THE PROGRAMME
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Follow us @edfringe Contents Welcome to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 02 About the Fringe 03 Sponsors, Supporters, Partners and Friends 04 Navigating the programme 06 Ticket information 07 Accessibility08 The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Ltd is a charitable company limited by guarantee and incorporated in Scotland (SC046605). Registered charity no. SC002995. Registered office: 180 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS. To find out more about how you can support our charity work, visit www.edfringe.com/support-us. Fringe Street Events 10 Keep it Fringe fund 11 Cabaret and variety 12 Children’s shows 28 Comedy42 Dance, physical theatre and circus 160 Events175 Exhibitions180 Music184 Musicals and opera 222 Spoken word 238 Theatre252 Book tickets at edfringe.com or on the Fringe app Accessible performances 345 Venue guide 349 Index370 Fringe maps 381 While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information at the time of going to print, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society (EFFS) cannot accept liability for any errors or omissions. Please note that all information contained within the programme is subject to change. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe contains a wide range of shows and events, not all of which are suitable for all ages; parental discretion is advised. WEBSITE APP The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an open access festival and EFFS neither selects the shows that take part, nor controls the content of those shows and the associated promotional materials. All content is the sole responsibility of the person(s) who originated such content and we take no responsibility for any content contained within. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any content, including but not limited to: errors, omissions, loss or damage (or claim thereof) of any kind as a result of any content contained within. © Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society 2025. All rights reserved. 2025 Fringe campaign created by Loop Agencies. Design and layout of Fringe programme by Andy Jamieson, artworking and typesetting by Tracy Wedderburn and Weronika (Niki) Michailidu. This programme is printed on responsibly sourced virgin fibre paper, which is produced with lower emissions than many recycled alternatives, allowing us to cut the programme’s carbon output by 60%. Once you’ve finished with your copy, please pass it along for someone else to enjoy. Please recycle at the end of the Fringe. 01
#DareToDiscover Welcome to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025! Welcome to the most extraordinary and exciting cultural event on the planet. We’re inviting you to ‘Dare to Discover’ in 2025 and immerse yourself in the worlds created by the thousands of artists who will take stages across Edinburgh this summer. That’s the ‘daring’ part – giving yourself over to the (safe) hands of our performers, allowing yourself to be swept away by their creativity. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll think. Mostly, though, you’ll leave feeling closer to those around you. The ‘discover’ part is where you’ll find the joy – take some risks, stray from the herd, step out of your own comfort zone and you’ll be amazed at what you find. You’ll often hear the Fringe being described as an ecosystem. A landscape comprising hundreds of people who work hard to make the experience so special. It includes producers and venues, the media, other audience members, behind-the-scenes and frontof-house workers and, of course, the performers. We at the Fringe Society thank them all. But it also includes those who call Edinburgh home and who work tirelessly to put on a great show. Fringe Central In 2026 the Fringe Society will open the doors to our new home: Fringe Central on Infirmary Street, in the heart of the Old Town. Fringe Central will be a welcoming and open space for Fringe artists, Edinburgh’s residents and partner community groups. It will provide much-needed facilities in the city, as well as a space where people can engage with stories from the Fringe and its rich history. The project involves the renovation and restoration of a Grade B-listed former schoolhouse. We plan to preserve the building’s rich history while modernising it to maximise accessibility and sustainability. It will be available year-round with rehearsal and working space for performing artists to develop work, network and collaborate, while also accessing Fringe Society services. Our plans include a Changing Places toilet, a lift and level access as well as works for future green spaces and a transformed infrastructure, both physical and digital, that is accessible, green and efficient. 02 They clean the streets, wash the windows, distill the gin, clear tables, drive the buses and do the laundry. They include teachers wrangling groups of young audiences, often off to the theatre for the first time. Cabbies and police keeping us all moving safely in the right direction. Residents who open their doors, hearts and parking bays to the world for four glorious weeks. And then, after audiences have left, they pack it all up and begin planning to do it all again the next time. They are the backbone of the Fringe, and we are enormously grateful to them all. You may have spotted the words Dare To Discover on the front cover – that’s just what we want you to do. Go wild, set your creativity free and discover an unbeatable, one-off experience you can’t find anywhere else! Tony Lankester Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Benny Higgins Chair, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society over 75 years, Fringe has welcomed “ Forover the world to Edinburgh’s thriving artists from all arts scene. The Fringe Society’s new location will provide a welcoming space for artists, breaking down barriers and ensuring arts remain accessible to all. – Arts Minister, Sir Chris Bryant ” A significant amount of funding is in place for the development of Fringe Central, but support is still needed to help us realise the project to its full potential. A donation to Fringe Central is a unique opportunity to become a part of the Fringe’s history and the creative legacy of Edinburgh. Visit our Fringe Central webpage via the QR code here to read more about the project, donate, or sponsor your own special part of the building. Our thanks go to those already supporting Fringe Central and the accompanying Digital Infrastructure project: UK Government (Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), Bloomberg Philanthropies, Foyle Foundation, The Mushroom Trust and SP Energy Networks’ Transmission Net Zero Fund. Thanks also to the City of Edinburgh Council, which owns the building.
