Festival Theatre Edinburgh
- Box office 0131 529 6000
- General enquiries 0131 662 1112
- Website www.capitaltheatres.com
With its impressive Colin Ross-designed three-story glass façade, the former Empire Palace Theatre is at once welcoming and grand. It boasts one of the largest stages in the UK; so big that it has occasionally been converted into a studio theatre with room to spare. The auditorium seats over 1900 people on three levels. Maintaining a tradition for variety that dates back nearly two centuries, it programmes everything from popular comedy to classical opera. Not only is it the capital’s home for Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera, it is also one of the cornerstones of the Edinburgh International Festival and, thanks to investment in cutting edge projection equipment, the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Having built a reputation as a leading dance house, it hosts a cutting-edge contemporary dance season alongside large-scale musicals, international ballet productions and a variety of one-night musical and comedy events. At street level, Café Lucia is open daily, and there are bars on each floor open on performance days in addition to private function rooms. The same management runs the King's Theatre.
Events at this venue
There are 21 events at this location
Sorted by title / date & time
2:22 A Ghost Story
The new stage phenomenon that has taken the West End by storm now on tour. Winner of Best New Play at the Whatsonstage Awards, this edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller is written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny & The Battersea Poltergeist, and comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at…
Tue 26 Sep
£18–£44 (£15–£41; Children £15–£41) / 0131 529 6000
Wed 27 Sep
£18–£44 (£15–£41; Children £15–£41) / 0131 529 6000
Thu 28 Sep
£18–£44 (£15–£41; Children £15–£41) / 0131 529 6000
Backstage Tour
The Festival Theatre sits on Edinburgh’s longest continuous theatre site, has played host to everyone from David Bowie to The Great Lafayette, and burned down twice. Want to find out more, or just stand on stage and feel like a star? This backstage tour is a great chance to go behind the scenes; see the workings of the…
Sat 7 Oct
£15 (Children £12) / 0131 529 6000
Sat 4 Nov
£15 (Children £12) / 0131 529 6000
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Embark on a thrilling night of adventure with a brand-new collection of short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival! The Banff Mountain Film Festival UK & Ireland Tour features collections of the best films from the world's most prestigious mountain film festival. The 2023 Red and Blue film…
Sat 27 Jan 2024
£17.50 (£15.50; Children £15.50) / 0131 529 6000
Barbara Dickson
The songstress explores her catalogue of songs in an acoustic performance with the support of her pianist Nick Holland.
Sun 11 Feb 2024
£30–£35 / 0131 529 6000
The Barber of Seville - Scottish Opera
The action centres around Figaro, one of opera’s most delightful characters and perhaps the only voice of reason in a world of young love and old foolishness. When Count Almaviva sets his sights on the beautiful Rosina, he enlists Figaro – barber, fixer, and all-round man of action – to help woo her. It is no easy feat…
Fri 3 Nov
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Sun 5 Nov
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Wed 8 Nov
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Sat 11 Nov
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Bluey's Big Play
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an…
Thu 20 Jun 2024
£16.50–£27.50 (Children £13.50–£24.50) / 0131 529 6000
Bonnie & Clyde
Two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere became the biggest folk heroes in all America. They craved adventure—and each other. Their names were Bonnie and Clyde.
Tue 2 Jul 2024
£22.50–£48 (£19.50–£45; Children £19.50–£45) / 0131 529 6000
Wed 3 Jul 2024
£22.50–£48 (£19.50–£45; Children £19.50–£45) / 0131 529 6000
Cinders
Scottish Ballet’s festive favourite returns for the winter season with a new name, glittering new designs, including a stunning art-nouveau-inspired set, and a charming twist to the tale. We all deserve our own ‘Cinderella moment’ and this year Scottish Ballet takes us one step closer to that dream, with a surprise in…
Fri 5 Jan 2024
£26–£54 (£23–£51; Children £23–£51) / 0131 529 6000
Sun 7 Jan 2024
£26–£54 (£23–£51; Children £23–£51) / 0131 529 6000
Dracula: Mina's Reckoning
Not for the faint-hearted, Morna Pearson’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic tale is filled with her trademark humour and taste for the strange and grotesque. This gothic production transposes the action to Scotland amid the wild beauty of the landscapes of the northeast which originally inspired the novel. With an…
Wed 11 Oct
£18–£38.50 (£15–£35.50; Children £15–£35.50) / 0131 529 6000
Thu 12 Oct
£18–£38.50 (£15–£35.50; Children £15–£35.50) / 0131 529 6000
Fri 13 Oct
£18–£38.50 (£15–£35.50; Children £15–£35.50) / 0131 529 6000
Edinburgh Gang Show
After an amazing return last year, the Edinburgh Gang Show is well and truly back and ready for another brilliant week of making memories and bringing joy to Edinburgh. Over 250 young people from South East Scotland Scouts and Girlguiding Edinburgh will light up the Festival Theatre with energetic, hilarious and moving…
Tue 14 Nov
£14–£20 / 0131 529 6000
Wed 15 Nov
£14–£20 / 0131 529 6000
Thu 16 Nov
£14–£20 / 0131 529 6000
Hamilton
- Directed by: Andy Blankenbuehler, Thomas Kail
- Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda (music & lyrics)
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical about Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers, who served as chief staff aide to General George Washington and was killed in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. Directed by Thomas Kail.
