Newly elected MSPs will take part in their first formal meeting at the Scottish Parliament at 9.30am on Thursday 14 May.
All MSPs will start their work in the Parliament by making an oath or affirmation, which must happen before they can take part in any other parliamentary business at Holyrood.
John Swinney MSP, as leader of the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, will be the first to be sworn in, followed by the other party leaders. Other MSPs will be called forward in alphabetical order.
This initial meeting will be chaired by current Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP.
In the afternoon MSPs will be asked to elect a new Presiding Officer, who will serve for the rest of the new parliamentary session. It is expected that two Deputy Presiding Officers will be elected later in the afternoon.
Ahead of their first meeting in the Chamber, MSPs will have taken part in the first part of an induction programme in the parliament building. The programme aims to welcome MSPs to their roles and will:
allow MSPs to establish a temporary office within the Parliament
help MSPs establish their constituency or regional offices
inform MSPs about what support is available to them to help their constituents
give MSPs information about how to take part in debates and votes in the Chamber
let MSPs know more about the parliamentary roles and responsibilities
Speaking ahead of the MSPs arriving at the Scottish Parliament, David McGill, the Parliament’s Clerk/Chief Executive, said:“It is great to be able to welcome new MSPs into the Parliament, where our dedicated staff team will be on hand to help them get acquainted with their roles and responsibilities.
“This Parliament’s first formal meeting, on Thursday 14 May, will be particularly significant for those performing their first duties as MSPs, and for those seeking to become Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers.
“The first sitting day has an important role in formally introducing MSPs to the public, but the election of the Presiding Officer in particular starts to set the agenda for the session ahead.”
The first sitting day will be able to be view live on the Parliament’s website.
A much-loved Glasgow Indian restaurant, popular with famous faces including Mel Gibson, Orlando Bloom and Sir Billy Connolly is bringing its best-loved dishes to homes across the country for the first time.
This week, Mister Singh’s – which has built a loyal following serving patrons for over 30 years and regularly attracts sports stars and celebrities – is launching two of its top selling signature curries in Scotmid stores nationwide.
The family-run restaurant, led by four generations of Scots with Punjabi heritage, will roll out its iconic Chicken Bhoona and South Indian Garlic Chilli ready meals in Scotmid stores from 6 May.
Until now, curry loving fans have travelled from across Scotland for a taste of Mister Singh’s rich flavours and perfected recipes. Now Scotmid customers can pick them up locally and enjoy them in the comfort of their own homes.
The dishes have been expertly developed alongside Glasgow-based PK Foods, which has more than 25 years’ experience in producing top quality, ethnic foods.
The move into stores across the country follows Mister Singhs India and PK Foods’ success in Scotmid’s Scottish Favourites competition, which helps local producers secure listings across Scotland.
Working in collaboration with Mark Singh – third generation of the Singh family – and the restaurant’s executive chef Manesh Joshi, PK Foods has scaled up the recipes while keeping the bold flavours and authentic cooking style that built their iconic reputation.
Jason Stevenson, Sales Director at PK Foods, said:“We’ve built a strong relationship with Scotmid over many years, and we understand what their customers are looking for.
“These are dishes people already know and love, so the focus was on retaining that restaurant level flavour and quality and converting it into a format that was accessible to everyone, all whilst working hard to stay true to what makes Mister Singh’s so popular.”
Satty Singh, on behalf of Mister Singh’s, added:“We’ve been feeding Glasgow for decades and have welcomed some very familiar faces through our doors, with people travelling from all over to visit us.
“Bringing our curries to Scotmid shelves across the country is a proud moment for our family and a chance to share our heritage with even more communities.”
Scotmid’s Scottish Favourites initiative, delivered in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink, champions local producers and helps bring new products to customers.
Steve Addison, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, said:“Scottish Favourites is about championing the best of local producers, and this is a great example of that.
