Preview and Listings: Mon 3 – Sun 9 June 2024
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week?
It’s a big week for local youth company Strange Town with four shows on offer, the opening of Scottish Opera’s rather wonderful Traviata at the Fesital and the final week of Sunset Song at the Lyceum.
It’s a rare chance to see Strange Town’s professional touring company outside a school environment with their piece about Sophie Scholl, killed by the Nazis for distributing forbidden leaflets, Storm Lantern at the Traverse (ends Thurs: tickets).
Hye-Youn Lee (Violetta Valéry) and Ji-Min Park (Alfredo Germont) in Scottish Opera’s production of La traviata, opening at the Festival Theatre on Friday. Pic: James Glossop.
The ST youth companies have a trio of plays at the Storytelling Centre: Burn the Witches (Fri/Sat: tickets), Hacksilver (Fri/Sat: tickets) and Monster Force! Engage! (Sat/Sun: tickets).
The Lyceum has its final few performances of Sunset Song (Ends Sat: tickets). It’s a superlative ensemble performance, but Morna Young’s adaptation is dividing those who love Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s novel.
Opening at the Festival theatre, Scottish Opera’s La Traviata (Fri 7 – Sat 15: tickets) is a thing of beauty, with a pair of leads who grab all the drama in Verdi’s music and channel it into their acting performances.
The Traverse also has favourite Irish company Blue Raincoat Theatre with The Last Pearl (Thur – Sat: tickets), a piece of visual theatre loosely based on the ideas of environmentalist James Lovelock.
Listings for week ending Sunday 9 June 2024:
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
Edinburgh Printmakers
Castle Mills, 1 Dundee Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9FP
Tales from the Towpath (Citadel Arts Group)
Sun 9, Sun 16 2024
Matinees: 2.30pm.
Citadel Arts Group with a new immersive play exploring the history and people of the Union Canal, opened in 1882 and linking Edinburgh with Forth & Clyde Canal at Falkirk. Limited free tickets: Text 07954296568.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Nadiya & Kai: Behind the Magic
Tue 4 June 2024
Evening: 7.30pm.
Nadiya and Kai took you on a personal journey through the world of dance, from their childhood memories, competition days, dancing on Strictly and beyond. They gave a glimpse into their back story and hopefully, you left knowing a little more about your favourite dancing couple! Book here.
La Traviata (Scottish Opera)
Fri 7 – Sat 15 June 2024
Fri 7, Tue 11, Thurs 13, Sat 15: 7.15pm; Sun 9: 3pm.
This beloved production, which began life at Scottish Opera in 2008, has been seen at opera houses around the world. Violetta Valéry lives on borrowed time. In Paris’ hedonistic high society, she squeezes each day for its joys before her illness catches up with her. When the idealistic young Alfredo offers true love, happiness seems possible – but her past has exacted a price. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Sunset Song
By Morna Young, after Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Tue 28 May – Sat 8 June 2024
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Mats Weds & Sat: 2.30pm.
Æ review: ★★★☆☆ Well performed.
Scotland’s most loved literary heroine Chris Guthrie is brought to the stage in this thrilling contemporary adaptation. From harrowing family roots and crushing poverty, to stirring love and the awakening of self, Chris’s coming-of-age journey to womanhood is one of enduring strength, persistent survival and joyful renewal. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Tom Allen: Completely.
Sat 8 June 2024
Evening: 8pm.
Tom Allen has finally moved out of his parents’ house, which has been great news for him, better news for department stores and even better news for his latest stand-up tour as he’s eager to share his life updates, get your opinions on his vegetable patch and delve into the protocol of inviting friends with children for dinner. Book here.
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, EH1 1SR. Phone booking: 0131 556 9579
Burn the Little Witches (Strange Town)
Fri 7/Sat 8 June 2024.
Fri: 6.30pm; Sat: 8.30pm.
AAsh fights to save her school as the council decide to close it, but rumours are rife: with only 20 pupils, someone must be leaving – but who? Written by Daniel Orejon. Directed by Amy Wilson. Performed by the Strange Town 11-14 group (Fridays). Book here.
Hacksilver (Strange Town)
Fri 7/Sat 8 June 2024.
Fri: 8.30pm; Sat: 6.30pm.
In 1215, in a sleepy Fife village, a quiet, anxious boy hears the voice of angels. Spurred on by his sister, poor Sholto finds himself at the head of a Children’s Crusade hoping to save the world. Written by Jen McGregor. Directed by James Beagon. Performed by the Strange Town 11-14 group (Wednesdays). Book here.
Monster Force! Engage! (Strange Town)
Sat 8/Sun 9 June 2024.
Sat: 3pm; Sun: 11.30am
Mum and Dad are asleep, and something is lurking under the bed… Who will battle the things that go bump in the night? Monster Force! Engage! On hand to save your bedroom, capturing Sockmonsters, Fartmonsters and more, nothing could possibly go wrong… right? Written by Tim Primrose. Directed by Catherine Ward-Stoddart. Performed by the Strange Town 8-10s group (Fridays). Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
Storm Lantern (Strange Town Touring Company)
Tue 4 – Thurs 6 June 2024
Evenings: 8pm (Trav 2).
The Strange Town Touring Company with Duncan Kidd’s play about Sophie Scholl. Caught by the Nazis distributing forbidden leaflets, she is facing execution. Only one route remains: confession and betrayal of everything she stood for… but will she take it? What would you be willing to die for? Book here.
The Last Pearl
Thurs 6 – Sat 8 June 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm (Trav 1).
A strong visual theatre piece using scaled models as well as bunraku and shadow puppetry, The Last Pearl tells the story of a woman, and in the aftermath of a typhoon, with her daughter, as they scavenge and explore in a dying world. It is the story of their ability to adapt to a changing environment and ultimately survive. Book here.
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, the Caledonian
Princes Street, EH1 2AB.
Edinburgh Magic
Sats: 8 & 22 June 2024
Saturday evenings: 6pm & 8.30pm (Versailles Suite).
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Rosy
Kevin Quantum performs an hour of magic that’s fooled some of the most brilliant and creative people ever to have lived, often times with strong links to Edinburgh and Scotland. An elegant, intimate and quite astonishing evening of magic, mystery and wonder in one of Edinburgh’s most historic and enchanting hotels. 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.
