Edinburgh-based artists at the 2025 Festivals
Professional Edinburgh-based theatre makers in the 2025 Festivals
Collated in collaboration with EPAD
Edinburgh is home to a fantastic range of theatre artists and producers who live in the city and make work for audiences throughout the year. EPAD is proud to be working with All Edinburgh Theatre to highlight the contribution these artists make to the theatre, dance, physical theatre and storytelling programmes of Edinburgh’s 2025 summer festivals.
We invite you to support the homegrown talent that helps make Edinburgh a vibrant cultural city for 12 months of the year, not just for August.
See the EPAD website for more details about our work: www.epad.org.uk.
So far we have identified 97 productions that are created, performed or produced by Edinburgh’s theatre professionals. We are aware that new work is being added all the time. Please do get in touch if we have missed something out (mail@epad.org.uk).
EPAD is a skills and resource-sharing project that supports Edinburgh’s independent performing artists to thrive throughout the year. Our aim is to make Edinburgh’s performing arts community stronger, better connected and more democratic. Find out more about our work here: www.epad.org.uk.
Listed by the following Categories then alphabetically by show title:
- Theatre & Storytelling
- Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus
- Children’s shows
Click on the show name or “Further details” to go to the relevant ticketing site (opens in a new page).
██ Theatre & Storytelling – # to C
#KaraokeKarma
Epona Productions
Leith Depot (Venue) Venue 214
19 – Mon 25 Aug (not 22, 23): 9.30pm (1hr 10mins).
A work’s reunion in a karaoke booth. The room is booked for 20 – only four turn up. Dark secrets, deceit and despair bring the team back together for one night. Will the unravelling of truths bring anyone peace? What exactly happened last year that nobody wants to talk about? Why does the new girl ask so many questions? And who is Nichola from Only Fans? Join Lucinda, Vivienne, Barry and Isla in a night of turmoil and tension with the high kick energy of karaoke. Audience participation encouraged with group songs in this fun-filled, dramatic show. Further details.
1902
Saltire Sky Theatre
Hibernian Supporters Club (Pat Stanton Suite) Venue 499a
2 – 24 Aug (not Weds): 7.30pm (1hr 30mins).
Returning to mark Hibernian FC’s 150th Anniversary, 1902 sheds light on the dark side of football, taking an access-all-areas approach to working class life in Scotland. Sold out five Fringe festivals. Winner: OffWestEnd Award, Broadway Baby Bobby Award. Further details.
4 Dates with Italian Jazz Affair
Anna Vanosi
The Jazz Bar (Partially Seated) Venue 57
5 – 8 Aug: 2.30 pm (1hr 10mins).
Iconic Italian and American classics with irresistible passion and charm. Milan-born, Edinburgh-based Anna vanosi and her trio deliver Morricone magic, Mina fire, and Sinatra swagger. Further details.
A Gambler’s Guide to Dying
Traverse Theatre Company
Traverse Theatre (Trav 2) Venue 15
31 July – 24 Aug: Various times (1hr 10mins).
Gary McNair’s award-winning show has toured the world since its premiere at The Traverse in 2015. Now it’s back home for a special run to mark its 10th anniversary. Further details.
A Noble Clown
elsewhere and otherwise
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
31 July – 14 Aug (not 11, 13): 6.45pm (1hr 10mins).
A Noble Clown’ is a solo play about Duncan Macrae (1905 – 1967), long considered Scotland’s greatest actor, featuring plays such as Jamie the Saxt, Gog and Magog, and his signature song, The Wee Cock Sparra. It also covers his passionate political beliefs and gives intimate insights into the private man. Further details.
A Pound of Flesh
Arbery Theatre
theSpace on the Mile (Space 2) Venue 39
1 – 23 Aug (not 10, 17): 8.25pm (50mins).
In Shakespeare’s classic, The Merchant of Venice, only Portia’s appearance in court and her implacable logic saves Antonio from Shylock’s knife. But what would happen if she never came to Venice? With echoes of Romeo and Juliet, events in A Pound of Flesh move remorselessly to a tragic end. Further details.
Absolute Improv!
TBC Improv UK Ltd.
theSpace on the Mile (Space 1) Venue 39
1 – 23 Aug (not Sun 10): 7.45pm (50mins).
Multi-year Fringe sell-out, 5-star comedy that’s truly ‘you-had-to-be-there.’ For 15 years, Scotland’s top improvisers transform your shouted suggestions into side-splitting sketches, characters, and tales, created live in the moment. It’s instant comedy gold. You suggest, we perform, everybody laughs! Further details.
Aderyn/Bird
Harebell Tellers
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
6 – 16 Aug (even dates, not 10): 5.30pm (1hr).
Atop a far-off mountain, birds are gathering, stories are stirring. Join Scottish and Welsh traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips as they weave folk music, language and story across these isles and between worlds. Further details.
Almost Famous
NoLogo Productions
theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (Theatre 2) (Theatre 2) Venue 53
1 – 16 Aug (not Suns): Fro 1 – Sat 9:3.45pm; Mon 11 – Sat 16: 5.45pm. (50mins).
Emily Benton is back in the UK after a glittering career that took her to Broadway and Hollywood. With her pedigree, she should be in Downton Abbey not auditioning for a role in a devised play. What cruel fate brought her to this? Maybe there’s a secret Emily’s not revealing. Further details.