Follow us @edfringe About the Fringe Taking part this year? It all began in 1947 with eight companies – six of them from Scotland – taking a risk, turning up uninvited and performing on the ‘fringe’ of the inaugural Edinburgh International Festival. Seventy-eight years later, the Fringe has grown to become a world-renowned celebration of arts and culture, a byword for adventurous performance and the premier meeting place for artists and creatives to perform, gather, exchange, discover and select new work. The Fringe Society has a range of resources and support to help you make the most of your time at the Fringe. We believe that everyone, irrespective of their background, should have the opportunity to experience and express themselves through creativity. No individual or committee determines who can or cannot appear at the Fringe; our vision is to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat. About the Fringe Society Fringe Central is our participants’ hub during August; it’s where artists and members of the media and arts industry can access Fringe Society services, helping them make the most of what the festival has to offer. These services include a programme of panel discussions and networking events, one-to-one sessions focused on helping artists develop their careers, and one-to-one wellbeing sessions with our partners at Health in Mind, alongside handy practical facilities such as wifi and printer access. It’s also a space where artists can escape the hustle and bustle of the festival; a place where you can take a breather and not have to worry about being ‘on’ or constantly selling your show. Drop by and say hello to one of our friendly Fringe Central team – we’re here to support you. The Fringe Society is a registered charity that was founded by artists to: • Fringe Central Grassmarket Community Hub, 86 Candlemaker Row, EH1 2QA Open from 30 July – 25 August, 10:00 – 17:00 • support, advise and encourage everyone who wants to participate in the Fringe Want to take part in 2026? • provide information and assistance to Fringe audiences If you feel inspired to take part in next year’s Fringe, please come and visit us at Fringe Central (Venue 2 – Grassmarket Community Hub) and ask to speak to a member of the Artist Services team. • celebrate the Fringe and what it stands for all over the world. With a full-time team of around 40, the Fringe Society works year-round to support the artists and audiences that make this festival happen, and engages with communities and schools in Edinburgh to inspire greater participation in the arts. You can also visit www.edfringe.com/take-part where you’ll find information, advice and guides to taking part in the Fringe. For updates on Fringe Society activities, visit our news and blog pages on edfringe.com or follow us on LinkedIn @edinburgh-festival-fringe-society. Donations The Fringe programme is free but expensive to produce. You can support the Fringe Society by giving a donation. Scan the QR code to donate or visit www.edfringe.com/support-us/donate. We greatly appreciate any donations that help us continue our charitable work to support artists, audiences, schools and community groups at the Fringe. 03
#DareToDiscover Sponsors and Supporters Media Partners With thanks to EDINBURGH Fringe Central Capital 04
Follow us @edfringe A huge thank you to our Ambassadors, Patrons, Champions and Benefactors We would like to give an enormous Fringe Society thank you to the following people and organisations for their support this year: Fringe Society honorary President: Phoebe Waller-Bridge Fringe Friends Our Fringe Friends are the ultimate Fringe fans and are vital to its ongoing success. They receive a variety of benefits in return for paying an annual membership fee, which helps us ensure everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the chance to experience or take part in the Fringe. Fringe Society Ambassadors: Brian Cox and Suzy Eddie Izzard Benefits include: Fringe Champion: Geoff Arbuthnott • membership card and lanyard • 2for1 tickets to participating shows • an exclusive box office booking line • • discounts at the Fringe shop invites to exclusive events. Backstage Patrons: Bert Aerts, Changing Ideas, Dr Kurt and Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Greg Lovett Front Row Patrons: Chris Crouch and Molly Morris, Graeme and Rachel Baillie, Stephen and Teresa Graham Emerging Patrons: Jessica Guo, Jonathan Gorbach, Lisa