When a Jane Austen heroine, unlucky in love, finds herself thrown into the modern world of dating, she must set aside her customs and expectations to brave this new world of courtship. But the unsolicited pictures and lack of chivalry may be all too much for her! Will she persevere for a chance to take charge of her own story and find love or retreat back into the safety of her pages?

Written & performed by Mimi Martin PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE'S EDINBURGH PREVIEWS Chaos. Rebellion. A city on the brink. But Millies focused on living life to the full - who wouldnt? Amid the 2019 Hong Kong protests, one girl searches for her sense of home whilst a city fights for its own identity. A high-energy, visceral new play, inspired by real events. With original sound design blending euphoric techno and the raw intensity of a Hong Kong riot, enter Millie's world where being an outsider has always been the norm. Written and performed by Mimi Martin, shes bold, rebellious, and impossible to resist. "I can be the foreign devil if they want."

Written and performed by Evelina Rudasa and Keturah Peirson PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS A messy kitchen, an uneaten cake, a shoe in the bath and two... friends? 'Why Won't They Eat the Cake?' is a raw exploration of the insecurities that shape our relationships. Written and performed by Evelina Rudasa and Keturah Peirson, this two person play delves into self-discovery, identity and what it means to grow up. Because no matter how much you grow up, you can never really leave the past behind. Two girls. One cake. No party.

PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS How To Kill Your Landlord is a Fatal Comedy Of Errors focusing on 3 young flatmates... Burke, a former student activist living from pay-check to pay-check; Harriet a freelance yoga instructor desperate to corner the yummy mummy market; and Joq, a crypto bro, forever on the hunt for his next side hustle. Though seemingly polar opposites all 3 are united in their contempt for the chauvinistic landlord Archie - who's just decided to evict them! Taking a lead from Crime and Punishment, the trio put dark plans into motion, with hilarious and deadly consequences...

By Madison Mayer PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS BOMBSHELL follows three sparkly Vegas showgirls who put up environmentally-conscious cabaret acts in a rundown nightclub called Club Fistfight. Despite their best attempts at making global warming hot, the club is closing. For their final performance, Scarlett, Jane, and Eliza decide to tell the audience a love story -- that of their very own Scarlett and fellow environmentalist Tony, who met at the club and fell madly for each other. As the story of their relationship unfolds, Tony pushes Scarlett to go further and sacrifice more for her message. And as the last show at Club Fistfight reaches a peak, Scarlett takes extreme action when a shocking secret is revealed. BOMBSHELL is about how far we'll go for love, of each other, and of our planet, and who is really responsible for the end of the world.

Back in the swinging sixties, Travis Flood led a gang that terrorised East London. Now, after an absence of many years, he returns to find his old turf in the clutches of a new kind of gangwith a new kind of leader. Rio - ruler of a mob of girls - instantly captivates Travis with her haunting beauty. But soon a shocking story begins to emerge - one that shatters both their distorted memories. Philip Ridley's Ghost From A Perfect Place had its explosive premiere at Hampstead Theatre in 1994. Cellar Door Theatre Company brings this devastatingly beautiful piece of writing to the Drayton Arms Theatre this August. Cast: Torchie Sparks - Karen Holley Travis Flood - Brian Aris Rio Sparks - Canitta Hart Miss Sulphur - Fatima Makhzoum Miss Kerosene - Maria Anthony Creative: Director - Brittany Rex Dramaturgy - Tom Carter Fight Director - Robin Hellier Choreography - Joshua Egundebi Lighting Designer - James Denny

Written by & starring Simon Shepherd A one hour, one-man show, that opens the door on the hidden world inside Britains jails. At turns funny, harsh, tragic and poignant, and compelling throughout, former Prison Psychologist, Simon Shepherd, reads from Pork Scratchings Anyone?, his account of the 10 years he spent working behind bars in the 1990s. Having recently visited every jail in England & Wales, in his current role as Director of The Butler Trust, he also reflects on how prisons have changed in the intervening years, and on the challenges currently facing our prisons and the people who live and work in them.

