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The first batch of shows that will be staged at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe have been announced, and over 556 shows will be available to view and book on edfringe.com from 12:00 today.
The 556 shows span many genres, including cabaret and variety; children’s shows; comedy; dance, physical theatre and circus; music; musicals and opera; spoken word; and theatre. The shows announced today will take place across 100 venues. More shows will be revealed in the run-up to August.
In a continuing trend, this year more Fringe artists than ever have chosen to make their show available at this early stage, giving them longer to promote their show, grow their audiences and capitalise on all the opportunities available when taking part. It is the artists, companies and venues who come to the Fringe who take the risk in bringing work here every August. Fringe-makers all need help to mitigate these complexities, manage rising costs and make sure this August is the best it can be for residents, visitors and the thousands of arts industry and media that come to the city each Fringe for the world’s largest arts expo.
The Fringe Society continues to advocate and lobby for more support for the festival community – support such as affordable and available accommodation, to the continuation of the Keep it Fringe fund, and anyone in a position to support is encouraged to get in touch with the team.
With over 500 shows on sale from today, the Fringe Society also asks audiences from near and far to start booking tickets now, to take a chance on an emerging artist, to plan a visit to a venue you’re unfamiliar with, and to dive into the first batch of shows.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘It is always an exciting moment to see the first shows that will be performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 2025 Edinburgh Fringe feels more real than ever and being able to browse the first batch of shows adds another level of excitement. It’s incredible to see the range and themes of work as well as the talent and creativity that artists are bringing to the festival this year.
‘More artists than ever have chosen to put their shows on sale at this early stage, allowing more time to plan their trip to Edinburgh this August. The cost of putting on a Fringe show can be a barrier to attending and the Fringe Society is working to support artists in any way that we can, whether that’s sourcing artist accommodation, keeping registration fees affordable, seeking out funding opportunities, or simply providing advice to any artist that needs it. Our Artist Services team is on hand to offer support, so please do reach out to the team.’
Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book from today. The full list of shows released today can be found at edfringe.com.
Cabaret and variety
In 1954: Ella, Etta, Eartha (The Jazz Bar) Melissa Western and her musicians pay tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Eartha Kitt and their ‘swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch’.
Returning this year is La Clique, being staged this year in The Famous Spiegeltent – which is returning to St Andrews Square, while Sexy Circus Sideshow 2.0 brings ‘alternative circus’ to ‘the dark arts of underground burlesque and cabaret’ at Assembly.
Alex Love: How to Win a Pub Quiz 2025 is ‘part stand-up, part actual pub quiz’ at The Stand Comedy Club.
At theSpaceUK, Dan Bastianelli: Identity is providing ‘a brand-new magic experience which uses sleight-of-hand, personal stories and honest deception’, while ‘rock’n’roll’s greatest magician’ Arron Jones is at PBH’s Free Fringe with #1 Greatest Hit Rock’n’Roll Magic Show.
Children’s shows
Join Baby Shark and the Mystery of the Sphinx (Gilded Balloon) at for ‘fin-tastic show packed with music, magic and mayhem’ or skip, clap and march together’ to traditional Scottish music at CeilidhKids at the Fringe (Laughing Horse).
‘Experience magical illustrations and amazing new music’ as you follow Milly’s Musical Adventure (Greenside). At School’s Out Comedy Club with Philip Simon (Le Monde), expect ‘children (and maybe even a few parents)’ to ‘take to the stage to share their favourite jokes’.
Among returning shows for children and their families are The Listies: Make Some Noise at Assembly and Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure! at Pleasance.
Comedy
Dungeons & Dragons fans will want to join Tartan Tabletop: A Dungeons & Dragons Comedy (Gilded Balloon) for ‘improvised comedy at the roll of a dice’. At Laughing Horse, Chonk hosts a ‘body-positive buffet of comedians from across the Fringe’. Hasan Al-Habib, 2025 Keep it Fringe recipient, ‘was born to Iraqis that moved to Birmingham after deciding Baghdad wasn’t dangerous enough’ in Hasan Al-Habib: Death to West (Midlands) (Pleasance).
