Scottish Ensemble are joined by Jasdeep Singh Degun for their latest ambitious cross-genre collaboration.
Scottish Ensemble partner with composer and sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun, for a collaborative tour across Scotland this October.
Jasdeep is one of Britain’s leading voices in the Indian Classical Music tradition, and this tour will see him performing for the first time in Scotland.
The performance will feature the premier of a new composition by Jasdeep forsitar, tabla and strings, written specifically to be performed alongside Scottish Ensemble’s musicians.
Touring to Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and Manchester, this performance promises to spin a music tale of mesmerising melody, not to be missed!
“Showcases the classical music of the subcontinent but also mixes, melds and modernises it.” – Financial Times, on Jasdeep’s debut album Anomaly
Scottish Ensemble kick off the first collaboration of their 2023/24 season performing alongside Leeds-born sitarist and composer, Jasdeep Singh Degun. Jasdeep has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s leading voices in the Indian Classical Music tradition.
He has performed at a wide range of prestigious and high-profile venues across the UK and abroad, including performing for Prince Harry as part of BBC Documentary Goldies Band; at the UN opening of the Amphitheatre in Doha, Qatar in 2012 in a concert led by composer Vangelis; accompanying Donovan at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool; and in a sell-outperformance of his album Anomaly at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room.
Partnering with Scottish Ensemble, Jasdeep will be bringing his unique approach to Indian classical composition to Scottish audiences for the first time. Scottish Ensemble and Jasdeep will tour to Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow, with an additional afternoon performance at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Jasdeep began work with Scottish Ensemble in July, when a quintet of string musicians to joined him and tabla player Harkiret Singh Bahra to begin developing this performance.
Together they began to bring together the complex and contrasting traditions of Indian and Western classical music. Scottish Ensemble took this opportunity to get to grips with the uber-tight rhythms and the beautiful balance of structure and freedom at the heart of the Indian classical music.
Scottish Ensemble are well-known for their innovative and ambitious cross-genre and crossartform collaborations. They strive to create exhilarating musical experiences through working with musicians from a wide array of genres and musical traditions. The development of this work has tested their musicians’ skills and challenged how they think about music and performance.
These moments are where collaboration flourishes, pushing the boundaries of form and genre, and challenging conventional musical labels or categorisation.
This performance will feature a number of compositions by Jasdeep Singh Degun, including works from his album Anomaly, alongside work by medieval German composer Hildegard von Bingen, and American contemporary composer Terry Riley.
These pieces of western repertoire are rooted in minimalism, drones, and improvisation, and were selected to complement and enhance the experience of Jasdeep’s compositions.
Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th-century abbess and polymath and is one of the most well known and most recorded composers of sacred monophony – Christian religious music which follows a single melodic line.
Drawing a contrast with this ancient music, is Terry Riley’s Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector written for the Kronos Quartet in 1980.
This work allows its performers to “co-compose” a version of the piece. It is composed of 24 repeating modules designed to be combined, juxtaposed, and overlapped freely by the musicians in performance.
A highlight of the concert will come with the world premiere of a new work by Jasdeep, commissioned by Scottish Ensemble specifically for this tour.
This new work, composed for sitar, tabla, and string quintet, draws upon the creative collaboration between Jasdeep and Scottish Ensemble’s players from their initial rehearsals. Jasdeep spent two days with Scottish Ensemble’s musicians, sharing knowledge and experience, rehearsing arrangements of Jasdeep’s work and the western repertoire.
This experience and exchange of knowledge has built the foundation for Jasdeep’s new work, which is written specifically to be performed with Scottish Ensemble’s quintet of musicians.
Join Scottish Ensemble and Jasdeep Singh Degun this October for a musical tale, driven by the beautiful spontaneity of the Indian Classical tradition, transporting you through layers of mesmerising melody.