Alright Sunshine
Isla Cowan
Pleasance Dome (Jack Dome) Venue 12
30 July – 24 Aug (not Mons): 4.20pm (1 hr).
‘It’s like the sun casts a spell, some hypnotic solar stuff, and suddenly ordinary people dae terrible things…’ When police officer Nicky McCreadie responds to a mass brawl on Edinburgh’s Meadows, she finds herself face-to-face with a past she’d rather forget. Alright Sunshine is a razor-sharp monologue dissecting gender, power, and who owns public space. Further details.
An American Love Letter to Edinburgh
Rick Conte
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
18 – Mon 25 Aug: 5pm. (1hr).
Ben Franklin loved Edinburgh. He visited during the Scottish Enlightenment and was pals with all the luminaries. In this funny and informative show, Rick Conte retraces the steps of his fellow American. Further details.
Antigone
Mythography
French Institute (Salle Emilienne Moreau-Evrard) Venue 168
1 – 24 Aug (not 7, 11, 18).: 2.30pm (2hrs).
Mythography return with their urgent and haunting production of Jean Anouilh’s Antigone. Irreverent and full of rage, this bold rewriting of an eternal myth asks questions that would shatter our world. This is a story about youth on the brink. Further details.
Athens of the North
Mark Hannah
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
1 – 23 Aug (odd dates from Sat 9): 3.15pm (1hr).
Allan is late for his daughter’s concert, Liam has fallen in love, and Maureen just wants to get home. A love letter to Edinburgh exploring the small, cosmic ways we impact each other’s lives. Further details.
Blooming
Daisy Ensemble
Greenside @ George Street (Fern Studio) Venue 236
18 – 23 Aug: 2pm. (50mins).
A queer love story but no one dies at the end. Welcome to the world of Blooming where romance and sisterhood always flower. Further details.
Burst
Creative Electric
Summerhall (Red Lecture Decking) Venue 26
12 – Sat 16: Various times (25mins).
An oasis of peace and calm in a sea of festival chaos. Immersive experience designed with and for neurodivergent families and friends, Burst aims to explore and soothe anxiety. Burst is available in Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian and English. Further details.
Cassandra
Ailsa Dixon
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
31 July & Sat 2-Sat 17 Aug (odd dates from Tue 5, not 13): 5.30pm. (1hr).
What does it mean to be believed? Traditional storyteller and musician Ailsa Dixon blends Greek myth, Scottish folklore and personal narrative to explore prophecy, protest and survival across time and space. Stories are stirring. The north wind rises. Further details.
Chatterbox
Lubna kerr
Pleasance Courtyard (The Green) Venue 33
18 – Mon 25 Aug: 1pm (1hr).
Chatterbox is about the power of language, words and the impact of labels. Who gets listened to and who doesn’t. How does that impact a 5 year old girl who was called stupid because she couldn’t speak English at primary school. How kindness can go a long way to help. Further details.
Chickens
Monika Klisch
theSpace on the Mile (Space 1) Venue 39
18 – 23 Aug: 9.45pm (1hr).
A dark comedy directed by Ben Harrison, about control, obsession, lack of communication, and cultural clashes. In a cosy Edinburgh flat, eccentric Jay and pragmatic Weronika wrestle with impulsive choices, emotional tension, and post-pandemic normality. Chickens asks: when does care become control—and can good intentions justify crossing the line? Further details.
Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story
Dylan and Will Theatre
theSpace on the Mile (Space 1) Venue 39
1 – 9 Aug: 9.45pm (50mins).
theSpace @ Niddry St (Upper Theatre) Venue 9
11 – 16 Aug: 11.50am (50mins).
Enthralled by tales, Cody and Beau have simple aspirations: becoming cowboys. But away from their imaginations, they soon find themselves up against the harsh reality of the old American West… Further details.
Colours Run
4PLAY
Summerhall (Red Lecture Theatre) Venue 26
31 July – 25 Aug (not 11, 18): 6.10pm (1hr).
It’s Derby Day. A violent Hibs football casual returns home to tell his brother something bad has happened. But has something far worse happened in their past? A gritty dark comedy by writer Mikey Burnett. Directed by Grace Ava Baker. Produced by Staci Shaw. Starring Ruaraidh Murray and Sean Langtree. Further details.
Crocodile Tears
Shark Bait Theatre
theSpace @ Venue 45 (Venue 45) Venue 45
8 – 17 Aug (not 10): 1.20pm (55mins).
When viewership tanks for a survival TV game show, the producers must go to extreme lengths to avoid cancellation – no matter the cost. After all, the contestants signed a contract, they can’t back out now… Further details.
██ Theatre & Storytelling – D to K
Deiseil: Dancing in Time
Performers: Alison Carlyle and Amy Geddes / Director: Gerry Mulgrew
theSpace @ Venue 45 (Venue 45) Venue 45
8 – 16 Aug (not 10): 5.10pm (55mins).
A powerful exploration of how Scotland’s percussive dance was lost… then revived. Experience a compelling journey across centuries of tradition told through fiddle, feet, Gaelic song and story. A mesmerising evocation of friendship, identity and connection. Further details.
Deliverance
Brite Theater
Traverse Theatre (Your House) Venue 15
9 – 24 Aug (Sat/Sun only): Various times (1hr 30mins).
