EDINBURGH 2022: Pick of the Programme- Theatre

With over 3000 shows now onsale for the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, trying to narrow down what to see can be a bit of a task. BWW reviewer Natalie O'Donoghue has selected her top ten picks across the festival programme to highlight the shows you really don't want to miss this year!

Wilf

Calvin is going to revolutionise his life. Escape his abusive boyfriend, detonate his inner sex bomb, see (and shag) the world! Now he's found his partner in crime in Wilf, a rusty Volkswagen Polo. Together they hit the road on a wild ride of greasy takeaways, graveyard orgies and banging 80s power ballads - ending up somewhere they never imagined they'd go... This riotous, heartfelt play takes audiences on a hilarious and unapologetic ride through Scotland as Calvin and Wilf attempt to escape loneliness, cope with mental illness and learn to love themselves, with the help of one another.

Irvine Welsh's Porno

The world premiere stage adaptation inspired by the sequel to cult classic Trainspotting. 15 years after Trainspotting, what has become of Renton, Sickboy, Spud and Begbie? Disturbing, shocking and extremely funny.

Hamlet with Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen and Peter Schaufuss will collaborate and perform together at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the world premiere of Hamlet with a whole new performance concept, adapted from William Shakespeare's play.

Happy Meal

By Tabby Lamb (they/she). Director Jamie Fletcher (she/her). Join us for an online show IRL. Travel back to the quaint days of dial up and MSN, where you'll follow two strangers on their journeys to become who they always were. A funny, moving and nostalgic story of transition. From teen to adult, from MySpace to TikTok, from cis to trans. The world premiere of Happy Meal is a joyful queer rom-com where Millennial meets Gen Z and change is all around. Exhilaratingly staged by Jamie Fletcher, fresh from her acclaimed production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do)

When Rob was 12, they attempted a full-blown Disney parade in their house for their grandma. As Rob donned wigs and played Mary Poppins, Ariel, Mickey Mouse and Belle, their dad doubled as stage manager, sound technician and Goofy. This is the joyous, chaotic, autobiographical story of actor, writer and social-media sensation Rob Madge as they set out to recreate that parade - and this time, nobody, no, nobody is gonna rain on it

Fanboy

Joe has always been a nerd. In his teens, he hid it. In his 20s, he owned it. Now, in his 30s, he's started to sense something: a great disturbance in the fandom... And when Joe finds himself alone, sorting through his old things, he finds an old video tape... and something incredible starts to happen! Fringe First winner Joe Sellman-Leava explores our relationship with our past and future selves, in this love-hate letter to pop culture and nostalgia. Expect epic storytelling, razor-sharp impressions and a dose of theatrical magic!

Svengali

An influential mentor can transform anyone into a star. All the Svengali asks for is complete control. Svengali is a stylish monologue about twisted co-dependency in the dark heart of a celebrity partnership. A daring erotic thriller about ambition, desire and doing whatever it takes to achieve mastery. Can freedom be found in submitting to power? Created by Scottish playwright and director Eve Nicol.

Lottie Platchett Took A Hatchett

A camp play on the Lizzie Borden case, Lottie Platchett Took a Hatchet is a comedy about axe-murder, sexual depravity and the installation of a toilet. Lottie, an unsuspecting spinster, stands accused of brutally murdering her father and step-mother. But did Lottie Platchett actually take up a hatchet? That's for you and the jury to decide as this camp comedy unfolds. Starring Lauren Lopez at Lottie, with Tom Lenk, Ryan W. Garcia, Tom Detrinis, and Justin Elizabeth Sayre.

Are You Being Murdered

World premiere of a new murder mystery starring Arthur Bostrom ('Allo 'Allo!) set in the golden age of BBC sitcoms, from the acclaimed Father Brown writer David Semple. A supporting artist's job is to be invisible, inscrutable, and not to pull focus from the stars... and Jamie Button does his best to follow these rules, until he witnesses a murder on the set of a popular sitcom. Extra turns detective, stepping into the limelight. As events unravel and the culprit fears detection by this amateur sleuth, could it be that Jamie has spoken his last 'rhubarb'?

Brown Boys Swim

Best friends Mohsen and Kash are gearing up for the biggest night of their lives - Jess Denver's pool party. There's just one problem... they can't swim. Fuelled by halal Haribo and chicken wings, the pair throw themselves in at the deep end, tackling cramped cubicles and cold showers as they learn how to be at one with the water. Fierce, funny, and brimming with heart, Karim Khan examines the pressures faced by young Muslim men in this exhilarating new play about fitting in and striking out. Presented by Fringe First Award-winning The North Wall.

The full programme for the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe is available at www.edfringe.com

Check out our other picks of the programme for comedy ; theatre ; cabaret ; musicals ; free fringe ; circus ; debut shows and children's shows.

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