam

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Michael Hughes The year is 1914. The Great War rages. Britain recruits 30,000 men between 5’ and 5’3" to fight. These men come from all over Britain, Ireland and Canada. Known as Bantams after the small, aggressive rooster, they're formed into special Bantam battalions. 1918. Bouzincourt, France. A group of reporters visit the front to write about the Bantams. One Bantam remains: Patrick Michael Wolfe, a teacher from Dublin. This is his story, from the battlefields of France to rebellion in Dublin. Inspired by real events. ★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info). ★★★★★ (UKTW.co.uk). ★★★★★ (@moreishtv) ★★★★ (PlaysInternational.org.uk). 'Hidden Gem' (FringeReview.co.uk). Spirit of the Fringe, Derek Awards. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing. Set in a war zone. Age category: 16+

Theatre

Cabaret

Comedy

The Show with Matt Leazer

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Half-Moon Productions Join actor-poet-clown-director-sexpot, Matt Leazer and sexy-power-ranger-Elton-John-jumpsuit-wearing-music lady, MJ Hughes for a late-night talk show! Matt and MJ had three options: skydiving, marriage or Scotland. And well… here we are! We’re doing a brand-new show every night featuring local artists, musical comedy, sketches and improv. Join us as we explore the hilarious and happy accident that is living. Together we’ll uncover mysteries of the cosmos and find your dad. We’ll leave you feeling befuddled, bewildered and embezzled. It's live from New Yor– Matt, stop, we’re in Scotland now. ...Oh, yeah. Audience participation, Strong language/swearing

Theatre

The Anti "Yogi"

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Fringe Management, LLC Are you worthy of the Goddess’s blessings? Or her wrath? Join Mayuri Bhandari and Kali, the Goddess of Death every day as they navigate the absurdities of Western Yoga culture. Liberation, not Lululemon! This award-winning Hollywood Fringe show blends dance, drama, comedy, poetry and live percussion by renowned musician Neel Agrawal. Mayuri gives voice to the true ethos of yoga, weaving together cultural appropriation, decolonisation and community. Come peel back the yoga mat and join the revolution! PS: You don’t need to know anything about yoga to see this show! None Age category: 14+

Theatre

The Zoo Story

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Deadword Theatre Co. The American dream meets the American nightmare on a bench in Central Park. As the United States grapples with uncertainty over its place in the world, this debut work by Edward Albee feels all the more prescient today. Deadword Theatre is a Fringe company based out of Boston, Massachusetts who specialise in producing new takes on classic works. This show has been a passion project of Henry and Frank Schuth for several years, and they are proud to bring it to life with the support of Deadword. We hope you enjoy the show! Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Musical

Theatre

Helen Shapiro Walkin' Back

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Helen Shapiro Walkin’ Back is based on the early life of UK singer Helen Shapiro. By age 15 in 1961, she had two No 1 singles selling 40,000 records a day. By 16, she had five top ten hits and toured the UK with The Beatles as her support. This premiere has a talented young Scottish cast for award-winning Kingdom Theatre Company with a sold-out Fringe 2024. With original songs plus the hits of the day like You Don’t Know and Walkin’ Back To Happiness, this will whisk you back to the 1960s with authentic music. Kingdom Theatre Company

Comedy

Storytelling

Olivia Raine Atwood: Oops

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Olivia Raine Atwood She’s undercover. She’s overwhelmed. She’s bad at everything. Fresh off her Off-West-End sold-out debut, this electric comedy tells the true story of Liv’s classified mission evaluating NYC hospitals... in 2020. She's Patient 0, using her ‘acting skills’ to pretend to have Covid and save the American healthcare system. And that’s showbiz, baby. So buckle up. ‘Terrific storytelling’ ★★★★★ (FringeReview.co.uk). ‘Excitable, manic, vivid’ ★★★★★ (TheReviewsHub.com). ‘Hurricane composite of top-class acting’ ★★★★ (MumbleComedy.net). ‘Crazily funny’ ★★★★★ (Derek Awards). Winner: Best Solo Show, What The Fringe?! Nominee: StageCrafts Selects, Hollywood Fringe 2024. Hollywood Fringe Spotlight Series 2024. Age category: 14+

