Listings Mon 14 – Sun 20 Feb 2022
What’s on Edinburgh’s Stages This Week
There’s a blessed sense of normality about this week on Edinburgh’s stages, with something approaching a full house of productions – only the Lyceum has yet to re-open but it will be soon.
The best news is the return of the SCDA One Act Festival to the Church Hill Theatre – albeit with a much reduced programme – but heavily featuring new works. And there are new works in the return of Page to Stage at the Roxy on Tuesday too.
A scene from Bedknobs and Broomsticks, lit by Edinburgh-based Lighting Design Simon Wilkinson. Pic: Johan Persson
On the big stages, Bedknobs and Broomsticks sweeps into the Festival Theatre in time for half term, with a lot of local interest in the creatives on the production. It is directed by the folk behind Vox Motus, the Glasgow-based company which brought the art of illusion back into modern theatre design.
Excellent to see that Edinburgh-based lighting designer Simon Wilkinson is in charge of bringing the magic of the Disney film – itself based on Mary Norton’s books – to the stage. We are big fans of Simon’s lighting and it’s great to hear that this is some of his best work. The show opens Wednesday and runs to Sunday.
At the King’s there’s The Dresser (Tue-Sat), Ronald Harwood’s evocative, portrait of backstage life which was inspired by his memories of working as Donald Wolfit’s dresser as a young man. The often under-rated Matthew Kelly stars as the ageing actor manager, with Julian Clary as his devoted dresser.
And of course, those about to Rock are saluted at the Playhouse, which is home to Bat Out Of Hell, The Musical, for a second week (Tue – Sat).
Traverse
The Traverse is back to live performance as well, with two touring productions to get excited about. Drag Me To Love (Thurs/Fri) is a three person show which combines drag performance with theatrical storytelling and Crisis: A Rallying Cry (Sat/Sun) is a devised piece created by ten emerging artists.
Edinburgh’s amateurs have plenty to offer. Three of the plays at the One Act festival on Saturday night are new works by members of local amateur theatre companies – which might be a function of the pandemic, but is a very welcome development.
For a taster, Bob Allan has a retelling of one of Edinburgh’s most compelling criminal stories for Leitheatre. In The Resurrectionist the Irish serial killers, William Burke and Billy Hare, meet more than their match in Mrs Mary Tyrell, a woman driven by the need to protect her family.
The EU Footlights are back in business as well, going all 1980s on us as they take their version of The Wedding Singer to the Rose Street Theatre. The show opens on Wednesday and runs to Saturday.
And there is an intriguing new company in town. English/Polish bilingual company The Mirror of Stage has what sounds like a fascinating take on Chekhov’s Three Sisters at the Augustine United Church, for one night only on Wednesday 16 (in English).
Also at Augustines, the EUTC return with perhaps the most timely show of the week – Don Taylor’s historical drama, The Roses of Eyam, about The Great Plague that swept Britain in 1665/66.
All told, there’s plenty of live theatre to see. And if you still have to take a Lateral Flow Test before hand and wear a mask in the theatre, that feels like a small price to pay for having such a choice available.
Listings
Click on the name of the show to go to its ticketing site.
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
Page to Stage
T
ue 15 Feb 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Roxy Upstairs).
Another exciting line-up of new writing, showcasing extracts from four brand new plays read in front of a live audience. An industry panel will provide dramaturgical feedback – giving a rare insight into the creative process. You will then have a chance to carry on discussions, meet the team, writers and actors in the comfort of the Roxy Bar. Book here.
Augustine United Church
41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL
Three Sisters – Beyond Time
Wed 16 February 2022
Evening: 7.30pm.
Innovative adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters from English/Polish bilingual company The Mirror of Stage. Their take concentrates the entrapment motif by moving all the male characters off stage to create a metaphor for the pandemic: As in a result of consecutive lockdowns and remote work we are stuck in our houses with family with whom we sometimes get along poorly. Book here.
The Roses of Eyem
Fri 18 – Sun 20 February 2022
Evenings: 7.30pm.
The EUTC with Don Taylor’s tragic play about the ‘plague village’ of Eyam, where four fifths of the population died in the The Great Plague in 1666. With bubonic plague proving a death sentence for those who contracted it, this true story examines loss, love, fear, suffering and courage in a disease stricken era not unlike our own. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
SCDA One Act Festival (Youth Section)
Thursday 17 February 2022.
