Penelope
Penelope is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Underbelly, Cowgate. It has 24 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 15:45 to Sun 30 Aug, 15:45. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Penelope waited twenty years for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War. Now she's ready to share her side of the story – but she's going to need a drink first. Starring Broadway's 'phenomenal' Grace McLean (New York Times), this contemporary chamber musical brings one of history's greatest epics to life through a Richard Rodgers Award-winning folk-pop score. Sharp, funny and unexpectedly moving – this is The Odyssey as Penelope always meant it to be told. 'The way this show's music wraps itself around the book and lyrics feels so thoroughly intimate it's nigh on sexual' (WashingtonPost.com).
Details
- Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
- Space: Belly Button
- Genre: OPERA, Folk, Theatre
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Running time: 65 minutes
- Room size: about 123 seats (Belly Button) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 24, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: There are 16 steps into this venue from the cowgate entrance. Stairs: 11- 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 9 published reviews and 59 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.
This gorgeous chamber musical is an electrifying tour de force. In an outstandingly expressive performance, dramatic soprano Grace McLean brings a huge emotional range to her portrayal of Penelope, the abandoned wife…
— Musical Theatre Review (5 out of 5 stars)
Haunting, heart-wrenching, Penelope is the kind of show that will linger. Featuring some of the best storytelling, music, and performance the Fringe has to offer this year, do not miss this theatrical voyage.
— All Edinburgh Theatre (4 out of 5 stars)
t’s a proper little Broadway hit hiding in Edinburgh and, judging by the fevered musical crowds in attendance, it may well be their new obsession. Grab a ticket now.
— one4review (4 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £9.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £9.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £9.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 15:45 — Already performed — £15.00