“Mister Singh’s has built a fantastic reputation in Glasgow, and we’re proud to help bring those much-loved flavours to customers across Scotland through our stores.”
Mister Singh’s Chicken Bhoona and South Indian Garlic Chilli (350g) will be available in 120 Scotmid stores from 6 May 2026, priced at £4.95 and will feature on an Any 2 For £8 launch promotion until 26th May.
We have another delicious menu planned for this Monday’s Community Lunch!
Come along 11:30am – 12:30pm for some baked tatties (different toppings available) and a fancy bread and butter pudding for dessert. You’ll have to come along to find out what makes it fancy!
Our Community Lunch is free for everyone, and you can sit in or take away.
We also have our free breakfast cafe running 9 – 10:30am with hot breakfast rolls and hot drinks too.
A big thank you to everyone who came along to the cafe last week – we fed 26 people! Our busiest day yet!!
Scotland’s spring blossom is in full bloom across the country – and online – with petal-powered posts and searches rising sharply this season.
According to national tourism and events organisation, VisitScotland, online search terms such as “cherry blossom season Scotland” and “when do cherry blossoms bloom in Scotland” have doubled year-on-year, while entirely new searches like “where to see cherry blossoms in Scotland” have emerged for the first time.
Specific searches for “cherry blossom Edinburgh” have risen by over 400%. Although the blossoms are fleeting – most displays lose their bloom by the end of May – parks and tree-lined avenues continue to attract both visitors and locals.
The rise reflects a growing appetite for seasonal experiences, with Scotland’s towns, cities and countryside offering a rich variety of spring blossom – from ornamental cherry trees to apple, plum and hawthorn lining streets, parks and green spaces.
This growing interest is also reflected across VisitScotland’s own social media channels, where blossom content has seen strong engagement this spring. Vibrant videos shared across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have gained over half a million views. Featuring everything from city-centre displays to scenic rural spots, the clips show audiences are increasingly interacting with and sharing seasonal imagery, highlighting the widespread appeal of Scotland in bloom.
Across the UK, interest in blossom is also on the rise. Total monthly searches for cherry blossom-related terms now exceed 352,000, while “cherry blossom near me” has seen a significant increase (+3,967%) as people seek out local places to enjoy the season.
The data reflects a growing awareness of global traditions. Terms such as “sakura” and “hanami”, associated with Japanese blossom viewing, continue to see consistent UK search interest, suggesting a broader cultural appreciation of the season.
In Japan, the hanami cherry blossom season has long been a tourism driver. It attracts millions of visitors and is estimated to generate £7-9million for the economy each year.
Jill Walker, VisitScotland Director of Marketing, said: “Spring is one of the most special times of year to experience Scotland, and the growing interest in blossom shows just how much people value these seasonal moments.
“From cherry blossom in our cities to the wider mix of flowering trees across parks, gardens and rural areas, these displays are proving a social media hit and helping to inspire more people to seek them out – often right on their doorstep.
“With only a short window to see the blossoms before the petals fall, their fleeting nature may make them even more appealing to experience and share.
“Extending the visitor season is a core part of our work to grow the value of the visitor economy, and these latest figures show that spring blossom is becoming an increasingly noticeable feature in Scotland’s tourism calendar, with exciting opportunities for attractions and communities alike.”
Find out what Scotland has to offer this Spring here:
MACPHERSON, Ben – Scottish National Party (SNP): 13,630
NEVENS, Kate – Scottish Green Party: 10,559
OWEN, Liss – Scottish Liberal Democrats: 1,895
THOMAS, Oliver Philip – Scottish Labour Party: 7,894
YOUNG, Haris – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: 1,297.
Ben Macpherson (SNP) has been duly elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith constituency with 13,630 votes.
I would like to draw your readers’ attention to a pressing matter. Every day, despite some of the best medical care available in the world via our NHS, children are traumatised in hospital.
