Listings Mon 30 June – Sun 6 July 2025
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week
There’s a world premiere performance from Rambert for dance fans, the last stop in a big touring musical and a couple of top tips from the local amateurs.
The big news is at the Festival Theatre, where dance company Rambert have decided to stage the opening night of their UK tour of a double bill, KISMET (Thurs – Sat: tickets).
This is particularly exciting as it marks a material step in Capital Theatre’s attempts to become an important mover on the UK dance stage. Festival Theatre audiences have been blessed with great touring shows for years, but this concerted effort is paying off.
Rambert Gallery of Consequence. Pic: Yiling Zhao
The new offering is of Gallery of Consequence, choreographed by emerging artist Emma Evelein. This moving new piece brings to life the chaos, quiet and connections found in an airport. The bill is completed by iconic choreographer Johan Inger’s B.R.I.S.A – a whirlwind of movement, music and humour with a soundtrack featuring Nina Simone.
Dear Evan Hansen
The big show on the last stop of its UK tour is Dear Evan Hansen, at the Playhouse (Tue – Sat: tickets). With several “best musical” awards under its belt, this has some of the big musical tunes of recent years.
There are a coupled of Scots playing the leads here. Ryan Kopel from Kirriemuir, Angus play the title role, of Evan Hansen, the anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth.
Lauren Conroy from Glenrothes is Zoe, whose family is affected by the web of events which spiral out of control.
Ryan Kopel and Lauren Conroy in Dear Evan Hansen
The big bit of amateur theatre is at Augustine United Church, where Half Trick have a new play Waiting for Wonka (Wed – Sat: Tickets). An interesting premise, this, from the company which had a both a five-star hit in Faustus and a two-star “oddity” in Antonio’s Revenge at EdFringe 2024.
Waiting for Wonka follows the four ‘naughty’ children from Willy Wonka’s fabled chocolate factory tour: Veruca, Augustus, Violet, and Mike. Now all grown up they are still haunted by what happened to them.
Here they are, grappling with the long-term consequences of their fantastical (and traumatic) childhood experiences, wrestling with themes of capitalism, wonder, parental abuse, faith, growing up, magic, and, of course, chocolate.
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals
And then there is The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, which another young local amateur company and EdFringe regular Happy Sad productions has out at the Cre8 Theatre in Edinburgh College (Wed – Sat: Tickets).
This is the Starkid Productions 2018 horror comedy parody of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, which has 9.1 million views on YouTube. It concerns Paul – just a normal guy who doesn’t like musicals – and his plight to stop the apocalypse and save humanity’s future from invading musically-inclined aliens…
Elsewhere, The McDougalls have their Magic Castle Show at the Church Hill (Fri: tickets) and Three Inch Fools have the first of two shows at Lauriston Castle: The Most Perilous Comedie of Elizabeth I (Tue: tickets). They have A Midsummer Night’s Dream next week (Wed 9: Tickets)
Listings Mon 30 June – Sun 6 July 2025
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
Augustine United Church
41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL.
Waiting for Wonka (Half Trick)
Wed 2 – Sat 5 July 2025
Evenings: 7pm.
A satirical new play about capitalism, childhood trauma and chocolate. Fifteen years after the competition that ruined their lives, five damaged adults try to understand what happened to them as children. Ages: 16+ Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Magic Castle Show (The McDougalls)
Fri 4 July 2025.
One performance: 1pm.
Auntie Aggie, Max, and Morag the Rabbit are packing their bags for a spellbinding summer holiday at the Magic Castle. Help The McDougalls become real wizards by solving spells, perfecting potions and singing songs. But what lurks in the castle dungeon…? Book here.
Cre8 Theatre
Edinburgh College, Milton Road, EH15 2PQ.
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Happy Sad Productions)
Wed 2 – Sat 5 July 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
The cult horror-comedy musical, originally created by Starkid and shared online, about a normal guy who doesn’t like musicals – and his plight to stop the apocalypse and save humanity’s future from the invading musically-inclined aliens! Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Kismet (Rambert)
Thurs 3 – Sat 5 July 2025
Thurs/Fri: 7.30pm; Sat: 2.30pm only.
Two heartfelt works that reflect on the unpredictable and deeply human experience we all share. Gallery of Consequence (WP): Airports are unusual places. Every gate tells a story, and every departure marks a choice. Choreographer Emma Evelein reflects on the moments that shape our lives. B.R.I.S.A. Inspired by the Spanish word for “breeze”, Johan Inger’s B.R.I.S.A. is a joyful whirlwind of movement, music, and humour. Book here.
Lauriston Castle
2a Cramond Road South, Davidson’s Mains EH4 5QD.
The Most Perilous Comedie of Elizabeth I (Three Inch Fools)
Tue 1 July 2025
Evening: 7pm.
Elizabethan theatre is flourishing. But will a brand-new Tudor musical romp, in which Good Queen Bess takes to the stage herself, be the making of this heroine or spell the beginning of her downfall? Lauriston Castle Family Theatre with The Three Inch Fools. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Dear Even Hansen
Tue 1 – Sat 5 July 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats: Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
An evening with V.E. Schwab (Portobello Bookshop)
Mon 30 Jun 2025
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1).
Celebrate the launch of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, from the No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. A new, genre-defying, unforgettable novel to sink your teeth into! Book here.
ENDS
