Turning tips into memories

Get started Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Kids
  • Benefits
  • Membership
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Benefits
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
Things to do

Edinburgh Fringe previews in London 2016

By Lucy Brooks on 5/7/2016

Can't make it to the Royal Mile? Enjoy the highlights of 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival without leaving London

Edinburgh Fringe London previews
Edinburgh Fringe London previews
Come August, the world's most vibrant theatre-makers flock the to cobbled streets of Edinburgh. Fringe Theatre, comedy, cabaret and bonhomie take over for a month long celebration of art and diversity — with readily available deep-fried Mars Bars to boot.

TRY CULTURE WHISPER
Receive free tickets & insider tips to unlock the best of London — direct to your inbox
But Edinburgh Fringe Festival is more than just a riot of fun; it shapes the agenda for creativity, and making a stir at the Fringe is a surefire way to catapult fresh young creatives into the spotlight.

For those that want to be two steps ahead of the curve or can't get up to Scotland this summer, lots of Edinburgh Fringe shows preview in London. You can see the next generation of creatives workshopping their fringe material for a fraction of normal London theatre costs — if you know where to look.
COMEDY SNEAK PEEK: Pleasance Theatre Islington Edinburgh preview season



Ask anyone at the Fringe where to find reliably laugh-out-loud comedy and they will probably point you in the direction of the Pleasance. Happily for us Edinburgh's comedy hotspot has a sister theatre right here in London's Islington, which means we can enjoy the highlights of the comedy programme right here while it's still in previews. Take advantage of the special deal and book three fringe preview shows for £12. That makes it £4 a show: cheaper than a pint and even more cheering.

The cream of the crop includes bonkers sketch show BEASTS, Jonny Cochrane's new show and Scottish BAFTA-winner Iain Stirling. Oh and we've already booked to see Birthday Girls, the irreverent trio who brought all of the 'vibez' when we saw them at last year's fringe. Browse the full season here.

THE BEST NEW THEATRE Paines Plough Roundabout, Hackney Showroom



As Fringe regulars know, the beating heart of new writing talent is the reliably found in a pop-up theatre at Summerhall, courtesy of the Paines Plough. Duncan McMillan, Dennis Kelly, Abi Morgan and Sarah Kane all cut their teeth writing for the company known as the 'national theatre of new plays'.

Paines Plough productions then tour around the country in their portable 'Roundabout' theatre space. The 168-seat auditorium can pack up into the back of a lorry and can be reassembled with just a small group of helpers and an allen key.

This year's season starts out in Hackney, with an Edinburgh preview pop up offering us a sneek peak of the shows that will have tongues wagging on the Royal Mile this August. This year's trio of new works includes a love story involving Love, Lies and Taxidermy and a family friendly show about teens who get superpowers for their birthday and, our top recommendation, a black comedy about testicular cancer, from actor-turned-writer Luke Norris.
LADIES TO MAKE YOU LOL: Funny Women Festival preview season, Good Ship Benefit



Inspired by the old adage that laughter is the best make-up, Funny Women Festival and Benefit Cosmetics have teamed up to bring London a season of topnotch female comedians, premiering their acts ahead for a whole month of comedy of this year's Fringe festival.

And if you think London can't compete with Edinburgh on kookiness or atmosphere, wait till you see the venue. It's all aboard to the stationary ship the R.S. Hispaniola for a particularly buoyant evening of belly laughs and giggling galore. Each evening from 4-27July, female comedians showcase their sets.

High profile highlights include Viv Groskop, Ellie Taylor and Felicity Ward, but we recommend you channel the Ed Fringe spirit and take a chance on someone you've never seen before. Check out the full listings here.





Share:

Edinburgh

Fringe Theatre Shows

Things to do

Summer

Comedy



You may also like:
  • Top London Foodie Instagrammers: Meringues by @meringuegirls at Broadway Market (via @food_feels)

    Five of London's Best Instagram Foodies to keep you hungry for more

  • Best new books, summer 2016

    Best new books to read, summer 2016

  • Celebrities London Theatre: Jude Law, Obsession at the Barbican

    A star-gazer's guide to London theatre: famous actors live on stage

  • London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2019 (Photograph: Peter Lewicki)

    London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2020

Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
minimum six characters
 
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Stay tuned! (And check your email).


  • The Culture Whisper team
  • What is Culture Whisper membership
  • Corporate membership
  • Give a gift membership
  • Retrieve a gift membership
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper


Sign up by Email or Facebook.

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we sent newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×