Theatre

Comedy

Lydia Bennet Works in Finance

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Trelawny Kean The youngest sister from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lydia Bennet, has always been a footnote in someone else’s love story. Until now. It’s 2025 and she’s armed with sass, ambition and no chill. Fresh off Edinburgh Fringe 2024’s most talked about show, TERF, this debut from Trelawny Kean catapults Austen’s most chaotic sister into a sharp, hilarious and unexpectedly heartfelt exploration of self-destruction, reinvention and the beautiful, brutal mess of sisterhood. When the world stops making sense, sometimes the only things worth fighting for are the sisters who still pick up your calls. Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Comedy

Stand-up

Nicola Macri: Single Entendre

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Nicola Macri Comedy for linguistic enthusiasts, word nerds and/or prudes. Nicola Macri adores language but is fed up with navigating a minefield of innuendo in a futile attempt to evade the spectre of sex in daily polite conversation. There are innumerable good words in this show. Here's a saucy teaser: aubergine, Rumpelstiltskin, metaphysical, trojan, masquerade and Shakespeare. ‘Intelligent without being superior – Nicola just wants to share her enthusiasm and show you the cool thing she’s found’ \*\*\*\* (One4Review.co.uk). 'The perfect mixture of storytelling, education and hilarious comedy... has you in grammatically correct fits of laughter' \*\*\*\*½ (FourthWallMedia.wordpress.com). None Age category: 16+

Theatre

Chameleon

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Ruben Sparks Confined to a psychiatric hospital, Delaney retreats into vivid, often disorienting daydreams about his complicated family history. As joyful memories blur with painful ones, he’s pulled deeper into the emotional labyrinth of his past. The isolation weighs heavily, turning his room into a cage, while the effects of medication distort his sense of self. Still, amid the confusion and confinement, Delaney clings to the hope of freedom – and fights to find moments of joy in a place he never chose. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes Age category: 14+

Theatre

Comedy

Florence

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

White Pear Productions Have you ever longed to be somebody else? This compelling, witty, tragi-comic play brings to life the idiosyncrasies of the contemporary art world. The one-woman narrative follows a woman willing to use any means necessary to secure her success. Including creating a new persona, called Florence. We are thrown into a world of colourful characters, high stakes and searing satire as our protagonist navigates life much better as Florence than she could have done herself. However, cracks begin to show that threaten everything she’s worked for... Transferring from Off West End, don’t miss this hilarious, gripping thriller. None Age category: 12+

Theatre

2025 Salem Witch Trial

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Gretchen Wylder Based on the true story of a tarot-reading lesbian forced from her home by Christian neighbours likely in a cult, Gretchen Wylder's darkly comedic one-woman show explores witches as healers, the patriarchal systems that burned them and the modern dangers of organised religion. Living a double life – reading tarot in Salem while living in a creepy cottage town run by zealots – her personal horror show becomes a fierce reclamation of spirituality. Reinterpreting Biblical women’s stories and exposing the ongoing persecution of the divine feminine, all while trying not to get burned at the stake. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes Age category: 16+

Theatre

Sad Girl Songs

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Gwen Coburn Playwright and comedian Gwen Coburn makes her UK Debut in an award-winning musical comedy that transforms into a darkly feminist drama, exploring the women lost to misogyny in mythology and comedy in this 'hilarious and harrowing... boldly brave' (OrlandoWeekly.com) new work. Sassy jokes about snakes and educational songs about the clitoris spiral into raw dramatic territory where #YesAnd meets #MeToo. It blurs the line between performance and reality, delivering cry-laughing subversive anthems and community in the face of patriarchy. Winner Best Musical 2023 Winnipeg Fringe. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Cyn

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Nawr ond Wedyn Wales, 1995. It’s been 10 years since the mine closed and the village is still bleeding. A solitary pub remains with one patron inside, Emyr. Bitter about the past and indifferent to the future, Emyr’s life changes at the unwelcomed visit of Simon, a wealthy Englishman. Over the next hour the audience are invited to sing, laugh and cry along with Emyr and Simon as their differences are put under the microscope and their stereotypes put to the test. In this bittersweet drama, we look back at the miners' strike and ask the question: where did the heart go? Audience participation, Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

Comedy

Blooming

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Daisy Ensemble A queer love story but no one dies at the end? Welcome to the world of Blooming! Follow the adventures of Ophelia the hopeless romantic, Zaria the daydreamer, and Dera the compassionate baker, through a week of romance, sisterhood and empowerment. None Age category: 14+

