On the occasion of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, the Italian Institute of Culture proudly presents the Italian artists and shows performing at the Fringe.
The biggest celebration of arts and culture on the planet… is turning GREEN, WHITE and RED!
Experience the best of Italian storytelling, discover new music, or simply find out what is making everyone laugh! We’ve got it all.
Read below for more information on all the shows or visit the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website.
Amazing Soundtracks for String Quartet: From Morricone to Harry Potter
Music (live music, film)
The Random String Quartet
Indulge in the enchanting melodies of this Italian string quartet at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Immerse yourself in a symphony of cinematic favorites as the musicians weave through iconic soundtracks, from Morricone to Harry Potter, bringing each note to life. Join us for a musical journey that transcends time and genre, infused with great passion and love for music. Don’t miss this extraordinary concert experience where the magic of live performance meets the allure of beloved film scores. Secure your tickets now for an unforgettable evening of harmonious brilliance!
Aug 23-24 | Times vary.
artSpace@StMarks – Church (venue 125)
Theatre (magic, variety)
Arte Brachetti / Something for the Weekend
Get ready to believe the unbelievable! Olivier Award-nominee and Italian quick-change legend Arturo Brachetti will take you on a magical journey this summer. This jam-packed visual feast sees the Guinness World Record-holder bring over 50 characters to life in front of your eyes; expect astonishing illusions, mind-boggling transformations, sand painting, shadow puppetry and more, against a kaleidoscope of lights and lasers. A bright spark of theatrical wonder to ignite your imagination and illuminate your Fringe! Suitable for all ages, from 5 to 105! **** (Times) **** (Evening Standard) ‘So speedy you gawp in wonder.’ **** (Daily Mail).
Jul 31 Aug 1-6, 8-12, 14-20, 22-25 | Times vary.
Pleasance at EICC – Lennox (venue 150)
Beryl & Clive, Sing or Die (Their Musical)
Theatre (clown)
Amy Gibbons & Claudio Del Toro
Beryl & Clive, a wildly funny comedy about a fabulously unconventional couple breaking all the rules to fulfil their creative dreams. Believing in yourself is at the heart of this story, with laughter, chaos and creative spirits unleashed. Amy Gibbons’ writing takes you on a joyful journey into the absurd, where relationships and self expression take on a whole new meaning. With clown, song and dance this play promises an explosion of love and hilarity like never seen before. Sing or die! ‘Not just funny, hilarious…’ (James Pearson, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club).
Aug 2-10, 12-17| Times vary.
theSpaceTriplex – Studio (venue 38)
Commedia and Half Mask Talk by Action Theatre
Events (talk)
Action Theatre
Why is half mask not seen on the West End? Why is Commedia so rarely performed in Italy today? Why do old canovacci not work? Reflecting on the rebirth of Commedia dell’Arte on the modern stage thanks to Jacques Lecoq and Giorgio Strehler, this inspirational and informative talk by Lecoq-trained Rupert Raison, artistic director of Action Theatre (Italy) and author of The Italians in England, addresses misconceptions, mistakes and dead ends in Commedia with plenty of practical tips and suggestions for actors, authors and directors. One performance only.
Aug 18 | 11:00
theSpace @ Symposium Hall – Annexe (venue 43)
Theatre (drama)
Gigi Tisminetzky
‘On my 29th birthday I died. And went to Heaven. Only it didn’t happen in that order…’. A tropical rollercoaster of love, sex and margaritas. A birthday that turns her world upside down. From the golden shores of Costa Rica to the depths of her past, in this journey through paradise, surfboards and salsa nights collide with the raw truths of female sexuality. ‘I’m saying no – maybe I’m not saying it loud enough because he doesn’t hear it?’
Aug 13-26 | 19:15
Underbelly, Bristo Square – Daisy (venue 302)
Music (jazz, swing)
Anna Vanosi
Step into a musical odyssey with Anna Vanosi and her ensemble, where every note tells a story. From the cinematic allure of Morricone’s film scores to the timeless charm of Sinatra, journey through tasteful swing jazz and soul-stirring blues standards. Anna Vanosi’s magnetic presence infuses each song with character, lyricism and passion. ‘Vanosi’s voice is nectar’ (NorthWestEnd.com). ‘Eccentric, adorable, enchanting: A real-life Italian diva’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). An unforgettable Fringe experience at the best jazz venue in town.
Aug 12-13, 15, 21 | 17:30
The Jazz Bar (venue 57)
Theatre (political, lgbtq+)
Undone Theatre and Carmen Collective
1968. Three thousand students occupy the London School of Economics, in the most significant act of protest in a generation. 2024. Two friends and flatmates try to work out what radical change means today, searching through archives, photos, and first-hand accounts. Following a sold-out Soho Theatre run, Lessons on Revolution comes to Summerhall. This five-star, ‘compelling and galvanising’ (James Graham) piece of documentary theatre takes you on a journey through global and personal history which asks: in a new age of inequality and injustice, how can the voices of the past give us hope?
