theatre – Page 6 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022: First tickets available

283 Fringe shows revealed
More shows to be announced monthly, as the world’s greatest celebration of arts and culture returns for its 75^th anniversary this August

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced that the first set of shows for the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe are available to book at edfringe.com.

The 75^th anniversary of the Fringe takes place from 5th – 29th August 2022 and will feature an exciting range of shows, with theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, musicals, variety, cabaret, events and more all represented in the programme.

Tickets for 283 shows have now been released, with more shows set to be announced on Thursday 07 April, Thursday 05 May and Thursday 09 June.

The official launch of the festival, including the reveal of the iconic printed programme, will take place in early July.

Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book now. The full list of shows released this month can be found at edfringe.com.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “It’s always a hugely exciting moment when the first set of Fringe shows are announced, and this year, it feels more important than ever to celebrate the breadth of creativity and freedom of expression that these shows represent.

“We know that so many artists are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and getting your tickets early is a brilliant way to support them at this vital time. It’s also an important investment in the value of culture and creativity, and with some shows offering free and Pay What You Can options, the Fringe remains an essential access point to culture for many.

“I can’t wait to see the programme continue to unfold as we get closer to August, and to see Edinburgh filled with live performance once again as we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of this magnificent festival.”

Theatre

At theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, acclaimed mystery maestros Highly Suspect return to the Fringe “with a new duo of hilarious and interactive murder mysteries, which you – the audience – must solve”. At the same venue, UK Underdog is a solo show based on true events in a London, Jewish boy’s life. “Bullied and humiliated at school, Steve Spiro realises his strength to move forward, but that ultimately comes at a price”.

BAFTA award-winner Jack Docherty is at Gilded Balloon with Nothing But: a darkly comic tale which grapples with lost youth, love, fatherhood, sex, secrets and truth.

At Underbelly, My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) is the “joyous, chaotic, autobiographical story of actor, writer and social-media sensation Rob Madge”.

Assembly has a range of theatre to book from today, including Watson: The Final Problem, in which Sherlock Holmes’ pal tells his tale of long-buried secrets; and Myra’s Story, in which a middle-aged, homeless Dublin street drinker relives her back story.

Comoedia at Greenside is a celebration of traditional Italian masked theatre, as the most famous characters of Commedia dell’arte come together in a one-man show. At the same venue, two women use nothing but their imaginations, a skull and some fancy scarves to bring together A Two Woman Hamlet.

At theSpace on North Bridge, GirlPlay is “an exploration of love and sex spun out in slam”. On a night of firsts, Lucy opens the door to a world of relationships and sex that she had only ever dreamt about. But is the reality all she had hoped it would be?

Online, Transatlantic is a true story of the French immigrant experience. “Cookie is taking care of the last of her uncle’s estate in New Mexico. As she goes through her family’s belongings, she goes on an emotional journey that echoes the many trips back and forth that she and her family have taken between France and the US.”

Plus, from award-winning writer Lita Doolan comes Audrey’s Art Club. “Audrey wants to know what doodling’s got to do with love and goes back to her lover’s childhood home to find answers.”

Comedy

The Stand has a wide roster of shows on sale today, including Seann Walsh: Is Dead, Happy Now? and Stewart Lee: Basic Lee – a work-in-progress show in which “Lee enters the post-pandemic era in streamlined stand-up mode”. Also catch rising Scottish star Gareth Waugh with Doozy and Jo Caulfield with Bad Attitude.

At Assembly, Fern Brady will be tackling big issues such as “death, shagging, marriage and ageing” in her show, Autistic Bikini Queen.

David O’Doherty is back with his show whoa is me and “all of the misplaced confidence of a waiter with no pad”, while Susie McCabe returns with a brand-new show. In Born Believer, the comedian has decided to leave cynicism behind to be an “all-new positive Susie (optimistic at best, positive is pushing it)”.

Jason Byrne is at Underbelly with Unblocked, as “the constipation of Covid has been cleared, live entertainment has been colonically irrigated and readied up for us all”. At the same venue, Foil, Arms and Hogg return to the Fringe with a mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation. Plus, Richard Stott: Afterparty sees the stand-up contemplate whether he’s missed the boat. “His friends have families, six-figure salaries and houses. He has a level-two food hygiene certificate and acid reflux.”

Gilded Balloon is home to double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Andrew Maxwell’s Krakatoa, as well as Justin Moorhouse’s brand-new show Stretch & Think, which “may contain yoga, getting older, Madonna, shoplifters, labradoodles, middle-aged cyclists, The Menopause, running, hating football fans but loving football, not drinking, funerals” and a lot more. Plus, catch Sian Davies,winner of Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2020 and Funny Women runner-up. Her show is all about time, growing up and finding your place in the world.

There’s a range of Laughing Horse shows available to book from today. Shows including Annie and Angela’s Disco Divorce Party: “a drag-infused comedy of musical mirth celebrating friendship and new beginnings”, and Comedy Queers: “a spicy late-night mix of outrageous queer comedians, cabaret and drag acts”. Plus, there’s stand up from the likes of Nathan Cassidy and Dave Chawner.

Fringe stalwart Nina Conti returns to Pleasance with The Dating Show, in which “finding true love can’t be promised, but big laughs are guaranteed”. And after a UK and Australia tour and an Amazon special, Taskmaster runner-up and accidental YouTube cult leader Mark Watson brings his show This Can’t Be It back to where it began (at last year’s “mini Fringe”).

Also on Pleasance’s bill is Angela Barnes: Hot Mess (“trying to live your best life, as it turns out, is really bloody hard”); Ivo Graham: My Future, My Clutter (“bumbling wordsmith and tripe factory returns to discuss three years of heavy-duty pranking / parenting / procrastinating since Dave’s 2019 nominations for Best Comedy Show and Joke of the Fringe”); and NewsRevue, which will return to the EICC to “parody politics in a post-pandemic world”.

At Just the Tonic, Daniel Sloss and Kai Humphries bring their hit podcast, Sloss and Humphries On The Road, to the festival. Plus, Fringe veteran Craig Hill returns with I Always Knew I Had It In Me, and rising Scottish star Connor Burns isat the festival with his show, Live, Laugh, Loathe.

At Queen’s Hall, Henning Wehn returns with It’ll All Come Out in the Wash: a show that promises to “give everything a good rinse and witness him wring sense out of the nonsensical”.

Music

At theSpaceTriplex, California-based Hip-Hop Orchestra, Ensemble Mik Nawooj (EMN), presents music from their new album, Death Become Life, which fuses hip-hop and classical (think full strings, woodwind, French horn and soprano).

There’s also a range of Night Owl Shows to choose from, including 007 Voices Of Bond (featuring hits such as Goldfinger, Skyfall, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die and many more); Back to Black: The Music of Amy Winehouse (which promises to take you on a moving journey through a modern legend’s career); and California Dreams (featuring an immersive trip through California in the late 60s and 70s, with hits by The Mamas & The Papas, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Byrds and more). All are happening at theSpace UK.

Acoustic Music Centre has a range of shows on sale from today. Acts include The Willow Trio: a band of three clarsach players – Sophie Rocks, Sam MacAdam, Romy Wymer – who will be presenting a mix of Gaelic music and original new work.

The Strange Valentines are a Nova Scotian folk duo, blending acoustic instrumentation and their signature stunning two-part harmonies to tell provocative stories.

Plus, up-and-coming harpist Romy Wymer presents traditional tunes from Scotland and Netherlands in her Fringe / AMC debut. Romy recently earned second place at the World Harp Competition (2021) and was a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year (2022).

Cabaret and Variety

Pleasance is home to West End star and multi award-winning magician Ben Hart, as he returns to Edinburgh with his show Wonder. Using only the simplest of props and the minds of the audience, Hart conjures a show that is “always amazing, sometimes shocking and shines a light into the darkest corners of your imaginations”.

Mat Ricardo is at Gilded Balloon with The Extraordinary Gentleman: “a unique, hilarious and unmissable one-man show” from the acclaimed variety artist.

Best of Burlesque is back at Assembly, with award-winning striptease, cabaret and variety from the 2022 Fringe, plus international special guests.

Dirty Tricks – How the Illusionati Rule the World is at Greenside. In this show, The Great Baldini demonstrates “how the illusionati rig elections, launder money and orchestrate assassinations: a wholly (im)plausible conspiracy theory”.

At theSpace @ Symposium Hall, Sue Kelvin stars in Bette Midler and Me: a tribute show to Midler, covering her life and songs from the perspective of a lifelong fan. Expect musical hits, plus highlights from Midler comedy routines and a puppet version of Beaches.

Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus

Underbelly Circus Hub returns to the Meadows this year, and with it comes Circa: Humans 2.0:“asymphony of acrobatics, sound and light”, described as “a tightly woven choreography of bodies, pulsing with music”.

Also on the Meadows, Hotel Paradiso is “an irresistibly colourful, loud and fun show for all the family” from contemporary circus company, Lost in Translation. Featuring circus skills, physical comedy, theatrical storytelling and slapstick, this show “sees the staff family tackle the scheming banker as he tries to possess the Hotel Paradiso”.

Cirque Berserk! is at Pleasance. Showcasing “traditional circus thrills and skills”, Cirque Berserk! combines “contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action”, as “this astoundingly talented international troupe includes over 30 fearless acrobats, aerialists and daredevil stuntmen”.

At Assembly, Muse is a circus piece which attempts to answer the question, “what does it mean to be a woman?” Plus, The Black Blues Brothers sees “five extraordinary acrobats perform their comedy tribute to the cult movie The Blues Brothers”. Expect breathtaking jumps, fire, somersault routines, human pyramids and more.

Intambo is at Greenside. This show features Ruciteme Karyenda Culture de Buyenzi: a group of Burundian drummers, founded in 1987. Starting with 27 members, the members range in age from 8 to 50, and they will be performing an old, traditional Burundi dance that used to be played for the Kings.

Also at Greenside is Éowyn Emerald & Dancers. Éowyn presents Your Tomorrow: “an entertaining and deeply intimate jazz dance for two performers”.

Children’s shows

Peppa Pig – My First Concert is at Assembly. This interactive introduction to a live orchestra is “an accessible, exciting concert designed for the youngest audience members, with Aurora Orchestra.”

Also at Assembly, Yellow Bird Chase follows “a clownish maintenance crew” who find a magical bird and a mad chase begins. Appropriate for the whole family and accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.

Plus, from the creative team behind the Hairy Maclary show, young audiences can now see all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books live on stage.

At Pleasance,The Smeds and the Smoos is an exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?

At Underbelly, the Amazing Bubble Man Louis Pearl is back. Louis “explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerised”.

Fox Tales: The Pied Piper is at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall. In this family puppet show, Hans the Storyteller, Reynard the Fox and Gripp the Raven give “a hilarious new telling of the classic fairy tale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin”. Expect “jokes, ridiculous rhymes, mischief and nonsense”.

At the same venue, Den of Enquiry “is a fun, light-hearted show that gets kids talking about democracy”.

Musicals

In Soho Boy at theSpace @ Symposium Hall, “young, trendy Spencer leaves home and hits Soho like a whirlwind in a journey of love, laughter, heartbreak and happiness”. This work is a “modern tale of the gay scene, which can be harsh and lonely, surrounded by glamour, sex and songs”.

At theSpace @ Niddry St, Julie: The Musical is an original, new musical telling the life and adventures of historical LGBTQ+ icon Julie D’Aubigny. “One of the first public figures to live as an openly bisexual woman, she seduced nuns, dueled multiple men at once, burnt down convents, was bribed by princes, innovated opera – all before she turned 30.”

Now in its 10th year, The Improv Musical is at Gilded Balloon. Each show is a completely improvised, never-before-seen musical on its opening, and closing, night.

At Greenside, Raft follows four women, seemingly trapped on a raft in the middle of the ocean, hunted by a mystical sea monster. “An original one-act musical around abuse, bravery and friendship.”

Stagebox’s free auditions to take place in Edinburgh this April

10th April – Edinburgh Festival Theatre audition date

Leading entertainment industry training programme and talent management, Stagebox, has announced audition dates taking place across the nation from April 2022.

The annual search sees experts audition passionate performers aged 8-18 years old from across the country (and internationally), offering successful members the chance to benefit from world class training and opportunities in a contemporary supercharged industry accelerator for musical theatre, television and film.

Last year’s auditions saw the Stagebox team meet thousands of performers from across the UK and beyond, and this year they anticipate similar interest. This year, auditionees will be able to select whether they are auditioning for an acting or musical theatre membership and their audition day will see them be put through their paces in this discipline.

Many young performers training at Stagebox have already landed dream roles on stage and screen, thanks to the expert training and management.

