Theatre Hitlist

As the EIF joins the Fringe, we choose our pick of Festival theatre.

This article is from 2009.

Diaspora
Singaporean director Ong Keng Sen’s multi-media epic about migration and cross-continental journeys. Playhouse, 473 2000, 15 & 16 Aug, 8pm, £8–£30.

Sea Wall
Subtle, hauntingly beautiful family tragedy, which playwright Simon Stephens vividly enhances by moving God onto the theatrical chessboard. Traverse Theatre, 228 1404, until 16 Aug, times vary, £10-£11 (£5-£7).

The Tartuffe
Belt Up blasts through the fourth wall in this irreverent adaptation of Moliere’s farce. C Soco, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug, 8.55pm, £9.50–£11.50 (£8.50–£10.50).

Trilogy
Joyous, life-affirming exploration into the state of contemporary feminism by Scottish theatre-maker Nic Green. St Stephen’s, 0141 565 1000, until 31 Aug (not 18, 25), 7.30pm, £12 (£9).

The Hotel
Daft, delirious hour of site-specific, interactive theatrical delight – exactly what the Fringe was made for. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 31 Aug (not 17), 4.15pm, £10.50–£13 (£9–£10).

Party
Tight, hilarious comic play about a gaggle of diverse characters struggling to form new political party, featuring the comic talents of Tim Key, Anna Crilly, Jonny Sweet and Katy Wix. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 31 Aug (not 17), 2.25pm, £11–£12 (£10–£11).

White Tea
David Leddy’s new experimental piece treads the borderline between psychological study of denial and pure, almost camp melodrama. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, until 31 Aug (not 18, 25), 2pm & 5pm, £9–£10.

Optimism
Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre adapts Voltaire’s 19th century satirical fantasy Candide, with Perrier-winning comic Frank Woodley in the lead role. Royal Lyceum, 473 2000, 15–17 Aug, 8pm (Sun mat 2.30pm), £10–£25.

Faust
Silviu Purcarete’s adaptation of the Goethe classic is an orgiastic carnival of sex and death. Lowland Hall, Ingliston, 473 2000, 18–22 Aug, 7.30pm, £20.