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Standing ovation: What it’s like to watch Jesus Christ Superstar from the stage

So, what is it really like to stand on stage for the acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium? Musical Theatre Review Instagram editor Joseph Flaherty says it’s an experience not to be missed…

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Penelope – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Penelope continues at Belly Button at Underbelly, Cowgate until 30 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Words do not do justice to how it feels to be in the room with this beautiful new work.

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Ludwig: Unfinished Business – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Ludwig: Unfinished Business continues at the Front Room at Assembly @ St Andrew Square until 30 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ You have to be there to witness the virtuosity of this intriguing homage.

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Codetta – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Codetta continues at Jade Studio at Greenside @ George Street until 29 August 2026. Star rating: thr.ee stars ★ ★ ★ It is an enjoyable, slickly performed, innocent yet knowing piece of entertainment

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Megasquirt: Fully Loaded – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Megasquirt: Fully Loaded continues at Jelly Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate until 30 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A little weird and a lot of fun for night owls looking for a romp, Megasquirt: Fully Loaded is a show not to be missed.

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Bush! The Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Bush! The Musical continues at the Lime Studio at Greenside @ George Street until 29 August 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ A new show that is well worth a look.

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Emma Thompson’s Nanny McPhee The New Musical has London world premiere in summer 2027

The world premiere of a brand-new musical stage adaptation of Nanny McPhee, with a book by Academy Award-winning actor and screenwriter Emma Thompson, will open in London in summer 2027.

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Dolly Parton’s Broadway dream to continue as world mourns Queen of Country

As the world mourns the loss of the legendary Queen of Country Dolly Parton, fans are taking some solace from the news that the Broadway debut of her Dolly: A True Original Musical will go ahead as she had planned.

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Most of My Moms Are Gay – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Most of My Moms Are Gay continues at the Sprout Studio at Greenside @ George Street until 29 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Appreciation of this likeable, charismatic Off-Broadway performer is quite heartfelt.

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We Will Hear the Angels – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

We Will Hear the Angels continues at Dissection Room at Summerhall until 30 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Take a moment to be still and allow yourself to be wrapped in a cool blanket of music and story.

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Five Questions With: Daniel Buckroyd

DANIEL BUCKROYD has directed the UK professional premiere of the Off-Broadway hit musical comedy Disenchanted!, currently running at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before a mid-scale UK tour in 2027.

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West End transfer of Jordan Fein-directed Into the Woods – the full cast

The full cast has been confirmed for the West End transfer of Jordan Fein’s multi-award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods.

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New additions to join the cast of the West End’s Moulin Rouge!

The West End production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical will welcome a number of new cast members in October as the hit show celebrates its fifth year at the Piccadilly Theatre.

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October cinema release confirmed for Hadestown film

Trafalgar Releasing has announced an October cinema release date for the film of the acclaimed West End production of American folk singer Anaïs Mitchell’s record-breaking Hadestown.

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Skylar Astin and Sarah Hyland to make their West End debuts in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

US stage and screen stars Skylar Astin and Sarah Hyland will make their West End debuts in the multi-award-winning Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club next month.

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Boogie on the Bones – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Boogie on the Bones continues at Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Summerhall until 31 August 2026 (except 24). Star rating: three stars Fun, lively and heartfelt with a significant message, this is well worth a watch.

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Camelton – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Camelton continues at Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 31 August 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ If you enjoy listening to catchy new musical songs from a brilliant singer this may be a show for you.

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Nominees are announced for Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026

The eight shortlisted Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 shows contending for Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award have been announced.

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The Meeples: XXX – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Meeples: XXX continues at Lime Studio at Greenside @ George Street until 29 August (except 23, 24). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s a great nightcap for the hedonistic festival-goer.

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Game Theory – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Game Theory continues at Forest Theatre at Greenside @ George Street until 22 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ I’ve decided that this is a super new musical and the spirited cast will do very well when they graduate.

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MUSE: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

MUSE: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical continues at the Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 30 August 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ Good fun and a chorus line!

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Goodbye Dandelion – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Goodbye Dandelion continues at Belly Dancer at Underbelly, Cowgate until 30 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Forego the clamour and chaos of Edinburgh in August and spend a splendid hour with these sagacious siblings.

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FUCCBOIS: Live in Concert – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

FUCCBOIS: Live in Concert continues at Studio Two at Assembly George Square Studios until 31 August 2026 (except 26). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ It never stops being funny.

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Footloose: Youth Edition – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Footloose: Youth Edition was reviewed at Grand Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ The rough edges make the virtues of the material more visible.

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Bliss – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Bliss continues at Grand at Pleasance Courtyard until 31 August 2026 (except 25). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ It should feel liberating, but instead, it feels strangely inert.