A person arrives with an envelope. Inside is a set of instructions that you will follow for the next 90 minutes. You’ll dress up, dance, you’ll receive a phone call, but don’t worry, no one will be watching but you. Further details.
Dune! The Musical
Dan Collins
Voodoo Rooms (Speakeasy) Venue 68b
2 – 24 Aug (not 13): 12.35pm (1hr).
A memoir in song by the Earl of Caladan, Gurney Halleck. Following the success of his work on “A Child’s History of Muad’Dib”, Gurney performs hits from his back catalogue and introduces songs from his time among the Fremen. Forget everything you know about Arrakis and get ready for Dune! The Musical. Further details.
Edinburgh Improv Tales
Genesis Theatre Productions & KinkyFish Theatre
theSpaceUK @ Symposium Hall (Amphitheatre) Venue 43
1 – 9 Aug: 9.50pm (50mins).
Entirely improvised comedy tales from Edinburgh’s untold Victorian past. Join Edinburgh-based improv troupe KinkyFish as they take the audience back in time to Victorian Edinburgh and spin a previously untold tale based entirely on audience suggestion. Against the backdrop of foggy streets and ivory towers, scientific advancement and haphazard medicine; join urchins, lords, apothecaries and publicans as they act out hilarious, untold tales from Edinburgh’s forgotten past. Further details.
Euripides’ Iphigeneia in Tauris
Intothedark
Paradise in The Vault (The Annexe) Venue 29
18 – 24: 9.10pm (1hr 10mins).
A tale of exile, escape and the meaning of family. We follow Iphigeneia searching for hope in the face of doom as an exile. Translation by Kenneth McLeish. Further details.
Everest Mallory 24 (With Stanley)
Tall History Tales
Paradise in The Vault (The Vault) Venue 29
2 – 23 (not 10, 17): 7.15pm (1hr).
A comic storytelling show, based on the events of the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition. Stanley hails from the mad hatter’s town of Stockport. And much to Mallory’s concern he’s barely been up Helvellyn! Further details.
Fake
Chris Cook Magic / PBH’s Free Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms (Speakeasy) Venue 68b
2 – 24 Aug: 6.15pm (1hr).
A true tale of deception told through the lives of an artist, an art forger and a magician. Three men, centuries apart, connected by illusion. A story only a magician could tell about beauty, belief and the fine line between talent and trickery. Further details.
Fallen Angel, by Liam Rudden
Liam Rudden Media
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge (Studio) Venue 7a
19 – 23 Aug: 8.45pm (55mins).
How young do you think I am? Don’t be fooled. I’m far older than you could ever imagine. I walked this earth before your great, great grandparents, yet I am no Dorian Gray. I have no picture in my attic. I am haunted, and I corrupt to survive.’ Do you believe in faeries? Angel does. They’ve tortured him for 500 years. Further details.
Float
F-Bomb Theatre
Gilded Balloon Patter House (Other Yin) Venue 24
30 July – Mon 25 Aug (not 10, 24): 6pm. (1hr).
Join Astronaut Indra on a nine-month mission to the moon… but not all missions are successful. An autobiographical show by Indra Wilson about experiencing pregnancy loss as a young solo parent. Produced by award-winning F-Bomb Theatre (Fringe First). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com Further details.
Flora Macdonald and Zombies
Debbie Cannon
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
1 – 15 Aug (odd dates only): 3.45pm (1hr).
Flora Macdonald: Jacobite heroine, saviour of an exiled prince, face of many shortbread tins – and ferocious zombie hunter. Join Flora for a rollicking and completely untrue adventure into Scotland’s past, featuring war, romance, a rogue royal, the undead, a cat assassin and a Scottish schoolgirl on the best history trip ever. Further details.
Goodbye Postie
Deliverance Theatre
theSpace on the Mile (Space 1) Venue 39
1 – 9 Aug: 6.30pm (55mins).
Goodbye Postie follows Postie and Sparkie living in Dumfries. Sick of the small town, Postie decides to fly the nest, leaving Sparkie behind. Together they explore why some stay and some leave, risking their friendship in the process. Further details.
Happy Ending Street
DollsnRags Productions
Leith Arches (Ground Level) Venue 324
1 – 9 Aug: Various times (50mins).
Happy Ending Street—a darkly comic, feminist tale set in 1890s Edinburgh. Sex workers Bonnie, Frances, and Pearl face a violent stalker and a failing system, so they fight back. Further details.
Hi, Mum!
Pierrot Productions
Greenside @ George Street (Fern Studio) Venue 236
11 – 16 Aug: 12.45pm (1hr).
Sisters, Alba and Elspeth Brae, haven’t seen each other since their mother’s cancer diagnosis. Now they are coming together to visit mum – at a funeral home viewing room. Come say goodbye and maybe get comfortable with death. Further details.
Homo(sapien)
Conor O’Dwyer / Emma Ruse Productions
Assembly Roxy (Snug Bar) Venue 139
30 July – 24 Aug (not 12, 19): 1.10pm (1hr).
Joey is a Bad Gay™. He’s never had sex with a man, not even once. But tonight is the night, and he is determined to make sure he will not die a virgin. Filled with Catholic guilt, internalised homophobia and fear of the GAA lads, Joey is intent on ‘getting his hole’. Further details.
