Listings and Preview: Mon 22 – Wed 31 July 2024
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages for the rest of the month?
With the Festivals officially kicking off at the beginning of August (well, August 2), here are your listings for the rest of the July. From then on, it is EdFringe listings for three solid weeks of theatre bliss!
This week’s headline is the new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again (Tue 23 – Sat 27: Tickets) at the Playhouse which is touring the UK ahead of a West End season. Surprising good stuff according to our critic.
Steven Webb and Tricia Paoluccio in Here You Come Again. Pic: Hugo Glendinning
Hearts fans are in for a real treat with the opening of This is My Story at Tynecastle Park (Wed 24 – Mon 29: tickets). This is a celebration of Hearts first 150 years, from the company which brought us A War of Two Halves about football players in WW1, and the CATS awards nominated Sweet FA, about women’s football in Scotland.
It’s also the season of big youth company summer shows.
First off we have Stage Door Entertainment with the Junior version of Matilda out at the Portobello Town Hall (Wed – Sat: tickets). This is Tommy Travers’ newish company who are going great guns, so should be well worth catching.
Then the much more established Beyond Broadway Experience are bringing over 200 youngsters to the Festival Theatre for CATS (Fri/Sat: tickets). Having seen some of the preview shots of this, expect something really quite spectacular!
There are a few interesting one-offs happening this week as well.
The Polish/Scottish company: Mirror of Stage / Lustro SCENY has a version of Moliere’s comedy The Bourgeois Gentleman, with Moliere’s Garden Party at North and South Leith Church Halls (Fri: tickets).
Shock Horror theatre has a new horror musical Bedlam at the Banshee Labyrinth (Sat: tickets) and Pen Pal Productions return to Leith Depot for another of their script-in-hand events, this time entitled Room On This Earth and inspired by the songs of The Proclaimers (Mon: tickets).
And that is it for the month, I believe. Now for the Fringe and EIF… Have fun!
Listing
(Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site).
The Banshee Labyrinth
29-35 Niddry St, Edinburgh EH1 1LG, UK
Bedlam (Shock Horror)
Sat 27 July 2024.
Evening: 7.30pm.
A new series of horror musicals written by Joseph Helsing and Matt Walker that tap into our deepest, darkest fears and desires. A young doctor tries to help his wife who has recently been harmed in a horrific fire. But her looks might not be the only thing she has lost…She might have lost her mind as well… Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
CATS (The Beyond Broadway Experience)
Fri 26/Sat 27 July 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
The Beyond Broadway Experience’s 200-strong cast present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dazzling theatrical extravaganza. The whimsical characters from the poems of T.S. Eliot come to life – each with their own unique charm and flair – all against a backdrop of enchanting melodies.Book here.
Leith Depot
138-142 Leith Walk EH6 5DT
Dram-a at the Depot: Room On This Earth (Penpal Productions)
Mon 29 July 2024
Evening: 8pm.
Six pint-sized plays, inspired by the songs of The Proclaimers. Performed by actors, script in hand, for you, the audience, drink in hand. All welcome, including any theatre loving furry friends. As if that wasn’t enough, there will also be cake! What more could you possibly want? Book here.
North and South Leith Church Halls
6 Henderson Street, EH6 6BS.
Moliere’s Garden Party (Mirror of Stage)
Fri 26 July 2024
Evening: 7.30pm.
The Mirror of Stage / Lustro SCENY with their adaptation of Moliere’s comedy The Bourgeois Gentleman. The play centres around the foolish notions of a French tradesman who desperately tries to become a proper gentleman and move within the higher circles of society. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Here You Come Again
Tue 23 – Sat 27 July 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats: Wed, Sat: 2.30pm.
Æ review: ★★★☆☆ Unexpected
For the first time ever, all of Dolly Parton’s biggest hits can be experienced together in a rollicking and joyous new musical comedy. Packed with the iconic songs this lively and touching new musical tells the story of a diehard fan whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times. Book here.
Portobello Town Hall
147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
Matilda Jr (Stage Door Entertainment)
Wed 24 – Sat 27 July 2024.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat/Sun mats: 2.30pm.
Will Matilda be able to help her classmates escape the punishments of mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull? And will the “revolting children” finally teach the grown-ups a lesson? This Stage Door Experience, produced in the summer holidays, will feature a cast of local young people led by a professional production & technical team. Book here.
Tynecastle Park
Gorgie Road, EH11 2NL
This is Our Story (Two Halves Productions)
Wed 24 – Mon 29 July 2024.
Evening: 7.30pm.
Heart of Midlothian Football club celebrates 150 years since its foundation in 1874. This dramatic and humourous retelling, performed on a specially built stage beside the pitch at Tynecastle Park, covers the triumph and tragedy of the astonishing history of the club. Featuring Live music and some very special guests – this is our story as never told before.. Book here.
ENDS