Stagebox has secured their clients major lead talent screen roles in Oscar nominated and Emmy award winning productions, including Peaky Blinders (Netflix), Sex Education (Netflix), Robin Robin (Netflix), Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Avenue 5 (HBO), The Power (Amazon Studios), Pistol (Disney +), BAFTA anthology Superdad (Channel 4), Gentleman Jack (Netflix/HBO), Lagging (BBC) and many more.

Stagebox management clients also continue to star in West End and UK Tour musicals including Frozen, Matilda the Musical, School of Rock, Annie, The Grinch, Mary Poppins and Tina the Musical to name a few.

To further the opportunities for their clients, Stagebox Management has also brokered agency partnerships stateside, working alongside Innovative Artists, Paradigm Talent, Luber Roklin Entertainment, Gravity Hill, KMR, Maverick and more.

Commenting on the upcoming 2022 auditions, Stagebox’s General Manager, Jasmine Quinlan Gardner, said: “We are so excited to begin our nationwide search for the stars of today and tomorrow.

“We are proud of our inclusive, diverse and extraordinarily talented community and we can’t wait to meet those who will join us on the journey.”

Kirsti Bagger, Head Agent at Stagebox, adds: “At Stagebox, the training is second to none, preparing our young stars for careers on the stage and screen. 2021 was one of our most successful years ever with Stagebox Management clients wrapping on global award-winning feature films and television series and critically acclaimed theatre productions.

“We’re committed to making auditions for Stagebox free as part of our ongoing dedication to inclusivity in the arts. We only open for auditions once a year, and we’re excited to see our 2022 auditionees’ incredible new talent!”

These auditions are guaranteed to fill up fast and limited spaces apply. To register your spot for your preferred audition date, please visit the Stagebox website to apply.

To find out more about Stagebox, please head to: https//www.stagebox.uk/

*Auditions will adhere to all necessary COVID-19 guidelines.

White Christmas run cancelled

A STATEMENT from EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

We regret to inform you that we & the producers of White Christmas have had to make the very difficult decision to cancel all remaining dates of the musical.

If you’ve tickets to an affected performance your point of purchase will contact direct with refund details.

On behalf of the producers, company and crew of the show as well as the entire venue team, thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time – your continued support is much appreciated.

What The Dickens?

Take a walk through Edinburgh Old Town with none other than Charles Dickens as the boundaries between the past and present collide.

Get to know the man who invented Christmas and witness the conception of a Christmas classic which changed the world. This is a quirky promenade performance led by an excitable Dickens-obsessed tour-guide. ‘What the Dickens?’ runs from 13th December to 19th December 2021.

Stravaig Theatre aims to excite its audience and connect them with their heritage. Edinburgh inspired history and they want to tell the story.

The audience will meet their tour guide at 7pm or 9pm outside Canongate Kirk. There are two showings each day across the week 13th-19^th

“Some of you might already have noticed the faint glow in the sky above us. If my calculations are correct then tonight, the lines which separate the past from the present, the here from the there, the living from the departed are at their weakest…” – Holly the Tour Guide.

Out for his evening stroll in 1841, Mr. Charles Dickens ponders an absurd inscription on a gravestone. The last thing he is expecting is to be visited by otherworldly spirits from 2021.

The time voyagers accidentally give the famed author an existential crisis and its up to you to help put history back in order. A once in a lifetime meet and greet with history; with a little Christmas magic thrown in for good measure, come with us, on a journey to Christmas Past.

“Then come with me spirits, I want to take your uneducated, unenlightened minds somewhere and show you the true character of this town.”- Dickens.

Charles Dickens is played by Marc McKigen while the tour is led by Kiera Manson. “What the Dickens?” is directed by Stravaig’s Emma McNeill and written by Scott Thomas.

After sell-out shows, at Edinburgh’s Horror Festival, Stravaig Theatre is excited to launch their first Christmas show.

You can follow the production of ‘What the Dickens?’ at facebook.com/stravaigtheatre or follow on Instagram @stravaigtheatre.

Tickets are £8 for adults with concessions available at £5.

They can be purchased from Eventbrite by searching – What the Dickens? Or from the following web-link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-the-dickens-immersive-christmas-show-tickets 215620636127

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival to showcase capital’s diverse cultures through creative arts

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, promotes local and international multicultural artists.

It engages local audiences through music, dance, poetry, storytelling and visual arts that represent Edinburgh’s diverse cultures, including African, Asian and Eastern European.

The aim of the festival is to better engage local, both BAME and indigenous, residents with local multicultural arts provision as well as promote diversity through shared experiences.

It is also to create a platform for BAME artists to share their talent, culture and artistic endeavours with other local artists and local audiences. It is seen as a unique opportunity for multicultural artists based in Edinburgh to share stages and experiences as well as encourage greater collaboration across arts disciplines.

The festival takes place across different venues in the North of Edinburgh, which is recognised as one of the most diverse areas in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival is produced by African Connections CIC is a community interest company based in Scotland. It provides benefit to African and UK-based artists and communities as well as African and UK-based arts and culture groups and organisations.

African Connections CIC celebrates diversity and creates connections between African and other communities by means of sharing cultures, creative ideas, skills and experiences.

The company plans to establish information, guidance, events and trading centres showcasing quality African products and creatives productions with the aim of creating opportunities for all communities in Scotland and beyond to share and engage in cultural experiences.

The Grand Reveal Part 1 | Literary and Visual Art

1 October 2021 | granton:hub

Join us for an art exhibition featuring the work of Harriet Mould, Jose Luis Cote and Kate Soltan and creative writing and visual literacy workshops.

12:00-13:30 The Land of Punt: Reading and Creative Writing Workshop with Joan Hephzibah and Ebony Pollard (ages 7-12)

13:45-15:30 Imagination in Motion: Visual Literacy Workshop with Kate Soltan and Magda Adamow (all ages)

16:00-17:00 Person Behind Picture: Exhibition and Panel Discussion with Visual Artists Harriet Mould, Jose Luis Cote and Kate Soltan (all ages)

All events are free but ticketed.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/edinburgh-multicultural…

The Grand Reveal Part 2: Edinburgh Multicultural Festival LIVE!

Programme 2 OCTOBER 2021: DANCE, POETRY AND NEW WRITING FOR STAGE & FILM – PASS

Acting, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre & Costume for Stage (PASS) Theatre at Edinburgh College (Granton Campus) will be home to exciting dance, theatre, poetry and stand-up comedy work presented by Scotland-based diverse artists on 2 October 2021.

