Must See Theatre this month

Visit Nutbush City Limits, take a peek at what’s inside No 9, brave the Glass Menagerie or venture to a sinister high rise tower block… all on the stages of Edinburgh this November. 

There’s one show ready to rock the Playhouse this month. It’s simply the best, better than all the rest… or at least it is, as far as telling the true life story of pop icon Tina Turner goes. But then, the legendary singer was herself a guiding force behind the smash hit West End triumph that is Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (11-22 November).

With a pulse-pounding soundtrack of classic hits such as The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High, Tina.. The Musical shines a spotlight on the much missed Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, while regaling audiences with the inspiring, untold story of a woman who dared to dream, shatter barriers and defy the bounds of age, gender and race to conquer the music world.

From her humble beginnings singing in a gospel choir in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her triumphant transformation into a multi award-winning global superstar, the ‘legend comes alive in this musical’ – having seen the London production, I can vouch for that.

Running time 2 hours 45 minutes, including interval. Tickets here 

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/tina-the-tina-turner-musical/edinburgh-playhouse/calendar/2025-11-11

TINA the musical Directed by Phyllida Lloyd with a book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, and Kees Prins, CHOREOGRAPHER -ANTHONY VAN LAAST, SET & COSTUME DESIGNER – MARK THOMPSON, LIGHTING DESIGNER – BRUNO POET, PROJECTION DESIGNER – JEFF SUGG, HAIR, WIGS & MAKE UP DESIGNER – CAMPBELL YOUNG, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR – KATHERINE HARE, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER – SIMONE MISTRY-PALMER, Curve theatre, UK, Credit: Johan Persson/

Over on Cambridge Street, Arlington (6-8 November), in a new production by Shotput, a dance-theatre company described as ‘maverick’, which instantly grabs my attention, comes to The Traverse.

Set in a dystopian world dominated by surveillance and control (sound familiar?), Arlington follows Isla, a young woman held inside a mysterious high rise facility, waiting for her number to be called. Telling stories of her dreams for the world outside, her only human interaction is with an anonymous man on the other side of the wall. Today there is a new listener and what starts as a seemingly small human interaction turns into something much more terrifying and sublime.
Enda Walsh’s dark fable explores themes of love, freedom, and the enduring power of human connection in the face of oppression.

Running time 1 hour 30 minutes. Tickets here https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/arlington-autumn-25#datesandtimes 

Staying with the dark side, things don’t come much darker than Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s Inside No 9, as fans of the TV show already know… and now the live stage version of that ratings winner is heading to The Playhouse. 

Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright (25-29 November) finds familiar characters and stories mixed with brand new material by Pemberton and Shearsmith, who will also perform, as they bring their unique brand of storytelling to life. Expect the unexpected as they weave their signature web of twisted tales and black humour to keep you guessing until the very end.

Running time 2 hours 20 minutes including interval. Tickets here 

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/inside-no-9-stage-fright/edinburgh-playhouse/calendar/2025-11-25

Another highlight to look forward to in November is the Royal Lyceum’s gripping new staging of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (4-8 November), a co-production with Dundee Rep and Glasgow Citz.  

Tom, trapped in a soul-crushing job and burdened with the weight of supporting his overbearing mother, Amanda, and painfully shy sister, Laura, longs for escape. When he invites Jim, a charming but well-meaning acquaintance, to dinner, Amanda seizes the moment to secure Laura’s future happiness. As hopes rise, family tensions mount, and cracks in their relationships deepen, threatening to shatter their fragile world apart for good.

Watch out for the always brilliant Edinburgh-born Sara Stewart in the role of Amanda Wingfield – you might recognise her from Sugar Rush, or West End appearances that include Enron and Harry Potter & the Cursed Child.

Running time 2 hours 20 minutes including interval. Tickets here https://lyceum.org.uk/events/the-glass-menagerie#dates-and-times

Travel time and my Theatre Break for London this month is a new star-studded production of Othello (until 17 January) at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, those stars being David Harewood of Homeland fame, Toby Jones, who you will might from Mr Bates vs the Post Office and Detectorists, and Caitlin FitzGerald, known for playing Libby Masters in Masters of Sex.

Shakespeare’s Othello rages like never before’ in this explosive new production directed by Tony Award-winner Tom Morris, and with music by PJ Harvey, this epic tale of manipulation, jealousy and toxic masculinity explores the darker side of power, fury and desire.

Running time TBC. Tickets here https://ticketing.trh.co.uk/event/36514?date=2025-11

We finish up this month back at the Royal Lyceum where, even though it’s probably still too early to mention the C word (Christmas, obviously), the festive season starts early with the arrival of Cinderella: A Fairytale(27 November 2025-3 January 2026). 

Now, while it may be too early for Christmas, one thing’s for sure, it’s definitely too early for panto, so you may well be pleased to hear that this Cinderella is not a pantomime. Oh, no it’s not! Sally Cookson’s production for all the family aged 5+ boasts music and puppetry and promises to add a magical flutter of wings to the happily ever after.

The story: Ella and her devoted father share a love for woodland birds and their calls, but when her father remarries, everything changes. Now Ella’s feathered friends feel like her only true family. Until one day, a mysterious boy stumbles upon Ella’s tree hideout with an invitation to The Queen’s Celebratory Ball. Can Ella make it to the ball in time? And is there more to her bird friends than meets the eye?

Running time 2 hours including interval. Tickets here https://lyceum.org.uk/events/cinderella-a-fairytale#dates-and-times 

And if that’s left you with the sound festive bells jingling in your head, make sure you don’t miss my Christmas panto/show round up in next month’s Edinburgh Reporter, and remember, you’ll find all my theatre news, reviews and features at MustSeeTheatre.com throughout the month.