Three twisted classics at the Edinburgh Festival 2024…

Hamstrung | Pleasance Courtyard | until 26 Aug
I always say this, so you may have read it before if you read our Edinburgh coverage with a degree of regularity: I like it when shows take a classic and mash it up a bit, or twist it, or whatever. This is one we’ve been looking forward to – so much so we interviewed its creator a few weeks back – it’s all about Yorick, who, you probably know, only featured as a skull in ‘Hamlet’, but he gets somewhat fleshed out here. Info and tickets here. 

The Importance Of Being… Earnest? | Pleasance Courtyard | until 25 Aug (pictured)
‘The Importance Of Being Earnest’ and I go way back. I have appeared in more than one production of it and got to say the line “a handbag”. And I saw another production of it just a couple of weeks ago. But that doesn’t mean I’m not up for seeing it messed with. “When a traditional production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play gets underway, everything seems to be going perfectly to plan… that is, until the lead actor fails to arrive on cue”. Info and tickets here.

Gruoch: Lady Macbeth | Hill Street Theatre | until 18 Aug 
There seems to be a whole lot going on ‘Macbeth’-wise down at the Hill Street Theatre this Fringe and I’m very happy to see it. There are a number of productions and even an exhibition related to the ever popular Scottish Play. So I struggled to know which to focus on, honestly. Take a look at all their shows, but make special time for this one: a feminist, myth-centred solo performance about Lady M. Info and tickets here.