The Lads – Hen & Chickens Theatre

Toxic masculinity’ continues to be a fizzing hot topic. In the past few years, it’s curdled from legitimate concern and intelligent discussion to yet another flashpoint in the culture wars. Well-meaning and bad faith operators were soon questioning the term, concerned that it reinforced negative stereotypes and might be detrimental to the mental health of young men. Meanwhile, the ‘manosphere’ continues to grow and curdle. The views of provocative influencers are seeping into the mainstream due to the monetisation model of online media and the grim logic of the algorithm.

theatremuseuk.org

Theatre Muse UK’s Top 5 Picks for Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026

IMPROVISATION Improvisation deserves a genre of its own! This list is one of our personal favourites, and these improv teams should be visited ‘post haste’! Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel – Venue 302, McEwan Hall at Underbelly, Bristo Square 7th-16th August 12.50pm (1hr 10mins) - ‘The all-star cast improvise a new Jane Austen novel every show, inspired entirely by the audience, performed in period costume with a live musical accompaniment. It is razor-sharp, and hilariously funny’! ComedySportz – Venue 272, The Live Room at Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters…

theatremuseuk.org

Bathroom – Etcetera Theatre

‘Bathroom’ is a beautiful, deeply affecting piece of theatre, defined by vulnerability and an acute understanding of what happens when love is strained by emotional distance, language and cultural difference. Written and directed by Yijing Zou, this intimate two-hander explores the challenges of living and working abroad as a non-native speaker. Its storytelling is compassionate without becoming sentimental, gently confronting racism, the expectations we place upon our partners and the cumulative toll of navigating a multicultural environment. Inspired by Edvard Munch’s 1896 painting “Separations”, the production asks a painful question: “what remains when love can no longer bridge the space between two people?”

theatremuseuk.org

Theatre Muse UK’s Top 5 Picks for Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026

POLITICAL SHOWS Here are Theatre Muse UK’s top political shows from mixed genres, just to give you a taster what is on offer from the international politics leaning offerings:- Anti-Fascist Pasta Night – Venue 75, Flight Club at Laughing Horse @ West Port Oracle 6th-30th August 3.45pm (1hr) - ‘Curious about the fascist coup going on in the United States? Want to get the low down with punchlines because this world needs a spoonful of sugar to go down? Join Ron Placone as he navigates how he copes with it all!’

theatremuseuk.org

White Bitch Bingo – Barons Court Theatre

Caroline Cole's ‘White Bitch Bingo’ is less a stand-up comedy than a warm and fuzzy, confessional storytelling hour, wrapped around a game of bingo and sprinkled with just the right amount of audience interaction. Billed as an exploration of privilege, identity and the contradictions of modern America, it never becomes preachy, instead it relies on Cole's natural warmth and self-deprecating humour to keep the audience firmly on side. The bingo element proves to be the evening's strongest theatrical device, and it gives the audience a genuine sense of participation creates an easy rapport and reminds us that everyone enjoys the simple thrill of winning and walking away with a prize!

theatremuseuk.org

The Alternative To Living – Barons Court Theatre

The Alternative to Living’ is an ambitious piece that aims to explore uncomfortable themes through deeply fragmented storytelling and experimental theatre. The central concept has genuine promise, inviting the audience to reflect on their very existence, their digital identity, and the way we construct meaning from fractured modern life experiences, however unfortunately, the execution and underdeveloped script struggle struggles to realise the potential at the heart of the idea. The writing feels intentionally disjointed, with dialogue frequently delivered in half sentences and broken thoughts. While this may have been a deliberate artistic choice from writer Fenn Telfer, it creates a barrier rather than a sense of intrigue.

theatremuseuk.org

Theatre Muse UK’s Top 5 Picks for Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Theatre Narrowing this down to five choices is no mean task, and I am sure that you will have your own favourites, but here are Theatre Muse UK’s choices:- A Pebble In The Road – Venue 33, Pleasance Two at Pleasance Courtyard 5th-31st August (not 17th, 24th) 1.35pm (1hr 10mins) - Ingeborga Dapkunaite gives a spontaneous, child’s-eye account of three generations of women through a hundred turbulent, Lithuanian years. Buggers – Venue 33, Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard 5th-30th August (not 17th, 24th) 1.20pm (1hr) - Set in London 1963, painter Francis Bacon meets petty criminal George Dyer and they become lovers.

