Underbelly announce their 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme

Underbelly is thrilled to announce the latest lineup of shows completing its Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 programme.

Article Source: Underbelly
Last Updated: 8 May 2024 13:07

This year’s programme will boast over 150 shows across their four iconic performance hubs; Bristo Square, Cowgate, George Square and Circus Hub on the Meadows

Underbelly has today (8th of May) announced its latest lineup of shows as tickets go on today for the highly anticipated Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The much-loved entertainment company will continue its tradition of delivering outstanding entertainment with a stellar line-up including the best of theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus, musicals, children’s shows and more, and will play host to an international line-up with performers hailing from the UK, USA, Australia, Japan, Guinea, France and Canada, to name a few.

2024 will see new Underbelly debuts for a variety of shows; from the spellbinding acrobatics of Circus Baobab with their show, Yé!; to the absurd and wordless acrobatic pas-de-deux, OH OH, that promises laughter and wonder, brought to you by Compagnia Baccalà, the creators of Pss Pss; Tweedy's Massive Circus invites audiences on a whimsical adventure with Giffords Circus star Tweedy The Clown; Machine de Cirque will present Ghost Light: Between Fall and Flight - a mesmerising duet performed on a spinning teeterboard that blurs the line between fall and flight, showcasing Guinness world record-holder Maxim Laurin joined by Guillaume Larouche in a breathtaking display of acrobatics. From further afield, Japan's most talked-about contemporary circus company, Cirquework, makes its UK premiere with YOAH, promising a jaw-dropping fusion of physicality and visual effects that redefine the circus experience.

I Wish You Well - The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical portrays Academy Award winner and devastating downhill skier, Gwyneth Paltrow, as she defends her legacy whilst delivering camp courtroom musical drama at its finest. All the while, DIVA: Live From Hell!, a riotous, blood-stained love letter to Broadway starring West End star, Luke Bayer, promises laughter and revenge and ALOK will amuse all with their new stand-up show, offering a wickedly sharp and delightfully silly exploration of gender and genre. Changing the tone slightly, Tending will importantly shine a spotlight on the lives of nurses working on the NHS frontline, offering a heartwarming and humorous look at the resilience of the human spirit.

Various audience favourites will also be making highly anticipated returns in 2024, such as the pulsating symphony of acrobatics in Circa Humans 2.0. La Clique returns to the Spiegeltent after two sell-out seasons in 2022 and 2023, promising unforgettable performances that push the boundaries of circus and cabaret; and Trash Test Dummies Circus sees the award-winning slapstick routine back at Circus Hub, taking the humble wheelie bin to new heights in a dump-truck of hilarity.

House of Life promises a musical journey like no other, with the Rave-Rend once again leading audiences on a sermon, purge, and party rolled into one. With its infectious energy and uplifting message, this production is sure to be the feel-good sensation of the Fringe. Continuing on the party atmosphere, Sophie's Surprise 29th invites audiences to the craziest house party in the final Spiegeltent show of the day, as Sophie celebrates turning 29 with a riotous blend of circus, comedy, and chaos. Also back for another year, Bill's 44th, from critically acclaimed puppeteering duo Andy Manjuck and Dorothy James, promises a tragicomic celebration like no other. This five-star hit returns for 2024 and invites audiences to an unforgettable and surreal birthday party.

The excitement is already building for previously announced shows, with Hannah Gadsby making a triumphant return to the Fringe with Woof!, and Rob Madge returning with their sell-out and award-winning show, My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?). Late night Cowgate hit BATSU! also returns after selling out in 2023 with comedians competing to avoid jaw-dropping punishments.

Bringing the party to McEwan Hall for the first time, Massaoke: Greatest Hits Live celebrates its 10th year as the no.1 party of the Fringe, inviting audiences for a sing-along megamix of the biggest hairbrush anthems. Or, if you’re more of a fan of musicals, Massaoke: Sing The Musicals features all the favourite hits from stage and screen promising musical fun for all ages. Returning to McEwan Hall is Colin Cloud with Consequences, promising to unravel the mysteries of the mind and challenge audiences to examine their beliefs and their impact on existence.

Edinburgh Comedy Allstars will deliver the biggest, brightest comedians in one unmissable show every weekend in the famous Udderbelly. In a one-off celebration, Underbelly’s Big Brain Tumour Benefit will bring comedy stars together for a 6th year running, promising an evening of comedy in which all box office income is donated to The Brain Tumour Charity.

Alongside this are the three 2024 winners of the Untapped Award in partnership with New Diorama Theatre and Concord Theatricals, which supports early and mid-career theatre companies to bring intriguing stories and bold ideas to Fringe. These are: DRUM, a true story of Ghanaian photographer James Barnor meeting BBC broadcaster Mike Eghan in the swinging 60s; The Mosinee Project, a true story of an American midwestern town faking a communist coup in the mid 50s; and Ugly Sisters, a hallucinatory plunge through the circles of new sisterhood, asking who fits into a glass slipper and who buys heels for drag queens.

