Preview & Listings to Sunday 26 January 2025
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week
In the busiest week for yonks, there’s a new show opening every night of the week – with productions ranging from Shakespearean tragedy to transgressive musicals, plangent musings to chim chiminey capering.
NB: All performances on Friday 24 Jan have now been cancelled or rescheduled.
The big theatre offering is at the Lyceum, where the great English-American Shakespearean actor John Douglas Thompson is playing Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice (ends Sat 15 Feb: tickets).
John Douglas Thompson as Shylock and company in the Theatre for a New Audience’s 2022 production of The Merchant of Venice which is transferring to the Lyceum. Pic: Henry Grossman.
Shakespeare’s perennially contested play about corrosive bigotry and blinding vengeance is poised at the radioactive intersection of race, class and religion in director Arin Arbus’s production for the Theatre for a New Audience .
Arbus says: “The Merchant of Venice depicts a divided society saturated with hate and inequity. The world boils with anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, classism, and homophobia. This production is set in an American city in the near future.”
Which seems a particularly prescient premise for a production opening in this inauguration week for the new US President.
At the other end of the spectrum, Phillip Differ and Tony Roper’s Rikki and Me, is getting a rare outing at the Loretto School Theatre (Thurs – Sat: tickets). Part biopic, part recollection of Rikki Fulton’s genius comedy, this Brunton production uses local amateur performers with professional creatives (see preview: Brunton remembers Rikki Fulton).
the loneliness of heartbreak
Local company Magnetic North return to the Fruitmarket with We Will Hear the Angels (Fri – Thurs 6 Feb: tickets), a wonderful piece, which explores the loneliness of heartbreak through the sublime power of music. The company staged it as a work in progress back in 2023, which we reported on here at the time
And so to the musicals… Tickets to Mary Poppins at the Festival Theatre (Ends Sat 15 Feb: tickets) are going down faster than a spoonful of sugar. If you want a weekend or matinee ticket best move faster than a chimney sweep on a bicycle, as they are close to selling out. There is best availability in weekday evening performances.
“Faded rockstar grandeur”. Morgan Jackson, Job Greuter, Jason Donovan, Natasha Hoeberigs, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli and Connor Carson in the Rocky Horror Show at the Playhouse all week. Pic: David Freeman.
At the Playhouse, Jason Donovan brings a faded rock-star excess to Frank-n-Furter in the Rocky Horror Show (ends Sat: tickets). Our Tom Ralphs thought highly of it (★★★★☆ Still Rocking) with Job Greuter doing a properly obsequious job as Riff Raff, taking over from Kristian Lavercombe who made the role his own over some 1,800 performances. Although he wasn’t so sure about Nathan Caton as the Narrator.
At the Pleasance Theatre, the students of Eusog bring plenty of enthusiasm and ambition to Singin’ in the Rain (ends Sat: tickets).
While up at Goldenacre, there is a public preview of a new portmanteau operatic piece by Michael Scott, Three Queens from the Opera (Fri: details) at Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre.
And finally, Sarah MacGillivray is bringing back her five star feminist reworking of the story of Scotland’s very own Bard, She Burns, for Burns Night. Our Sophie Good loved it at the Fringe last year: ★★★★★ Her noblest wark. It’s on twice: at the Scottish Storytelling Centre (Thurs: tickets) and the Johnny Walker Experience (Saturday: tickets).
Listings
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
The Brunton @ Loretto School
Loretto School Theatre, Millhill, Musselburgh. Phone booking: 0131 653 5245
Rikki and Me (The Brunton & David Ross)
Thurs 23 – Sun 26 January 2025
Evenings (not Fri, Sun): 7.30pm; Sat/Sun mat: 2pm.
See Æ preview: Brunton remembers Rikki Fulton
Written by Phillip Differ and Tony Roper, this play gives an insight into Rikki Fulton’s early life, his battles with Alzheimer’s, as well as his many years spent as an actor. Expect to see some of Rikki’s most loved characters such as Francie and Josie, Supercop, The Rev I. M. Jolly and more. Performed by a talented community cast in a professional produced production. NB: due to the cancellation of the Friday evening performance, an extra Sunday matinee performance has been added. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Mary Poppins
Wed 22 Jan – Sat 15 Feb 2025
Evening: 7.30pm.
Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s spectacular production of the classic multi-award-winning musical arrives in Edinburgh with acclaimed Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers reprising their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert. Book here.
Fruitmarket
45 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DF
We Will Hear The Angels (Magnetic North)
Fri 24 Jan – Thurs 6 Feb 2025
Daily (not Sun/Mon): 7pm.
Æ report of 2022 Work-in-Progress is here.
Taking its title from Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, this explores the loneliness of heartbreak through four characters who find themselves telling their stories to the enigmatic Lou. What becomes of the broken-hearted? They find healing through the sublime power of music. Book here.
Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre
1a Clark Road, EH5 3BD.
Three Queens from the Opera (Michael Scott)
Fri 24 Jan 2025
One performance: 8pm.
Three right royal characters from the Opera come together to present a concert that is not altogether harmonious and goes wrong from the start. A special preview performance of Michael Scott’s opera concert parody – a light and sparkling burlesque to brighten up a winter night! NB Production postponed to Friday 31 January 2025. Tickets £5 on the door.
Johnnie Walker
145 Princes St, EH2 4BL.
She Burns (Sarah MacGillivray)
Sat 25 Jan 2025.
Evening: 7.30pm.
Æ review at EdFringe 2024: ★★★★★ Her noblest wark
Join four fierce women for comedy, poetry, music and old stories untold as they attempt to summon the spirit of Scotland’s National Bard. An hour of empowerment and enlightenment filled with laughter, rebellion and the irresistible allure of the unknown. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
The Merchant of Venice
The Theatre for a New Audience production.
Sat 18 Jan – Sat 15 Feb 2025
Preview: Sat 18, Mon 20/Tue 21.
Daily (not Sun/Mon): 7.30pm. Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Shakespeare’s perennially contested play about corrosive bigotry and blinding vengeance is poised at the radioactive intersection of race, class and religion in Arin Arbus’s production. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
The Rocky Horror Show
Mon 20 – Sat 25 January 2025
Mon – Thu: 8pm; Fri/Sat: 5pm & 8.30pm.
Æ review: ★★★★☆ Still Rocking
Australian superstar Jason Donovan comes to Edinburgh in Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical as part of a new world tour. The legendary performer reprises his iconic role as the captivating Frank-n-Furter across the UK, following a sold out Australian Tour in 2024: Book here.
Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Singin’ in the Rain (Eusog)
Tue 21 – Sat 25 Jan 2025
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Hollywood heartthrob, Don Lockwood, falls for aspiring actress Kathy Selden, as he and his jealous leading lady, Lina Lamont, make the transition from silent movies to the “talkies”. With his best friend, Cosmo Brown, at his side Don will learn to sing, dance and love … in the rain? Book here.
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, EH1 1SR. Phone booking: 0131 556 9579
She Burns (Sarah MacGillivray)
Thurs 23 Jan 2025.
Evening: 7.30pm.
Æ review at EdFringe 2024: ★★★★★ Her noblest wark
Join four fierce women for comedy, poetry, music and old stories untold as they attempt to summon the spirit of Scotland’s National Bard. An hour of empowerment and enlightenment filled with laughter, rebellion and the irresistible allure of the unknown. 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.