Theatre

My Friend, The Mountain

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Cath Barrett The hills are where Skye feels safe. They are her comfort, her sanctuary, her friends. When her life starts to unravel, The Mountain is her trusted confidant and a place to walk solo, but not alone. Out here she has the freedom to feel and talk. The Mountain hears her and knows what she needs. But does Skye? A love letter to the hills of Scotland, the release they give us from the pressures of hustle culture and how the simple joy of putting one foot in front of the other is always enough. None Age category: 14+

Comedy

Zero Lives Left

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Benjie Wrubel Join Benjie Wrubel for his Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut as he makes light of the darkness inside his head. His half-hour comedy show covers everything from living with suicidal tendencies to the joys of bird watching. Too dark? Well, so is Benjie. Buy a ticket or he’ll add 'nobody came' to his suicide note. Unlike your typical American, he actually cares what others think... which explains the panic attacks. Benjie performs regularly in Aspen, Colorado, one of America’s most iconic ski towns. Catch him live at Fern Studio at Greenside before he skis off a cliff! Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Late Night Lehrer – with Caspar Phillipson

Theatre

Cabaret

Late Night Lehrer – with Caspar Phillipson

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Caspar Phillipson Your late-night host at the piano takes a sharp look at international current affairs and life’s absurdities through the lens of Tom Lehrer’s shockingly timely songs. A morbid evening of satire and music. Caspar’s Danish grandma used to say: ‘When you’re up to your neck in shit, it’s no use hanging your head'. 'Brilliant' (Politiken). 'Best show in Copenhagen' (MortenBuckhoj.dk). 'A naughty stroke of genius' (Detskuduse.dk). Nobody knows whether that’ll translate into English... You may have seen Caspar as JFK in Jackie, Blonde or Maria, or as The European in Mission Impossible: Fallout. None Age category: 14+

Theatre

Musical

First Aid

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Cardigan Productions First Aid is a girl meets boy medical romcom, 'As witty as early Tim Rice' (DailyInfo.co.uk). It follows Simon and Sophie on their disastrous first date, which lands them both in A&E. What a catastrophe! Now, stuck in the waiting room for hours, this mismatched pair have time to really get to know each other. Featuring a hapless doctor, a soft-hearted finance bro and a score full of catchy tunes, First Aid promises plenty of laughs, unexpected romance and a healthy dose of heart. Strobe lighting

Cabaret

Musical

Puppet shows

That Show About the Hot Dog

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

A whimsical journey alongside Wee Wennie Wiener, an unlikely hot dog hero searching for inner hot dog truth. This multidisciplinary comedic production by the CFACoLab explores identity, diversity and the art of the hot dog through an array of vibrant characters clad in hot-dog-inspired costumes. Each scene, playfully dubbed a "DOG", features effects, dance and culinary adventures, culminating in an epic finale that celebrates the cultural significance of the hot dog. With puppets, music, dance, visual arts and clever humour, this multidisciplinary comedic production promises a flavourful all-you-can-eat experience! Strobe lighting, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Theatre

Comedy

Joan Collins Blocked Me on Twitter

19 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Our Lad Productions / Billy Walker Theodore Emory Jones, one of England’s finest thespian exports (in his opinion), arrives in Hollywood with the sole burning desire of starring in the Dynasty reboot. Armed with a Burberry steamer trunk filled with enough opinions to sink the Cutty Sark, and a signed 10x8 of Patricia Routledge, only one thing stands in his way – Dame Joan Collins! This Fleabag-style one-man spectacle has more chaos and camp than all of the Carry On films combined!! Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!! None Age category: 16+

Comedy

Storytelling

Stand-up

Mike Blaha: International Joke

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Fringe Management, LLC Join Mike on his global travels in search of the world’s best joke. On the way, have a good laugh with him as he avoids getting murdered in Sarajevo, gets mocked by a monkey in Bali, and gets mugged on the Paris metro – all in the name of comedy. ‘Audiences will enjoy traveling with Mike. Captivating storytelling’ (GlamAdelaide.com.au). ‘Blaha has a skill at finding humour in his experiences’ (ArtsReview.com.au). ‘A very enjoyable show’ (FringeFeed.com.au). \*\*\*\* (Scotsman, for Spank the Monkey). Top Ten/Recommended (StageRaw.com, for Shagadelic). Audience participation, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Theatre

