Tarot, mermaids and city-pop: Fringe show brings scavenger hunt to Royal Mile

Fringe audiences looking for more than a flyer this week can dive into a Tarot-inspired scavenger hunt that brings the world of The Aquatic Melody onto the streets of Edinburgh.

Running from 21–23 August, the experience begins outside the Fringe Shop on the Royal Mile at 4pm, where passersby encounter performers playing enigmatic characters. Each gives out Tarot cards tied to a short mini-game. Collect three cards and players unlock the final challenge with the Fool: to tell their own “destiny story.” Complete it successfully, and prizes await.

The hunt is a playful prelude to The Aquatic Melody, a 40-minute contemporary Chinese musical staged by Gold and Jade Stages at theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall. Blending Hong Kong pop, Japanese city-pop and Latin rhythms with choreography influenced by both street and modern dance, the show reimagines the magical girl and romantasy genres in a darkly romantic tale of a mermaid searching for true love against the pull of fate.