Latest news with #PleasanceCourtyard
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Fringe Fever: The Fresh Faces Set to Steal Edinburgh 2025
As the world's largest arts festival makes its highly anticipated return, Edinburgh Fringe 2025 is set to spotlight a bold new generation of performers. This year's programme bursts with fresh voices and fearless talent, offering a dynamic blend of perspectives on identity, resilience, friendship, and social change—stories that are as timely as they are deeply personal. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Audiences can expect everything from biting solo comedies laced with vulnerability and wit, to innovative physical theatre and immersive performances that break boundaries and defy convention. These artists are not just entertaining; they're shaping the cultural conversation. Dive into this powerful lineup of unmissable new work—created to challenge, move, and inspire across Edinburgh this summer. A STAN IS BORN!– Gilded Balloon Patter House (Blether), 15:00,from 30th July –25th August (not 11th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Musical comedy meets fan devotion: Alexis Sakellaris delivers ten original tracks, powerhouse vocals and razor-wit in a celebration of queer identity and pop obsession. A glittering, joyfully loud coming-of-age story that honours Beyoncé, Céline and Mariah. House Party An Ode to the Casting Director– Gilded Balloon Patter House (The Penny), 11:40, from 30th July –25th August (not 12th) Sophie Fisher's cinematic solo tears into the audition grind with humour and heart. Expect live-feed scenes, biting truth and the chaotic surrealism behind every casting call. BAIRNS– Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3), 14:05, 30th July –25th August (not 12th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Annie Davison channels surrogacy, sisterhood and the messy magic of modern womanhood into a compulsively paced, character-rich one-woman drama. Bold, honest and deeply moving. Cara and Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life– Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3), 15:20, from 30th July –25th August (not 18th) Tense two-hander by Mojola Akinyemi about friendship, loyalty and the subtle creep of extremism. Sharp, unnerving and distinctly of-the-moment. Don't Tell Dad About Diana– Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Dancer), 12:50, from 31st July –25th August (not 12th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Set in the 90s, this is a riotous drag-infused comedy featuring two teens prepping a Princess Di act under nationalist family noses. In 1997 Dublin, grief and friendship collide in glitter-soaked catharsis. Eat The Rich (but maybe not me mates x) – Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1), 14:15, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 12th, 19th) Jade Franks' autobiographical solo show on class, privilege and hidden work at the University of Cambridge. Sharp, heartfelt, and as insightful as it is entertaining. FISH– Greenside (Jade Studio), 19:35, from Friday 1st – Sunday 23rd August 2025 (not 10th, 17th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Physical clowning meets climate anxiety, as a fish dreams of human life. Funmi Adejobi's whimsical performance is witty, engaging and unexpectedly poignant. FLUSH– Pleasance Courtyard (Upstairs), 12:15, from 30th July –25th August (not 11th, 18th) A women's toilet becomes a sanctuary of solidarity and raw confession. April Hope Miller's sharp drama delves into vulnerability, survival and connection. FLUSH partners with Ask For Angela, a national initiative supporting those in vulnerable situations in nightlife venues. Funny Though – Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1), 15:30, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 13th, 20th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Clare Noy's confessional comedy exposes performance anxiety and burnout behind the laughs. Honest, darkly funny, and remarkably relatable. Gimme a Sign!– Greenside (Fern Studio), 15:05, from 1st –23rd August 2025 (not 10th, 17th) Bailey Swilley channels grief, ghost-chasing and identity in this tender, eccentric solo show. A charming mix of humour, supernatural intrigue and authentic healing. Golden Time (and Other Behavioural Management Strategies)– Pleasance Dome (Ace Dome), 13:30, 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 11th, 18th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Poet-performer Kate Ireland reflects on ADHD, school culture and productivity through spoken word. Witty, illuminating and definitely uplifting. House Party– Pleasance Courtyard (Attic), 15:20, 31st July –25th August 2025 (not 12th, 21st) A vibrant solo music show about East London gentrification, cramped spaces and collective resistance. Chakira Alin brings heart, humour and political urgency. I L L B E H A V I O U R – Summerhall (Former Gent's Locker Room), 13:40, 31st July –10th August 2025 (not 4th, 7th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sensory theatre meets sonic exploration: experimental movement, live sampling of breath and heartbeat reveal the hidden soundtrack of being alive. In These Shoes– Underbelly Bristo Square (Dairy Room), 19:45, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 6th, 13th, 20th) Fashion satire meets jazz cabaret in this witty portrait of style obsession and identity. Glynis Traill‑Nash delivers sass, insight and musical elegance. Lioness – Greenside (Clover Studio), 12:40, from 1st –23rd August 2025 (not 10th, 17th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kate Coulson's football-infused solo drama tackles sexism, ambition and friendship in the Women's Super League. Raw, empowering and full of drive. Macbeth by The Barden Party– ZOO Southside (Studio), 10:40, from 1st –22nd August 2025 (not 4th, 11th, 18th) A gender-flipped, bluegrass-infused revival of Macbeth, blending raw emotion, humour and musicality. Intimate, irreverent and refreshingly bold. medium dead – ZOO Playground 2, 16:50, from 1st –24th August 2025 (not 6th, 11th, 18th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a surreal afterlife office, a writer assigned to Anthony Bourdain's file navigates grief, bureaucracy and meaning. Darkly clever, deeply felt. Meg & Marge – ZOO Playground 1, 15:15, from 1st –25th August 2025 (not 12th) A tradwife social-media influencer is haunted by Margery Kempe, sparking a surreal, genre-bending comedy about perfection, faith and identity. Shell – ZOO Southside (Studio), 15:05, from 1st –24th August 2025 (not 6th, 13th, 20th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Drag-clown ritual and queer sex education fuse in Ana Evans's participatory performance. Bold, playful, and challenges what theatre can be. Terry's: An American Tragedy About Cars, Customers, and Selling Cars to Customers – Pleasance Courtyard (Beside), 12:55, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 11th, 19th) Satirical musical comedy set in a 1990s Midwestern dealership. Lecoq-trained ensemble combines absurdist humour with pointed societal critique. The Crawl – Pleasance Dome (10 Dome), 12:05, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 13th, 20th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In this high-energy physical comedy, two swimmers face off in the race of a lifetime—on a stage with no water. Backed by original music, The Crawl dives into absurd competition and ambition, brought to life by Lecoq-trained performers and director Olivia Zerphy (Voloz Collective). The Essence of Audrey– Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar), 11:15,from 30th July –25th August (not 13th) Helen Anker's elegant solo tribute to Audrey Hepburn blends biography, humour and humanity in an intimate theatrical portrait. The Poetess– Pleasance Dome (Jack Dome), 11:55, from 30th July –25th August Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Olivia Dodd's spoken-word play transforms viral poetry into a journey through grief, connection and creative legacy. Moving, hopeful. The Strongest Girl in the World– Gilded Balloon Patter House (The Snug),14:20, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 12th, 19th) Truly Siskind‑Weiss weaves childhood grief into a magical, heartfelt solo about growing up, loss and resilience. All shows within this round-up can be found on the Edinburgh Fringe website.
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Rising Voices, Bold Visions: The Fresh Talent Redefining Edinburgh Fringe 2025
As the world's largest arts festival returns, Edinburgh Fringe 2025 is set to showcase an extraordinary wave of fresh voices and bold new talent. This year's lineup features powerful explorations of identity, resilience, friendship, and societal change—offering audiences a chance to connect with stories that are as timely as they are personal. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... From solo comedies packed with heartfelt humour and razor-sharp wit to innovative physical theatre and immersive performances, these shows reflect the diverse experiences shaping today's cultural landscape. Dive into this selection of unmissable new work that promises to challenge, entertain, and inspire across the city this summer. A STAN IS BORN!– Gilded Balloon Patter House (Blether), 15:00,from 30th July –25th August (not 11th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Musical comedy meets fan devotion: Alexis Sakellaris delivers ten original tracks, powerhouse vocals and razor-wit in a celebration of queer identity and pop obsession. A glittering, joyfully loud coming-of-age story that honours Beyoncé, Céline and Mariah. Don't Tell Dad About Diana An Ode to the Casting Director– Gilded Balloon Patter House (The Penny), 11:40, from 30th July –25th August (not 12th) Sophie Fisher's cinematic solo tears into the audition grind with humour and heart. Expect live-feed scenes, biting truth and the chaotic surrealism behind every casting call. BAIRNS– Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3), 14:05, 30th July –25th August (not 12th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Annie Davison channels surrogacy, sisterhood and the messy magic of modern womanhood into a compulsively paced, character-rich one-woman drama. Bold, honest and deeply moving. Eat The Rich (but maybe not me mates x), Pleasance Don't Tell Dad About