Events and organisations that may be of interest to the LGBTQ+ community in Scotland
As part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, comedian Stuart Thomas is bringing his sharp and unapologetic stand-up show, “Bad Fatty” to the stage. A hilarious exploration of life as a fat Welshman, Stuart blends his working-class roots with a modern, no-nonsense approach to comedy that is both thought-provoking and outrageously funny. Stuart Thomas isn’t afraid to tackle the big stuff. Bisexual and open about his mental health struggles, he masterfully combines vulnerability with laugh-out-loud moments, flipping fat-shaming on its head and turning it into a celebration of self-acceptance and joy.
SHOW DETAILS:STUART THOMAS: BAD FATTY, DURATION: 45 MINUTES, VENUE: THE CITY CAFE (NINETIES), 19 BLAIR ST, EDINBURGH EH1 1QR, TIME: 8:40PM, DATE: 18 TO 24 AUGUST 2025, TICKETS: FREE
Sutton always knew what she wanted for herwedding day, but when ‘something old’ walksdown the aisle, she’s forced to confront every choice she’s ever made. Sutton & Dana grew up together in their conservative country town. Dana was invited but never RSVP-ed. Dana isn’t in attendance.Instead, we meet the confident trans adult they’ve become. Their name is Dan. Em Tambree’s “striking debut” is an ode to the complex intersectionality of being LGBTIQA+and a person of faith
DATES: 30 July – 25 August TIME: 2.50PM VENUE: Underbelly George Square, The Wee Coo 🐄Full: £12.50 / Concession: £11.50
Luke Thornborough and Alchemy Theatre Presents ALONE George Square, THE BOX 30 Jul -24 Aug | 13:00 (No shows 11th/20th)
ALONE is a heart-racing, feminist sci-fi thriller unfolding in real-time aboard a dying spacecraft. Two women—one a brilliant but overlooked scientist, the other a talented pilot—hold Earth’s last hope. As the ship fails, so does their trust in each other, forcing them to confront both the ticking clock and the fractures between them. Set against the backdrop of climate collapse, ALONE explores the silencing of women in STEM, the search for meaning, and what it truly takes to survive. Tense, emotional, and deeply relevant.
“Like nothing we’ve seen on stage before” ★★★★★ West End Best Friend
“It was as though the characters were a small part of them” ★★★★★ North West End UK
Show Title: ALONE Venue: George Square, THE BOX Time: 13:00 Dates: 30 Jul -24 Aug Tickets: from £15 Bookings: www.assemblyfestival.com or 0131 623 3030
The Australian dancer fuses sexy choreography and touching theatricality to take a stand against ableism.
His whole life, the Australian disabled dancer Dan Daw has been told that he’s ‘brave’ or ‘an inspiration’. Now, he’s turning the spotlight inward, to find his own truth through a subject that holds the power to both challenge and liberate: kink.
This daring International Festival debut fuses sexy choreography and touching theatricality to take a stand against the disabling forces of society. Joined by collaborator Christopher Owen, Daw reclaims power through domination and submission – on his own terms. Through the lens of identity, kink becomes an act of defiance and radical self-acceptance in this hybrid work directed by Mark Maughan.
Nominated for multiple dance awards, The Dan Daw Show peeps into the push-pull of living with shame while bursting with pride. Exploring intimacy and resilience, this is an uplifting performance about letting go and reclaiming yourself.
Before each performance there will be an Access Drop-In session. Find out more.
Sat 2 Aug8.00pm Captioned, Relaxed performance Book now
Sun 3 Aug8.00pm BSL Interpreted, Captioned, Relaxed performance, Post Show Talk Book now
Mon 4 Aug8.00pm Audio Described, Captioned, Relaxed performance Book now
Jessica Durand: Over The Top
War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing…. except really good fanfiction
It’s 1914. The Great War is destroying Europe. Except it’s actually 2025 and Jessica Durand is (very bravely) staging her very own self-insert Downton Abbey fanfiction for a live audience.
An absurd one-woman love letter to fandom, queer villainy and trench warfare. No prior knowledge of Downton Abbey (or WWI) is required.
