Want to know what’s on this Summer in Scotland? You’re in the right place. With the Edinburgh Festivals gearing up and the return of live and in-person events, experience some wonderful new writing, dance, circus and contemporary work from Scottish artists this August.
Theatre
WHERE: Pitlochry Festival Theatre
WHEN: From 21 July
The story of the March family: mother Marmee and her daughters, beautiful Meg, tomboy Jo, sensitive Beth, and spoilt Amy, as they struggle to survive in New England during the American Civil War.
Dance
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 3 August
A bold exploration into chronic pain experience by Sarah Hopfinger, which unashamedly celebrates the rich complexities of living with pain. Available as a live performance, audio experience and visual publication. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 3 August
A true tale of twins growing up with Cerebral Palsy. Jump aboard the “strugglebus” with Jack as he steers through the intersectionality of disability, whilst honking at societal attitudes and Eddie Redmayne’s career choices. All performances of One of Two offer Audio Description and captioning.
Theatre
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 3 August
Gordon is homonormative and fears he might be pathologically boring until he meets Cumpig and Manpussy at a sex party in Leith. When they tell him about Europe's biggest gay sex party in Berlin, Gordon obviously wants to go, but can he really transform into a sex pig? Part of Made in Scotland.
Circus
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 3 August
An award-winning queer circus show from an Edinburgh-born artist which tells the story of two gay men and the barriers they must overcome. Part of Made in Scotland.
Dance
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 3 August
The story of the awakening of Wild Woman. Naked, unaware and unselfconscious, she explores her surroundings, more animal than human. A blend of aerial circus, masked ritual and performance art. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre, animation
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 4 August
A twisted fairytale interwoven with the gruesome Greek myth of Philomela, about women who have been silenced, but who find resistance through the creative act. Blending theatrical storytelling with animated and live (onstage) drawing. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre
WHERE: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 6 August
In her bid to become the country’s leader, Home Secretary Asiya Rao prepares to make a major policy announcement that will establish her as the front-runner of the political race. But rather than the tide washing her reputation clean, something else washes up. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre, Family
WHERE: Eden Court, Inverness
WHEN: From 7 August
Sprog Rock is your kids’ first live gig experience, full of music created with children all over Scotland! This event is part of SGEUL at Under Canvas, a special week of traditional music and storytelling to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories.
Circus
WHERE: Edinburgh Playhouse
WHEN: From 8 August
A monolithic work of scale that unites audience, acrobat and choir into a single mesmerising organism. It’s raw, it’s real, it sings, it sweats – it pulsates.
Dance, Family
WHERE: An Lanntair, Stornoway
WHEN: From 10 August
Join the An Lanntair creative arts team in Castle Grounds as they embark on a creative arts procession from the Castle incorporating song, dance and visual art, based on the storybook Patrick by Quentin Blake.
Theatre
WHERE: Pitlochry Festival Theatre
WHEN: From 10 August
A dramatisation of Charlotte Higgins’ book, this new adaptation from David Greig follows Charlotte and Matthew on a life affirming journey where they’ll meet legends like Boudicca and Tacitus.
Dance
WHERE: Dance Base, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 11 August
A madcap musical adventure for families. 4 brave musicians, 30 instruments and countless musical puzzles to solve.
Theatre
WHERE: Dundee Rep
WHEN: From 13 August
It’s 1950s Glasgow and the last laundry before the bells. Hopes and memories burst into life as four pals laugh, sing and gossip their way through the last working day of the year. Part of Dundee Rep’s 35th anniversary programme.
Theatre
WHERE: Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 11 August
Maria MacDonell and Jo Clifford write and star in this retelling of a familiar tale, where two women find dark places and unanswered questions. Entering life's gloriously chaotic duckpond, they celebrate the pains and joys of lives well-lived.
Theatre, Contemporary
WHERE: Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 15 August
A place where children's lives are unbounded by constant adult surveillance and all dominant generational power relations are destroyed. Do you dare to join us in our new world order? Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre
WHERE: Summerhall, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 16 August
Two gay men are here to perform for your pleasure. They sigh, pout and flirt, caressing each other and objects from corporations that claim to adore them. But who’s it all really for? Both the celebration and exploitation of queerness in this cheeky exploration of contemporary gay male identity. Part of Made in Scotland.
Dance, Circus
WHERE: Dance Base, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 16 August
And is a tribute to all that has graced this earth. To everything. Thank you. And is a sacrifice to every emotion, even those we are yet to feel. And is an autobiographical performance about growing up, exploring culture, identity, nationality and politics. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre
WHERE: Deaf Action, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 17 August
European project Beyond Signs premiers at Edinburgh’s first ever International Deaf Fringe with a daring triple-bill show performed by a Deaf-curated International cast of Deaf performers. Part of Edinburgh Deaf Festival.
Theatre, Family
WHERE: Leith Arches, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 17 August
A teenage girl journeys to the North Pole with her father's ashes. A comic, complex, epic, undulating story that pitches themes of death and rebirth against a shifting backdrop of climate change, geography and exploration. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre
WHERE: Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 17 August
A personal and collective story about rural depopulation, told through storytelling, live music and theatre. Part of Made in Scotland.
Dance, Physical Theatre, Circus
Touring Scottish venues in August
A vibrant and energetic pop-up performance, blurring the lines between traditional and contemporary dance and music and featuring luminous straw dancers whirling to Balkan inspired beats, a spin on the cultural tradition of Scotland and Ireland’s Strawboys. Part of Made in Scotland.
Theatre
WHERE: Perth Theatre
WHEN: From 18 August
A new creation from the legendary Scottish actor Alan Cummin, and renowned choreographer Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) that challenges the ‘biscuit tin’ image of Scotland’s National Bard. Also playing as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Musical theatre
WHERE: Perth Theatre
WHEN: From 23 August
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
Dance
WHERE: Dance Base, Edinburgh
WHEN: From 23 August
A divine feminine fantasy, a dance theatre experience that transcends the boundaries of our reality from the abstracted realms of a TV talk show.
Theatre
WHERE: CCA, Glasgow
WHEN: 25 August
Created by Glasgow-based artist Ellie Harrison, ‘Bus Regulation: The Musical’ is inspired by the 1980s hit musical ‘Starlight Express’, and features performers on roller skates to re-enact the history of public transport provision in the Strathclyde region from the post-war period to the present day.
Theatre, Family
Touring Scottish venues until 11 September
A magical piece of music theatre for 6 to 18-month-olds, it is aimed at an audience that does not often get a look-in at opera...but whose minds are wide open to new sounds and experiences.
Theatre
WHERE: Pitlochry Festival Theatre
WHEN: From 25 August
Sisters Fatemeh and Shirin have been living together, in the same flat in Edinburgh, for 43 years. Although they live side by side, they never talk to one another. When a global pandemic hits and the sisters are locked in their flat, they are forced to reckon with their memories of a betrayal that changed the course of their relationship.