Musical

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art LAMDA presents the next wave of musical theatre talent in a showdown like no other. Winning is important, but growing up is the real challenge. Join six quirky misfits – and maybe a few audience members – as they compete for spelling glory in this heartfelt and hilarious, Tony Award-winning smash-hit. Packed with infectious songs, witty one-liners and spellbinding surprises, this fast-paced, feel-good show is a joyous celebration of embracing who you really are. The mics are on, the buzzer is primed and the wordsmiths are waiting... Ready to spell F-U-N? Audience participation Age category: 14+

Theatre

Shitebag

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

3BUGS Fringe Theatre Society The people make the place. So, what happens when they're gone? In a 24-hour snapshot, we join Shitebag and her family on the anniversary of her mother’s passing. Exploring the nuances of grief and queer identity, Shitebag unpacks the multifaceted emotions of loss. Taking inspiration from Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s TV show Fleabag, this deliciously dark comedy is an emotive piece leaving no stone unturned when representing a life altered by absence. Interacting with the audience in a way that is relatable, heartwarming, raunchy and real, this show shines a hopeful light that those that have left are never truly gone. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Strong language/swearing

Theatre

Musical

Girlz

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Girlz Productions A feisty, charismatic, new girl band, a ruthless music industry mogul, and a struggling, idealistic singer/songwriter. This tragicomic tale follows seven very different characters over the course of one tumultuous year as they experience the highs and lows of fame and wrestle with the tough choices it brings. Fast-paced, plot twists, bursting with humour, original songs, dance and high-energy sequences from Girlz’ live show, Girlz also tackles topical issues including mental health, media trolling and sexual harassment. Ultimately, Girlz is an uplifting tale of friendship and love in a cut-throat industry. Strap yourself in for this must-see, brand-new musical. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

The Missing Horn

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Lee On Sang, Tse Wing Yan, Chew Yu Yeung Young artists from Hong Kong, now based in the UK and Canada, present an original work inspired by the emotional themes of The Glass Menagerie. Through a rich blend of song, theatre and movement, the piece explores the complex, often painful dynamics between mother and daughter. It examines how love and control can become entangled, how the desire to shape another's life can hinder growth and the emotional journey of releasing expectations to allow space for freedom, individuality and transformation. Audience participation, Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing, More information This performance contains loud explosive sound effects. Age category: 12+

Theatre

Comedy

Drinking With Grandma

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Anthony Maranville Grandma was complicated. She presented as the sweetest, most innocent old lady alive – but inside, she was a manipulative, conspiracy-peddling, morphine-addicted hypochondriac who claimed to be allergic to anything charbroiled, incapable of sweating after surviving her second lightning strike, and once faked needing a wheelchair for over a year for attention (If you want the outrageous bits, you'll have to see the show). She was also my drinking buddy during my formative years... who – somehow – taught me how to show up for family and live a life of love. Come find out how. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

Kintsugi

18 Aug 2025 - 22 Aug 2025

Resonance Collective Kintsugi, a psychoanalytical drama/thriller, follows a polarised group of strangers, who awaken in a cell as inmates. They are thrust into a series of survival games, instructed by an unknown voice who tests their physical and emotional limits. Amplified by triggering episodes, they are forced to reckon with their deepest secrets. Their moral character is called into question as they strategise their exit. For a chance at freedom, can they uncover the truth and remove their masks, or will the weight of their past choices haunt them? Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Theatre

Mr Jones

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Wilmas Productions 144 lives. 10% of this total shared a surname: Jones. Aberfan, 1966. As self-proclaimed rugby prodigy Stephen revels in his greatest kick, 150,000 tonnes of coal careen down the hillside towards Pantglas Junior School. Following sold-out, critically acclaimed performances at the Union Theatre, London, and on tour, Liam Holmes' powerful new play comes to the Edinburgh Fringe – blending drama, poetry, verbatim, and first-hand accounts of the 1966 Welsh mining disaster and its devastating aftermath. Exploring the complexities of grief, Mr Jones offers a poignant and honest portrait of a community irrevocably changed by tragedy. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Comedy

FISH

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Funtopher NYC-born clown and woman Funmi swims in Fish, a one-woman clown show about a fish (played by Funmi) who wants to be a human (played by Funmi playing Fish). To succeed, Fish must learn how to walk, learn how to talk and learn how to do the most human thing of all: struggle with the crushing weight of existential worry in this stupid flesh suit. Directed and co-devised by Chris Manley, ultimately this is a show about how to find joy, purpose and community in this very strange and dark moment in human history. Audience participation