Written & Performed by Matthew Edgar PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS One man. One button. 19,999 hours of Failure-Free Living. Now, on the verge of completing his (second) 10,000 hours, Daniel Moore prepares to leave his solitude and share his (double) expertise. Learn what it takes to truly eliminate failure from the greatest men's self-help guru the world has never seen. The debut one-man play written and performed by Off-West End award-nominated actor, Matthew Edgar.

Presented by Mudlark Creative & Drayton Arms Theatre Join us for a nerve-tingling festive treat and fear your senses this Christmas as you step into the haunted railway cutting at Clayton signal box. In our eerie new full-length dramatisation of Dickens The Signalman, a chance encounter brings together two men: The Visitor, newly liberated from the drudgery of office life and seeing the world with fresh eyes; and The Signalman, desperate to share his visitations with someone - anyone - who will listen. Enhanced by glorious surround sound - a first for the Drayton Arms - this is a fresh new telling of this quintessentially classic ghost story that will leave you on edge this December.

Original raver, Louise, wonders how she went from ecstasy-taking idealist to respectable, disillusioned, suburban mum? Meet Molly and Brian as, triggered by her daughter's anti-drugs homework and at peak mid-life crisis, Louise flashes back to the early 90s rave scene. A story of rave remembrance, coming of age and mid-life awakening. Pick of The Fringe - Sell Out - 5 Star - Comedy on Tour 2025 "Will leave you uplifted entertained and wondering what your mum was up to in 1993" EdFringe Review Second Summer of Love was inspired by STERNS nightclub in Worthing. Press from Yvonne Arnaud, Mill Studio 2023: ★★★★★ “I absolutely loved this play... overwhelming energy...excellent cast” London Theatre 1 Press from Edinburgh Fringe 2022 ★★★★ “Warm and witty, uplifting and sunny” – Broadway Baby ★★★★ “A superb perfromance” - Lost in Theatreland, Amy Rye ★★★★ “Happisburgh is captivating”, “A fresh perspective to discussion about recreational drug use” “An impressive performer seamlessly shifting between different characters” EdFringe Review - Anna Gardner ★★★★ “A joyous celebration of 90's rave culture” “Ingenious music and movement sequences" EdFringe Review Jess Painter ★★★★ “A vivid protagonist played with boundless energy” - Fringe Biscuit Chris Neville-Smith’s “Pick of the Fringe” 2022 “Gem of a show about rave culture – grab a ticket now” Omid Djalili “Absolutely loved Second Summer of Love… one for all the ravers (and ex-ravers!)” Matt Quinton, BBC Originally developed in collaboration with Pants on Fire and showcased at the SHORTS festival 2020

Cougar is a play about climate change, sex, power dynamics, and corruption. It is extremely pertinent to our current global state of affairs - from Trumpian politics pulling out of the Paris agreement, to forest fires in California, the war in Ukraine, and our everyday responsibility towards environmental sustainability.

People in Cages introduces us to a giggle of a killer, a scream of a happy couple, and adorable kids in a deplorable cult. Presiding over all three shows is the keeper, and the less said about him, the better. It promises to be an intriguing and entertaining evening behind bars. People in Cages , by David Henry Wilson, is a trilogy of dark comedies; the last of which is a world premiere. Davids plays have been produced at countless theatres in the UK and abroad, and range from comedies such as Gas and Candles (Comedy explodes from the smallest incident. The Guardian) to Shakespeare-based tragedy, such as Lears Fool (A gorgeous, lyrical and heartbreaking variation on the themes of Shakespeares play. The Scotsman)

Written & performed by Bailey Swilley PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS GIMME A SIGN! is an autobiographical comedy written and performed by Bailey Swilley, based on a family tragedy and the strange but funny antics that ensued after. The solo show combines standup and storytelling and explores the stages of grief and the search for signs from above. Come for the ghost tour with anecdotes about haunted tampons and annoying boyfriends, stay for the life lessons on self-acceptance and growing up.

