In part 11 of our Edinburgh Fringe Festival Guide, we have some, theatre, Musical and spoken word shows not to be missed including a little bit of magic. You can find links to all our guides below.
Theatre/Musical/spoken word
SHOWSTOPPER!
The incredible ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ makes a return to The Grand at the Pleasance Courtyard for the month of August. Spontaneous musical comedy at its finest, the show comes direct from a West End run and nationwide tour. This is the first ever long-form improv show to have a full West End run and to be nominated and win an Olivier Award! Completely improvised and genuinely entirely different every night this is THE must see show of the fringe!
Venue: The Pleasance Courtyard – Grand
Time: 9.30pm (runs 70 minutes)
Dates: 3rd – 28th August (except 16TH August)
Previews: 3rd & 4th August
BORIS III
When Boris Johnson was eighteen years old, he played Richard III in a school play at Eton. Apparently, he wasn’t prepared, didn’t learn his lines, and the result was chaos. Boris III is a comedy imagining of what that production might have been like. Will young Boris play the clown and charm his critics, or will he be remembered as the villain? A possible origin story for one of the most colourful and divisive figures in modern British politics – this is one illicit party you won’t want to miss.
Venue: Pleasance One – Pleasance Courtyard
Time: 4.10pm
Dates: 3rd – 29th August (except 15th)
Previews: 3rd & 4th August
LIGHTWEIGHT
‘Lightweight’ is the true story of a complicated young woman’s attempts to survive anorexia and maintain a debilitatingly positive attitude in post 9/11 New York City.
As a last-ditch effort to recover from eating disorders, Amie enters a 28-day addiction treatment facility. Tortured by her wildly dysfunctional parents, a seductive cupcake, and the ghost of a dead music icon, Amie surrenders to the fact that the only place she has some control in her life is at the rehab center. As she approaches her one-year anniversary in treatment a new patient enters, disrupting Amie’s perfect recovery world and changing her life forever.
Venue: Underbelly (Cowgate) – The Wee Coo
Time: 2.50pm
Dates: 3rd – 29th August (except 15th)
Previews: 3rd – 5th August
SUGARCOATED SISTERS
Introducing cabarets brightest rising stars, the Sugarcoated Sisters who make their Edinburgh Festival debut with their show ‘Bittersweet’ at the Just The Tonic Caves for the month of August. The show is directed by Laura Corcoran from critically acclaimed cabaret/comedy act Frisky & Mannish. The comedy duo, from Hertfordshire, are made up of real-life siblings, Chloe and Tabby Tingey, and they have just been pronounced winners of the Best Newcomer award at the Musical Comedy Awards.
Venue: Just The Tonic @ The Caves – The Fancy Room
Time: 8.50pm
Dates: 4th – 28th August (except 15th & 22nd)
Previews: 4th & 5th August
WATCH THE GIRLS IN ACTION: Beauty and the Beast
ANDY MACLEOD – ANOINT MY HEAD
Andy’s show is based on his book of the same name, he is was in a britpop band managed by Ricky Gervais (yes really) and how he almost hit the big time. This show is directed by Bafta winner Jason Watkins which is awesome
Venue: Just The Tonic – The Caves @ Wee Room
Time: 1.30pm
Dates: 4th – 28th August (except 15th)
Previews: 4th & 5th August
Kids
Doktor Kaboom!
Doktor Kaboom is a scientist who does science demonstrations that are crazy and fun and engaging and aiming to show how science can be fun and funny. The show is critically acclaimed and coming from the US. He has a quote on his release from Dave Chapelle because he’s so highly thought of there. It’s a mad, energetic, funny, happy show for the family.
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard – Beyond
Time: 12pm (lunchtime)
Dates: 3rd – 21st August
Previews: 3rd & 4th August
Circus:
Cirque Berserk
Cirque Berzerk! They are a massive circus troupe who have spectacular shows. They’re in the EICC in Edinburgh which is a massive room and they have the circle of death with the motorbike cage. They have contortionists and acrobats and the skill on show is wild.
They finish with an inspirational, feel good message for all the kids: that is not the size of the wand that matters in this world, but the size of your DREAMS. No matter what you want to achieve in life, if you believe in yourself, you can make your dreams come true!
The show appeals to every single audience member – regardless of age! Packed full of crazy circus stunts, mind-bending magic, and hilarious humour that will leave you trying not to pee for the entire hour, it isn’t hard to see why this magic show truly is, the GREATEST!
Venue: Pleasance @ EICC
Dates/Times: 6.30pm 3rd – 28th August (except 24th)
1.30pm 6th – 28th (except 24th)
Magic shows:
The Greatest Magic Show
Fringe World winner of Best Children’s Show (2020) and Sydney Fringe winner of Best in Fringe Kids (2019), comic magicians Justin and Sam have 17 years combined family entertainment experience and out of this world hilarious routines. The builder of their spectacular show did David Copperfield in Vegas so it’s some extra extra stuff.
Venue: Assembly George Square Gardens – Palais Du Variete
Time: 2.35pm
Dates: 3rd – 29th August (except 15, 22 August)
Previews: 3rd & 4th August
Adults Only Magic Show
As well as the family show above, Justin and Sam also do a night-time adults only show which is slightly more raucous and infinitely more dangerous.
Sam and Justin are now completely flipping the script on what you would expect from your typical magic show – replacing the bunnies and top hats with raw comedy and sex appeal! Oh, and did we mention FREE DRINKS for all the volunteers? Yes, you read that right – join the magicians on stage and the next drink is on them!
Venue: Assembly George Square – Studio Three
Time: 9.15pm
Dates: 3rd – 28th August (except 15th, 22nd August)
Previews: 3rd & 4th August
Dom Chambers
Dom was a semi finalist on America’s Got Talent, is the Aussie star of The Illusionists on Broadway as well as Penn and Teller: Fool Us. His show is called Fake Wizard where he ditches the typical top hat and wand magic and takes it into normal life, in tinder, using beer etc. He has over 100 million views on his videos.
Title of Show: Dom Chambers: Fake Wizard
Venue: Assembly @ George Square – The Blue Room
Time: 5.50pm
Dates: 3rd – 28th August (except 15th)
Previews: 3rd & 4th August
You can find tickets to all Edinburgh Fringe events here and the rest of out festival guides here
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