Skip to main content
Edinburgh International Festival: When Prophecy Fails

Edinburgh International Festival: When Prophecy Fails

Weather on the day

Light rain · high 19°C, low 15°

Chance of rain 30% · Wind up to 24 km/h

Forecast from Open-Meteo, updated 45 min ago. Accuracy drops beyond a few days out.

Similar events

View all →

About This Event

The Edinburgh International Festival brings a unique theatrical experience with "When Prophecy Fails." Attendees will witness hypnotic physical theatre paired with dazzling production design. The show explores the narrative of a doomsday cult and the consequences when belief falters. Tickets can be checked on the official website.

Hypnotic physical theatre and dazzling production design combine to tell the tale of a doomsday cult, and what happens when belief is shattered. In a small town in the American Midwest, the disciples of a suburban housewife are convinced that the world is ending and that they alone know the truth that can save humanity. Discover the true story of the world's first UFO doomsday cult, inspired by a groundbreaking 1950s study into the concept of cognitive dissonance. Award-winning Scottish ensemble Groupwork combines astonishing visuals with powerful movement to create a timely performance investigating what happens when cold, hard facts meet the chaotic power of belief. Described as ‘near-perfect’ by The Scotsman, Groupwork blends movement, voiceover, music and stage and video design to present a woozy, melancholy tale of religious sects, clandestine observers and collective need. Vicki Manderson and Finn den Hertog’s claustrophobic staging combines with Lewis den Hertog’s visuals and the near wordless interplay of five actor-dancers to create a thrilling exploration of the crisis that follows the shattering of belief.

Description supplied by the event organiser.

Similar Events in Edinburgh

View all →

More at Studio Theatre

View all →

Frequently asked questions

Edinburgh International Festival: When Prophecy Fails takes place on Thursday, 27 August 2026.

Edinburgh International Festival: When Prophecy Fails is held at Studio Theatre in Edinburgh (The Studio 22 Potterrow, Edinburgh South EH8 9BL).

Tickets for Edinburgh International Festival: When Prophecy Fails can be booked via whatsoninedinburgh.co.uk using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.

Staying overnight?

Hotels within walking distance of Studio Theatre.

Searching near The Studio 22 Potterrow, Edinburgh South EH8 9BL
Check-in: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Find hotels near this venuevia Booking.com →

Ad · Booking.com affiliate link