Edinburgh Fringe
Arcana
- When
- 17–31 August 2026
- Daily at
- Where
- Assembly Roxy: Central
- Edinburgh
- Part of
- Made in Scotland Showcase
Fay GuiffoPresents
Arcana
A poetic search for identity, freedom and the voice within.
Edinburgh Fringe 2026Live music theatre17–31 August 202610:00Assembly Roxy: Central
01Watch
Enter the world of Arcana.
Step into a magical world of sound and vision, at the crossroads of Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy.
Video by Ruari Barber-Fleming
About the show
Arcana is a poetic music theatre show that takes us to the crossroads of Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy.
Caught between the rigid expectations of her Emperor father and her own compelling desire to find her true voice, apprentice composer Arcana must decide who she wants to become before the might of the imperial regime silences every last voice for good.
An immersive, visually stunning production combining movement, cinematic music, and live virtuoso violin performance, Arcana is brought to life through an original score by writer-composer Fay Guiffo. At its heart is a story about finding your voice, following your path, and the rise of hope in the face of relentless adversity.
Fay GuiffoPhoto by Jess Hardwick02The artist
Created and performed by Fay Guiffo
Lead artist · Co-director · Writer · Composer · Performer
Fay Guiffo is a French Cameroonian director, violinist and cross-disciplinary artist based in Edinburgh. She is the lead artist, co-director, writer, composer and performer of her debut show Arcana, presented at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026 as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase.
03Live
Edinburgh, this August
A morning of live music, movement and storytelling at Assembly Roxy.
“It’s very original, very unique, and just for that you should come!”
“A terrific exploration of getting into the mind of a musician.”
“The show was fantastic! I was engaged from the start.”
“It’s very powerful. It’s very difficult to describe because there is so much emotion!”
05Gallery
A score made visible
Light, movement and live violin trace the changing inner world of Arcana.
06Credits
Creative and Production Team
- Producer
- Tanya McLaughlin
- Co-Director
- Jaïrus Obayomi
- Dramaturg
- Ruth Ese Ighorae
- Writing Consultant
- Rebecca Mackenzie
- Ghomalaʼ Translation
- Mafo Gomlu'
- Movement Director
- Hannah Venet
- Scenographer
- Emma Bailey
- Set Designer
- Jessica Brettle
- Video and Visual Designer
- Jamie Wardop
- Lighting Designer
- Benny Goodman
- Sound Designer
- Nik Paget-Tomlinson
- Additional Sound Production
- Ben Fletcher
- Production Manager
- Rosie Ward
- Sound Engineer
- Dave Waugh
- Costume Designer
- Jennie Lööf
- Technical Stage Manager
- Grahame Coyle
- Stage Manager
- Adam Ryan
- Photographer
- Mihaela Bodlovic
- Videographer
- Ruari Barber-Fleming
- PR
- Joy Parkinson
- Marketing Manager
- Serden Salih
Supported by
- National Theatre of Scotland
- Creative Scotland
- We Are Here Scotland
- Project X
- Resulam
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Imaginate
- Lyra Theatre Company
- Hope Scott Trust
- Scottish Storytelling Centre
- Scottish International Storytelling Festival
- Chamber Music Scotland
- Help Musicians
- Fenton Arts Trust
- Vision Mechanics
- L’Institut français d'Écosse
- Made In Scotland
The story behind Arcana
Fay Guiffo shares where the work began, and the search for identity, freedom and the music within.
Watch on Instagram