Theatre

Glass House

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Sandcastles Productions Glass House explores the grimy underbelly of the human beast with unwavering intimacy. A boundary-pushing mocku-theatre piece, the play involves pre-recorded interviews with its 'real-life' characters as they share their renditions of what happened on the night of February 14th, 2011. The play uncovers how, on a night of unrelenting rain and flooding in the countryside, a stand-off between a stubborn bus driver and a houseless man who can't afford a ticket slides into a mire of tension and social conflict. Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Jello Brain

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Natalie Grove Alzheimer’s at 55 my mom moves into memory care I try to make her feel at home but it’s more like welcome to your worst nightmare I don’t think she understands when I tell her mom it’s going to be okay can someone please tell me it’s going to be okay and that my brain won’t shrink like hers now please mom where are you I’m so grateful the brain is so robust but also so fragile maybe the cure to Alzheimer’s isn’t so far away and you know what else is so good for the brain orgasms. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Cabaret

Red Flag Cabaret

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Red Flag Productions What happens when a crazy clown and a guitar-playing pussy cat walk into a cabaret? Red Flags, of course! Red Flag Cabaret is a cheeky variety show unpacking the absurdities of modern dating, love and life. With circus, burlesque and musical storytelling, two powerhouse performers deliver laugh-out-loud comedy to intimate and soul-baring moments. Red Flag Cabaret packs a powerful punch of entertainment, self-reflection and a few red flags you might recognise. Audience participation, Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Audience required to walk or move around during the performance, Nudity, Scenes of a sexual nature, Strong language/swearing

Comedy

Powerful

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Kerry Leigh A comedy cabaret cocktail by one woman who thrives on live connection with you! What's it about? Grabbing life by the t**ts and creating your own narrative. A show for people who love feeling part of a community. It includes song, dance, storytelling, poetry, puppetry and a sprinkling of burlesque: last night I saw a person at the very top of her game, doing everything she can to be the very best that she can – it was a privilege to witness that. She was funny, and clever, and vulnerable and wise all in the same few minutes…. Audience participation Age category: 14+

Theatre

Leglock

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Lowri Mathias Set in the north-west of England, Leglock follows amateur cage fighter James, a teenager who’s just won the biggest fight of his career and is looking forward to finally going pro. As the adrenaline starts to fade and he puts back on his street clothes, James begins to question the career path he’s on, and how much choice he really had in the matter. Leglock is a one-man show about cage fighting, working class masculinity, and what it means to be young and fighting to make something of yourself in today’s post-austerity landscape. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

It's Ok, We'll Be Ok

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Sixth Side Theatre Company Matt and Jen have come home from work to their Edinburgh flat and are going about their evening as usual. Except there is an elephant in the room. Matt has a new job. And it’s in London. As much as they don’t particularly want to face it, the discussion of how it will affect their relationship is inevitably imminent. Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

Comedy

Maybe This Time

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Cor' Blimey Productions Love is... what? Is it the same from one to the next? Can it overcome the clashing views of two? This show explores the relationship between Lucy and Ryan. The two have had contrasting experiences of love in the past, which has shaped their perceptions of it today. Can love for each other overcome their differences? Or maybe this time it wasn’t meant to be? The show melds the humour and the heartfelt effortlessly and explores the many aspects of love. With a bottle of VK and a shot of adrenaline, come see what their love is. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing, More information Use of fake blood. Age category: 16+

Theatre

Down to the Felt

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Two Birds Theatre Co In an alternate present, a totalitarian regime has left homosexuality criminalised, with severe punishment for those accused. In the face of this, there hide those who love as they always have – truthfully. Ailith, her husband Ethan, and his lover Gabriel live happily together, working to protect the two men’s relationship. Ailith’s job as a defence attorney threatens to expose the trio and shatter the sanctity they’ve built together, throwing them towards breaking point. An intimate character study of how far love can take you in a world bent on its destruction. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Musical

Comedy

Cry-Baby

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Latymer Theatre Company Everything’s perfect in Baltimore until squeaky-clean Alison falls for Cry-Baby and he teaches her to 'kiss with tongues'. In a world where appearance is everything (virginity = good, communism = bad), Wade “Cry Baby” Walker isn’t the good influence Alison’s grandmother was hoping for. After the success of cult musicals Zanna Don’t, Flight of the Lawnchair Man and the \*\*\*\*\* rated Zombie Prom, Latymer Theatre Company return to the Fringe with this bad taste musical based on John Waters’ classic. Scenes of a sexual nature, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

Theatre

How Can(t) I Help?

