Cathy
Cathy is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Traverse Theatre. It has 21 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 19:00 to Sun 30 Aug, 14:30. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Eilidh Loan is a young Scottish writer. Her first play, Moorcroft was a true story based upon her dad's amateur football team, and opened to critical acclaim when she directed it at the Tron in Glasgow. Cathy is a new comedy inspired by her grandmother, and how she dealt with the grief in her unique way after losing her husband. Cathy, Eilidh's grandmother, insisted that Elaine C Smith must play her and so she is. Joining her will be Michele Gallager, Chloe Hodgson, Alan Orr and Sally Reid.
Details
- Venue: Traverse Theatre
- Space: Traverse 1
- Genre: THEATRE, Drama, New writing
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - SCOTLAND
- Running time: 80 minutes
- Room size: about 214 seats (Traverse 1) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 21, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Audio described performances, Captioned performances, BSL signed performances
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Traverse 1 has a steep rake so if you have any access requirements, there is level access into the building via lift. Duty Manager will show customers into the theatre to their seat/space. If not taking the lift there are 29 steep steps from the bar Bar to Stage Level of Traverse 1. Wheelchair access type:Lift (Building Lift) Stairs: 20+ 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 13 published reviews and 22 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.
Smith transports her audience from hilarity to heartache in the turn of a phrase.
— Must See Theatre (5 out of 5 stars)
There is a great deal to admire here (not least Smith’s performance of the sharp, complicated Cathy) but as a production it never quite lives up to its promise.
— All Edinburgh Theatre (3 out of 5 stars)
Eilidh Loan’s follow up to Moorcroft, is a family drama about grief and a formidable matriarch. The eponymous Cathy, played to perfection by Elaine C. Smith is crushed by the loss of her husband Tommy.
— Neurodiverse Review (5 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 19:00 — Already performed — £22.50
- Sat 8 Aug, 11:00 — Already performed — £22.50
- Sun 9 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Tue 11 Aug, 18:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Wed 12 Aug, 11:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Thu 13 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Fri 14 Aug, 18:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Sat 15 Aug, 11:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Sun 16 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Tue 18 Aug, 18:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Wed 19 Aug, 11:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Thu 20 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Fri 21 Aug, 18:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Sat 22 Aug, 11:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Sun 23 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Tue 25 Aug, 18:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Wed 26 Aug, 11:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Thu 27 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Fri 28 Aug, 18:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Sat 29 Aug, 11:30 — Already performed — £27.50
- Sun 30 Aug, 14:30 — Already performed — £27.50