I am Claire Parry (very funny stand-up)
Produced by Ida Casilli
Assembly Roxy (Downstairs) Venue 139
30 July – Sun24 Aug (Not 13): 6.50pm (1 hr).
A stand-up turns up to stand-up… and does anything but stand-up. A joyously stupid clown-mime original song-filled show that does not, and cannot, tick the correct boxes. From critically acclaimed Lecoq-trained clown Claire Parry who is an alumni of Soho Theatre Labs and was nominated for the Artist Choice Award at Vault Festival. Further details.
I Kissed Batman
Lex Joyce in association with Shark Bait Theatre
Just the Tonic at The Caves (Just The Fancy Room) Venue 88
31 July – 11 Aug: 3.30pm (1hr).
It’s Halloween and Steph is determined to win the costume contest. But little does she know, her brother and her best friend are planning on revealing a huge confession. Holy chaos, Batman! Further details.
Jumper Bumps
Amelia Rodger / Emma Ruse Productions
Ruby at Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower (Dunedin Theatre) Venue 140
30 July – 24 Aug (not 12, 19): 4.20pm (1hr).
What happens when the thing you wished for your whole life turns out to be your worst nightmare? Eris wants a baby. Atlanta doesn’t. They’re best friends with very different views of motherhood. As similar as they are different, their friendship is stretched when Eris finds herself pregnant. Further details.
Kanpur: 1857
Niall Moorjani Storyteller and Pleasance
Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath) Venue 33
30 July – 24 Aug (not 12/13): 3.40pm (1hr).
Strapped to a cannon, an Indian rebel finds themselves answering to a British officer for the crimes of Kanpur – an Indian uprising against British colonial forces. Who is the hero and who is the villain? Whatever happens, it’s going to be explosive. Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund. Further details.
Karine Polwart: Windblown
Karine Polwart, Movement Director Janice Parker
The Queen’s Hall (Auditorium) Venue 72
9 – 13 Aug: 7.30pm (1hr).
Too old and unsteady to move, too vulnerable to survive on its own, the lofty Sabal palm of Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden reflects on two hundred years of containment, dislocation and human care, as it outgrows its 19th century glasshouse home and approaches its chainsaw demise, making way for a new conservation research facility. Further details.
Kevin Quantum: Unbelievable Magic for Non-Believers
KQ Productions
Assembly Rooms (Ballroom) Venue 20
1 – 24 Aug (not Tue 19): 7.40pm (1hr).
Sceptical? Don’t believe in magic? Good. We’re here to blow your mind open. Trained by Penn & Teller; expect big gasps and raw, unfiltered magic from a world-class showman. Further details.
██ Theatre & Storytelling – L to R
Liberace – in his own Words
Prima la Musica
Voodoo Rooms (Speakeasy) Venue 68b
2 – 24 Aug (not 11 & 18): 12.05pm (45mins).
You can either have the Resurrection or you can have Liberace – but you can’t have both’. Join us for a show celebrating the life of one of the world’s most famous performers. Our show looks at Liberace’s childhood and rise to fame, the later controversy over his relationship with Scott Thorsen, and ultimately his unsuccessful fight against AIDS. Primarily, however, we focus on the aspect which is most often forgotten in his story – the brilliance of his musicianship, and his unique ability to bring the classics to a world-wide audience. Further details.
LIFE
KT Producing and Maria MacDonell
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
15 – 19 Aug: 6.45pm (1hr 5mins).
Estelle models for The Artist. Despite decades of experience, she has never sat for a session like this and with such an outcome. LIFE is a play set in a drawing class, audiences are offered art materials and invited to draw and doodle or simply watch as the story emerges. Further details.
Lost Girls / At Bus Stops
Genesis Theatre Productions
Assembly George Square (The Box) Venue 8
15 – 24 Aug: 2.20pm (1hr).
One last night at the Fringe, Jess and Iona wander the city looking for that best show, finest view, that perfect moment to confess… everything. Lost Girls / At Bus Stops is a Queer love story and a lost letter to Edinburgh. Further details.
Loud Poets
I Am Loud CIC
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
1, 8, 14, 21 Aug: 8.30pm (1hr 15mins).
Loud Poets have been bringing the very best of live poetry to the Fringe for over a decade. Their fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching fusion of poetry and live music will thrill poetry lovers and turn sceptics into fans. Further details.
Lunchbox
Lubna Kerr
Pleasance Courtyard (The Green) Venue 33
30 July – 24 Aug (not 12, 19): 4.45pm (1hr).
Lunchbox is about the impact of bullying seen through the eyes of a troubled boy, Steven. It examines the situation of a Pakistani girl, Lubna, who gets in his path. Lunchtime drama club is her escape, until Steven joins. Further details.
Mairi Campbell: Pendulum Trilogy
Greengold Projects and Authentic Artist Collective in Association with KT Producing
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
2 – 17 Aug (not 11): 5pm. (1hr).
Scottish musician Mairi Campbell will debut her full Pendulum Trilogy at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, 10 years after Pulse first premiered. Blending storytelling, music, and visuals, the trilogy—Pulse, Auld Lang Syne, and Living Stone— (Fringe First 2024) charts Campbell’s personal and artistic journey through place, identity, creativity, and connection. Further details.
