Producer Francesca Moody, known for launching hits like Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, returns to the Edinburgh Festival with a new play from Australia's Hannah Reilly. It follows a feminist podcaster who becomes an online 'slutfluencer' for easy money – but with a heavy price. The production runs at Summerhall from 6 to 31 August.
Other highlights include Grid Iron's site-specific adaptation of Andrew O’Hagan's coming-of-age novel, set in a former metalworks doubling as a Manchester gig venue (Brown’s of Leith, 7–30 August). Elaine C Smith stars in Eilidh Loan's dark comedy about a widow facing Christmas without her husband (Traverse, 31 July–30 August). Tony Kushner's epic 'gay fantasia on national themes', Angels in America, is revived by Ivo van Hove for Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, complete with David Bowie songs (King’s theatre, 15–20 August).
Further notable productions include John Dinneen's play about two east London teenagers drawn to political extremes (Underbelly, 5–31 August), Jack MacGregor's psychological thriller set on a Pacific island with a growing religious sect (Assembly Roxy, 5–31 August), and Rickerby Hinds' magic-infused hip-hop telling of Henry 'Box' Brown's escape from slavery (Underbelly, 5–30 August). KT Tunstall provides music for a gig theatre piece about a deaf artist who 'sings' with his hands (Traverse, 4–30 August).
Ciaran Frame's virtual reality experience lets participants play Beethoven’s Symphony No 7 as part of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Summerhall, 6–31 August). Wagner Moura reprises his role from Narcos in a sequel to Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, set in modern-day Brazil (Royal Lyceum, 7–10 August). The festival runs throughout August 2026.