Join the ‘longest-running panelist from BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News’ Stuart Mitchell at Hoots or head to Planet Bar for Settle! for ‘a whirlwind of laughter, infectious tunes, and a good old-fashioned roasting’. At theSpaceUK, Chan Lok Tim ‘navigates life as a Hong Konger preparing to become a husband’ in Congratulations, Good for You – Cantonese Stand-Up Comedy.
At Scottish Comedy Festival, enjoy ‘dark, unfiltered and unapologetic takes on the topics most comedians are smart enough to avoid’ at Michael Shafar – Inappropriate. At The Royal Scots Club, Ian Wood relates anecdotes to show ‘being visually-impaired and a wheelchair user, one can get round most barriers in life’ in Living with Mitochondria Against All Odds.
Familiar faces at this year’s Fringe include Nish Kumar and Jason Byrne at Assembly, Andy Parsons, Chloe Petts, Deirdre O’Kane, Elf Lyons, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Marjolein Robertson and Rhys Darby at Pleasance, Paul Sinha and Richard Herring at The Stand, and Geoff Norcott and Ali Woods at Underbelly.
Representing Scotland’s comedy scene, Susie McCabe is at Assembly, while Connor Burns, Craig Hill and Daniel Sloss are at Just the Tonic and Robert Grainger is at The Stand.
Dance, physical theatre and circus
At Greenside, Tales From Your Queer Elder ‘blends movement and spoken word’ while ‘creating a powerful testament to living authentically while encouraging others to follow their dreams’.
Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths return to Assembly with Ten Thousand Hours, bringing ‘an ode to the countless hours of sweat and joy needed to achieve great things’.
Art of Andalucia brings a must-see flamenco spectacle to YOTEL Edinburgh, while at theSpaceUK, Sole to Soul ‘blends the physical language of traditional Chinese opera with the expressive symbolism of modern dance’.
Music
For an ‘evening of classics from the silver screen’, check out Tutti Orchestra: At the Movies at Canongate Kirk, or ‘experience the beauty of Italian and Neapolitan love songs’ at La Dolce Vita: A Celebration with Philip Contini (Valvona & Crolla).
MASSAOKE has two runs at Underbelly this year, 90s Live – ‘everything from rock to rave, girl power to grunge and Britpop to boybands’ – and Sing The Musicals – ‘Mamma Mia, Hamilton, Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, Les Mis, Jungle Book, We Will Rock You, Phantom, Mary Poppins and many more’.
Ali Affleck comes to the Fringe with five shows this year: she’s with her band The Vagabond Jacks playing Hot Roots Jazz, Highway Honky-Tonk, Rags and Blues at the Argyle Cellar Bar; paying tribute to Billie Holiday with Sophisticated Lady at The Jazz Bar; and revisiting both venues with Ali Affleck Presents: A Hot Time in the Old Town – Celebrating the Wild Trailblazers of Blues and Jazz; Ali Affleck and the Traveling Janes – Bringing Bold, Brassy Bedlam to Swing, Blues and Trad Folk/Roots Jazz; and Ali Affleck’s Queens of Swing.
Head over to Footstomping: Live Scottish Music (WHISKI Bar & Restaurant) for a ‘vibrant foot-stomping good time’ or listen to ‘up-and-coming young musicians’ at Marchmont Music (Marchmont St Giles Church).
Journey to Stolen Identity (Saint Stephen’s Theatre) explores ‘women’s rights through a blend of musical genres, starting with classical but evolving into jazz and rock’. At Edinburgh New Town Church, Andrii Kymach: Ukraine is a ‘new recital, Ukraine, specially devised for 2025’s Day of Ukraine Independence’.
There are a number of tribute acts across venues, including Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac and Celine Dion at theSpaceUK, Abba at Greyfriars Hall at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Joni Mitchell at Le Monde.
Musicals and opera
Check out Charles ii: Living Libido Loca at PBH’s Free Fringe for a ‘raunchy adult historical comedy centered around the life and libido of Charles ii’ or head to Rock of Ages at Paradise Green for ‘powerhouse vocals, epic guitar solos, and all your favorite 80s rock anthems’.
How to Win Against History is a ‘tragi-gorgeous comedy musical’ and ‘a true story about expectations, masculinity, privilege and failure on an epic scale’ at Underbelly.
At Greenside, the prince breaks free of the fairytale to ‘sing his very own songs and complain about what his life could be’ in To Be a Prince. At theSpaceUK, ‘ancient Silk Road meets the present, and centuries-old murals come alive’ in Dunhuang.
