Where to see Edinburgh Festival Fringe theatre shows in London

Enjoy a miniature Edinburgh Festival right here in London with an early look at the theatre that'll head north come August
Wingman: Richard Marsh's new play is a funny take on family and funerals
Emily Jupp8 July 2014

The Edinburgh Festival has all types of theatre from the downright depressing to the completely bizarre, from family-friendly to no kids allowed, but did you know that during July you can get a real flavour of all the festival has to offer right here in London? Here's our pick of the London-based previews.

Family-friendly

Mildred and the Midnight City

Pleasance Islington, Wed Jul 23

Music, puppetry and storytelling combine in this heartwarming story about Mildred, who is whisked away from her humdrum life of telly watching to go on an Arctic adventure with a friendly polar bear. Suitable for ages four and up.

The Fantastical Story Factory

Udderbelly London, Sun Jul 13

Shout out a suggestion and watch it transform into a story by the musical magicians at this family-friendly show.

Whimsical

If Destroyed Still True

Battersea Arts Centre, Jul 30-31

This performance explores the part fictional, part autobiographical story of a 15-year-old's battle to stop her house collapsing into the sea, as she herself teeters on the brink of adulthood.

Gelt

Etcetera Theatre, Jul 28-30

Part of the Camden Fringe, Gelt is an exploration of family, money, ethics and the London property bubble. Mrs Frankowitz (a character created and performed by comedian Katie Burnetts), is about to pop her clogs, leaving behind her property to her grandson Joe and his partner Emma, but the inheritance comes with complications.

Gelt: an exploration of family, money, ethics and the London property bubble

Funny

The Horne Section

Udderbelly London, Thu Jul 10

A funny musical show fronted by Alex Horne, who also appears in our guide to Edinburgh comedy shows in London.

Silk Road

New Diorama Theatre, Sun Jul 27

This story about a teenager who lives with his nan, who's into tech and accidentally becomes an online drug dealer, is the first play to be funded using the open source currency Bitcoin.

Wingman

Various venues, July 6-25

Fringe First winner Richard Marsh's new play is about a son who desperately tries to avoid his father at his mother's funeral.

Real-life issues

Travesti

Pleasance Islington, Jul 10-13

A verbatim show where women's real experiences of body hair, groping and sexual violence are acted out by men.

Hardy Animal

The Place, Tue Jul 29

Laura Dannequin's performance is about her experiences of developing chronic pain while working as a dancer, and how it has impacted her life.

Dark and scary

The Common Land

Rose Theatre, Jul 16-17

The Common Land, a one-man show performed by Fine Mess Theatre co-founder Joel Samuels at The Rose in Kingston before Fine Mess takes its crowdfunded project, Gods Own Country, to Edinburgh. The Common Land explores the psyche of a young boy similar to the main character in Gods Own Country, based on the novel of the same name by Ross Raisin, which follows a young lad living in rural Yorkshire whose troubled mind leads him astray.

The Closure of Craig Solly

Park Theatre, Sun Jul 20

The usually jolly Russell Kane embarks on a dark path with this swearword-spattered monologue. He plays a criminal who addresses the families of his victims (the audience) and tries to gain sympathy for his crimes.

Dracula

Pleasance Islington, Jul 24

Director Alexandra Spencer-Jones’s adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange won awards and rave reviews last year at the Fringe. Now her company Action to the Word is taking on Bram Stoker's Dracula. Expect high-octane balletic dance moves fused with scenes of dark brutality.

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