Listings Details
Dundee – Wed 4 October, 8pm – Marryat Hall Edinburgh – Thu 5 October, 8pm – The Queen’s Hall Inverness – Fri 6 October, 8pm – Eden Court Glasgow – Sat 7 October, 8pm – Adelaide Place Manchester – Sun 8 October, 4pm– Royal Northern College of Music
Join Live Music Now Scotland for a brand new series of performances, connecting a multicultural community through the power of music
‘Family Music Time’ is a new opportunity to enjoy free of charge music performances from some of Scotland’s most talented emerging artists.
The relaxed and informal concerts are taking place in a stunning venue that welcomes all.
“Live Music Now Scotland is very much looking forward to working with the local community of Stenhouse, along with the team at St Salvador’s and its Community Food Initiative” says Live Music Now Scotland Director, Carol Main MBE.
“The location is in the heart of an area of multi-cultural diversity and multiple deprivation. There is little or no opportunity for people to come together socially or interact with their neighbours, with many living in social isolation.
“Through Family Music Time, musicians from Live Music Now Scotland, including those from Poland, Spain, Latin America and Scotland, will offer the chance of shared social pleasure and joy through the international language of music and traditional cultures.”
“St. Salvador’s Scottish Episcopal Church is a growing congregation in Stenhouse, Edinburgh. Our vibrant and multicultural congregation reflects the diversity of the surrounding area. Through our worship and social outreach, we seek to engage and support our local community, says Revd Dr Ross Jesmont of St Salvador’s.
“We are looking forward to collaborating with Live Music Now Scotland to host a series of music events for local children and their families.
“The opportunity to have live music events in an area of the city where this is not a regular feature is an exciting prospect. We hope these events will both provide families with an opportunity to enjoy live music in their area and inspire a new generation of musicians.”
Sun 24 September Troppos Ensemble, Troppos Ensemble, instrumental ensemble with a Latin twist
Sun 29 October
Sun 29 October Megan MacDonald and Calum McIlroy,
Megan MacDonald and Calum McIlroy, accordion and guitar duo
Sun 26 November
Sun 26 November Roo and Neil,
Roo and Neil, fiddle and accordion duo
All at 2.00pm I St. Salvador’s Scottish Episcopal Church, Stenhouse.
Lammermuir Festival has been turned down by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for funding towards this year’s festival.
Over a period of 40 weeks the festival lodged three applications having been strongly encouraged by Creative Scotland officials to re-apply twice.
Each application was strongly recommended for funding by the Music Department at Creative Scotland, particularly as a key part of a network of festivals across the country including East Neuk, Paxton, Cumnock Tryst and St Magnus.
Each application has been turned down by assessment panels, the last notification being on 22 August, just 16 days before the 2023 festival opened.
Statement on the future of the Lammermuir Festival from the Chair and Trustees:
The Chair and Trustees of the Lammermuir Festival are appalled and saddened at the lack of investment in the 2023 festival by Creative Scotland. The Times described the Lammermuir Festival as “an indispensable part of Scotland’s musical culture”.
It has indisputably been a huge success over the past 14 years, giving pleasure to audiences from East Lothian and further afield, transformative experiences for people young and old through our community engagement, and presenting Scottish and international performers with worldwide reputations in beautiful and intimate settings across the county.
Presenting the Festival in its current form has relied on a strong, supportive audience; our loyal Friends, Benefactors, sponsors and other generous funders; and investment from public funds, mainly Creative Scotland but also contributions from EventScotland and East Lothian Council.
In previous years ticket revenues, private sector funders and public support have contributed about one third each of the cost of the Festival enabling us to keep ticket prices at a level to allow the widest audience to attend the performances.
If Creative Scotland had invested the sum requested in 2023 it would have represented 23% of the Festival budget. This is crucial investment in an area of Scotland which does not have regular high-quality cultural events drawing audiences to the area. In 2022 the Lammermuir Festival generated £780,000 of economic benefit for East Lothian (Source: MKA Economics, November 2022).
Public support has in addition allowed children and young people from across the county to discover and develop musical skills and benefit socially from participation in music. Most recently this brought almost 700 people together in our community opera and engagement work, giving them the experience of every aspect of production as well as performing.
This year Creative Scotland has declined to support the festival despite having encouraged us to re-apply twice over the last nine months.