Wed 28 Feb 2024
£23.50–£98 (£20.50–£95; Children £20.50–£95) / 0131 529 6000
Thu 29 Feb 2024
£23.50–£98 (£20.50–£95; Children £20.50–£95) / 0131 529 6000
Fri 1 Mar 2024
£23.50–£98 (£20.50–£95; Children £20.50–£95) / 0131 529 6000
Life Of Pi
Based on the best-selling book by Yann Martel, the five-star hit show comes to Edinburgh. Winner of five Olivier Awards, including Best New Play! After conquering the West End and Broadway, the five star ‘theatrical phenomenon’ (Telegraph) embarks on its biggest adventure yet. Jaw-dropping visuals and world-class puppetry…
Tue 25 Jun 2024
£27–£51 (£24–£48; Children £24–£48) / 0131 529 6000
Wed 26 Jun 2024
£27–£51 (£24–£48; Children £24–£48) / 0131 529 6000
Lost In Music – One Night At The Disco
Get ready to recreate the Magical '70s and let us take you on a musical journey straight to the heart of Disco! Relive some of the greatest songs of all time from Artists such as Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and Chic.
Sun 15 Oct
£32 (£29; Children £29) / 0131 529 6000
The Magic of Motown
Seen by over a million people! It’s no surprise that this show is one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history. Come celebrate our brand-new show as we Reach Out and show you there Ain’t No Mountain High Enough with the biggest Motown party of the year. Get ready for all the hits, glittering costumes…
Thu 25 Jan 2024
Prices to be confirmed / 0131 529 6000
The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan
Join Peter Pan as he sets sail on a brand-new adventure.
Scottish Ballet's Swan Lake
Lose yourself in the raw intensity of this sleek and unmissable ballet, finally returning to Scotland after its sell-out 2016 debut. The strong, graceful Odette captivates young and lonely Siegfried, their duets are powered by emotional honesty. She flies across the stage towards him, flanked by shifting formations of…
Thu 2 May 2024
£26–£51 (£23–£48) / 0131 529 6000
Fri 3 May 2024
£26–£51 (£23–£48) / 0131 529 6000
Scottish Ballet's Twice-Born
Dickson Mbi (UK) is an award-winning choreographer and world-renowned dancer in the Hip Hop dance community, whose collaborators include Robbie Williams, Black Eyed Peas, CHVRCHES and Russell Maliphant. His acclaimed popping skills are integral to the work that he creates today. He was nominated for Outstanding…
Fri 20 Oct
£23.50–£39.50 (£20.50–£36.50; Children £20.50–£36.50) / 0131 529 6000
Scottish Opera - Marx in London
The UK premiere of Jonathan Dove’s opera, a kinetic new production, plumbing the frivolity and profundity of one man’s existence.
Thu 22 Feb 2024
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Sat 24 Feb 2024
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Sister Act
Don’t miss this eagerly anticipated brand new production of the Broadway and UK smash hit musical Sister Act direct from London. All your prayers have been answered with a stunning cast, including TV and West End legend Lesley Joseph, West End sensation and Hairspray favourite Lizzie Bea and Emmerdale and Waitress star…
Mon 2 Oct
0131 529 6000
- 19:30 – 22:00
Wed 4 Oct
0131 529 6000
- 19:30 – 22:00
Thu 5 Oct
0131 529 6000
- 19:30 – 22:00
La traviata - Scottish Opera
This beloved production, which began life at Scottish Opera in 2008, has been seen at opera houses around the world. Violetta Valéry lives on borrowed time. In Paris’ hedonistic high society, she squeezes each day for its joys before her illness catches up with her. When the idealistic young Alfredo offers true love…
Fri 7 Jun 2024
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Sun 9 Jun 2024
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Tue 11 Jun 2024
£21.50–£96.50 (£18.50–£93.50; Children £13.50–£93.50) / 0131 529 6000
Treason - The Musical
Treason is the new musical drama about the notorious gunpowder plot of 1605, set to completely blow you away with stunning original folk and pop songs, this one-of-a-kind show tells one of the most intriguing tales in Britain’s history as it’s never been seen before. Treason explodes onto the stage this Autumn following…
Wed 25 Oct
£20.50–£44 (£17.50–£41; Children £17.50–£41) / 0131 529 6000
Thu 26 Oct
£20.50–£44 (£17.50–£41; Children £17.50–£41) / 0131 529 6000
Fri 27 Oct
£20.50–£44 (£17.50–£41; Children £17.50–£41) / 0131 529 6000
Sat 28 Oct
£20.50–£44 (£17.50–£41; Children £17.50–£41) / 0131 529 6000