Evening: 7pm (Doors 6.30pm).
Further details: scdaedinburgh.org.uk.
The youth section of the Edinburgh District SCDA One Act Festival has two offerings this year: Mill Youth Theatre (North Berwick Seniors) with Too Fast by Douglas Maxwell; and St Kentigern’s Academy YT with Platform Party by Alan Richardson. Ben Humphrey (GODA) will be the adjudicator, as he will be for the Open Section on Saturday night. Book here.
SCDA One Act Festival (Open Section)
Saturday 19 February 2022.
Evening: 6pm (Doors 5.30pm).
Further details: scdaedinburgh.org.uk.
The SCDA returns with an understandably diminished offering, but still in good heart. Four plays are in competition from two clubs. Notably, three of the plays are new scripts. Leitheatre has two them: The Resurrectionist by Bob Allan and The Wall by Fiona Schofield. The Edinburgh Makars have a new play by Mike Appleby: Chekhov’s Gun as well as the one-act comedy staple, Last Tango in Little Grimley by David Tristram. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Wed 16 – Sun 20 February 2022
Eves Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Mats Thur, Sat: 2.30pm; Sun: 1pm & 5pm.
Enter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie makes its world premiere as an exciting new musical with the original Sherman Brothers’ songs, new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and a book by Brian Hill. Directed by Glasgow’s own Vox Motus: Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison. Book here.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
The Dresser
Tue 15 – Sat 19 February 2021
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Thurs, Sat Mat: 2.30pm.
Ronald Harwood’s evocative, portrait of backstage life was inspired by memories of working as Donald Wolfit’s dresser as a young man. Matthew Kelly stars as an ageing actor manager, known to his loyal acting company as ‘Sir’, with Julian Clary as Norman, Sir’s devoted dresser who ensures that in spite of everything, the show goes on. Book here.
Ed Gamble: Electric
Sunday 20 February 2022
Evening 7.30pm
After a sell-out tour of his house in 2020 (extended into 2021 due to popular demand), Ol’ Broken Pancreas is charged up and ready to flick the switch on another night of attention seeking. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical
Tue 8 – Sat 19 February 2022 
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
Æ review: ★★★★☆ The Bat is Back.
Strat, the forever young leader of rebellious gang ‘The Lost’, falls in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler of Obsidian, in the jukebox musical based on the anthems of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf. Book here.
Jason Manford – Like Me
Sunday 20 February 2022 
Evening: 7.30.
It’s been a busy few years for Jason since his last smash‐hit stand up show but fans of his Absolute Radio show will know this nationally acclaimed comedian hasn’t changed a bit. Even if they were baffled by his hedgehog impression in The Masked Singer! Expect expert observational comedy. Book here.
Rose Theatre
204 Rose Street, EH2 4AZ
The Wedding Singer
Wed 16 – Sat 19 February 2022
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats Fri, Sat: 2.30pm.
The EU Footlights take on the musical adaptation of the romantic film comedy. Set in 1985, New Jersey, where Robbie is working as a wedding singer and Julia as a wedding waitress. Both are convinced they are with the loves of their lives but when they meet things take an unexpected turn. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
Drag Me To Love
Thurs 17, Fri 18 Feb 2022
Evenings 8pm (Trav 2)
Three person show combines drag performance with theatrical storytelling. Against a backdrop of pop anthems and glitter Cameron throws himself into a pair of 6-inch stilettos – meeting people, making friends and foes. But not all is as it seems and, piece by piece, the glamorous world of drag fades away. Book here.
Crisis: A Rallying Cry
Sat 19, Sun 20 Feb 2022
Evenings 8pm (Trav 2)
Ensemble-devised, new theatre piece created by ten young emerging artists. It’s been a rough few years, and we’re scared it might not get better. This is the reality of the pandemic-prodigies whose future lies on the fault lines of impending lockdowns, government scandals, and Jeff-Bezos-supremacy. Book here.
*NB: We would like this to be a complete listing of all live theatre in Edinburgh. If you know a live public performance which is not listed, or a listing is inaccurate, please get in touch through the contact page, here. Many thanks!
