Bill’s 44th

Sorry you are too late, this event has been and gone!

New York-based puppeteers Andy Manjuck and Dorothy James bring their wordless tragicomedy Bill’s 44th to the Edinburgh Fringe, in association with Underbelly.

About Bill’s 44th

Listed Under Theatre Events / Comedy Events / Nights Out Events

This introspective puppet show explores physical and emotional seclusion, a concept that carries added weight following the pandemic, in a tender and hilarious party that has been selected as a NYTimes Critic’s Pick and received two OFFIE nominations.

The streamers are hung, the punch has been spiked and the cake is just begging to be eaten. The anxious host, Bill, has planned his party to the last detail and now, all that remains is for his guests to arrive. Desperate to fill his apartment with camaraderie and celebration, his imagination runs wild. Bill’s 44th explores loneliness and self-acceptance through different styles of puppetry, raucous balloons and a cheeky piece of crudité.

Co-creators and puppeteers Andy Manjuck and Dorothy James comment, Puppetry lets us play with scale, with surrealism, and allows us to connect to an audience on a deep level. This is a comedy that is sometimes terribly unfunny and a constant tragedy that is often hilarious. It is a puppet show for adults about time, loneliness, and self-acceptance.

After their sold-out run at London International Mime Festival 2023 and being awarded a “Citation of Excellence" by UNIMA-USA , the three puppeteers (Manjuck and James, along with Jon Riddleberger) perform this playful and poignant devised piece, to highlight the pitfalls of impatience, the wonder of loneliness and the universal passage of time.

Venue: Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Button), 66 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1JX

It’s sweetly hilarious with flashes of bizarre originality… Describing it as a love letter to self-acceptance would be quite correct, but it’s more than that: it’s an hour in the company of someone you can’t help falling in love with (★★★★★ The Reviews Hub).

James and Manjuck have realised a wonderful achievement here, using objects and fantasy to give intense clarity to the very real emotional needs of the human condition. Gorgeously playful, at times poignant, wise and silly, Bill brings it all to the party in a thoroughly enjoyable evening (★★★★ Everything Theatre).

Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!

Other Events at Various Venues or Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Comedy

Ayo Adenekan: Black Mediocrity

5th July 2025

Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh Old Town

Ayo Adenekan makes his highly anticipated Fringe debut with a hilarious and heartfelt show about growing up in Scotland.

Theatre

Singin’ I’m No a Billie, She’s a Tim

30th July 2025 - 22nd August 2025

Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh West

Back with an all female cast, Singin I'm No a Billy SHE'S a Tim will have you laughing and crying so hard, you'll be begging for full time!

Theatre