Brindle, Margo Groves, Mike and Carol Ramsay, Whitney and Ally ... and others who wish to remain anonymous. And a huge thank you to our US supporters We are incredibly grateful to all our US supporters, including those who are backing the Keep it Fringe US initiative, empowering US-based artists to thrive at the Fringe in 2025. Keen to get involved? Further information on how we support artists and how you can contribute is available on page 11. Founding Contributors: JetBlue, Heather and Paul Innella, Scott and Holly Plank Official Media Partner: Playbill Supporters: Chris Eisgruber and Lori Martin, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Maria Vecchiotti and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. We have several membership tiers with a variety of benefits to suit different budgets. Every penny of your Friends membership will help the Fringe Society fulfil our vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat. Support from our Fringe Friends has helped us achieve so much already, such as improving access facilities at the Fringe, enhancing the support we can offer to artists and engaging with local schools and community groups. For more information on becoming a Fringe Friend, visit edfringe.com, email friends@edfringe.com or call +44 (0)131 226 0036. Fringe Network Friends Organisations can now join as Friends too! Network Friends are businesses who want to be fully immersed in the magic of the Fringe. Network Friends have the opportunity to provide clients and colleagues with a look behind the scenes of one of the world’s foremost celebrations of arts and culture. You get to attend invite-only events, meet key players and see top performances. Scan the QR code to find out more. Our continued thanks to our US Advisors for providing support and guidance: Chris Crouch, Ellen Tupman, Ian Houston, Molly Morris, Paul Innella and Scott Plank. 05
#DareToDiscover Navigating the programme Show name Performer or company name Show icons – see below. TFLP Subgenres Show description. Venue name B 0131 226 0000 V 1 G E5 Subgenres – these let you know a little more about what to expect from each show. 2 x July 28 20:00(1h) £0.00 July 29-Aug 26 20:00(1h) £0.00 (Free non-ticketed) M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Calendar – dates in grey have no performances and shows in red are eligible for the 2for1 offer (04 and 05 August). Add two (or multiples of two) full-price tickets to your basket and the discount will be automatically applied. Please note the offer does not apply if you only purchase one ticket. Concessions are not available as part of the 2for1 offer. Date, time, duration and price lines – the Fringe uses a standard 24-hour clock. For example, if you are out on a Friday night and you’ve booked a show that starts at half past midnight, your e-ticket will state Saturday 00:30 as the start time. This is important to remember if you have attended a Fringe show in previous years using ‘Fringe Time’, by which the day started and ended at 5am rather than midnight. Please note that ‘Fringe Time’ is no longer in use. Venue information B – box office phone number; V – venue number; G – map grid reference. The name of the space within the venue is noted in the brackets after the venue address. Space accessibility information – the circular icons after the space name explain performance or space-specific access information. For more details, please contact accessbookings@edfringe.com. A Audio description * Audio enhancement C Captioning R Relaxed performance B Interpreted or signed performance 2 Wheelchair access Touch tour Free shows can be ticketed or non-ticketed. Ensure you book a ticket for free ticketed shows. Prices listed are for unreserved seats in almost all cases. Concession prices, where available, are offered to the following groups (with additional concessions to specific groups indicated where applicable): students (S), registered unemployed (U), disabled people (D), over 65s (O), and children under 18 (C). Proof of status will be asked for at the venue. A further concession for families (F) may be offered for two adults and two children, or one adult and three children under the age of 18. x Indicates dates for preview performances. P Specifies that a show is a world premiere. T Eligible for the 2for1 offer, available on 04 and 05 August. Purchase two (or multiples of two) fullprice tickets and the discount will be automatically applied to your basket. Please note: offer does not apply if you only purchase one ticket. Concessions are not available as part of 2for1. F Registered for the Fringe Friends 2for1 ticket offer. For more information about Fringe Friends, visit www.edfringe.com/support-us/friends. The list of participating shows was correct at the time of printing but is subject to change. 