Giving Tuesday is only 7 days away and we need you to get involved!

On Tuesday 2nd December, we are participating in Giving Tuesday. By getting involved, you’ll help us make fabulous theatre in 2026 and provide more opportunities for learning-disabled adults to participate in the arts.

Whether little or large, every donation truly goes a long way. For example:

• £10 – makes it possible for an actor to attend a Tuesday evening ensemble session.
• £50 – provides a lead support worker for that session, making sure our participants are safe and supported.
• £100 – will help us rehearse for our public shared readings at the Traverse Theatre in January 2026.
• £1000 – covers our actors’ costs to take to the stage for those rehearsed readings.

This Giving Tuesday, please consider supporting Lung Ha Theatre Company. For over 40 years, we have been raising expectations of how learning-disabled people can proudly make fabulous theatre. Your support now sparks more creative opportunities and helps us make more award-winning productions.

You can donate now or on Giving Tuesday by clicking the link here. Alternatively, contact info@lungha.com to discuss how you can make a difference.

Lung Ha Touring Company to Present Rehearsed Readings at the Traverse Theatre in January 2026

25 November 20252 December 2025

Lung Ha Touring Company is delighted to present rehearsed readings of short plays written by two of our Ensemble actors at the Traverse Theatre in January 2026.

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Read more about how you can support us to proudly make fabulous theatre.

Lung Ha Touring Company is delighted to present rehearsed readings of short plays written by two Lung Ha Theatre Company Ensemble actors, taking place at the Traverse Theatre in January 2026!

Lung Ha Touring Company is focused on actor training and making new, smaller scale plays. January’s rehearsed readings will showcase:

A FISHY TALE IN ANSTRUTHER

By Emma Clark

Outside Kurt’s beachside restaurant in Anstruther, two ladies defend their fish and chips from a couple of greedy seagulls. But all is not what it seems… Slapstick, mystery and even the odd song combine in a frenetic tale of strange recipes, budding romance and fishy redemption.    

YUI’S UNIQUE ADVENTURE

By Emma McCaffrey

Yui loves telling stories… except for real ones where she is the main character. But everyone says those are the stories they prefer to hear (so long as they don’t interrupt). Based on the testimonies of autistic people gathered over a twenty-year period, Yui is an exploration of childhood, the fear of change, and living with an often-misunderstood condition. 

_{Yui contains themes of bullying, abuse, death and suicide.}

The readings will take place at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh on Thursday 22nd & Friday 23rd January 2026, beginning at 7pm. Each performance will conclude with a short post-show Q&A.

Tickets are on-sale now and can be booked directly through the Traverse Theatre website below!

A Fishy Tale in Anstruther / Yui’s Unique Adventure

22 – 23 January 2026

Lung Ha Touring Company present rehearsed readings of short plays written by two of our Ensemble actors.

Lung Ha Touring Company

Lung Ha Touring Company provides further opportunities for performers to create and tour new and existing work, with bespoke and specialist actor training.

In honour of Trustees’ Week 2025, we’re shining a spotlight on the four new members to have joined the Lung Ha Board of Trustees throughout this past year:

Ali Forbes is a senior marketing and audience specialist with over 15 years’ experience working with world-leading cultural organisations and charities, including the National Theatre and the Royal Academy of Arts. Early in her career, Ali worked with Lung Ha at the Traverse Theatre and was inspired by their work. She is now delighted to support Lung Ha’s mission to champion learning-disabled artists and fabulous theatre.

David Greig is a playwright, screenwriter and theatre director whose original plays and adaptations have been performed widely in Scotland and around the world, including Midsummer, The Events, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Local Hero and The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart.

Pooja Joshi is a seasoned financial auditor with a deep passion for the arts and a firm belief in the power of creative expression to inspire, connect and empower people. She was drawn to Lung Ha’s commitment to inclusive and accessible theatre and is delighted to contribute her expertise in a setting that celebrates creativity and community.

Wendy West has been involved with Lung Ha for many years, having previously worked for the Company in the areas of development and fundraising beginning in November 2018. Wendy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with arts and heritage organisations.

We are delighted to welcome Ali, David, Pooja and Wendy to the Board!

We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge those whose time on the Board has come to an end, with Ailsa McLean, Allan Ramsay and Elizabeth Newman stepping down over the last 12 months (including after a staggering 10+ years of service from Ailsa!)

We sincerely thank all of our Trustees, past and present, for their incredible support, expertise, commitment and enthusiasm; we simply couldn’t do it without you.