Diana– Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Dancer), 12:50, from 31st July –25th August (not 12th) Set in the 90s, this is a riotous drag-infused comedy featuring two teens prepping a Princess Di act under nationalist family noses. In 1997 Dublin, grief and friendship collide in glitter-soaked catharsis. Eat The Rich (but maybe not me mates x) – Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1), 14:15, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 12th, 19th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jade Franks' autobiographical solo show on class, privilege and hidden work at the University of Cambridge. Sharp, heartfelt, and as insightful as it is entertaining. FLUSH FISH– Greenside (Jade Studio), 19:35, from Friday 1st – Sunday 23rd August 2025 (not 10th, 17th) Physical clowning meets climate anxiety, as a fish dreams of human life. Funmi Adejobi's whimsical performance is witty, engaging and unexpectedly poignant. FLUSH– Pleasance Courtyard (Upstairs), 12:15, from 30th July –25th August (not 11th, 18th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A women's toilet becomes a sanctuary of solidarity and raw confession. April Hope Miller's sharp drama delves into vulnerability, survival and connection. FLUSH partners with Ask For Angela, a national initiative supporting those in vulnerable situations in nightlife venues. Funny Though – Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1), 15:30, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 13th, 20th) Clare Noy's confessional comedy exposes performance anxiety and burnout behind the laughs. Honest, darkly funny, and remarkably relatable. Gimme a Sign!– Greenside (Fern Studio), 15:05, from 1st –23rd August 2025 (not 10th, 17th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bailey Swilley channels grief, ghost-chasing and identity in this tender, eccentric solo show. A charming mix of humour, supernatural intrigue and authentic healing. Golden Time (and Other Behavioural Management Strategies)– Pleasance Dome (Ace Dome), 13:30, 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 11th, 18th) Scottish poet-performer Kate Ireland reflects on ADHD, school culture and productivity through spoken word. Witty, illuminating and definitely uplifting. House Party– Pleasance Courtyard (Attic), 15:20, 31st July –25th August 2025 (not 12th, 21st) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A vibrant solo music show about East London gentrification, cramped spaces and collective resistance. Chakira Alin brings heart, humour and political urgency. I L L B E H A V I O U R – Summerhall (Former Gent's Locker Room), 13:40, 31st July –10th August 2025 (not 4th, 7th) Sensory theatre meets sonic exploration: experimental movement, live sampling of breath and heartbeat reveal the hidden soundtrack of being alive. In These Shoes– Underbelly Bristo Square (Dairy Room), 19:45, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 6th, 13th, 20th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fashion satire meets jazz cabaret in this witty portrait of style obsession and identity. Glynis Traill‑Nash delivers sass, insight and musical elegance. Lioness – Greenside (Clover Studio), 12:40, from 1st –23rd August 2025 (not 10th, 17th) Kate Coulson's football-infused solo drama tackles sexism, ambition and friendship in the Women's Super League. Raw, empowering and full of drive. Macbeth by The Barden Party– ZOO Southside (Studio), 10:40, from 1st –22nd August 2025 (not 4th, 11th, 18th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A gender-flipped, bluegrass-infused revival of Macbeth, blending raw emotion, humour and musicality. Intimate, irreverent and refreshingly bold. medium dead – ZOO Playground 2, 16:50, from 1st –24th August 2025 (not 6th, 11th, 18th) In a surreal afterlife office, a writer assigned to Anthony Bourdain's file navigates grief, bureaucracy and meaning. Darkly clever, deeply felt. Meg & Marge – ZOO Playground 1, 15:15, from 1st –25th August 2025 (not 12th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A tradwife social-media influencer is haunted by Margery Kempe, sparking a surreal, genre-bending comedy about perfection, faith and identity. Shell – ZOO Southside (Studio), 15:05, from 1st –24th August 2025 (not 6th, 13th, 20th) Drag-clown ritual and queer sex education fuse in Ana Evans's participatory performance. Bold, playful, and challenges what theatre can be. Terry's: An American Tragedy About Cars, Customers, and Selling Cars to Customers – Pleasance Courtyard (Beside), 12:55, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 11th, 19th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Satirical musical comedy set in a 1990s Midwestern dealership. Lecoq-trained ensemble combines absurdist humour with pointed societal critique. The Crawl – Pleasance Dome (10 Dome), 12:05, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 13th, 20th) No water, more fun: a duet tackling competition and performance through inventive physical theatre. Creative, energetic, family-friendly. The Essence of Audrey– Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar), 11:15,from 30th July –25th August (not 13th) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Helen Anker's elegant solo tribute to Audrey Hepburn blends biography, humour and humanity in an intimate theatrical portrait. The Poetess– Pleasance Dome (Jack Dome), 11:55, from 30th July –25th August Olivia Dodd's spoken-word play transforms viral poetry into a journey through grief, connection and creative legacy. Moving, hopeful. The Strongest Girl in the World– Gilded Balloon Patter House (The Snug),14:20, from 30th July –25th August 2025 (not 12th, 19th) Truly Siskind‑Weiss weaves childhood grief into a magical, heartfelt solo about growing up, loss and resilience.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Digital Age Takes Centre Stage: Social Media, Identity, and Information Overload at Edinburgh Fringe 2025
