In August, Edinburgh transforms into a vibrant hub of creativity, attracting talent from around the world to participate in Edinburgh Festival Fringe (1 – 25 August, 2025), presenting a diverse range of shows, including cabaret, children’s shows, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus acts, music, musicals, opera, and traditional theatre. With over 3,000 performances, many of the shows focus on LGBTQI+ stories and experiences. Here’s just a small sample to whet your appetite. We’ll be posting more in the coming weeks.
KINDER
KINDER is a performance that features a drag artist, a library, and a humorous yet catastrophic misunderstanding of a “reading hour.” This unique blend of drag, theatre, and storytelling finds poetry in panic and comedy in chaos. Performed by German drag clown Goody Prostate (Ryan Stewart), KINDER addresses the rising tide of censorship. Using drag as both a disguise and a lens for insight, the performance raises the question: What does it mean to grow up?
Midnight at the Palace
Introducing a bold new musical that breaks down the barriers between art and showbiz, politics and performance, Midnight at the Palace promises an evening filled with radical joy and glittering anarchy inspired by the iconic drag ensemble, The Cockettes. This underground group influenced a range of icons from David Bowie to RuPaul, inviting audiences to join and celebrate the original “F*ck You Counterculture” troupe. Experience the vibrant community that embraced the gender-bending hippies, freaks, and drag queens who defined 1970s San Francisco.
The City for Incurable Women
In 1880s Paris, Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot is studying hysteria at the Salpêtrière Hospital. From the inclusive theatre collective Fish in a Dress comes a queer perspective on feminist history that examines the implications of this study for all genders. As doctors go to extraordinary lengths to prove their theories about the four stages of madness, female patients perform ‘hysteria’ for the public, showcasing a hilarious absurdity that reveals the ‘disturbing truth’ behind the concept of ‘female hysteria.’
NIUSIA
NIUSIA is an autobiographical journey created by queer Jewish theatre-maker Beth Paterson. It explores themes of memory, matriarchy, and identity. Through a blend of cabaret, testimony, and spoken word, Beth reflects on her relationship with her Holocaust survivor grandmother and examines what it means to inherit a cultural legacy in an era marked by rising erasure and disconnection.
Basically Nocturnal
Award-winning queer performer Thomas Currie brings his late-night cabaret show, Basically Nocturnal, to Edinburgh. Thomas is a former presenter on Joy 94.9, Australia’s largest dedicated LGBTQIA+ radio station. This show celebrates the midnight hours, exploring both the intrusive and innocent thoughts that keep our minds active. Currie reimagines classic songs and performs original pieces while sharing captivating stories, ranging from ghostly tales to unforgettable dating experiences.
