EDINBURGH 2026: Review: MUSE: THE SHAKESPEARE MAYHEM MUSICAL, Underbelly Cowbarn
William Shakespeare’s greatest creations collide in a pop-infused battle for top billing at Underbelly's Cowbarn.
The premise of Muse: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical is an undeniably playful hook for any theatre lover: gather William Shakespeare’s iconic characters under one roof to battle out who deserves top billing in his sole published folio. Taking a cue from SIX (which famously began its journey right here at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe) the influence is clear, but this new musical struggles to find a cohesive rhythm.
Rather than feeling like a fully integrated piece, the narrative often plays out like an acting-school showcase where performers step forward to deliver Shakespearean monologues. The energy stays afloat thanks to two standout songs: "Romeo's Dead" and a show-stopping plea for mercy from Portia, whose grounded, magnetic performance provides a much-needed emotional highlight for the show.
Outside of these musical high points, the script choices grow murky. Anne Hathaway’s subplot, casting her as a conspiring assassin scheming alongside the Macbeths, feels wildly misplaced leaving her without a clear dramatic purpose. Furthermore, a nod to theatre superstition stumbles on its own lore: claiming "Macbeth" cannot be spoken in a theatre confuses the play's title with the character's name, diluting a fun Scottish stage joke.
The cast possesses genuine isolated talent, but the ensemble work needs tightening to nail the fast-paced comedic beat-awareness this premise demands. Ending on a dream-sequence resolution, the climax feels unearned compared to the sharp thematic message of SIX. It remains a cute, promising concept, but one that needs significant revision to become a standout.
Muse: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical plays at Underbelly’s Cowbarn until August 31, 2026
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