With this programme we would like to present the work of artists at different stages of their creative careers and promote collaboration and exchange of skills and practice. Join us for three showcase events with the focus on DANCE, POETRY and NEW WRITING for THEATRE, FILM and STAND-UP featuring Divine Tasinda, Tuflamencoo with Inma Montero and Danielo Olivera, Fronteiras Theatre Lab, Lubna Kerr, Sean Wai Keung and Jinling Wu, and Raheema Sayed.

The Grand Reveal Part 3: Edinburgh Multicultural Festival LIVE!

Programme 3 OCTOBER 2021: MUSIC

Starbank Park nestled in the Newhaven Harbour area of Edinburgh will be a stage for Scotland’s diverse MUSIC stars on 3 October 2021!

Let’s celebrate the festival finale day with intimate instrumental music experiences and big band and sound performances on the main stage.

The Edinburgh Multicultural Festival is delighted to present Mio Shudo, Alec Cooper and Roo Geddes followed by The Spinning Blowfish, Mother All Mighty, Los Chichanos and Shona the Musical Choir.

12:00 – 13:30 Musical Musings feat. instrumental music performed by harpist Mio Shudo, sitarist Alec Cooper and fiddler Roo Geddes will soothe your soul and take you on a journey into the sounds and stories of sea-bound people of Japan, South Asia and Ireland. [Entrance: Upper Grounds at Laverockbank Road]

14:00 – 19:00 StarDome21: Edinburgh Multicultural Festival Finale at Starbank Park with big bands and bigger sound. The Spinning Blowfish, Mother All Mighty, Los Chichanos and Shona the Musical – Band and Choir will grace the StarDome21 Finale Stage with an eclectic mix of Trad and Folk to Neo Soul / Hip Hop / R’n’B.

From Africa to South America, and back to Scotland, the finale concert will satisfy your music buds and fill your heart with joy. Not all goodbyes should be sad! [Entrance: Lower Grounds at Starbank Road]

Book your tickets in advance!https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…

Lung Ha Theatre Company and Plutôt La Vie present premiere of An Unexpected Hiccup

Edinburgh-based Lung Ha Theatre Company and touring theatre company Plutôt La Vie are pleased to announce their collaboration on An Unexpected Hiccup, a new play directed by Ian Cameron and Maria Oller and written by Michael Duke, based on a story by Ian Cameron and developed by the acting ensemble.

It is due to receive its World Premiere at The Studio in Edinburgh on 27 October.

Caught in a storm and miles from anywhere, Murdo decides to ask for the help of total strangers. But when he knocks on the door of a dark old house, the family inside seem to be expecting him. Whatever Murdo has stumbled upon, there’s no escaping it now. He steps into a long night of comic misunderstandings, sinister goings on and dangerous eccentricities.

Keep an eye on Kurt…Don’t worry about the noises in the cellar…And never ask Louisa why she’s crying…!

The play will feature Tim Licata from Plutôt La Vie working with Lung Ha Theatre Company performers Emma Clark, Emma McCaffrey, Nicola Tuxworth, Keith Watson, Gavin Yule and Ryan Duncan from the Lung Ha Theatre Company Support Team.

Ian Cameron said: “The original idea for this production grew from an experience I had many years ago which, although serious in itself, grew in my head into a dark comic farce about a rather dislocated family.

“This story became the catalyst for development by the company and the writer Michael Duke. What has been wonderful has been to see how the company has grown to own the story, and develop it through their imagination and humour, and this despite the constrictions of Covid!”

Maria Oller said: “An Unexpected Hiccup is the outcome of a long connection between Lung Ha Theatre Company and Plutôt La Vie. Farce, dark comedy and physical theatre is something that the actors at LHTC seems to enjoy and have a talent for.

“Combined with training on how to play farce, the actors have stepped up to master the skills required. Working together with Plutôt La Vie, playwright Michael Duke and the rest of the creative team has taken us from development weeks on Zoom, to a first face to face rehearsal and the return to the theatre room and very soon a performance in front of a live audience! This means more to us than just doing a show. We are back and on our first steps out of Covid! Hurray!”

Music for An Unexpected Hiccup is composed and performed by BAFTA Scotland award winning composer Andrew Cruickshank with set and costume design by one of Scotland’s leading artists in the field, Karen Tennent.

Lung Ha Theatre Company and Plutôt La Vie present the World Premiere of

An Unexpected Hiccup

A long night of comic misunderstandings, sinister goings on and dangerous eccentricities.

27 – 30 October 2021 (preview on 26th)

The Studio | 22 Potterrow, Edinburgh

Tickets from £10 available on capitaltheatres.com or by calling 0131 529 6000.

Back with a bang!

Edinburgh Festival Fringe gets underway with dynamic programme of over 700 in-person and online shows

Today, Friday 06 August, the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe officially comes to life with an exciting hybrid programme of over 700 in-person and online shows.

From 06 – 30 August, Edinburgh will once again be host to a diverse and exciting selection of work from the worlds of theatre, dance, circus, comedy, music, musicals and opera, cabaret and variety, children’s shows, spoken word, exhibitions, events and more.

This year’s Fringe also features a scaled-back programme of street events in managed locations; a range of community engagement work, including the return of Fringe Days Out; and a programme of activity for artists and arts industry professionals via Fringe Connect and Fringe Marketplace.

All work is being delivered in strict accordance with Scottish Government covid-19 guidance, to ensure a safe, secure and enjoyable festival for artists, audiences and residents. More information can be found below.

Commenting on the launch of the festival, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Fringe is always a remarkable feat, but this year, it’s nothing short of extraordinary.

“In the face of complex restrictions and enormous challenges, the Fringe community has created a diverse and engaging programme of over 700 shows to entertain us, bring us joy, and ultimately, do what culture does best: tell stories that help us understand where we are, what we’ve been through, and where we need to go.

“I’m enormously proud of the artists, venues, creatives and workers that have made this festival not only possible, but safe, engaging and entertaining. It’s so good to be celebrating the Fringe again this August, and I’d like to thank every artist, producer, worker, audience member, funder, sponsor and supporter that has got us here today.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, President, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Edinburgh Fringe is BACK! In an act of pure artistic heroism, the Fringe Society and thousands of artists, writers, dancers, actors, designers, comedians, musicians and creatives have fought to bring this festival back to the streets of glorious, glittering Edinburgh. We have a lot of time to make up for and this festival is more than ready for you.

“With hundreds of live and online events you can see as many shows in a week than you would have in the whole of last year and we are finally able to reconnect, inspire, surprise, and entertain each other like we used to. I have never wanted to have a leaflet thrusted at me more. We’re being offered a giant cultural sprinkler after a year of drought and I can’t wait to jump through it, shrieking, with you all.”