Updated for 2025 with new songs, I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical the ‘musical comedy revue revealing all about musicals and the people who love them’ is back at Gilded Balloon.
If you fancy a ‘murder-mystery comedy musical’, head to The Detective’s Demise at Just the Tonic for ‘showstopping songs and devilish twists’.
Spoken word
At The Stand, ‘elected MP for Islington North, former Labour leader, and Peace and Justice project founder’ Jeremy Corbyn is in conversation.
For ‘an amusing take on life, with the added hint of truth’, check out What Are You Laughing At? at theSpaceUK, while ‘Peter gives a stirring and passionate account of his great-grandmother’s hard-fought campaign for the right to vote over 100 years ago’ in Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.
Theatre
Shakespeare for Breakfast is back at C Venues, offering a ‘sensational Shakespearience, perfect for hardened fans and blank-verse virgins alike’ while former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain delivers a ‘raw and powerful solo performance … exposing the brutal reality of football’s unforgiving system’ in Dropped at Easter Road Stadium.
Timestamp at Dovecot Studios is a ‘performance duet of sonic verse, dance, and audience experience that challenges the expectations imposed upon us in society.’ A Period of Faith follows Faith’s ‘battle against Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in a moving and thought-provoking way’ at Hill Street Theatre.
Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come (Underbelly) explores ‘messy realities, fantasies, sexpectations and navigating life and relationships as British Asian women’.
Experience the beauty of Italian literature and the terror of looming deadlines at Valvona & Crolla with No Shakespeare. At theSpaceUK, The Boy from Bantay takes us on Jeremy’s ‘heartwarming journey of growth and self-discovery’.
Miriam Margolyes is back this August with Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits, bringing ‘more characters, more Dickens and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics’ to Pleasance. More familiar favourites returning this year are Trainspotting Live at Pleasance and Xhloe and Natasha with three shows at theSpaceUK – A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First, And Then the Rodeo Burned Down and What If They Ate the Baby?
Head to Robot Vacuum Fight Club (Outhouse Bar) to ‘form a team, select a knockoff Roomba, customise it, then pit it against a dozen rivals in a series of knockout competitions’, or check out Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life (Summerhall), an ‘inspirational true story … about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions, and the healing power of the arts’.
– Ends –
About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe will take place from 01 – 25 August 2025. More information about the programme and tickets can be found at edfringe.com.
About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is the charity that underpins the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe. It was established in 1958 by a group of artists to provide central services for the festival and ensure that it stays true to its founding purpose of inclusion and welcome to all. We exist to support and encourage everyone who wants to participate in the Fringe; to provide information and assistance to audiences; and to celebrate the Fringe and what it stands for all over the world. Based on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the Society has a small team of staff who work year-round to assist all the artists and audiences who make the festival one of the best loved performing arts events on the planet.
In 2022, as part of the Fringe’s 75th anniversary, the Fringe Society launched a new collaborative vision and set of values, and made a series of commitments to become more inclusive, fair and sustainable. The vision is “to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat”.
Our three values will guide the behaviours and decisions of everyone involved with the Fringe: celebrate performing arts, be open to all and look out for each other. The Society will live by them, champion them and uphold them where necessary.
I (Louise) have seen a fair bit of theatre shows from from Fringe theatre to full on plays, musicals, talks and gigs. Creating a list of 10 took some thought, but here they are:
Pretty Woman the Musical
It was amazing just how close to the film it was. There were moments for scenery when I wondered if and how parts could be recreated, but it truly was. The cast were on top form and it was a masterpiece from beginning to end.
Discover the synopsis, the cast listing and my full review here: Pretty Woman
David Suchet – Poirot and More… A Retrospective (Talk)
David Suchet, famed for playing Poirot in every tv series gave the most fascinating talk about how he got into the profession, playing many parts that perhaps don’t know so much about and of course and how he ended up embodying one of the most famous detectives in the world – Agatha Christie’s Poirot. This was an amazing, flawless, entertaining talk that had more than anyone could’ve anticipated…
Discover the review and some photos here: David Suchet – Poirot and More
Rick Astley and his Swing Band (Gig)
He’s Never Gonna Give You Up… It’s Rick Astley. He returned with mostly covers from the greats of Swing and totally nailed it! There was amazing jamming of his Swing Band too. It was a fun night out that left me full of joy!
