Mayflies

Based on the novel by Andrew O’Hagan. Adapted and directed by Ben Harrison.

Based on the novel by Andrew O’Hagan.
Adapted and directed by Ben Harrison.

7th – 30th Aug 2026
Venue 320: Brown’s of Leith (Rear Warehouse)

AWARDS

Winner:
Scotsman Fringe First
Nominated:
Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland – Outstanding Performance, Best New Play, Best Design

Grid Iron present the world premiere of Mayflies, a site-specific adaptation of Andrew O’Hagan’s best-selling novel as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Everyone has a Tully Dawson: the friend that defines your life. This tale of 80s youth and facing mortality in middle age is a joyous and heart-breaking elegy to the young people we still carry within us.

With an epic soundtrack forged straight from the heart of the 80s, a former metal works in Leith echoes the iconic venues of Manchester’s music scene, providing an ideal setting for this love letter to friendship, and a pledge: go at life differently.

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Dates & Information

	Date	Time	Price
Previews	Aug 7-9	4pm (95min)	£25 (conc. £20)
Run	Aug 10-30* (*No show Tuesdays)	4pm (95min)	£30 (conc. £25)

Ticket prices are inclusive of a £1.50 Fringe Box Office booking fee, capped at £9 per transaction (i.e. first six tickets).

AGE RECOMMENDATION: 14+

FURTHER INFORMATION & TICKETS

www.edfringe.com/mayflies

ACCESS INFORMATION

BSL interpreted performances (including Captioned performances)

	Date	Time	Price
BSL interpreted performances: Preview	Aug 8	4pm (95min)	£25 (conc. £20)
BSL interpreted performances: Run	Aug 13, 29	4pm (95min)	£30 (conc. £25)
Captioned performances	Aug 19, 23	4pm (95min)	£30 (conc. £25)

#FringeMayflies

DATES & VENUES

Venue 320
Brown’s of Leith – Rear Warehouse
4-6 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QS

Preview – Aug 7–9 at 4pm
£25 (conc. £20)

Aug 10, 12–17, 19-24, 26-30 at 4pm
£30 (conc. £25)

Running time: 95 minutes

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

BSL Interpreted Performances:
Aug 8, 13, 29

Captioned Performances:
Aug 19, 22

What The Press Said

“A joyful celebration of two women and a whole lot more who saddled up and did things their way”.

The Herald★★★★★

“Absolutely joyous – a truly magnificent story of two remarkable women.”

Broadway World★★★★★

“Utterly captivating piece of theatre, bold, original, inventive”.

The Reviews Hub★★★★★

“Boyd is a sensation.”

Lisa in the Theatre★★★★★

“Full of wit, beauty, musicality, joy and heartbreak.”

The Scotsman★★★★

“Raw, radical and revealing.”

The Guardian★★★★

“If it feels like we’re living in a real life disaster movie right now, Edinburgh’s site-specific auteurs Grid Iron are here to take the temperature of the times in epic fashion…. Utilising the full expanse of the school, Muster Station: Leith reimagines the venue as part sanctuary, part concentration camp for those on the run from an environmental catastrophe close to home.”

The Herald★★★★

“whole lot of warmth, passion and soul and, at its heart, the story of two wonderful women.”

“Charlene Boyd, you did June Carter-Cash proud.”

Arts Hub★★★★★

“an utterly engaging, theatrical, and musical delight.”

“I was in tears from the pure joy of it all.”

“wonderful, touching, and rousing”

Theatre Weekly★★★★★

“Exceptional”

Mickey Jo Theatre★★★★★

“poignant but feisty”

The Times★★★★★

“A beautiful show which shines a light on women’s stories that are often overlooked, and this is a production that’s destined for greatness.”

Lost in Theatreland★★★★

“A glorious well-worked show.”

Musical Theatre Review★★★★

“a gorgeous piece of theatre”

“a tour de force for Charlene Boyd”

“mesmerising, fluid and searingly honest”

The List★★★★

“an excellent band – Ray Aggs, Amy Duncan and Harry Ward – brings musicality and atmosphere”

Across the Arts ★★★★

“enormous admiration for the persistence, courage, and sheer blazing talent of Charlene Boyd and June Carter Cash.”

ScotGayArts★★★★

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Cast

Charlene Boyd

MUSICIANS: Harry Ward, Ray Aggs and Amy Duncan

Production Team

Based on the novel by:
Andrew O’Hagan

Adapted and directed by:
Ben Harrison

Assistant Director:
Anna Whealing

Produced by:
Judith Doherty

Dramaturg:
Douglas Maxwell

Soundtrack:
David Paul Jones

Set & Costume Design:
Jen McGinley

Lighting:
Simon Wilkinson

Video:
Lewis den Hertog

Movement Direction:
Vicki Manderson

View Our Programme

To read more information about the show, including the Writer’s and Director’s Note and team biographies, have a look through our production programme.