Preview & listings: Mon 7 – Sun 13 Sept 2024
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week?
There’s a week of plenty on Edinburgh’s stages, with practically all tastes catered for, from the darkness of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at the Church Hill (Wed-Sat: tickets), to Julia Donaldson’s The Baddies at the Lyceum (ends Sun 20: tickets) and 1960s racial politics in Hairspray at the Playhouse (Mon-Sat: tickets).
The EUTC are taking on George Orwell at the Bedlam with 1984 (Wed-Sat: tickets) the fabulous Blue Man Group are hitting the Festival Theatre with their Bluevolution World Tour (Wed-Sat: tickets)and there is a rare but very welcome opportunity to see Strange Town’s schools work with Jennifer Adam’s HER at Summerhall (Tue-Thurs: tickets).
A scene from To Save the Sea from Sleeping Warrior at the Traverse (Thurs-Sat). Pic:Mihaela Bodlovic.
But that is not all. The Studio Theatre has groundbreaking new production DEMENTIA – The Musical, (Sat: tickets), Isla Cowan and Andy McGregor’s To Save the Sea is at the Traverse (Thurs-Sat: tickets) where this week’s lunchtime theatre is Anna/Anastasia by Jonny Donahoe (Mon-Sat: tickets).
And there is more. The troubled Summerhall has Annie Lowry Thomas’s autobiographical performance Afterparty (Fri/Sat: tickets) and a whole weekend of adventures into the unknown with Magnetic North’s MegaMix 25 (Fri-Sun: tickets) the company’s celebration of their 25th anniversary.
Finally – yes there is more – Kevin Quantum returns to the Caledonian Hotel (after its shortish and most confusing time as the “Waldorf Astoria”) with his Edinburgh Magic show (Fri/Sat: tickets).
Listings
Bedlam Theatre
11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ.
1984 (EUTC)
Wed 9 – Sat 12 October 2024.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
EUTC with Orwell’s cautionary tale of the importance of protecting personal liberty. Utilising live cameras and video manipulation, this ambitious interpretation of the infamous novel will leave audiences fully immersed in the terrifying reality of a totalitarian regime. Book here.
The Caledonian Hotel
Princes Street, EH1 2AB.
Edinburgh Magic (Kevin Quantum)
Fri/Sat: 11/12 Oct 2024
Two shows: 6pm & 8.30pm (Versailles Suite).
Æ Review: ★★★★☆ Rosy
Kevin Quantum performs an hour of magic that’s fooled some of the most brilliant and creative people ever to have lived, often times with strong links to Edinburgh and Scotland. An elegant, intimate and quite astonishing evening of magic, mystery and wonder in one of Edinburgh’s most historic and enchanting hotels. Book here.
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
Sweeney Todd (Blackout Productions)
Wed 9 – Sat 12 October 2024.
Evenings: 7.30pm, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Stephen Sondheim’s dark, witty and Tony Award-winning take on The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London. Book here.
Halloween Party Show (The McDougalls)
Sun 13 Oct 2024.
One show: 1pm.
The McDougalls are back with a spook-tacular new stage show for all the family – live on stage in Edinburgh! Max and Auntie Aggie (the stars of the show) are dressed to impress for their Halloween Party – and you’re invited too! Come wearing your favourite Halloween costume for some fiendish, fang-tastic fun! Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Dr Louise Newson: Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate
Mon 7 Oct 2024
Evening: 7.30pm.
Dr Louise Newson, the leading medical expert on menopause and hormones, with Dublin-based comedian Anne Gildea with a show which aims to educate and challenge misconceptions about menopause and advocate for better healthcare for women.Book here.
Blue Man Group – Bluevolution World Tour
Wed 9 – Sun 13 Oct 2024
Wed – Sat: 7.30pm; Thurs – Sat: 2.30pm; Sun: 1.30pm & 6.30pm.
Classic Blue Man favourites in a music extravaganza from explosive paint drumming, comedy antics and unforgettable audience interaction along with brand new content, including the addition of a new female character exclusive to the current World Tour.Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
The Baddies
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Fri 4 – Sun 20 Oct 2024
Daily (not Mon) 10.10am, 1.30pm. Fri 4 & Sat/Sun: 3.30pm.
The Baddies love being bad. They roar, spook and cast wicked spells to try and scare a girl out of her wits…who will succeed? Or perhaps the girl is braver than they think… With songs by Joe Stilgoe (Zog and Zog and The Flying Doctors), The Baddies is a wickedly hilarious adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s smash-hit story. A laugh-out-loud riot for all the family. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Hairspray
Mon 7 – Sat 12 Oct 2024.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Weds, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
The musical phenomenon returns – you just can’t stop the Hairspray beat! Welcome to the 60s, where everyone’s grooving to a brand-new sound! Enter Tracy Turnblad, with big hair, big heart, and big dreams to dance her way onto national TV. Book here.
Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
DEMENTIA – The Musical
Sat 12 Oct 2024
Two shows: 2pm & 7.15pm.
A new musical theatre production by Ron Coleman, Scottish poet and writer living with dementia, in collaboration with renowned director Magdalena Schamberger and one of Britain’s top Jazz musicians Sophie Bancroft as composer and musical director plus additional music by esteemed songwriter Andrew Eaton-Lewis. Design by Karen Tennent. Book here.
Summerhall
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL.
HER (Strange Town)
Tue 8 – Thurs 10 Oct 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm (TechCube 0).
Only yes means yes. Jennifer Adam’s play about the damaging effects of gender inequality and the truth about consent, asks: how can you be the change you want to see in the world, when you feel like the world is fighting against you? Book here.
MegaMix 25 (Magnetic North)
Fri 11 – Sun 13 Oct 2024
Fri: 6pm; Sat: 4 – 9.30pm; Sun: 3.30-9.30pm. (Cairns Lecture Theatre and Old Lab).
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Magnetic North is throwing a party and you’re all invited. MegaMix festival features early stage sharings, films, live music, spoken word, dance and work in progress performances from some of the incredible artists and organisations Magnetic North has had the pleasure and privilege to work with over the past two and a half decades. Book here.
After Party (Hacks)
Fri 11/Sat 12 Oct 2024
Evenings: 7pm (TechCube 0).
Annie Lowry Thomas’s autobiographical performance of personal and political comedowns growing up in the aftermath of New Labour, scored by a live DJ. This is a show about late nights, early mornings, party politics and men who let you down. You know what they say, things can only get better… Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
Anna/Anastasia (PPP)
By Jonny Donahoe.
Tue 8 – Sat 12 Oct 2024
Lunchtimes: 1pm (Trav 2).
After the execution of the entire Romanov family, rumours began to circulate that Grand Duchess Anastasia somehow survived. Four years later, in a Berlin asylum, Anna Anderson convinces the doctor she is that girl. A hilarious comedy inspired by the true story of Anna Anderson, the greatest imposter of the 20th century. Book here.
To Save the Sea (Sleeping Warrior)
By Isla Cowan & Andy McGregor.
Thur 10 – Sat 12 Oct 2024
Evenings: 7.30pm (Trav 1).
When oil giants Shell announce plans to dump the defunct Brent Spar oil store in the ocean, a small group of activists have other ideas. Under the cover of night, they sail out to the North Sea and occupy the structure. As their campaign gains momentum, pressure mounts on those in power and political battles ensue at sea and on land. A vibrant new musical about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Book here.
ENDS