Mary, Queen of Rock
Pretty Knickers Productions
Underbelly Bristo Square (Cowbarn) Venue 302
31 July – 24 Aug (not Weds): 7.45pm (1hr 30mins).
The Queen of Rock returns to the Edinburgh Fringe after a smash-hit five-star debut production in 2024. Rock’n’roll has been outlawed in Scotland. Can Mary get the country rocking? Or will heads roll? Further details.
Mary: A Gig Theatre Show
Knot Tied Theatre / Emma Ruse Productions
Gilded Balloon Patter House (Other Yin) Venue 24
14 – Th 21 Aug: 9pm. (1hr).
Through powerful original music and spoken word, six actor-musicians deliver a feminist rendition of Mary Queen of Scots’ story. The bold gig theatre show searingly questions what Mary faced at the hands of men, offering a mesmerising and riotous response. Further details.
Moonswing
Simply Surreal
Greenside @ Riddles Court (Willow Studio) Venue 16
11 – 23 Aug (not Sun): 4.15pm (1hr).
Richard, Leanne and Lucy spent their childhoods looking up, promising to live on the moon. As we see them grow under the moonlight, we find out if life gets in the way of that promised trip to the moon. Further details.
Mushroomification (Legs, Legs, Legs)
Heads on Crooked
Just the Tonic at The Mash House (Just the Bottle Room) Venue 288
31 July – 5 Aug: 12.50pm (50mins).
A new play that tells the story of a mushroom, desperate to break away from the constrictive, authoritarian Mycelium and become an individual. Simultaneously, a Scientist by the name of Karies is working night and day to develop a human hive-mind with the aim of putting all people on equal footing. Further details.
Nice Things & Friends
Charles Dundas & Steven Millar
Murphy’s Venue 604
2 – 10 Aug: 10pm (55 mins).
Back for their 9th Fringe, Edinburgh’s own Steven Millar and Charles Dundas improvise a different comedy every night, based on those things in life which make you smile. Featuring a new special guest every night. Further details.
Nick It for Munich
Aric Hanscomb-Ryrie, Aaron Clason and The Crunch Collective
Greenside @ George Street (Mint Studio) Venue 236
1 – 9 Aug: 6.35pm (1hr).
Nick it for Munich follows Jamie, a die-hard Scottish football fan with no money on a madcap one-person journey to Euro 2024. This fast-paced new Scottish comedy will thrill football lovers and theatre fans alike. Further details.
Nightmares by Sandy Jack
Lynch Lovers
theSpace on the Mile (Space 1) Venue 39
1 – 9 Aug: 10.50pm. (50mins).
Is it scary? What scares you? A surreal horror anthology by HorrorTok creator Sandy Jack. Heavily inspired by the works of David Lynch and the Twilight Zone. What is in your nightmares? Further details.
Our Martin in the Background
Mark Kydd
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
17 – 25 Aug (odd dates only): 3.45pm (1hr).
England, 1945. The lives of two strangers are changed forever by a chance meeting at a railway station. But this isn’t Brief Encounter… it’s the queer love story Noël Coward didn’t write. Further details.
PAINKILLERS
Mamoru Iriguchi
Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre) Venue 26
31 July – Mon 25 Aug (not Mons): 5.45pm (1hr).
PAINKILLERS delves into physical and emotional pain through magic tricks and romantic memories. Mamoru, a magician’s assistant who enjoys her large knitted body, is at the mercy of knives, saws and guns, on and off stage. Award-winning performance maker returns to Summerhall with his acclaimed show. Further details.
Piano Noir: Will Pickvance
Will Pickvance
Summerhall (Dissection Room) Venue 26
16/17 Aug: 5.30pm (1hr).
The pianist’s dead. There’s a room full of pianos. And one of ’em ain’t playing straight. It’s a case only ‘the Fringe’s favourite pianist’ (List) can get to the bottom of. Two nights only. No encores. Further details.
Play On
Resilience Theatre Movement
Paradise in The Vault (The Annexe) Venue 29
11 – 24 Aug (not 17): 1.20pm (55mins).
Play On is a dark comedy following two estranged siblings forced to complete an escape room together after attending their mother’s funeral, in order to receive her last will and testament. Tensions rise as the two siblings uncover past hurts that have never been dealt with, while balancing grief for their mother, along with exposing the breach of their relationship. Clues about their personal lives, weighted retaliations and an inability to work together may cause the siblings to never uncover their mother’s final wishes. Blood is thicker than water, but will it be enough? Further details.
Queer Folks’ Tales
Turan Ali
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
Weds: 6, 13, 20 Aug: 8.30pm (2hrs).
The 5-star hit LGBTQ+ storytelling show returns for its third Fringe; hilarious, moving, outrageously queer stories galore! Host Turan Ali takes time out from his BBC shows to scour the Fringe for the best queer talent, creating a diverse line-up of artists to share hilarious, surprising, sobering tales, songs and epic poems. Expect jaw-dropping insights into LGBTQ+ lives past, present and future. Further details.
r/Conspiracy
Ella Hällgren / Emma Ruse Productions
Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower (Ruby) Venue 140
30 July – 24 Aug (not 12, 19): 3pm. (1hr).
r/Conspiracy is a play for messy girls, hungry sleuths, and the chronically online. Alex tumbles headfirst into the rabbit hole when she spots a Reddit thread documenting a man with a machete roaming her local park. But the harder she digs, the deeper she falls… Further details.