Aug 1-11, 13-18, 20-26 | 14:15
Summerhall – Former Womens Locker Room (venue 26)
Theatre (musical theatre, cabaret)
Theater Company della Luna
Imagine a bar owned by Love itself. Only people who are in love are allowed in. A couple of young lovers enter the bar. After sultry musical and dance performances, and after meeting many of the guests embodying different types of love, the lovers realise that once someone enters the bar – once someone falls in love – it is hard to get out of it because romantic love can become addictive. Sultry performances. Obsession. Purity. Sex. Are you ready to enter Love’s Concordia Bar?
Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-25 | Times vary.
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila – Studio (venue 21)
Theatre (physical theatre, family-friendly)
Fraternal Compagnia
Two servants, Pasta and Pizza, are tasked by their master to introduce and showcase the cultural phenomenon that is Commedia dell’Arte. They are to bring the Masks on display – the old Venetian merchant, Pantalone, the servants Zanni and Arlecchino, the Doctor; the Captains, and more – to life. The show is presented in English and Italian, and through many games, jokes, and puns, it tackles Commedia’s central themes: the love of power, the power of love, the hunger and misery of the less fortunate, and the magic that surrounds life and stage.
Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-18, 20-25 | 11:30
C ARTS | C venues | C aquila – Temple (venue 21)
Comedy (clown, absurdist)
Mattia Sedda
Known as “The Sardinian Forrest Gump”, Mattia Sedda is an immigrant with the dream of being a professional actor in the UK. He has trained with the best, learnt from the best, and worked at the best… fast-food venues. And now he presents his magnum opus: Choin is a very professional theatrical showcase. A heart-warming journey full of nonsensical humour, chaos, nostalgia and humanity.
Aug 1-25 | 22:15
Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull – Cellar (venue 332)
Miss English’s Holiday by Action Theatre
Children’s Shows (puppetry, musical comedy)
Action Theatre
A teacher’s magical seaside summer holiday is interrupted by an enthusiastic stowaway, Platypus. Miss English enjoys fish and chips, discovers love and deals with the English weather and an annoying seagull, but Platypus just wants her to teach English! With plot twists, puppetry, masks, magic, sing-along songs and comedy, this professional show is a proven hit with young audiences. Aimed at 3 to 7-year-old English speakers or children up to 9 where English is their second language. Action Theatre (Italy) have played to over a million young people. ‘A resounding success’ (Teacher, Milan).
Aug 2-10, 12-17, 19-24 | 11:00
theSpace @ Symposium Hall – Annexe (venue 43)
Physical and visual comedy
Tom Corradini
A Shaolin monk relives his childish and clownish soul in his Zen practice, discovering a world always full of surprises and which finds its meaning in seemingly insignificant little things. Suitable for all ages and nationalities.
Aug 3 – 25 | 12:20
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Little Plaza (venue 159)
Comedy (stand-up)
Stefania Licari
Following her hit show Medico, Stefania Licari returns with a brand-new stand-up hour. Drawing on her experience as an NHS doctor, first-generation migrant, comedian and sometime endurance runner, she explores the diverse roles of women in today’s world. From the operating theatre to the theatre stage, via an ultra-marathon through the Sahara, Stefania reflects on the big question: what are we running to and from? Multi award-winning Stefania sold out venues and earned rave reviews for Medico. Her follow-up promises to deliver her most personal, thought-provoking and side-splitting material yet.
Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-25 | 16:15
Underbelly, Bristo Square – Dexter (venue 302)
Sounds of St Cecilia’s III: An Italian in Edinburgh
Music (live music, historical)
John Kitchen, Gerry McDonald
In 1735, having left Handel’s opera orchestra, Francesco Barsanti settled in Edinburgh, becoming active with the Edinburgh Musical Society. Gerry McDonald (recorder) and John Kitchen (harpsichord) contrast him with his Italian colleagues, Geminiani, Sammartini, Veracini and Castrucci and of course the great Handel himself. Featuring the 1709 Thomas Barton harpsichord. ‘Respected performer’ (Recorder Magazine). ‘Kitchen’s playing is exemplary’ (Early Music Review).
Aug 14 | 15:00
St Cecilia’s Hall – The Concert Room (venue 77)
Sounds of St Cecilia’s IV: A Music Notebook
Music (live music, historical)
Luca Soattin
A programme exploring guitar music in Europe in the early 19th century, presented by Italian guitarist Luca Soattin. Including works by Ferdinando Carulli, Fernando Sor, Niccolò Paganini and Mauro Giuliani. Featuring an original Italian guitar crafted by Paolo Castello in Genoa in 1804, a remarkable instrument that showcases transitional features bridging late baroque and early classical forms.
