Atomic Tales
Atomic Tales is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at ZOO Playground. It has 23 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 15:15 to Sun 30 Aug, 15:15. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
A hymn to life in the darkest moments – 26 April 1986: Chernobyl nuclear power plant explodes in Ukraine. This intimate performance explores the deeply human side of the tragedy - not a reconstruction of events, but of emotions through the memories of Lyudmila, the wife of a firefighter. Her words are drawn from Prayer for Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich. Performed by one of Italy's most intense stage actresses, Elena Arvigo, 'a powerhouse performer... a devastatingly beautiful account of love that can overcome everything' * (BingeFringe.com). 'An urgent, harrowing, stunningly performed piece for the present age' * (BroadwayBaby.com).
Details
- Venue: ZOO Playground
- Space: Playground 1
- Genre: THEATRE, Solo show, Verbatim
- Country: ITALY
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 40 seats (Playground 1) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 23, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: level
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Through main door and down a short corridor. Wheelchair access type:Level Access Stairs: None Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.
What the reviewers said
We have captured 5 published reviews and 17 audience reviews for this show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s own listing. The excerpts below are the reviewers’ words, not ours — follow each link for the full review.
It has been just over 40 years since 26 April 1986, the fateful night when reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, in the small town of Pripyat, exploded.
— British Theatre Guide (5 out of 5 stars)
Vines cover the chairs and table in her abandoned Pripyat home. She moves them aside, sits quietly, pensively, and with delicate movements puts her wedding ring back on.
Elena Arvigo is Lyudmila, a woman whose husband walked into a burning reactor in Chernobyl. This is an intimate theatre piece about a catastrophe, but it’s not interested in the disaster itself.
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 15:15 — Already performed — £13.00