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Things have gotten a little bit harder lately. Haven't they? Amongst this mess there has got to be something that connects us. Doesn't there? We are going to support each other as we trudge through the chaos. Aren't we? A solo show in celebration of togetherness. 'Treats art as a gift' (WhatsOnStage.com for dressed.). A brand-new show from Fringe First Award-winners Josie Dale-Jones and Laurence Cook (2018 for dressed.), Rachel Lemon (2023 for Gunter), Abbi Greenland (2016 for Two Man Show) and Paula Varjack.
ZOO Southside
Main House
A love letter to the divas and the gays who stan them! Welcome to an original queer comedy musical about Alexis's childhood as a stan. After moving to rural Germany from New York City at age 8, discovering pop divas online was his only salvation... Now he's ready to sing about it! Join Alexis for his first solo show as he attempts to get his PhDiva in Stanology, with a concentration in Motherological Studies and a minor in Slayviation. Does this queer Bo Burnham have what it takes to be... a lil gay diva?!
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Two thrilling adventures in a double feature inspired by Hollywood blockbusters. Stjälkar: An everyday civil servant thrust into a global conspiracy. Can John Chesterton survive in this world of espionage, deception and murder? Inbound: Three heroes, one mission. Obtain the source of ultimate power, in a race against time and across continents, before it falls into the wrong hands, bringing about unimaginable destruction. An Evening With Mere Mortals moves at lightning speed, delivering a full-blown espionage thriller and a badass action romp in just under an hour.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Caught in a storm and looking for help, Murdo knocks on the door of a dark, old house and the family inside seems to be expecting him. A bizarre quintet of siblings is waiting for their father to die and Murdo is somehow involved... Brilliantly treading the fine line between surreal and sinister, An Unexpected Hiccup is a chilling night tale of comic misunderstandings and dangerous eccentricities presented by Lung Ha Theatre Company in collaboration with Plutôt la Vie. 'Full of wit, wisdom, and bold, boundary-busting theatrical energy' (Scotsman).
ZOO Southside
Main House
In the game of televised warfare, it is unclear who's allowed to say 'we' anymore. One toy land is turned into another. Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek’s text dismantles the global media war machine as accounts of Iraq's invasion collapse into a child refugee’s memories of the Bosnian War. The violent act of representation is played back before our eyes on video and we find ourselves immersed in this battle of toy soldiers. It all comes back around, especially the wars.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Join Duane Forrest on an acoustic journey through the roots of reggae to the global influence of Bob Marley. Experience acoustic renditions of legendary reggae songs that have reshaped countless lives, including Duane's own. From the origin of reggae to Marley's transcendent legacy, immerse yourself in the soulful melodies and transformative power of this iconic music. Audience members are invited to sing along and get involved in this interactive musical experience.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
A miniature choreography of visual poetry, objects and body parts, Book of Dew weaves a spider web of fantastical fragments: water droplets, a river in the air, glistening stardust – the dew of transient experience emerges and evaporates under sunrise. At the intersection of puppetry, installation, and non-linear storytelling, this intimately-staged performance features a single wall, in which doors of ephemerality open and close to reveal fleeting glimpses of visceral imagery and dancing poems. Abstraction and physicality collide in a striking montage of fantasy and contemporary folklore.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Join us for a sip of mezcal at this Day of the Dead-style theatrical experience. Juan Preciado made a promise to his mother on her deathbed: to exact revenge on his long-lost father. Follow his unique journey through the worlds of the living and the dead, fuelled by music and storytelling. Séance meets musical in this intimate reimagining of seminal novel Pedro Páramo, by mestiza playwright Conchi León. Featuring music by composer Pablo Chemor, rooted in folklore, performed using traditional instruments. This new, original Mexican musical makes its international debut, following a sold-out world premiere in Mexico City.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Fringe favourites 21Common return for a dance spectacular, mashing karaoke carnage and feats of physical endurance with chucking-out time at the Grand Ole Oprey. Using tropes of Western movies, it explores how poverty and violence shape a man. This is a deep and dirty dive into a family circle that more often resembles a ring of fire. Part saloon (there's crooner country classics), speakeasy (brush/scuffing danceathons) and bare-knuckle boxing ring (it's going to kick off`), join us in our Wild West sitting room with the ones who spit. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
ZOO Southside
Main House
Alone in his miserable bedsit in a busy, bustling metropolis, Dante’s only companion is a house robot named She-bot. His girlfriend has left for Japan to disconnect from technology and live an older, simpler way of being. Dante is lost. Trapped in an unfulfilling job he hates, he embraces escapism by writing a film. As the screenplay emerges, we join a Spanish knight on a quest alongside his French squire, battling monsters and travelling epic landscapes. Gradually, Dante’s worlds begin to merge, overlap and intertwine around him.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Dying is scary, missing Spring Break is scarier. True story. Told mid-operation. Fun-loving college student, Sam, must decide what to do in life... and whether or not to have brain surgery. In a profound (yet highly medicated) meditation, she reflects on the events that lead there: namely, a redhaired bitch who came to life and ruined it. Overwhelmed and forced into decisions with potentially fatal consequences, Sam decides one thing: go out with a bang on a classic All-American Spring Break. However, her aneurysm has other plans. A true story... not necessarily a smart one.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
One teenage girl's dream of being a pop star was shattered by the dark realities of the music industry: scams, lies, perverts and pedophiles. Pop Star is a comedy solo show about how Devon tried and failed to be a teen pop star in 2010. Devon takes you down memory lane, showcasing her music videos, 20 original songs and pivotal cringe moments from her past that led to the demise of her music career. Learn the inner workings of the 2000's teen pop girl music industry and join Devon for the biggest comeback of her career!