Benny Higgins, Chair, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Edinburgh Fringe is a remarkable arts festival that has created an unparalleled legacy for the city and the country, and it will have an important part to play in how we move forward after such a difficult period.

“The cultural value that the Fringe holds is enormous, and its launch today is the first step on a long road to recovery – for the festival and for Scotland. We must all play our part in ensuring an inclusive, diverse, and accessible festival for the future, with wellbeing at its heart.”

Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Scottish Government, said: “A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to support the return of these globally significant cultural events and the benefits they bring to Scotland in terms of tourism, trade and our place on the world stage.

“Edinburgh’s festivals were sorely missed last summer and their return is another step in the right direction and testament to the determination of festival organisers, along with the artists, venues and businesses involved. I’m delighted that the Fringe will be able to welcome back audiences and give festival goers something to cheer this year.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Communities Vice Convener, said: “The return of live August festivals events and performances truly reflects our city’s on-going recovery and, of course, our cultural DNA, and we’re delighted to see an exciting Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme.

“There’s no doubt it was greatly missed last year and it’s so lovely for our city to be welcoming audiences again to the Festivals this August. To everyone taking part, we ask you to continue to follow the safety guidance and to enjoy this year’s fantastic festival experiences safely.”

Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Johnnie Walker Princes Street, said: “As Johnnie Walker moves closer to opening the doors to our new venue on Princes Street, it’s fantastic to see Edinburgh continue to open up for cultural events, and for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the best that the city has to offer.

“The Fringe Festival will always be an important part of the city’s cultural calendar and the team at Johnnie Walker are delighted to once again support the Fringe Society in bringing the festival to life through our Fringe Club whisky bar on The Mound. We can’t wait to welcome visitors from home and away as they enjoy the best of what this world famous festival has to offer.”

In-person, online and on-demand shows

In 2021, audiences will be able to access a wide range of amazing Fringe shows through socially distanced in-person events, scheduled online performances and on-demand digital shows. Tickets and information for all kinds of registered Fringe shows – live, online, paid and free – can be found at edfringe.com.

Around 440 shows are taking place in person. Many shows are taking place in new, creative outdoor locations across Edinburgh, including a football ground, a car park and a racecourse.

Familiar Fringe operators such as Acoustic Music Centre, Assembly, Dance Base, French Institute, Gilded Balloon, Laughing Horse Free Festival, Monkey Barrel, PBH’s Free Fringe, Pleasance, Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Stand, theSpaceUK, Summerhall and Zoo are all taking part in this year’s festival with physical spaces in the city.

All in-person performances will be fully Covid compliant, following the latest guidelines on social distancing, mask wearing, ventilation and hygiene.

Currently, live events must operate at one-metre distancing. On 09 August, Scotland moves to level zero and restrictions on distancing will be dropped.

Every Fringe venue operates individually. For up to date information on capacity and distancing at individual Fringe shows, please check with the relevant venue.

In an exciting move for the festival, more than 260 shows are taking place online, providing a global platform for artists, while enhancing the Fringe’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability.

There will be two kinds of online events available this year: scheduled and on demand.

With scheduled shows, audiences can buy tickets as they would to a traditional in-person event. Shows will have a dedicated start and end time and are treated as an ‘appointment to view’ event. For on-demand shows, audiences can buy tickets to watch at their leisure.

Audiences can view Fringe shows on online platforms including the new Fringe Player streamed by Brightcove (NASDAQ: BCOV), the global leader in video for business.

Available via edfringe.com, this bespoke digital platform offers an easy-to-use viewing experience for audiences whilst giving artists a platform to present and showcase their work digitally. The player will be accessible to audiences from 06 Aug, with auto-subtitling built in. Both on-demand and scheduled online shows are available on this platform.

Where other platforms (such as Zoom, YouTube and Vimeo) are being used to host online work, information on how to access these is clearly provided at the point of purchase.

Online shows will be available to watch from August but can be pre-booked from today.

Street events

The city’s world-famous street events are returning this year, with a scaled-back programme of live performances.

A fantastic starting point for any Fringe-goer, events will run daily from 11.30am until 8.30pm in the High Street’s designated Fringe safe street performance area, West Parliament Square.

There will also be a programme of activity on the Mound, as well as additional opportunities for buskers and other street artists well known in the Fringe landscape.

All performances will be delivered in accordance with current and relevant Covid guidelines. Limits on audience numbers will be introduced in line with social distancing, and event details will be published online to audiences in advance to allow them to plan.

Strict hygiene measures will also be in place, including masks and sanitisation, to help everyone enjoy the events safely.

Community, access and learning

We are continuing to work alongside communities, venues and artists to ensure the Fringe is as inclusive as possible.

Our Fringe Days Out scheme is a long-term commitment by the Fringe Society to reach out to communities that have not traditionally engaged with the Fringe. Through this programme in 2021, we have delivered Fringe vouchers, Lothian bus tickets and access support through our 30+ community partners, including The Welcoming, The Citadel Youth Centre, Lothian Autistic Society, Vintage Vibes and Capability Scotland.

In response to some groups being unable to visit the festival in person, or being hesitant about attending, we are also continuing our Fringe in Communities programme. This will see street performers going out to locations across the city to perform during July and August.

The Fringe’s commitment to improving disabled access remains a priority. Customers with access requirements can use our Access Bookings system and search specific shows which are accessible such as relaxed, audio described, captioned and signed performances. Plus, a free personal assistant ticket is available for anyone who needs assistance to attend the Fringe. Customers can also search for shows in performance spaces with wheelchair access.

This year, we are once again providing sensory bags for children and adults on the autism spectrum. Each bag contain a fidget toy, earplugs, water bottle and a stress reliever. These items are designed to help users relax and overcome stressful or intense situations and are distributed to select partners across the city.

Our street events offering will see BSL interpretation on the West Parliament Square Stage on Saturday 21 August, and there will be a wheelchair accessible viewing area on the High Street throughout the festival.

We are also continuing Teachers’ Theatre Club, our partnership with Imaginate, which brings Edinburgh teachers to the Fringe. Each show seen will be followed by a group discussion with some of the artists and creative teams who made and/or presented the work, covering both the content of the show and how it could enhance and inform teaching practice.

And we’re making sure that Edinburgh’s schoolchildren can also take part in the Fringe fun by working with Gracemount High and selected Edinburgh primary schools to make sure they see Fringe shows too. .