Aug 17 | 15:00
St Cecilia’s Hall – The Concert Room (venue 77)
Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus (circus, acrobatics)
The Black Blues Brothers
After thrilling the world, with more than 600,000 spectators and astonishing appearances at the Royal Variety Performance, Monte Carlo Festival and Moulin Rouge, the ‘best circus show’ (TheatreWeekly.com) returns on a mission to entertain… for the last time! Don’t miss the farewell season of this acrobatic celebration joining the energy of Africa with a R’n’B sound. Five unleashed acrobats perform their comedy tribute to cult movie The Blues Brothers. In an elegant nightclub reminiscent of The Cotton Club, chairs, table and surroundings become props for breathtaking jumps, fire and somersault routines, human pyramids and much more!
Aug 1-25 | 15:10
Assembly Rooms – Music Hall (venue 20)
Theatre (puppetry, contemporary)
Batisfera
At dawn, the nation of the Gummy Bears declares war against the nation of the Dinosaurs. The Gummies will prepare for war, there will be a battle, and the Dinosaurs will win the fight. But even if the outcome is tragically obvious, the question remains: What makes the candies so obstinate? The Gummy Bears’ Great War is an object-theatre show that takes place on a table, with real candies, small lights, and few spectators. An existential tragicomedy about our search for meaning. ‘Perfect marriage of dramaturgy and design…a heart-wrenching, mouth-watering, theatrical experience’ (BroadwayDnaBlog.Substack.com).
Jul 31 Aug 1-12, 14-25 | 18:20, 19:20
C ARTS | C venues | C alto – Studio (venue 40)
The Italians in England by Action Theatre
Theatre (comedy, new writing)
Action Theatre
1572. Shakespeare is some years away but Commedia dell’Arte’s combination of mask, comedy, wild plots, hilarious improvisation and women performing on stage is taking Europe by storm. Queen Elizabeth I insists on seeing the Italian players at her royal court. With leather half masks, exquisite costumes and live music, professional company Action Theatre (Italy) adapt Flaminio Scala’s original canovaccio, Il Vecchio Geloso (The Jealous Old Man), which includes a lunch invaded by wild boar. Servants and masters seek love and raw passion and reality collide at the Doctor’s house outside Venice.
Aug 2-10, 12-17, 19-24 | 12:25
theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall – Fleming Theatre (venue 53)
Music (swing, blues)
The Jive Aces
Together for over 25 years, The Jive Aces have been keeping the show on the road and are renowned worldwide for their high-energy live show in over 40 countries. The band spread smiles and cheer with their swingin’ music and classic vintage style, from crooning smooth swinging ballads to blasting the roots of rock’n’roll. Having played for Her Majesty the Queen, selling out the Royal Albert Hall and becoming the first band to reach the finals of Britain’s Got Talent, they continuously showcase why they are the UK’s No 1 jive and swing band!
Aug 12-18, 20-21, 23-24 | 20:00
Pleasance at EICC – Lomond (venue 150)
The Popess: Instructions for Freedom
Theatre (solo show, dark comedy)
Elena Mazzon
Italy 13th Century: the Guglielmites heretical sect is causing havoc in Milan. Their leader, Guglielma of Bohemia, who is believed to be the second coming of the Holy Spirit, appoints a nun as her Popess. This alone was a stake-worthy conviction, but to make things worse, Guglielma and Maifreda announced the beginning of a new female-led era, where only women could save mankind from eternal suffering. What could possibly go wrong?
Aug 3-10, 12-18, 20-25 | 14:00
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Carbon, Room 2 (Venue 180)
Theatre (contemporary)
Torre del Drago aps.
The Suicide Club. A macabre and grotesque tale by Stevenson. A show about the value of life and its price. Who must die? Who needs to be humiliated? By drawing a card from the deck, spectators will decide the fate of the characters and the ending will change every time. What will be the fate of Prince Florizel? Will he be able to save himself or will he also risk dying? Suicide or murder? A contemporary show, in which spoken word theatre, physical theatre and the theatre of the absurd come together.
Aug 12-17 | 20:55
Greenside @ Riddles Court – Thistle Theatre (venue 16)
Tonight! A clown who wanted to be loved?
Theatre (clown)
Andrea Barello
Slow-motion boxing, tape measure tangles, wild pizza dancing. In a playful and absurd crescendo, a hopelessly romantic (and sometimes a little naughty) Italian clown who doesn’t speak English tries everything he knows to get the only thing he wants. To be loved? A show that will make you laugh, and maybe cry too.
Aug 11 – 15 | 17:45
Carbon – Room 2 (venue 180)
Two Friends and Social Anxiety
Theatre (comedy, new writing)
Letty Celotti and Ryan Moohan
Two friends, one party, zero social skills. Two friends are invited to a party but when the pressure builds, they have to bail. Fast. A new comedic look at the daily struggles of living with social anxiety.
Aug 5-10 | 12:10
theSpace on the Mile – Space 2 (Venue 39)
Music (folk, storytelling)
Olivia Contini and Philip Contini
Join Olivia and Philip Contini, grandchildren of the V&C founder Alfonso Crolla, singing the Italian and Neapolitan songs that have echoed through the shop since 1934, together with Anne Evans (piano), Dick Lee (clarinet). Only three performances. Not to be missed!
Aug 6, 13, 20 | Times vary.
Valvona & Crolla (venue 67)