King’s Theatre Listings

The King’s Theatre is now dark for refurbishment

King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com

The King’s Theatre is nearing the end of an extensive refurbishment. It is now set to re-open over the weekend of Saturday 1 August, and will be hosting events in EIF 2026, with tickets on sale for shows from September 2026.

Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing page.

July 2026

A Great Night Out (King’s Dress Rehearsal)
Thurs 23 July 2026
One performance: 7.30pm.
Hosted by panto favourites Clare Gray and Gail Watson, and featuring Allegro, Bohemians Lyric Opera Company, Edinburgh Gang Show, Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Edinburgh Music Theatre, Showcase and Southern Light, this event celebrates the performers, companies and audiences who have made the King’s such an important part of Edinburgh’s theatre life and ensured that the King’s is so important to so many generations. Book here.

Sing-along Frozen (King’s Dress Rehearsal)
Sat 25 July 2026
One performance: 2.30pm.
The Sing-A-Long version of Frozen, a stunning big-screen comedy-adventure inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. These events will help give the King’s a test run with a full audience. Various aspects of a working theatre will be tested. All proceeds will support the King’s Theatre redevelopment.. Book here.

Mhairi Black and Kevin Quantum (King’s Dress Rehearsal)
Sat 25 July 2026
One performance: 7.30pm.
What better than a double bill of laughs and thrills. MP turned comedian Mhairi Black joins us following two sold-out Fringe runs to keep you chuckling and Kevin Quantum will amaze with his blend of mind-blowing illusions, razor-sharp comedy, and a touch of the unexpected. Book here.

August 2026

King’s Opening Weekend
Sat 1/Sun 2 Aug 2026
Sat: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm; Sun: 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm.
A first look at the King’s Theatre as the doors are thrown open for you to explore. Lots of people have been hard at work on our beloved theatre. Find out what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how the theatre plans to welcome everyone back with a programme packed with entertainment over the coming year.

Each free 90 minute slot will allow you to peek at the luxurious new bars, visit the lovely loos, have a drink in the cafe, gaze at the John Byrne dome, or experience a new level thanks to the lifts to every floor. The King’s team will be there to welcome people back to the King’s. A limited number of backstage tours will also be available to book at the theatre on the day. Free but booking required.

Wanging On Live with Graham and Maria
Fri 7 Aug 2026
One perf: 7pm.
A live version of Wanging On with Graham and Maria, the weekly podcast where Graham Norton and Maria McErlane dispense average advice and questionable solutions to life’s dilemmas. Armed with their trademark wit and decades-long friendship, they’ll tackle audience submissions and pass judgement in “Am I Weird?” – all with precisely zero expertise. Book here.

Edinburgh International Festival

Angels in America (EIF)
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Sat 15 – Thur 20 Aug 2026
Sat/Sun, Tue/Wed: 6pm; Thur: 1pm. (4hrs 55m)
Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is an epoch-defining work of American theatre. Set at the height of the AIDS crisis, yet enduringly relevant, we follow the story of two very different people grappling with their diagnoses – former drag queen Prior and vindictive lawyer Roy Cohn. Taking place on a minimal set accompanied by a David Bowie soundtrack, both parts of the play are combined into one epic performance. Book here.

EXXY (EIF)
Dan Daw Creative Projects
Sun 23 Aug 2026
One performance: 7.30pm. (1hr 15m)
How do you continue to value yourself when society doesn’t value you? EXXY (Australian slang for, ‘that’s expensive, mate’) takes us back to where queer, disabled artist Dan Daw began – working class, with very little. Included in your ticket is an afterparty across all floors of the newly refurbished King’s Theatre – dance and mingle with the company in a joyful and inclusive party atmosphere. Book here.

Clown Show (EIF)
Geoff Sobelle
Thur 27 – Sun 30 Aug 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Roll up, roll up for theatre-maker Geoff Sobelle’s contemporary portrait of America as a falling-apart circus. The acrobats and the jugglers have long since left, leaving the clowns to run the show. Sobelle and his clowns have set up their ‘beautiful big top’ in the wreckage of America. They invite you into a crumbling empire to witness the greatest show on earth before it disappears completely. It may be the USA’s 250th birthday this year, but Sobelle asks if the American Dream is better described as a deal with the devil. Book here.