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Poetic, laughable, and raw coming-of-age tale of a Middle Eastern American boy Essa whose parents are refugees. Join Essa as he navigates sexuality, religion, the English language, and a nicotine demon that won't leave him alone. In a one-person show told between different ages throughout his life, Essa confesses to us the experience of growing up in a country that doesn’t have a place for him. A surprising new work.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
It's tough being a deaf kid. Why can't he speak or hear properly? The story of a Deaf Colombian boy who moves to Canada. Due to his deafness, Fernando struggles to understand teachers, and his hearing aid isn't reliable, making him a target for ridicule. Yearning to learn sign language, his school lacks resources. Upon meeting a deaf Llama, they bond instantly, embarking on a quest to reunite the Llama with its family, encountering communication barriers along the way. The show, in ASL with voice-over, features an all-deaf cast from Canada, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
ZOO Southside
Main House
'I got very little, little to no media training, so... Sorry!' Sir Galahad the Pure, Knight of the Round Table, son of Lancelot the Brave, is taking a bath. Even the chosen one needs a break sometimes, okay? But long soaks in the bath can lead to painful questions, and the cleaner Galahad gets, the dirtier he becomes. In this darkly comedic show about sex, jobs, and the Holy Grail, by the time Galahad gets out, he might not want to be so Pure anymore.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Charlie runs a bridal shop. Clelia is getting married. The two women exist as strangers, their lives running in parallel without ever touching, until their paths intersect. As they search for the perfect dress, they spill secrets, laughter and desires with a familiarity that defies logic. It becomes clear that Clelia and Charlie share a connection that’s more than skin deep. A razor-sharp and heartfelt comedy exploring the shame we carry from childhood, the speed at which women become intimately connected and the people we meet briefly who leave an indelible imprint on our lives.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Courtney knows everyone is winging it. Wing it with her in this show where you are part of its ultimate success (or failure) at the Fringe. Where you choose the stories and vote for the one you'd like to see cut leaving Courtney to prepare a new set for tomorrow. One woman's endeavour to escape perfectionism, be truly vulnerable and ultimately find herself and an agent (it'll be good, I swear). A show about not knowing what you should be doing in life - but doing it anyway.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Jack is a 29-year-old Kindergarten teacher and a hopeless romantic. So when the love of his life leaves him for another man, Jack is heartbroken. Determined to find happiness by sheer willpower alone, Jack re-enters the dating world with a vengeance. Dating new men left, right and centre, Jack soon spirals out of control and finds himself in a therapist's office wondering, 'what now?' A critical and box-office sensation on premiere in Vancouver, Jack Goes to Therapy is a brilliant, enchanting, laugh-out-loud one-man play.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
From Frankenstein to The Invisible Man, James Whale directed some of the greatest movies of all time. How did a working-class boy from Dudley end up in Hollywood? An expressionist and out gay man working in the studio system at the peak of Hollywood's golden age, his moment in the movie-land spotlight lasted little more than 10 years. Just who was James Whale? This one-person show shines a light on his life and work, examining a sense of otherness and the outsider, and how his films still resonate, 90 years on.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Two young queers meet. They fall in love, have sex, fight, make up and break up - and all through texts. These texts, like poetry, chart their unforgettable relationship. Long Distance dives into the empty space between us and our desperate attempts to fill it. A funny, heartbreaking new play about intimacy, technology and the daily work of love.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Everyone has a wall in their heart. A gap and a connection between the inner world and the outside. A show recording the life of contemporary youth and truly presenting young people’s perceptions, thinking and exploration of themselves and those around them. Directed by award-winning independent choreographer Wen Xiaochao and featuring top contemporary dances including Li Yu, Hao Ruoqi, Zhang Zhenguo, Ji Xin. Featuring a post-show talk.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Morag's death left a silence in her place. When her Canadian granddaughter Sam inherits Morag's piano, Sam also inherits the mystery of her Scottish granny's story. An intimate letter composed of fragmented ballads leads Sam to uncover Morag's possible queerness and discover a voice of her own. This dynamic, experimental musical is a love letter to ancestors who "didn't fit" that playfully warps, disrupts and reconfigures traditional Scottish ballad singing. Audiences are invited on a journey where original compositions are interwoven with electronic loops to tell old stories anew.
ZOO Southside
Studio
What happens when a lovable idiot holds a memorial service for a long-deceased family member? In this off-the-wall comedy, award-winning NYC-based clown Julia VanderVeen leads the audience through wild stages of grief as she attempts to honour her beloved grandmother. Winner: Best Solo Comedy and Best of the Fest, Orlando Fringe 2023; Best Solo Clown, EstroGenius Awards, Frigid Fringe, NYC 2022; Production Award FESTN4 2024. 'A masterclass in cringe comedy... Carol Burnett-esque' (Orlando Weekly). 'A solo tour-de-force' (Hartford Courant). 'Puts the fun in funeral' (Orlando Sentinel).
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
'A flawless blend of Broadway, games, pop and comedy bliss!' (Fame Magazine). When the hero character of a video game dies, an NPC turns to the audience for help navigating their grief. Part live concert, part escape room, part immersive theatre, each performance is entirely responsive to the player style, improvisation and decisions of the audience. Four audience players join writer-performer Brendan Bradley on stage, wearing virtual reality headsets while the virtual world and characters are projected on the big screen, inviting both theatre and game lovers to a new kind of play.