Written by Chiedza Rwodzi PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS 'People can be strange and scary and complicated, up and down like the tides' Zodwa and Malcolm, two Zimbabweans in London who meet for their first date in unusual circumstances: at Malcolms house. They size each other up, connecting and debating over shared cultural understandings and experiences, ultimately revealing more about themselves than they bargained for once they start to uncover deep, staggering truths about the other. The debut play by Zimbabwean playwright Chiedza Rwodzi, Strangers and Revelations is a striking and provocative exploration of relationships (between men and women), mythology and trauma through an African lens.

A gloriously frenetic hour of physical comedy. Bursting with all the whacky dynamism and giddy joy of a Roadrunner cartoon, like witnessing Mr Bean on Acid. Kit Loyd is an award-winning writer and performer. Using audio-visuals and mime he performs one-person physical comedy sketch with a narrative. Loyd was the winner of the British Comedy Guide Talent Award 2023. He was shortlisted for the BBC New Comedy Award 2024. His 2023 split bill show, Nightwatchman, received a in The Scotsman and was included on their Best FringeComedy list.

Pistachio Theatre presents an evening of Nutty Tales. Following their sold out Out The Shell scratch night series, Pistachio Theatre presents the funniest and nuttiest tales to share the stage. Including poetry, stand-up, storytelling and more - the evening is sure to bring people together for a good laugh. CAST & CREATIVE TEAM Safia Lamrani Kitty Evans Yan Tobi Amisi Jonty O'Callaghan Arun Jeetoo Brccn Tyzack-Carlin Sami Abu Wardeh Winnie Arhin Fayez Bakhsh Georgia Jackson

Persistent Theatre Productions & Drayton Arms Theatre present The End is Near , a new play by Melissa Ainsworth Three women, from three different centuries, find each other at their worst hour. Janet is accused of witchcraft in 1661 Edinburgh, Caroline is an arrested suffragette in 1911 London, and Lauren is fighting for her reproductive freedom in 2028, in America. The three women explore what has been and what is to come. One thing is certain, the end is nearor is it? This new drama dives into how women have been persecuted throughout history. Womens rights have come so far and yet have so far to go.

Hideout Theatre & Stoke The Embers present a new dark Comedywritten by Ellis Green PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS In a far-off kingdom, King Diadon spends each night watching his life story performed by a company of players. But on performance number 18,338, he's finally had enough and gives them three days to come up with something new... or face the chop. Unfortunately, teamwork isn't their strong suit. As panic sets in and chaos erupts, newcomer Rick confused, unqualified and somehow their last shot at survival begins to suspect that hidden truths may be lurking behind the curtain. A dark comedy about the masks we wear, and the stories we tell.

An evening of monologues and duets, presented by Shoreside Productions Stream of consciousness meets physical storytelling in this evening of new writing and choreography. Mirror Speeches invites artists from across disciplines to collaborate in bold, unpredictable ways. Each piece begins with an original monologue, selected through an open call by Shoreside Productions, and handed over to a choreographer to reimagine as a duet. Whether the words and movement are performed at the same time or in separate moments, each piece becomes a unique conversation between text and motion. Part theatre, part dance, entirely original, this is a space for creative risk-taking and artistic cross-pollination.

Presented by Documental Productions Sheridan is having a bad day. Her church is closing, Adult Social Care are on her case, and she cant work out which ingredients she needs to make a bomb. With no one else to turn to, she climbs the scaffolding around a leaking steeple with a few questions for Whoever Is In Charge. Following a critically acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe, Scaffolding is an explosive new play about strength, love and community performed by Kerry Norton and directed by Natalie Simone. Award-winning writer Lucy Bell (Kevin Elyot and Ronald Duncan Awards) brings dark, car-crash humour in a dramatic collision between religious faith, the responsibilities of caring for loved ones with disabilities and the profound loss of shared community spaces in rural areas. Originally developed in association with Bristol Old Vic, and with thanks to original director Lillian Waddington, producer Jessamie Edkins-O'Brien, actor Suzanna Hamilton and the original creative team. This London run of Scaffolding is produced with support from Drayton Arms Theatre. CAST & CREATIVE TEAM Writer - Lucy Bell Director - Natalie Simone Performed by - Kerry Norton Senior Producer - Naomi Turner Engagement Producer - Susannah Bramwell Sound Design - Joseff Harris Sound Associate - Jack Orozco Morrison Set & Costume - Ella Barraclough Lighting Design - Rachael Duthie Movement Director - Karla Shacklock Technical Stage Manager - Josh Lucas Photo Credit - Craig Fuller Curtain raiser songs created with support from Joanne Rogers, Emma Kenshole, Allison Wright and Lucy Bell Access This performance is relaxed. This means we welcome anyone who prefers to attend events in a more informal environment for example neurodivergent audience members and those with learning disabilities and/or additional sensory and communication needs. During the show, audience members should feel comfortable making noise and moving around as and when they need to in a friendly environment. There is an admittance anytime policy, so you are free to come and go as you please. A number of sensory support items will be available, including fidget toys and ear defenders, as well as a Sensory & Scene Breakdown document which will detail what to expect in terms of content, bright lights, and loud sounds. Content Warnings: Use of a few strong words. Reference to grief, low parental capacity and bomb making techniques.

