SE FEST 2026 WORKSHOPSAs part of SE Fest 2026, we’re delighted to bring you three workshops run by industry professionals. The workshops cover topics relevant for new and emerging theatre companies and artists. No previous experience is necessary to attend. All workshops last approximately 90 minutes, and tickets need to be booked in advance.Approaching and Building Relationships with Fringe VenuesWith Co-Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre & Technical Coordinator at Theatre503 Laurel MarksWhen: Saturday 29th August at 1.00pmWhere: The Bridge House TheatreAll tickets: £5.00.This workshop aims to demystify the process of getting your work staged at fringe theatre venues. The workshop will cover the practicalities of staging work from inception to production. It also explores picking and approaching theatres, and how to maintain relationships with venues.While we will focus on the above, we also know that fringe productions usually require artists to wear a lot of hats! We will also discuss how to make small budgets go the furthest without sacrificing the production values of your show.  No need to prepare anything in advance. Laurel Marks is the Co-Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre & Technical Coordinator at Theatre503. She is also a freelance Lighting Designer and Production/Stage Manager. Recent credits include: Meat Cute (The Other Palace), The Waves (Jermyn Street Theatre), Slaughterhouse Five (Southwark Playhouse & The Jack Studio Theatre), Donbas, These Demons (Theatre 503), Lessons On Revolution (Barbican, Jermyn Street Theatre, Soho Theatre & Summerhall), Yankl & The Beanstalk (Pleasance), 21 Round for Christmas (Park Theatre), Past Life (UK Tour).

SE FEST 2026 WORKSHOPSAs part of SE Fest 2026, we’re delighted to bring you three workshops run by industry professionals. The workshops cover topics relevant for new and emerging theatre companies and artists. No previous experience is necessary to attend. All workshops last approximately 90 minutes, and tickets need to be booked in advance.Creating A Show On The Off West EndWith Director, Producer, PR and Artistic Director Matthew ParkerWhen: Saturday 29th August at 3.00pmWhere: The Bridge House TheatreAll tickets: £5.00.Join award winning theatre director, producer, PR and Artistic Director Matthew Parker for a workshop exploring all the elements and steps to follow when creating a show for the Off West End. This full and frank workshop, formed from Matthew’s personal experience, will touch on all aspects of putting a show on includingHow to choose a suitable venue and how to pitch to Artistic DirectorsBudgetingMarketingHow to run a successful (and joyous!) casting processHow to engage with the press and reviewersBuilding your creative team and how to ensure a collaborative processThe design and creative pre-rehearsal processRehearsal planningHow to ensure a successful and happy run once the show is openNo experience of producing a show is necessary to take part - just enthusiasm for exploring the ‘how’. Matthew will draw upon his 16 years of experience creating work for the Off West End, including his five years as Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre where he collaborated with over 100 theatre makers in bringing their shows to fruition. The workshop will also allow participants to bring potential projects to chat through and will be informative, fun and honest. "Matthew's workshop was fun, friendly, and absolutely no nonsense. A kind and generous person, he tackles the confusing questions around casting, venues, budgeting, and more and offers some pearls of wisdom from his extensive and extraordinary career that are truly worth their weight in gold.” Jake Leonard, Theatre Director “When we weren't sure what to do with our show, Matthew gave us bespoke and insightful advice on what to do next. He helped us understand the fringe landscape so much better and gave us the confidence to pursue our project further. In addition to being a fountain of knowledge, Matthew is such a kind, friendly and generous person - he's a pleasure to learn from; do not hesitate to take his workshop, you won't regret it.” Clare O’Flaherty, Theatre MakerMatthew Parker is a multi-award-winning theatre director, actor, PR and former Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre. He trained on the Postgraduate Directing Course at Drama Studio London. Recent directing work includes The Dawn of Reckoning (White Bear Theatre), One Jab Cures All (Theatre at the Tabard), Beauty & The Beast (The Bridge House Theatre), Bonding (Adelaide Fringe & UK Tour), Trestle (Jack Studio Theatre), I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical (Wilton’s Music Hall, Kings Head Theatre & UK Tour), Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story (Jermyn Street Theatre), Vinegar Tom (OVO Theatre), The Comedy of Errors and Henry V (Roman, St Albans) and Brainville At Night (UK Tour).Whilst at The Hope Theatre he directed 10 in-house productions and won the Best Artistic Director OFFIE Award in 2016; the same year The Hope was shortlisted as Fringe Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards. Matthew has received 9 Best Director OFFIE Award nominations for his work since 2015 and won Best Director of a Musical at the 2023 OFFIE Awards for his direction of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story.Matthew combines his work as a director with acting work and managing PR campaigns for Off West End shows.