In today's fast-paced, hyperconnected world, social media isn't just background noise — it shapes how we see ourselves and relate to others. This year's Edinburgh Fringe festival offers a diverse and compelling slate of shows that explore the highs, lows, and quirks of our digital age, tackling themes of identity, community, anxiety, and the pursuit of meaning in a screen-saturated society. At the heart of this conversation is A STAN IS BORN! — Alexis Sakellaris's solo musical comedy bursting with diva power, queer nostalgia, and the emotional journey of growing up gay while glued to Beyoncé, Céline, and Mariah. It's a sparkling celebration of fandom and self-love that taps directly into how online idolisation shapes identity and belonging. Catch it at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Blether) from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August 2025 (except 11th), daily at 15:00. The Uncrackable Case adds a high-camp musical comedy twist to the festival, with a fairy-tale courtroom satire packed with toe-tapping tunes. Taking on cancel culture, conspiracy theories, and the dark side of fame, it's a perfect mirror to the chaos of online infamy. Find it at Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Two) from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August (except 11th) at 13:30. Funny Though, by Clare Noy, exposes the personal toll of being funny in the digital age — the burnout, anxiety, and relentless pressure to create content and stay relevant. This confessional solo show reveals the emotional cost behind the laughter, shining a light on the often unseen sacrifices performers make when the spotlight fades. It runs at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1) from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August (except 13th, 20th) at 15:30. Similarly, Centre of the Universe by Gaia Mondadori dives into the quest for fame in a TikTok-driven, success-obsessed culture. Through Mary's story, the show humorously examines the desire for control and validation in a world where viral moments can define a life — but at what cost? See it at Summerhall (Tech Cube Zero) from Thursday 31st July to Monday 25th August (except 12th, 19th) at 19:30. In Meg & Marge, the collision of medieval mysticism with modern tradwife culture and TikTok trends highlights the strange fusion of ancient and digital worlds, exploring how performative perfection and faith coexist in contemporary identity. This darkly comic show is at ZOO Playground 1 from Thursday 1st August to Monday 25th August (except 12th) at 15:15. The darkly comic Cara and Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life explores friendship and shifting loyalties in 2013 Britain against a backdrop of rising far-right ideologies — reminding us how online echo chambers and offline realities intertwine to shape political and personal identities. Catch this gripping two-hander at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3) from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August (except 18th) at 15:20. Olivia Dodd's The Poetess uses storytelling, poetry, and live audience interaction to offer a heartfelt meditation on grief, queer friendship, and connection in a world where the simple power of being seen can feel revolutionary. The Poetess plays at Pleasance Dome (Jack Dome) from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August, daily at 11:55. Fashion and digital culture blend in In These Shoes, where jazz singer and fashion writer Glynis Traill-Nash humorously exposes the absurdities of trends from Crocs to dopamine dressing, reflecting on sustainability and outsider/insider status in a style-obsessed social media world. Don't miss it at Underbelly Bristo Square (Dairy Room) from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August (except 6th, 13th, 20th) at 19:45. For those questioning corporate life's meaning amid digital distractions, The Unstoppable Rise of Ben Manager is a dark absurdist satire blending live music and physical comedy to explore the psychological toll of office culture — a space where digital meetings and endless emails can feel both pointless and overwhelming. It plays at Pleasance Courtyard (Above) from Thursday 31st July to Monday 25th August (except 11th, 12th, 13th) at 17:20. Finally, Yes, We're Related confronts grief and family tensions through a darkly funny and poignant lens, weaving in absurd elements like a red squirrel companion — a reminder that amidst the noise of online