Listings: Mon 25 April – Sun 1 May
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week…
It’s a week of big shows in Edinburgh’s theatre-land this week, although not all on the biggest stages. The EUTC has All My Sons at Teviot (Thurs-Sat), ETA is at St Ninian’s with Passing Places (Tue-Sat) and Townsend Productions is at North Edinburgh Arts with Yes! Yes! UCS! (Weds).
But the biggest shows are in the musicals arena. MAMA is staging The Sound Of Music at the Brunton (Tue-Sat), the big tour of Singing in the Rain is back at the Festival (Tue-Sat) and new pop musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World is at the King’s (Tue-Sat).
A scene from Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World.
Opera fans have the arrival of Ellen Kent to look forward to. She doesn’t please modernists, but if it is traditional performances you desire, then the Playhouse is the place to be with Tosca (Thurs), Carmen (Fri) and Madama Butterfly (Sat). This is a particularly poignant tour, as the company is formed from the Ukrainian National Municipal Opera Kyiv.
For fans of dance, Scottish Dance Theatre is at the Traverse, with Ray, the new piece by Brussels-based choreographer Meytal Blanaru (Weds/Thurs). And dancers of a different sort will be remembered in Tam’O’Shanter and Other Tales at the Roxy (Fri).
There are more student offerings on show, with PassOut 2022: Changes at the Traverse (Mon/Tue); Broadsword Theatre with Contact at the Wee Red Bar (Tue-Thurs); and Napier Musical Theatre Society is at the Assembly Roxy for one night of Fame The Musical on Wednesday.
Still Standing
There is still yet more to come! Page2Stage returns with four new scripts in performed readings at the Roxy (Tue) and this year’s cohort of youngsters at the LYAMC get to stretch their lungs together in public for the first time with the appropriately titled Still Standing at the Church Hill Theatre (Fri/Sat).
Finally, the Lyceum Soundstage is back up and running for two performances of the audio drama Keli by Martin Green, which Hugh wrote about with great perception after the live preview (Weds/Thurs). And on May Day, there is a May Day Cabaret at Southside Community Centre (Sun).
Listings:
Shows are listed first by venue – in alphabetical order – and then chronologically.
Click on the name of the show to go to its ticketing site.
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
Page 2 Stage
Tuesday 26 April 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Roxy Upstairs).
Extracts from four brand new plays read in front of a live audience. An industry panel provides dramaturgical feedback, followed by an opportunity to continue the discussions in the Roxy Snug Bar. Panel: Zinnie Harris, Nicola McCartney & Ross MacKay. Scripts: The Night Afore Christmas by Lewie Watson; Tracks and Charts by Adrian Moore; The Clockwork Girl by Laura Eleanor Paterson and Checking In by Dougal Thomson. Book here.
FAME The Musical
Wednesday 27 April 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Roxy Central).
Napier Musical Theatre Society take on the tale of the final class of New York City’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts from their admission in 1980 to their graduation in 1984, with all the struggles, fears and triumphs in between. Book here.
Tam O’ Shanter and Other Tales
Fridays 15, 22 & 29 April 2022
Evenings: 7.30pm (Roxy Upstairs).
A comic celebration of the ‘Gothic’ poems of Robert Burns from Stolen Elephant Theatre who perform Tam O’ Shanter, Death and Dr Hornbook and Address to the Deil. Expect to encounter Witches and Death. Oh and the De’il himself of course. Book here.
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
The Sound Of Music (MAMA)
Tue 26 – Sat 30 April 2022
Evening: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2pm (Theatre).
Musselburgh Amateur Musical Association present one of the greatest and much-loved musicals of all time, telling the true story of the Von Trapps, the world-famous singing family, from romantic beginnings and their search for happiness, to the family’s thrilling escape to freedom. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Still Standing
Fri 29 – Sat 30 April 2022
Evenings: 7.30pm.
LYAMC – Lothian Youth Arts & Musicals Company – is one of Scotland’s leading musical theatre companies for young people. They invite everyone to come Along and support their Beautiful Dreamers as they get back on stage at the Church Hill Theatre for ‘Still Standing!. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Singin’ in the Rain
Tue 26 – Sat 30 April 2022
Evenings: 7.30pm; Mats Weds, Fri, Sat: 2.30pm.
A smash-hit at Chichester and in the West End, Jonathan Church’s acclaimed production is back to make a splash. Andrew Wright’s high-energy choreography and Simon Higlett’s sumptuous set design combine with the charm, romance and wit of one of the world’s best- loved films. Book here.
Trixie Mattel
Sunday 1 May 2022
Evening: 8pm
Major pop culture figure, stand up comedian and musician with talents that defy classification. Trixie’s tour is an exciting electro-folk reinvention. Expect to feel that you’ve landed in a PeeWee Herman video, with some surf rock and a love for 60’s country music. Book here.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
Tue 26 – Sat 30 Apr 2022
Evenings: 7pm; Fri, Sat mats: 3pm.