Clinical environments, complex and painful procedures and isolation from friends can all build up to immense levels of stress. The anxiety can be particularly acute for little ones, who find it hard to understand what’s going on.
Healthcare-related trauma experienced in childhood can lead to the avoidance of medical appointments and delayed diagnosis and treatment. It can also affect access to care in adulthood and have a devastating impact on long-term emotional wellbeing. According to our research, 10% of adults in the UK said their childhood experiences of healthcare had negatively impacted their mental health.
Another little-known fact is that play can stop this trauma in its tracks. Starlight provides play resources to hospitals and hospices throughout the UK. We also provide support and high quality training to health play specialists and healthcare professionals to help them support children through play.
We have launched an appeal to reach even more children as soon as they need it because play can be the best medicine for babies, children and young people.
Find out how you can help children like nine-year-old Arlo who has a rare genetic condition and has spent weeks in hospital at starlight.org.uk.
After 12 years of continuous service at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh, much-loved senior nurse Dawn Sharp has decided to retire.
Dawn had worked for the company since 1995 across many of Barchester’s services before spending her last 12 years at Strachan House. The home couldn’t have been happier to have Dawn with us throughout the years providing a steady hand and a calm approach.
Staff and residents at the home sent Dawn off in style with flowers, cards and a huge hug of course. Everyone at the home has very fond memories of Dawn and she will be sadly missed.
During her time at Strachan House Dawn has been a wonderful nurse, someone dependable with Gladys one of the residents saying Dawns wonderful nature was the reason she was her favourite.
Dawn said: “Strachan House is like a family to me and though I’m looking forward to retirement, I’m really going to miss everyone here so much!”
Fran Fisher General Manager at Strachan House said: “Dawn is one of those people who was born to care for others – she has such a huge heart and was greatly loved by the individuals living at Strachan House Care Home. She was an inspiration to her colleagues and we will all miss her. We wish her all the best!”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
First ever Highland Games-inspired Supermarket Sweep
Aldi Scotland challenges Edinburgh shoppers to take on Scotland’s strongest men in its first ever Highland Games inspired Supermarket Sweep
Aldi Scotland is kicking off the 2026 Highland Games season with a first of its kind, high-energy trolley dash, challenging shoppers across the country to take on the world’s strongest brothers in a Highland Games inspired Supermarket Sweep, all in support of CHAS.
Coinciding with the opening games of the season at Gourock, the retailer is inviting duos to apply for the chance to beat the time set by strongmen Luke and Tom Stoltman, in a one-of-a-kind trolley dash, with winners also taking home their haul of goods.
Putting a fresh spin on the much-loved Supermarket Sweep format, the selected pair will be invited to compete in the ultimate in-store showdown, where strength, speed and skill will be put to the test. The challenge includes a range of new Highland Games-style challenges, from haggis hurling to trolley tug o’war. Their final shop total will be donated to CHAS, and if they beat the time set by the Stoltman brothers, they’ll double their haul.
Applications open from 10 May until 10 June, with entrants required to apply as a duo.
Each year, CHAS supports more than 500 babies, children and young people across Scotland with life-shortening conditions, along with their families. In 2026, every penny raised through Aldi’s Supermarket Sweep will go directly to the charity, with £10,000 pledged in support.
Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said:“Supporting local suppliers and celebrating Scottish culture is central to what we do, and our first-ever Highland Games–inspired Supermarket Sweep is a fantastic way to bring those together with our community initiative.
“Teaming up with Scotland’s strongest brothers adds a real sense of fun and competition, and we’re looking forward to seeing how challengers rise to the occasion. It is a brilliant way to celebrate national tradition while raising valuable funds for CHAS and the life-changing support they provide to children and families across Scotland.”
Offering advice to future contestants, Luke Stoltman added: “There’s more to it than just strength. Speed, teamwork and a bit of strategy will all come into play.
“We’re always up for a challenge, but this one’s a bit different from what we’re used to. Mixing Highland Games events with Aldi’s Supermarket Sweep is something really unique, and it’s going to be great fun seeing how people get on.
