Edinburgh Festival Guide

Edinburgh Festival listings

Sorted by popularity / rating / date.

Amused Moose Comedy Awards Showcase

Grab your top tickets to talent-spot this year's stellar crop of industry approved breakthrough comedians, plus some who are already rather famous! Every showcase is different, so keep coming back.

Just the Tonic, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

£8 / 0131 556 5375

Sun 4 Aug

£8 / 0131 556 5375

Wed 7 Aug

£7 / 0131 556 5375

…and 13 more dates

First Love

Adaptation of an early Beckett novella about a man, cast out from the family home, who hooks up with a woman, with darkly comic consequences.

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Thu 23 May

£6–£15.50 / 0131 228 1404

Fri 24 May

£6–£15.50 / 0131 228 1404

Sat 25 May

£6–£15.50 / 0131 228 1404

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

Wed 28 Aug

£8–£20 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

Thu 29 Aug

£8–£20 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

Fri 30 Aug

£8–£20 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

…and 1 more date

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales: Masterpieces from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the D.Daskalopoulos Collection

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales brings together works from the D.Daskalopoulos Collection, one of the most important private collections of modern and contemporary art, with major works from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This innovative exhibition comprises approximately 130 works and creates a…

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, Edinburgh

Wed 22 May

Free / 0131 624 6200

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Thu 23 May

Free / 0131 624 6200

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Fri 24 May

Free / 0131 624 6200

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00
…and 107 more dates

Peter Liversidge: doppelgänger

Peter Liversidge's exhibition for the festival unpicks the powerful and strange story of Ein Handschuh, a suite of etchings from 1881 by the Austrian Symbolist Max Klinger. Klinger's ten prints tell the story of a lost glove, dropped by a beautiful, rollerskating woman, and picked up by the artist, in whose imagination…

Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

Free / 0131 556 4441

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 18:00

Fri 2 Aug

Free / 0131 556 4441

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 18:00

Sat 3 Aug

Free / 0131 556 4441

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 18:00
…and 52 more dates

Gyles Brandreth: Looking For Happiness

Just A Minute/One Show Gyles won multiple five stars for his last Edinburgh sell-out. Now the award-winning raconteur and ex MP explores the secrets of How to Be Happy. 'Incredibly funny, wildly indiscreet' (Daily Mail).

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

£10 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

Thu 1 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 6550

Preview

…and 22 more dates back to top

Jalan Jati (Teak Road)

An exhibition tracing the imagined history of a teak bed found in a Singapore junk shop back to the tree from which it was made, incorporating photographs, prints, collages and an award-winning short film.

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

Wed 22 May

John Hope Gateway Centre

Free / 0131 248 2909

  • 10:00 – 18:00

Thu 23 May

John Hope Gateway Centre

Free / 0131 248 2909

  • 10:00 – 18:00

Fri 24 May

John Hope Gateway Centre

Free / 0131 248 2909

  • 10:00 – 18:00
…and 44 more dates

The Vodnjan Collective: Croatia Scotia

The Vodnjan Collective comprises ten artists based in Scotland: Annie Broadley, Hans K Clausen, Paul Clowney, Tessa Clowney, Amanda Egerton-King, Alexander Hamilton, Diana Hoare, Susie Johnston, Susanna Laing and Anna Welsh. To coincide with the admission of Croatia to the European Union in 2013, Croatia Scotia…

Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

Free / 0131 225 6540

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Mon 5 Aug

Free / 0131 225 6540

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Tue 6 Aug

Free / 0131 225 6540

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00
…and 22 more dates

Amazing Amber

Amber is beautiful as well as fascinating. It consists of fossilised tree resin, and since resin in liquid form is sticky, and amber is transparent, this means that insects, animals and plant material sometimes get trapped in it and are preserved intact, giving us a glimpse of life millions of years ago. The whole process…