Revenge
Ben Igoe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room (Studio) Venue 276
24 Aug: 1.45pm (40 mins).
Written and performed by Ben Igoe with Leo Rataj. A psychological drama. A young hustler meets a successful older man in a bar. He goes home with him. His ulterior motive backfires and leads him into a deadly trap. Further details.
Ringing Out The Changes
Jo Clifford
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral (Nave) Venue 91
7, 14, 21 Aug: 2.30pm. (60 minutes)
Jo Clifford (aka Jesus Queen Of Heaven) teams up with the cathedral bellringers to create a new performance of beautiful sounds and words in the cathedral nave. We are living through amazing and radical changes and the handbells invite us to embrace them. Further details.
██ Theatre & Storytelling – S to W
She’s Behind You
Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre (Trav 1) Venue 15
1 – Sat 24 Aug (not Mons): Various times (1hr 15mins).
A riotous, heartfelt journey into the wild west of pantomime. Johnny unearths the magic and madness behind the curtain with a story as touching as it is hilarious. A true celebration of anarchy, transformation and challenging traditions. Further details.
Table Reads: New Comedy Script Showcase
Bonnie and Braw
Monkey Barrel Comedy (Monkey Barrel 4) Venue 515
1 – 24 Aug: 11.40am (40 mins).
Watch comedy scripts come to life, live on stage! This exciting new show, from the company behind My Family, gives audiences a rare glimpse behind the TV development curtain, as original writing is performed by some of Fringe’s top comedians. Get unfiltered access to the creative process and see some of the best new scriptwriting in the UK before channel commissioners do. Further details.
The Bush
Alice Mary Cooper
The Pleasance (Beneath) Venue 30
30 July – 12 Aug (not 6): 2.20pm (1hr).
A frequently show stopping solo theatre show by Alice Mary Cooper, that recalls the inspiring true story of thirteen, 1970’s ‘housewives’ who battled for 10 years to save bushland in Alice’s native Sydney. This kickstarted a nationwide movement of Green Bans, protecting land and the natural environment from destruction in Australia. Further details.
The Dahlia Files
Hey Thanks! Theatre Collective
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth (Chamber Room) Venue 156
2 – 12 Aug: 1.10pm (50mins).
Part chilling mystery, part experimental cabaret, The Dahlia Files takes audiences on a ride through one of the most famous unsolved cases in true crime history and asks us to question who’s complicit and more importantly… Whodunnit? Further details.
The Faustus Project
Half Trick / BJA Productions
Underbelly, Cowgate (Belly Laugh) Venue 61
31 July – 24 Aug (not 11): 9.05pm (1hr).
An actor makes a deal with the devil. Doctor Faustus is theirs to perform in this new version of Christopher Marlowe. One problem… they’ve never rehearsed with the rest of the cast. Featuring a different guest performer every night. Funny, dangerous, devilish. Further details.
The Green Knight (But It’s Gay)
Niall Moorjani / Some Kind of Theatre
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
13 – 24 Aug: 8pm. (1hr).
Join Gawain on his extraordinary adventures, featuring peer pressure, baking, witches and an awful lot of manly head chopping offs! A fantastically funny retelling of medieval classic The Green Knight with the sub-text made text! (Spoiler art: it’s gay.) Further details.
The Omega Factor: By the Pricking of My Thumbs
Natasha Gerson and Stageworks East West Ltd
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge (Lower Hall) Venue 7a
19 – 23 Aug: 6.15pm (2hrs).
Join the cast of a private radio recording of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the mystical Rosslyn Chapel as they discover they’re pawns in a chilling battle for their souls. The cult 70s BBC television series comes to the stage for the first time in the world premiere of this paranormal thriller, co-produced and co-written by Natasha Gerson, daughter of series creator Jack Gerson. Further details.
The Sound of My Own Voice
Morna Burdon
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
10,13,18,19,25 August : 5.30pm (1hr).
Fringe Laurel Award Winner 2023. Sell out shows Adelaide and Edinburgh 2024. Brand new show for 2025. Personal. Political. Poetry and Song for our times. Artificial Intelligence to death by government edict ; the beauty of a newborn child to the lure of bacon rolls. Gentle, fierce, honest. Further details.
This Play Sucks!
Sean Tennant
theSpace @ Venue 45 (Venue 45) Venue 45
18 – 23 Aug: 7.40pm (1hr).
Dracula meets Trainspotting in this brand-new Scottish, absurdist comedy set in the Highlands. Cammy and Lee hatch a half-baked plot to kidnap the reclusive Lord Armstrong, but it gets messy after they discover his ancient, blood-sucking secret. Further details.
Timonopoly
Brite Theater
Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library) Venue 30a
2 – 12 Aug (not 6): 12.20pm (1hr).
Come Fortune! Let’s play a game, it’s only money… Inspired by Timon of Athens, a unique experience from the creators of Richard III (a one-person show) and Deliverance. Take your chance with Fortune – just mind the cracks. Further details.
Transfers
Arbery Theatre
theSpace on the Mile (Space 2) Venue 39
1 – 23 Aug (not 10, 17): 9.325pm (50mins).
