Listings Mon 5 – Sun 22 May 2025
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week?
It’s another week for braw amateur productions, with a nicely spread quartet on offer. But the best news is that there are still some tickets left for F-Bomb Theatre’s Monumental, this Saturday and next.
Inspired by Sara Sheridan’s book Where Are The Women? Monumental is a walking tour which explore the lives of five women who deeply impacted, lived, and worked in Edinburgh, played by actresses in the absence of any statue to them.
Colin Sutherland in Southern Light’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Pic: Andrew Morris Photography
The big amateur buzz is at the Festival Theatre where Southern Light have Jesus Christ Superstar (Wed-Sat: tickets). Hearing great things for this one, which should easily be up to professional standards.
The Makars are at the Church Hill Theatre with Allan Ayckbourn’s 1973 comedy Bedroom Farce (Thur – Sat: tickets). Another goodie expected here.
Two student companies have short run shows. Napier’s NUDS have an intriguing take on Shakespeare with A Midsummer Nightmare at Augustine United Church (Fri & Sun: tickets). QMU are at the Pleasance Theatre with Legally Blonde (Fri/Sat: tickets).
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, continues at the Playhouse (ends Sat 14 June: tickets). Best availability is Mon-Thurs with low price £15 tickets available to Thurs 15 May.
Our critic Martin Gray gave it a “★★★★☆ Can-Can do“, calling it: “the most jukebox of jukebox musicals”, adding: “…it’s about the song and the dance, the colour and the light. And so far as that goes, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is hard to beat.
Finally, Maria McDonell reprises her play about a life model, LIFE, at the Studio Theatre (Wed: tickets). Our critic Hugh Simpson saw the show at the Fringe in 2024, saying it is “★★★☆☆ Drawn out“, for an “intriguing performance … if it helps the audience think about their own creativity (and mortality) then so much the better”.
Listings for the week to Sunday 11 May 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.
A Midsummer Nightmare (NUDS)
Fri 9 & Sun 11 May 2025.
Fri, Sun: 7pm.
As a group of final year drama students prepare to perform their last show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, past crushes resurface, old feuds come to a head and friendships are put to the test. Can they get through the show? Or will they break in the process? Book here (Fri). Book here (Sun).
Central Edinburgh
Walking tour through central Edinburgh.
Monumental (Edinburgh 900)
Sats 10 & 17 May 2025.
Two shows each day: 12pm & 3pm.
A new theatrical walking tour that showcases the real ‘herstory’ of Edinburgh. Produced by multi-award-winning Edinburgh-based feminist theatre company F-Bomb Theatre, the experience will take audiences around the city to explore the lives of five women who deeply impacted, lived, and worked in Edinburgh. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Bedroom Farce (Edinburgh Makars)
Thurs 8 – Sat 10 May 2025.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
A highly-strung couple wreak havoc in the bedrooms of three other couples during a single night, in Allan Ayckbourn’s play. While Ayckbourn prefers not to label his plays, this is comedy territory and certainly not farce. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Jesus Christ Superstar (Southern Light)
Wed 7 – Sat 10 May 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
What’s the buzz? The first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage, Jesus Christ Superstar has wowed audiences for over 40 years. A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events, but seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Jack Dee: Small World
Live stand-up comedy
Sun 11 May 2025
One show: 7.30pm.
The I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue host doubles down on his fascination with the meaningless small things of life like Zoom protocol, what’s new in the world of radiators and the worst careers advice office in the world. Sold out.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Mouline Rouge! The Musical
Run ends Sat 14 June 2025
Mon – Sat: 7.30pm; Mats: Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm.
Æ review: ★★★★☆ Can-Can do
The most jukebox of jukebox musicals, Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage with a world of splendour, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory. A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Book here.
Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Legally Blonde (QMU Musical Theatre Society)
Fri 9 – Sat 10 May 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Vapid sorority president Elle Woods decides to win her boyfriend back by enrolling at Harvard Law School where she navigates the challenges of the law school environment, learns about her own potential, and ultimately proves that she can be more than just a “dumb blonde”. Book here.
Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Life (Maria McDonell)
Wed 7 May 2025
Evening: 7.30pm.
Æ review from EdFringe 2024: ★★★☆☆ Drawn out
Estelle models for The Artist. Despite decades of experience, she has never sat for a session like this and with such an outcome, both unexpected, yet perhaps strangely inevitable. But she can’t stand sitting any longer. She needs to tell her story. Is it all true? And what is her relationship with the mysterious artist? How does this class change Estelle’s life forever? 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.
