Out of Edinburgh: What shows to see if you're not at the Edinburgh festival

If you’re not one of the thousands heading to Edinburgh for the fringe but don’t want to be culturally bereft for a month, here’s what to see outside the Edinburgh bubble

'I thought I heard a child...quite close, struggling for breath': Billie Piper stars as an agonised Yerma in this modern remake. (John Persson)

Yerma, Young Vic, London

Brendan Cowell and Billie Piper in Yerma

Billie Piper’s triumphant return to the stage is not to be missed in this cleverly modern re-working of Federico Garcia Lorca’s classic play about a “barren” woman’s mental decline.

Read our review of Yerma at the Young Vic

To 24 September; 0207 922 2922, boxoffice@youngvic.org

Going Postal, The Gate, Cardiff

Monstrous Productions is a Cardiff-based theatre company that only performs plays based on books by Terry Pratchett. All the profits are donated to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

17-20 Aug, 029 2048 3344, info@thegate.org.uk

The Vertical Hour, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Yorkshire

Hot on the heels of the Chilcot report, David Hare’s play about two characters with opposing views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq feels as potent today as when it first came out 10 years ago.

Until 5 Nov, 01768 774411

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre, London

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (All photographs by Manuel Harlan)

If you’re not a Potter fan, it’s hard to avoid the chatter about this new play, created by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany and if you are a fan, it’s tough to get tickets. For the latter, never fear, more batches of tickets are being released every 40 days. And yes, it does warrant the hype. The show lives up to the rest of the Potter canon with a magical work tailor-made for the stage.

Read our review of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Tickets currently sold out, for details of the next batch of sales, vist: harrypottertheplay.com

Block, Fordham Park, London

Deptford’s Albany Theatre can often be counted on for some socially aware, innovative theatre at pocket-pleasing prices. Its latest commission, Block is no different. It’s free, combines circus skills and dance and involves several large rectangular blocks that simulate an urban environment, staged in the leafy enclave of Fordham Park.

To Sep 3, 2.30pm, no booking required.

The Collector, The Vaults, London

Mark Healy’s adaptation of the novel of the same name by John Fowles is a taut psychological thriller about a butterfly collector’s obsession with an art student. Starring Game of Thrones actor Daniel Portman.

To Aug 28, 0207 401 9603, enquiries@thevaults.london

The Gruffalo's Child, The Lowry, Manchester

Adorable furry fun for children and Gruffaholics of all ages. This show vividly depicts the world created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

To Sep 4, 0843 208 6000