Dune! The Musical

I'm not sure if the other reviews are fake or just memeing or something. They bear no resemblance to the actual quality of the show, it was okay but not to the extent of the glowing reviews. I'm a big Dune fan but it wasn't for me, the humour was pretty immature and I left disappointed after going based on the previous reviews.

I have seen the show twice now and I can confirm that it really is as good as people have been saying! It is quite simply the best version of Dune, and I do include the books in that.

As a naturally reserved and slightly uptight person, I started out a little apprehensive of this show - but it genuinely got me. The performance quality is fantastic. The musical skill is absolutely excellent. The jokes have great range, so no matter your sense of humor, you'll find something that lands just right. If you like Dune, you'll absolutely love the show. If you are a Dune agnostic, you will still inevitably get caught up in the infectious energy and breathtaking skill of Dan's performance. It's intense and silly and strange and wonderful. Just wear something breathable because it can get a little warm in the performance space.

Second time I've been to see this show and both times were incredible. I've seen it with Dune fans and non-Dune fans and each time everyone has loved it. Dan is incredibly talented and puts so much energy and passion into the challenge of condensing Dune into an hour long musical. Some of the songs are such earWORMS so if you can pick up a copy of the original cast recording, do it.

Blasting this CD in my thopter right now.

10/10, Denis Villneuve wishes he could adapt Dune like this

10/10 and I don't even like Dune (the book)

Seen it four times and counting, songs are absolute tunes, absolutely great.

Having seen this show perhaps eight (?) times now, first seeing it last year, I think I can truthfully say it captures everything I want to see out of the Fringe.

It’s funny, it’s charming, it’s powerful, it’s inventive, it’s quirky, and it’s just such an incredible feat. Dan’s music, singing, writing, acting, and overall stage presence is addictive. And most importantly, Dan has complete faith in his audience.

I’ve brought dozens of friends to see the show, with varying levels of Dune knowledge, some of whom had never even heard of the sprawling sci-fi franchise, and yet all of them have been of one mind in agreeing that this is a performance unlike any other. With plenty of surprises, in-jokes for the super fans, and songs that *will* get stuck in your head, I would recommend Dune! The Musical to anyone.

The chances are, if you’re already intrigued enough to have come across this review, you *will* adore the show.

What an incredibly well-thought out, well-paced, and well performed piece. We first saw it in Glasgow with a couple of thousand book nerds, but loved it so much that we took the train to Edinburgh to see it again at fringe. Despite the very different performances spaces, both times it filled the room with energy and wit that Dan has in abundance.

I saw Dune! The Musical at the World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, then travelled to Edinburgh a few days later specifically to see it again because it was so good.

If you're familiar with Dune — books or movie — the show is absolutely worth seeing, and if you're a real true blue-eyed Dune sicko, it's even better. The jokes are funny, the songs are great, and Dan's performance is magnetic.

Much like the spice melange, it's never quite the same twice. Also it extended my lifespan and gifted me prophetic visions of the inevitable Golden Path which humanity must tread. 10/10, would recommend.

This is for EVERYONE. Dune-diehard, Dune-sceptic or just plain Dune-curious, this is the show for you. The first Dune book is told through original song, narration, joke and blinding solo. The music is outstanding as is the attention to story-telling detail. My wife, who half-paid attention to the recent films, ABSOLUTELY LOVED it. I'm a Dune-purist and, as well as apprecating the occasional nod to wider Dune lore, REALLY LOVED it.
Honestly, this is amazing.

The epic Dune story condensed into a single song-filled hour? Impossible? Not in the hands of the mighty Dan Collins, who somehow manages to wrestle his subject and audience into submission through sheer talent, musicality and committed performance. One of the best things I have seen this Fringe!

Incredible performance. Detail to the story is superb. Character representation is on point. Music and voice is amazing.
This show is some of the best you can catch at the fringe!!

I saw Dune! The Musical at last week's World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow. The auditorium was packed with science fiction fans from around the world.

It was a brilliant work of parody, with an equally brilliant performance by Dan Collins. I've already ordered my CD.

Dyed-in-the-wool science fiction fans and readers loved it. What better recommendation and compliment than that?

Utterly incredible. The storytelling is so incredibly tight to get all of this into an hour, and still have time left over for jokes. The music is top notch. The physicality was, for me, just right. I loved it so much I bought the CD and spent half an hour afterwards asking him questions on how he did it.

It's everything you want it to be and more.

A masterful mélange of tragedy, thighpad jokes and your dad's weird prog albums.

Sure it helps to have read the books and seen the movies, but do you need to have read the Nibelungen to appreciate Wagner? Didn't think so. Just go see it, it's a hoot.

Would not recommend for those who do not know the books intimately. My friends who had recently read the books struggled to follow the pace of the overly saturated story telling. A talented singer and musician and well written music. Best approached I think as an audience member as seeing a series of original song vignettes on the theme of Dune, rather than a narrative to follow. However, I personally found the treatment of the darker themes and characters heavy-handed and bordering on offensive - take heed of the trigger warnings.

What a way to spend an hour. A genuinely fantastic show for fans of the books and the films. Equal parts silly and heartfelt, with excellent music.

This is an excellent show, and a must for fans of the Frank Herbet's Dune series.

The story of Dune is told from the point of view of Guerney Hallack, and through the medium of song tells the story of Dune. The songs are wonderful, the interwoven humour brilliantly observed and the performance incredible. A hard recommend.

(I saw this as part of the World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow in August 2024, where this performer visited between his Fringe performances, therefore can't comment on the venue in Edinburgh it usually plays in)

We didn’t really read the blurb for this before we went, it was on a whim. I think we assumed it would be an all-out comedy. We ended up in a small room and were treated to an incredible musical performance. While there were moments of humour and levity, the real charm of this performance came from the perfectly paced storytelling interwoven with beautiful songs that lent a drama and real emotional depth to the show. The feat of condensing such a story into an understandable, engaging hour is impressive enough, to do it with such flair is an incredible achievement. I immediately purchased the CD afterwards. Definitely one of the best things I saw this year.

Absolute banger. We were only at the fest for one day this year and this was by far the highlight of our day. Thanks for the show!

So glad I managed to catch this I was absolutely blown away! Does a great job of explaining and condensing the entire epic story while also making it both hilarious and catchy. As an SF nerd this was a near-religious experience for me.

I watched this last year on a whim and it turned out to be amongst the finest things I've ever seen at Fringe, and in the year since Dan has honed his show into even more of a marvel than it was the first time around. You would do yourself a disservice missing this absolute gem of a performance, it is astonishingly good fun and I am stunned its part of the free fringe.

The most purely enjoyable show I've seen at the Fringe so far, performed with gusto by Dan Collins. Also, frankly, my favourite Baron Harkonnen ever.

Absolutely amazing! Great storytelling with the most wonderful live music behind it!

Incredible show and highlight of last years fringe so had to come see it again. Brought some friends this year with varying levels of dune knowledge from read all books to no idea of any part and all loved it. Highly recommended to anyone considering this as part of their fringe experience