Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story
ERA Theatrical Productions
Genre: Musical Theatre, New Writing
Venue: Underbelly Bristo Square
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Written and Directed by Nicky Douglas, and produced by ERA Theatrical Productions, Apparently Ugly is a brand new musical for all ages, retelling the story of Cinderella’s “ugly” stepsisters as they embark on a magical journey in search of their very own happily ever after. On at Underbelly’s Bristo Square, with shows at 11:40 between the 5th and 31st of August, this production features a cast of four, and claims it is “packed with comedic chaos, fabulous fashions, and sensational songs”.
Review
Describing itself as a “gleefully deranged fairytale for kids, adults, and anyone who has felt not-quite-perfect” Apparently Ugly is a fabulous new musical, written and directed by Nicky Douglas and starring a multi-talented cast of four. Programmed at Underbelly’s Ermintrude on Bristo Square, the show delivers on its promise; Bursting with colour, fun, and plenty of sparkle, it’s a toe-tappingly feel-good way to spend an hour of your morning, and is guaranteed to leave you humming the tunes as you wind your way through the busy streets of Edinburgh.
Set after the wedding of their annoyingly perfect stepsister Cinderella, the show follows Agnes and Olga as they embark on a journey of self-discovery in search of beauty and their own happy endings. The songwriting and composition for this piece is consistently remarkable, with numbers that skillfully showcase the abilities of each member of the cast, whilst remaining catchy and entertaining for the audience. I particularly enjoyed the title song, which managed to provide quiet, emotional solo moments for each sister, before building into a beautifully layered split-duet, and ending on a harmonious shared note that brought the two together again. Similarly, the dialogue was brilliant, written with just enough exposition for audiences to be able to follow along, whilst also allowing space for the characters to shine through the text, and plenty of perfectly timed (and slightly naughty) laughs. Containing subtle nods to Disney, pop culture, and musical theatre without losing sight of its own voice, the show really does have something for everyone.
Walking into the theatre, audiences are immediately immersed in the atmosphere of the piece, finding themselves greeted by a nostalgic cheesy-pop playlist, and a six-foot broken mirror reflecting their own (slightly bemused) faces back at them. The technical elements of this show are skillfully operated by Production Manager René Alfaro and ran without a hitch; With soundtracks timed perfectly to fit with the actors’ subtle – or sometimes amusingly direct – cues, and lighting that was vibrant, bold & bright, and yet perfectly suited to not only the all-singing-all-dancing group numbers, but also the more vulnerable and emotional solos as well. Masterfully treading the line between panto-esque audience interaction, comedically self-aware asides, and a quick-witted contemporary new musical feel, Apparently Ugly is a familiar yet fresh take on the classic fairytale genre.
Hannah McRoche as Olga, and Amber Hegarty as Agnes star as Cinderella’s (arguably not-so) “ugly” stepsisters, immediately drawing the audience in with their wonderful chemistry, powerful vocals and gorgeous harmonies. Equally as impressive is Nicky Douglas as Mother, who has a true knack for weaving together scripted dialogue, cheeky crowd-work, and scorn-filled lyrics in a way that makes the villain of this tale almost endearing. Last but certainly not least, multi-rolling several different characters, but primarily embodying the slightly sarky, effortlessly funny, and charmingly campy Fairy Godfather, Elliott Wooster delights audiences by breaking the fourth wall and making them feel as though they are in on the action. The show really sports a multi-talented cast, who all excel at engaging the audience through their wonderful physicality, musicality, and characterisation.
With costumes designed and made by Sarah Douglas, the sisters are clad in a colour palette reminiscent of Wicked, with plenty of garishly-gorgeous ruffled tulle and rhinestones, which they later shed to reveal slightly more contemporary and individualised costumes that are just as dazzling but somehow feel a little more true to the characters as they begin to discover who they are, and who they wish to be. Set design was simple but effective – a revolving periaktos (triangular prism) that bore the broken two-way mirror, a bean-covered market stall, and an acorn-filled forest as well as housing a quick-change area that seemed to be a Mary Poppins bag of costume and props.
The show truly charmed and enchanted, and to find any constructive feedback I would really have to be nit-picking at the tiniest of details; Perhaps, having a slightly larger and/or more articulative puppet for the squirrel that the sisters encounter in the forest, or ensuring that props and costume pieces that have to be removed, are done so out of the audience’s sightlines. However, those are the only practically-negligible elements where I was momentarily reminded that I was at a Fringe Festival venue and not a large-scale West End or regional theatre watching a fully-fledged touring show. Overall, Apparently Ugly was slick, ambitious, charming, witty, and achieved exactly what it set out to do, if not more.