Actors, Staff, Support & Board Profiles

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Lung Ha Theatre Company is looking for new volunteers to join our fabulous support team, looking ahead to our next production.

Our volunteers support and encourage our learning disabled and autistic actors to work to the best of their abilities, while participating fully in workshops and rehearsals (including warm up exercises, movement and improvisations). There will be opportunities to support our actors onstage and backstage during performances, as well as providing support in the rehearsals leading up to the performances.

We are looking for new volunteers aged 18+ who are passionate about theatre and performance, who are open minded and willing to learn, and who will respect the rights and experience of our learning disabled actors. We are particularly keen to hear from new volunteers who are interested in supporting our actors on-stage and/or have daytime availability on weekdays throughout May/June 2026.

Some volunteers choose to undertake additional training to become a Lead Support Worker with us. If this is of interest, please let us know in your application. 

For more information, please go to: https://www.lungha.com/support-team/

Here’s just a sample of what members of Lung Ha Theatre Company’s Support Team have said about volunteering with us:

It’s been fun to do something very different to my day to day job, and to meet lots of great new people who are so warm and friendly. It’s just a lovely community to be part of. It has made me more confident and it’s something I always look forward to.

I enjoyed the level of professionalism across the whole company. The dedication, creativity and enthusiasm of each person involved was truly inspiring.

Working with Lung Ha puts a totally different perspective on life compared to your day job. It is meaningful and people are so committed the actors, volunteers, staff and drama leaders.

It is such an enriching, important part of the Scottish theatre scene and I’m glad to be a small part of it.

Support Team

More Info and How To Apply

Lung Ha Theatre Company, Scotland’s award-winning theatre company for actors with a learning disability, is once again accepting applications to join Lung Ha Across Scotland!

This is a programme of free weekly online drama workshops for people with learning disabilities who live outside Edinburgh, or who for other reasons cannot attend the Lung Ha Ensemble sessions in person. The programme will be run by artists Fiona Mackinnon and Ryan Duncan, with a series of exciting workshops on specialist skills such as acting for screen, movement and devising theatre.

It will run from Monday 27th October 2025 until Monday 9th March 2026, with a winter break from mid-December to early January 2026. Workshops will be on Zoom on Monday evenings between 6pm and 7.30pm. 

You do not need to have any previous drama experience to join Lung Ha Across Scotland. All we ask is that you have a real interest and commitment to joining in, an interest in learning about theatre and acting skills and that you enjoy working with other people. You must also be able to commit to attending every Monday evening throughout the programme.

To apply, just fill in the application form at this link: https://forms.office.com/e/7GGNwSmr6N

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 1st October at 5pm. Auditions are scheduled to take place online (in the form of a short, informal interview on Zoom) on Monday 13th October 2025.

You can find some further details in the information pack below, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact info@lungha.com or call 0131 221 9568.

Scotland’s leading theatre company for actors and theatre makers with a learning disability and autism is seeking new Trustees to join our Board on a part-time, voluntary basis. 

We have been proving since 1984 that disabled people have a place on the stage. Across those forty years, we have produced over 50 original theatre productions featuring more than 500 learning-disabled actors. Not only do we provide opportunities to perform on stage, but we also offer pathways to inspire new interests and nurture creative development through our bespoke, supported programmes. 

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to get involved with Lung Ha as a Member of the Board of Trustees. As a trustee, you will help guide the charity’s strategic direction, ensure it is well-run and financially sustainable, and act in line with its purposes and the law. Trustees share responsibility for good governance, always acting in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.  

We are an inclusive organisation and we seek applications from those with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have skills and experience in finance and in fundraising. We are also interested in hearing from those who have historically been marginalised from board representation. 

This is a voluntary position; however, reasonable expenses can be agreed in advance. Reasonable expenses might include travel, childcare costs or access costs. If you are unsure about what constitutes a reasonable expense, please ask. 

Please also note that there will be a requirement to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. 

How to apply 

In order to apply, or to find out more information, please email info@lungha.com with a CV and a cover letter detailing what interests you about becoming a Member of the Board of Trustees, as well as any questions you may have. Please use the subject line Board of Trustees Application. 

Please let us know your preferred method of communication as well as any access requirements. 

Deadline: 12pm (noon) Wednesday 1st October 

We expect interviews to take place in early October. Please inform us if you have any particular commitments during this time.

_{© Mihaela Bodlovic}

A story of determination, resilience and community, The Bush tells the true story of a group of women who campaigned to save a patch of land from development in Australia.