“Most importantly, it’s all for a brilliant cause, and we’re proud to be supporting CHAS and the incredible work they do for families across Scotland”
Entry is free and customers can apply by emailing ‘Highland Sweep’, their names, phone number and chosen store to supermarketsweep@aldi.co.uk before 10 June.
Summerhall Arts’ third and final festival programme announcement – on sale 6th May – includes the UK’s first purpose-built theatre sauna and new shows from Shaparak Khorsandi, Hannah Maxwell, Francesca Moody Productions, Thaddeus Phillips, theatregoose, and much, much more
Summerhall Arts announces the final 30 shows of its 2026 festival and the news that an 80-seat Sauna Theatre – the largest sauna in the UK – will occupy its rear courtyard in August, with a programme of theatre, music, dance, and some of the world’s best Aufguss artists
Award-winning British-Iranian comedian and author, Shaparak Khorsandi, presents a work in progress performance of her debut play, Kismet (قسمت), based on true life experiences of her family following the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Acclaimed Fringe favourite Hannah Maxwell (BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG; Nan, Me & Barbara Pravi) premieres her new show, Turn Your Fucking Phones Off
Francesca Moody Productions (Fleabag; Baby Reindeer) and Global Creatures (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) present ROLEPLAY – a new, NSFW one woman play from actress, comic and podcaster Hannah Reilly (The Deb)
Fringe legend Thaddeus McWhinnie Phillips brings a new Georges Méliès-inspired theatrical blend of micro-cinema, magic and puppetry with ArounD the WorlD in 80 ToyS
Serial Fringe hit makers, theatregoose (Aether; Sisters Three; Her Green Hell)premiere THE PLOT – a new play set around the Gunpowder Plot
Summerhall Arts Surgeries returns with two showcases and support for eight companies, and Summerhall Yoga returns for the duration of the 2026 festival
Four shows from House of Oz, including Concerts of the Future – a VR experience that allows you to play along with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Other highlights include the UK premiere of The Subplot: A hyperfixation on the Titan submersible;part play, part extreme workout, The Distance, from former GB athlete and Archers star Ben Norris; and a new play inspired by Tina Packer’s Women of Will graces the Summerhall stage for a limited run.
Home of boundary-pushing performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, arts charity Summerhall Arts,whichprovides year round support and development for artists as well as an annual exhibition programme hub; has announced the final30 shows of the 2026 instalment of its renowned festival programme and the news that the UK’s first purpose-built theatre sauna will occupy Summerhall’s back courtyard this August.
Adding to the 42 shows already announced, from companies including Xhloe and Natasha, Adam Riches, YESYESNONO, Creepy Boys, Salty Brine, Lightning Rod Special, and Wonder Fools; Summerhall Arts’ third programme announcement continues to exemplify bold, diverse and intersectional work of the highest quality. 50% of these shows are from international artists and companies, and Sauna Theatre will bring some of the world’s greatest Aufguss (an immersive experience using heat, essential oils, towel work and storytelling) artists to perform at Summerhall throughout August.
The Aufguss Master, Meg Hopkinson performs a routine ahead of the shows this summer which will take place in the UK’s first purpose-built Sauna Theatre’s, tickets are now on sale for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme at summerhallarts.co.uk
Tom Forster, Programmer & Producer at Summerhall Arts, commented:“It’s an immense privilege to present Summerhall Arts’ second festival programme in full. 2026 runs from drag kings to ballet, opera to satire, ceilidh to Aufguss.
“It cuts across class, identity, conflict, memory, care, and the digital age. Bold artists, urgent ideas — asking us to sit and sweat it out.”
Summerhall Arts is delighted to announce an exciting new collaboration with director James Grieve and designer Lucy Osborne, who previously designed and launched Paines Plough’s famous Roundabout theatre – a mainstay at Summerhall for so many years – who this year present the first project of their new company, Sauna Sessions Arts Club.