Playwright Kevin Lee returns to the Drayton Arms Theatre to present a collection of new short stories. The theme is Misunderstood

Written & performed by Gabrielle Beasley PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS 'Every woman is a killer. You just haven't met the right guy yet.' Lily has heard one too many stories of male violence and decides to take matters into her own hands. Fuelled by anger at her own painful past and a fierce loyalty to her friends, she seeks deadly revenge amongst the entitled abusers of south London. But the path of righteousness is rocky and, despite the thrill of spilling blood, Lily risks everything she holds dear. A darkly funny one-woman show imagining what the world would be like if there was real justice for women.

PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS Fragen Network is proud to present a preview evening of two brand new shows we are taking to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer: ABHORRENT LITTLE SCROTUM Playing in the dark world of delusion and betrayal, Abhorrent Little Scrotum is a surreal, darkly comic cyber-thriller about fractured identity and broken friendship. After a personal collapse, hacker Jack retreats into the Experience, a hallucinatory digital mindscape, to rescue her best friend Dari from a consuming mental virus. Under the Experience, Jack tries to help Dari keep it together as her hunt for the truth turns into a dangerous obsession. HUNGER Adapting one of the earliest stream-of-consciousness novels for the stage, Hunger is the portrait of a starving writer in an unforgiving city. Our nameless protagonist swings from ridiculous delusions of grandeur to fits of existential despair as he battles against his own self-sabotage and a world that cannot understand his gifts. Fragen Network utilize our signature blend of dream worlds, physical theatre and dark humour to create a raw, hypnotic exploration of desperation, obsession and the fragile line between genius and madness. POST-SHOW Q&A Well be hosting a brief post-show Q&A as an informal opportunity to hear more about the making of our shows, the ideas behind them and the different creative process unique to each. Its a chance to ask questions, share thoughts and continue the conversation beyond the curtain call. The Q&A will last for 30 minutes.

by Madeleine George Watson: trusty sidekick to Sherlock Holmes; loyal engineer who built Bells first telephone; unstoppable super-computer that became reigning Jeopardy! champ; amiable techno-dweeb who, in the present day, is just looking for love. These four constant companions become one in this brilliantly witty, time-jumping, loving tribute (and cautionary tale) dedicated to the peopleand machinesupon which we all depend. Eliza and Merrick are both still reeling from their marriage breakup, when they both individually encounter Watson and their lives are turned upside down. What is it about him? Is it just that he seems trustworthy? Or is it that he seems to truly see them? Does he just want to help? This beautifully written gem of a play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2014. CAST Hugo Linton as Watson Hanna Luna as Eliza Brandon Burke as Merrick CREATIVE TEAM Director - Julie Drake Sound and Lighting - Isabel Melim Soundscape -Tomis Fras Graphic design - Marcus Scudamore Produced by 5Go Theatre Co.

A world fragmented. A City disrupted. Two souls reach for connection. Two friends face an urgent decision. With You portrays a bond that forms in a time where connection is a relic of the past. A tender, timeless journey into what it takes to love someone - when everything else has started to fade away. Demons is the story of Nicolas and Peter - two childhood friends on whom looms the fate of their city. While it teeters on collapse, they face each other.. and themselves, seeking hope and trust - in a world that offers neither. Reverie presents an expansive double bill; exploring grief, broken conversations and resonant relations.

