The Real Kyle McCarren
The Real Kyle McCarren is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Pleasance Courtyard. It has 26 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 13:50 to Sun 30 Aug, 13:50. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Welcome to Upstate Wherever, USA. Way back in the year two-thousand-who-cares, Kyle and Andy were more than friends, dammit – they were bandmates! But the real Kyle McCarren was a complicated dude. Well, an asshole. Worst of all, he's dead – and he won't let Andy forget it. Sometimes the easiest way to tell people about a buddy of yours is to write a show. In this musical-meets-live concert séance that's equal parts Bo Burnham and Tick, Tick... Boom!, you're invited to meet the legend himself.
Details
- Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
- Space: Forth
- Genre: OPERA, Musical theatre, Live Music
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Running time: 75 minutes
- Room size: about 257 seats (Forth) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 26, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Hearing loop
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Queue in cobbled courtyard. Access to space via locked lift, please notify venue ahead of your visit if you require use of the lift and ask at Info Shed upon arrival for access. Lift dimensions are 1560mm x 1400mm, max. weight 1000kg. Performance space is on Fourth floor up 15 steps on a permanent metal staircase with handrails. 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 6 published 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.
There is something deeply engaging about The Real Kyle McCarren, a terrific new American musical about death, friendship and everything in between that catches you completely unawares but delivers a huge emotional…
— My Cultural Life (5 out of 5 stars)
4.5 stars Death can be a difficult subject to navigate, especially in a Fringe show with only 75 minutes to tell the story. Yet Roninson and McVerry bring a witty sense of self-reflection to their storytelling.
The Real Kyle McCarren is a musical based on a true story about grief, friendship and the complicated ways that people respond when someone they love dies.
— Musical Theatre Musings (5 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £10.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £10.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £19.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 13:50 — Already performed — £20.00