Opera and Musical Theatre

Verdi's A Masked Ball

Verdi’s A Masked Ball, EIF opera review: 'heart-stoppingly compelling'
Every component strand worked superbly in this high voltage production of Verdi’s classic opera, writes Carol Main.

David Lutken in Woody Sez

My Festival – David Lutken

Grace McLean as Penelope

Fringe musicals & opera reviews: Penelope | Brodie and Co + more

Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits

Fringe musicals reviews: Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits + more

'Like a cosmic carousel' - Adele Thomas on Verdi's A Masked Ball

Here is every show at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe with a five-star review from The Scotsman, so far.

Best Fringe Shows: Every 5-star show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026

A non-production image of the young cast of Bliss.

Fringe musicals, opera and music reviews: Bliss | Hole! + more

Girlhood in the Bathroom

Fringe musicals reviews: Girlhood in the Bathroom + more

Cheeyang Ng in Legendary

Fringe musicals and opera reviews: Legendary | Texas Annie + more

The Galloping Cure is a new opera about the opioid crisis.

EIF reviews: The Galloping Cure | Jason Max Ferdinand Singers

Louise Alder

EIF Opera Highlights: David Kettle on the 2026 programme

Cora Bissett and KT Tunstall in rehearsals for their new musical The Singer, which premieres at the Traverse Theatre as part of the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe.

The Singer: KT Tunstall and Cora Bissett on their new musical

FUCCBOIS is one of two drag king boy band shows at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe.

Drag king takeover: women take on masculinity at the Edinburgh Fringe

Our Martin in the Background

Fringe Theatre & Musical reviews: Our Martin in the Background + more

Hot Mess

Fringe musical reviews: Hot Mess | Hey Stop!!! + more

1ShoulderPad at the Fringe

Fringe musical reviews: 1ShoulderPad | Edinburgh Days + more

Book of Mountains and Seas

EIF opera review: Book of Mountains and Seas

Here are all of the 5-star shows on at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe.

Best Fringe Shows: Every 5-star show at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe

No More Bull

Fringe musicals reviews: Gladiatrix, Lost Harmonies + more

Nerds pulls in an impressive four-star review at the Fringe 2025.

Edinburgh Fringe musicals and opera reviews: Nerds | Escape Room

Girl Pop!

Fringe theatre reviews: Girl Pop! | Girlz | This Blighted Star + more

Laura Corcoran aka Frisky

My Festival: Frisky: ‘Could Like A Virgin be a thrash metal song?'

Midnight at the Palace

Fringe Opera & Musical Theatre reviews: Midnight at the Palace + more

Absurd Hero

Edinburgh Fringe musicals & opera reviews: Absurd Hero | Wilde + more

EIF opera Orpheus and Eurydice to feature 'acrobats doing very dangerous things'

The best EIF opera - Scotsman critic Ken Walton on the 2025 programme

Katherine Payne in 'plewds'

Edinburgh Fringe reviews: A Room of One’s Own | plewds + more...

Pop Off, Michelangelo at the Edinburgh Fringe

Edinburgh Fringe musical reviews: Pop Off, Michelangelo and more

Komische Oper Berlin's production of The Marriage of Figaro

EIF reviews: European Union Youth Orchestra | The Marriage of Figaro

Donald Runnicles

EIF: Donald Runnicles at 70

Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho

Fringe reviews: Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho + more

Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody

Wonka on the Fringe: parody of 'Willy’s Chocolate Experience' reviewed

Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical With Puppets!

Fringe review: Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical With Puppets! + more

Fringe! The Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe

Edinburgh Fringe theatre reviews: Fringe! The Musical and more

Kitty Whately as Jocasta in Scottish Opera's Oedipus Rex

EIF reviews: Oedipus Rex | Maxim Emelyanychev & SCO Principals + more

Who Do Ya Love?