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

Wed 22 May

Free / 0300 123 6789

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Thu 23 May

Free / 0300 123 6789

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Fri 24 May

Free / 0300 123 6789

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00
…and 107 more dates

Radio Forth On the Fringe

Radio Forth Ltd. The largest showcase of Fringe entertainment at this year's festival! Featuring a selection of some of the biggest names in music, comedy and entertainment. Complete sell-out in 2008, 2009 and 2010! Don't miss out! Previous line-ups have included Adam Hills, KT Tunstall, Reginald D Hunter, the…

The Edinburgh Playhouse

Fri 2 Aug

£17.50 / 0844 871 3014

Sat 3 Aug

£17.50 / 0844 871 3014

Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales

  • 3 stars

Brand new show from award-winning Scamp Theatre (Stick Man). Adapted from the bestselling books written by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (creators of The Gruffalo). A magical collection of Julia Donaldson’s most popular titles including Tiddler, The Smartest Giant in Town and A…

Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£6 / 08445 458252

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£11 (£10) / 08445 458252

Sat 3 Aug

£10 (£9) / 08445 458252

…and 22 more dates back to top

Alan Hudson: Magician or Superhero?

Super strength, X-ray vision and lightning fast speed can be fantastic fun if used for personal gain, without saving the world. 'Hudson is an astounding comic, magician and mind reader' ★★★★ (ThreeWeeks), ★★★★ (Metro).

Just the Tonic, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

…and 21 more dates

La Belle et la Bête

Minimalist composer Philip Glass’s magical reimagining of Jean Cocteau’s 1946 La Belle et la Bête combines the classic black and white film with live performance in a Šsophisticated work that is at once a touching fairy tale and a meditation on creativity. Removing the film’s original dialogue track and score by Georges…

The Edinburgh Playhouse

Sat 10 Aug

£12–£35 / 0131 473 2000

Sun 11 Aug

£12–£35 / 0131 473 2000

The Colour Ham

Magical comedy sketch group comprising Colin McLeod, Gavin Oattes and Kevin McMahon, making good use of absurdity, magic and mentalism. Member Gavin Oattes allegedly once licked Paul Daniels' face, so anything could happen, really. Over 18s only.

Just the Tonic, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£8 (£7) / 0131 556 5375

Sat 3 Aug

£8 (£7) / 0131 556 5375

…and 13 more dates

Coming into Fashion: A Century of Photography at Condé Nast

Condé Nast Publications produce some of the most famous titles in the magazine world, including Vogue, Vanity Fair and the New Yorker. It should come as no surprise that they also pioneered fashion photography, employing such legendary photographers as Cecil Beaton, Erwin Blumenfeld, David Bailey, Helmut Newton, Corinne…

City Art Centre, Edinburgh

Sat 15 Jun

£5 (£3.50) / 0131 529 3993

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Sun 16 Jun

£5 (£3.50) / 0131 529 3993

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 12:00 – 17:00

Mon 17 Jun

£5 (£3.50) / 0131 529 3993

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00
…and 83 more dates

Diablito Tango

An enchanting voice, fiery bandoneón and a virtuosic double bass transport you to the heart of Buenos Aires. The musical sensation taking Spain by storm makes its first appearance at the Fringe. ‘Absolutely recommendable, addictive’ (ABC News). www.diablitotango.com.

Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides, Edinburgh

Wed 21 Aug

£10 / 0131 346 8237

Thu 22 Aug

£10 / 0131 346 8237

Sun 25 Aug

£10 / 0131 346 8237

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Ed Byrne: Roaring Forties

Observational humour from the Dublin-stand-up and actor about reaching middle age.

Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£19.50 / 0844 847 1639

Sat 3 Aug

£19.50 / 0844 847 1639

Sun 4 Aug

£17.50 / 0844 847 1639

…and 19 more dates

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience

Basil, Sybil and Manuel open for their sixth Fringe. Always a sell-out, only a third of the show is scripted, so everything stays fresh. ‘Best comedy show I've ever seen' (Sunday Express)

B'est, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£46.50 / 0131 556 4448

Fri 2 Aug

£43 / 0131 556 4448

Sun 4 Aug

£43 / 0131 556 4448

…and 20 more dates

Follow the Thread – Dazzle@Dovecot

Dazzle@Dovecot returns for a second consecutive year with an exhibition of over 50 contemporary jewellery designers and silversmiths, and – for the first time in Edinburgh – Dazzle will also be presenting work from a number of international printmakers including Emiko Aida from Japan. Included in the exhibition will be an…

Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

Free / 0131 550 3660

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:30 – 18:30

Sat 3 Aug

Free / 0131 550 3660

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:30 – 18:30

Sun 4 Aug

Free / 0131 550 3660

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:30 – 18:30
…and 22 more dates

Gavin Webster: Don't Give Any Money to Comic Relief and Other Opinions

Oh, the controversy. Gavin Webster has opinions and by God he's going to share them whether you like it or not.

Gaiety Theatre, Ayr

Tue 23 Jul

£10 / 01292 288235

  • 20:00

The Stand Comedy Club II, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

Fri 2 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

Over-18s only

£8 (£7) / 0131 558 7272

…and 21 more dates

Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane

In the year he represents the UK at the Venice Biennale, Jeremy Deller and his long-standing collaborator, Alan Kane will exhibit at Jupiter Artland. Since their early collaborative show at the infamous London nightclub Stringfellow’s in 1995 to ‘Folk Archive’ (2007), their acclaimed and unique celebration of British…

Jupiter Artland, Wilkieston

Sat 3 Aug

£8.50 (£4.50) / 01506 889900

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Sun 4 Aug

£8.50 (£4.50) / 01506 889900

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Mon 5 Aug

£8.50 (£4.50) / 01506 889900

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 10:00 – 17:00
…and 24 more dates back to top

L.A. Dance Project

A brilliant programme of modern masterworks from one of the hottest names in dance. Benjamin Millepied brings his new company to the UK for the first time, following his huge success as choreographer and star of Darren Aronofsky’s award-winning film Black Swan. L.A. Dance Project is an artist collective founded by…

The Edinburgh Playhouse

Sat 24 Aug

£10–£30 / 0131 473 2000

Sun 25 Aug

£10–£30 / 0131 473 2000

Mon 26 Aug

£10–£30 / 0131 473 2000

Not Another Happy Ending

  • 2012
  • UK
  • Directed by: John McKay
  • Written by: David Solomons
  • Cast: Karen Gillan, Stanley Weber

A publisher tries to cure his star author of writer's block by making her unhappy.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Fri 28 Jun

Times to be confirmed / 0131 529 6000

World premiere event as part of EIFF Part of Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Sat 29 Jun

Times to be confirmed / 0131 529 6000

World premiere event as part of EIFF Part of Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Sun 30 Jun

Times to be confirmed / 0131 529 6000

World premiere event as part of EIFF Part of Edinburgh International Film Festival.

…and 4 more dates

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

This unique event that draws crowds (and performers) from all over the world celebrates the Year of Natural Scotland with massed pipes and drums, massed military bands, display teams, dancers and the haunting lament of the Lone Piper set against the magnificent backcloth of Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle

Fri 2 Aug

Times vary / £24–£58 / 0131 225 1188

Sat 3 Aug

Times vary / £24–£58 / 0131 225 1188

Sun 4 Aug

Times vary / £24–£58 / 0131 225 1188

…and 20 more dates

Alex Yellowlees Hot Club Jazz Quartet

Violinist Alex Yellowlees serves up swing in the classic Reinhardt-Grappelli style, accompanied by his masterful band.

Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides, Edinburgh

Thu 15 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 346 8237

American Lulu

Seductress, victim, manipulator: Lulu lives off men as both tortured and torturer, purveyor of ecstasy and angel of death. Caught up in greedy games and seedy schemes, and surrounded by lovers driven to despair, Lulu makes an inexorable rise to the highest levels of power, money and fame. But her descent is just as swift.

King's Theatre, Edinburgh

Fri 30 Aug

£15–£35 / 0131 473 2000

Sat 31 Aug

£15–£35 / 0131 473 2000

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