(Summerhall) shows we can’t wait to see at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe


Boasting over 50,000 performances in over 300 venues, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will once again be the talk of the arts world this summer. For three weeks in August (4–28 2017), the Scottish capital becomes home to comedy giants, serious thespians, hilarious first-timers – and a bunch of genuine weirdos – all putting on shows left, right and centre. So where to start? Cut to the chase with our pick of tickets to fight for at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017 and the Edinburgh International Festival.


Cosmic Scallies (Summerhall)

The wonderful, anarchic, disabled-led theatre company Graeae returns with ‘Cosmic Scallies’, a play about ‘class, friendship and absence set in the forgotten town of Skemersdale’. Full details


DollyWould (Summerhall)

Magnificently shambolic performance art duo Sh!t Theatre follow up a string of piss-taking but hard-hitting shows – including last year’s housing crisis odyssey ‘Letters to Windsor House’ – with ‘DollyWould’, a show that celebrates their unabashed love for Dolly Parton. And why not? Full details


£¥€$ (LIES) (Summerhall)

Belgian’s controversial Ontroerend Goed follow up last year’s brilliant ‘World Without Us’ with ‘£¥€$ (LIES)’, a show that lets you experience what it’s like to be a member of the one percent. Classic Ontroerend Goed fodder, but this is a company that’s become essential again. Full details


The Shape of the Pain (Summerhall)

A woman attempts to articulate her experience of intense, inexplicable, physical pain in this new monologue written by the brilliant, mercurial Chris Thorpe, performed by Hannah McPake, and directed Rachel Bagshaw, with a score from sound artist Melanie Wilson. Full details


Start Swimming (Summerhall)

This looks interesting: seriously talented up-and-coming playwright James Fritz – who had a big hit at the Edinburgh Fringe a couple of years back with his monologue ‘Ross & Rachel’ – teams up with the Young Vic’s outreach company Taking Part for a new play about the terrible pressures of the future. Full details