Fringe musicals reviews: Who Do Ya Love? | Over Her Dead Body + more

Diary of a Gay Disaster

Edinburgh Fringe musicals and opera: Diary of a Gay Disaster + more

The Marriage of Figaro

EIF preview: meet the director remixing The Marriage of Figaro

Gender and sexuality are explored dynamically in BANNED the Musical

Edinburgh Fringe Musicals and Opera reviews: BANNED the Musical + more

Kitty Whately in Oedipus Rex

EIF: Scottish Opera's Roxana Haines on restaging Oedipus Rex

Carmen at the EIF 2024

Edinburgh International Festival music reviews: Carmen and more

900 Voices at St Giles' Cathedral is a sonic treat.

EIF music reviews: 900 Voices | Il Pomo d’Oro

Stumped at Scottish Storytelling Centre

Fringe reviews: an ambitious new opera at Scottish Storytelling Centre

The Marriage of Figaro PIC: Monika Rittershaus

EIF opera - Scotsman critic David Kettle previews the 2024 programme

Carmen PIC: Stefan Brion

Andreas Homoki on his time-travelling Carmen at EIF

Informal but compelling: the Isidore String Quartet

EIF reviews: Tannhäuser | Isidore String Quartet | Seven Last Words

It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure

Fringe reviews: It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure + more

Life Is A Dream

Edinburgh International Festival reviews: Life Is A Dream + more

Jonny Hawkins as Maureen

Fringe reviews: Maureen | Bird | Irrepressible | Under the Mirrie Dancers + more

Christopher C Gibbs in Wiesenthal

Fringe theatre, musicals & opera reviews: Wiesenthal | Lie Low + more

Victorine: The Artist's Model (PIC Mann Bros Media)

Fringe theatre, musicals & opera reviews: Victorine: The Artist's Model + more

The Threepenny Opera at the Edinburgh International Festival

EIF reviews: The Threepenny Opera | Aga Khan Master Musicians

Danny Beard. Picture: Contributed

My Festival: Danny Beard

Rosie Nicholls and Sullivan Beau Brown of Grubby Little Mitts: Hello, Hi. Picture: Contributed.

Fringe comedy, musical and opera reviews: Grubby Little Mitts | Jaz Mattu + more

Gunter. Picture: Alex Brenner

Fringe theatre reviews: Gunter | Hello Kitty Must Die | Them | Pitch

Lovefool

Fringe theatre reviews: Lovefool | Actually, Love | Strategic Love Play + more

Reclaim

Fringe theatre & circus reviews: Reclaim | The Society for New Cuisine + more

Santi & Naz. Picture: Greg Veit

Fringe reviews: Santi & Naz | Persephone | Chicken | Apple of My Eye + More

Her Green Hell (Photo Copyright Giulia Ferrando)

Fringe theatre reviews: Her Green Hell | Making History by Stephen Fry + more

Andrea Baker (Photo copyright John Need)

My Festival: Andrea Baker

We'll Have Nun Of It.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe musicals reviews: We’ll Have Nun Of It + more

Public – The Musical

Edinburgh Festival Fringe musicals review: Gerard Noir | Tickle + more

Blossoming (You Undo Me)

Fringe musicals & opera reviews: Blossoming (You Undo Me) + more

Dusk, a brilliant and disturbing update of Lars Von Trier's Dogville by the acclaimed Brazilian director Christiane Jatahy.

EIF opening weekend reviews

Kyle Falconer and Laura Wilde, creators of new music No Love Songs.

The View's Kyle Falconer on the painful experiences that shaped his new musical

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea perform Trojan Women

Edinburgh International Festival preview: Ong Ken Seng on Trojan Women

Chinese-American composer Tan Dun.

How ancient cave paintings inspired Tan Dun's EIF opening concert

The Grand Old Opera House Hotel, by Isobel McArthur, will get its world premiere at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in August.

Theatre-maker Isobel McArthur on her new operatic comedy set in a haunted hotel

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries