10 smash hit musicals coming to Edinburgh in 2018

THE hottest musical on the planet right now, Hamilton, won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards on Sunday, the most ever won by a production that started its life overseas, but while we might have to wait a few years to see it on an Edinburgh stage, that doesn't mean there aren't some top musicals heading to town in 2018. Here are 10 you should be booking tickets for now.

Sario Solomon, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Yazdan Qafouri and AJ Bentley in The Band,

THE BAND

The Playhouse, 10-14 July, £23.40-£79.40

THE fastest selling musical theatre tour of all time is for anyone who grew up with the songs of Take That as the sound track to their lives.

Featuring Never Forget, Back For Good, A Million Love Songs, Relight My Fire, Shine and Rule the World, and starring the winners of the BBC’s Let it Shine, Five to Five.

THE LAST SHIP

Festival Theatre, 12-16 June, £22-£42

STING’S heartfelt new musical is a tale of love, life and hope inspired by Sting’s childhood experiences and has an ensemble cast led by ex-Corrie star Richard Fleeshman, Emmerdale favourite Charlie Hardwick and Joe McGann.

TITANIC

The Playhouse, 12-16 June, £16.90-£73.90

STAYING with the nautical theme, Titanic, based on tragedy of the legendary ‘unsinkable’ ship, follows the hopes, dreams and aspirations of her passengers, all innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them - 1517 men, women and children were destined to die.

The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards.

MOTOWN

The Playhouse, 20 November-8 December, £19.90-£75.90

THE sensational hit West End musical brings its unique sound to the Capital.

Motown the Musical tells the thrilling tale of Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records and a man who broke barriers, fought against the odds to create something more than a record label.

Featuring more than 50 classic hits.

SUNSHINE ON LEITH

King’s Theatre, 22-26 May, £18.50-£33.50

FOLLOW the highs and lows of Ally and his friend Davy as they return home to Leith from the army. Featuring the songs of The Proclaimers, expect I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), Sunshine on Leith, Letter From America, and I’m On My Way in this brand new production.

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

The Playhouse, 2-7 July, £19.90-£75.90

THE Scottish premiere of a new musical that’s sure to sweep you off your feet.

Based on true events, its feel-good sound track includes the hit song from the original movie Up Where We Belong along with a host of classic 80’s anthems including Livin’ On A Prayer, The Final Countdown and many more.

CALENDAR GIRLS

Festival Theatre, 2-13 October, £20-£45

THIS award-winning production by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth is based on the true story of the calendar girls - a group of Women’s Institute ladies who posed nude for charity.

Starring Fern Britton, Sara Crowe, Karen Dunbar, Ruth Madoc and Denise Welch.

MADAGASCAR

The Playhouse, 2-6 October, £16.90-£49.40

ONE for the kids. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins in an adventure of a lifetime. Suitable for ages 3+

KINKY BOOTS

The Playhouse, 10 December-5 January 2019, £19.50-£70.50

WINNER of every major Best Musical award, including the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Kinky Boots boasts songs by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein.

A joyous story of Brit grit to high-heeled hit, it will take you from the factory floor to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.

WICKED

The Playhouse, 8 May-9 June, £25-£92.50

THE gravity-defying Wizard of Oz prequel returns for a second season in the Capital.

Wicked tells the untold story of an unlikely friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students.

Their extraordinary adventures on Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.