Reasons given were first: prioritising applications with activity earlier in the year; second: Fair Work; third: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. This third application was refused on a criterion which the Music Department assessor judged to be fully met. We are urgently seeking clarification on how this could be.
The artistic ambition and quality of the festival has been consistently recognised in Music Department assessments.
In particular there has been no recognition that what has emerged is effectively a decision by Creative Scotland to give no priority to a festival as significant as Lammermuir, despite its record of achievement and its obvious appeal to audiences and performers; and no attempt is made to justify this.
This flies in the face of the expressions of support for culture in Scotland, and in particular for festivals, that have been made in recent days by the First Minister, Neil Gray and Angus Robertson.
To deliver this year’s Festival as planned – with what is already being acclaimed as an outstanding artistic programme – we shall be obliged to use a significant proportion of our reserves which we have judiciously built up over many years.
Thankfully on this one occasion we were in a position to do this, allowing audiences to once again enjoy beautiful music in beautiful places as in previous festivals, and meet our commitment to artists.
Without Creative Scotland support the Lammermuir Festival’s future is under threat.
We urge Creative Scotland to reconsider their decision and secure the future of Lammermuir Festival. In order to make plans and commitments for 2024 and beyond we need the financial stability which Creative Scotland has provided over the past 13 years.
We are determined to save the Lammermuir Festival for the future.
From the Chair and trustees of Lammermuir Festival
St James Quarter Sessions artists celebrated the finale of St James Quarter Sessions – a free live music event series that took place at St James Quarter throughout August.
With an impressive line-up of over 60 live performances and DJ sets, the Quarter transformed into a music festival site with guests reserving tickets to enjoy exclusive sets from talent including Russell Stewart, Grace and the Flat Boys and Super French.
St James Quarter, Summer Sessions Fringe Busking eventSt James Quarter, Summer Sessions Fringe Busking eventSt James Quarter, Summer Sessions Fringe Busking event
Granton Youth, who work out of Royston & Wardieburn Community Centre, have developed a very successful ‘Mixtape’ group (writes DAVID MACNAB).
This provides opportunities to learn from volunteers and tutors who come from different backgrounds but perform music. The young people get bespoke lessons such as vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, and drums – along with learning music production, song writing exercises, and how to play in a band environment.
The 2023 – 2024 year looks like it is going to be a defining year for the young people who get music tuition and support from Granton Youth and Mixtape.
This year five of the young acts performed at the second North Edinburgh Community Festival, attended by over 6000 people in West Pilton Park, with Granton Youth and Tinderbox partnering on the musical end.
Kat, who plays under the name “Laurent” (french pronunciation), completed her debut EP “Modern Myths” and released this to much acclaim.
Despite being only 17, they have already been named “track of the week” on BBC introducing in Scotland with the track “News to Me” and has become one of the youngest ever people to headline Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh. Her other singles “Paint” and “Hunting Season” are also receiving national and US airplay.
Tonight – Friday 1st September – the Mixtape club takes over Sneaky Pete’s again, with four young Broughton High students headlining as the newly formed band “Low Tide” and having sold out the venue in advance following the release of their debit single “Between Knuckles” – all received tutelage, rehearsal time, and recording studio hours through Granton Youth.
They have also worked closely with our school workers within Broughton High, forming meaning relationships with Granton Youth which made them feel comfortable in coming to Mixtape.
Later this year, Mixtape has these two acts performing at Dunfermline’s “Outwith” Festival – as well as our young persons covers band “Ecliptic”, has partnered with Tinderbox again to form “North By Northwest” – a free entry gig evening in Leith showcasing young and emerging talent, and will be touring it’s young acts across Scotland in the months to come with shows already scheduled in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
A great example of how youth work can really make a difference to young lives.
Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall was one of four Barchester homes who set their stage by hosting their first of many Edinburgh Fringe Cares events on Saturday.
Following on from the success of our Edinburgh Fringe Cares events last year at Barchester’s Queens Manor and the ongoing community links that were built, Barchester became the founding sponsor of an even bigger event this year and for years to come – The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Care Fest.
Eventually, the long term goal would be for all Edinburgh care homes to be part of this amazing initiative, no matter what company, but in the meantime Barchester got to go first, with 4 of their Edinburgh homes taking part!
It’s hoped this year’s events will shape the foundations for other care providers to follow suit in the coming years.
Strachan House immerse their residents and families into a spectacular performance from their nominated Edinburgh Fringe performer’s Octovoce, who took the audience through a magical journey of cappella style song.
The promotional event was one of four that Barchester Healthcare sponsored to showcase how the Edinburgh Fringe should be made accessible to everyone in care homes.
Strachan House was one of the four homes to demonstrate how successful these events can be and how it can benefit residents wellbeing.
Mandy, Head of Activities, said: “This was a fun event to do. Staff and residents loved getting on board by dressing up in character and our chefs prepared a themed menu of goodies for the special occasion.
“The home was transformed into a colourful castle of colour as our residents were taken on a magical afternoon of music. But the biggest success has been to be part of the four Barchester homes to showcase how every home in Edinburgh can do this.
“Along with Queens Manor, Archview and Drummond Grange, who also hosted their Edinburgh Fringe Cares events, we hope that this is something that will continue for years to come for everyone living in a care home.
“Putting this event together and having the residents on board with all their ideas has been amazing and to support them to bring it all together has been an honour.
“Professor Joe Goldblatt who attended the event and created the idea behind Edinburgh Fringe Cares has been truly inspiring.”
General Manager, Gordon Philp said, “Our residents and staff have been very excited about this event and the team worked so hard behind the scenes to ensure it is was great success.
“We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment at Strachan House as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents, and this was will certainly be outstanding, and certainly will be remembered for years to come.
“Our aim was to demonstrate to other care providers how this can be achieved and the benefits of delivering it within a care home setting.”
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.
Residents and guests at Strachan House care home in Blackhall will be hosting their first of many Edinburgh fringe events on Saturday 26th August at 3pm and are inviting their local community to come along and support what is set to be a magical afternoon.
Following on from the success of a trial of a Fringe Care Festival event last year and the ongoing community links that were built, Barchester Healthcare are now continuing their support by being the founding sponsors of an even bigger event this year and for years to come – The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Care Fest.
Strachan House will be opening their doors to Edinburgh festival performers Octovoce, an accapella group who will be taking everybody on a magical afternoon of well-known music.
As well as this, they are encouraging everyone to come along dressed as their favourite character and enjoy a themed buffet prepared by their wonderful chefs, whilst being immersed in a fairy tale sing along event that would be fit for any prince or princess.
Mandy Head of Activities said “Eventually, the long term goal would be for all Edinburgh care homes to be part of this amazing initiative – no matter what company, but in the meantime Barchester get to go first, with the 4 Edinburgh homes taking part!
“Shaping the event foundations for other care providers to follow suit in the coming years…”
General Manager, Gordon Philp said, “Our residents and guests are very excited about this event and the team are working behind the scenes to ensure it is a great success.
“We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment at Strachan House as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents, and this was will certainly be outstanding!”
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.
THE ICONIC PURPLE COW AND ITS MOO-VELLOUS PROGRAMME RETURN FOR THE 23rd YEAR
Underbelly has officially opened the doors to its incredible venues and line-up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, set to entertain locals and visiting crowds alike.
Last night, Underbelly’s iconic McEwan Hall got the party started with the official programme launch. Lucky guests sampled a flavour of what’s on offer this year with a spectacular mix of comedy, dance and circus.
The event was hosted by comedian Sooz Kempner and comedy crime podcasters Kathy and Stella opened the show with a number from their hit musical Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder.
Also performing were stand-up comic Emmanuel Sonubi, Untapped Theatre Award winners Dugsi Dayz, family entertainer Mario The Maker Magician, comedy dance act TUTU, circus troupe Sophie’s Surprise 29th, visionary acrobatics from Circa’s Peepshow, US Drag Race winner Monét X Change and world-class circus performers The 7 Fingers.