The brand new kick-asspirational pop musical bursts to life as the Fantastically Great Women take to the stage to tell their stories. Join our inquisitive heroine Jade as she breaks away from her class to take a peek behind the scenes at the not yet open Gallery of Greatness in the local museum… Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Keli – An Audio Drama
by Martin Green
Tue 26/Wed 27 April 2022
See online listings below…
North Edinburgh Arts
NEAC @ West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, 19 West Pilton Grove, EH4 4BY
Yes! Yes! U.C.S!
Wednesday 27 April 2022
Evening: 7pm
Townsend Productions present a new musical play to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) work-in. A celebration of the community solidarity and collective resistance inspired and led by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ shop stewards Jimmy’s Reid and Airlie, attracting massive national and international support that led to victory in the fight for Right to Work. Tickets and Details.
Online
On a screen in your own home
Keli – An Audio Drama
by Martin Green
Tue 26/Wed 27 April 2022
Evening: 7pm – Online via the Lyceum Soundstage
This fictional story of a talented but troubled young horn player stars Anna Russell-Martin, with a sonorous score recorded by a bespoke band including principal players from Black Dyke, Grimethorpe, Fairey and Brighouse, and featuring BBC Young Musician of the Year, Sheona White as “the voice of Keli” on tenor horn. Tickets and Details.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Strategem with Alan Partridge Live
Tue 26 April 2022
Evening: 8pm.
Here’s Alan Partridge, live on stage with a manifesto for the way we can move forward, a roadmap to a better tomorrow, an ABC for the way to be… Wearing a head-mic favoured by TED talkers, market hawkers, TV evangelists, backing singers and carnival barkers, Alan will perform a stage show that combines all of these roles and more. New date added (May 26 sold out). Book here.
Ellen Kent’s Tosca
Thurs 28 April 2022.
Evening: 7.30pm.
An explosion of love and treachery. Ellen Kent’s traditional production is a heady mixture of true love, torture and treachery, with two of the best roles for tenor and soprano, plus a truly blood curdling villain. Book here.
Ellen Kent’s Carmen
Fri 29 April 2022.
Evening: 7.30pm.
An evening of passion, sexual jealousy, death and unforgettable arias. Ellen Kent’s dazzling production with orchestra features Bizet’s unforgettable melodies including The Toreador’s Song, Carmen’s enticing Habanera, and Don José’s lyrical Flower Song in a setting evoking the stunning architecture of Seville. Book here.
Ellen Kent’s Madama Butterfly
Sat 30 April 2022.
Evening: 7.30pm.
Back by overwhelming public demand, Ellen Kent’s award-winning production returns with exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan. Book here.
The Illegal Eagles
Sunday 1 May 2022 
Evening: 7.30pm.
Celebrating the music of the legendary West Coast Country Rock band, The Illegal Eagles return in 2022 for another outstanding show promising more of their trademark musical prowess, acute attention to detail and incredible showmanship. Book here.
St Ninian’s Hall
40 comely Bank, EH4 3AG
Passing Places
Tue 26 – Sat 30 April 2022
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Edinburgh Theatre Arts present Steven Greenhorn’s road movie for the stage. Alex and Brian, a pair of Scottish small-town boys, who get out the only way they know how – doing a runner in the only transport available: a worn-out Lada. But Alex’s psychopathic gangster boss is hot on their heels as they head north for Thurso. Book here.
Southside Community Centre
117 Nicolson Street EH8 9ER.
The Great May Day Cabaret
Sun 1 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm.
Fair Pley Productions in association with Art27scotland is staging a “fabulous get-together” to celebrate International Workers’ Day and the 125th anniversary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) featuring a line-up of music, poetry and comedy compered by Susan Morrison. Book here.
Teviot Underground
13 Bristo Place, EH8 9AJ
All My Sons
Thurs 28 – Sat 30 April 2022
Evenings 7.30pm.
EUTC with Arthur Miller’s pressure-cooker play which brings to life post-war tension under a spirited backdrop of astrology, dreams, faith and love. Events unfold in the space of one garden and one day – ending with broken hearts and beginning with a broken tree. Tickets and details.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
PASSout 2022: Changes
Mon 25 – Tue 26 April 2022
Evenings 7.30pm.
Inspired by the David Bowie track Changes, the students of Performing Arts Sudio Scotland @ Edinburgh College will create three new 20 minute pieces with the support and direction of artists Nicola Roy, Neil John Gibson and Pauline Lockhart.. Further details.
Ray
Wed 27 – Thurs 28 April 2022
Evenings 7.30pm.
Scottish Dance Theatre’s latest creation by Brussels-based choreographer Meytal Blanaru. The work explores the phenomena of Emergence, as it ventures on a quest for a deep, collective, shared physical experience, one that tries to bridge between bodies and sweep people far beyond the intellect’s words, ideas and constructions, into a space where people can potentially meet, in a different way. Further details.
Wee Red Bar
Lady Lawson Street, EH3 9DF.
Contact (Broadsword Theatre)
Tue 26 – Thurs 28 April 2022
Evenings 7.30pm.
Welcome to Pharmtec, the fastest-growing dietary supplement provider in the country! More specifically, welcome to its customer-facing contact centre where a crack team awaits every query and quibble that comes their way. However, when the incoming phone calls start to take a sinister turn, the staff soon have something far worse than irate customers to worry about… Tickets £10 on the door. Further details.