Imaginex at YOTEL Edinburgh in association with ZOO
ImagineX
A journey of evolution, from birth to consciousness. Follow the struggle through a maze of shapeshifting surroundings to the edge and beyond. With an immersive foley soundscape, a dash of acrobatics, a sprinkle of clown and a fist full of kung fu.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Do you wish you were as fabulous as a queer person? Do you have a problem you need help with? Your boyfriend's cheating? You fancy your best friend? Stuck in a dead-end job? Well our queer comedians are on hand to help. We'll fix all your problems and make you the best version of yourself. In this groundbreaking interactive crowd-work comedy show our comedians fix all your problems! All you have to do is share them! Come and laugh with us as we solve all your problems.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Carpentry and circus collide. In Sawdust Symphony Michael Zandl, David Eisele and Kolja Huneck combine their passion for crafting, object manipulation and fresh wood. The piece explores the human desire to create: the process from vision to construction, the tragedy of work and the relationship between tools and humans. Obsessed characters discover and transform their space and themselves, transporting the spectator into a unique DIY experience. Sawdust Symphony is an intense dialogue between satisfaction, frustration and the smell of gasoline. Sawdust Symphony has been performed over 100 times across nine countries.
ZOO Southside
Main House
When George Boucher, a troublesome youth, narrowly misses serving time in prison for a violent offence, he is placed with a new, unconventional youth officer called David. As George and David progress in their work together, David manages to slowly peel back George's defences and walls without him realising; allowing him the space and freedom to grow and heal. Sessions is a play about the confines of toxic masculinity and trauma, which aims to grapple with how trauma lives in the body – and how, when it goes unaddressed, it manifests into our behaviours and habits.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Singing Sands is a touching yet dark comedy about how the death of a loved one can sometimes be the only way to restore old bonds. Set on the remote Hebridean Isle of Eigg, two siblings return to their late Gran's house to find her stuff loaded into a van by their long-lost cousin. They've got until the ferry arrives to reconcile, grieve and resist battering each other. After a sell-out run at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, Singing Sands returns, showing how easy it is to forget our culture when we've been away from home for so long.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
DON McEnroe and Björn GNU face each other once again in the ultimate duel we all have been waiting for! A nerve-wracking battle of finger knitting, tango wrestling, dirty tricks and the best 80s style, to be able to judge the other out. But who are we really fighting? Don't miss out on this action-packed, poetic hunt for true fighter's spirit. It's Wimbledon, 1980. Bloodsport, slapstick comedy and beautiful dance mixed up by two anti-heroes trying to untangle the net they themselves have entangled.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Wet Mess Wet Messifies the messiness of life; exploring transitions, testosterone, edges of drag, blur between performance and reality, magical in the mundane. Meet at the computer of confused edges, for guttural sexuality, where made-up shit becomes real. Wearing insides on the outsides, and waiting for the hateful crunchy key change. Expect mustache meals, desktop dreams, dykey desires, trotting, lolling, humping, titting, farting, pinching at the dull flesh of life here and here. It's quite like, uh, I just back away, I don't perceive me, I'm in the wall. Hoping you will understand.
ZOO Southside
Main House
This is not a show about mental health. This is a disorder. Is it rehearsed? That depends. Scripted? Half. Improvised? Absolutely not. Is it a play? No it's not a f*cking play. F*ck off. My cousin in christ, this is a borderline comedy. 'Falls into almost every category of art, or none of it: its own individual masterpiece of mess' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Hilarious' ***** (LostInTheatreland.com). 'Essential' ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk).
ZOO Southside
Studio
This semi-autobiographical one-woman play adapted from Sophia Marie George’s debut book follows a woman researcher as she enters into the archives of a romantic. What initially seems to be a mere academic endeavor soon turns darker as the reasoning for her being there is revealed. Taking its audience from her hometown of Los Angeles to her studies and travels in Washington, DC, London, Dublin, Oxford, Venice and other cities, this show traces the relationship between a young woman and the formative men of her life.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
The Best Man Show is an interactive and darkly hilarious wedding reception where comedian Mark Vigeant plays the Groom's brother Paul, who has been asked to give the toast at an untraditional polyamorous commitment ceremony. It starts out fun and silly, with your typical masculine roasting and ribbing – and slowly devolves into a drunken existential crisis where Paul tries desperately to understand what it means to love, but can't get over his own masculinity to recognise how lonely he is. Filled with laughter, singing, dancing, crying, screaming, clowning, bubbles, audience participation, and more.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
World-renowned conductor Salvatore Giovanni has it all: a masterpiece symphony, a beautiful wife and baby and the audience's unwavering love. That is, until one harsh review forces him to face the truth behind his craft – sending him spiralling into madness.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
This August, Scottish Dance Theatre set the stage on fire with two of their most physically daring and dynamic works in an unforgettable evening of dance by two of the most-exciting female choreographers in the European dance scene: Roser López Espinosa and Sofia Nappi. Fasten your seat belt and get ready to take off as the dancers embark on a fascinating journey inspired by the migration of birds in The Flock, then experience the fusion of contemporary dance and traditional Celtic music in Moving Cloud. Part of MadeInScotlandShowcase.com.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Ben Kassoy brings poems from his spectacularly original book to life in this wildly entertaining solo show. Bursting with humour, heart and defiant wonder in the face of anxiety, The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack uses physical theatre, dance and traditional poetry reading to reveal the connections between mental health, art and pancakes. Directed by award winner Joanna Simmons (Mark Pleases You), The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack previewed in New York City (The Vino) and made its world premiere at the Hollywood Fringe Festival (The Broadwater) in Los Angeles.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Laughter! Excitement! Learning! Comedian Frisco Fred performs then teaches you – the audience – to juggle! It’s fun, and great for annoying your downstairs neighbours. Ticket price includes a juggling kit. ‘Seeing 40-something parents, 70-something grandparents and kids alike learning to juggle is a fantastic treat' (Adrian G. Velazquez, Hairline).
