HEART

HEART

Jade Anouka’s debut play is a raw and honest exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. 

LATER

LATER

Welcome to LATER, Paines Plough’s late-night roster of one-off performances. 

Polko

Polko

It was the first truly beautiful summer’s day of the Edinburgh Fringe. 

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz is a touching solo play written and performed by Nathan Queeley-Dennis. 

Salty Irina

Salty Irina

A thrilling new play by Eve Leigh and directed by Debbie Hannan, Salty Irina is about two girls falling in love and fighting nazis. 

England & Son

England & Son

‘Any nation that devours another will one day devour itself. 

Bangers

Bangers

It’s club night and the tracks are spinning. 

The Last Show Before We Die

The Last Show Before We Die

Ell and Mary have been dead for three years, but now they’ve come back to life (and the stage) with one question on their minds: how do you know when it’s the end? Inspired by … 

Strategic Love Play

Strategic Love Play

So they’ve both swiped right. 

First Thing (Work in Progress by Daniel Kitson)

First Thing (Work in Progress by Daniel Kitson)

A few days ago I saw a little boy slapping a wall. 

Lady Dealer

Lady Dealer

For Charly, every day is the same. 

The Ultimate Pickle

The Ultimate Pickle

Everything is awesome in Dill’s life. 

Feeling Afraid as If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen

Feeling Afraid as If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen

According to The Stage’s recently departed Scotland editor, Thom Dibden, comedy first overtook theatre as the largest proportion of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s programme du… 

Later

Later

Later is our programme of late-night one-off performances from the hottest companies and artists at the Fringe. 

Hungry

Hungry

The Fringe is nearing its close, but do you have space for more? Chris Bush’s bittersweet Hungry is serving up a Fringe hit. 

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder

BFFs Kathy and Stella host Hull’s least successful true-crime podcast. 

Half-Empty Glasses

Half-Empty Glasses

The Paines Plough Roundabout has become a symbol of the Fringe, developing its own signature style in the process. 

Sap

Sap

After an uncomfortable fling with an average guy, a woman falls in love in one of the few remaining lesbian bars that haven’t yet been colonised by Pret. 

Caste-ing

Caste-ing

Caste-ing explores the experiences of three black actresses using beatboxing, rap, song and spoken word. 

A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain

A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain

We all live under the same sky. 

Manic Street Creature

Manic Street Creature

A fresh and thrilling take on a modern love story from the composer of critically acclaimed Electrolyte. 

We Were Promised Honey!

We Were Promised Honey!

Who is making theatre like YESYESNONO? The Manchester-based company is back with an immersive, story-telling experience. 

Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency

Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency

When Dexter’s mum is sent to jail for getting mixed up in a jewellery robbery, it’s up to Dexter and his best friend Winter to get her out. 

How to Be Brave

How to Be Brave

When Katie was little, she was brave: climbing trees and riding bikes too fast. 

The Canary and the Crow

The Canary and the Crow

I’m not gonna pretend like I know a lot about the UK's schooling system, because I don’t. 

Baby Reindeer by Richard Gadd

Baby Reindeer by Richard Gadd

Richard Gadd pours a free cup of tea to a stranger at a bar – she comes back. 

Square Go

Square Go

Max has done something stupid. 

Parakeet

Parakeet

In a bizarre but glorious amalgamation of all things good, Parakeet stands as a protest piece that calls for greater measures against climate change and, well, a commitment towards… 

Islander: A New Musical

Islander: A New Musical

One island, split in two with a thundering crack: half for the fishermen and half for the farmers. 

The Claim

The Claim

Exploring the experiences of those seeking refuge in the UK, The Claim is a compelling examination of language, power and storytelling. 

Daughterhood

Daughterhood

Daughterhood by Charley Miles seeks to tell the story of two sisters separated by nine years of age and half a decade lived separately, coming back together to try and work out who… 

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

Meet Leah and Chris: raised on Harry Potter, New Labour and a belief that one day they would be as special as their parents promised. 

Drip

Drip

I can’t imagine that anybody has nostalgia for life in their early teen years. 

How to Spot an Alien

How to Spot an Alien

How to Spot an Alien might seem like an obscure skillset for 21st century children, but for Jelly and Jonjo, the two protagonists of Paines Plough’s annual offering for young aud… 

The Political History of Smack and Crack

The Political History of Smack and Crack

‘The history of England jumps off its axis. 

Square Go

Square Go

What’s a ‘square go’? Noun: A rammy. 

Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones

Free speech is a right fiercely protected in today’s society. 

One Life Stand

One Life Stand

After their five star runaway success with All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, Middle Child were always going to suffer from difficult second album syndrome and it’s a real shame … 

Sugar Baby by Alan Harris

Sugar Baby by Alan Harris

Being a small-time drug dealer in Cardiff is tough. 

