Pre-Edinburgh Preview Fest

Are you taking work to the Edinburgh Fringe this year?

Or developing a piece that deserves to be seen before it heads north?

The Playground Theatre invites artists to present their work as part of our Pre-Edinburgh Festival Showcase: a curated season designed to support artists in the crucial lead-up to the Fringe.

This is your opportunity to share your show with a live London audience, refine your performance, and build momentum before the festival begins.

Why Take Part?

Preparing for Edinburgh is exciting and demanding. Our showcase offers a professional, supportive environment where you can:

Test new material in front of a live audience

Refine structure, pacing, and performance

Build early word-of-mouth and audience buzz

Invite industry professionals and press

Strengthen your marketing assets with live photography and audience feedback

Step into the Fringe with confidence and clarity

Whether your piece is an early work-in-progress or a near-finished production, this platform is designed to help you sharpen and strengthen your show.

Who Can Apply?

We welcome bold, original work across disciplines, including:

Theatre

Comedy

Cabaret

Spoken Word

Music

Dance

Genre-defying and interdisciplinary performance

If your work is heading to Edinburgh, or deserves to be, we want to hear from you.

What We’re Looking For:

We are seeking work that is:

Artistically ambitious

Engaging for a live audience

Ready to benefit from a preview platform

Excited to be part of a dynamic, collaborative season

The showcase is curated to ensure a vibrant and varied programme that reflects the spirit of discovery at the heart of festival culture.

Apply Now

Applications are now open.

If you’re ready to test, refine and launch your show with confidence, we invite you to submit your project and join us for an exciting season of discovery and celebration before Edinburgh begins.