Disenchanted! The Hit Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Jewelle Hutchinson in Disenchanted! at Pentland Theatre at Pleasance at EICC. Picture: Pamela Raith Photography

Disenchanted! The Hit Musical continues at Pentland Theatre at Pleasance at EICC until 30 August 2026 (except 19, 24).

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

This could be a very short review. Disenchanted? Absolutely not. I was enchanted.

There, I’m done.

There’s so much to like here.

First off, great voices. I doubt you’ll hear better singers this festival. A universally strong cast of six female singers bringing to life the top 10 fairy tale princesses.

The book and lyrics, Dennis T Giacino and Fiely Matias, are sharp, very witty and often outrageous. It gets a bit silly here and there, but they really get into the heads of these passive, storybook heroines and reform them into strong, unapologetic women who know who they are, what they want and how to get it.

The songs, music again by Giacino, have just enough pastiche and parody in them to be recognisable, but are all utterly original. They’re catchy and poppy and make use of the full-throated belt and lyrical Disney-style qualities that all of these wonderful women possess.

They rail against the idea of weak heroines. They want the women in these stories to be real; to be fabulous and feisty. And they are. If the Prince wants them, he’s going to have to work for them. And of course, at last, we have Disney’s first African-American princess – maybe the musical highlight of the night – Jewelle Hutchinson is flawless.

Why does Mulan (the magnificent Ashley New singing her heart out) not get the man? Why is Jasmine (Roshaan Saulnier in great voice) a secondary princess? Snow White (the completely splendid Lois Glenister) makes it clear that talking to animals is for the birds. The prince will have to deal with her on her own terms.

The message to young women is clear, be real, be strong, be you… you’re perfect as you are.

Disenchanted! is joyous fun from start to finish – there’s even a kickline… what’s not to love?

Steven Wren