Edinburgh Music Theatre

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Edinburgh Music Theatre

Amateur musical theatre company with professional aspirations. edinburghmusictheatre.co.uk No prior experience is required as we provide all the training needed.

Edinburgh Music Theatre (EMT) was established in 1982 with the aim of producing large scale musicals that were rarely staged in the Edinburgh Area. Whilst our performers are largely amateur our artistic and production teams are made up of professionals with a wealth of experience. We pride ourselves on producing musicals to an exceptional standard and this is evident from our rave revues.

22/06/2026

In the 1930s, musical theatre really found its sound, taking influence from jazz and popular music and bringing a new energy to the stage.

Shows like Girl Crazy (1930), with music by George Gershwin, introduced songs that became hits far beyond the theatre, while productions like Hot Mikado (1939) reimagined familiar stories with bold, rhythmic scores and vibrant staging.

It was a decade where musicals felt lively, accessible, and deeply connected to the music people were already listening to, helping bridge the gap between Broadway and popular culture.

🎭 A Brief History of Musical Theatre
📆 12th - 14th August
🕰️ 7:45PM (90 Minutes)
📍 Edinburgh New Town Church
🎟 ticketsource.com/emt

20/06/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVE 🗃

Some of the Dress Rehearsal pictures from our 2009 run of Hair! We think the cast are looking pretty groovy 👀☮

Spotted yourself? What's your favourite memory from the show?

Got a secret stash of photos from your time at EMT? We'd love to see them 🥰

17/06/2026

By the early 1900s, musical theatre was starting to feel more like the modern shows we recognise today. It moved away from European operetta styles and leaned into popular music, humour, and everyday stories that audiences could connect with.

Shows like Little Johnny Jones (1904) helped lead the way, with catchy songs designed to stick in your head and a lighter, more energetic style. It was a shift towards entertainment that felt quicker, funnier, and distinctly American.

🎭 A Brief History of Musical Theatre
📆 12th - 14th August
🕰️ 7:45PM (90 Minutes)
📍 Edinburgh New Town Church
🎟 ticketsource.com/emt

09/06/2026

EMT’s Big Bandaoke Bash is here! Wanna sing your favourite song with a live band and a live audience?! Here's your chance! 🎸🥁

Join us on 3rd July 2026 for our Big Bandaoke Bash fundraiser, a night of live music, great performances, and plenty of fun.

This is your chance to sing your favourite songs on stage with a live band. Slots are expected to fill quickly, so if you’re keen to perform, make sure you get involved early.

Tickets are just £5 and on sale now:
https://www.ticketsource.com/emt/

Want to perform? Submit your song here:
https://forms.office.com/r/E8RkNXGGnA

Performers are asked to contribute £5 per song (paid on the night, cash preferred), and you are welcome to have as many people involved in your performance as you like.

Please note that performance slots are limited. If we receive more submissions than we can accommodate, places will be allocated at random. We will confirm slots, or waitlist places, by 17th June.

The night is not just about singing. There will also be games, a raffle, and a disco to finish things off, so there is plenty to enjoy whether you are performing or not.

Doors open at 7pm, with Bandaoke starting at 7:30pm sharp.

You will find full details via the ticket link and submission form, but if you have any questions, get in touch at [email protected].

Bring your friends, pick your song, and join us for a great night.

06/06/2026

📖The history lesson continues...

By the 1870s, musical theatre was starting to move away from the huge, loosely connected spectacle of shows like The Black Crook. Audiences were beginning to look for stronger stories and more memorable characters, not just visual scale. Gilbert & Sullivan helped lead that change with operettas like Trial by Jury (1875), H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), and The Pirates of Penzance (1879), blending clever, satirical lyrics with tighter plots and music that supported the story. Their work marked an important turning point, helping shape musical theatre into the more cohesive, character‑driven form we recognise today.

🎭 A Brief History of Musical Theatre
📆 12th - 14th August
🕰️ 7:45PM (90 Minutes)
📍 Edinburgh New Town Church
🎟 ticketsource.com/emt See less

02/06/2026

Since our big focus for Fringe is the Musical Theatre history, we thought it'd be a great time to bring back our 'From the Archives' series! 🥰

Thanks to Quintin Young - one of our founding members - for reaching out with these great shots from rehearsals from EMT's very first show back in 1983, The Boyfriend.

Have you got a stash of EMT photos hidden away in a drawer somewhere? We'd love to see them! Drop us a message or an email at [email protected]! 📩

Image 1: The cast of The Boyfriend rehearsing a large group number
Image 2: Quintin Young and Elspeth Whyte
Image 3: Quintin Young

30/05/2026

Our 2026 show blends musical r***e with history lesson - so we thought we'd provide you all with some at-home learning in advance! 🥸

Did you know that what we now know as 'musical theatre' started with a tragic theatre fire leaving a European ballet company without a venue in 1866? The producer then worked with the production company behind a melodrama being staged down the street and they literally smushed the two shows together to create a 5-hour-long spectacle that combined music, choreography and spoken storytelling.

The Black Crook ran for a then-record 474 shows on Broadway.

🎭 A Brief History of Musical Theatre
📆 12th - 14th August
🕰️ 7:45PM (90 Minutes)
📍 Edinburgh New Town Church
🎟 ticketsource.com/emt

13/05/2026

Ahead of our first rehearsal tonight, we’re SUPER excited to announce our cast for A Brief History of Musical Theatre 🎭

We are so excited to have such a talented bunch of performers taking to the Fringe stage with us this year, and we can’t wait for you all to see what we’ve got in store 👀

07/05/2026

After some absolutely incredible auditions last night, our Creative Team just can’t get enough and have extended the Video submissions deadline to 5PM TODAY! 🎉 📹

So, if you missed last nights auditions, and can’t make an in-person audition tonight ( https://calendly.com/edmusictheatre ) send us a 2 minute video of you singing your favourite musical theatre song to [email protected]! ✉️

(PS it’s also Election Day in Scotland - go use your vote!🗳️)

06/05/2026

Ahead of auditions for our Fringe production - A Brief History of Musical Theatre - starting tonight, here are our top tips to a successful audition! ✨

Remember that the Creative Team aren't looking for perfection, they're looking for potential - so just give it your all. 🥰

Remember, if you've decided you're going to submit a Video Audition instead, that the deadline is Midnight tonight! 📹

If you have any questions in the mean time, reach out to us via DM or at [email protected] 📩

Address

Edinburgh
EH104HR

Website

http://www.edinburghtheatre.co.uk/, https://bit.ly/m/EMT

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