The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world, with nearly 3,500 shows. This year, Playbill is in Edinburgh for the entire month in August for the festival and we’re taking you with us. Follow along as we cover every single aspect of the Fringe, aka our real-life Brigadoon!
As part of our Edinburgh Fringe coverage, Playbill is seeing a whole lotta shows—and we're sharing which ones you absolutely must see if you're only at the Fringe for a short amount of time. Consider these Playbill Picks a friendly, opinionated guide as you try to choose a show at the festival.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a delightfully international affair. Artists from around the world descend on the Scottish city in August, bringing their own cultural histories with them to be shared. Witnessing art from a culture unlike your own is one of the greatest values of the Fringe, leading to greater empathy and curiosity for all involved.
Be careful not to forget about the hometown team, however. The Made in Scotland Showcase supports Scottish artists and companies in their journey to the Fringe, ensuring that Fringe attendees can learn more about Scottish culture—in addition to the other international offerings. Of the 18 shows included in this years showcase, one show rises to the top: SCOTS by Glasgow-based company A Play, A Pie and A Pint.
This delightfully irreverent new musical takes audiences through an abbreviated version of Scottish history, from the perspective of one of Scotland's most popular exports: the flushing toilet. Performed with great aplomb by a cast of eight, the show starts with King Kenneth (often considered the first unifying king of Scotland), and to 2022, when Labour MSP Monica Lennon's Period Products Act came into force. This law made Scotland the first country in the world to legally mandate free period product access for anyone in need.
Featuring a remarkably tuneful score, the show may be a barrel of laughs, but be prepared to tear up as well—especially during the vignette that addresses how the queer community utilized bathrooms as a safe space, because homosexuality was illegal in Scotland until 1980.
Served with a free pie and pint (true to the A Play, A Pie and A Pint ethos), SCOTS is a worthy addition to any itinerary.
SCOTS runs at Ghillie Dhu through August 27. For tickets, click here.
Cast of SCOTS
Cast of SCOTS
Cast of SCOTS
Cast of SCOTS
Cast of SCOTS
Cast of SCOTS
Cast of SCOTS