Occupying Summerhall’s back courtyard will be the UK’s largest sauna and the first to be purpose built to showcase theatre, art and culture. Literally the hottest new venue on the Fringe,Sauna Theatre will bring together an ambitious programme of Aufguss, theatre, spoken word, literature and music; all with the soothing heat of the sauna.
The 80-seat Sauna Theatre will host a diverse programme catering to both sauna regulars and culture lovers: ranging from morning raves to mysterious stories of ancient Scotland, the return of Nick Cassenbaum’s acclaimed Schvitz-based show, Bubble Schmeisis (Summerhall, 2016), to Virginia Woolf reimaginings.
The sauna environment increases endorphins, relaxes muscles and encourages blood flow – all helping to heighten audiences’ senses and creating an immersive experience, allowing audiences to focus fully on art without distraction.
Sam Gough, CEO of Summerhall Arts, commented:“We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this ambitious Aufguss project here. It is a brilliant, brave and fun programme of work delivered in the most beautiful and innovative way and could not be more Summerhall Arts!
“This collaboration came about through our shared love for bold ideas and groundbreaking approaches to the arts, housed within one of Edinburgh’s most innovative and experimental venues. What better way to develop our space, in our second year of reimagining everything we do here. Where is my towel?”
James Grieve, Co-Creator of Sauna Theatre, added:“It is thrilling to be launching this new pop-up space on the very same spot we launched Roundabout in 2014 at a venue and festival that means so much to us.
“We’re so excited to welcome Edinburgh audiences to relax, revive and be inspired in Sauna Theatre at Summerhall Arts.”
Once audiences have showered, changed, and blow-dried their hair; they can venture back into the heart of Summerhall and experience the rest of Summerhall Arts’ boundary-pushing programme.
This year, this includes a work in progress of a new play written and performed by acclaimed comedian and author, Shaparak Khorsandi. Based on her best-selling novel, Nina’s Not Okay, Kismet (قسمت) is about the true life experiences of her Iranian family, scattered around the globe after the 1979 Iranian Revolution – and features original live music by Jean Delkhaste, aka Smiling Beth.
Multi-award-winning storyteller Hannah Maxwell returns to Summerhall after acclaimed turns with Nan, Me and Barbara Pravi (★★★★★- The Financial Times) in 2023 and BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG (★★★★ – The Guardian) in 2025. With dramaturgy by Ursula Martinez and Rachel Mars, Hannah premieres Turn Your Fucking Phones Off – a timely, autobiographical, and interactive work about digital toxification and mis/disinformation.
And the producer of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, Francesca Moody Productions, teams up with Global Creatures (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) to present ROLEPLAY – a new, NSFW one woman show from actress, comic and podcaster Hannah Reilly (The Deb). Paige Rattray (Fangirls) directs this red-hot interrogation of modern sex, womanhood and the commodification of feminism in the age of the personal brand.
Chaplin-esque legend of the Fringe, Thaddeus McWhinnie Phillips (Zoo Motel; 17 Border Crossings) returns to Edinburgh with a new theatrical journey into the realm of micro-cinema, classic magic, and object puppetry. ArounD the WorlD in 80 ToyS is a haunting and touching homage to the movies inspired by the world’s first film director, Georges Méliès.
Award-winning theatre company theatregoose returns to Summerhall with a fourth show in a row written and directed by Emma Howlett (The Stage’s Fringe Five 2025), after consecutive sell-out hits Aether, Sisters Three, and Her Green Hell. Premiering this year, THE PLOT is a new play set around the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, exploring rebellion, reinvention, and the power of a great story.