COMEDY

Internet sensations Foil Arms & Hog premiere their brand new show, Skittish, featuring a mix of sketch comedy, audience participation, and improvisation. With a track record of sold-out shows from 2009 to 2023, Foil Arms & Hog are sure to delight audiences once again. NewsRevue celebrates its 45th birthday with a Guinness World Record-breaking show that parodies current affairs with high-energy sketches and songs. This Edinburgh institution aims to shine a light in the darkness with 100% new content.

Joining these comedy stalwarts are, Rosie Holt MP with Why We Were Right, celebrating the launch of her new book where she explains why the so-called “scandals” derided by the left were completely right all along; the return of Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho with her smash hit drag extravaganza; and, as seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under and Netflix, Rhys Nicholson presents Huge Big Party Congratulations!, a brand-new stand-up comedy concert filled with laughs and surprises.

Returning comedy favourites include trail-blazing comedian Paul Foot with limited dates of his hit 2023 show, Dissolve, his most personal and surprising show to date; and Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel which celebrates its eleventh year at the Fringe with hilarious improvisation of a new Jane Austen novel, inspired entirely by audience suggestions.

Don't miss Joe McTernan's Lost, following a complete sell-out run in 2023, the Scottish comedian and viral sensation returns with a new show that promises to have audiences "crying with laughter," according to ThreeWeeks; or Simon David in Dead Dad Show, a joyous and hilarious celebration of life and family. Also returning to Underbelly this year, Sooz Kempner looks at class through the lens of doing her GCSEs in 2000 at a state comp… while knowing all about dressage; 6-foot-identical-twins sketch group Pear present a new hour of chaotic comedy; and Six Chick Flicks... sees the return of a hilarious parody of classic films, including Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman, and Dirty Dancing after a sell-out run in 2023.

Alongside these brilliant returners, there are some exciting new additions to Underbelly’s comedy programme this year. Co-host of the international smash hit podcast All Killa No Filla, Rachel Fairburn brings her new stand-up show to Bristo Square; online sensation Ali Woods brings a hilarious new show about trying to be yourself; Annie Boyle brings a one-woman show about grief, self-discovery and a cow called Madonna; Oliver Coleman carries on even as something goes terribly wrong in Goof; and Britain’s Got Talent star Daliso Chaponda revisits old themes but better in Feed This Black Man Again.

Following a smashing debut in 2023, Shane Daniel Byrne brings his spicy new show about jeans, jackets and Jesus Christ to Underbelly; another award-winning Irish comedian, Martin Angolo, looks at positive and negative cultural shifts in Idiot Wind; bringing five-star musical comedy and a hilarious journey through the ups and downs of modern life, Flat And The Curves: Rosé-tinted celebrates the quintessential brit-girl bender with award-winning humour and fresh perspectives; solo punk-rock comedy arrives in the form of Furiozo: Man Looking For Trouble from Polish clown Piotr Sikora.

Finally, TikTok Presents: The Variety Show showcases some of the platform's most loved performers, including Joanne McNally, Christopher Hall and the Sugarcoated Sisters for a night of entertainment at the Udderbelly. For one night only, audiences can experience the virtual stage of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in person.

THEATRE

Discover the raw journey of former child star Molly considering a shift into adult entertainment in Really Good Exposure, led by Megan Prescott from Channel 4's 'Skins.' Also new for 2024 is Character Flaw, where audiences embark on a rip-roaring adventure that celebrates the joys and challenges of Pip's life with ADHD, and BI-TOPIA, which marks the debut of playwright Sam Danson with a must-see coming-of-age story that hilariously explores one man's turbulent bisexual journey.

Don’t Call Me China Doll presents a compelling exploration of identity and progress as China Doll prepares for the audition of a lifetime, confronting Hollywood's portrayal of East Asian starlets, whereas, following the success of his Fringe debut, playwright Edmund Morris returns with The Grim - a dark comedy featuring two undertakers and a dead murderer. On a different note, The Ghost of White Hart Lane tells the tragic story of football star John White, struck by lightning at the peak of his career, whereas Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England makes a triumphant return to the Fringe after a sell-out run, offering a blisteringly funny exploration of football culture and camaraderie.

Experiment Human invites audiences into the fascinating world of Monkion, a recluse obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch, whereas Out of Woodstock offers a psychodramatic exploration of one man's descent into moral ambiguity at the infamous Woodstock 99 music festival. Or, for something lighter, Is This Thing On? offers a comedic rollercoaster ride as flatmates Mary and Liz battle over integrity and the spotlight. For something more thought-provoking however, KAREN invites audiences into a world of passion, pain, and office chaos as she confronts her arch-nemesis while navigating the ups and downs of modern life, and Lost Girl invites audiences on a journey of self-discovery as playwright Amy Lever explores Jewish-Arab heritage, womanhood, and family expectations.

