Irrational
Irrational is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Scottish Storytelling Centre. It has 11 performances listed, running from Thu 6 Aug, 18:15 to Sun 16 Aug, 18:15. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
'The diagonal of the square is incommensurable with its side.' Few words, but with unexpected implications: a number like this – neither whole nor fraction, thinkable but unknowable, wild, irrational – is a chaos element threatening the very order of things. The step from mathematics to heresy is short, and in Pythagoras’ time, mathematics could even cost you your life. A performance balancing mathematics and storytelling, where the story of Hippasus of Metapontum becomes an occasion to reflect on the role of mathematics in Western culture.
Details
- Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
- Space: George Mackay Brown Library
- Genre: THEATRE, Experimental, Storytelling
- Country: ITALY
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 35 seats (George Mackay Brown Library) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 11, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: level
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: There is step free access at the John Knox House entrance of the building, the main entrance door for Storytelling Centre has 9 steps leading up to to it from street level. If not taking the lift there is then a total of 17 steps up to the library (9 steps, a landing, and then 8 additional steps). All guests enter library through same door once inside the building. Wheelchair access type:Level Access, 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 1 published review and 5 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.
a fun and intimate hour of storytelling that will put a smile on your face and hopefully not give anyone anxiety about doing algebraic calculations.
— British Theatre Guide (3 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Thu 6 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £10.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 20:00 — Already performed
- Wed 12 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 20:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 20:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 18:15 — Already performed — £14.00