The Next Big Number? New Musicals Take Centre Stage at theSpaceUK

From rock reimaginings of Shakespeare and mythological epics to intimate chamber pieces, fantasy adventures and laugh-out-loud comedies, there's an extraordinary collection of brand-new musicals making their Edinburgh Fringe premieres in 2026. Highlights include:

• Shakespeare with a stadium-rock soundtrack in the fierce gender-swapped ’Beth
• Mafia bosses who settle scores in song in This Little Thing of Ours
• An intimate one-man musical told entirely through phone calls in 1 Missed Call
• Ancient myths reimagined through folk, fantasy and contemporary musical storytelling
• New voices from the UK and around the world, with companies arriving from New Zealand, China, Canada and beyond
• Unauthorised comedy, paranormal mysteries, queer love stories, historical journeys, theme park mayhem and much more besides...

This year, theSpaceUK is home to more than twenty brand-new musicals making their Fringe debut. Here's the lowdown on the best in brand new musicals at this year's fringe:

’Beth (Ashville, Harrogate)

Macbeth gets turned up to eleven in this electrifying rock musical that swaps Scotland’s infamous king for the fiercely ambitious ‘Beth. Experienced entirely through individual headsets, Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy becomes an adrenaline-fuelled modern musical.

1 Missed Call (Chris Duke)

A missed call becomes the starting point for an intimate one-man musical exploring masculinity, fatherhood and the pressures so many men quietly carry. Told entirely through a series of phone conversations that transform into song, this emotional new work peels back the layers of masculinity.

Spraywatch (Low Fat Productions)

What happens when a sun-soaked American lifeguard lands in a struggling British seaside town? Chaos, comedy and suspiciously dangerous waters. Described as Barbie meets The Book of Mormon, this gloriously unauthorised musical comedy is packed with outrageous seaside absurdity.

Heracles: Of Men and Beasts (The Barden Party)

The acclaimed New Zealand company brings an innovative folk musical that looks beyond the legend to explore the man behind one of Greek mythology’s greatest heroes. Live looping transforms a single musician into an entire band as themes of identity, power and humanity unfold beneath a striking 1940s Hollywood-inspired aesthetic.

Herstory in History (Fu Studio)

Inspired by the real life of a Chinese musical theatre performer, this moving new musical follows an actress who begins questioning the roles women have been expected to play throughout history.

Left: Heracles: Of Men and Beasts
Right: Fantasy World Adventures Mega Park! The Musical

A World Apart (Frog in a Pot Productions)

Best friends separated by continents find their lives drifting in unexpected directions in this witty new musical about friendship, ambition and the meaning of home. Sharp, rapid-fire lyrics meet lush jazz orchestrations as two women confront the realities behind the lives they’ve built—and the ones they imagined.

Knight’s Dream (Muchadoaboutmusicals)

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream gets a mischievous late-night makeover inside a bar where romance, reputations and a mysterious love drug collide. With catchy pop and jazz-inspired songs, this dark musical comedy is full of humour and unexpected twists.

The Ballad of Isobel Gunn (Melanie Gall)

The remarkable true story of Scottish explorer Isobel Gunn becomes a stirring new Scottish-Canadian musical. Travelling across the Canadian wilderness disguised as a man in the early nineteenth century, Gunn’s extraordinary life is celebrated in this musical that shines a light on a forgotten historical pioneer.

Midnight Train to Nowhere (Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society)

A seemingly ordinary tube journey becomes anything but in this haunting paranormal musical. As mysterious passengers reveal surprising truths about time, love and humanity, six interconnected lives slowly come into focus.

BeetleMania (Chevron Theatre)

It’s 1963 and five hopeful performers are waiting to audition as the support act for the Beetles before their American tour. Countdown-style comedy, backstage rivalries and plenty of 1960s-inspired musical nostalgia combine in this joyful story of friendship.

The Perfect Match (Matchstick Productions)

A power cut throws two strangers together in this charming chamber musical about connection, creativity and unexpected romance. As darkness removes first impressions, Rowan and Charlie discover whether their relationship can survive when the lights finally come back on.

Music & Murder By… (Jessica Welsh and Wikus van der Hoven)

Creative differences prove deadly in this deliciously dark new musical comedy. When two writers decide murder might be easier than collaboration, events spiral further out of control with the arrival of a faded Broadway diva whose own plans are anything but innocent.

The Tears of Nerakhis (Studio Platero)

Epic fantasy meets contemporary musical storytelling in this fully sung-through tale of gods, love and rebellion. Adapted from a fantasy novel, the story follows Calanthe and Alea in a sweeping adventure filled with myth, environmental themes and unforgettable music.

Left: 'Beth
Right: Trains in the Night

This Little Thing of Ours (MB Musicals)

Forget gangland violence—this Mafia family settles its disputes with showstopping musical numbers. With larger-than-life characters, family rivalries and tongue firmly in cheek, this comedy musical proves that even organised crime deserves a big Broadway finale.

Trains in the Night (Maiden Mother Moan)

A tender coming-of-age musical about friendship, love and all the things left unsaid. Years of late-night phone calls, near misses and carefully avoided feelings have kept Celine and Margot apart, before becoming a heartfelt exploration of queer relationships and the courage it takes to finally tell someone how you feel.

Orpheus: A New Musical (Yorkshire CREATE)

Performed by talented young people from North Yorkshire, this fresh retelling of the Orpheus myth celebrates music’s ability to transform lives. Love, monsters, gods and the underworld collide in a timeless story that proves some legends are made to be sung.

What’s a Hen to Do (Sweet Nothings)

Wedding bells are ringing—but first comes one unforgettable hen party. With a cappella harmonies, heartfelt ballads and plenty of comic chaos, this lively musical explores friendship, secrets and whether harmony can survive one very eventful night before the wedding.

Fantasy World Adventures Mega Park! The Musical (FWAMP! Theatre Company)

Rollercoasters, dysfunctional staff and theme park disasters provide the backdrop for this fast-paced original comedy musical. Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, it’s a celebration of underdogs, family expectations and finding your place—even if that place happens to involve questionably designed rides.

Who We Are Now (Thaddeus Buttrey)

Blending the energy of a live rock concert with a coming-of-age drama, this new musical follows young musicians wrestling with memory, ambition and identity. Featuring a score that fuses progressive rock with indie punk to capture both the exhilaration and uncertainty of growing up.

Press Releases and Images for all shows can be found at theSpaceUK's Press Portal