18-22 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA
Closest tram stop: Picardy Place
Edinburgh Playhouse is the largest working theatre in the UK in terms of audience capacity. It first opened its doors in 1929; since then, it has hosted some of the world’s biggest music and stand-up comedy acts such as Elton John, The Who, Nick Cave, Kevin Bridges, Tim Minchin, and international hit musicals including The Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Matilda, and Disney’s The Lion King.
The city’s trams offer a safe and reliable service from every seven minutes, seven days a week, between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven. With Picardy Place stop just a few feet away from the venue, taking the tram to get there couldn’t be easier or more convenient. Here are the highlights of May, and further information about theatre tickets can be found here.
Tue 30 Apr – Sat 4 May
Nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards, this smash-hit show has a phenomenal soundtrack packed full of iconic Drifters hits including Saturday Night At The Movies, Save The Last Dance For Me, and Stand By Me.
Discover the remarkable story of the Drifters and the truth about the woman who made them. From the highs of hit records to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, Faye Treadwell is the legendary manager of The Drifters who refused to give up on the group she loved.
Carly Mercedes Dyer (Six the Musical, Anything Goes) will play music industry change-maker, Faye Treadwell. She will star alongside Ashford Campbell (The X Factor), Miles Anthony Daley (Tina Turner: The Musical, Choir of Man), Tarik Frimpong (The Wiz, Aladdin) and Daniel Haswell.
Thirty years, and hundreds of hit songs later, there is no doubt that Faye Treadwell was and always will be, The Drifters Girl.
The Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour
Tue 14 May
The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when six million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World’s Greatest Elvis’ live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion’ in Memphis, Tennessee.
Fellow American Dean Z, regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show. Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013.
The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson, who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show.
Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.
The Psychology of Serial Killers with Jennifer Rees
Wed 15 May
During this talk, you will discover how serial killers are classified. What are the differences between lust killers like the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) Killer and visionary killers such as David Berkowitz (Son of Sam)?
Jennifer will explore the different categories, using case studies to illustrate.
She will also debunk common Serial Killer Myths – you may be surprised by what you learn!
You will also investigate the phenomenon of killer couples such as Fred and Rose West and The Moors Murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, as well as explore the Folie a deux syndrome a.k.a. ‘shared psychosis’.
How common are homicidal fantasies? Have you ever fantasised about killing someone? You may be surprised by the results of the research!
Thu 16 May – Fri 17 May
After a sell-out tour in 2022, Romesh is back with a brand-new show examining the human condition. Are people inherently good? Is charity always a positive thing? Is hustling the key to success? Or is all this a load of rubbish we’ve made up to keep people working hard for no reason?
Join Romesh as he examines all of these issues and more while providing no real answers.
Romesh is best known for The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, The Ranganation, Rob & Romesh Vs, A League of Their Own, Avoidance, Romantic Getaway, host of The Weakest Link and his own BBC Sounds and Radio 2 show For The Love of Hip Hop.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals
Sat 18 May
This exhilarating show will showcase the exceptional talent of 12 of TV’s beloved professional dancers, supported by incredible singers and a live band, all performed within the wonderful world of glamour and spark that fans know and love from the smash hit series.
Join hugely talented Strictly Professionals – Dianne Buswell, Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Graziano di Prima, Jowita Przystal, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nancy Xu – live and up close as they treat audiences to world-class dance, sparking sets and stunning choreography with a generous sprinkle of Strictly magic.
Directed by Strictly’s Creative Director Jason Gilkison, Strictly The Professionals will surprise and delight audiences with dance and choreography at the highest possible standard.
Don’t miss your chance to see so many of your favourite dancers coming together to perform in a theatrical ensemble that will quite simply take your breath away.
Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners
Sun 19 May
In partnership with Tourism Ireland and in association with legendary Irish pub O’Donoghue’s, Seven Drunken Nights tells the story of a career spanning 50 years and invokes the spirit of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, John Sheahan, Ciaran Bourke and Jim McCann.
This hugely talented cast of musicians and singers brings the music of this iconic group back to life.
Tue 28 May – Sat 1 Jun
A brand-new production of this much-loved family favourite stars Adam Garcia (Wicked, Kiss Me Kate, Coyote Ugly) as Caractacus Potts, Elaine C. Smith (Rab C Nesbitt, Burds Eye View) as the Childcatcher and Liam Fox (Emmerdale) as Grandpa Potts. Directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic, Parade), choreographed by Karen Bruce (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, The Bodyguard) and designed by Morgan Large (Newsies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), this ravishing award-winning musical is bursting with unforgettable songs by the Sherman Brothers including Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain, Truly Scrumptious and of course the Academy Award-nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Based on Ian Fleming’s timeless story for children and later made into the famous 1968 film, in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG we meet absent-minded inventor Caractacus Potts who restores a broken-down old racing car with the help of his children Jemima and Jeremy. Soon the family discover the car has magical powers, and along with the delectable Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts, they end up on a fantastical adventure to far-off lands. Their heart-warming journey makes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang a fun-filled hit for all the family.
Edinburgh Trams offer a host of flexible and inexpensive travel deals that are suitable for all sorts of activities in the city, including the popular ‘Adult Day Tripper’ ticket. Further information can be found here.