06 Age guidance – These icons give guidance about the age group the event is suitable for. Please note that these are recommendations only. You should decide what is suitable for yourself and your group. U The green icons are suitable for ages 0+, 3+ or 5+. j Parents or guardians should consider the content of these shows if children are attending. K The black icons with 12+, 14+, 16+ and 18+ give guidance on the suitability of a show. Shows marked 18+ may be in venues that do not allow under-18s at all or at some points in the day due to licensing laws, despite the age ratings of the shows they host. Where possible, this information is included in the show and venue listings, but please check with the venue before you buy tickets to ensure everyone in your party can attend. Shows in the ‘Children’s shows’ section also display additional age guidance.
Follow us @edfringe Booking tickets The Fringe Box Office is the only place to buy tickets for every show at the Fringe. Book online at edfringe.com Book your tickets online via our secure website 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Browse and buy tickets on the go during August with the Fringe app, and use ‘nearby now’ to find shows starting soon near you. The app will be available ahead of the Fringe, please see edfringe.com for full details and to sign up to be the first to know. If you’ve bought tickets on behalf of others, we recommend that you arrive at the venue with the rest of your party. Book in person or over the phone The Fringe Box Office Old Assembly Close, High Street, EH1 1QS (next to the Fringe Shop) Telephone: +44 (0)131 226 0000 A booking fee of £1.25 per ticket is applied to all bookings (up to a maximum of £7.50 per transaction). This contributes towards the charitable activities of the Fringe Society and helps support the artists, venues and creatives that make the Fringe happen every year. Latecomers may not be admitted at the discretion of the venue, if denied entry you will not be eligible for a refund. Access bookings WhatsApp: +44 (0)7923 525799 (text only) 10:00 – 18:00 10:00 – 18:00 10:00 – 18:00 The Half Price Hut With thousands of half-price tickets available every day, the Half Price Hut is the place to grab a bargain. More information about this year’s Half Price Hut can be found on edfringe.com. 06 – 25 August (daily) 10:00 – 18:00 Booking advice and fees Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, except in the event of a show cancellation. Access bookings: +44 (0)131 226 0002 Fringe Box Office, Old Assembly Close, High Street, EH1 1QS All Fringe shows are e-ticketed so there’s no need to collect physical tickets. Once you’ve booked your ticket(s) you’ll receive an e-ticket containing a QR code. You can also add your ticket(s) to your Google or Apple Wallet from the link in your e-ticket. If you’ve booked tickets for multiple shows in a single transaction, this QR code will be the ticket for every show in that transaction. You will need to show the QR code on arrival at your venue(s); you can do this on your phone or tablet, or print it if required. Book tickets on the app Opening times: 03 June – 06 July (Monday – Friday) 07 July – 27 July (Monday – Saturday) 28 July– 25 August (daily) E-ticketing For many performances, general concession prices are applicable to students, registered unemployed, disabled customers, senior citizens (65 and over) and children under the age of 18. Please note, proof of concession status must be presented at the venue, except for disabled customers. A 10% discount for groups of 10 people or more is available for many performances on full-price tickets only. Free shows can be ticketed or non-ticketed. If a show is free ticketed, please ensure you book a ticket to attend. Some shows also use a model where you can either buy a ticket in advance to guarantee entry or pay what you want at the venue. This will be indicated at the point of purchase. Many free and pay-what-you-want shows ask audiences to contribute money at the end of the performance if they are able. 07
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