Preview & Listings to Sun 15 Dec 2024

Dec 11 2024 | By More

What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week?

Panto is properly go! Oh yes it is. Good fairies are fighting it out with evil henchmen and step-mums all over the place.

At the Festival Theatre, Cinderella (★★★★☆ Sparkling)  is big on glitter and Grant Stott’s bad Hibs jokes (ends 31 Dec: tickets); at Portobello Town Hall, Stage Door Entertainment has a properly local Jack and the Beanstalk (★★★★☆ Porty Pals) (ends 29 Dec: tickets); and local amateurs EPT are at the Church Hill with their Sleeping Beauty (Fri – 22 Dec: tickets).

Adam Filipe as Joseph and Donny Osmond as Pharaoh in Joseph and the Technicolor Raincoat. Pic: Tristram Kenton

But panto is far from being the only show in town…

At Assembly Roxy, Captivate have a pair of stellar productions. Early doors the teen version of SiX (ends Sun: tickets) is wickedly on point, really showing off why this is such a brilliant piece. Later, Nativity! the Musical (ends Sun: tickets) has Hazel Beatie in glorious form as Miss Poppy with a whole bundle of brilliant kids in support.

Returning for two nights only is EdFringe legend Guy Masterson with his festival favourite, A Christmas Carol (★★★★☆ Splendidly seasonal) (Fri/Sat: tickets). Masterson is a past master at the one-man version of many character novels and this is an excellent example of his work.

Local amateurs EGTG are at the Pleasance with a new but seasonal play, baba, by company member cmfwood (Thurs – Sat: tickets). This gives a modern ring to the ancient stories of Baba Yaga and her house on hens legs.

Meanwhile the Lyceum continues with its Orkney-set adaptation of Treasure Island (★★★★☆ Creative) by Duncan McLean. There’s no parrot to go with the pirates, but there is a rather glorious puffin and bags of imagination (ends 4 Jan: tickets).

Folk a certain age are thrilling to Donny Osmond who returns to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the Pharaoh, having played Joseph for many years. That is at the Playhouse (ends 29 Dec: tickets).

local action

There is plenty of local action at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. The Young Edinburgh Storytellers bring back their epic Táin (★★★★☆ Otherworldly), seen at the Fringe (Wed: tickets). Then Strange Town has a trio of shows from its youth companies: Vote Christmas  (Fri/Sat: tickets); The Last Wolf (Fri/Sat: tickets) and Wish Upon a Wish (Sat/Sun: tickets). These are always well worth seeing, even if you aren’t related to a cast member.

Top tip for youngsters aged 18 months to five years is the CATS-winning The Gift (★★★★★ Magical) at the Studio Theatre (Sat – 31 Dec: tickets) from Barrowland Ballet. This is a stunning piece of work which really delves into the imagination and works beautifully for its target age group – and their grownups!

For those who like it raucous, Edinburgh’s Christmas has brought over the bizarre burlesque Shrek parody, Swamplesque from Australia. This is bursting out of its costumes at every opportunity up at the Assembly Hall (ends 29 Dec: tickets).

The Forth Act are out at Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church on Saughton Mains with Merry Crisis (Fri-Sun: tickets), a play with carols about the perils of a family Christmas. The Class Act Winter Showcase 2024 at the Traverse (Thurs – Sat: tickets) sees short plays by youngsters from Firrhill High School, Trinity Academy, Tynecastle High School and Intercultural Youth Scotland performed script-in-hand.

And finally, the Not So Nice! theatre peeps have a scratch night: F*cked Up Fables, at the Augustine United Church (Fri: tickets). This is a chance to see a whole bunch of emerging performers, writers and directors doing their stuff. Details in the listing below.

Listings

Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.

Assembly Hall
Mound Place, EH1 2LU
Swamplesque (Edinburgh’s Christmas)
Thurs 5 – Sun 29 December 2024.
Tue/Wed (not 24/25): 8pm; Thurs: 6pm, 8.30pm; Fri: 9pm; Sat: 5pm, 9pm; Sun: 7pm.
Everyone’s favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody is coming to Edinburgh to celebrate Christmas. The 16+ rated, award-winning, critically acclaimed, burlesque parody show from Far Far Away offers its audience a smorgasbord of performance styles. Book here.

Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
Six – Teen edition (Captivate)
Tue 10 – Sun 15 Dec 2024
Daily: 6pm; Fri 2.30pm; Sat: 12 noon (Central).
Don’t miss the chance to witness incredibly talented teens bring the queens of history to life in this high-energy, smash-hit musical! Don’t be put off by teen edition, these young women are extremely talented and the show is much the same as the one you all know and love. Grab your tickets while you can! Book here.

Nativity! the Musical (Captivate)
Tue 10 – Sun 15 Dec 2024
Daily: 8pm; Sat/Sun mats: 2pm.(Central).
St Bernadette’s School’s unlucky in love teacher Mr Maddens is staging this year’s school Nativity and making it a musical. To get one over his rival school (and teaching nemesis Gordon Shakespeare) he has however told a teeny tiny lie…… that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show and turn it into a film… Step up please, Mr Poppy! Book here.

A Christmas Carol (Guy Masterson)
Fri 13 – Sat 14 Dec 2024
Daily: 7.30pm.(Upstairs).
Æ review from 2023: ★★★★☆ Splendidly seasonal.
Guy Masterson, EdFringe legend, Olivier Award winner and West End and Broadway Director, returns to Edinburgh with his acclaimed performance of Dickens’ festive favourite. Famed for bringing literary masterpieces to vivid life (Under Milk Wood, Animal Farm) Masterson gives us Dickens’ original performance text in his own inimitable multi-character style. Book here.

Augustine United Church
41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL.
F*cked Up Fables (Not So Nice!)
Fri 13 Dec 2024.
One performance: 7.30pm.
Scratch night with a quartet of new pieces:
Let Down by Alex Medland – “They’ll gut us, rip faces off and wear our skin like dresses. That is what you’re risking everytime you light a fire without asking me first.”
The Angelystor Calls by Huw Turnbull – “Why hello, my dear son, it’s been too long, what a wonderful surprise…”
What Grows in the Dark by Charlotte Smith and Fiasco Jones – “After you plant this seed, what exactly do you expect to grow in the dark?.”
The Washerwoman by Kira Mason –  “It’s like that question: man or a bear? Tell me it’s a bear.” . Book here.

The Caledonian Hotel
Princes Street, EH1 2AB.
Edinburgh Magic (Kevin Quantum)
Tue 10/Wed 11, Sat 14, Dec 2024.
Two shows each day: 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.

Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
The Sleeping Beauty (EPT)
Fri 13 – Sun 22 December 2024.
Weekdays (not Mon): 7pm; Weekend matinees: 2.30pm.
King Nolly and Queen Dottie of Woollyglen, the land of sheep and spinning wheels, are excited for the Royal Christening of their beautiful daughter, Princess Aurora in Ben Crocker’s traditional panto script, brought to the stage by EPT. But no expects wicked fairy, Carabosse, and her naughty feline accomplice, Spindleshanks… Book here.

Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Cinderella
Sat 23 Nov – Tue 31 Dec 2024 
Tue – Sat: 2pm &7pm; Sun: 1pm & 5pm.
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Sparkling.
Join returning panto favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young with a new magical pantomime for all the family. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients, Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses as Cinders goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her Prince Charming. Book here.

Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Treasure Island

Thurs 28 Nov 2024 – Sat 4 Jan 2025
Evenings: (not Sun/Mon): 7pm, Matinees: Sat and daily from Tue 23 Dec: 2pm; Suns: 1pm,6pm.
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Creative
Following the smash-hit Christmas production of The Snow Queen, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh presents another epic story for the whole family – a new re-imagining of esteemed Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson’s quintessential adventure story. Book here.

An Evening with Alan Cumming
An “Evening with…” fundraiser.
Mon 9 Dec 2024

One show: 7.30pm.
In this special one-off event as part of our ‘Evening with…’ fundraising series, we welcome Alan back to The Lyceum stage, and look forward to an intimate and personal insight into his life and career. Prepare your burning questions as afterward there will be a Q&A session. Sold Out.

An Evening with: Jenny Colgan & Sophie Gravia 
An “Evening with…” fundraiser.
Tue 10 Dec 2024

One show: 7.30pm.
Join Scottish novelist Jenny Colgan and fellow romantic novelist Sophie Gravia for an insightful discussion of their writing careers, including an audience Q&A session for all your burning questions..  Book here.

Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Tue 3 – Sat 29 Dec 2024
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Mats Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm; Suns: 1pm & 5pm.
Xmas eve: 1pm & 5pm, no show Xmas day. Boxing day: 6pm, extra matinee Fri 27.