An eclectic programme of over 150 shows across the four venues offers everything from dazzling circus performers, awe-inspiring cabaret, captivating theatre, vibrant dance, fun-filled family entertainment, and side-splitting comedy – there’s truly something for everyone at Underbelly.
Underbelly’s Co-Directors Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam said: “What a wonderful night for our opening event! It’s brilliant to be back in Edinburgh for 2023 and we’re so excited to open the doors to another incredible Underbelly programme.”
For those looking for a good deal, 2-for-1 tickets are available now for a range of shows on the 7th and 8th of August. Families can also make the most of a Book 2 Tickets get 1 Free deal on weekday viewings of the family programme (Aug 16 -28th).
Highlights include:
For one night only in McEwan Hall Underbelly’s fifth Big Brain Tumour Benefit will host a massive line-up of Fringe stars in a raucous evening of comedy to help the fight against brain cancer. This year’s performers include Frank Skinner, Ivo Graham, Chloe Petts, Adam Kay, Hal Cruttenden, Lara Ricote and Emmanuel Sonubi, with more acts still to be announced! All box office income goes directly to The Brain Tumour Charity.
At McEwan Hall, join TUTU on a “hugely entertaining and hilarious” (BroadwayBaby) tribute to dance, where comedy and incredible dance skills intertwine seamlessly to delight crowds of all ages. Featuring an all-male cast of six dancers decked out in flamboyant costumes, this show is a humorous celebration of dance in all its glory… Yes, a bare-chested tutu-clad man can perform a stunningly graceful pointe solo!
Taking over McEwan Hall, Havana Street Party is an exhilarating explosion of urban movement direct from Cuba; Sara Pascoe’s Success Story flies in for one night only; Foil Arms and Hog: Hogwash, the Fringe favourites returns with a five-star comedy for an exclusive limited run; Drag Race double crown winner Monét X Change shares anecdotes and opinions on life in the tireless comedy Life Be Lifein’; and You Can’t Stop the Beat the Fringe’s ultimate musical theatre party night out.
In the iconic upside-down purple cow, the Udderbelly, Mario The Maker Magician brings robot magic direct from New York, with a wild and original family show; Choir! Choir! Choir! is a show where the crowd is the star and you’ll be harmonising to well-known classics in no time and a home-grown Drag Race winner joins the line-up in their debut solo tourDanny Beard & Their Band.
At Cowgate, Underbelly’s new, late night comedy experience is BATSU!Currently a hot ticket in New York and Chicago, audiences join comedy warriors testing their wits to avoid electric shocks, paintballs, giant chickens and other jaw-dropping punishments. Bill’s 44th – a poignant puppet tragicomedy for adults, called “Buoyant, mesmerizing, joy-inducing” as the New York Times Critics Pick; and identical twins Patrick and Hugo McPherson return with Pear: But Braver, after the smash-hit success of Pear in 2022.
The winners of the Untapped award, in partnership with New Diorama Theatre, Concord Theatricals and Nouveau Riche; It’s A Motherf**king Pleasure at Bristo Square, a witty satirical delight straight off the back of a smash-hit London run; Dugsi Dayz is a heart-warming tribute to The Breakfast Club, subverting Somali folktales and exploring friendships; and One Way Out, a powerful drama about four friends on the cusp of adulthood, exploring young British Caribbeans’ experiences of the Windrush crisis.
Over in Circus Hub, East London’s The Revel Puck Circus make their Fringe debut with an exhilarating new show The Wing Scuffle Spectacular; Aloft returns with Brave Space after selling out their innovative 2022 season and also presents Sanctuary, a punk-rock cabaret with a revolving line-up of internationally renowned circus artists backed by a live band.
For six dates only, McEwan Hall hosts An Afternoon with Anton Du Beke and Friends. The Strictly Come Dancing legendary judge takes to the stage with a live band, a guest singer and his dancers. Performing some of his favourite songs and dances that have inspired his career, expect behind the scenes stories from Anton’s time on Strictly.