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Not a one woman show. Not a one man show. The One Couple Show. A collage of works, how dance and poetry wed. The storyline is like from a romantic film. Two artists bring to you their personal story, with its ups and downs, about starting a new life in another country and living as artists. Will you be the next one joining this storyline?
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Witness to a horrifying tragedy, a signalman is haunted by a mysterious figure standing by a railway tunnel. He’s sure it's a warning – but what is it warning against? Paragon Theatre Collective (Fake News, 2019 sell-out show) returns with this fresh and thrilling adaptation of the famous Charles Dickens ghost story. Written after Dickens himself survived a train crash, this version places the signalman at the heart of the story in a compelling solo show. 'Breathes new life into this haunting and spine-chillingly classic tale’ (TheatreAndArtReviews.com).
ZOO Southside
Studio
In the darkness of grief, a man hears something calling. Something – or someone – is reaching out. But why now? And from where? Desperate for answers, he follows the sound deep into the Space Between. But the rules are different here, and time is running out. Able to manipulate the sea of sounds around him, can he piece together the truth before it's too late? What would we say to the people we've lost? A sonic adventure into the unknown using live sound manipulation technology as a gateway to a world beyond.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Powerful performance exploring love in times of war in Europe, transcending Romeo and Juliet's classic narrative, offering an enriched perspective and examining the complexity of human relationships. Featuring three loving couples in diverse stages of life, displaying the artistry of four terrific dancers and two outstanding musicians. At the heart of the performance lies the music, a dynamic blend and live execution of motifs drawn from prominent compositions associated with the story. Featuring works by Prokofiev, Mancini and Gounod, the music underlines the universal theme of profound love and the cruel intrusion of death.
ZOO Southside
Main House
A walrus comedy (for adults). Why is the Arctic melting and where are all the clams? From Rishi Sunak to bingeing seagulls, Thor the Walrus asks why big corporations aren't blamed for climate change when we feel guilty about plastic straws. Thor travels to England to discover why our planet is burning, meeting numerous fishy characters, from a flamboyant starfish to a recovering addict crab, whilst two satirical news reporters follow him. Based on a true story. Loosely. Fans of Brass Eye and South Park will love Thor the Walrus. But screw them, Thor is getting hangry…
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Grab your "all access" pass into the mysterious world of Broadway's backstage! Follow veteran "star dresser" Pam as she works her magic through complex costume changes, confrontations and quirky actor demands, all while staying hidden in the shadows. When the stress of invisibility gets heavy, supportive allies rally and equip her to stand up, curse like a sailor and be seen. This may be a solo show, but Kimberly Prentice quick-changes her way through 30+ distinct characters as we follow Pam's hilarious, and sometimes harrowing, journey of working in the dark, unseen, while trying not to disappear.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Cinnamon-coloured Cryptic Tree Hunter, Problematic Flasher, Fire Millipede From Hell... Performance artist Tom Bailey attempts to perform 26,000 animals in under an hour. Projection mapping, animals, clowning; Vigil is a wildly playful, poetic exploration of life in an age of extinction. Herald Angel Award-winning Mechanimal returns with this critically-acclaimed, internationally-touring hit show. Mechanimal is an award-winning performance company from Bristol. The company explores new narratives of our Anthropocene era. 'Beautiful, contemplative... a remarkable and urgent show' (Guardian). 'Memorable... a requiem against a clock counting down' (Scotsman).
ZOO Southside
Main House
Luca Rutherford with Maria Crocker, Melanie Wilson, Tanuja Amarasuriya, Linzy Na Nakorn, Bethany Gupwell and Bethany Wells. You Heard Me is for anyone who has been underestimated, or told to shut up. This is a loud show about quiet power. A celebration of refusing to be silenced, of taking up space and of one woman's power to re-make, re-mould and disrupt. Integrating a blend of visceral movement, enveloping sound and lights. Luca and her collaborators gift audiences the chance to experience the messiness and effort of connecting to your own power.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Blood spots on my duvet. Stains on my pillowcase. Bite marks on my wrists. Bed bugs in my flat, lurking in my mattress. Except... there were no bed bugs. There were never any to begin with. Based on true events, make the Bed is a solo piece that explores what it's like when your thoughts consume you. When black and white thinking takes over. When you have anxiety. And what it can feel like sitting with that anxiety in real time. And how to maybe, just maybe, go towards the grey. Directed by Cecilia Thoden van Velzen.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Inspired by encounters with people on the margins of society, the performance dissects trauma and revival, pain and transformation. In a devotional setting of sinister rituals and acts of liberation, Madonna and Jesus appear as trash prophets. Surrounded by Paradise-Lost-iconography they deliver prayers for the outcasts and blessings for queer bodies. After their 2018 success with Baby Paradise, provocative German bambule.babys is returning to the Fringe with its new production. Alluding to feminist philosophy and politics of care, the piece is dedicated to all those homesick for a better world.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Things have gotten a little bit harder lately. Haven't they? Amongst this mess there has got to be something that connects us. Doesn't there? We are going to support each other as we trudge through the chaos. Aren't we? A solo show in celebration of togetherness. 'Treats art as a gift' (WhatsOnStage.com for dressed.). A brand-new show from Fringe First Award-winners Josie Dale-Jones and Laurence Cook (2018 for dressed.), Rachel Lemon (2023 for Gunter), Abbi Greenland (2016 for Two Man Show) and Paula Varjack.