Find out more, including more photos here:
Rick Astley
Macbeth (Play)
Entering the walkway to the auditorium wasn’t how it normally is. The atmosphere and scene was set with big props and theatrics in lighting and plumes of smoke. It was like nothing else I’ve ever seen before (see photos in the blog link) Then you enter to watch what is an incredibly immersive, powerful, performance. It was so enthralling there wasn’t any chatter nor a rustle nor even a sneeze in the audience.
Discover those photos and full review here: Macbeth
Jekyll and Hyde (Play)
A minimalist set is all this play needed. What occurs on stage is nothing short of magic. This was a one man play and what happens on stage is nothing short of compellingly haunting.
Discover more of my review and more here: Jekyll and Hyde
The Last Laugh (Play)
Take 1 dressing room and 3 men you think you know – Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe and what you get is an excellent array of comedy mixed with poignancy as you see their inner thoughts, concerns and banter between each other before their shows.
Discover the synopsis and review here: The Last Laugh
Talk on Corners – The Corrs with Natalie Imbruglia supporting (Gig)
Return to the 1990’s and squish it together a bit and you get iconic people. Natalie Imbruglia is back! She sang from her new album just ahead of it being officially released (more about that in the link), with great catchy songs and of course sang Torn. She’s still got it!
The Corrs biggest album was Talk On Corners and they played drums and violin, sang their greatest hits and a few others as well as danced and twirled like it was the 90’s. The stage was electric and the atmosphere in the audience was amazing, with sing-along parts too. An excellent night out that left me very smiley like when I first heard them in my teens! The Corrs
Squidge (Play)
“You Can Count On Me Like 123 and I’ll Be There!” That song by Bruno Mars is the theme song throughout Squidge. Lots of people working in education, especially SEND will have it running through their heads countless of times as it fast became a favourite positive song for kids. Daisy is a teaching assistant and looks after those with special needs. Squidge is what she uses as a “tool” for a particular child. What unfolds is heartwarming, poignant and truthful in conversations and inner thoughts about work, school in general and life outside work. It’s as real as it comes, performed by a woman in the know… It was loads better than I expected and I was impressed.
Discover more here: Squidge
The Screen Test (Play)
Set in the 1930’s and played by Bebe Cave, The Screen Test introduces audiences to the character Betsy Bitterly, a charismatic, optimistic actress trying to forever move onwards and upwards in her career and concludes with a dramatic ending. It’s a great play for looking at behind the scenes and delving into the psyche of an actress who also has certain attitudes to deal with.
Find out more of my review and the synopsis here: The Screen Test
The Interval
We all see the person who sells the ice cream during the interval at the theatre, but do we know anything more? Not usually. This play peels back the face of who you see to the soul, experiences and raw emotions of the person we think we see. It’s gritty at times as well as humorous in what is an unforgettable play.
Discover the synopsis and review here: Interval
Set in a hospice, One Sugar Stirred to the Left isn’t as grim as what it sounds. This is a clever and thoughtful written play that also has music. There is humour to be found, sometimes light, sometimes dark, in the conversations as well as poignancy and inevitable sadness, but that sadness comes with a certain amount of peace, which I wasn’t expecting. This is based on award-winning composer, Jon Lawrence’s own experiences and it transfers very well onto stage for all to see.
The acting is brilliant by all the actors involved.
Bronwyn is a palliative care nurse and there’s an assistant who makes the tea and insists everyone has some, even though she is terrible at making it. There are a few laughs to be had at the misunderstandings. Underneath all that, there’s some wise, philosophical and are more useful than her tea as she helps Bronwyn through the challenging days of working as a palliative care nurse.
Bronwyn, meanwhile is taking care of Justin’s dad in his final days and is asked to produce songs from his book that tells a story of him and his wife and after years of it being stored from anyone else’s view, he now wants something done with it. She sings and writes music, but hasn’t in a while and this coaxes her into doing so.
There is also another man and his daughter, who talk about how things really were between them, before the end of his time.
This shows what a calm death look like. There’s also something quite inspirational in some of the lines between the 2 men as they converse.