Written and performed as a solo piece by Alice Mary Cooper, The Bush is an hour with both comedic and emotional moments, while also being a show that allows the audience time to pause for thought. Through Cooper’s incredible storytelling, she is able to draw the audience into the story and keep them enthralled from start to finish. The incredibly intimate venue (Beneath at The Pleasance) allows the piece to be peaceful yet moving at the same time and makes the audience feel like they are part of the story.

★★★★★

Review by Gavin Yule

Venue: Beneath at Pleasance Courtyard

Dates: Wed 30 Jul – Tue 12 Aug 2025

Time: 2.20pm

Run has now ended.

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Stand-up comedy, musical brilliance, side-splitting storytelling, all converging in the GENIUS that is the one & only BILL BAILEY!

A man who can turn his hand to any instrument ever created (even the Laser Harp), and with such comedic and musical excellence, Bill Bailey is electric on the Playhouse stage, engaging with the audience at every turn!

Bill Bailey makes you as an audience member feel like it’s just him and you having a good time at the pub, with comedy and music, just chatting and laughing over a drink and having good vibes all round. This show is definitely one of the most unique this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival has to offer.

Don’t miss your chance to see this showstopper of a show because when it’s gone, it’s gone! Get your tickets now! Don’t keep Mr Bill Bailey waiting! This is a Rappers’ Delight of a show from the former Strictly winner.

★★★★★

Review by Nicky Tuxworth

Venue: Edinburgh Playhouse

Dates: 23rd-24th Aug

Time: 8pm (23rd Aug), 3pm & 8pm (24th Aug)

Run has now ended.

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Do you love & live for musicals and dark whimsical comedic laughs?…

And a show that is definitely NOT for kids?!…

In that case, the doctor has your prescription: one dose of Potty The Plant a day! This naughty little gem is all you need for your five-a-day.

This show was the best show I have seen this year, with a perfect mix of great characters, great musical numbers and an action packed storyline! (And plenty of cheeky adult themes!)

Come to this quirky Little Shop of Horrors meets Sesame Street show! Scooby Don’t miss your chance to see Potty The Plant – it’s not too be missed (but be warned, This Is NOT A Show For Children!)

★★★★★

Review by Nicky Tuxworth

Venue: Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower (Braeburn)

Dates: 30th July-11th Aug, 13th-24th Aug

Time: 2.45pm

Run has now ended.

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_{© Craig Sugden}

The Ruckus Circus Show is a perfect way to kick-start your afternoon!

Come and join Nancy and her friends for an hour of circus delight and empowerment.

This girl group of stunning French Canadians is a treat to watch!!

With their many great talents and a touch of Celine Dion magic dust, this show isn’t to be missed as they jump, flip and soar into your heart!

This is a girls’ night out party style show!

It will have you doing cartwheels all over this year’s Festival.

★★★★

Review by Nicky Tuxworth

Venue: The Beauty at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows

Dates: 2nd -10th, 12th-17th, 19th-23rd Aug

Time: 1.05pm

Run has now ended.

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A once close-knit family unit hanging by a thread, old friendships put to the test and buried feelings coming to light as Without Compromise Theatre presents Wish You Were Here at The Edinburgh Fringe.

Set in Glenrothes, the show explores the dark themes of drug culture, homophobia and relationships. The themes of the play are explored brilliantly throughout in a script written by the company’s in-house writer Michael Johnson, who also performs in the piece. Each member of the small cast delivers a strong yet moving performance and gives depth to their character.

Though hard hitting at times, the show is both extremely funny and moving and may resonate with a lot of people.

★★★★★

Review by Gavin Yule

Venue: theSpace @ Niddry Street

Dates: 17th – 19th Aug

Time: 5.05pm

Run has now ended.

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Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute act The False Seasons, performing at Le Monde in George Street, were very entertaining throughout and even had some comedy thrown in, which the audience enjoyed. They sang all of the favourite hits from throughout the years. The audience were clapping and singing along the whole time.

One of my favourite songs from the performance was “Grease is the Word”, where the combination of their talented singing and comedy made me feel like I was watching the real Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons! Their performance of “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” was a big hit with the crowd.

I would recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of the Four Seasons or music from the ’60s & ’70s.

★★★★

Review by Keith Watson

Venue: Shanghai at Le Monde, George St

Dates: 5th – 17th Aug

Time: 2.30pm

Run has now ended.

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