ZOO Southside
Main House
A love letter to the divas and the gays who stan them! Welcome to an original queer comedy musical about Alexis's childhood as a stan. After moving to rural Germany from New York City at age 8, discovering pop divas online was his only salvation... Now he's ready to sing about it! Join Alexis for his first solo show as he attempts to get his PhDiva in Stanology, with a concentration in Motherological Studies and a minor in Slayviation. Does this queer Bo Burnham have what it takes to be... a lil gay diva?!
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Two thrilling adventures in a double feature inspired by Hollywood blockbusters. Stjälkar: An everyday civil servant thrust into a global conspiracy. Can John Chesterton survive in this world of espionage, deception and murder? Inbound: Three heroes, one mission. Obtain the source of ultimate power, in a race against time and across continents, before it falls into the wrong hands, bringing about unimaginable destruction. An Evening With Mere Mortals moves at lightning speed, delivering a full-blown espionage thriller and a badass action romp in just under an hour.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Caught in a storm and looking for help, Murdo knocks on the door of a dark, old house and the family inside seems to be expecting him. A bizarre quintet of siblings is waiting for their father to die and Murdo is somehow involved... Brilliantly treading the fine line between surreal and sinister, An Unexpected Hiccup is a chilling night tale of comic misunderstandings and dangerous eccentricities presented by Lung Ha Theatre Company in collaboration with Plutôt la Vie. 'Full of wit, wisdom, and bold, boundary-busting theatrical energy' (Scotsman).
ZOO Southside
Main House
In the game of televised warfare, it is unclear who's allowed to say 'we' anymore. One toy land is turned into another. Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek’s text dismantles the global media war machine as accounts of Iraq's invasion collapse into a child refugee’s memories of the Bosnian War. The violent act of representation is played back before our eyes on video and we find ourselves immersed in this battle of toy soldiers. It all comes back around, especially the wars.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Join Duane Forrest on an acoustic journey through the roots of reggae to the global influence of Bob Marley. Experience acoustic renditions of legendary reggae songs that have reshaped countless lives, including Duane's own. From the origin of reggae to Marley's transcendent legacy, immerse yourself in the soulful melodies and transformative power of this iconic music. Audience members are invited to sing along and get involved in this interactive musical experience.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
A miniature choreography of visual poetry, objects and body parts, Book of Dew weaves a spider web of fantastical fragments: water droplets, a river in the air, glistening stardust – the dew of transient experience emerges and evaporates under sunrise. At the intersection of puppetry, installation, and non-linear storytelling, this intimately-staged performance features a single wall, in which doors of ephemerality open and close to reveal fleeting glimpses of visceral imagery and dancing poems. Abstraction and physicality collide in a striking montage of fantasy and contemporary folklore.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Join us for a sip of mezcal at this Day of the Dead-style theatrical experience. Juan Preciado made a promise to his mother on her deathbed: to exact revenge on his long-lost father. Follow his unique journey through the worlds of the living and the dead, fuelled by music and storytelling. Séance meets musical in this intimate reimagining of seminal novel Pedro Páramo, by mestiza playwright Conchi León. Featuring music by composer Pablo Chemor, rooted in folklore, performed using traditional instruments. This new, original Mexican musical makes its international debut, following a sold-out world premiere in Mexico City.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Fringe favourites 21Common return for a dance spectacular, mashing karaoke carnage and feats of physical endurance with chucking-out time at the Grand Ole Oprey. Using tropes of Western movies, it explores how poverty and violence shape a man. This is a deep and dirty dive into a family circle that more often resembles a ring of fire. Part saloon (there's crooner country classics), speakeasy (brush/scuffing danceathons) and bare-knuckle boxing ring (it's going to kick off`), join us in our Wild West sitting room with the ones who spit. MadeInScotlandShowcase.com
ZOO Southside
Main House
Alone in his miserable bedsit in a busy, bustling metropolis, Dante’s only companion is a house robot named She-bot. His girlfriend has left for Japan to disconnect from technology and live an older, simpler way of being. Dante is lost. Trapped in an unfulfilling job he hates, he embraces escapism by writing a film. As the screenplay emerges, we join a Spanish knight on a quest alongside his French squire, battling monsters and travelling epic landscapes. Gradually, Dante’s worlds begin to merge, overlap and intertwine around him.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Dying is scary, missing Spring Break is scarier. True story. Told mid-operation. Fun-loving college student, Sam, must decide what to do in life... and whether or not to have brain surgery. In a profound (yet highly medicated) meditation, she reflects on the events that lead there: namely, a redhaired bitch who came to life and ruined it. Overwhelmed and forced into decisions with potentially fatal consequences, Sam decides one thing: go out with a bang on a classic All-American Spring Break. However, her aneurysm has other plans. A true story... not necessarily a smart one.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
One teenage girl's dream of being a pop star was shattered by the dark realities of the music industry: scams, lies, perverts and pedophiles. Pop Star is a comedy solo show about how Devon tried and failed to be a teen pop star in 2010. Devon takes you down memory lane, showcasing her music videos, 20 original songs and pivotal cringe moments from her past that led to the demise of her music career. Learn the inner workings of the 2000's teen pop girl music industry and join Devon for the biggest comeback of her career!