life, personal loss and human connection remain deeply raw and relatable. See it at Underbelly Cowgate (Big Belly) from Thursday 31st July to Sunday 24th August (except 11th) at 14:00. Together, these shows create a vibrant tapestry of performance that captures the complexities of living in the digital age. They reflect the ways social media shapes identity, community, and culture — from the exhilaration of viral fame to the exhaustion of constant content creation, from the nostalgic comfort of fandom to the harsh realities of political and social fragmentation. At the Edinburgh Fringe 2025, audiences have a unique opportunity to experience live performances that not only entertain but also offer critical, compassionate insight into how we consume and are consumed by information and digital culture. In an age where screens often isolate us, these shows remind us of the enduring power of theatre to connect, provoke, and illuminate. Tickets and full programme details available at 1 . Contributed The Unstoppable Rise of Ben Manager Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Hot Tickets: Here are 31 stars of Live at the Apollo with shows you can see this August
August is fast approaching which means it's time to scour the Edinbugh Festival Fringe programme for the best shows to see. The physical programme was launched earlier this month, with 3,352 show across 265 venues, and some are already selling out. It can be a fairly daunting prospect to narrow those down when organising your Fringe . It's always nice to take a chance on something, hoping to be the first to see a hot new act - but sometimes it's just nice to see somebody familiar from television . Since 2004 the BBC's Live at the Apollo has been one of the most popular small screen showcases for standup comedians - acting as a rite of passage for those on their way to fame and fortune. Those appearing on early episodes included the likes of Jo Brand, Lee Mack, Jimmy Carr, Jason Manford, Russell Howard, Sean Lock and Dara Ó Briain. And, while it's not watched by as many people as in its heyday - when everybody in Britain seemed to know Rhod Gilbert's 'lost luggage' routine - it's still seen to be one of the most prestigious TV bookings for both up-and-coming and established comics. Here are 31 who have made the grade and are appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. You can buy tickets for all the shows here. 1 . Dan Tiernan: All In "Following two sold-out, award-nominated years at the Fringe, Dan's back and he's giving you everything he's got. No bluffing." Money Barrel, July 28-August 24. | Contributed Photo Sales 2 . Andy Parsons: Please #@!$ Off to Mars "Life is hard – come and have a laugh about it." Pleasance Courtyard, July 30-August 10. | Contributed Photo Sales 3 . David O'Doherty: Highway to the David Zone "A new opus from the hairy Enya, the Ryanair Bublé, the nine-volt battery-powered Beethoven. Talking, songs, talking during songs, talking while walking around – it's got the lot." Assembly George Square, July 30-August 2. | Contributed Photo Sales 4 . Jonny Pelham: Is It Me? "Award-winning comedian Jonny Pelham is newly single, he's moved to London and is being encouraged by the government to take speed everyday. Is It Me? is a hilarious new stand-up show looking at what it means to be diagnosed as 'neurodiverse,' what constitutes normality and how to find happiness in a world that's falling apart." Monkey Barrel, July 28-August 25. | Contributed Photo Sales
Scotsman
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Six shows about female rage to get your blood pumping at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is only a month away, and as the countdown begins, we're showcasing some of the strong themes emerging from the thousands of shows on offer this year. Female rage and the quest for equal rights is at the heart of these six fierce, must-see shows in 2025, that will get your blood pumping. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... BITCH Pleasance Dome, Jack Dome, 30 July - 25 Aug (not 4, 11 & 18), 2:45 (15:50) Irish theatremaker and intimacy co-ordinator Marty Breen explores blame culture, resenting your identity, and questions of complicity through a blend of stand-up, cabaret and theatre in a show of two halves. Two characters, both performed by Marty and known only as Stand Up Guy and Bitch, duke it outthrough an open-mic battle:him through his red-flag laden set, and her through acerbic original songs at the piano. But one is not as entertaining - she is a dogged, drunk and self-destructive mess, ripe for a roasting by her male counterpart. When the set is over and we are left with only our Bitch, we come to understand the depths of her fury as she begins to implode - but if she's going down, she's taking everyone with her. BITCH is a raw and provocative piece that challenges societal norms, making the audience reconsider what makes a 'bad guy' and a 'good victim', and our own complicity in what we all allow to happen. The Ode Islands is a new one-woman show that uses VR to explore the forces that have shaped her identity. Dyke Systems Ltd Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pleasance Courtyard, Cellar , 30 July – 