SNACK Picks – Stand-Out Fringe Theatre Previewed

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SHINJUKU

We’ll set the scene: Single woman, working her arse off, one child, male, might be hitting the manosphere too much — and there’s the worry. Abby, the mum, has been teaching him the basics, like how to respect women — the boy’s head teacher offers help but seems to have an agenda. By Production Lines, a Scottish company based in Edinburgh, who seem determined to make a timely statement.

Olive Studio at Greenside @ George Street, 7th till 15th August

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SAUNA THEATRE

A venue, not a performance. And it won’t be televised, unless STV, alluding to the potential for a Carry On-style slip take a wander. Fair enough: already, there is some nervousness over who amongst the critics will find their speedos in time.

You see, it’s a purpose-built 80-seat ‘sauna theatre’ which replaces the Roundabout, will host hit shows, dance parties, and literary salons at Summerhall. Mysteries of the Picts; a meditative Aufguss show choreographed to the music of Nils Frahm; a daily morning sauna rave… why are saunas a thing all of a sudden?

Summerhall, 7th till 31st August

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MACBETH / HERACLES

Who wants some 90-minute immersive theatre? The Barden Party has Macbeth (Blood and Bluegrass, apparently – see main image) and Heracles: Of Men and Beasts (Folk, live loops, and a big, big question). The quick-pitch is: unique musical renditions of William Shakespeare’s works from an award-winning travelling New Zealand troupe.

Reacting to the Covid pandemic, Actor/director Laura Irish wanted to take theatre back to its roots through a style of touring that couldn’t be cancelled — started in her very own backyard. For Edinburgh, it’s all indoors or Scotland’s weather will probably want to have a word. Do they have weather in NZ?

The Grand Theatre, Surgeons’ Hall, 7th till 29th August / Upper Theatre at theSpace, Niddry St, 17th till 29th August

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MAYFLIES

Scottish in-situ theatre powerhouse, Grid Iron presents the world premiere of Mayflies, a site-specific adaptation of Andrew O’Hagan’s best-selling novel. With an epic soundtrack forged straight from the heart of the 80s, and staged in a former metalworks in Leith, echoing the iconic venues of Manchester’s music scene…

This should be iconic. A gutsy love letter to friendship, and a pledge: go at life differently.

Rear Warehouse (Tower Street Entrance) at Brown’s of Leith, 7th till 30th August (excluding 10th, 18th, and 25th)

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AMANDA KNOX: CARTWHEEL

American media personality Amanda Knox is approaching 40. She is juggling motherhood and facing an existential crisis. So far, so normal. Except that, nearly 20 years ago Amanda Knox was imprisoned in Italy — and then acquitted — for the murder of Meredith Kercher, making headlines across the world.

Knox is now worried what she will tell her daughter, and in her one-woman show explores what being a mother whilst also being infamous means.

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 7th till 17th August

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THE SINGER

KT Tunstall adds musicality to theatre visionary Cora Bisset’s concept with deaf artist Jamie Rhea. Along with playwright David Greig, they deliver this performance piece which has a deaf artist and struggling musician join forces, taking singing onto a new dimension.

Whilst the struggling musician needs to catch a break, he meets a deaf artist who sings with his hands. It’s an exploration of whose voices are amplified, whose are overlooked, and what it truly means to stand your ground.

Traverse Theatre, 8th till 30th August (excluding 10th, 17th, or 24th)

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CATHY

Young Scottish writer Eilidh Loan scored big with first play Moorcroft, a spirited sports play based on her dad’s amateur football club. Eilidh now brings us Cathy, a new comedy inspired by her grandmother.

This is the story of how she dealt with the grief in her unique way after losing her husband. Cathy, Eilidh’s grandmother, insisted that Elaine C. Smith must play her, she must be a force of nature, because now she will.

Traverse, 31st July till 30th August

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BULL / FIGHT

Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre partners with the Mythography Collective to take us back to 1936 and the execution by fascists of the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. Bull/Fight searches for beauty within Spain’s Civil War as political violence takes root, in a tragic quest played out amongst the country’s turmoil.