Island Town

Island Town

The Paines Plough Roundabout is an incredibly versatile venue. 

Tremor

Tremor

Sherman Theatre: Regional Theatre of the Year – The Stage Awards 2018. 

Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing

The worldwide smash-hit is back in Edinburgh for one week only. 

Scorch

Scorch

Welcomed back to Edinburgh after its rave performances last year, Scorch is new writing for one performer. 

Mixed Brain

Mixed Brain

As a white Irish person, reviewing a person of colour’s experience of their treatment in the UK feels disingenuous. 

Jonny & the Baptists: The Best of 2012-2017

Jonny & the Baptists: The Best of 2012-2017

Celebrate five years of silly songs and satirical anthems from the multi award-nominated musical comedy stars. 

Black Mountain

Black Mountain

Though common in film and literature, it is rare to see a play which fits the bill of psychological thriller. 

Out Of Love

Out Of Love

Written by award winning playwright Elinor Cook, Out of Love is a stunning piece of new writing which conveys the absolute power of female friendship, something which is often over… 

Pike St.

Pike St.

I’ll make no bones about it: Pike St. 

How to Be a Kid

How to Be a Kid

Molly cooks. 

Sugar Baby by Alan Harris

Sugar Baby by Alan Harris

Dirty Protest’s Sugar Baby was an entertaining hour of theatre at Paines Plough’s Roundabout, Summerhall. 

MANWATCHING

MANWATCHING

Manwatching is a monologue written by an anonymous woman to be performed by a famous comedian. 

Box Clever

Box Clever

Writer Monsay Whitney’s Box Clever is one of the most important shows up at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. 

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

This cleverly written piece by Sam Steiner may be back for a third year at the Fringe, but Walrus Theatre has still managed to create something fresh in this wonderful, captivating… 

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything
BOBBY WINNER

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

As the friend with whom I went to see the show so emphatically said, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything is ‘everything’. 

All Star Comedy in Aid of STV Children's Appeal

All Star Comedy in Aid of STV Children's Appeal

Join award-winning comedian Des Clarke at the recording of a brand new stand-up TV show featuring the comedy stars of today and tomorrow. 

Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing

Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe’s Every Brilliant Thing (which first came to the Fringe in 2014) has the largest cast you’ve ever seen for a one man show. 

Growth

Growth

The stellar reputation of Paines Plough’s championing of new writing for the theatre means that each new offering is welcomed with a great deal of anticipation. 

All the Things I Lied About

All the Things I Lied About

Lying seems to be getting more and more fashionable. 

Love, Lies and Taxidermy

Love, Lies and Taxidermy

We begin with a boy meeting a girl. 

Scorch

Scorch

One of the things I’ve noticed about this year’s Fringe is the number of stellar one-woman shows, and Prime Cut Productions’ Scorch is the best so far. 

I Got Superpowers For My Birthday

I Got Superpowers For My Birthday

Ethan, William and Fiona are about as different as three almost-teens can be. 

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

In any romantic relationship, one finds oneself developing an intimate, coded language of in-jokes and pet names, a dialect that reflects a couple’s time together. 

Jonny & the Baptists: Eat the Poor

Jonny & the Baptists: Eat the Poor

Johnny and Paddy return with another hour of rip roaring music based satire. 

Theatre Uncut

Theatre Uncut

Theatre Uncut commissions playwrights to respond to current events, then make the resulting plays available online so that anyone can perform them. 

Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing is quite simply brilliant. 

Jonny and the Baptists: The End Is Nigh

Jonny and the Baptists: The End Is Nigh

Johnny has accidentally told his niece that he can single-handedly stop climate change and so he embarks on a musical adventure with his bandmate Paddy to save the world. 

Lungs

Lungs

Lungs is a) a remarkable piece of writing by Duncan Macmillan and b) a remarkable show brought to life by director, George Perrin, and actors, Sian Reese-Williams and Abdul Salis. 

I'm Not Here Right Now

I'm Not Here Right Now

How do we choose what we believe? Do we believe what we see with our eyes? Or do we believe what others find believable? What happens when these two things contradict one another? … 

Happy Birthday Without You

Happy Birthday Without You

It is difficult to know where to start with Violet Fox’s autobiographical show about her fraught relationship with her mother – I’ll take a note from her and start at the beg… 

Chicken

Chicken

In this play, the North/South divide is a reality. 

Polyphony

Polyphony

I have written a play – a real humdinger. 

The Human Ear

The Human Ear

The Human Ear is a production that is crafted with all the beautiful complexity of the appendage to which its title refers. 

Our Teacher's a Troll

Our Teacher's a Troll

It’s amazing how much you can get out of the word ‘Ak’ – the only word in the troll language.