Features

Edinburgh Festival Fringe plays transferring to London

The best of the fest coming to the capital this autumn

Daniel Perks

Daniel Perks

| London | Off-West End |

4 September 2019

Richard Gadd in Baby Reindeer
Richard Gadd in Baby Reindeer
© Andrew Perry

Can you believe the biggest arts festival in the world is done for another year?! And now, all those amazing plays are making their way around the country, including into the capital.

So let's check out what's coming to London to warm us in these wintery months – these one-act, short plays are the perfect treat as the nights draw in. Here are our pick of the best that Edinburgh has to offer this season, ranked from those closing soonest:

Musik

Frances Barber
Frances Barber
© The Other Richard

It announced a London transfer before it even opened in Edinburgh, and now the Pet Shop Boys' new musical is running at Leicester Square Theatre. Musik features four entirely new songs by the band, with Frances Barber reprising her role from the 2001 musical Closer To Heavenwe loved every minute of it! Leicester Square Theatre, until 7 September

Hotter

Hotter
Hotter
© The HOTTER Project

"What gets you hot?" That's what the HOTTER Project asked women and trans people from 11 to 97. Then they made a verbatim dance party out of the responses. The perfect way to warm up an evening! Soho Theatre, until 7 September

Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation

Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation
Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation
© Mihaela Bodlovic

This transfer comes courtesy of seasoned playwright Tim Crouch. And at 70 minutes long, the title takes up half the show! Check out our thoughts on Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation here. Royal Court, until 21 September

Until The Flood

Dael Orlandersmith in Until the Flood
Dael Orlandersmith in Until the Flood
© Alex Brenner

This Fringe First award-winning show is guaranteed to have you crying buckets. Pulitzer Prize-finalist Dael Orlandersmith takes us back to the 2014 Missouri shooting of Michael Brown and the lives of those around him that were forever changed. Catch our Edinburgh review of the show here. Arcola Theatre, until 28 September

What Girls Are Made Of

Cora Bissett
Cora Bissett
© Sid Scott

It first came to Edinburgh in 2018 and Cora Bissett made a triumphant return to the festival this year, with her coming-of-age story set to Britpop 90s tunes. Bissett toured with Radiohead, played with Blur and was living the dream… until it all fell apart. Catch our 2018 review here. Soho Theatre, until 28 September

All Of Me

Caroline Horton in All Of Me
Caroline Horton in All Of Me
© Holly Revell

Want to a catch an Olivier Award nominee down in London? Then pop over to The Yard Theatre, where playwright Caroline Horton's All Of Me brings an absurd exploration of wanting to live, wanting to die and what can happen if we sit together with the dark. All Of Me is brought to us by independent company China Plate, whose other Edinburgh 2019 productions – Trying It On and Chris Thorpe's Status – tour the country this autumn. Yard Theatre, from 10 September

One

Nasi Voutsas and Bertrand Lesca in Palmyra
Nasi Voutsas and Bertrand Lesca in Palmyra
© Alex Brenner

Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas are one of a kind performers! Their 2016 show Eurohouse and 2017 production Palmyra brought the house down in Edinburgh, so naturally the final chapter in this trilogy – One – is one not to miss. After its blistering 2019 Edinburgh run, One plays a special triple bill with its sibling shows on 19 October. Battersea Arts Centre, from 30 September

Islander: A New Musical

Islander
Islander
© Jassy Earl

Autumn feels like a folk music season, with the last of summer dwindling away and the leaves slowly turning a vibrant palette of oranges and reds… So why not celebrate with a 70-minute folk musical? Sounds good to us! We loved Islander: A New Musical in Edinburgh – check out our review and then check out the show. Southwark Playhouse, from 2 October

Baby Reindeer

Baby Reindeer
Richard Gadd in Baby Reindeer
© Andrew Perry

He brought a dark comedy show to the fringe in 2016 and won the Dave Edinburgh Comedy Award. He came back with a dark theatre show this year and won a Fringe First and The Stage Acting Award. Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer, a show about his six-year long stalker, comes down from Edinburgh for an unmissable, unnerving 65 minutes. Make sure you look over your shoulder on the way home, while checking out our review here! Bush Theatre, from 9 October

Collapsible

Collapsible
Collapsible
© Holly Revell

Collapsible is a show about a woman slowly losing grip, desperate for an anchor as her world crumbles all around. And with award-winning writer Margaret Perry at the helm, it's definitely a fitting show to kick off the uncertain future of 2020. Check out our review and then catch it before it fades away. Bush Theatre, from 5 February 2020

The Incident Room

The Incident Room
The Incident Room
© The Other Richard

The New Diorama Theatre team had another cracking Edinburgh, with the three Untapped Awards shows – Tokyo Rose, Art Heist and CONSPIRACY all selling out and transferring to London this autumn. Looking further ahead, it's artistic and executive director David Byrne's newest collaboration that is the one not to miss next spring. The Incident Room, co-written with Olivia Hirst, is a documentary style take on the Yorkshire Ripper tale, a must-watch for all those true crime fans out there. New Diorama Theatre, from 14 March 2020

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