Bitter Lemons

Theatre (new writing, political)

  • Pleasance Courtyard - Beneath
  • 14:20
  • Aug 28
  • 1 hour
  • Suitability: 14+ (Guideline)
  • Country: United Kingdom - England
  • Group: RJG Productions, Bristol Old Vic, Pleasance
  • Warnings and additional info: This show contains potentially triggering/distressing themes including references to pregnancy, abortion, child loss, in addition to suggestions of sexism and racism.
  • Accessibility:
    Audio enhancement system
    Wheelchair Accessible Toilets
    Captioning
    May not apply to all performances. You'll find more information about accessibile performances and how to book tickets in the accessibility tab below.
  • Babes in arms policy: Babies do not require a ticket
  • Policy applies to: Children under 2 years

Description

In the pressurised worlds of football and finance, two women carve their own path. After the loss of her dad, a goalkeeper prepares for the league final, while an ambitious banker battles her fears of being tokenised to secure a promotion. But as their pitches get closer, worlds collide as life shifts unexpectedly and in parallel. How do you face your biggest challenge yet? Winner of a Pleasance Edinburgh National Partnership Award and supported by Bristol Old Vic, Bitter Lemons is an explosive debut play tackling the pressures on women’s bodies and the power society holds over them.

Please note that while all media gallery content is provided by verified members of the event, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society does not review or approve this content before it is posted. Reports of inappropriate content or copyright infringement can be directed to [email protected].

General venue access

  • Audio enhancement system
    Wheelchair Accessible Toilets
    Captioning
  • 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.
  • Wheelchair access type: Building Lift

  • Stairs: 2 - 5
    Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.

Each venue can contain several space with different accessibly information. Visit the venue page for full venue accessibility info


Captioned performances

  • Dates: 23 August
  • Type: Open
  • Booking options: You can book independently online, or contact our access team to book your tickets and request any specific seating locations or if booking a unit is required.

How and when to make an access booking

Our access tickets service is available to anyone who:

  • Would like to book specific accessibility services, e.g. a hearing loop, audio description headsets, captioning units, seating in relation to the location of the BSL interpreter
  • Requires extra assistance when at a venue
  • Has specific seating requirements
  • Is a wheelchair user
  • Requires a complimentary personal assistant ticket to attend a performance

Monica Robles 33 days ago

Beautifully written and acted. Timely play about a woman’s body, our choices and a close look at the DE&I conversation and performative language by corporations.
Absolutely loved this show.

Paul Rosenzweig 42 days ago

In my top 2 so far. Intimate. Beautifully acted. Topical yet not preachy. Ancient for me a window into a challenge I have never experienced.

Emma Crocombe 44 days ago

Such an amazing play. Powerfully written, directed and performed.

Rhys Chant 46 days ago

Phenomenal. Dark, sharp, and cutting. A totally brilliant short play, acted with immense talent and craft supported by witty writing and brilliantly complex flips between comedy and agony

Oscar Rhodes 47 days ago

Really well written and performed, this show tackles a hard hitting topic in an emotional and tasteful way. The staging is smart for what is a small space, creating quite an intimate experience. 'Bitter Lemons' is absolutely worth a watch for you Fringe. Oh, and we all know a Gary.

Elliot and Meg 48 days ago

Got recommended by a friend, and cannot endorse this recommendation enough! Powerful performance and message, making perfect use of their venue for their staging. The performers literally poured their entire soul into their performance, making this woman empowerment at its finest.

Ash Au 50 days ago

5 stars :) great script, powerful acting. my pal and I were both in tears at times, it was very moving. Thank you!

Sean Davis 50 days ago

Bitter Lemons (***)
A professional football goalie, and a rising businesswoman alternately tell of their lives after both learn that they are pregnant at six weeks, and must decide whether to have the two pill abortion. The first part, when they are trying to make the decision, works well, but the goalie’s choice to play in a game, and the businesswoman’s blow-up seem out of character, and not due to their abortion choices. The choice to stop alternating and start talking simultaneously diminishes the power of each tale at a crucial juncture.


This is the 31st most enjoyable of the 78 shows I have seen so far at the Fringe this year. I hope to see almost 200. You may see my other three-sentence reviews, in order from most enjoyable to worst, at my non-commercial website: https://fringefan.com/

frank martin 52 days ago

Attended yesterday's performance - it was extremely good. The 2 actors were great, the script explores a number of themes in a refreshing approach, and is prepared to tackle age old issues. Very enjoyable & thought provoking. Of the 5 shows we saw yesterday this one got the highest level of audience applaus


Participants - for further details on our audience and published review policies, including how to add or opt out of reviews, please click here.

@theroamingreader 37 days ago

Out of the hundreds of Fringe shows, glitters a gem.

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Theatre Travels 38 days ago

This fast paced, clever, punchy duologue play tackles major feminist topics and concentrates on a woman’s right to choose what is right for her own body, in this circumstance, in the way of abortion.

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ThreeWeeks (4/5 stars) 42 days ago

First-rate theatre-making.

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Edinburgh Festivals Magazine 45 days ago

“Bitter Lemons” is a beautiful, important, and very human piece of art.

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Playbill 51 days ago

It reminds audience members who can identify with their experiences that actually, this is their story too.

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North West End UK (5/5 stars) 52 days ago

This is a timely play. It does not preach. It just tells the story of two women and invites us to think. And that is what the best plays have always done.

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Participants - for further details on our audience and published review policies, including how to add or opt out of reviews, please click here.

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Participants - for further details on our audience and published review policies, including how to add or opt out of reviews, please click here.