Preview and listings: Mon 28 Oct – Sun 3 Nov 2024
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week?
It’s the big week for the youngsters of Edinburgh and Lothian’s Scout and Guiding movements who are in the Gang Show, which is again at the Festival Theatre – albeit unseasonably early because of a fixture buildup at the venue (Tue – Sat: Tickets).
The Variety-based show is always a good punt with plenty of local references and big numbers. For those in East Lothian, there’s not one but two youth productions of the Addams Family Musical. The Brunton Youth Company with the support of David Ross are at Loretto School (Thurs – Sat: Tickets), while Stage Door Entertainment is at Portobello Town Hall (Thurs – Sat: Tickets)
Matthew Trevannion as Stanley and Kirsty Stuart as Blanche in PFT’s A Streetcar Named Desire at the Lyceum this week. Pic: Fraser Band.
The other big local fixture, and bang cue this time, is the Edinburgh Horror Festival at the Banshee Labyrinth (Thurs – Sun: Details and Tickets), which is always good for new shows which go on to have further life, often at the Fringe.
There are great reports from the Lyceum, where Pitlochry’s many-starred production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire is enjoying great houses (Ends 9 Nov: Tickets). The Playhouse is also packing the punters in for the last week of Book of Mormon (ends Sat: Tickets)
The Traverse has a couple of hot touring pieces this week. No Love Songs is a piece of gig theatre from Dundee Rep (Thurs-Sat: Tickets), and the brilliantly named Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting winner Bullring Techno Makeup Jamz from Ellie Keel & Paines Plough is in Trav 2 (Thurs – Sat: tickets).
And finally there are a couple of one-night stands. The Roxy has interactive piece Maiden Mother Whore (Fri: Tickets) and Morgan Njobo bring I Am Rhythm, Spirit of Africa to the Studio Theatre (Fri: Tickets).
Listings
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
Maiden Mother Whore (Theiya Arts)
Fri 1 Nov 2024
Two perfs: 12 noon & 4pm.(Central).
Interdisciplinary mixed-media performance/exhibition exploring the complex relationships between women, social structures, health and social policies, and institutions. Over 90 minutes, the audience is invited to interact with five separate installations, becoming part of the ‘making’, as the performance evolves in response to their engagement. Book here.
The Banshee Labyrinth
29-35 Niddry St, Edinburgh EH1 1LG, UK
Edinburgh Horror Fest 2024
Thurs 31 – Sun 3 Nov 2024
Various times.
The annual festival of all things macabre, from Dracula spin-offs to mystical Magic and pastiche musical, has built a reputation as a great place to see early grassroots theatre works before they go on to a further life and the Fringe and beyond. This year’s offerings look particularly favourable. Full details here.
The Brunton @ Loretto School
Loretto School Theatre, Millhill, Musselburgh. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
The Addams Family – A New Musical (Brunton Youth Company)
Thurs 31 – Sat 2 Nov 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm.
The Brunton are delighted to, once again, be in partnership with professional theatre maker, David Ross as their talented youth cast immerses themselves in everything spooky and quirky, they bring to life the hilarious musical theatre extravaganza of The Addams Family. Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Edinburgh Gang Show 2024
Tue 29 Oct – Sat 2 Nov 2024
Evening: 7pm; Sat mat: 2pm.
Over 250 young people from South East Scotland Scouts and Girlguiding Edinburgh will dazzle you with their energetic, show-stopping musical items and hilarious comedy sketches. Spectacular performances that are guaranteed to make you smile – “there’s no show like the Gang Show!”Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
A Streetcar Named Desire
The Pitlochry Festival Theatre production.
Thurs 24 Oct – Sat 9 Nov 2024.
Daily (not Mon): 7.30pm. Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
After losing her family home and prosperous life, former southern belle Blanche Dubois moves into the shabby apartment of her younger sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski in a poor neighbourhood in New Orleans. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
The Book of Mormon
Tue 15 Oct – Sat 2 Nov 2024.
Mon – Sat: 7.30pm; Fri, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Something incredible.
This outrageous musical comedy from the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Bobby Lopez, the Co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen, follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get… Book here.
Portobello Town Hall
147-149 Portobello High St, Portobello EH15 1AF.
The Addams Family – A New Musical Comedy (Stage Door Entertainment)
Thurs 31 – Sat 2 Nov 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm.
A musical that embraces the wackiness in all families! Wednesday Addams is in love, but it’s a secret. Can Gomez keep it from the rest of his family, or will the cracks begin to show when a “normal” family joins them for dinner at the mansion? Book here.
Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
I Am Rhythm, Spirit of Africa (Morgan Njobo)
Fri 1 Nov 2024
Evening: 7.30pm.
A heartwarming, entertaining and captivating musical story exploring South Africa’s past, present and future, interwoven with signature music and dance styles rooted in tribal and modern rhythms and powerful harmonies. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
No Love Songs (Dundee Rep)
By Kyle Falconer & Laura Wilde.
Thur 31 Oct – Sat 2 Nov 2024
Evening: 8pm (Trav 1).
Inspired by the real-life experiences of Kyle Falconer (The View) and partner Laura Wilde, this ground-breaking and bold piece of gig theatre follows two new parents grappling with the challenges of parenthood and the weight of postnatal depression. Through a powerful blend of music, tears, and laughter, the audience is taken on a heartfelt journey as they navigate their new life together. Book here.
Bullring Techno Makeup Jamz (Ellie Keel & Paines Plough)
By Nathan Queeley-Dennis.
Thurs 31 Oct – Sat 2 Nov 2024
Evenings: 8pm; Sat mat: 2pm (Trav 2).
Winner of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2022, Nathan Queeley-Dennis’ debut play is a love letter to Birmingham, exploring Black masculinity through Beyonce lyrics, techno raves and the deeply intimate relationship between a man and his barber. Directed by Dermot Daly. Book here.
ENDS