Eight very different people, eight very different situations. How does £500 get passed around? Willingly or violently? As a gift or blackmail? Stolen or lost? In a newly devised show, see money circulate in a kaleidoscope of comedy, tragedy and the mundane in Britain today. Further details.
Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine
Welcome to the Fringe
Portobello Town Hall (Main Hall) Venue 469
12 – 15 Aug: 12 noon (9hrs).
A mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture, with freedom and without censorship. Enjoy theatre, dance, comedy, food, storytelling, music and poetry, showcasing artists from Palestine and the diaspora. www.FringePalestine.com Further details.
██ Dance Physical Theatre and Circus
Art of Andalucia
Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company
YOTEL Edinburgh (Imaginex) Venue 572
1 – Mon 25 Aug: 1pm (Sat 2: 4pm) (1hr 20mins).
Award-winning guitarist Daniel Martinez presents new compositions as well as past works, where dance takes centre stage. Featuring world-class dancer Angel Reyes alongside Daniel’s company, this production has already captivated over 30,000 people in 2025 alone. Unmissable! Further details.
Balfour Reparations
Farah Saleh & Collaborators
Summerhall (TechCube 0) Venue 26
13 – Mon 25 Aug (not 19): 4.30pm (1hr).
Balfour Reparations (2025-2045) is a compelling performance lecture that examines the UK’s colonial legacy in Palestine, focusing on Arthur James denial of Palestinian political rights. Set in 2045, audiences are invited to evaluate the reparations promised in a fictive apology in 2025. Further details.
Dansa Rickshaw
Dance Ihayami
Assembly @ Dance Base (DB3) Venue 22a
31 July – Sun 10 Aug (not Mon): 2.30pm (50mins).
Journeying from Indian dance to Scottish melodies, blending tradition with innovation. From Bharatanatyam’s storytelling to bagpipes and reels, it fuses cultures. Martyn Bennett’s Ud the Doudouk bridges eras, celebrating heritage, exploring new artistic horizons through rhythm and movement. Further details.
Fields (Extract)
In the Fields Project
Assembly @ Dance Base (DB3) Venue 22a
Tu/Wed 5/6, 12/13, Th 21 – Sun 24: 5.15pm. (1hr).
Playful and poetic, Fields (Extract) is a compelling performance that draws the audience into a textured landscape of stone, where patterns of dwelling are made and unmade, shaped by land, by time and by human hands. Further details.
Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill
Mercedes Azpilicueta
City Observatory (Collective Gallery) Venue Art Fest Venue
22 Aug: 3pm. (N/A)
Leading visual and performance artist Mercedes Azpilicueta has come together with artist and choreographer Janice Parker to create a new performance as part of Collective’s summer exhibition, Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill. Further details.
Flamenco Fringe
Edinburgh Flamenco Fringe
YOTEL Edinburgh (Imaginex) Venue 572
1 – Mon 25 Aug: 7pm. (1hr 10mins).
Daniel Martinez launches a new venture: Flamenco Fringe. Each year, Daniel will bring world-class flamenco artists from Spain for a thrilling, authentic tablao. 2025 features Daniel himself on guitar, three incredible dancers and two powerful singers. Unmissable. Further details.
Inlet
Produced by Ida Casilli
Assembly @ Dance Base (DB1) Venue 22
1 – 23 Aug (Not Mon/Tue): 5.30pm (1 hr).
Inspired by Romulus and Remus’ legend and the symbolic meaning of Rome’s city walls, Inlet explores the significance of borders throughout history. Raising thought-provoking questions about walls and their timely relevance, Inlet examines their role as boundaries, fortifications and barriers that influence human interactions and perceptions. Further details.
PRIME at 10
PRIME
Assembly @ Dance Base (DB1) Venue 22a
1 – Sun 3: 1.15pm (1hr).
Celebrating their 10th anniversary year, Dance Base’s in-house company for over 60s will showcase a new commission, Ten by Robbie Synge alongside a revival of Steinvör Palsson’s Carry on Dancing. Further details.
Tales From Your Queer Elder
Lucia August/Everybody Can Dance
Greenside @ George Street (Lime Studio) Venue 236
1 – 16 Aug (not Tue, Thur, Sun): 4.10pm (50mins).
A 72-year-old plus-sized lesbian, shares a vibrant family-friendly show blending movement and spoken word, celebrating inclusivity and living your dreams with a world premiere and beloved classics. Further details.
These Mechanisms
Christine Thynne & Robbie Synge
Assembly @ Dance Base (DB3) Venue 22a
1 – 20 Aug (not 4-6, 11-13, 18): 5.15pm (1hr).
Who says an octogenarian shouldn’t be working with stepladders, electronics… and water? Brimming with curiosity and joy, Christine manipulates and raps her way along a precarious journey, taking us to surprising places. Just got to keep going! Further details.
2Flamenco
TuFlamenco
Argyle Cellar Bar (Cellar Bar) Venue 293
3 – 25 Aug (not 4/5, 18): 9pm. (55mins).
Following two years of acclaim, TuFlamenco return with a reinvented flamenco show. Blending passion, humour and mastery, they deliver an intimate journey through flamenco’s origins and future – a vibrant celebration of music, dance and soul. Genuine and passionate. Further details.
What ever happened to Harmony Banks?
