Hi folks,
It’s time to announce the top ten shows Theatre Village is backing for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
These are the shows we believe have the potential to live on beyond the Fringe. When we announced our provisional list back in April, some were still completely unknown to us, and a few did not even have functioning social media pages. Since then, more press releases have arrived, the Edinburgh Fringe programme has been published, and Grace’s satchel has been full on a daily basis.
Every Fringe, we would love to add more shows to our top ten list. But a top ten is a top 10, so ten it is.
They are not listed in any particular order.
- Spraywatch
Low Fat Productions
Everyone’s favourite 90s lifeguard has washed up in Spray, a soggy British seaside town with darker waters than expected. A brand-new, unauthorised musical comedy described as Barbie meets The Book of Mormon, with swearing, seaside chaos and crabs.
Grace says: I’ve delivered parcels in some damp places, but Spray sounds like the sort of town where even the seagulls need counselling.
- An A To Z Guide On Dating
The Queens of Cups
A hilarious one-woman musical based on an unapologetic dating advice book written by Grace O’Keefe’s own mother. Exploring romance, relationships and the performance of womanhood, this promises chaos, heart and original music.
Grace says: A dating musical based on your mam’s advice book? That’s either therapy, revenge, or both.
- Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits
TAME
A powerful modern musical bringing the lived reality of the Scottish care system to the stage. Written, produced and performed by young care-experienced people, this is a raw and moving anthem about love, loss, identity and survival.
Grace says: Some shows entertain you. Some shows grab your shoulders and say, “Listen properly.”
- Most Of My Mums Are Gay
Abby Goldfarb
Abby is the daughter of five mothers, most of them lesbians. This musical explores her iconic origin story, identity crisis, family, sexuality, OCD, Jewishness and career heartache with humour and honesty.
Grace says: Five mothers and a musical instead of therapy? Honestly, that satchel is already open.
- Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical
Vine & Light / Rhymes with Purple
A bold retelling of Sophocles’ tragedy set in Thebes, California. With politics, protest, grief and grassroots resistance at its heart, this town hall musical asks what justice looks like when there is no sitting out.
Grace says: Ancient tragedy, town hall democracy and a musical score? That’s not a show, that’s a full civic incident.
- H.R. The Musical ( On edfringe as HR)
Artsense Productions
A riotous workplace satire tackling office absurdity through blues, rap, plainchant and more. Covering DEI, restructuring, AI and coworker communications, this international comedy hit sounds painfully familiar in all the right ways.
Grace says: If this includes a song about pointless meetings, I may need to lie down in the stationery cupboard.
- SpinQueen™
Megatron Inc.
After a violent night with her abusive boyfriend, Meg returns to her spin studio like nothing happened. Physically relentless and brutally funny, this one-woman show explores self-care, body dysmorphia, abuse and the need to be adored.
Grace says: A spin class with emotional collapse built in? Finally, exercise that sounds as dramatic as I always suspected it was.
- Atomic Tales
Elena Arvigo / Rhymes with Purple
An intimate performance exploring the human side of the Chernobyl tragedy through memory, emotion and love. We saw Atomic Tales last year, gave it five stars, and are fully backing its return.
Grace says: I still haven’t recovered from this one. Some shows stay with you. This one moved into the spare room.
- Woodhill
LUNG
A powerful documentary theatre and dance piece about the deaths of three men at HMP Woodhill and the families demanding answers. Created by multi-award-winning LUNG, this looks set to be urgent, physical and unflinching.
Grace says: LUNG do not tend to knock politely. They kick the door open and make you look at what you’d rather not see.
- LAUNA
Tidal Theatre
A visually arresting production about grief, memory and motherhood after the loss of a child. Blending movement, music, dialogue, puppetry and shadow-play, LAUNA explores whether we must let go of the past to stay present with the living.
Grace says: This sounds tender, strange and quietly devastating — which is exactly the sort of thing that makes me pretend I’ve got dust in my eye.
You can buy tickets for all shows from here Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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