Support for artists and arts industry

This year, the Fringe Society is hosting two digital platforms for artists and industry professionals: Fringe Connect and Fringe Marketplace.

Launched last month, Fringe Connect is an exciting new year-round platform, designed to bring Fringe artists together with peers and members of the arts community.

Described as ‘part social network, part events space’, Fringe Connect gives users the opportunity to populate their own profile with information about their professional experiences and interests (both Fringe-related and otherwise).

Registered users will have access to exciting industry news and opportunities, alongside access to year-round digital events aimed at supporting and facilitating professional development.

Guests and speakers during the Fringe include Lyn Gardner, Andrew Miller, Amy Conachan, Tarek Iskander, Jo Clifford and Richard Jordan, plus many more.

And after a successful pilot year in 2020, Fringe Marketplace has returned for2021. This dedicated showcase platform aims to connect arts industry delegates all over the world with professional and tour-ready artists.

The work that will appear on the platform has been selected by Fringe venue programmers and assessed by Fringe associates: an independent cross-genre industry experts who have experience and understanding of the Fringe.

Work with strategic partners

The Fringe Society is delighted to be working with three strategic partners this year: Something to Aim For, Parents and Carers in Performing Arts and Somewhere EDI. All three partnerships help us to better support and engage with significant groups of participants and understand the barriers they might be facing at the Fringe.

Something to Aim For is the charity devoted to supporting public health and (re)building social fabric through the creative industries.

Parents and Carers in Performing Arts work to promote best practice employment and support for parents and carers in the performing arts sector.

Somewhere EDI is a platform for positive LGBTQ+ culture, learning and activism, championing and empowering LGBTQ+ people to be out and visible in business, culture and in wider society.

Johnnie Walker

The Fringe Society is delighted to be working with Johnnie Walker for a third year. 2021 sees the return of the popular Fringe Club, a dedicated bar space for visitors to the festivities for the entire duration of the festival. Located on the Mound, an exciting spot with live street performances, the bar will once again serve a number of delicious highballs, cocktails and drams for guests in the dedicated whisky lounge.

Festival-goers will also have the chance to win exclusive prizes through the Johnnie Walker Ticket prize giveaway. Prizes include complimentary highballs at the Fringe Club, bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, £20 vouchers for shows at the Fringe and tour tickets to Johnnie Walker Princes Street. With each ticket bought via the Fringe, customers can click on the ticket banner in their booking confirmations to be entered into the prize draw.

Edinburgh Gin

2021 is the first year of our exciting new partnership with Edinburgh Gin, who are working to support Fringe artists affected by the pandemic.

The team have collaborated with Fringe Society president Phoebe Waller-Bridge to create a special limited-edition bottle, which captures the wonder of Edinburgh through the lens of Fleabag.

Every penny of profit will go towards a new fund, being run in partnership with the Fringe Society, which will support artists to create and bring work to the Fringe. More than £150,000 is hoped to be raised.

Sponsors and supporters

As a charity, the work of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society would not be possible without the valuable support of our partners, sponsors and funders. We are delighted to be working with Johnnie Walker for the third year running as our official whisky partner.

We are proud to be partnering with the newly opened St James Quarter and are excited to be working with them this year and beyond.

We are excited to be partnering with Crowdfunder again through our FringeMakers fundraising platform, supporting Fringe artists and venues with vital fundraising efforts.

We have teamed up with Rare Birds Books to a create a limited-edition book bundle with books selected by the women behind three of the Fringe’s most iconic venues; Rowan Campbell, the General Manager of Summerhall, Dani Rae, the General Manager of Assembly and Katy Koren, who co-runs Gilded Balloon. Proceeds of the sale of this bundle will support go directly to supporting Fringe artists bring work to the Fringe.

We would also like to thank Lothian Buses for their continued support of our Fringe Days Out programme.

We’re thrilled to welcome Edinburgh Gin on board as Official Gin of the Fringe and look forward to working with them.

We are grateful for funding through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government -through Creative Scotland -the City of Edinburgh Council and Festivals Edinburgh; Scottish Government for Made in Scotland through the Festivals Expo Fund -managed through Creative Scotland -and the continued support of the City of Edinburgh Council. Thanks also to Scottish Government for funds from their Get into Summer campaign.

We are grateful for funding from the Pivotal Event Business Fund, the SCVO Adapt and Thrive programme, the Foyle Foundation and the UK Government to enhance our digital capabilities.

Our thanks also to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Pump House Trust and the Turtleton Charitable Trust.

With thanks to EventScotland and City of Edinburgh Council for supporting Street Events.

Thank you to Brightcove, our streaming partners, for their support in delivering the Fringe Player.

Our thanks also to our Fringe Angels, Patrons, Friends and supporters whose passion and generosity made a real difference this year.

World leading festivals begin bounce back from impact of COVID-19

Edinburgh’s world-leading summer festivals are back, with their recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic supported by more than £5.4 million from the Scottish Government.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe opens today, followed by the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), with the Edinburgh Art Festival already open.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival will open a new chapter in a new venue on August 14, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival will welcome audiences from August 18.

The Scottish Government’s Gateway process has also allowed a small number of flagship events with national significance to take place in 2021, with limited numbers of spectators and subject to health advice, and both the EIF and the Fringe will stage events as part of the process.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture Angus Robertson said: “Edinburgh’s festivals are back – a significant moment for these landmark, world-leading events, and for our nation’s capital.

“The festivals were sorely missed last summer, and their return is a major step in the right direction as well as testament to the determination of festival organisers, along with the artists, venues and businesses involved.

“Already a huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to support the return of these globally significant cultural events and the benefits they bring to Scotland for our culture, for tourism, for trade and our place on the world stage.

“I’m delighted to welcome the Edinburgh Festivals’ return and see the world’s leading festival city come back to life in 2021.”

Chair of Festivals Edinburgh Sorcha Carey said: “The support of the Scottish Government and its agencies has been crucial to the very survival of our world-famous festivals, and we’re deeply grateful.

“All those who’ve worked tirelessly and are now able to manage a careful restart will be delighted to reconnect the people of Scotland with the live culture they’ve so badly missed.

“We want to support the vision of the First Minister and her team that culture will be at the heart of recovery, and we look forward with hope that Edinburgh’s peak festivals season can mark a turning point for Scotland’s culture sector.”