Summerhall Arts Surgeries returns this Fringe with 2 showcases providing financial support to 8 artists or companies and the opportunity to showcase their unfinished work to peers, producers and industry. Building on the spirit of experimentation that defines Summerhall Arts, the Surgeries provide a safe, collaborative environment to test ideas, exchange feedback, and discover new possibilities for their work. Open to all forms of live performance, this is the fourth year of the Surgeries, which have now expanded to the Spring as well and have so far supported 40 companies to present work to almost 8000 audience members.
Also in keeping with Summerhall Arts’ commitment to keeping creative juices flowing, as well as maintaining good mental and physical health throughout August, Summerhall Yoga will return for the duration of this year’s festival. Our resident Yogi, Olga, will give morning yoga classes, which are free for our staff and artists, and bookable for everyone else.
Summerhall Arts is thrilled that champions of Australian performance, House of Oz, will present four shows in the programme this year. Co-presented by The Sonicrats and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Concerts of the Future is a cutting-edge participatory VR music experience that gives audiences of all musical capabilities the chance to perform Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 7 with one of Australia’s premier orchestras.
Joel Bray Dance presents the UK premiere of acclaimed Aboriginal choreographer Joel Bray’s show, DADDY – a seductive, provocative, and candy-coloured interrogation of colonialism. Theatre Republic presents Emily Steel’s award-winning semi-autobiographical play, How Not To Make It In America – a heartbreakingly funny show about chasing your dreams, the U.S. in the aftermath of 9/11, and which sees one man play twenty-eight different characters.
Acclaimed contemporary dance-theatre company The Farm premiere a powerful, raw and emotional work about two siblings, one of whom has Down’s syndrome. Expressed through dance, theatre and storytelling, Glass Child highlights how their lives and connection are affected by the perceptions of others.
Outwith House of Oz, the Australian contingent continues. Sophie Smyth brings her award-nominated autism and ADHD powered one-woman odyssey of sub, sea, and self: The subplot: A hyperfixation on the Titan submersible. And, winner of this year’s Adelaide Fringe Edinburgh Touring Award: South Australian theatre company The CRAM Collective present their acclaimed exploration of grief and lasagne, Meteors, for its UK premiere.
Another big hit in Australia and the winner of the overall Best Theatre and Physical Theatre award in Adelaide, acclaimed comedian Kirsty Mann returns to Summerhall after a sold-out work in progress run last year. Produced by Impatient Productions, she presents the UK premiere of her award winning show, CORPSE – a real-life ghost story with a difference.
Moving to the theme of endurance, from a starry producing team – Global Creative, Grace Dickson Productions and Nic Doodson Productions – behind a combination of musical (SIX; The Choir of Man) and Fringe hits (Playfight; Lady Killer), comes the world premiere of The Distance. Part play, part extreme workout, this is a sweat-drenched exploration of ambition, identity and letting go from former GB athlete and Archers star, Ben Norris.
Summerhall Arts is excited to welcome Siofra Dromgoole’s brand new play, Women of Will, based on the seminal work by actress, director and founder of Shakespeare & Company Tina Packer. Presented by Women of Will Productions, Paul-Lou Lemieux, in association with Soho Theatre, this new pub-based celebration of Shakespeare’s heroines stars Ella Louden, who was directed by Tina Packer in productions of Titus Andronicus and Cymbeline, and Nigel Gore who starred in the original adaptation.
If audiences still prefer their saunas imagined, they can join the inhabitants of Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre as they cook themselves into a frenzy, with Thermodrama. Presented by emerging theatre company Lovecock Productions, Coco Cottam’s new comic-tragic play tackles the toxicity of wellness culture and how the cult of self-improvement affects society’s most vulnerable.
More exciting Scottish work joins the likes of Autopsy Award winner Althea Young, including BULL / FIGHT – an exciting co-production from emerging Edinburgh-based theatre collective Mythography and Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre, about the death and legacy of poet and playwright Federica García Lorca, set during the Spanish Civil War.
