Unexplained Live
Unexplained Live is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall. It has 21 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 22:05 to Sat 29 Aug, 22:05. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Described by the Guardian as 'the world's spookiest podcast,' with over 80 million streams, Unexplained has beguiled listeners for over a decade with real-life tales of the strange and mysterious. Now, for the first time, Unexplained comes to the Fringe. Join host and creator Richard MacLean Smith in a live interpretation of the global smash-hit show, as he takes you on an eerie journey into the haunting Flannan Isles mystery. The year is 1900. Three lighthouse keepers stand watch on a desolate island, far from home. Until one day, they completely vanish from the face of the earth...
Details
- Venue: theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall
- Space: Theatre 3
- Genre: SPOKEN_WORD, Storytelling, Podcast
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - SCOTLAND
- Running time: 50 minutes
- Room size: about 42 seats (Theatre 3) — 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: level
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Up shallow ramp from the external courtyard, then level access into the theatre 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 19 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.
Hosted by the charismatic and stylish Richard MacLean Smith, this production’s quiet, eerie minimalism is its profound strength.
— Fernyhough Arts Reveiw (4 out of 5 stars)
An simple and compelling look into past.
— A Youngish Perspective (4 out of 5 stars)
Ultimately, Unexplained Live delivers what it promises: an engaging live version of the podcast. It may lack some theatrical atmosphere needed to elevate it beyond a live storytelling event, but Smith is an accomplished…
— Theatre Scotland (3 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Sat 8 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Sun 9 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Mon 10 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Tue 11 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Wed 12 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Thu 13 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Fri 14 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Sat 15 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Mon 17 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Tue 18 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Wed 19 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Thu 20 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Fri 21 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Sat 22 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Mon 24 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Tue 25 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Wed 26 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Thu 27 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Fri 28 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50
- Sat 29 Aug, 22:05 — Already performed — £12.50