September 2026

~~Chariots of Fire~~
Tue 15 – Sat 19 Sep 2026
Tour cancelled.

Lullaby (Jasmin Vardimon)
Thurs 24 – Sat 26 Sept 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Internationally acclaimed choreographer Jasmin Vardimon returns and expands the world of her 2003 breakthrough work. Against the backdrop of a cold, clinical hospital landscape, Vardimon explores the emotional highs and lows of human life with her trademark fusion of wit, raw honesty, and visceral theatricality. Book here.

October 2026

Wallace
Wed 30 Sept – Sat 3 Oct 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mat: Sat: 2.30pm.
Thrilling new musical rips into Scotland’s most famous legend, asking whether William Wallace was a hero, a rebel, or simply a myth. By award-winning playwright Rob Drummond, acclaimed rapper Dave Hook, renowned director Orla O’Loughlin and powerhouse producers Raw Material. Book here.

The Steamie
Mon 5 – Sat 10 Oct 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats: Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
Magrit, Dolly, Doreen and Mrs. Culfeathers share laughter, secrets, and dreams while tackling the final wash of the year in Tony Roper’s beloved Scottish classic. With songs by David Anderson, experience a joyful celebration of friendship and the heart of working-class life. Book here.

Iolanthe (EdGAS)
Wed 14 – Sat 17 Oct 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mat: Sat: 2.30pm.
Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society return to the King’s in this sparkling satire. Packed with witty dialogue, dazzling melodies, and a plot that’s as mischievous as it is magical, this comic opera blends fantasy and farce in a timeless battle of love, law, and lunacy. Book here.

Chunky Jewellery
Wed 21 Oct 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
Chunky Jewellery tells the story of two single mothers navigating life, death and everything in-between. Two friends, one year, two births, a death, 18 bursts of laughter, 34,000 tears (each), and one piece of chunky jewellery. It was a year to forget, but instead Natasha and Jude co-created an epic autobiographical show with Ben Duke (Olivier Nominated / Lost Dog). Book here.

Alan Davies: Think Ahead
Thu 22 Oct 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
He thinks he’s Marty McFly but he’s older than Doc Brown. He spends more time in the pharmacy than the gym. Subject to relentless eye rolls from his kids. What is he? A late middle-aged stand up on tour for the first time in a decade. Funnier than ever, he says. Book here.

Toto the Ninja Cat
Fri 23 – Sun 25 Oct 2026
Fri: 3.30pm; Sat: 10.30am, 1.30pm; Sun: 10.30am.
Based on Dermot O’Leary’s best-selling children’s book, illustrated by Nick East, this purr-fectly thrilling tale is filled with original music, laugh-out-loud fun, and extraordinary puppetry, promising fun for the whole family. Book here.

Rollers Forever
Tue 27 – Sat 31 Oct 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats: Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
This warm and funny story follows two lifelong friends who reconnect on a Saturday night and are pulled back into the excitement, laughter and teenage obsession that shaped their Roller-mania. Filled with comedy, nostalgia and the spirit of a generation, the show captures what it meant and still means to be part of the Roller world. Book here.

November 2026

Operation Mincemeat
Mon 2 – Sat 7 Nov 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
A fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story… The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. It’s Singin’ in the Rain  meets  Strangers on a Train,  in the true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. Book here.

Stories: The Tap Dance Sensation
Mon 9 Nov 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
Urban jazz, tap and percussion collide in this high-energy phenomenon. Icarus – a young actor – is already a big hit on screen. Yet, behind the scenes, he’s under the oppressive influence of his director. After an epic argument, Icarus finds himself unable to escape the film director’s stranglehold. Book here.

an Accident / a Life
Fri 13 & Sat 14 Nov 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
A rich visual theatre experience that unravels key moments in our lives, exploring difficult things using humour, storytelling, film, music, dance and a car. For Marc Brew, this was his car accident when he went from ballet dancer to paraplegic in a split second. Book here.