Acclaimed Glasgow-based artist, performer, and Instagram reel-based arts sector agitator, Craig Manson presentsBunny! – a darkly comic take on the ‘critically acclaimed solo show’ that fuses live art, cabaret and musical theatre to tell the story of aspiring theatre starlet and serial killer, Bunny. And, new Scottish theatre company Trolley Problem (Mistero Buffalo – The Citz, 2026) premiere Nesting – an experimental, multidisciplinary and magical realist performance that explores assisted dying, neurodegenerative illness and the ethics of care.
Summerhall Arts is delighted that so many artists and companies return to Summerhall after past successes. This year, independent theatre company withintheatre, who cast their theatre ire at authoritarian regimes and had critically acclaimed turns with 1984 (2024) and Julia. 1984 (2025), presents Boogie on the Bones.
Based on the novel by acclaimed Russian screenwriter Yurii Korotkov, this musical political play, set in Soviet-era Moscow, explores how youth cultures resist repression and conformity through jazz, dance, and underground culture. And, acclaimed comedian Derek Mitchell follows his sell-out show Goblin (2025) with a new work in progress performance.
Moving from political history to sexual and gender politics, Emmeline Hartley and Jack Mullings premiere We Had Fun, directed by Olivier and Tony awards-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX: The Musical) – an un-romantic dark comedy and ‘fascinating exploration’ (Daniel Finkelstein, The Times) of the greyest areas of consent and sexual politics.
Magalie Rouillard-Bazinet presents a touching and humorous solo show about a young woman who loses her orgasm and herself: Homecumming explores taboos surrounding female sexuality and a wider conversation about mental health, shame, and self-worth. And, Katie Hurley and Sarah Hehir in association with Croydonites premiereMan or Bear – a fast-moving, darkly comic new play about fear, friendship and survival inspired by the viral question: ‘Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear?’
Directed by Ursual Martinez, it blends kitchen-sink realism, music and physical theatre, following three generations of women in the lead-up to an act of violence, focusing on women’s resilience and reflecting on modern day misogyny.
Staying on the politics of our times, acclaimed Philadelphia comedian, performer and writer Lee Minora (★★★★ – The Skinny) premieres Baby Everything – a hilarious, helter-skelter, and razor-sharp interrogation of anxiety in the digital age. Ricocheting between clown, storytelling and theatrical fantasy, audiences follow a hypochondriac protagonist trying to work out if the world’s actually getting worse or if we’re just looking too closely.
Irish theatremakers Oisín Kearney and Gina Donnelly present the UK premiere of their acclaimed play, Good With Faces, which won the Solas Nua New Voices Award at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2025. A taut thriller about a struggle for power between a worried mother and a concerned social worker, the piece is a complex exploration of the state versus the individual and what it means to care.
Multi-award-winning theatre company Chronic Insanity presents a brand new gig-theatre show featuring a live 00s-inspired indie band: Horrorshow explores class disparity, nostalgia, and regional identity, asking who cultural events are really for and who they leave behind. And, Jude Green premieres TOAST – a pitch-black comedy about Proper Jobs, class divides, and starving for your art. Perhaps the funniest show about systemic poverty on the Fringe.
Terracotta Productions brings Sitting (In Silence), the multi-award-winning debut play from emerging theatremaker Kitty Falcon – a tragi-comedy exploring mental health, grief, suicide loss and reconnection, rooted in lived experience and community storytelling. And, Give or Take Productions brings the winner of the Outstanding Theatre Award at Brighton Fringe 2024: funny, honest and deeply devastating, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is a dark fairytale in which the power of storytelling is used to make sense of great personal trauma.
Completing the 2026 installment of Summerhall Arts’ renowned festival programme, The Drolly Theater brings a unique, family-friendly ‘light puppeteering’ show. Through the power of puppetry, science and light, Magic Lantern Anthology guides audiences through future folklore and forgotten myths.
These 30 new shows, 9 shows at Sauna Theatre, and the 42 shows previously announced, are on sale now. Summerhall Arts’ festival runs from 6th – 31st August 2026.