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Poetic, laughable, and raw coming-of-age tale of a Middle Eastern American boy Essa whose parents are refugees. Join Essa as he navigates sexuality, religion, the English language, and a nicotine demon that won't leave him alone. In a one-person show told between different ages throughout his life, Essa confesses to us the experience of growing up in a country that doesn’t have a place for him. A surprising new work.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
It's tough being a deaf kid. Why can't he speak or hear properly? The story of a Deaf Colombian boy who moves to Canada. Due to his deafness, Fernando struggles to understand teachers, and his hearing aid isn't reliable, making him a target for ridicule. Yearning to learn sign language, his school lacks resources. Upon meeting a deaf Llama, they bond instantly, embarking on a quest to reunite the Llama with its family, encountering communication barriers along the way. The show, in ASL with voice-over, features an all-deaf cast from Canada, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
ZOO Southside
Main House
'I got very little, little to no media training, so... Sorry!' Sir Galahad the Pure, Knight of the Round Table, son of Lancelot the Brave, is taking a bath. Even the chosen one needs a break sometimes, okay? But long soaks in the bath can lead to painful questions, and the cleaner Galahad gets, the dirtier he becomes. In this darkly comedic show about sex, jobs, and the Holy Grail, by the time Galahad gets out, he might not want to be so Pure anymore.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Charlie runs a bridal shop. Clelia is getting married. The two women exist as strangers, their lives running in parallel without ever touching, until their paths intersect. As they search for the perfect dress, they spill secrets, laughter and desires with a familiarity that defies logic. It becomes clear that Clelia and Charlie share a connection that’s more than skin deep. A razor-sharp and heartfelt comedy exploring the shame we carry from childhood, the speed at which women become intimately connected and the people we meet briefly who leave an indelible imprint on our lives.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Courtney knows everyone is winging it. Wing it with her in this show where you are part of its ultimate success (or failure) at the Fringe. Where you choose the stories and vote for the one you'd like to see cut leaving Courtney to prepare a new set for tomorrow. One woman's endeavour to escape perfectionism, be truly vulnerable and ultimately find herself and an agent (it'll be good, I swear). A show about not knowing what you should be doing in life - but doing it anyway.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Jack is a 29-year-old Kindergarten teacher and a hopeless romantic. So when the love of his life leaves him for another man, Jack is heartbroken. Determined to find happiness by sheer willpower alone, Jack re-enters the dating world with a vengeance. Dating new men left, right and centre, Jack soon spirals out of control and finds himself in a therapist's office wondering, 'what now?' A critical and box-office sensation on premiere in Vancouver, Jack Goes to Therapy is a brilliant, enchanting, laugh-out-loud one-man play.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
From Frankenstein to The Invisible Man, James Whale directed some of the greatest movies of all time. How did a working-class boy from Dudley end up in Hollywood? An expressionist and out gay man working in the studio system at the peak of Hollywood's golden age, his moment in the movie-land spotlight lasted little more than 10 years. Just who was James Whale? This one-person show shines a light on his life and work, examining a sense of otherness and the outsider, and how his films still resonate, 90 years on.
ZOO Southside
Studio
Two young queers meet. They fall in love, have sex, fight, make up and break up - and all through texts. These texts, like poetry, chart their unforgettable relationship. Long Distance dives into the empty space between us and our desperate attempts to fill it. A funny, heartbreaking new play about intimacy, technology and the daily work of love.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Everyone has a wall in their heart. A gap and a connection between the inner world and the outside. A show recording the life of contemporary youth and truly presenting young people’s perceptions, thinking and exploration of themselves and those around them. Directed by award-winning independent choreographer Wen Xiaochao and featuring top contemporary dances including Li Yu, Hao Ruoqi, Zhang Zhenguo, Ji Xin. Featuring a post-show talk.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Morag's death left a silence in her place. When her Canadian granddaughter Sam inherits Morag's piano, Sam also inherits the mystery of her Scottish granny's story. An intimate letter composed of fragmented ballads leads Sam to uncover Morag's possible queerness and discover a voice of her own. This dynamic, experimental musical is a love letter to ancestors who "didn't fit" that playfully warps, disrupts and reconfigures traditional Scottish ballad singing. Audiences are invited on a journey where original compositions are interwoven with electronic loops to tell old stories anew.
ZOO Southside
Studio
What happens when a lovable idiot holds a memorial service for a long-deceased family member? In this off-the-wall comedy, award-winning NYC-based clown Julia VanderVeen leads the audience through wild stages of grief as she attempts to honour her beloved grandmother. Winner: Best Solo Comedy and Best of the Fest, Orlando Fringe 2023; Best Solo Clown, EstroGenius Awards, Frigid Fringe, NYC 2022; Production Award FESTN4 2024. 'A masterclass in cringe comedy... Carol Burnett-esque' (Orlando Weekly). 'A solo tour-de-force' (Hartford Courant). 'Puts the fun in funeral' (Orlando Sentinel).
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
'A flawless blend of Broadway, games, pop and comedy bliss!' (Fame Magazine). When the hero character of a video game dies, an NPC turns to the audience for help navigating their grief. Part live concert, part escape room, part immersive theatre, each performance is entirely responsive to the player style, improvisation and decisions of the audience. Four audience players join writer-performer Brendan Bradley on stage, wearing virtual reality headsets while the virtual world and characters are projected on the big screen, inviting both theatre and game lovers to a new kind of play.