A Pound of FleshWhat if Portia never came to Venice?
Who is the queerest character in Shakespeare? Antonio in The Merchant of Venice? Unmarried, he protests his love for young Bassanio and lends him money with no guarantee it will be repaid. He borrows three thousand ducats from his enemy Shylock so that Bassanio can go to Belmont in the hope of marrying the beautiful Portia. Even when he isunable to repay the debt and is threatened with death at Shylock’s hand, Antonio has no regrets. He may die but at least he can say that in Bassanio he once had a love. Luckily for him, at the last moment, Portia comes to court to save the merchant’s life.
What about Bassanio? Does he love Antonio with the same intensity? He coaxes money from the merchant to woo Portia – an heiress who just happens to be rich as well as beautiful. Or is Bassanio no more than a hustler coaxing money from a besotted older man – money for his own pleasure and money to get an even wealthier wife? What are Bassanio’s real feelings for Antonio?
And what if Portia never reached Venice? Martin Foreman’s A Pound of Flesh offers a different ending for the play and new perspectives on the central characters. In this version Antonio is troubled by his deep longing for Bassanio; Bassanio comes to terms with his own greed; Shylock – a woman in this production – retains her anger; and Portia is frustrated by fate. Tragedy is inevitable, but what form it takes is uncertain until the end.
“Without thy breath, without thy love, this world must be a haunted room wherein thy ghost no longer grants this mortal audience.”
In this fifty minute drama premiering at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, five talented actors bring A Pound of Flesh to life: Gabriel Bird as Antonio, Millie Deere as Portia, Danielle Farrow as Shylock, Ollie Hiemann as Bassanio and Michael Robert-Brown as the Doge of Venice and other parts. Sound is by Dug Campbell. Shakespeare’s words are combined with new writing that echoes the Bard’s rhythm and imagery. In addition to creating the play, Martin Foreman directs, in one of the Fringe’s most popular venues in the heart of the Scottish capital.
“What a funny honest treat.” TIMES **** “An inspiration.” SCOTSMAN ****
“Please, sir, I want some more…Miriam!” the public asked. Having sold every ticket in 2024, the iconic award-winning actress, TV personality and author Miriam Margolyes returns to the Pleasance EICC at the Edinburgh Fringe for 14 dates from 9th – 24th August.More characters, more Dickens, and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics. At 84, Miriam’s energy and passion are undimmed and her performance as electric as ever.
After beguiling you with her love of Dickens its then over to the audience to provide questions for an unfiltered free-for-all of outrageous honesty, hilarious new anecdotes and unapologetic opinions. More laughs.
“Same old c**t, even older but so enjoying the thought of another go with Mr. Dickens…and you! It could be the last time, but don’t bank on it!”MIRIAM MARGOLYES 2025
Miriam’s many passions includes her love for radio and is highly outspoken on talk shows, for which she is much in demand. She loves Martha Argerich and Cecilia Bartoli. She is a lesbian, a non-believing Jew and an Arsenal fan. She loathes Trump, Boris Johnson and Modi. She loves India, food, politics and Italy.
Born in Oxford and educated at Cambridge and now a dual UK and Australian citizen, Miriam Margolyes is a veteran of stage and screen, who has achieved success on both sides of the Atlantic. She was Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (parts II & 8). Her numerous other major films include Yentl, Little Shop of Horrors, I Love You To Death, End of Days, Sunshine, Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence, Cold Comfort Farm and Magnolia. Amongst her many awards, she won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for The Age of Innocence and was awarded the OBE for her services to drama in 2002. She was the voice of the Matchmaker in Mulan and Fly, the mother dog, in Babe. MORE INCREDIBLE RATINGS FROM MIRIAM’S EDINBURGH FRINGE SHOW 2024:
THE STAGE **** DAILY RECORD ***** PLAYBILL ***** THE NATIONAL ****
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL MAGAZINE **** ENTERTAINMENT NOW ****
NORTH WEST END ***** CORR BLIMEY ***** ONE4REVIEW ***** SCOTSUP *****
Queer Scotland 