Edinburgh Festival Guide

Listings: Theatre

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Sorted by popularity / rating / date.

The Graveyard Slot

A spooky, silly radio play live onstage! Hecate return to the Fringe with a feast of fun and fright, featuring six actors, original music and a smorgasbord of silly voices. ‘Very funny, very intriguing’ ★★★★ (RemoteGoat.co.uk).

theSpaces @ Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh

Sat 3 Aug

£7.50 (£6) / 0845 508 8515

Preview

Mon 5 Aug

£9 (£7.50) / 0845 508 8515

2 for 1

Tue 6 Aug

£9 (£7.50) / 0845 508 8515

2 for 1

…and 10 more dates

Catastrophe/Rough for Theatre II/Breath

Beckett on Film: Catastrophe: Directed by David Mamet and starring Harold Pinter, Rebecca Pidgeon and John Gielgud. Rough for Theatre II: Directed by Katie Mitchell and starring Jim Norton, Timothy Spall and Hugh B O’Brien. Breath: Directed by Damien †Hirst.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Sat 31 Aug

£4 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett on Film.

Maddy's Many Mouths

Maddy’s Many Mouths is the hilariously surreal story of a woman with a compulsion to mimic strangers. Gliding through an unbelievable array of characters, Maddy embarks on a riotous quest to find out who she really is.

theSpaces @ Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£5 (£3.50) / 0845 508 8515

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£5 (£3.50) / 0845 508 8515

Preview

Mon 5 Aug

£7 (£5.50) / 0845 508 8515

2 for 1

…and 5 more dates

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

Father Christmas Needs a Wee! The Musical

When Father Christmas finishes his rounds he realises that he's forgotten to do something rather important and he really needs a WEE! A brilliantly bouncy musical adaptation of Nicholas Allan's much loved book.

theSpace @ Venue45, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£5 / 0845 508 8378

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£5 / 0845 508 8378

Preview

Mon 5 Aug

£7 (£6) / 0845 508 8378

…and 17 more dates back to top

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

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

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

Metamorphosis

World Premiere: Travelling salesman and sole breadwinner for his family, Gregor Samsa awakes one day to discover that he has been transformed into a giant insect. Unable to communicate and shocking to anyone who sees him, he is forced into a solitary existence confined to his room. As he becomes insufferable to himself…

King's Theatre, Edinburgh

Sat 10 Aug

£12–£30 / 0131 473 2000

Sun 11 Aug

£12–£30 / 0131 473 2000

Mon 12 Aug

£12–£30 / 0131 473 2000

Signs of Our Occupy

A political play based on actual signs created in and for the Occupy Oakland movement. Riveting theatre from the voice of Oakland's youth, sharing their commentary from all points of view during this politically charged movement.

theSpace @ Venue45, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£5.50 (£3.50) / 0845 508 8378

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£5.50 (£3.50) / 0845 508 8378

Preview

Mon 5 Aug

£7.50 (£5.50) / 0845 508 8378

2 for 1

…and 5 more dates back to top

SingleMarriedGirl

Growing up can make you a little crazy! Just ask Laurel, a woman facing for the first time the world of dating, love, life and independence…which would be so much easier if she wasn’t still married! www.tastymonsterproductions.com.

theSpaces on North Bridge, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£6 / 0845 557 6308

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£6 / 0845 557 6308

Preview

Mon 5 Aug

£8.50 (£6.50) / 0845 557 6308

2 for 1

…and 17 more dates

The Writers' Group

A new one-act play by Sian Williams. ‘She's taken all my ideas!’ ‘Your ideas?’ Celia is strapped for cash. Angie has a burning ambition. Phil is down but, funnily, not out and Peter wants a quiet life…

theSpaces on the Mile, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£5 / 0845 508 8316

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£5 / 0845 508 8316

Preview

Mon 5 Aug

£8 (£6) / 0845 508 8316

2 for 1

…and 5 more dates

Agnes of God

Multi award-winning EGTG (Edinburgh Evening News Spirit of the Fringe 2012) return with Agnes of God. A miracle or murder? A virgin birth or rape? Innocence or insanity? Even with the strongest faith, nothing guarantees absolution.

The Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh

Mon 5 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 4270

Tue 6 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 4270

Wed 7 Aug

£10 / 0131 556 4270

…and 3 more dates

All That Fall

‘A life of unending misery in a world devoid of God, now that’s funny.’ Maddy Rooney is in her seventies – unsightly, ungainly and unwell – laboriously to-ing and fro-ing between her home and Boghill Station. This is a landscape whose details are drawn from the suburbs of Foxrock and Leopardstown from Beckett’s youth, but…

The Hub, Edinburgh

Sun 25 Aug

£15 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

Mon 26 Aug

£15 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

And They Played Shang-A-Lang

Number one hits from the era accompany this tale of growing up in 1970s Edinburgh.

The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

Fri 2 Aug

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

Sat 3 Aug

£10 (£9) / 0131 558 7272

…and 21 more dates back to top

Art and Technology

Professor of Epistemics Jon Oberlander, Professor of Composition and Electroacoustic Composition Peter Nelson, and Chris Speed of the Edinburgh College of Art discuss historical, conceptual and philosophical relationships between the performing arts and technology. Chaired by theatre specialist Olga Taxidou.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Thu 29 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Edinburgh University Events.

Beckett and Contemporary Art: Make Sense Who May

Derval Tubridy, Goldsmiths, University of London, explores the vibrant interplay between Samuel Beckett’s work and contemporary art with a particular focus on bodies and technology. Chaired by Octavian Saiu.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Wed 28 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

Beckett on Film

Producer of the Beckett on Film project, Michael Colgan discusses the challenges in creating this extraordinary film collection.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Fri 30 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

Bothwell's Bride

Nominated for MTM UK Best Composer 2007, Peter D Robinson's new musical is set in 1565, the final months of Mary Queen of Scots’ reign. Carpe Diem’s reputation for powerful drama and singing make this one to see.

Stockbridge Parish Church, Edinburgh

Tue 6 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 332 0122

2 for 1

Wed 7 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 332 0122

Thu 8 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 332 0122

…and 2 more dates

Canticles

For four voices by Peter D Robinson, nominated for MTM UK Best Composer 2007. The Canticles of Zachary, Mary, and Simeon: Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis, praise God from varying perspectives and have long been integral to Christian worship.

Stockbridge Parish Church, Edinburgh

Sat 10 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 332 0122

back to top

Ceilidhs in Lauriston Hall

With caller Ken Gourlay and ceilidh bands Flaming Heather, HLI, Scott Leslie, Willie Fraser and piper. All dances walked through and called. Cheap bar. Hall has air-conditioning! Fringe groups welcome. www.edinburghceilidhs.co.uk.

Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

£8 (£6)

Sat 3 Aug

£8 (£6)

Mon 5 Aug

£8 (£6)

…and 17 more dates

Cest Gelabert Conversation

Choreographer and solo performer Gerhart Bonher on the making of Im (Goldenen) Schnitt I.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Sun 18 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Part of Dance Odysseys.

Circa: Wunderkammer

Seven performers tantalisingly blend of circus, cabaret and vaudeville as Circa come back to the Fringe for the first time in four years.

Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh

Wed 31 Jul

£12 (£11) / 08445 458252

Preview

Thu 1 Aug

£12 (£11) / 08445 458252

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£12 (£11) / 08445 458252

Preview

…and 21 more dates

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

Come Blow Your Horn

SCDA Edinburgh Makars present Neil Simon's play about a young bachelor who corrupts his brother.

Murrayfield Parish Church, Edinburgh

Wed 7 Aug

Times to be confirmed / £10.50 (£9) / 01786 440077

Thu 8 Aug

Times to be confirmed / £10.50 (£9) / 01786 440077

Fri 9 Aug

Times to be confirmed / £10.50 (£9) / 01786 440077

…and 7 more dates back to top