theatremuseuk.org

Theatre Muse UK’s Top 5 Picks for Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Musicals There is such an array of choice of new musicals, and some festival favourites making their return.  Here is our selection, in no particular order:- An A-Z Guide To Dating – Venue 300, Buttercup at Underbelly, George Square 5th-31st August 5.15pm (1hr) - Brought to you by Queen of Cups who are the company behind, ‘Bad Teacher’ and ‘Summoning Sondheim’. An A-Z To Dating is a one-man musical based upon an unapologetic dating advice book…get your tips here! Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical – Venue 24, Other Yin at Gilded Ballon Patter House…

theatremuseuk.org

Bad Habits – Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Imagine Sister Act crashing headlong into St Trinian’s and you’ve got the gloriously chaotic energy of Bad Habits. Stu Meevens’ irreverent comedy throws a convent into crisis as an eccentric order of nuns hatch an increasingly ridiculous plan to save their home from becoming a supermarket, by stealing a collection of holy relics, resulting in two hours of organised theatrical mayhem. Meevens’ script is packed with one-liners, running gags and knowingly daft wordplay. The sisters’ names alone range from gloriously cheesy to outrageously NSFW that would make the Pope blush. Not every joke is original, but even the more telegraphed punchlines land thanks to the confidence and commitment of an experienced cast who know exactly how to sell them.

theatremuseuk.org

Romeo. Juliet. – Gala Theatre, Durham Fringe Festival

I am always interested to hear about a company who champion new talent, and PurpleDoor Theatre do just that!  The company’s policy is to create re-imaginings of classic works, whilst working with artists to co-create the show,  Since 2008, PurpleDoor Theatre have been working with artists with very little experience, casting them in major roles, and this leap of faith has resulted in opportunities arising for those who wish to pursue theatre as a career, and go on to drama schools such as RADA and Central, or other opportunities for work. 

theatremuseuk.org

SIMON STEPHENS’ MARIA TO RECEIVE UK PREMIERE AT 53TWO

Manchester writer’s powerful drama about love, isolation and survival comes to 53two from 2–11 September 2026. 53two will present the UK premiere of Maria by acclaimed Manchester playwright Simon Stephens this September, directed by Sadie Mears in her debut production at the venue. Set in the North, in a once-thriving port town now surviving on the scraps of yesterday’s industry, Maria follows a pregnant 18-year-old searching for connection, trust and hope in the digital 21st century. As Maria “ping-pongs” through life the play takes an unflinching look at social neglect and isolation combining youthful resistance with enforced resilience.

theatremuseuk.org

SIMON STEPHENS’ MARIA TO RECEIVE UK PREMIERE AT 53TWO

Manchester writer’s powerful drama about love, isolation and survival comes to 53two from 2–11 September 2026. 53two will present the UK premiere of Maria by acclaimed Manchester playwright Simon Stephens this September, directed by Sadie Mears in her debut production at the venue. Set in the North, in a once-thriving port town now surviving on the scraps of yesterday’s industry, Maria follows a pregnant 18-year-old searching for connection, trust and hope in the digital 21st century. As Maria “ping-pongs” through life the play takes an unflinching look at social neglect and isolation combining youthful resistance with enforced resilience.

theatremuseuk.org

Wilder! – Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

In ‘Wilder!’ writers Thomas Billiouw and Dany Van Brabant have cultivated an entertainingly twisted world, where manicured lawns conceal murderous intent and the local gardening club is the beating heart of suburban paranoia and gossip. Imagine Hot Fuzz’sNeighbourhood Watch transplanted into the pristine neighbourhoods of a British Desperate Housewives and you’re somewhere close to the show’s gleefully madcap and macabre tone. At the centre is Gloria, played with wonderful commitment by Dany Van Brabant, who channels the clipped elegance and commanding poise of a homicidal Katharine Hepburn. Every smile feels calculated, every perfectly delivered line hints at barely contained violence, making Gloria both magnetic and deeply unsettling.

theatremuseuk.org

Love Factually – Durham Fringe Festival

There are not many of us who do not know the movie ‘Love Actually’, the boogying Prime Minister who falls for one of his staff; Colin who struggles to find love in Britain but finds that his ‘cute British accent’ supes up his ability to woo the ladies in the US, and the tough love of Emma Thompson’s husband paying attention to one of his staff and giving her ‘that’ necklace! Ok, I may have watched a few times…sooo many times, but as a lover of improv, I was keen to see how the theme of this movie, would translate into an improvised experience.

theatremuseuk.org

Buggers – Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Written and starring Alistair Hall, a Patrick Bone Production in association with Pleasance:- Photo Credit - Hazel Gaskin Supported by the Estate of Francis Bacon, with rare access to archival material documenting the relationship between artist Francis Bacon and his muse and partner George Dyer Buggers, a haunting new psychodrama exploring the turbulent relationship between artist Francis Bacon and his lover and muse George Dyer, comes to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. Written by and starring Alistair Hall as Francis Bacon, the production has received rare research support from the Estate of Francis Bacon.

