Endometriosis: The Musical continues at Doonstairs at Gilded Balloon Patter House until 31 August 2026 (except 17, 24). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It is so good to see a production of this calibre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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Katie Pritchard is Sir Elton Scone – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Katie Pritchard is Sir Elton Scone continues at Nic 5 (Nicolson Square Venues Courtyard) at Hoots @ Nicolson Square until 30 August 2026 (except 18). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ You may leave ready to pass out from laughing.
GIRLZ – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
GIRLZ continues at Doonstairs at Gilded Balloon Patter House until 30 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s a welcome back to the GIRLZ in this new treatment of their highly-rated show from last year – more polished, more songs and killer choreography.
Otto & Astrid: The Stages Tour – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Otto & Astrid: The Stages Tour continues at Upstairs at Assembly Roxy until 30 August 2026 (not 12, 19, 26). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A crazy jukebox musical comedy experience that will enliven your Edinburgh evening.
HR The Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
HR The Musical continues at Big Yin at Gilded Balloon Patter House until 31 August 2026 (except 17). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Roaring in the aisles proves that the time really is ripe for this ‘performance revue’.
Disenchanted! The Hit Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Disenchanted! The Hit Musical continues at Pentland Theatre at Pleasance at EICC until 30 August 2026 (except 19, 24). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Joyous fun from start to finish.
The Real Kyle McCarren – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Real Kyle McCarren continues at Forth at Pleasance Courtyard until 30 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This is a must-see, must-hear, must-feel show. One of the best original scores this year, if not all time.
Death Note: The Musical – Barbican Theatre
Death Note: The Musical continues at the Barbican Theatre, London until 12 September 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ There is no denying that the result is a taut, compelling tale that is accessible to anyone unfamiliar with the source material.
EVITA TOO – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
EVITA TOO continues at Main House at ZOO Southside until 30 August 2026 (not 17, 24). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Presented with so much devastating wit, charm and sheer bloody passion that it will live long in the memory.
The Singer – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Singer continues at Traverse 1 at Traverse Theatre until 30 August 2026 (except 17, 24). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Great story, wonderful music, top rate performances.
Solo from the Pit – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Solo from the Pit continues at Studio at theSpaceTriplex until 29 August 2026 (except 16). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ It’s well worth the journey down to the centre of the earth to join unusual trombonist Elias Faingersh in his pit.
Acid’s Reign – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Acid’s Reign continues at Forth at Pleasance Courtyard until 31 August 2026 (except 12). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This is a fabulous and musically sophisticated show that is compellingly ‘now’.
I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical continues at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London until 27 September 2026. Star rating: two stars ★ ★ What I’m Every Woman needs to do is show us how Khan became a pioneer in the music industry, rather than simply telling us that she was one.
The Ballad of Isobel Gunn – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Ballad of Isobel Gunn continues at the Annexe at theSpace @ Symposium Hall until 29 August 2026 (except 16, 23). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ This is an appealing and entertaining show, brimming with songs. Melanie Gall has created a fascinating bio-musical of an unknown early 19th century woman who lived a very […]
The King of All Birds – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The King of All Birds continues at the Former Gents Locker Room at Summerhall until 31 August 2026 (except 17, 24). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Martha Knight’s quirky storytelling practice creates new musical theatre.
Calendar Girls – Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Calendar Girls was reviewed at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick where it continues until 5 September 2026. The tour continues until 31 October 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Empowering, uplifting with tears and belly laughs abounding.
Take Me Home County Road – Royal Court, Liverpool
Take Me Home County Road continues at the Royal Court, Liverpool until 29 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It is easily one of the best new works to grace this stage in quite some time.
Cats – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Cats continues at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London until 19 September 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s not a reinvention but an improved and dusted-off version of a classic.
Badgers – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Badgers continues at Traverse Two at Traverse Theatre until 30 August 2026 (except 10, 17, 24). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Moving, profound and haunting.
Zog – Cadogan Hall
Zog continues at Cadogan Hall, London until 23 August 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ The stage adaptation certainly captures the scrappy appeal that has made the character so popular.
Jess Robinson: Elton Reimagined – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Jess Robinson: Elton Reimagined continues at Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens until 30 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Robinson almost belts the Piccolo tent into space.
Little Pink Dress – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Little Pink Dress continues at studio at C ARTS, C venues, C aquila until 3 August 2026 (except 17 and 24). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Joey Jennings gives us his best, and his best is very good.
Dog Man: The Musical – Queen Elizabeth Hall
Dog Man: The Musical continues at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London until 16 August 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ Based on four of Dav Pilkey’s immensely popular graphic Dog Man stories, this is a decent enough children’s musical.
Fame The Musical – Theatre Royal Plymouth
Fame The Musical continues at Theatre Royal Plymouth until 15 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ This story feels relevant and important, and I pray it sees a life beyond the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Grease The Immersive Movie Musical – Evolution London, Battersea Park
Grease The Immersive Movie Musical continues at Evolution London, Battersea Park until 13 September 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ Grease is a mostly, visually exciting, well executed and enjoyable production, but it could have been electrifying!
Burlesque the Musical 2026 London run postponed
The producers of Burlesque the Musical have confirmed that the show’s planned London engagement has been “postponed” to 2027.