Strange Town presents Generation Z: The Future is Unwritten

120 young people from Edinburgh create multi-artform production

Strange Town, one of Scotland’s leading theatre companies for young people, is delighted to announce that their large scale multi-artform project – theatre, movement, spoken word, film, sound – ‘Generation Z: The Future is Unwritten’, will culminate in a live promenade performance and video installation event at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 June.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19 restrictions throughout the five-month project, Strange Town’s most ambitious production to date has involved more than 120 of Edinburgh’s young people (aged 8 -18), with support from the company’s emerging playwrights (aged 18-25) and directors; and guided and mentored by industry professionals.

Using the stimulus, ‘Can Young People Change the World?’, ‘Generation Z: The Future is Unwritten’ has been created by, and will be performed by, members of the eight Strange Town Youth Theatre Groups from across the city.

The members of Strange Town Youth Theatre responded to the stimulus with work addressing a range of topics including isolation, technology, identity, generational division, Black Lives Matter, climate change, ideal society/world, protest, kindness, having your voice heard and Covid-19.

In order to maximise the opportunities audiences will have to experience the live performance and video installation, the 60-minute promenade event will be presented to 20 socially distanced audience members three times a night in three separate spaces.

The whole audience will come together to experience a live performance from just six actors before being split into two separate groups to watch film and listen to audio material.

Additionally, a site specific eight-minute video will be projected on a wall next to the St. Andrew, Ukrainian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Pochaev, on Dalmeny Street, which will include a specially choreographed movement piece. This will also be be a ticketed event for socially distanced audiences.

On 26 and 27 June there will be an opportunity to pay to view a film of the live event together with a variety of additional video, audio and written material developed by the groups.

Funded by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development Programme, through the National Lottery, ‘Generation Z: The Future is Unwritten’ has been developed flexibly in response to the ever-changing situation caused by the pandemic.

The eight groups have met for weekly online digital drama workshops and face-to-face creative sessions, where possible, to explore the question and to create, write, film and record material. The groups have also worked together with members of the new Strange Town Young Writers Group who have both developed the work the groups have devised and written their own additional scenes.

As well as theatre, choreography and movement has played a big part in the project. 70 young people from the company got involved in a professionally choreographed movement piece, reflecting on the stimulus. This involved Zoom rehearsals and everybody recording their final performance on their mobile phones.

Rehearsals for the live performance are now underway with a drastically reduced number of actors working to strict guidelines, while video and sound design and editing is nearing completion

The Creative Scotland funding has also enabled Strange Town to employ a full technical team and additional production staff that include film editors, projection mappers, sound designers, a choreographer and production designer.

Steve Small, co-creative director of Strange Town and producer of ‘Generation Z: The Future is Unwritten’, said: “The Gen Z project is a testament to the hard work put in by everybody involved in the company.

“Despite the challenges and difficulties of the pandemic, watching the enthusiasm, skill and pride with which the production team has undertaken this task and having seen how the young people have adapted and risen to the challenge, as well as the range and quality of the work they’ve produced, it’s impossible not to feel massively encouraged. Despite the dark days of the lockdown restrictions, we hope better days are coming. People will always find a way to be creative.

“Thanks to the funding from Creative Scotland, Generation Z: The Future is Unwritten’s mix of indoor and outdoor and digital work means that everyone will be able to enjoy it wherever they are. We hope it will create some much-needed hope and enjoyment for 2021.”

The ‘LIFE BEGINS AGAIN’ Tour!

JEFF WAYNE’S MUSICAL VERSION OF ‘THE WAR OF THE WORLDS’ ALIVE ON STAGE!

THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING MASTERPIECE RETURNS IN 2022

FIRST GUEST ARTISTS ANNOUNCED:
STEPS’ CLAIRE RICHARDS as Beth, The Parson’s Wife
& STRICTLY COME DANCING’S KEVIN CLIFTON as The Artilleryman

RETURNING:
LIAM NEESON as The Journalist in 3D Holography & Composer JEFF WAYNE Conducting.

FINAL CAST MEMBERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
WHO: The War Of The Worlds
WHAT: The Life Begins Again Tour 2022

One of the most trailblazing arena tours of all time, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of ‘The War of The Worlds’ – Alive on Stage! returns to arenas throughout the UK in 2022.

Steps’ and stage star Claire Richards makes her debut as Beth, The Parson’s Wife. With Steps,Claire has amassed fourteen Top 5 singles (including three Number 1’s), and three multi Platinum albums, including 20 million in record sales and seven sold-out arena tours.

Claire is often our TV screens, including The One Show, Loose Women, Celebrity Big Brother and Popstar to Operastar, and her 2019 solo album, My Wildest Dreams, hit the UK Top 10.

Claire said: “I am so thrilled to be joining the cast of Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds for their 2022 Arena tour. To be a part of such an iconic production is so exciting, and I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the road next year.”

Strictly and West End star Star Kevin Clifton will debut as The Artilleryman. Kevin has thrilled audiences in the West End and across the UK, starring in ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘Dirty Dancing the Musical’ and ‘The Wedding Singer’.

Now, he’ll be returning to the stage in 2022 for this exciting role. Kevin is best known as a Pro Dancer on BBC One’s, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ being the only pro dancer to ever dance in four consecutive finals.

Kevin said “I am unbelievably excited to be joining the cast of Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds. In 2022 this particular story could not be more relevant. After so long without live performance, what better experience could there be than this spectacular arena production complete with a full live onstage orchestra and special effects. ‘Life Begins Again!’ “

Based on HG Wells’ dark Victorian tale, it remains a firm favourite to millions around the world.

In 2006 TWOTW was considered a cutting edge production with six trucks filled to the brim. In 2022, marking a momentous 16 years of touring, the production will be up to 12, and with it, a host of ingredients and special effects that will challenge and excite the senses for audiences of all ages, all set to Jeff’s iconic score.

FEATURING:

The iconic 3-tonne, 30-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine firing real-flame Heat Rays at the audience.
The 8-piece Black Smoke Band and symphonic ULLAdubULLA strings.
Leaf drops over the audience.
Mixed live in Surround Sound.
Giant bridge from the lip of the stage out over the audience.
Three panoramic screens featuring 2 hours of cutting edge CGI & Video content.
The incineration of a Cast member in full view of the audience.

NEW FOR 2022:

The Flaming Man
Callum O’Neil as ‘The War of The Worlds’ author, HG Wells – in Sight and Sound.
Otherworldly special effects!

Jeff said: Why are we calling this The Life Begins Again Tour? It’s certainly a name appropriate for the times we have been living through since the first lockdown in 2020, caused by the pandemic. But ironically, the title comes from a musical phrase in my original 1978 double-album just as Humanity learns that the Martians, with all their superior intelligence, incredible machines and weaponry, hadn’t foreseen one particular thing – the common cold, and the bacteria that caused it. And in a sneeze, they were gone!

