Footloose
★★★☆☆ Toe-tapping
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge (Venue 7): Fri 1 – Sun 24 Aug 2025
Review by Sophie Good
Edinburgh Little Theatre brings a community cast production of toe-tapping favourite Footloose to Braw Theatre’s Grand Lodge venue, for the whole of the Fringe.
Footloose, famous for it’s 1984 film classic with many iconic musical hits gets the Edinburgh fringe treatment directed and choreographed by Nikki Kingsley.
Edinburgh Little Theatre’s EdFringe 2025 production of Footloose. Pic: ELT
The story follows new kid Ren (Faolan Wilson) who moves to a small town and has to adapt his big city Chicago ways to fit in. Blending in is difficult when literally everyone knows each other and Bomont High is not a place for strangers, music or dancing.
Ren discovers that the young people of Bomont are banned from dancing and have no outlet to let their hair down. A battle with the community and in particular the zealous Rev (Marcus Landie) follows, in order to gain their freedom and the trust of the town’s elders.
hit-tastic
The battle is complicated by the preacher’s daughter Ariel (Kayleigh McGowan), who is torn between pleasing her parents and following her heart, as well as falling for Ren along the way.
The original 1984 film is famous for its hit-tastic sound track including Holding Out for a Hero, Let’s Hear It for the Boy and of course the eponymous Footloose. These are all enjoyable numbers in the show, but a challenge for the cast when they are such well know and much loved songs.
Edinburgh Little Theatre’s EdFringe 2025 production of Footloose. Pic: ELT
The ensemble do their best to bring them to life but director and choreographer Nikki Kingsley fails to instil a much-needed spark of energy. Her choreography feels a little staid, at times, lacking in the necessary energy and flair. The story needs the young cast to convey that they really love dancing and Kingsley with her AD Roza Stevenson have got decidedly mixed results on that score in this production.
There are some notable exceptions with McGowan as Ariel and Rowan Strachan playing Willard who both appear to be more than capable of taking on some more ambitious dance moves. It is McGowan as Ariel who really brings a huge dose of energy and conviction to her role as the Rev’s daughter who longs for freedom. Strachan takes on the role of the local hick and Ren’s sidekick Willard with great aplomb, moves and vocals
Overall, the company tell the story well, and the young team of eight year-old junior reviewers came out delighted with what they had seen, dancing and singing all the way to the bus stop.
For 80s music fans and those who love a good story of religious zealotry being overcome by the love of Disco, then this is the show for you.
Running time: Two hours and 5 minutes (Including one interval).
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge (Venue 7), 96 George Street EH2 3DH (Venue 7).
Friday 1 – Sunday 24 August 2025.
Daily: 3.20pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Braw Venues website: brawvenues.com
Edinburgh Little Theatre’s EdFringe 2025 production of Footloose. Pic: ELT
ENDS
Footloose
Edinburgh Little Theatre
Braw Venues
EdFringe 2025
Review
