Lucy, Lucy and Lucy Barfield


It just somehow always seems to come back to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, doesn't it? There's a certain breed of smart, sensitive nerdy kid whose coming of age just must revolve around the books of C.S. Lewis. You've probably known a few; they discover themselves by loving the adventure and magic and then grow up by poignantly, mournfully closing the book on Narnia. (For another example, read Lev Grossman's wonderful novel The Magicians.) Writer and performer Lucy Grace tells the sad tale of Lewis's goddaughter, Lucy Barfield, to whom he dedicated the series. This small, personal gem's multiple narrative threads explore how we "reconcile ourselves to a life without magical kingdoms or happy endings."
Aug 10-14, 16-21, 23-29

Puppet Fiction


What could be better than watching puppet Uma and puppet John Travolta get down like it's 1994? This one started off in a tiny bar in New Zealand in 2012. It was a big hit at the Fringe last year but more people simply need to see Tarantino's breakout flick acted out with marionettes. At only one hour long, the show, sadly, cannot capture the entire film, so you don't know which parts you might see on any given night. Just pray you catch puppet Samuel L. Jackson misquote Ezekiel 25:17: "And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!” (Plus, it's free!)
Aug 10-14, 16-21, 23-28

Leaf by Niggle


For a gentler reimagining of a gentler classic, go see Puppet State Theatre Company's stage performance of this much-loved JRR Tolkien short story. (Warning: Even though the company's name implies otherwise, there are no puppets here.) Are the trials of Niggle the artist an allegory for the Christian afterlife? Or Tolkien's meditation on God and creation? According to The Guardian, it's up for different interpretations. Everyone does agree, however, that the magnificent writer's tale, performed by Richard Maderington and accompanied by the folk melodies of Karine Polwart and Michael John McCarthy, will leave you with a magical (yet hobbit-free) sense of wonder about life and art.
Aug 11-14, 16-21, 24-28

Mouse: The Persistence of an Unlikely Thought


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Daniel kitson

Daniel kitson

Photo: Gavin Osborn[/caption]

Probably the finest storyteller you've never heard of (unless you're one of the cool theater kids who knows all about the storytelling scene). Daniel Kitson returns with another one-man monologue. His latest is a tale about "friendship and loneliness, doubt and hope, a mouse, a phone call and the unfathomable repercussions of everything we ever do." He claims this one has been crawling around in his head for a long time but was always abandoned for other stories. The Stage calls it a "a twisty tale, with Kitson in full ‘Roald Dahl Tales of the Unexpected’ mode." We're not entirely sure what that means but it definitely sounds like a great evening. Aug 10-14, 16-21, 23-28

Last Dream (on Earth)


The whole audience pops on headphones to experience "sounds and stories, interweaving driving live music with accounts of those who risk their lives for distant dreams." Yes, immersive theater is all the rage these days and Last Dream (on Earth) engulfs you completely. You'll hear about refugees from Tunisia to Spain juxtaposed with the story of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, as he's jettisoned from Earth in 1961. A successful run at The National Theatre of Scotland last year has given this productions lots of buzz. If the trailer below feels intriguing, mesmerizing and trippy, you'll know it's for you.

For (many!) more shows, go to the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe's website