Edinburgh Gang Show 2026
Tue 17 – Sat 21 Nov 2026
Evenings: 7pm; Mat: Sat: 2pm.
With powerful music, hilarious comedy, dramatic moments and incredible choreography the Edinburgh Gang Show has to be seen to be believed. South East Scotland’s gang of Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts, Explorers and Rangers are ready to entertain with a brand new show fit for the newly refurbished King’s Theatre. Book here.

Pinocchio(The King’s Panto)
Sat 28 Nov 2026 – Sun 17 Jan 2027
Tue-Sat (& Mons 21, 28 Dec, 4 Jan): 2pm & 7pm. Sun (& Thurs 24, 31 Dec): 1pm & 5pm.
The King’s Panto is back at the King’s – and that’s no lie! Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young in this brand new Panto celebrating the re-opening of the King’s Theatre. Book here.

2027

January 2027

A Toast Fae The Lassies
Sun 24 Jan 2027
One perf: 6pm.
Following on from its sell-out success at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, this dynamic musical play celebrates the life and art of Robert Burns as experienced by the three most important women in his life – his mother, his wife and his mistress Book here.

By Royal Appointment
Tue 26 to Sat 30 Jan 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
By Royal Appointment is a behind the scenes peek into the world of our most popular monarch and the image she presented to the world. Starring national treasure Jane Asher as The Queen, this smash hit play is written by Daisy Goodwin, creator of the hit ITV series Victoria. Book here.

February 2026

Paranormal Activity
Tue 2 to Sat 6 Feb 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
This thrilling West End hit is inspired by the iconic film series, with a brand-new story live on stage. James and Lou move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that places aren’t haunted, people are… Book here.

São Paulo Dance Company
Fri 12 & Sat 13 Feb 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm.
The electrifying São Paulo Dance Company returns to the UK for its highly anticipated second tour, bringing bold Brazilian energy and world class dance to the King’s Theatre. Internationally celebrated for its dynamic repertoire, São Paulo Dance Company showcases a distinctive artistic voice – where classical technique meets contemporary innovation, driven by a powerful Latin pulse. Book here.

March 2027

Crown of Blood
Wed 3 – Sat 6 Mar 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mat: Sat: 2.30pm.
Of what use is a good man without ambition? – Crown of Blood is a powerful new adaptation of Macbeth, following the story of General Aderemi in West Africa. Set in 19th-Century Yorubaland, this adaptation is adorned with cultural heritage and spirituality in its storytelling, music and movement, creating a compelling mix of dimensions that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The classic story of revenge, ambition and deception with a twist. Book here.

Jimeoin: Ballyhoo!
Sun 14 Mar 2027
Evening: 7.30pm.
A not-to-be-missed, hilarious evening with a genuine stand-up comedy legend who is globally hailed as one of live comedy’s masters – we are absolutely delighted to welcome our favourite Irishman from Australia to Edinburgh with his sublimely funny new tour. Book here.

Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show
Tue 23 to Sat 27 Mar 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Allan Stewart is back at the King’s! Forget your troubles and enjoy a night of music and comedy with Allan Stewart and some very special guests. Book here.

May 2027

Scottish Dance Theatre: Pirates!
Fri 21 to Sat 22 May 2027
Fri: 6pm; Sat: 11am & 3pm.
Best friends Tom and Daisy as they are swept away into the world of Captain Sandy Rogers and her rowdy crew. Featuring a playful mix of dance, theatre and storytelling, Pirates! is the latest creation from Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Joan Clevillé, featuring the full company of dancers, lavish set and costume design and original music by Luke Sutherland. Book here.

Before I Go To Sleep
Tue 25 – Sat 29 May 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats: Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
Christine appears to have an idyllic life – with one terrible exception. Every night, when she goes to sleep, she loses her memory. Every morning she wakes up remembering nothing from the last 20 years of her life – not even the loving husband lying next to her. Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff from the novel by S.J Watson. Book here.