The Edinburgh Fringe is back, louder than ever! From Bulgarian folk songs to a Dracula musical, the Edinburgh Fringe never fails to disappoint in its musical entertainment. Whether you’re discovering new music or singing along, there are plenty of exciting and bold musicals to see this August.
With such a wide range of shows available, we’ve selected our top recommendations – we can’t wait to see what you think of them!
Anything That We Wanted To Be
Renowned theatre director Adam Lenson fuses his own battle with skin cancer with an exploration of parallel universes to create an interdisciplinary work merging gig theatre, memoir, and lecture. Anything That We Wanted To Be looks at how human lives branch, bend and curve. This life-affirming new show is about learning to accept the choices you made, instead of worrying about the ones you didn’t.
Anything That We Wanted To Be is on at Summerhall (Cairns Lecture Theatre) from 2nd – 27th August 2023 (not 14th, 21st) at 12:30.
The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria
The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria comes to the Edinburgh Fringe to share a largely forgotten story of World War II. Combining historical theatre and folk music with a modern revisionist twist, the energetic production explores the suspicious circumstances of the King of Bulgaria’s demise, how 50,000 Jewish people were saved from deportation and death, and how the world forgot all about it. 2023 marks 80 years since the events of The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, with the anniversary of the mysterious death coinciding with the final day of Edinburgh Fringe.
The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria is on at Pleasance Dome (Queen Dome) from 2nd – 28th August 2023 (not 14th) at 17:20.
Birthmarked
A Jehovah’s Witness comes to terms with his sexuality in the autobiographical new gig theatre show Birthmarked. Written, performed and composed by Brook Tate, and directed by Olivier award winner Sally Cookson, Birthmarked follows a young Witness on his journey from door-knocking on the street to finding his feet (and high heels) on the stage. It tells the true story of Brook growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness until he was disfellowshipped at the age of 23.
Birthmarked is on at Assembly Rooms (Ballroom) from 3rd – 27th August 2023 (not 9th, 14th, 20th) at 19:15.
Bowjangles: Dracula in Space
An epic horror and sci-fi caper, string quartet Bowjangles present their original musical comedy Dracula in Space. This anarchic examination of creativity versus capitalism asks the all-important question: would you sell your soul in order to sell your art? Forget everything you think you know about string quartets: the Bowjangles company are irreverent genre-spanners that bring music, theatre and comedy together in a truly unique way.
Bowjangles: Dracula in Space is on at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Doonstairs) from Wednesday 2nd – Sunday 27th August 2023 at 16:30.
Nobody’s Talking About Jamie
It’s a boy meets girl story, with a melodic twist. Regional Finalist for the BBC New Comedy Awards and Finalist for Musical Comedy Awards, Jamie Finn blends storytelling, comedy and original music to explore this story of dizzying romance and the tragedy of friendship. Sometimes the loss of a friend is more agonising than the loss of a romantic partner. Nobody’s Talking About Jamie celebrates the wilderness of platonic love.
Nobody’s Talking About Jamie is on at Underbelly Cowgate (Iron Belly) from 3rd – 27th August 2023 (not 14th) at 15:40.
Släpstick: Schërzo
The award-winning and internationally renowned Släpstick returns to the Fringe with their unique brand of mischief: Chaplin meets Tchaikovsky, Groucho Marx does Mozart. Schërzo sees a highbrow classical concert glissando into a bacchanal of mishaps and absurdity. With their trademark blurring of physical comedy and musical talent, Släpstick play every imaginable (and un-imaginable) instrument to the highest level as they return to Fringe once again.
Släpstick: Schërzo is on at Pleasance Courtyard (Beyond) from 2nd – 28th August 2023 (not 8th, 22nd) at 15:10.
