Edinburgh festival 2025: 20 theatre shows to see this summer

Peter Pan has a pop fantasy, Faustus is in Africa, Brian Cox leads a banking satire and Billy Connolly meets the late Alasdair Gray. Elsewhere, the joy of pickling, a landmark jazz album and Elton John’s libel case take centre stageWhenever you see a p…

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Meow Meow review – kamikaze cabaret combines clownish comedy and crooning

Soho Theatre, LondonWhether singing or crawling cleavage-first over the shoulders of her crowd, the eccentric diva asks what an artist should do in such ominous times‘I do think in 90 mins,” says the kamikaze cabaret performer Meow Meow, “we can really…

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The Empire Strips Back review – Chewie gets jiggy in galactic burlesque parody

Riverside Studios, LondonHumour abounds in this Star Wars-themed cabaret, as Boba Fett bumps and grinds while Han Solo and Chewbacca share a Backstreet Boys numberMight there be an overlap between sci-fi fans – I speak as one myself – and audiences who…

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Sabrage review – this slick cabaret with saucy pillow fights is good unclean fun

Lafayette, LondonAn irreverent mix of erotic trapeze, penis tricks and audience participation won’t disappoint groups out for a laugh – and a gaspIf anything needs its own word, surely it’s the ceremonial practice of opening a champagne bottle with a s…

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Sabrage review – this slick cabaret with saucy pillow fights is good unclean fun

Lafayette, LondonAn irreverent mix of erotic trapeze, penis tricks and audience participation won’t disappoint groups out for a laugh – and a gaspIf anything needs its own word, surely it’s the ceremonial practice of opening a champagne bottle with a s…

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‘A sight to behold!’ Soho Theatre Walthamstow brings live performance back to historic venue

After a major restoration, new theatre in east London announces opening programme with Sara Pascoe and Rosie Jones on the bill – plus panto and a new show by Bryony KimmingsIt opened as a Victorian music hall, had various incarnations as a picture hous…

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Titanique review – camp musical sails into silliness with Céline Dion onboard

Criterion theatre, LondonIt goes on and on but this madcap spoof of the blockbuster film has a sparkling cast, including Lauren Drew as Dion and Layton Williams as the icebergImagine James Cameron’s 1997 disaster film romance Titanic as a camp musical …

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Le Gateau Chocolat: Musicals Mayhem review – dazzling charisma and thundering sonic richness

Soho theatre, London The major showman takes a solo stroll through show tunes, sing alongs and seasonal hits with vocal highlights that leave you gasping for breathSome Christmasses ago, Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo teamed up for a cabaret double a…

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Ginger Johnson Blows Off! review – this crude, fart-fuelled comedy runs out of gas

Soho theatre, LondonThe Drag Race UK winner draws inspiration from a human cannonball in an unsubtle hour of daredevil feats and jokes about flatulenceSome shows win new fans; some just please existing ones. UK Drag Race champ Ginger Johnson’s latest m…

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Reuben Kaye: Live and Intimidating review – the voice of an angel and a devil

Assembly George Square, EdinburghThe mesmerising Australian comic’s song-laced, sassy and polemical set is a clarion call for queer expressionHighest star wattage on the Edinburgh fringe? Give that award to Reuben Kaye right away. Best comedy show? Wel…

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