20 great shows to see in Edinburgh

From an interactive evening with Jeremy Paxman to a provocative new play set in an independent Scotland — there is plenty of tantalising entertainment to tempt you north in August
Hot tickets: (clockwise, from top left) David Leddy’s new play, Horizontal Collaboration; humour and politics from Bridget Christie; New Zealand’s Black Grace; and must-see comedian Luisa Omielan

Spoiling

Traverse, until Sun Aug 24

With the referendum dominating the cultural debate in Edinburgh, upcoming playwright John McCann imagines the scene as the heavily pregnant foreign minister of a newly independent Scotland prepares to address the media on the subject of the country’s relations with its neighbours in the former UK. Orla O’Loughlin directs.

Mark Watson’s Comedywealth Games

The Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 7-16

While the serious athletics will have finished, the innovative Mark Watson presents his version of the Commonwealth Games, hosting a nightly competition between comedians in unlikely sports — including admin pentathlon and fruit-throwing — that you won’t see in Glasgow. Warning: may contain juice spillage.

Broke

Pleasance Dome, until Mon Aug 25

The Paper Birds theatre company examines what it means to be penniless in Britain in this verbatim play based on extensive interviews carried out in 2014 at food banks, charity stores and betting shops. A welcome wake-up call amid the froth of the Fringe.

Dame Diana Rigg: No Turn Unstoned

Assembly Checkpoint, Aug 14-23

Diana Rigg takes to the Edinburgh stage to make theatre critics feel twitchy while she performs excerpts from her book detailing the worst reviews in history, all the way back to Ancient Greece. It’s amusing to think of Sophocles receiving two stars, though, isn’t it Diana?

Horizontal Collaboration

Traverse, until Sun Aug 24

“She dresses like an ironic suffragette,” was one of the best lines from Edinburgh last year and it came from maverick Scottish writer/director David Leddy and his company, Fire Exit. This year they return to the Traverse with a piece about four UN lawyers, which will be performed daily by new actors who never see the script in advance.

The James Plays

Festival Theatre, Aug 10-20

In the year that the Union teeters on the brink of dissolution, the National Theatres of England and Scotland unite for the first time for Rona Munro’s mighty trilogy detailing three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland in the 15th century. Issues of nationhood prevail. Sofie Gråbøl, aka The Killing’s Sarah Lund, stars as Danish-born Queen Margaret.

Great shows to see at the Edinburgh festivals

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Paxo

The Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 14-15

Is Jeremy Paxman, the grumpy ex-Newsnight inquisitor, considering a career in clowning? He makes his debut on the Fringe with these intimate shows in which he talks about “pants and the human condition” and gives others a chance to ask him questions for a change in a Q&A. He can dish it, but can he take it?

Nancy Dell’olio: Rainbows from Diamonds

Gilded Balloon, Aug 14-24

The unstoppable Italian media maelstrom — a woman who, according to her publicity material, “has never let fate smudge her make-up” — pitches up in Scotland. In this solo show she shares her secrets on living a “self-empowered life”.

Northern Stage At King’s Hall

King’s Hall, until Sat Aug 23

Newcastle’s Northern Stage returns to the Fringe for the third consecutive year with an enticing and expanded programme of work from writers and artists based in the north of England. Artistic director Lorne Campbell leads the charge with I Promise You Sex and Violence, a provocative rom-com about urban thirtysomethings.

The Trial of Jane Fonda

Assembly Rooms, July 30-Aug 24

Oscar nominee Anne Archer (Michael Douglas’s wife in Fatal Attraction) plays the actress and anti-Vietnam War campaigner Jane Fonda as she confronts a roomful of hostile veterans intent on boycotting her latest film. It’s written and directed by Terry Jastrow, who travelled to Hanoi to retrace Fonda’s steps.

Unfaithful

Traverse, Aug 3-24

Evening Standard Award-winning playwright Owen McCafferty — writer of last year’s hit, Quietly — returns to the Traverse Theatre with an uncompromising four-hander about two couples struggling with their tangled love lives.

Daniel Kitson

The Stand, Aug 3-24 (not Fris & Sats)

As always, comedy’s most gifted performer did things his own way, announcing these midnight shows after the Fringe programme was printed. Advance tickets sold out immediately but 40 are available each day. The ultimate must-see comedy gig.

Bridget Christie

The Stand, Aug 2-25

The eagerly anticipated sequel to last year’s A Bic for Her, which bagged Christie a prestigious Foster’s Award. She continues to mix playful humour and politics in An Ungrateful Woman, looking at her attempts to be cast in a yoghurt commercial and reflecting on Michael Gove’s career.

Jack Dee’s Help Desk

Assembly George Square, Aug 18-24

Nightly sessions with the gloomy curmudgeon taking on the role of unlikely agony uncle aided by a panel of surprise celebrity chums. Bring your problems to Dee and he might just solve them, though he is more likely to respond with a withering put-down.

James Acaster

The Pleasance Courtyard, until Sat Aug 24

He’s the geeky Fringe favourite who has been nominated for the Foster’s Award two years in a row. This time round, Acaster’s quirky, precision-tooled patter homes in on conga lines, seaside photography and useful tips when visiting coffee shops. Could it be third time lucky?

Luisa Omielan

Counting House, Aug 1-21 & 23-24

Pocket dynamo Omielan made her name with her empowering show What Would Beyoncé Do?, in which she compared her messy relationship history to the singer’s perfect life choices. The eagerly awaited sequel, Am I Right, Ladies?, is part-comedy, part-party, so be prepared to dance. Best of all, it’s a free gig.

Kim Noble

The Traverse Theatre, Aug 20-24

Noble’s last Edinburgh show ended with the audience being taken to a deserted flat at 2am for one-to-one confessions. This year, the multi-media performance artist premieres his new work, You Are Not Alone, in which he charts his various attempts to connect with people.

Toby: Fuzzbuzz

The Pleasance Courtyard, until Mon Aug 25

Sisters Sarah and Lizzie Daykin present an intriguing set that mixes sketch comedy with a pithy portrayal of sibling rivalry. The humour is weird but wonderfully surreal, involving quick-fire costume changes, knockabout gags and strange songs.

Inala, with Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Edinburgh Playhouse, Aug 10-12

Nearly 30 years after they gave Paul Simon world music cred, South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo are still at the top of the wish list when it comes to great cross-cultural collaborations. Here they work with choreographer Mark Baldwin and dancers from Rambert and the Royal Ballet to mix Zulu song traditions with classical and contemporary dance.

Black Grace

Assembly Roxy, until Fri Aug 22

One of New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance companies makes its Fringe debut. Founded by Neil Ieremia in 1995, Black Grace started as an all-male Maori company but has now diversified to include women and non-Maori dancers. Here they perform a selection of short, dynamic works made over the past 20 years.

Contributors: Bruce Dessau, Fiona Mountford and Lyndsey Winship

The Edinburgh Fringe runs Aug 1-25 (0131 226 0000, edfringe.com); the Edinburgh International Festival runs Aug 8-31 (0131 473 2000, eif.co.uk)

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