The musical Chess is being performed at the Festival Theatre by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this April, but the line up for the month is made up of all sorts of shows from Eddi Reader to a screening of Hedda Gabler by the National Theatre and musical comedy with The Addams Family.
MUSICAL
THE ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND
CHESS
Festival Theatre
Thu 30 March to Sat 1 April
Before the global explosion of Mamma Mia! came Chess. From the musical minds of ABBA’s Benny and Bjorn and the lyrical pen of Sir Tim Rice, this West End and Broadway hit comes to Edinburgh direct from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, two Soviet and American chess grandmasters engage in strategic battle, fighting for their beliefs, personal glory, and the love of the same woman.
MUSICAL
Edinburgh Music Theatre- Fiddler On The Roof
King’s Theatre
Wed 5 to Sat 8 April
Overflowing with humour and passion this is one of the best-loved musicals of all time featuring If I Were a Rich Man, Sunrise Sunset, Matchmaker Matchmaker and many more.
SCOTTISH OPERA
Bluebeard’s Castle & The 8th Door
Festival Theatre
Wed 5 & Sat 8 April
Bartók’s beautiful, mysterious opera is staged in collaboration with visionary Scottish theatre company Vanishing Point and stars internationally acclaimed singers Karen Cargill and Robert Hayward. Directed by Vanishing Point Artistic Director Matthew Lenton, Bluebeard is presented alongside the world premiere of The 8th Door, co-created with Scottish Opera Composer in Residence Lliam Paterson, as a companion piece to Bluebeard’s gruesome story
SCREENING
National Theatre Encore Screening: Hedda Gabler
Festival Theatre
Fri 7 April, 7pm
Tony Award-winning director Ivo van Hove returns to the National Theatre with a modern production of Ibsen’s masterpiece, starring Ruth Wilson (Luther, The Affair, Jane Eyre) in a new version by Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal, Closer).
MUSIC
Nathan Carter
Festival Theatre
Sun 9 April, 7.30pm
Nathan Carter is one of the biggest names on the Irish music scene and is fast becoming a big name all over the UK with his fine performances that include the hit song Wagon Wheel. Nathan and his six man band perform a great variety of country, Irish, pop and ballads – music for everyone of all ages. Nathan is an expert accordion player so you can expect a bit of hand clapping, foot tapping hooley as well.
KIDS
Dinosaur World
Festival Theatre
Mon 10 & Tue 11 April
Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World in this interactive new show for all the family. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Giraffatitan and Segnosaurus! Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs.
SCREENING
National Theatre Encore Screening- Twelfth Night
Festival Theatre
Wed 12 April, 7pm
Tamsin Greig is Malvolia in a new twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity, directed by Simon Godwin.
MUSIC
Eddi Reader
Festival Theatre
Thu 13 April, 7.30pm
The supremely talented, unique and charismatic Scottish singer is back at the Festival Theatre, performing songs from her triumphant new double album that collects thirty of her most consistently beautiful, often deeply personal and intimate songs.
DANCE
Phoenix Dance Theatre
Festival Theatre
Sat 15 April
Phoenix Dance Theatre’s mixed programme for 2017 presents a programme of thrilling works demonstrating the company’s internationally respected athletic power, emotional intensity and dynamic movement, includes work by Douglas Thorpe and a new piece currently in development by Sandrine Monin and composer Roberto Rusconi.
DRAMA
Nell Gwynn
King’s Theatre
Tue 18 to Sat 22 April
1660, Drury Lane. Charles II has cast off London’s drab, puritanical past with a love of all things loud, French and sexy. A young Nell Gwynn is selling oranges for sixpence in London’s burgeoning West End theatre scene. Little does she know who is in the audience one fateful night. Jessica Swale’s warm hearted, bawdy comedy tells the story of an unlikely heroine, who went from lowly orange seller to win the adoration of the public and the heart of the King. Starring Olivier Award nominated actress Laura Pitt-Pulford, Nell Gwynn is brought to the stage by English Touring Theatre.
MUSICAL
The Addams Family
Festival Theatre
Thu 20 to Sat 29 April
Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, is all grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows. She’s fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. With his cherished Morticia in the dark will Gomez manage to keep his daughter’s secret until the two families meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious consequences? Join them, plus Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley and more for a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship…with a twist! Starring Samantha Womack (EastEnders) as Morticia, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as
Wednesday, Cameron Blakely (Les Misérables) as Gomez and Les Dennis (Coronation Street) as Uncle Fester, Featuring a live orchestra and extraordinary original score. The Addams Family is sure to entertain whether you are 7 or 307!
DRAMA
Not Dead Enough
King’s Theatre
Mon 24 to Sat 29 April
Following the huge sell-out success of The Perfect Murder and Dead Simple, the thrilling work of multi-million selling author Peter James returns to the stage with the world premiere production of Not Dead Enough. Starring West End, award-winning actor Bill Ward (Emmerdale, Coronation Street), as DS Roy Grace, Laura Whitmore (Strictly Come Dancing 2016), and Stephen Billington (Hollyoaks, Coronation Street).
KIDS
Mr Bloom’s Nursery Live!
King’s Theatre
Sun 30 April, 1.30pm & 4pm
Bring your tiddlers along to join Mr Bloom and the Veggies on their first ever live tour! They’re busily getting the allotment ready for a very special visit from a member of the Royal family. Featuring all of the much loved elements of the TV show, Mr Bloom (Ben Faulks) will be joined by his veggie friends and his trusty compostarium!
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
