With over 3,000 confirmed shows – that magical time of the year is back. Returning with another year of Scottish, UK, and World premieres, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues to be at the forefront of the world’s home of art and culture. Here we take a look at some of the theatrical highlights of this August’s season. Featuring big budgets and familiar names, debut writing pieces, and a few curveballs which might just push past the bluster and over-priced baked tatties and make a stamp on the festival.
Gird your loins, and get ready to get messy. This year, our team of Fringe writers sat down and tackled an often overlooked element of the Festival; Shows for Children and Young People
From now until August, we’ll be releasing our recommendations of the top theatre, comedy, spoken word, film, music, childrens, dance, and visual arts available to audiences across all the city’s festivals. However, this time, rather than focusing solely on genre or performance method, we’ll be examining some of the emerging topics, including The Manosphere, Women Writers, Comedy Debuts, Queer Musicals, Climate Crisis, Sport, Food, and Contemporary Myths. Come along with us and Have a Gander.
If you have a show coming and would like to chat with us about a Q&A or a review, please do get in touch through the ‘contact’ page where one of the team will get back to you!
Fresh from a spectacular run at The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, Boys Don’t Dance, from Marc Brew Company, is a poignant dance‑theatre work tracing acclaimed disabled artist Marc Brew’s lifelong refusal to accept the limits placed on him. Blending movement with BMX and wheels, storytelling, lighting, visual projections and animation, the show creates an immersive world where physicality becomes both liberation and declaration. Set to an uplifting 80s soundtrack, it charts Brew’s journey toward embracing dance in defiance of every expectation that told him he shouldn’t — or couldn’t.
Commissioned by The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (Imaginate) and Aberdeen Performing Arts, and supported by OneRen, the piece celebrates individuality, resilience and the joy of claiming your passions without apology. Boys Don’t Dance invites audiences to recognise the strength in difference and the transformative power of moving exactly as you are.
Venue 22a – DB1 at Assembly @ Dance Base
August 7th – 23rd (13:15)
Duces Wild & Hugo Grrrl present a gloriously goofy, glitter‑soaked drag show for kids — all about the science of rainbows. Led by New Zealand superstar Hugo Grrrl, this musical, magical adventure heads into the skies to track down Ray the Sun, Misty the Cloud, Wayne the Rain and, if you’re lucky, the fabulous Archie the Rainbow. Through original songs, stories and outrageously joyful costumes, meteorology becomes a playground of colour, curiosity and friendship.
Designed for ages 2–10 and neurodiverse pals (with plenty for grown‑ups to enjoy), the show celebrates dress‑ups, imagination and the power of working together — proving that science is brighter with a little sparkle.
Venue 302 – Dexter at Underbelly, Bristo Square
August 5th -23rd (12:00)
Indigo Moon Theatre presents SeedHeart, an inventive, one‑of‑a‑kind puppet show that begins with Grey – a small figure trapped inside a jar, unsure how they got there and desperate to find a way out. From a single suitcase, Grey’s world unfolds through magical pop‑ups, delicate puppetry and shifting shadows, guiding them on a journey toward understanding, freedom and a brighter future.
Along the way, the story reveals how Earth has changed since humans arrived, complete with interactive chaos in a laboratory that brings big environmental ideas to life in playful, accessible ways. A small show with big questions, SeedHeart invites audiences to imagine how things might grow differently if we choose to care.
Venue 33 – Below at Pleasance Courtyard
August 5th – 31st (11:10)
Crested Fools invite audiences to ditch the doom scrolling and embrace full‑blown silliness in A Clown’s Lullaby this chaotic, family‑friendly clown adventure. SHE has solved her problems by becoming a clown — and honestly, she feels much better now that everything is ridiculous. But when her clown friend Loo Krayina calls in distress (thanks to the ever‑mean Mr Bellicose), SHE needs new playmates to help cheer Loo up. That’s where you come in.
From the makers of The Rotting Hart – this show blends mischief, warmth and gleeful nonsense into an open‑hearted invitation to play. Recommended for clowns aged 5 to 99, it’s a reminder that joy is a skill worth practising, and sometimes the silliest route is the one that leads you home.
Venue 65 – Pip at Rotunda Theatre
August 7th – 17th (14:00)
Darryl J Carrington: Out of the Box
Out of the Box, created by Darryl J Carrington, is an award‑winning family favourite that has been charming audiences across the UK with its mix of playful mayhem, sharp skill and big-hearted fun. Winner of Best Family Show at Brighton Fringe, it turns the most ordinary household items into the starting point for wild, imaginative escapades: a toothbrush becomes a balancing marvel, a piece of string triggers a miniature caper and a tea party somehow ends up perched on someone’s head.
Drawing on more than two decades of circus and clowning craft, Carrington’s wordless comedy blends precision juggling, inventive physical theatre and warm, generous audience involvement. His style crosses ages and languages, creating an hour of shared laughter that welcomes everyone — from little ones to lifelong big kids.
Venue 300 – The Wee Coo at Underbelly, George Square
August 5th – 31st (13:20)
The Listies are back – by extremely messy, wildly enthusiastic demand. Fringe family favourites since 2008, the duo return with 110% Ready, a gloriously chaotic comedy caper about the everyday battle of getting out the door in the morning. Rich is determined to achieve the impossible: leave on time. Matt, naturally, is committed to derailing the plan at every turn.
