“What becomes of the broken hearted?”

We all know the Jimmy Ruffin song, a Motown classic that has tugged at heartstrings for six decades now. But intriguingly at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Ariana and the Rose sets out to answer that very question.

In a production that successfully fuses live synth-pop, comedy and immersive storytelling, The Breakup Variety Hour explores the aftermath of a relationship's end. Far from wallowing in an abyss of dismay and introspection, it transforms emotional turmoil into a joyous, high-energy and deeply cathartic night out.

Part concert, part confessional and part cabaret, the show charts the emotional journey from the shock and denial of a breakup through the six stages of heartbreak, ultimately arriving at healing, rediscovery and self-reclamation.

Created, performed and produced by the versatile Ariana DiLorenzo, the show draws on her real-life experiences as a singer-songwriter, combining original music, comedy and audience participation with wit and disarming honesty.

With a companion album and an international following, Ariana has built a reputation for emotionally resonant pop that embraces vulnerability without losing its sense of fun.

Speaking about the show, which has been performed in New York, across the US, London and Australia, Ariana says:

"Breakups can feel isolating, dramatic, ridiculous—and sometimes all at once. I wanted to create something that lets people laugh at that, feel it fully, and leave feeling powerful again. It’s about turning heartbreak into something communal and celebratory."

So, what becomes of the broken hearted? Well, at Ariana’s show, they may just get up and dance…

Venue: Assembly, George Square – Studio Four
Dates: 5th to 31st August at 17:20 

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-breakup-variety-hour