Listings and Preview: Mon 31 March – Sun 6 April
What’s on Edinburgh’s Stage this week?
A piece of big theatre amidst the musicals is this week’s first tip: the new production of Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of Little Women at the Festival Theatre (Tue – Sat: tickets).
Casey’s script is rightly lauded and faithful to the original. It’s too early in its tour for any reviews of note, but with Honeysuckle Weeks and Belinda Lang leading the cast it has much to look forward to.
Grace Malony as Jo and Belinda Lang as Aunt March in Little Women, at the Festival Theatre all week. Pic: Nobby Clark.
Second tip is the Brunton (at Loretto School) which has a rare production of Alan Bissett’s complete Moira Trilogy (Sat only: tickets). There is good availability and Bissett’s hilariously observed comedy is worth catching the 26 bus for.
Be warned though, this is the full trilogy: The Moira Monologues, More Moira Monologues and Moira in Lockdown. It starts as 7pm and runs for three hours and 40 minutes, including two intervals. Still, the buses are still running then, so no worries.
impressively costumed
Local amateurs EMT are staging Disney’s Beauty and the Beast up at the Church Hill Theatre (Tue – Sat: tickets). An impressively costumed and strong cast do the humour well – while getting to the emotion of the piece.
Student G&S company Eusog have updated the script for their version of Princess Ida at the Pleasance theatre (Thurs – Sat: tickets) to make it reflect 21st century gender politics. But the music is all the same.
A scene from new musical Nessie, at the Studio Theatre. Pic Andrew Perry.
New Scottish kids musical Nessie makes its debut at the Studio (Wed – Sat: tickets). Press night is not until Wednesday, but the first look images of the puppets are endearing. Tickets are in hot demand, so if you are thinking of going, book now!
Wild Rose continues at the Lyceum (ends Sat 19: tickets) and is much recommended, whether you are a fan of country music or not.
There are a few tickets left for Dancing Shoes, this week’s lunchtime theatre at the Traverse (ends Sat: tickets). A heartwarming piece with fantastical elements, it depicts vulnerable people with a sympathetic realism.
Listings for the week: Monday 31 March – Sunday 6 April 2025:
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
The Brunton @ Loretto School
Loretto School Theatre, Millhill, Musselburgh. Phone booking: 0131 653 5245
The Moira Trilogy (Alan Bissett)
Sat 5 April 2025
Evening: 7pm.
Alan Bissett performs all three critically acclaimed one-woman shows about Moira Bell, single mother, cleaner and Falkirk’s Hardest Woman. 2009’s Moira Monologues, 2017’s More Moira Monologues and 2022’s Moira in Lockdown. NB: Running time: 3hrs 40 mins. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (EMT)
Tue 1 – Sat 5 April 2025.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Impressive
Edinburgh Music Theatre invite you to step into a world of enchantment with the smash-hit musical. Witness the timeless tale of Belle, a spirited young woman, and the Beast, a prince trapped under a magical spell. Featuring dazzling choreography, stunning costumes, and unforgettable songs. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Little Women
Tue 1 – Sat 5 Apr 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats: Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm.
Anne-Marie Casey’s masterful new adaptation breathes new life into a cherished classic. Still relevant today, this is a celebration of women proving that women can be heroes of their own story, can be bold, persistent, self-assured to stand strong in who they are, and what they desire for themselves in their present and future. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Wild Rose
The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Caledonia Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions
Ends: Sat 19 Apr 2025
Daily (not Sun/Mon): 7.30pm. Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Æ Review: ★★★★★ Triumphant.
There is only one thing in Rose-Lynn’s life that has ever made sense: country music. Fresh out of jail for past mistakes, and bursting with incredible raw talent, charisma and cheek, the free-spirited Rose-Lynn dreams of escaping Glasgow to make it as a singer in Nashville. Book here.
Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Princess Ida (Eusog)
Thurs 3 – Sat 5 April 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Princess Ida, desperate to escape the patriarchal society she has been raised in, founds Castle Adamant, a university for women, and forswears men. Prince Hilarion, her betrothed since childhood, has other ideas and, alongside his friends Cyril and Florian, sneaks into Castle Adamant to claim his bride. A queer retelling of Gilbert & Sullivan. Book here.
Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Nessie (Cap Theatre & PFT)
Fri 28 Mar – Sat 5 Apr 2025
Wed – Fri: 7pm; Sats: 1.30pm & 6pm; Sun: 1.30pm.
New musical with book, music and lyrics by Shonagh Murray.
On the scenic banks of Loch Ness lies the town of Bruachness, a place steeped in mystery and folklore, where the local residents live in cautious awe of the legendary Loch Ness Monster, believed to bring misfortune to those who glimpse it. Until young biologist Mara meets Nessa – and survives to tell her tale. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
Dancing Shoes (PPP)
By Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith.
Tue 1 – Sat 5 April 2025
Lunchtime: 1pm (Trav 1).
Donny lives with his mum and has been struggling with addiction most of his life. He also has a secret hobby… dancing alone in his bedroom. A life-affirming comedy-drama about isolation, support groups and bedroom dancing that challenges how we treat the most vulnerable people in society. Book here.
*NB: This is intended to be a complete listing of all public theatrical productions on in Edinburgh. If you are staging a show which is not listed, or a listing is inaccurate, please get in touch through the contact page, here.
