Planning your visit to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? With thousands of performances across genres, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve curated this guide to the top shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 — a handpicked selection of theatre, musicals, and standout performances from across the programme.
Whether you’re a seasoned Fringe-goer or attending for the first time, this list highlights 25 shows that offer originality, compelling storytelling, and creative ambition. From bold new writing and physical theatre to family-friendly magic and aerial circus, these are some of the must-see shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.
If you’re searching for the best shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, this guide is your perfect starting point.
 
 
 
 
Hot Mess
Pleasance Courtyard
Category: Musicals and Opera
A new pop musical from the creators of 42 Balloons, this show imagines Earth and Humanity in a romantic relationship that spirals into chaos. It explores themes of climate, connection, and heartbreak through music and metaphor.
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Stampin’ in the Graveyard
Summerhall
Category: Theatre
This immersive headphone experience blends physical theatre and live music to tell the story of an AI chatbot trained on human memories. It explores grief, memory, and technology in a poetic and experimental format.
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Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life
Summerhall
Category: Theatre
A true story told with warmth and banjo music, this solo show recounts one man’s journey through illness and recovery. All proceeds support cancer and theatre charities, adding a philanthropic layer to its storytelling.
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Kanpur: 1857
Pleasance Courtyard
Category: Theatre
Set during the Indian uprising against British colonial forces, this play uses satire to examine themes of empire, gender, and artistic responsibility. It draws on historical events while engaging with contemporary issues.
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Wild Thing!
Summerhall
Category: Theatre
A physical theatre piece that uses surreal animal impressions to explore extinction and the natural world. Created by Mechanimal, it follows their previous Fringe success Vigil with a similarly playful yet reflective tone.
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The Insider
Pleasance Dome
Category: Theatre
Inspired by a real financial scandal, this multimedia thriller explores the world of high-stakes fraud and corporate crime. It combines live performance with immersive sound design to tell a contemporary cautionary tale.
 
 
 
 
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Pleasance Courtyard
Category: Musicals and Opera
A musical comedy inspired by the 1991 tribunal that debated whether Jaffa Cakes are cakes or biscuits. Created by Gigglemug Theatre, it offers a light-hearted take on British culture and legal absurdity.
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Scatter: A Horror Play
Underbelly, Cowgate
Category: Theatre
A new horror play from the writer of The Man and Colossal, this production promises a tense and unsettling theatrical experience. It builds on the creator’s previous success with psychological storytelling.
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Alone
Assembly George Square
Category: Theatre
Set aboard a failing spacecraft, this sci-fi drama follows two female astronauts confronting climate catastrophe and systemic silencing. It blends speculative fiction with social commentary.
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Dear Annie, I Hate You
Pleasance Courtyard
Category: Theatre
A solo show based on real experiences, this piece explores mental health, memory, and identity through immersive sound and 90s nostalgia. It returns to the Fringe following critical recognition.
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Anthem for Dissatisfaction
Summerhall
Category: Theatre
A coming-of-age story set to a soundtrack of working-class anthems, this play reflects on growing up in post-austerity Britain. It combines political themes with personal reflection.
Animal Farm
Assembly George Square Studios
Category: Theatre
A solo adaptation of Orwell’s classic, directed by Guy Masterson and performed by Sam Blythe. This long-running production marks its 30th anniversary with a return to the Fringe.
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I Dream in Colour
Underbelly, Bristo Square
Category: Theatre
A semi-autobiographical show by a blind artist, this piece explores autonomy, disability, and identity. It uses poetry and performance to reflect on personal and societal expectations.
Chokeslam
Underbelly, Bristo Square
Category: Theatre
A solo show about pro wrestling and personal transformation, this piece blends autobiography with pop culture to explore themes of heartbreak and resilience.
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Swan?
Underbelly, Cowgate
Category: Theatre
A dark comedy inspired by Black Swan, this solo performance uses clowning and physical theatre to reimagine the ballet classic with irreverence and flair.
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Footballers’ Wives: The Musical
Assembly Rooms
Category: Musicals and Opera
Based on the early 2000s TV drama, this musical adaptation revisits the era of celebrity football culture with satire, scandal, and high-energy performance.
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The Nature of Forgetting
Pleasance Courtyard
Category: Theatre
A physical theatre piece about memory and dementia, this internationally toured show uses movement and music to explore what remains when memories fade.
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Ghosted! A New Musical
theSpace @ Niddry St
Category: Musicals and Opera
A musical about grief, friendship, and the supernatural, this show combines humour and heart with a story of loss and connection beyond the grave.
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The Queen is Mad
ZOO Southside
Category: Musicals and Opera
A musical inspired by the life of Joanna of Castile, this show reimagines historical narratives through a feminist lens, blending drama with original music.
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Improbotics Presents: RoboTales
Gilded Balloon Patter House
Category: Theatre
An improvised, interactive show featuring AI and human performers. This production explores storytelling and technology in a format that evolves with audience input.
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The Greatest Magic Show
Assembly George Square Gardens
Category: Children’s Shows
A family-friendly magic show with international acclaim, featuring illusions, comedy, and audience participation. Designed to entertain children and adults alike.
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The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl
Assembly Roxy
Category: Children’s Shows
A visually striking aerial performance about identity and belonging, this show uses circus arts to tell a story of transformation and connection.
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The Alphabet of Awesome Science
Underbelly, George Square
Category: Children’s Shows
A high-energy science show for children and families, featuring experiments and demonstrations themed around the alphabet. Educational and entertaining in equal measure.
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Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence
Assembly George Square Studios
Category: Musicals and Opera
A netball-themed musical that reimagines Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth in a high school setting. This Australian production blends sport, ambition, and pop music.
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The Legends of Them
Zoo Southside
Category: Theatre
A musical memoir of reggae icon Sutara Gayle, blending politics, music, and spirituality. A roof-raising chronicle of an extraordinary life.