theatremuseuk.org

The Writing of Stones – Camden Fringe Festival

Actors investigate human extinction alongside talking stones in a cheeky, brainy physical theatre show by experimental theatre ensemble, Emballage Following its sell-out run at Camden People’s Theatre and its Cambridge Junction premiere, Emballage’s whacky and thought-provoking production returns to London as part of The Cockpit’s 2026 Camden Fringe Programme. Taking inspiration from the collected writings of stone-obsessed polymath Roger Caillois, The Writing of Stones asks if art is a uniquely human endeavour. The production blends beautifully written text, energetic performances, mesmerising images, and atmospheric lighting and sound design. Led by art historians and theatre makers Emma Wagstaff and Dom Weatherby, the ensemble is completed by clown and actor John Harper (

theatremuseuk.org

MANikin – Hibernian Supporters Club, Leith

Having run independent venues as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for eight consecutive festivals, Saltire Sky have announced their decision to go it alone this year, programming the return of the Best Drama winning MANikin at the Hibernian Supporters Club in Leith this August outwith the Fringe Societies programming. The company made the decision following increased lack of support from the Fringe for unfunded independent companies like theirs running independent venues over the years. Choosing to take the Fringe ethos back to its roots, Saltire Sky will be performing on the outskirts of the festival prioritising community links that are both affordable and accessible to Edinburgh locals with the British Obesity Society returning as partner charity following a successful collaboration in 2024.

theatremuseuk.org

Threads of May – Camden Fringe Festival

“I’m a remarkable woman. Always was, though none of you seemed to think so.” May Morris, 1936 Live music and storytelling weaves together the intricate life of May Morris (1862-1938), who designed some of the world’s most iconic Arts and Crafts patterns and championed the work of her father William Morris. The solo actor-musician play follows threads from May’s unique bohemian childhood raised within the pre-raphaelite brotherhood’s artist community. At a time when the world was changing and industries were being transformed by new technology, the Morris family championed hand-crafted creativity.

theatremuseuk.org

Between Strands – Camden Fringe Festival

A devised performance by Pebble Theatre In Taiwan, some families stop cutting their hair after losing a loved one, carrying grief through the body itself. Have you ever thought about what stories your hair holds? Between Strands is a visually led, devised theatre performance exploring hair as a vessel of memory, identity, and belief. Blending movement, shadow play, and bilingual text, the piece follows a young woman in the UK navigating the loss of her grandmother in Taiwan. Across distance, everyday gestures — brushing hair, childhood games, remembered stories — become a shared language that connects generations.

theatremuseuk.org

Gelin – Camden Fringe Festival

Hilariously dramatic mother-daughter comedy, Gelin, heads to Camden Fringe fresh from sold out productions in London and Istanbul Gelin will play at Young Actors Theatre Islington on 1-2 August 2026, part of Camden Fringe Gelin transfers to Camden Fringe following sold out London and Istanbul performances. Photo by Cinar Unal ‘Gelin’ (Turkish for Bride) is a charming, hilariously chaotic and honest reimagining of a Turkish classic into a contemporary London setting. The fanciful schemes and competitive meddling of a lively mother and daughter duo take centrestage in this tender and playful comedy about modern gender roles and family dynamics.

theatremuseuk.org

Argonauts – Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Opinions are weapons. Friendship is the casualty. In this world premiere from Brazilian company Technis, Argonauts is a sharp, funny and devastating tragicomedy that holds a black mirror up to the words of the stage. Weaving sharp wit with myth, the play explores the clash between criticism and creation, reason and emotion, asking why theatre continues to matter in a chaotic world. Liz and Sam host a theatre podcast while navigating the volatile landscape of contemporary arts criticism. When Sam champions a radical new production, Liz's outrage erupts before she has even seen it.

theatremuseuk.org

This Little Thing of Ours – Edinburgh Fringe Festival

The Godfather’s out. Time to face the music. Frankie Coglione comes from a long line of Mafiosos, all cursed with the worst luck imaginable. But Frankie is different. He’s determined not only to make the family fortune, but to change it. Backed by his iron-willed Nonna, he seems destined for the top spot. But when an untimely retirement creates a power vacuum, Frankie must face his greatest rival: Tony, a silk-suited street boss with killer instincts and a surprisingly strong falsetto. It’s about to get messy. Because in this family, you don’t just whack someone, you give them a closing number.

theatremuseuk.org

In Good Conscience – Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Photo by - Aiste Bendauskaite In Good Conscience is a work-in-progress play staged at the King's Arms Theatre, produced by Red Line Theatre, and co-created and performed by Barbara Diesel and Oli Wyatt.  Red Line are a company who champion new writing, and challenge the establishment, encouraging us to question rules that we had no part in the making of.  The play is brand new for Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, but you would not know that the company have only been working on this show since June!  It is relevant, and edgy, and does not hold back in its questioning of authority.