25 Aug 2025 (not 6 & 12 ), 15 .00 (16 .00) Set in the 1990s at the height of multi-level marketing expansion but before the rise of the internet, this two-handed comedy satire delves into the collision of repressed queerness and corporate feminism and looks at how modern technology and finance have weaponised them both. American suburban business women Sally and Susan are on the hunt for new recruits for their very lucrative business opportunity that is definitely not a pyramid scheme. But as they dive deeper into the shiny world of multi-level marketing, they become caught up in climbing the cut-throat corporate ladder and cracks begin to appear in their pastel-perfect lives, unravelling long-buried tensions and unspoken desires as the lies they've built everything on start to catch up with them. With Fag Packet's signature blend of drag, comedy, physical theatre and audience interaction, the audience will be guided through the DYKE programme (Dynamic, Young, Knowledgeable, Entrepreneur) which explores the intersections of queerness and feminism in a capitalist world that is coming for us all. FATAL FLOWER Marty Breen in BITCH explores blame culture at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Summerhall Arts, Main Hall, 31 July – 25 Aug 2025 (not 12 & 19), 21:05 (22:20) Rooted in female rage — explosive, absurd and over-the-top — this multi-disciplinary theatre show blends cabaret and comedy with opera, musical theatre and classical music to deconstruct the image of women in society. Drawing on creator and performer Valentina Tóth's own experiences with body image, the pressures of being a child piano prodigy, and a complex relationship with her mother, the show moves through a series of bold, grotesque female archetypes. From the Queen of the Night inThe Magic Flute to a vengeful bride-to-be and a tyrannical Russian piano teacher, each character channels a rage that is both personal and political. One spark behind that fury is the Dutch childcare benefits scandal, where thousands of parents — many of them women — were falsely accused of fraud. FATAL FLOWER offers a space where female anger unfolds on stage in all its complexity. The Ode Islands Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pleasance at EICC, Lammermuir Theatre, 31 July – 16 Aug 2025 (not 4, 5, 11 & 12), 16.00 (16.45) Blending live performance with responsive virtual reality, this new one-woman show unfolds in a fully digital environment that shifts in real time with the performer's movement and emotional state. At its centre is a woman, Ornagh, caught in a storm and cast adrift across a chain of surreal islands—each representing a different facet of her identity, from domestic roles to sexuality, gender, and body image. As she journeys through these shifting landscapes, she confronts the societal expectations that have shaped her, seeking to shed them and rediscover who she truly is. With a supporting cast of digital characters also performed by Ornagh, the narrative is carried entirely through the artist's body, voice, and the digital worlds that surround her. Motion capture brings to life a series of fantastical characters she meets along the way, AI manipulation shapes their voices, and satellite data – provided by Imperative Space, European Space Agency, Copernicus and NASA – forms the striking virtual terrain. The result is a fragmented yet visceral exploration of memory, myth, and the boundaries of self. What If They Ate The Baby? the SpaceUK @ Niddry St (Upper), 1 – 23 Aug 2025 (not 10 & 17), see press release for timings What If They Ate The Baby? is an absurd and dystopian take on the 1950's American housewife, where audiences are put into the position of surveillant. Created largely in response to the changing laws surrounding reproductive rights in America, the show explores the same menial conversations between neighbours in the context of surveillance, cannibalism, and queerness, all during an idealised period in American history that was marked by paranoia. Playing two post-war suburban housewives, Xhloe and Natasha use double entendre, green spaghetti and a soundtrack complete with Vaudeville to Rap to interrogate gender expectations and the relationship between surveillance and bodily autonomy. Lolo's Boyfriend Show Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad theSpaceUK @ Surgeons Hall, Haldane Theatre, 1 – 16 Aug 2025 (not 10), 20:30 (21:30) A high-energy solo performance blending sharp character work, physical comedy, and quickfire costume changes follows Lolo – daughter of a hardworking single mother and raised by TV – as she recounts past dates to see where she went wrong. With no father figure and a head full of silver-screen love stories, she's stumbled from one romantic disaster to the next. Set in Lolo's childhood bedroom after a failed career move, performer Lauren O'Brien takes on 18 characters, drawing from real, imagined, and exaggerated dating stories. Winner of the Audience Choice Award at the NYC Fringe Festival 2024, Lolo's Boyfriend Show uses minimal set and maximum versatility – featuring projections, music, and fast-paced transitions – to explore identity, love, and self-worth through the lens of a modern woman navigating romance.