Matt Forde will bring his hugely successful podcast The Political Party to McEwan Hall for one show only on Friday 18th August. Matt will be joined by one of the most charismatic, compelling, and outrageous politicians in Britain – Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner as she delves into her political career during this special live podcast.
CIRCUS, CABARET + VARIETY
Underbelly’s Circus Hub celebrates the daring and the different. The 7 Fingers present their world premiere of Duel Reality – circus on a whole new theatrical level – a must for fans of Romeo and Juliet and wondrous acrobatics.
Alongside Sanctuary and The Wing Scuffle Spectacular is Brave Space, a stunning, all-female piece of physical theatre that paints a picture of the world we want to live in and Reclaim which draws the audience close to examine life and imagine a sustainable future. Set in Circus Hub’s Spiegeltent, The Beauty, it features circus and acrobatics interwoven with two cellists and a live opera singer.
In addition to their debut solo tour showDanny Beard & Their Band, join RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard and their best friend, DJ Billy Andrew for a very special live recording of their hilariously camp podcast Gossip Gays for one night only in Bristo Square. And, for four dates only (4th – 8th Aug), get involved with Drag & Draw, the art class with a difference, featuring lip syncs, audience interaction and drag queens.
Experience the extraordinary as Suhani Shah, the world’s highest-subscribed mentalist, brings her Edinburgh debut Spellbound to Bristo Square. India’s most famous mind reader has captivated global audiences with her charismatic persona, linguistic deception and comedic charm – an unforgettable evening is guaranteed!
MUSIC & MUSICALS
There is exciting music and musical programming, across all four venue hubs. You Can’t Stop The Beat is a party for musical theatre fans, turning McEwan Hall into a sing-along celebration of all your favourite shows; The Magnets, famously the UK’s number one acapella group; catch the sensational five-voice sound machine to relive the magic of the greatest musicians of all time; and one part sermon, one part purge and three parts house party, House Of Life is a travelling musical cult collective with one mission; to get you happy, at any cost.
With a host of 5-star reviews in their wake, the acclaimed Sheep Soup company promise to achieve their goal.
Debut show 2020 The Musical is a joyful new musical, celebrating human resilience in every form, depicting the true, uplifting stories of everyday heroes and turning the events of 2020 into a heart-warming party (and unlike Downing Street, everyone’s invited); God Catcher reimagines the story of a woman turned to a spider as punishment from the Ancient Greek Gods, exploring the legacies of truth and bravery through catchy tunes and heartfelt lyrics; tender musical Fabulett 1933, sees a liberal queer society in Berlin protest as the authorities close off every opportunity for freedom and expressionism; We’ll Have Nun Of It is a masterpiece, blending contemporary pop, soul and funk music into a unique new musical that navigates the angst and joy of Ireland in the sixties; and Tinkisa nostalgic love-letter to our past selves through the eyes of a very familiar fairy.
THEATRE
Joining Bill’s 44th and the Untapped award winners; The Way Way Deep, blends bold storytelling, spoken word and original music, by sell-out playwright Patrick McPherson, previous writing includes The Man and Colossal; in his Fringe debut, star of stage and screen Declan Bennett brings Boy Out The City, telling a raw survival story of a man in his search for identity, throwing us into a turbulent world of toxic masculinity, homophobia and men’s mental health.
The programme also pioneers wonderfully current topics with shows such as; PLEASE LEAVE (A Message), a devised piece set in a karaoke bar on Yucca Mountain, where a group of scientists are experimenting with time travel, in which ClusterFlux can give a fearful yet joyous address of the impending climate crisis; Temporarily Yours, a journey into sexuality and prostitution, a show made from true stories and earnest questions, pondering our body, soul and relationships; and The Brilliance of Broken Glass, a true story about rising from rock bottom, exploring the aftershock of a medical crisis and championing laughter as the ultimate medicine.
Solo show, Pleasure Little Treasure, takes us back to the downfall of the Soviet Union; a story about growing up in the first strip club in Estonia during the tumultuous 1990; My Dad Wears A Dress is a hilarious yet sincere one-woman show about growing up with a trans female parent; Life With Oscar is a tragicomic satire set in the underbelly of Hollywood (no pun intended); and Looking For Giants is a perplexing and seductive tale about self-discovery, from emerging theatre company That What’s Wild.