Imaginex at YOTEL Edinburgh in association with ZOO
ImagineX
A journey of evolution, from birth to consciousness. Follow the struggle through a maze of shapeshifting surroundings to the edge and beyond. With an immersive foley soundscape, a dash of acrobatics, a sprinkle of clown and a fist full of kung fu.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Do you wish you were as fabulous as a queer person? Do you have a problem you need help with? Your boyfriend's cheating? You fancy your best friend? Stuck in a dead-end job? Well our queer comedians are on hand to help. We'll fix all your problems and make you the best version of yourself. In this groundbreaking interactive crowd-work comedy show our comedians fix all your problems! All you have to do is share them! Come and laugh with us as we solve all your problems.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Carpentry and circus collide. In Sawdust Symphony Michael Zandl, David Eisele and Kolja Huneck combine their passion for crafting, object manipulation and fresh wood. The piece explores the human desire to create: the process from vision to construction, the tragedy of work and the relationship between tools and humans. Obsessed characters discover and transform their space and themselves, transporting the spectator into a unique DIY experience. Sawdust Symphony is an intense dialogue between satisfaction, frustration and the smell of gasoline. Sawdust Symphony has been performed over 100 times across nine countries.
ZOO Southside
Main House
When George Boucher, a troublesome youth, narrowly misses serving time in prison for a violent offence, he is placed with a new, unconventional youth officer called David. As George and David progress in their work together, David manages to slowly peel back George's defences and walls without him realising; allowing him the space and freedom to grow and heal. Sessions is a play about the confines of toxic masculinity and trauma, which aims to grapple with how trauma lives in the body – and how, when it goes unaddressed, it manifests into our behaviours and habits.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Singing Sands is a touching yet dark comedy about how the death of a loved one can sometimes be the only way to restore old bonds. Set on the remote Hebridean Isle of Eigg, two siblings return to their late Gran's house to find her stuff loaded into a van by their long-lost cousin. They've got until the ferry arrives to reconcile, grieve and resist battering each other. After a sell-out run at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, Singing Sands returns, showing how easy it is to forget our culture when we've been away from home for so long.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
DON McEnroe and Björn GNU face each other once again in the ultimate duel we all have been waiting for! A nerve-wracking battle of finger knitting, tango wrestling, dirty tricks and the best 80s style, to be able to judge the other out. But who are we really fighting? Don't miss out on this action-packed, poetic hunt for true fighter's spirit. It's Wimbledon, 1980. Bloodsport, slapstick comedy and beautiful dance mixed up by two anti-heroes trying to untangle the net they themselves have entangled.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Wet Mess Wet Messifies the messiness of life; exploring transitions, testosterone, edges of drag, blur between performance and reality, magical in the mundane. Meet at the computer of confused edges, for guttural sexuality, where made-up shit becomes real. Wearing insides on the outsides, and waiting for the hateful crunchy key change. Expect mustache meals, desktop dreams, dykey desires, trotting, lolling, humping, titting, farting, pinching at the dull flesh of life here and here. It's quite like, uh, I just back away, I don't perceive me, I'm in the wall. Hoping you will understand.
ZOO Southside
Main House
This is not a show about mental health. This is a disorder. Is it rehearsed? That depends. Scripted? Half. Improvised? Absolutely not. Is it a play? No it's not a f*cking play. F*ck off. My cousin in christ, this is a borderline comedy. 'Falls into almost every category of art, or none of it: its own individual masterpiece of mess' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Hilarious' ***** (LostInTheatreland.com). 'Essential' ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk).
ZOO Southside
Studio
This semi-autobiographical one-woman play adapted from Sophia Marie George’s debut book follows a woman researcher as she enters into the archives of a romantic. What initially seems to be a mere academic endeavor soon turns darker as the reasoning for her being there is revealed. Taking its audience from her hometown of Los Angeles to her studies and travels in Washington, DC, London, Dublin, Oxford, Venice and other cities, this show traces the relationship between a young woman and the formative men of her life.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
The Best Man Show is an interactive and darkly hilarious wedding reception where comedian Mark Vigeant plays the Groom's brother Paul, who has been asked to give the toast at an untraditional polyamorous commitment ceremony. It starts out fun and silly, with your typical masculine roasting and ribbing – and slowly devolves into a drunken existential crisis where Paul tries desperately to understand what it means to love, but can't get over his own masculinity to recognise how lonely he is. Filled with laughter, singing, dancing, crying, screaming, clowning, bubbles, audience participation, and more.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
World-renowned conductor Salvatore Giovanni has it all: a masterpiece symphony, a beautiful wife and baby and the audience's unwavering love. That is, until one harsh review forces him to face the truth behind his craft – sending him spiralling into madness.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
This August, Scottish Dance Theatre set the stage on fire with two of their most physically daring and dynamic works in an unforgettable evening of dance by two of the most-exciting female choreographers in the European dance scene: Roser López Espinosa and Sofia Nappi. Fasten your seat belt and get ready to take off as the dancers embark on a fascinating journey inspired by the migration of birds in The Flock, then experience the fusion of contemporary dance and traditional Celtic music in Moving Cloud. Part of MadeInScotlandShowcase.com.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Ben Kassoy brings poems from his spectacularly original book to life in this wildly entertaining solo show. Bursting with humour, heart and defiant wonder in the face of anxiety, The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack uses physical theatre, dance and traditional poetry reading to reveal the connections between mental health, art and pancakes. Directed by award winner Joanna Simmons (Mark Pleases You), The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack previewed in New York City (The Vino) and made its world premiere at the Hollywood Fringe Festival (The Broadwater) in Los Angeles.