A three hand horror-comedy pot boiler about what happens when the power of belief goes awry. Join writer Jack Elverstone for an exclusive script-in-hand preview of his new play, Pinguism . Be among the first to hear selected extracts and share your thoughts to help shape the play before its five-day debut at the Drayton Arms Theatre. Scan the QR code on your seat to access the feedback form and give Jack your input in real time. There will also be a relaxed discussion afterwards, where youll have the chance to talk directly with Jack about your thoughts and ideas. Be part of the creative process, your ideas could make it to the final performance!

PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS The Durham Revue are marooned on a desert island! How will they get out of this sketchy situation? An hour of raucous comedy! The group that brought you Ed Gamble, Stevie Martin, Nish Kumar, Ambika Mod and more return with a new troupe and 100% new material. Join the award-winning Durham Revue, one of the UKs top student comedy groups, for an hour of hilarious, cutting-edge sketches and laughs for everyone before they head up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

Diaspora Inferno: From My Grandmothers Kitchen is a devised physical theatre work inspired by Dantes Inferno and reimagined through the lens of diaspora survival, generational silence, and womanhood. The piece moves through seven sins Gluttony, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Greed, and Pride not as moral judgments, but as emotional inheritances shaped by migration, trauma, and resilience. The kitchen in this production is a symbol of survival and silence a sacred domestic space where immigrant women cook, mourn, remember, and resist. Through movement, sound, testimony, and ritual, we hope to amplify stories that are often unheard or buried between generations.

Written & Directed by Jade Winters Brookes friends can tell somethings off they just dont know what. One night out, one too many questions, and the cracks start to show. What begins as casual catch-ups turns into something far more uncomfortable. The A Word is a raw, intimate drama about friendship, denial, and the things we hide.

An evening of new writing from 7 new writers from all over the world. Pending is a programme run by Car Crash Productions, since 2019, to bring new writing to the forefront. Scratch Night Pending is the first part of this journey, with some pieces going forward to a work in progress showing and then one piece getting a full production produced. This is the opportunity to see productions in their earliest stage and enjoying some of the most fantastic writing and rich performances you have seen!

PART OF DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS All In is a gripping, tense two-hander about love, power and the fallout of addiction. Before the new name. Before the clean slate. Theres one night left to face everything that still hurts. On the eve of entering witness protection, Henry and Marianne are allowed a final reckoning. Locked in a pressure cooker of memory and desire, they pick at wounds that never healed. Secrets spill. Power shifts. The line between care and control begins to blur. Some things cant be buried. Some people cant be left behind. So do you stay or go all in?

Written & performed by Oscar Brudenall-Jones Yes, he's in a celebrations tub. No, he's not in with the bounties. Aaron, an unemployed entertainer, has stolen his dad's ashes and hidden them in a tub of chocolates. As he journeys toward St. Ives to scatter them, we discover the reasons behind his theft, and witness a suspenseful chase with the police hot on his heels. Written and performed by Oscar Brudenall-Jones anddirected by Esalan Gates ( BroadwayWorld UK Nominee Best New Production), this dark comedy explores grief in a post-pandemic world, as well as sperm bank strikes and why you shouldn't lose your rag at an old person. Produced by To The Tooth Theatre, this is comedy with a bite.

By Oscar Brudenall-Jones Alderbrook North has declared independence. The borders are closed, the ale is flowing, and smoking indoors is back. What could possibly go wrong? When a southern MP turns up in a quiet northern town and declares it an independent nation, the locals cheer him on, at first. But as lines are drawn, truths are buried, and a journalist arrives asking the wrong questions, the pub becomes a pressure cooker of patriotism, paranoia, and political theatre. Written by 5-star playwright, Oscar Brudenall-Jones, The Great British Lock-In is a biting political satire about borders, beer, and British identity. Set in a smoke-filled pub where outsiders arent welcome, this dark comedy asks how far we will go to defend the good old days, and who gets locked out in the process. A razor-sharp exploration of populism, nostalgia and control. Produced by To The Tooth Theatre, this is comedy with a bite.