Escape Room The Musical at Edinburgh Fringe – an anxiety-inducing hour where no one seems to care about the ticking clock

Six friends find themselves in an escape room that seems to be raising emotions high and adrenaline even higher. They have 60 minutes to escape or who knows what might be revealed? Who will solve the room and who will fold under the pressure?!

Groanup Playhouse have brought four shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, all running in the same venue, one after the other, every day. The same cast members pop up in different productions and there is something for everyone, from the baby-friendly ‘Milly’s Musical Adventure’ to ‘Charming! A Disney Parody Musical’ and ‘The Detective’s Demise’.

I saw three out of four of this year’s shows by Groanup Playhouse. I’ve never seen their work before but the idea of them being one after the other and not having to run from venue to venue was appealing to me. Escape Room The Musical was, for me at least, the weaker of the three.

The concept was there, for sure. Audience interaction was used to help solve puzzles and find clues but all of the characters seemed far too relaxed about time running out. Spending a few minutes singing a song about a fractured friendship is fine but be looking for some clues while you’re at it!!! You don’t have time to just stand around!

Part of the storyline was two male friends who had kissed a year ago at a party. Now, trapped in a room together, the romance is rekindled but when it came time for them to kiss, it really felt like two men, not so comfortably bracing themselves for the kind of kiss you may give your dad, which was sad to see.

Escape Room The Musical has original songs, crazy characters and puzzling puzzles aplenty. But I felt like the focus was not on the Escape Room – which, being in the title of the show, is what people come to see.

★★

Reviewed by West End Wilma

Escape Room The Musical plays at Just The Tonic at The Caves until 30 August 2026, 19.30-20.30

​Read other reviews I have written of Edinburgh Fringe shows over the years