Scotland's first serial killers! Now on its third Fringe run! A fast, funny and furious contemporary musical resurrecting the grisly tale of Burke and Hare and their relationship with the Edinburgh medical establishment. A tale oft told – but not in this way! 'Catchy tunes and dance routines will have you singing and dancing in the aisles and maybe bring a tear to your eye!' (NorthWestEnd.com). Flesh is the 2026 Fringe musical must-see!

Ahead of his first-ever national tour of Scotland in September, broadcaster and comedian Tam Cowan (56) returns to the Fringe with his 2026 blockbuster Tam Cowan: A Pee With Pele (And Lots More P*ish), another collection of topical jokes and stories, plus plenty of anecdotes from a 35-year career in newspapers, radio, TV and stand-up. The veteran co-host of Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme.

One man. Twelve ironing boards. One epic soundtrack. Get ready to be amazed as physical comedian Jody Kamali masterfully transforms everyday household items into the tools of a Hollywood-style, action-packed movie. With heart-pounding moments and emotional depth, this show thrilled audiences during its packed-out Fringe runs in 2024 and 2025 earning numerous standing ovations. There's gunfire, there's a wedding, there's more gunfire and there's revenge – plus plenty of laughter along the way. 'Demands applause' (Scotsman). 'Astonishing' (DarkChat.co.uk). 'Unapologetically mindless' (Guardian). 'Wonderfully "fringe-y" Fringe show' (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Slapstick and delightful' (One4Review.co.uk).

Witness the impossible true survival story of Titanic stoker Frederick Barrett. Working in the boiler rooms of the maiden voyage, Barrett's fight for survival is one of the most devastating accounts of the Titanic's last few hours. Boiler Room Six gives a voice to the sacrifice of the working men below deck who kept the ship afloat for as long as possible, saving hundreds of lives, whilst knowingly giving up on their own. Fringe sell-out show in 2024. 'A spectacular piece of theatre' ***** (BritishTheatreGuide.info).

Multi-generational company of Edinburgh-based women perform Alan Bennett's iconic Talking Heads monologues: A Lady of Letters, A Bed Among the Lentils, Her Big Chance and Cream Cracker Under the Settee. Witty and poignant, each actor brings a distinctive voice to Bennett's portraits of loneliness, desperation and resilient humour. Though rooted in the 1970s and 80s, these sharply observed studies remain strikingly relevant. Simply staged, we offer an intimate, moving and unexpectedly funny exploration of women's lives. For full programme listing to aid in selecting the correct date for the performance you wish to book, see https://thespeakeasyedinburgh.com/alan-bennetts-talking-heads/

A boy jumps from a thirty-foot oak tree and survives unmarked. It's the first day of the evangelical summer festival, The Orchard, and newcomer Lucas immediately makes an impression among the other children. The younger kids believe he’s a miracle maker. But Benji is the pastor’s son, and he won’t give up his assumed leadership easily. Meanwhile eldest girl, Ruth, isn’t sure that what Lucas is doing are acts of God. But as the "miracles" grow in extremity, so too does Lucas’s influence.

The spirit of the 60s lives on in an evolving tradition. Hear great songs of the troubadour era and others that they inspired. Performed by 'one of Scotland’s best singers' (Tom Paxton).

Hannah Foster and Simon Leach perform popular pieces from the Golden Age of music, including music by J S Bach, Vivaldi and Handel.

Discover the unparalleled charm and comedy of the comedian behind the 270k-subscriber YouTube channel, Scotland History Tours. Humour meets history and insightful storytelling as Bruce takes you from the 15th century to the present day, setting out Scottish characters that impacted the world in which we live... Oh and nob jokes. Every Saturday on Youtube, Bruce tells a story from Scotland’s history. This show has more jokes than the YouTube videos, but you’ll still leave having learned about Scotland while laughing along the way. Last dates of a two-year tour of this show.

With over 23 years of sell-out shows, ABBA Gold The Concert is widely regarded as the UK's most popular and authentic live ABBA tribute concert. If you're looking for an excuse to party, reminisce or simply be entertained by some of the best music ever written, then ABBA Gold The Concert is the show for you. So dust down your platforms, put on your flares and sing along with all of your favourite ABBA hits including: Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Thank You For The Music, Dancing Queen, Winner Takes It All, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme... and many more!!