theatremuseuk.org

Otto & Astrid: The Stages Tour – Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Photo credit - Christine Fiedler Berlin's gloriously dysfunctional sibling rock duo, Otto & Astrid, bring The Stages Tour to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - an irreverently side-splitting, lipstick-smeared, tantrum-loving rock gig that blends anarchic comedy with pitch-perfect pop parody. Otto wants the show to be a grand emotional spectacle in the style of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Astrid wants a tight, blistering rock'n'roll gig. He keeps sneaking in unauthorised songs the moment her back is turned. She just wants to finish one number without a meltdown; though when it comes to derailing the show, it turns out neither of them is entirely innocent.

theatremuseuk.org

Young – Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Performer in his Seventies Looks at Ageing in New Solo Clownish Show YOUNG Performer Gerry Carroll, who took his first steps in comedy at the age of 60, brings his new solo show YOUNG to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. A clownesque comedy with singing and a bit of dancing, the show explores what it means to grow old by weaving together the ancient legend of the Land of the Young, fragments of musical numbers, and stories from Gerry’s own seventy-three years. “My life’s been very ordinary, but is any life ordinary?” he asks.

theatremuseuk.org

Unmasked – Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Boundless. Limitless. Fluid. Eternal. Sounds peaceful, doesnt it? Like Hell. A writer, backstage during the premiere of their first ever play. A darkly humorous presence, sheltered by a sunny disposition. A witness. There will be secrets. There will be signs. There will be ringing phones, and peering mannequins, and a sense of slow, creeping dread you can't quite pin down. As darkness begins to descend, focus starts to shift, and boundaries between the mortal and the timeless shimmer and blur, a terrifying question begs to be answered: how much is too much of the soul to unmask before an audience?

theatremuseuk.org

Space Cadet – Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Brand-new, Heartwarming Neurodivergent Musical at This Year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe Isabella Pettite and Nikki Laurence present Photo Credit - Izzy Pettite Space Cadet, a new original musical by Isabella Pettite and Nikki Laurence premiers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026.Combining original music, humour and heartfelt storytelling, the show offers an authentic and uplifting exploration of neurodivergent life from the perspective of a neurodivergent performer. It’s impossible to say exactly what to expect from Space Cadet! Literally, the show comprises of two, let’s say quirky, neurodivergent individuals on stage, with their instruments, for an hour telling a story and singing songs… This musical will mean something different to every single audience member – some will find it eye-opening, some will find it validating, some fascinating and some absolutely baffling; but it’s guaranteed that the audience be entertained as they go on a journey into a neurodivergent mind, and that the world will be seen in an entirely different way once this show has been experienced!

theatremuseuk.org

Every Single Sound In The World – The King’s Arms Theatre

Greater Manchester Fringe Festival Natalie Patuzzo’s debut clown show introduces us to Noot Patoot (I’ve had a stab at it), an alien who wishes to understand sounds from earth by collecting them in her sound collector. Using an extended ear trumpet, she collects the sounds and then loads them into test tubes which she has strapped about her person. This is the bear outline of the show, but let’s dig a little deeper. Using the audience as contributors, Noot (Natalie Patuzzo) begins her quest to collect sounds which her planet will also use as an energy source.

theatremuseuk.org

One Man Poe – Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Considering that Edgar Allan Poe was only forty years old when he died, he was a prolific writer. Written in the 1840’s, Poe’s work is synonymous with horror, and his writing has been an inspiration to many theatre creatives and filmmakers. Performer Stephen Smith has selected The Black Cat and the poem The Raven to perform in Manchester this evening. Photo credit - Cat Humphries Photography The Black Cat The Black Cat chronicles a man awaiting the gallows, pondering the path that led him to his fate. He had been a good man with a loving wife until alcoholism claimed his good nature.

theatremuseuk.org

PsyTreedelic Xperience – Camden Fringe Festival

Out of sync, overwhelmed, lonely? Do you sometimes feel you are just…a bit tired of being a human? Come be treeeee! Join the tree shaman for an hour of unhinged joy, break free from the capitalist burnout, and immerse yourself in the boundless experience of being part of the forest! Disclaimer: Mushrooms are involved—but in completely legal ways. Short listed for Luke Rollason Memorial Bursary at Brighton Fringe 2025, Part of Look for the Woman clown festival at Rosemary Branch Theatre 2026 “Weird, wise, and wildly original.”—Bespoke Black Book More about the show:

theatremuseuk.org