Three historical shows at Edinburgh Festival 2026…

The Plot | Summerhall | 6-31 Aug (pictured)
If you know me, you’ll know I’m always delighted to witness historical stuff at the Fringe, be they factual or fictional. This tragicomic work from the talented Emma Howlett is set in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot and is doubly, nay, triply appealing, for me, because of the courtroom element, and the themes of the power of storytelling and who gets to control the narrative. Find the edfringe listing here. 

The Past | Underbelly, Bristo Square | 5-30 Aug
And, talking of things that appeal to me, which, if we’re honest, is one of the big factors that informs the choice of what we recommend here, here’s a show that claims to be “the world’s first immersive historical sketch show”. It’s by Fishing4Chips, whose previous works focusing on Troy and Pompeii impressed us much, so I don’t think you can go far wrong here. Find the edfringe listing here. 

Larkhill | theSpace On The Mile | 24-29 Aug
And from something comedic to something a bit more serious: a piece of work focused on the women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, whose World War II contributions were crucial to the British Army’s domestic and international efforts. ‘Larkhill’ – named for the Wiltshare base where many of them worked – uses verbatim testimony and music of the time to convey their story. Find the edfringe listing here.