Now from all over Britain, mankind began returning to their homes. Life was beginning again. By 2014 I decided that original musical phrase should be expanded into a full song, performed by all the characters we have met along the way, and it has appeared in every tour and production since.

HG Wells conceived his story’s ending with Human bacteria defeating the invading alien force. But how could he have possibly known, that over 120 years later, a virus born on Earth, would appear and reap havoc on innocent people of all ages, colour and ethnicities, world-wide. Let us hope, that like HG’s Martians, this horrible disease is being truly defeated, as life will begin again.”

JEFF WAYNE’S MUSICAL VERSION OF ’THE WAR OF THE WORLDS’ – A SUMMARY

Jeff Wayne’s double album was originally released by CBS Records in 1978 featuring Richard Burton,the Moody Blues Justin Hayward, David Essex, Julie Covington, the It has enjoyed huge success and critical acclaim across the globe with over 16 million records sold and spending over 330 weeks in the UK Album Charts (to date) plus achieving two International hit singles – ‘Forever Autumn’ and ‘The Eve of The War’.

It has been Top 10 in 22 countries and Number 1 in 11 of them. In 2012 the New Generation double album was released and featured an expanded story-line with a new cast including: Liam Neeson, Take That’s Gary Barlow, Joss Stone and Kaiser Chief’s Ricky Wilson..

Jeff’s Musical Version has also won two prestigious UK Ivor Novello Awards, the US Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy (the judges included Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg), as well as winning for Jeff, Classic Rock’s ‘Showman of The Year’ Award following the debut arena tour in 2006.

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of ‘The War of The Worlds’ has grown into a true classic, acquiring new generations of devoted followers since its original release.

It has now been seen in London’s West End, a chart-topping 5-hour Audible Audiobook featuring Michael Sheen, Taron Edgeton and Theo James, and in 2019 opened at London’s Old Metal Exchange Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience and winning the THEA Award, the ‘Oscar’ of the interactive world. Now Covid compliant, it is re-opening again from May 22.

The 2006 DVD topped the UK Music DVD Charts for 7 consecutive weeks and was seen for a year on Sky Arts TV, and the 2012 DVD also enjoyed great success.

TOUR DATES

MARCH 2022

23 NOTTINGHAM MOTORPOINT ARENA
24 BIRMINGHAM RESORTS WORLD ARENA
26 CARDIFF MOTORPOINT ARENA*
27 BRIGHTON CENTRE
28 BRIGHTON CENTRE
29 BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
30 BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

APRIL 2022

01 MANCHESTER AO ARENA
02 GLASGOW THE SSE HYDRO
03 LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA
05 HULL BONUS ARENA
06 LIVERPOOL M&S ARENA
07 NEWCASTLE UTILITA ARENA
09 LONDON THE O2*

*MATINEE & EVENING SHOWS

Tickets on general sale now via www.livenation.co.uk

Loveday Ingram to direct stage production of the most iconic movie thriller of it’s generation

Smith and Brant Theatricals and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions are today delighted to announce a new production of Fatal Attraction, based on the classic Paramount Pictures Corporation film.

The thrilling new play will embark on a major UK Tour in 2022, opening at the Brighton Theatre Royal on Tuesday 14th January 2022, before touring to Theatre Royal, Newcastle; King’s Theatre, Edinburgh; Theatre Royal, Bath; Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham; New Theatre, Cardiff; Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham; Richmond Theatre, Richmond; Royal and Derngate, Northampton; Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury; Theatre Royal, Glasgow and York, Grand Opera House.

Fatal Attraction is the latest grip-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller from the producers of the acclaimed tours of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight and Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train.

Fatal Attraction is written by James Dearden, who based the stage play on his Oscar-nominated screenplay, which in turn was adapted from his 1980 short film, Diversion. Loveday Ingram will direct the production with a full casting announcement to follow.

One of the most iconic films of the era, Fatal Attraction was one of 1987’s highest grossing US Box Office release, securing six major Oscar nominations at the following year’s Academy Awards, including: Best Actress for Glenn Close’s mesmerising depiction of urbane sophisticate Alex Forrest, Best Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Best Writing Adapted Screenplay (James Dearden), Best Director (Adrian Lyne), Best Editing, and Best Picture.

Michael Douglas – at the peak of his Hollywood powers – was omitted from the list only as he was nominated elsewhere in the Best Actor category for his role as Gordon ‘greed is good’ Gecko in Wall Street, which he went on to win.

Fatal Attraction’s success was such that the film inspired a generation of psychosexual thrillers in the years that followed.

When happily married New York attorney Dan Gallagher, meets charming editor Alex Forrest on a night out in the city, they both commit to a night of passion they can’t take back. Dan returns home to his family and tries to forget the mistake he has made, but Alex has different ideas. Dan’s about to discover that love is a dangerous game, and Alex has only one rule; you play fair with her, and she’ll play fair with you.

Loveday Ingram trained with John Barton at the RSC and was previously Associate Director at Chichester Festival Theatre. Loveday’s credits include: The Rover, The Merchant of Venice (Royal Shakespeare Company); Henry V, Julius Caesar (Storyhouse); Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Liverpool Playhouse/National Centre for the Performing Arts, China); My One and Only (Piccadilly Theatre/Chichester). Nominated for 4 Olivier Awards and Evening Standard Award); The Blue Room (also Chichester), When Harry Met Sally (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Bedroom Farce (Aldwych Theatre); Three Sisters, Pal Joey (nominated for TMA and Barclay Best Musical Awards), Dead Funny, Insignificance (Chichester Festival Theatre); Macbeth (Theatre Severn); Richard III (Nottingham Playhouse/York Theatre Royal); These Shining Lives (Park Theatre); Rockabye (Beckett Centenary Festival/Gate Theatre Dublin/Barbican); Boston Marriage, Hysteria (Irish Times Award) (Project Theatre Dublin); Outlying Islands, Lettice and Lovage (Bath Theatre Royal); The Messiah (National Theatre of Brent/Bush Theatre). Opera credits include All About Love (Linbury Studio); Brittain’s Rape of Lucrece (BAC) and Barber’s Vanessa (Lyric Hammersmith). Music Video includes This Time It’s Forever (Women’s Aid).

Tipped to be provocative and gripping in equal measures, Fatal Attraction is a tale of seduction and suspense that asks the question; what happens when desire becomes deadly?

www.fatalattractionplay.com