Tess Letham
Assembly @ Dance Base (DB3) Venue 22a
5 – 10 Aug: 6.40pm (45mins).
From media darling to public downfall, this playful and poignant new show imagines the rise and fall of a fictional icon through a vibrant blend of dance-theatre and live documentary. Surreal, daring, and sprinkled with bittersweet humour, it explores how women are shaped — and shattered — by the spotlight. Further details.
██ Children’s Shows
A Magic Morning!
Tim Licata Magic
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Little Plaza (Little Plaza) Venue 159
2 – 24 Aug (not 11, 18): 11.10am (45mins).
Magical mischief, great fun and classic trickery! Tim astounds with his delightful deception. Bring the kids for a magic morning! Mind blown! From kids to adults, Tim is brilliant! Sell-out Fringe 2023! Further details.
Abracadabra Family-Friendly Magic Show
Alex Kouvatas
PBH’s Free Fringe @ CC Blooms (LAB) Venue 171
2 – 24 Aug: 12.30pm (55mins).
Join Alexis Magician a sold-out Fringe children’s performer, returning for his fifth year. Laughter and fun in an interactive show for the whole family! ‘An incredibly likable performer’ (WorldMagicReview.com). Further details.
Dragon Babies
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (George Young Hall) Venue 524
1 – 16 Aug (not Sun): 11.30am & 12.30pm (40mins).
The perfect show for babies up to 1 year. Selling out each year, the tales bring beautiful captivating stories to very young audiences. The stunning puppets, incredible cast and interactive props bags are the most perfect 40 minutes! Further details.
FlamenKids
TuFlamenco
Edinburgh New Town Church (Church) Venue 111
10, 17: 2.45pm (55mins).
Back by popular demand, TuFlamenco presents an interactive flamenco show for children, blending rhythm, dance, guitar, singing and Spanish expressions. A vibrant, educational experience that brings the passion of flamenco to life for all ages. Olé! Further details.
Klassics for Kids: The Ugly Duckling Meets Peter and the Wolf
Moonlight
St Vincent’s (The Chapel) Venue 197
14 & 19 Aug: 6pm. (1hr).
A fun, interactive and educational classical concert experience designed especially for children! Join acclaimed author and storyteller Alastair Sim and Usher Hall emerging artist and pianist Matthew Shiel as they compose a new musical and storytelling setting of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic fairy tale The Ugly Duckling. Programme also includes Prokofiev’s hilarious symphonic tale for children – Peter and the Wolf and a sing-along of favourite children’s songs. Further details.
Magical Melodies: Musical Storytelling
Ailsa Dixon
St Cecilia’s Hall (The Concert Room) Venue 77
5 Aug: 11am. (1hr).
From fiddlers in fairy hills to golden harps and magic geese, Scotland abounds with fantastical folklore of musical adventures. Join storyteller and musician Ailsa Dixon for an hour of enchanting story and song. Further details.
Moon Dragon for Under 6
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (George Young Hall) Venue 524
1 – 4 & 11 – Th 14 Aug: 10am, 2pm, 3.30pm. (40mins).
Dragon Song proudly brings Moon Dragon back to Edinburgh where it launched in 2019. This enchanting interactive show for under 6s is a must for all. Loved by all, the puppets are incredible! Further details.
Pekku
Red Bridge Arts
Zoo Southside (Main House) Venue 82
1 – 9 Aug: 11am. (45mins).
Shh… What’s that noise? A squeak? A squeal? A bird? It’s getting louder. Oh dear… Pekku takes a playful look at what happens when you want to be left alone and others have a different idea. A new show for ages 3+ by the creators of White and Stick by Me. Further details.
Plague, Poo n’ Punishment
Edinburgh Storytellers Ltd
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre) Venue 30a
31 July – 24 Aug (not 13-15, 18-22): 10.30am (50mins).
Watch out, they’re back! Edinburgh’s gruesome past is brought to life in this outrageously horrible show. With catchy songs and really bad jokes. Further details.
Sea Dragon for Under 6s
Dragon Song Productions
LifeCare Centre (George Young Hall) Venue 524
5 – 17 Aug (no 11-14): 10am (not 10), 2pm, 3.30pm. (40mins).
Sea Dragon the magical interactive puppet show swims back to Fringe for more joy under the sea! With 5-star reviews, fabulous live music and interactive fun for little ones – the best show! Further details.
Squidz: Cilla the Spider’s Big Journey!
Miss Annabel Sings (MAS)
Eric Liddell Community (Myreside Suite) Venue 235
23 Aug: 10am. (1hr 15mins).
Join MAS and the Squidz Puppet Gang for an hour of silliness, puppets, interactive storytelling and easy puppets to make and take home! Further details.
The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl
Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali
Assembly Roxy (Central) Venue 139
4 – 17 Aug (not Wed): 11.25am (1hr).
Two friends perform breathtaking aerial shows. They fly, spin, hang from the rooftops and fall out of the sky… But they weren’t always so glorious. How did they transform from feeling like outsiders to the fantastical creatures they always knew they had inside them? A touching story of a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly. This dynamic and visually stunning aerial show for ages 8+ explores the universal yearning to belong and the joy of friendship. Further details.
If you expected your production to be on this list, but it is not, please let us know by emailing:mail@epad.org.uk (CC to alledinburghtheatre@gmail.com)!
ENDS