Expect a barrage of silly wordplay, slapstick mayhem, improvised nonsense and even an appearance from the legendary Snot Ness Monster. Packed with big laughs for kids (and for the grown‑ups who know this routine all too well), the show continues the pair’s reputation for riotous, clever stupidity.
Venue 16 – Studio One at Assembly George Square Studios
August 5th – 16th (13.00)
An exhilarating, all‑ages fusion of circus, theatre and cosmic adventure, this production catapults audiences into one of the most extraordinary chapters of space‑race history. In 1964, as global superpowers battled to reach the stars, an unexpected challenger stepped forward: Zambia. Led by visionary Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, the country set its sights on launching Africa’s first astronauts — a young girl, two cats and a missionary — in a homemade rocket powered by sheer imagination and audacity.
Circus Zambia and Wake the Beast bring this remarkable true story to life with breathtaking acrobatics, bold theatricality and a huge amount of heart. It’s a celebration of courage, ambition and the belief that even the wildest dreams can take flight — sometimes all the way to the moon.
Venue 300 – Udderbelly at Underbelly, George Square
August 6th – 31st (13:55)
Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera
When Madame Chandelier’s daughter is pulled into her video game and captured by the fearsome Queen of the Night, there’s only one option left — assemble opera’s most formidable heroines for a rescue mission like no other. Carmen, Tosca and Madame Butterfly are ready for battle, but in a world where every showdown comes with an aria, survival is never guaranteed.
Directed by P Burton‑Morgan, this fast‑paced, family‑friendly adventure blends operatic drama with playful storytelling, sending classical music on a wild quest through digital danger and theatrical flair. A colourful, chaotic introduction to opera for newcomers and a joyful remix for seasoned fans alike.
Venue 33 – The Green at Pleasance Courtyard
August 5th – 16th (12:15)
There’s nothing quite like a brand‑new pair of shoes — soft slippers for dancing, rugged pirate boots, gleaming buckles and silky soles. And no one crafts footwear with quite the same flair as an elf. This classic tale has been lovingly re‑stitched and buffed to a shine by Theatre of Widdershins, presented in their unmistakably playful style.
With exquisitely made puppets, an enchanting miniature set, atmospheric music and a parade of tiny shoes, the story unfolds with warmth, wit and a mischievous mouse who keeps things lively. A magical treat for audiences of every age — and every shoe size.
Be sure ot read our five-star review of their previous production, Snow White Rose Red Bear Brown
Venue 30 – Netherbow Theatre at Scottish Storytelling Centre
August 5th – 16th (11:00)
Mark Watson Tries to Impress Children, for Some Reason
Mark Watson has ticked off almost every corner of the comedy world – major awards, global tours, TV appearances, radio shows, the lot. But he’s never stepped into the wonderfully chaotic realm of children’s comedy… until now. Is this a brilliant idea or a terrible one? Only one way to find out.
In a show created especially for younger audiences, Watson brings his trademark quick thinking, playful chaos and warm connection to a brand‑new generation of gigglers. Expect a fast, silly, good‑natured hour from a performer whose imagination tends to run away with him, and who’s finally decided to let the kids run with it too.
Venue 33 – The Green at Pleasance Courtyard
August 5th – 16th (14:45)
CATS Award nominated Tongue Twister follows one performer’s ambitious mission to tackle tongue twisters in as many languages as he can – all while dancing, making music and switching costumes without ever stepping offstage. Created and performed by award‑winning artist and musician Greg Sinclair, the show is a vibrant collision of movement, sound and visual invention.
Featuring bold, eye‑catching costumes and imaginative design, this playful performance revels in the musicality of language. Colourful, rhythmic and delightfully off‑beat, Tongue Twister celebrates the joy of words in all their forms. Produced by Scottish Theatre Producers and commissioned by The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, in association with Kloden Teater.
Venue 150b – Cromdale Theatre at Pleasance at EICC
August 8th – 22nd (11:30)
Brrr is a multi‑sensory dance and installation experience created especially for young people with complex needs aged 10–18. Set inside an inflatable dome, the piece invites audiences into an immersive winter landscape filled with movement, sound, projected imagery and an avalanche of snow‑themed surprises.
Developed by Hayley Earlam, in collaboration with young people, each performance is shaped to support individual engagement — allowing every audience member to participate in whatever way feels right for them, at their own pace. Brrr is designed to welcome those with PMLD, autistic and neurodivergent young people, and anyone who uses a wheelchair or mobility aid. Capacity is limited to eight young participants plus accompanying adults to ensure a calm, responsive environment.
Venue 209a – Great Hall at Nicolson Square Venues
August 18th – 22nd (Various times)
Join the fabulous Mama G, beloved panto dame and Britain’s Got Talent semi‑finalist for a joyful, story‑packed adventure the whole family can dive into. In The Magic Bookmark, chaos erupts when a mischievous creature decides that encyclopaedias give people far too much knowledge and sets out to swipe every book from Mama G’s library. Determined to protect her precious stories, Mama G sets off on a mission to prove that books can change the world for the better.
But she won’t succeed alone. With the help of the mysterious Magic Bookmark — and the audience — she must uncover why every person deserves to see themselves in a story. Expect sparkle, silliness and a big-hearted celebration of imagination.
Venue 14 – The Den at Gilded Balloon Teviot
August 5th – 31st (Various times)
Interested in being featured? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’