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Laughter! Excitement! Learning! Comedian Frisco Fred performs then teaches you – the audience – to juggle! It’s fun, and great for annoying your downstairs neighbours. Ticket price includes a juggling kit. ‘Seeing 40-something parents, 70-something grandparents and kids alike learning to juggle is a fantastic treat' (Adrian G. Velazquez, Hairline).
ZOO Playground
Playground 3
Not a one woman show. Not a one man show. The One Couple Show. A collage of works, how dance and poetry wed. The storyline is like from a romantic film. Two artists bring to you their personal story, with its ups and downs, about starting a new life in another country and living as artists. Will you be the next one joining this storyline?
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Witness to a horrifying tragedy, a signalman is haunted by a mysterious figure standing by a railway tunnel. He’s sure it's a warning – but what is it warning against? Paragon Theatre Collective (Fake News, 2019 sell-out show) returns with this fresh and thrilling adaptation of the famous Charles Dickens ghost story. Written after Dickens himself survived a train crash, this version places the signalman at the heart of the story in a compelling solo show. 'Breathes new life into this haunting and spine-chillingly classic tale’ (TheatreAndArtReviews.com).
ZOO Southside
Studio
In the darkness of grief, a man hears something calling. Something – or someone – is reaching out. But why now? And from where? Desperate for answers, he follows the sound deep into the Space Between. But the rules are different here, and time is running out. Able to manipulate the sea of sounds around him, can he piece together the truth before it's too late? What would we say to the people we've lost? A sonic adventure into the unknown using live sound manipulation technology as a gateway to a world beyond.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Powerful performance exploring love in times of war in Europe, transcending Romeo and Juliet's classic narrative, offering an enriched perspective and examining the complexity of human relationships. Featuring three loving couples in diverse stages of life, displaying the artistry of four terrific dancers and two outstanding musicians. At the heart of the performance lies the music, a dynamic blend and live execution of motifs drawn from prominent compositions associated with the story. Featuring works by Prokofiev, Mancini and Gounod, the music underlines the universal theme of profound love and the cruel intrusion of death.
ZOO Southside
Main House
A walrus comedy (for adults). Why is the Arctic melting and where are all the clams? From Rishi Sunak to bingeing seagulls, Thor the Walrus asks why big corporations aren't blamed for climate change when we feel guilty about plastic straws. Thor travels to England to discover why our planet is burning, meeting numerous fishy characters, from a flamboyant starfish to a recovering addict crab, whilst two satirical news reporters follow him. Based on a true story. Loosely. Fans of Brass Eye and South Park will love Thor the Walrus. But screw them, Thor is getting hangry…
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Grab your "all access" pass into the mysterious world of Broadway's backstage! Follow veteran "star dresser" Pam as she works her magic through complex costume changes, confrontations and quirky actor demands, all while staying hidden in the shadows. When the stress of invisibility gets heavy, supportive allies rally and equip her to stand up, curse like a sailor and be seen. This may be a solo show, but Kimberly Prentice quick-changes her way through 30+ distinct characters as we follow Pam's hilarious, and sometimes harrowing, journey of working in the dark, unseen, while trying not to disappear.
ZOO Playground
Playground 1
Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Cinnamon-coloured Cryptic Tree Hunter, Problematic Flasher, Fire Millipede From Hell... Performance artist Tom Bailey attempts to perform 26,000 animals in under an hour. Projection mapping, animals, clowning; Vigil is a wildly playful, poetic exploration of life in an age of extinction. Herald Angel Award-winning Mechanimal returns with this critically-acclaimed, internationally-touring hit show. Mechanimal is an award-winning performance company from Bristol. The company explores new narratives of our Anthropocene era. 'Beautiful, contemplative... a remarkable and urgent show' (Guardian). 'Memorable... a requiem against a clock counting down' (Scotsman).
ZOO Southside
Main House
Luca Rutherford with Maria Crocker, Melanie Wilson, Tanuja Amarasuriya, Linzy Na Nakorn, Bethany Gupwell and Bethany Wells. You Heard Me is for anyone who has been underestimated, or told to shut up. This is a loud show about quiet power. A celebration of refusing to be silenced, of taking up space and of one woman's power to re-make, re-mould and disrupt. Integrating a blend of visceral movement, enveloping sound and lights. Luca and her collaborators gift audiences the chance to experience the messiness and effort of connecting to your own power.
ZOO Southside
Main House
Blood spots on my duvet. Stains on my pillowcase. Bite marks on my wrists. Bed bugs in my flat, lurking in my mattress. Except... there were no bed bugs. There were never any to begin with. Based on true events, make the Bed is a solo piece that explores what it's like when your thoughts consume you. When black and white thinking takes over. When you have anxiety. And what it can feel like sitting with that anxiety in real time. And how to maybe, just maybe, go towards the grey. Directed by Cecilia Thoden van Velzen.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
Inspired by encounters with people on the margins of society, the performance dissects trauma and revival, pain and transformation. In a devotional setting of sinister rituals and acts of liberation, Madonna and Jesus appear as trash prophets. Surrounded by Paradise-Lost-iconography they deliver prayers for the outcasts and blessings for queer bodies. After their 2018 success with Baby Paradise, provocative German bambule.babys is returning to the Fringe with its new production. Alluding to feminist philosophy and politics of care, the piece is dedicated to all those homesick for a better world.
ZOO Playground
Playground 2
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