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Holly Gow GP receptionists AKA the gatekeepers from hell. Except I'm not. Well, not always. How Can(t) I Help? is a one-woman show recounting the best and mostly worst times working as a GP receptionist. An NHS GP receptionist. The shoulder to cry on, the hand to slap samples into and the face to scream at. From cheap coffee to fighting off stool samples. From assisting pervy men with checking their blood pressure to the aftermath of the pandemic. Welcome one and all to the circus of patients, colleagues and smells of Flowerbank Surgery. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Semi-Automatic SmokeShow

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Delaney Conway Fun, fashion and firearms: the American dream! Your favourite influencer has just been selected by the new tech oligarchs to sell propaganda – I mean, beauty products, via live stream. What could possibly go wrong? This one-woman dark comedy combines clowning, choreography, horror and humour to imagine an unhinged American landscape that definitely would never happen and certainly isn’t happening right now! Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Comedy

Stand-up

Coor Cohen: Ignorant American

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Coor Cohen Coor Cohen: Ignorant American confronts the uncomfortable realities that shape modern American identity. Cohen effortlessly blends stand-up with sharp cultural dissection. The contradictions of 21st-century America – its politics, culture and unique ability to export both pop trends and doomsday cults with equal enthusiasm – are just the starting point. In under an hour, she fearlessly tackles everything from education to grocery store mass shootings. Cohen’s show is an unflinching and darkly hilarious look at the self-proclaimed Greatest Nation on Earth and finding her place among its people. Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Faster in the Attic

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Accidental Arson Theatre Company When astrophysicist Dr Jay Lewis dies suddenly in the middle of a revolutionary study on supermassive black holes, everyone assumes it was a suicide – except her fiancée, Andrea. Picking apart Jay's final days, Andrea tries to find proof of foul play, enlisting the help of Jay's colleague and a skeptical detective. As they sift through the evidence, Andrea starts to realize she didn't know her partner nearly as well as she thought. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Theatre

Role Play (or the Hottest Day in Belgian History)

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Cameron Murphy Aspiring performer/sexual being Cameron Murphy swiped right on a Belgian tourist in Los Angeles. After a whirlwind 24-hour romance, she left. Intent on finding her, Cameron spent his life savings on a ticket to Belgium. In the Low Countries, taboo role play collides with life-altering memories when a late-blooming Cameron is cast as Daddy to his Babygirl. As Belgium gets dangerously hot, secret fantasies seep into bedroom scripts and force Cameron to confront the ultimate question: is it better to act out – or exorcise – our darkest desires? Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of a sexual nature, Scenes of sexual violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 14+

Music

Storytelling

Welcome to the End of the World

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Case Watson One-woman band Case Watson weaves a tale of resistance, resilience, self-sufficiency and meaning through all original music and storytelling. Exploring topics like revolutionary gardening, community building and antifascism, she crafts a uniquely practical approach to hope in an insecure world. Watch her layer sensual yet acrobatic vocals, guitar, loops, harmonies, beatboxing, chimes and more (with theatrical storytelling elements of lighting, sound and projection design), and plant seeds of gratitude and connection with her as one can only do when the world is ending. Audience participation, Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes Age category: 16+

Exposure Therapy

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Nicole Nadler – High Heels and Heavy Suitcases Productions If Nicole Nadler could stop being afraid, she could do anything – and maybe so could you? In this unscripted show, you'll share your fears (anonymously), and she'll tackle them with honesty, authenticity, teenage diaries and a determination to conquer her fear of perception. After all, the only thing to fear is fear itself – apparently. Back for her third year at the Fringe (and still winging it), she's ready to bare all. 'Nadler enjoyed 5-star reviews and sell-out shows in 2023. This year could be a flop' (Daily Record). Audience participation, Strong language/swearing Age category: 16+

Theatre

Comedy

Four Genres in Search of a Plot

18 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025

Deadword Theatre Co. A one-man show is quickly derailed by the appearance of characters from different plots and genres. A noir-era private eye, a 90s businesswoman and a mime join the chaos as they are all searching for resolution to their plots on the same stage. Deadword Theatre is a fringe company based out of Boston, Massachusetts. We hope you enjoy the show! Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing Age category: 12+

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