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Sinatra: One Last Shot – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Sinatra: One Last Shot continues at Dirty Martini at Le Monde until 30 August 2026 (except 24). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A remarkably convincing portrait of Sinatra.

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Liberace and Liza – A Tribute – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Liberace and Liza – A Tribute continues at Ermintrude at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 30 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Serves as a reminder that the Fringe at its best can make an apparently absurd idea feel like something that absolutely had to exist.

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Midnight Train to Nowhere – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Midnight Train to Nowhere continues at Upper Theatre at theSpace @ Niddry St until 22 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A brilliant piece of theatre that deserves to be picked up for development.

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Heracles: Of Men and Beasts – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Heracles: Of Men and Beasts continues at Upper Theatre at theSpace @ Niddry St until 29 August (except 25). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This is a show with great heart. See it.

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Mary Mac – Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Mary Mac – Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress continues at Studio Two at Assembly George Square Studios until 30 August 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Unapologetically Scottish, unapologetically drag, and unapologetically entertaining. 

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FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals continues at Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 30 August 2026 (except 26). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Arthur Hull is the reason the production works so well.

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Doing Time with Lavinia – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Doing Time with Lavinia was reviewed at C ARTS, C venues, C aquila. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What’s going on is an hour with a master storyteller.

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Five Questions With: Tyrone Huntley

Award-winning actor, singer and director Tyrone Huntley has returned to the role of Judas that brought him acclaim in Timothy Sheader’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium.

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National Youth Music Theatre – West Side Story

West Side Story was performed by members of the National Youth Music Theatre at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A spectacular new take on West Side Story which would surely make its late creators proud.

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Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorised Musical Parody — Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorised Musical Parody continues at Udderbelly at Underbelly, George Square until 30 August 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s a broad, knowingly silly hour sung well enough that the silliness earns its keep.

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A History of Paper – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

A History of Paper continues at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre until 12 September 2026, before transferring to Dundee Rep Theatre from 16-19 September 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This truly deserves to be remembered because you will never forget the way it makes you feel.

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British Youth Music Theatre – Paper Stars

Paper Stars, performed by the British Youth Music Theatre, was reviewed at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A production overflowing with imagination, warmth and heart.

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The Shocking Truth About Flat Earth – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Shocking Truth About Flat Earth continues at Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome until 30 August (except 18). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ With a tweak here and there, this production surely has a life beyond the Fringe.

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Remember, Remember! – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Remember, Remember! continues at Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome until 30 August (except 17, 24). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This ridiculously talented company is one to watch out for.

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Delphi: The Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Delphi: The Musical continues at the Auditorium at Bedlam Theatre until 30 August (except 17, 24). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ The singing is excellent, the music and songs (by Wes Myers) sing-alongable.

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Parking Spot: The Musical! – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Parking Spot: The Musical! continues at Lime Studio at Greenside @ George Street until 22 August (except 16). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ A jolly, fun show, beautifully sung.

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Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits continues at Big Yin at Gilded Balloon Patter House until 31 August 2026 (except 17, 18). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ These are voices that absolutely must be heard, and I for one, am glad I heard them.

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The Dance Plague of 1518 – Upstairs at the Gatehouse

The Dance Plague of 1518 was reviewed at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ In terms of on the nose, slapstick comedy, this show ticks the boxes. Sometimes that is all theatre needs to be.

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A Murder Mystery Musical – The Detective’s Demise – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

A Murder Mystery Musical – The Detective’s Demise continues at Just The Fancy Room at Just The Tonic at The Caves until 30 August 2026 (except 18). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ If a farcical whodunit, loaded with silliness and songs, is what you’re looking for, then this is where you’ll find it.

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Crocodile Rock – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Crocodile Rock continues at the Dining Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 31 August (not 18, 25). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I’d be very surprised if you’ll find a better performance on this year’s Fringe.

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Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story continues at Ermintrude at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 31 August 2026 (except 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ The songs are great, the staging and choreography tight and the singing a joy.

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The Greatest Showman to open in the West End in spring 2027

Disney Theatrical Group has announced that the brand-new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027.

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Elba – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Elba continues at Just The Sub-Atomic Room at Just The Tonic Nucleus until 30 August (except 18). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ The performances are excellent. It’s fun. Its apparent simplicity cloaks a great depth.

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Hole! – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Hole! continues at Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 30 August 2026 (except 17). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have faith in Hole! as a brilliantly entertaining piece of theatre, but my faith is not blind. Their brilliance can be proved.

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The Big Bad Wolf – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Big Bad Wolf continues at Space 3 at theSpace on the Mile until 22 August (except 16). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Slick, funny, beautifully constructed and executed, which will please both children and adults alike.

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