DANCE, CIRCUS & VARIETY

Dance N’ SpeakEasy, hip-hop world champions ‘Wanted Posse’ transport audiences to the depths of a 1920s New York speakeasy, where the sounds of Miles Davis, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin set the stage for an exhilarating fusion of Charleston, jitterbug, and hip-hop, returning after a smash-hit debut in 2023. If this isn’t enough action, then prepare to be spellbound by Magical Bones in Bonafide Magic, as the Britain's Got Talent and ITV's The Ultimate Magician finalist showcases awe-inspiring magic in a high-energy show that's guaranteed to leave audiences dazzled. And for even more magic, James Phelan presents The Dreamer - Live - an enigmatic magic show that's sure to captivate audiences; with Phelan's innate ability to weave magic into reality, this performance is not to be missed.

Barbaren Barbies: A Wild Women Circus brings together five barbarians who unapologetically smash together incredible acrobatics, dance, and comedy with delightfully shocking silliness. Tackling the complexity of womanhood, this show transports audiences to the underground Berlin circus scene blended with the spirit of a Vegas Spice Girl, delivering an unforgettable experience. For more in the Circus Hub, IIIII - About The Art of Letting Go offers a small masterpiece of contemporary circus, dance, and sound art that weaves a personal and emotional journey through the beauty and pain of letting go. At its centre is the Cyr Wheel, a powerful and stirring symbol of fragility and resilience.

Or, for something a bit different, India's most-famous mind-reader, Suhani Shah, presents Spellbound 2.0 following her smash-hit debut. With mental mysteries, surprises, and interactive engagement, Shah's show is hailed as a must-see, earning acclaim from World Magic Review, List, and Fest.

CHILDREN'S SHOWS

Amazing Bubble Man returns to Underbelly, moving this year to McEwan Hall. An Edinburgh favourite, captivating audiences with his mesmerising bubble art, science, magic, and fun. Whereas How to Catch a Book Witch tells the heartwarming story of Kira, a young book lover whose world is turned upside down when the words in her books start to disappear. This open-hearted show, suitable for ages 4 and up, features music, puppetry, storytelling, keyword signing, and captions, offering a magical experience for young audiences.

Also ‘flipping’ into the Big Purple Cow is CIRCUS - The Show - an internationally award-winning sensation featuring some of the finest circus acts from Australia. It’s sure to amaze the entire family with its breathtaking performances and high-flying excitement. Or, for something a bit more educational yet still entertaining, join professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge in The Alphabet of Awesome Science for a multi-award-winning voyage through the alphabet, where awesome words inspire spectacular science. Hailed as a "must-see" by The Advertiser and Glam Adelaide, this show promises to be an entertaining experience for children and adults alike.

MUSIC & MUSICALS

Performed by the UK's No.1 acappella super-group, The Magnets: Legends celebrates its 20th year in Edinburgh, reliving the magic of the greatest musical icons of all time. Or, for something new, Come Dine With Me: The Musical mixes behind-the-scenes skulduggery with romance and juicy arpeggios, promising a deliciously entertaining experience, or Meet Me in Buenos Aires premieres Florencia Iriondo's soulful music storytelling odyssey, exploring how love morphs through family, centuries, and continents.

Alternatively, Diary of a Gay Disaster offers a comical journey through the trials of being a gay disaster, featuring three angel dykes, a magic diary, and twelve comical tunes, and Edge of Time is a groundbreaking one-woman immersive musical inspired by feminist pioneer Hannah Gavron, exploring the power of feminine hope and breaking free from conformity. For something completely different and complete with singing serial killers and tap-dancing lambs, SILENCE! the Musical - The unauthorised parody of The Silence of the Lambs comes charging with gleefully unstoppable bad taste.

EVENTS

Drag & Draw is an exciting art class with a twist. Led by a fabulous drag queen model, this unique event combines drawing exercises, lip-sync performances, and interactive fun, offering a vibrant space for artists of all levels to unleash their creativity and connect with the magic of drag culture.

Underbelly is excited to collaborate with the Edinburgh Book Festival on The Front List. Featuring Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, and Jackie Kay will delve into their creative processes and inspirations. Alice Oseman will offer insights into her bestselling romance Heartstopper, while Dolly Alderton will explore themes of class and heartbreak in Good Material. James O’Brien and Isabel Hardman will tackle contemporary Britain's state and the role of political leadership, while Matt Haig will unveil themes of resilience in his latest novel. Philippa Gregory will discuss her groundbreaking historical fiction, and Richard Osman will launch his new series with Ian Rankin. Lastly, Salman Rushdie will share a gripping account of survival in Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, joined by Mishal Husain for a profound reflection on the experience.

Co-Directors of Underbelly, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, said: “We’re looking forward to coming back with a bang this summer with a stellar line-up of exceptional shows and once again working collaboratively with leading international companies, showcasing the best of theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus, musicals, children’s shows and more. Check-out our website to explore the full programme now. See you in August!”.

Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe runs from the 31st of July - 26th of August. Festival goers can purchase tickets from today via the Underbelly website – www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk

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