It’s all thought-provoking and is sure to spark conversations around death, preparing for it as it opens the doors a bit into a world that isn’t often spoken about, unless you’re in this position. It provides a little corner of hope for the future, beyond someone’s death too, as well as seeing it.
The mix of humour and poignancy is greatly balanced, all wrapped with warmth and empathy.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/one-sugar-stirred-to-the-left
The temperature is dropping, the nights are drawing in and there’s moment of lull. All the fun of Trick or Treating is over and it isn’t quite Thanksgiving or Christmas, the solution may just lie within theatres. So, why not take a moment to pause and treat yourself to a night of premier theatre performed by SCENA. There is even a sale on until November 9th, 2023. See details below, including a link to tickets.
Strong Wind – November 2-26 2023 at DC Arts Center, Adams Morgan.
Wed – Sat 7:30pm Sun – 2:30pm
2438 18th St. NW Washington, DC 20009
Strong Wind is a surreal, tragicomic tale. A man who has been away a long time peers out the window of the flat he shares with his wife. But is this still his home… and is this still his life? Or does he belong to the past — a spectator of his own abyss?
This is the story of one man’s attempt to return to a life where nothing is certain.
Playwright Fosse is the most performed living writer in Europe—and the 2010 winner of the coveted Ibsen Award.
*Please note I am not affiliated to the play, nor the theatre company.
As part of my blog, leading up to it becoming 5 years old this September, I am taking time to celebrate some great actors and authors. Today, joining this series, I bring you Belinda Lang – an actor of stage and screen.
Belinda Lang is a great actor of stage and screen. She is perhaps most notably known for playing Bill (the mother) in 2 Point 4 Children (Repeated on Britbox) Liza MacGregor in Second Thoughts and presently, Mrs Clam in Sister Boniface Mysteries (in its second series now on UKTV Drama and UKTV Play) She has also done radio plays and embraced newer technologies and played podcast plays such as the sitcom – Wooden Overcoats, where she played Madeleine. She has also starred in Alleyn Mysteries, Midsummer Murders, Doctors and more… showing she can play quite diverse roles and very well. She has impeccable comic timing. She also plays roles with light and shade with integrity and believability and can bring every emotion required for roles.
When you watch Belinda Lang on stage, she also carries off such stage presence, whether in a whole company of people or a two-hander. I have no doubt that she could even pull of a solo piece very well too. Her acting captivates, moves, brings joy. It has that je-ne-sais-quoi about it and she seems a genuine and kind person, with lots of life and her performances on stage also has an energy, whatever part she plays.
She has been in musicals, such as Oklahoma and plays such as Duet for One, Humble Boy and currently appearing in the UK wide touring production of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. She also directs: sometimes in singular theatres and sometimes for a UK wide tour, such as: An Hour and a Half Late, This Was a Man and many more productions. She also has Rocchiccioli’s Letters From the Heart opening in Sydney 2023. She is also currently on the last legs of a UK tour of the play – The Exotic Marigold Hotel, based on the film.
Duet for One was the first time I saw her on stage in Edinburgh. The play was a two-hander where she played someone with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Every inch of that play, of how things can be, even every nuance was spot on. She got the dark sense of humour that can emerge, as well as the frustrations just perfect. She totally understood this role and you could see her passion for taking on such a role on such an important subject. It was an excellent character for her to play and shows the wide ranging acting skills she has to flip from serious to humorous to emotional. She brought it all to the stage with absolute perfection. Here is a link to the whole review… Duet For One
In Humble Boy, a play about Felix Humble. He returns to his family home after the death of his father, a biology teacher and amateur beekeeper. The play takes place in the garden with him, his family and guests over lunch. It, again plays the serious alongside humour. Belinda Lang played Flora, Felix’s waspish, rather vain mother, Flora. Belinda Lang plays Flora with aplomb. Here is the full review: Humble Boy
Most recently, she is touring the UK with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, playing Madge. She is with a group of retirees who want a very different life and set off to India. It’s had a bit of a cast change of late, with Belinda Lang and Tessa Peake Jones joining other seasoned performers, also at the top of their game, most notably Paul Nicholas. Belinda Lang is one of those actors who joined and it is still a fabulous, warm-hearted play. Belinda Lang plays the part of Madge with sass and sharp-wit and everything you’d expect from this part. Catch the play whilst you still can. Here is a link to the full review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 