Figures from across the entertainment industry pay tribute to publicist Neil Reading
Figures from across the entertainment industry, including John Cleese, Dawn French, Jason Manford, John Bishop and Lenny Henry, have been paying tribute to publicist Neil Reading, who has died at the age of 56 following a short illness.
Asian Pirate Musical – Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Asian Pirate Musical continues at Upstairs at The Gatehouse, London until 2 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Asian Pirate Musical has created an incredibly in-depth exploration of isolation, grief, perseverance and solidarity.
Five Questions With: Buna McCreery-Njie
Performer Buna McCreery-Njie is playing Marlon Jackson in the US national tour of MJ The Musical, having played the role in the West End production.
Let the Sun Shine – Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester
Let the Sun Shine continues in repertory at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester until 23 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ The perfect show to let your hair down with a glass of something chilled under the setting sun.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Preview 2026 – Top Ten Musicals To See
This is a record-breaking year for new musical theatre work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Our small army of reviewers are all set to tackle the offerings for 2026.
Malory Towers – Alexandra Palace
Malory Towers continues at Alexandra Palace, London until 2 August. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ For younger audiences especially, it offers an engaging introduction to Blyton’s world.
The Summer Knows: Melissa Errico – Ronnie Scott’s
The Summer Knows was performed by Melissa Errico at Ronnie Scott’s, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ There is a moment in any great concert when the room stops being just a room, when the walls of the venue – the sight lines, the drinks orders, the ambient clatter – all dissolve, […]
My Fair Lady – Chichester Festival Theatre
My Fair Lady continues at Chichester Festival Theatre until 5 September 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have no doubts this production will transfer to the West End, so catch it at Chichester while you can.
Waitress – Curve Leicester and Touring
Waitress was reviewed at Curve Leicester where it continues until 25 July 2026. The tour continues until 31 October 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ An excellent cast and a score that remains among the finest of the past decade.
Trainspotting: The Musical – Theatre Royal Haymarket
Trainspotting: The Musical continues at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London until 5 September 2026. Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩ Like the final act of theft, Trainspotting feels like an unsatisfying cash grab that leaves everyone feeling robbed.
Midnight at the Never Get – Menier Chocolate Factory
Midnight at the Never Get continues at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London until 12 September 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ Mark Sonnenblick’s richly crafted score and Ben Platt’s captivating performance make this a production well worth seeking out.
Hit Machine – Soho Theatre
Hit Machine continues at the Soho Theatre, London until 15 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ This engaging, unpredictable tale of two brothers “born from the same wound” is expertly played out.
I Can Die Too – Pitlochry Festival Theatre
I Can Die Too continues at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre until 2 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A show that lives on long after the curtain – virtuoso performances all round.
Here Comes J. Edgar! – King’s Head Theatre
Here Comes J. Edgar! A Comedy Musical continues at the King’s Head Theatre, London until 16 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ This could be the most purely entertaining new musical of the year and it is surely bound for big things.
Remember That Time? A Musical – The Queer Comedy Club
Remember That Time? A Musical was reviewed at The Queer Comedy Club, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Cullen’s first original musical is a confessional about starting over – a work shaped by loss, acceptance and growth.
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares – Underbelly Boulevard Soho
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares continues at the Underbelly Boulevard Soho, London until 26 July 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ As autobiographical storytelling goes, this is one of the best.
Special Feature: Acclaimed new musical When Two of Us Meet sells out Florida stage debut
After sold-out concert readings, national festival recognition and growing industry attention, Emily Simonian’s original musical When Two of Us Meet has sold out its first staged presentation at PenArts Theatre in Pensacola, Florida from 23-26 July 2026.
Something Rotten! – Opera House, Manchester – An appreciation
Something Rotten! continues at the Opera House, Manchester until 19 July 2026. It really is excellent, more than worthy of a five-star appreciation.
Sweeney Todd – Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street continues at Birmingham Repertory Theatre until 15 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Birmingham Rep production shines like the blades of the man himself.
9 to 5 The Musical – New Theatre, Peterborough and Touring
9 to 5 – The Musical was reviewed at the New Theatre, Peterborough. The tour continues until 13 September 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ There is undeniable pleasure in spending an evening with these characters, helped enormously by an accomplished cast.
The Jonathan Larson Project – Southwark Playhouse Borough
The Jonathan Larson Project continues at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London until 22 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The musical Rent has become a perennial hit since its debut in the mid-1990s, with a new West End revival due to open in September. The show’s success is partly due to […]
Heathers The Musical – The Arts at Marble Arch
Heathers The Musical continues at The Arts at Marble Arch, London until 22 August 2026. The show then tours until 1 May 2027. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Heathers has returned to London and is sure to continue receiving standing ovations throughout the summer.
Fun Home – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Fun Home continues at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until 1 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The UK regional premiere production of Fun Home has opened at Manchester’s Royal Exchange, and it is hard to imagine a better place (or time) for it to receive this much anticipated revival.
Shanay Holmes in Concert – Cadogan Hall
Shanay Holmes in Concert at Cadogan Hall, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Fresh from her award-winning West End run as Nancy in Oliver!, Shanay Holmes performed her first-ever solo concert at Cadogan Hall in London.