In Bristo Square, The Gaffer explores how the beautiful game can turn ugly quickly. Football manager Shaun Woods discovers his private life is set to make the back and front pages. For Shaun, the game doesn’t last 90 minutes, it’s a battle with no full-time whistle. Performed by Fringe First Award winner Chris Larner, this new short play written by acclaimed journalist Rob Crossan is not to be missed.
Ringer is Hughie Shepherd-Cross’s fifth Fringe production, a comedy that sees a heartthrob actor’s reputation left in the hands of his feckless double; winner of Dublin Fringe’s Bewley’s Little Gem award, Frigid is a tender coming-of-age comedy about sexuality in early 2000s Dublin, performed alongside a live DJ; extremely silly, and extremely ruthless The Death of Molly Miller is a pitch-black satire on our world of influencers, inequality and addiction; with performers from The Wardrobe Ensemble, International House of Vape:Redefining Theatre Experience goes where no brand has gone before in a new corporate venture; The Four Worst Things I’ve Ever Done is a wild ride of confessions and consequences; and pitch-black comedy BUTCHERED is a dynamic physical theatre piece with a killer soundtrack, this absurd thriller is set in the kitchen where dreams come to die.
COMEDY
Joining Sara Pascoe in the comedy programme; Pear: But Braver sees identical twins Patrick and Hugo McPherson return after the 2022 hit show Pear, a riotous hour of sketch comedy by two brothers heralded as “like Reeves and Mortimer” (The Recs). Joining them in Cowgate is Adam Riches as hereturns to the Cow Café with a site-specific show; Adam Riches is The Guys Who, a fresh take on the guys who you meet everywhere.
Sounds Like… is a unique improvisational panel show, from Doc Brown and quick-witted wordsmith hosts, based around rhyme and rap with special guests from the world of music and comedy. It’s seriously funny, stupidly clever and addictive.
The Retreat is a camp variety number that mimics a corporate event, questioning our toxic workplace methods, brought to you by stars of Parks and Recreation and Glow including UK songstress Kate Nash and featuring a rotation of incredible and iconic comedy names.
The programme features some special limited-run shows throughout August. Mr Thing, favourites at the Fringe, returning for two nights only to celebrate all the best bits from the past five years; Drag Queens vs Zombies, as Haus of Dench’s monstrous hit returns from the dead for two nights only, as drag superstars Kate Butch and Crudi Dench try to save the audience of their cabaret show from a gruesome death in a camp comedy horror; and Werewolf: Live appears for one night only in a charity spectacular.
An all-star line-up of comedians backstab, manipulate and fight for survival in this cult gameshow; with previous guests including Rose Matafeo, Nish Kumar, Ed Gamble, and plenty more, you know it’s going to be a wonderful kind of chaos.
Meanwhile in Bristo Square, Perrier Award winning Will Adamsdale:Show of Just Songswill regale audiences with the ballad(s) of a man adrift in the modern age (though enjoying heated car seats), for tales of CD hoarding, failed citizen’s arrests and a film career playing murdered schoolteachers, medieval lookouts, and Nigel Havers’ son.
For six nights only at McEwan Hall “Broadway’s greatest comic storyteller” (Deadline) Mike Birbiglia brings his show The Old Man & The Pool to the Edinburgh Fringe. Chronicling his coming-of-middle-age story Mike presents his tale of life, death, and a highly chlorinated YMCA pool that will resonates with audiences ages 12 to 112.
Kelly McCaughan’s show exposes the impossible standards of the confines of religion in Catholic Guilt; performed by US comedian Lane Kewderis and directed by Matt Gehrin; Sex Job is an empowering show about the good, bad and often hilarious ups and downs of being a sex worker, following the inside life of a financial dominatrix; Holly Spillar’sHole is a muff-busting comedy about sex, pain and the brain, showcasing one woman’s determination in the face of a tough diagnosis.