Starring the legendary Donny Osmond as the roof-raising Pharaoh, the smash-hit London Palladium production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns to Edinburgh Playhouse for Christmas. Book here.

Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
baba (EGTG)
Thurs 12 – Sat 14 Dec 2024.
Evenings: 7pm; Sat mat: 3pm.
It’s the week before Christmas in the Village In The Middle Of Nowhere. The grand Christmas Ball is looming, thrown by the Man Who Might Be The Devil.. Book here.

Portobello Town Hall
147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
Jack and the Beanstalk (Stage Door Entertainment)
Fri 6 – Sun 29 Dec 2024.
Fri/Sat: 2pm (not Fri 6) & 7pm; Sun: 5pm. Mon 23/Tue 24: 2pm.
Æ review: ★★★★☆ Porty Pals
There is a giant in the sky over Porty! With Giant Grotty’s hideous henchman, Fleshcreep, taking all that the townsfolk hold dear, can Jack McTrott take the ultimate leap to save his family and his town? Book here.

Saint Salvador’s Episcopal Church
61 Saughton Mains Street EH11 3QX.
Merry Crisis (The Forth Act)
Fri 13 – Sun 15 Dec 2024.
Fri/Sat: 7pm; Sat/Sun: 2pm.
Everyone expects magic during the holidays, but what does it take to make the magic happen? This holiday tale of the woes and wonders of Christmas is poignantly populated with carols new and old for a story that the whole family can enjoy…if they all make it through to Boxing Day! Book here.

Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, EH1 1SR. Phone booking: 0131 556 9579
Capture the Flag (NUDS)
Sun 8/Mon 9 Dec 2024.
Evening: 7pm.
A group of fast food workers on a mandatory company retreat to play capture the flag. Tensions run high as interpersonal conflicts flare up and relationships are tested; but which team will win the week? Book here: Sunday, Monday.

Táin (Young Edinburgh Storytellers)
Wed 11 Dec 2024.
Evening: 7.30pm.
Æ review at EdFringe 2024: ★★★★☆ Otherworldly
A cursed army, two twisted lovers, a mighty hero, and a magnificent bull set in motion a terrible war which shapes the landscape and defines the heroic age of Ireland… Book here.

Vote Christmas (Strange Town 11-14s – Fri)
Fri 13/Sat 14 Dec 2024.
Fri: 6.30pm; Sat: 8.30pm.
The most divisive, most controversial, most hotly contested referendum of the century is upon us – a vote on the future of Christmas! From saccharine Christmas propaganda to the antics of Just Stop Christmas, it promises to be a polarised affair… Book here.

The Last Wolf (Strange Town 11-14s – Weds)
Fri 13/Sat 14 Dec 2024.
Fri: 8.30pm; Sat: 6.30pm.
Centuries ago, a red-hooded figure slew the last wolf in Scotland.
Centuries ago, the Forest was angered.
Biding its time, Nature plans to restore what was taken.
Four hundred years later, a night of celebration suddenly turns sour. The deer have been attacked and a new howl lingers on the wind… Book here.

Wish Upon a Wish (Strange Town 8-11s)
Sat 14/ Sun 15 Dec 2024.
Sat: 3am; Sun: 11.30am
Every year, the Spirits of Christmas gather to grant one aggressively average child a special Christmas wish. This wish could make the world a better place of puppies and kittens, of sunshine and rainbows, except – Except they didn’t count on Bertha… Book here.

Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
The Gift (Barrowland Ballet)
Sat 14 – Tue 31 Dec 2024
Two shows daily: 11am & 2pm. (not Mon 16/Tue 17, Mon 23, Wed 25/Thurs 26)
Æ review from 2022: ★★★★★ Magical
This is a story reversing the idea that it is the wrapping paper, the cardboard boxes and ribbons that should be discarded, and reveals that playfulness, creativity and imagination are the true gifts. Celebrates the art of play, taking ordinary objects making them extraordinary and magical. Book here.

Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
Class Act Winter Showcase 2024 (Traverse Theatre)
Thurs 12 /Fri Dec 2024

Thursday: 7pm, Fri mat: 1pm (Trav 2).
Young people from Firrhill High School, Trinity Academy, Tynecastle High School, and Intercultural Youth Scotland have been working with a team of professional artists for the past three months to write their own scripts, and this December they will be brought to life by a team of professional theatre-makers, directors, actors and musicians live on the Traverse stage. 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.

Tags:

Comments are closed.