Summerhall, 6th till 31st August (excluding 17th and 24th)

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SLAYERS

Written by Edinburgh-based Corinne Salisbury, this follows single mum and abuse survivor Liane, who takes up boxing with her ten-year-old daughter. As they find courage to take up arms against the manosphere, their taste for violence leads to plotting for revenge, but how far is too far after you have suffered too much…

Assembly George Square Studios, 18th till 30th August

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BLISS

From the Olivier Award-winning producers of Cabaret and Benjamin Button, the biggest new musical of the Fringe turns the fairy tale inside out.

Once upon a time, there was a princess. Whatever that means… Four sisters escape their tower and collide with the outside world. With 17 West End performers, electric vocals, and a pop-rock punch, Bliss is a fearless musical about ripping up the rule book and the price of perfection.

Grand at Pleasance Courtyard, 5th till 31st August

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LEGENDARY

Ancient myths. Modern questions. Legendary blends Chinese mythology, memory, and queer legacy in the electrifying solo ritual musical Legendary, a life-affirming tale of queer joy and identity.

Underbelly Bristo Square, 5th till 31st August

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ROLEPLAY

The story of a broke feminist podcaster who reinvents herself as a provocative slutfluencer in pursuit of fame, only to lose herself in the performance.

Darkly hilarious, gripping, and surreal, ROLEPLAY is a ferocious interrogation of modern sex, the commodification of feminism, and the era of the personal brand.

TechCube0 at Summerhall, 6th till 31st August (not Tuesdays)

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ENDGAME

Not an Avengers parody, thankfully. Flabbergast Theatre is bringing bold physicality and razor-sharp comedy in a gripping staging of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame.

In a dying world, four survivors cling to routine, memory, and one another as time slowly runs out. Devastating, hilarious, strangely tender, this fearless interpretation captures the dark comedy and haunting humanity of one of theatre’s greatest modern classics.

Pleasance at EICC, 5th till 30th August (excluding 12th August)

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ITALO CALVINO’S INVISIBLE CITIES

Calvino’s stunning language springs to life in a cascade of trapdoors, surprises, and reveals. As Kublai Khan feels his empire eroding beneath him, Marco Polo forms the slipping sands into the cities of the emperor’s dreams.

This adaptation in miniature casts a dreamlike spell over the audience using live projection, puppetry, paper mechanics, and living sculpture as two performers manipulate tiny cameras on a small table. Had a sold-out run at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.

C venues | C alto, 5th till 30th August (not 17th)

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AFRONAUTS

This is the incredible story of Zambia’s 1960s space programme — Circus Zambia has now been developing and performing this for nearly ten years. On the day they were to declare independence, Zambia’s space programme wanted to send two cats and one astronaut into space. With original film footage, the involvement of the family of the man whose vision it was — Edward Mukuku Nkoloso — through music, circus, storytelling and hope, they bring this remarkable tale to Edinburgh.

Underbelly, George Square, 6th till 31st August (excluding 12th, 17th, and 24th)

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CROCODILE ROCK

Fresh from a triumphant run at the Oran Mor as part of the recent A Play, A Pie, A Pint season, Darren Brownlie performs the memories of director and writer Andy McGregor’s growing up in Millport along with his own and Dramaturg Johnny McKnight’s experiences of growing up gay in Scotland in the shadow of the unfair and notorious (and noxious) Section 28 in the 1990s.

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 5th till 31st August (excluding 11th, 18th, and 25th)

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COMMON TONGUE

Olivia Caw delivers a virtuoso performance as Bonnie — a lassie who speaks in Scots and is heard in riddles — who fights against the injustice of prejudice and wins us over by the end. A solo show that leaves a real impression about the vitality of being true to yersel!

Scottish Storytelling Centre, 7th till 31st August (excluding 5th, 12th, and 19th)

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DRIBBLE

This is a vibrant celebration exploring football as memory, ritual and collective experience. Brazilian company Cênica brings an explosion of live music, physical theatre and storytelling, inspired by the gesture of the dribble which was invented by … the Scots.

We may have lost again to our South American cousins, but this promenade performance explores our deep connection to the most hallowed footballing convention, in what began with a Scottish immigrant (Charles Miller) bringing football to Brazil. Dribble explores the connection between football and community around a table with people telling stories, just like what happens every afternoon in bars around grounds around our own country, and indeed the world.

Underbelly, George Square, 5th till 31st August (excluding 17th and 24th)