For one night only on 24th August, Bristo Square welcomes the Straight Comedian of the Year ‘Grand Final’ where crowds will bear witness to the epic conclusion of ex-gay comedian Simon David‘s search to find the UK’s funniest heterosexual.
The biggest breeders of the Fringe will battle it out for the title and a Fiat 500. Following a sell-out run in 2022, 4 x Fringe Awards winning clown comic Garry Starr returns for five dates only (23rd-27th) with Greece Lightning. Starr will perform all of Greek Mythology – never before has Medusa been looser, Achilles more sillies, or Uranus so heinous – an anarchic masterclass not to be mythed!
Healing King Herod is a wild, interactive, drag-clown therapy session featuring improvised songs, political parody and cult-like rituals where Herod, famed for massacring innocents, now leads a self-development pyramid scheme, and; Jeromaia Detto: MUSH, nominated for Best Comedy at Sydney Fringe, is a whimsical and absurd clown show, with five stars all round; Max Norman invites you to cross the seven seas with him on a night of nautical nonsense, with piratical puns, 90’s nostalgia and the ultimate audience prize in A Pirate’s Life For Me; and award-winning MANBO is a dead-sexy action-hero mission filled with chaos.
For the theatrical comedy fans out there, Rosalie Minnitt presents Clementine, a debut character comedy-drama involving a hilariously unhinged quest to find love set roughly ‘in the past’; in Dead Dad Show Simon David tackles the ‘dead dad’ cliché, in a show, directed by Fringe First winner Chris Larner, with dangerously high levels of heart; struggling to make sense of a breakup, Sophie hires a life coachin Sophie Santos… Is Codependant and 2022 Best Comedy winner from Hollywood Fringe, A Terrible Show For Terrible People is a raunchy, absurdist physical comedy with 2 spoken words “for perverts, feminists and your mom (not mutually exclusive).”
AAA Stand up and AAA Stand Up Late, return with brand-new line-ups of comedians, including Ross McGrane, Ridwan Hussain, Josh Elton and Sachin Kumarendran, having sold out Edinburgh from 2005-2022, it’s filled with clever wordplay, whimsical observations, and mischievous twists.
For those who are intrigued by games of social deduction, Blood on the Clocktower: Liveis a night of gothic chaos and carnage, featuring a revolving cast of comedians.
More stand-up includes Charlotte Fox encountering a series of crooked and macabre characters in her dark and manic comedy; Ouroboros The Return. Robo Bingo by Foxdog Studios, an interactive show for people who don’t want to talk to anyone; Alice Cockayne is unhinged and outrageously funny in the clowning drama I Showered Before I Came; Chris Turner shares stories of touring with Cirque Du Soleil and his newborn child in Vegas, Baby!; Sara Schaefer teaches how to unlock potential in this perfect mockery of a seminar, Going Up; Maggie Crane’s darkly funny Side by Side, an autobiographical story about family and disability. Internet sensation Josh Baulf with new show Bulldog; Paddy McDonnell in Paddy McDonnell Live, a show full of tales of everyday life; Dan Rath, discussing the ups and downs of neurodivergence in All Quiet Carriage Along The Inner Western Line;Ed Gaughan brings his first solo show in 18 years,Words and Music, with stories, clowning around and plenty of surprises; and award-winning comedian Leif Oleson-Cormack, who pushes confessional stand-up to its limits in The Disney Delusion.
The tents are up, the sun is out and we are now counting down the days until we bring you our 2023 festival!
We open the gates to our site in the Lodge Grounds at 10am on Friday and we can’t wait to welcome you inside.
Fringe by the Sea is for everyone: big people, little people, four-legged friends so, whether you’re coming to see a show or not, you can still soak up the festival atmosphere at the North Berwick Trust Festival Hub with free live music and performances from the Lighthouse Live Stage, have a wander round the stalls at the Coulters Makers’ Market, grab a bite to eat at our Street Food Village or Pincho tapas bar, or a drink from our new container bars.
All the big headline shows have now sold out but with more than 225 events in the programme, there is a lot more to uncover whether you’re looking for family fun, musical gems or inspiring talks.
