The Fringe’s original home of comedy, Gilded Balloon. have revealed their full line-up for 2024’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, adding huge names including Jack Docherty taking on Scot Squad’s The Chief, sketches and stand-up from Paul Black, brand new comedy play Chemo Savvy in tribute to the late Andy Gray, live comedy podcast The Guilty Feminist, Kim Blythe’s Fringe debut, a trip down Scottish musical history in Broadside Ballads and more.
Gilded Balloon shows take place from 31st July – 26th August with tickets on sale from 12pm Tuesday 7th May – tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk
Jack Docherty said: “I’m delighted to be performing once again as The Chief. It’s been a while since he brought his wit and wisdom to a live audience and I can’t wait to unleash him at the festival.
“He is, was and will always be, unapologetically, The People’s Chief – Leader of Men.”
Paul Black said, “I’m buzzing to be bringing a brand new show to the Fringe this year and even more excited that we’re doing a sketch show.
“It’ll be a lot of daft sketches and characters, some that people may have seen before if they follow me online and some brand new stuff.”
Grant Stott, Chemo Savvy said: “This new play ‘Chemo Savvy’ was Andy’s idea and finally getting to stage it at the Gilded Balloon, our Fringe ‘home’ for so many years, is perfect.
“I’ve always felt we had unfinished business – as our Fringe adventures ended so abruptly – so this will be a wonderful way to bring this very special chapter to a close. I have no doubt that staging this play in memory of our Big China will be an emotional rollercoaster for every single one of us involved.
“It’s a difficult subject to tackle, but as Andy gloriously showed through his own experience – you had to have laughs along the way.”
Hosting over 130 shows across two venues at Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland, Gilded Balloon returns to the Fringe for its 39th year with an expertly-curated programme of comedy, theatre, children’s shows, magic, improv and more.
Fringe fans can expect; the return of Jack Docherty as Scotland’s favourite cop ‘The Chief’, a brand new hour from Paul Black, comedy play Chemo Savvy inspired by the late great comedian Andy Gray, TikTok star Kim Blythe’s Fringe debut, award-winning podcast The Guilty Feminist, a trip down Scots music history with members of Del Amitri, Orange Juice and The Bluebells in Broadside Ballads, the UK’s leading political podcast The Political Party with Matt Forde plus comedy combined with the city’s best street food at Edinburgh Comedy Social.
BAFTA award winning star of Scot Squad, actor, comedian and writer Jack Docherty returns to Gilded Balloon following rave reviews and a sell-out run in 2023.
Jack’s brand new show The Chief – No Apologies will welcome BCB Scotland’s Scot Squad Chief himself to Edinburgh Fringe, as he looks back on a long career righting wrongs, crushing crime, battling bams and never ever apologising.
Following three consecutive sold out Fringe runs, one of the UK’s brightest comedic talents, Paul Black brings his brand new show All Sorts to Gilded Balloon’s Patter House. Blending sketches and stand-up with characters old and new, All Sorts is a must for fans of Paul’s viral online comedy, which has reached over half a billion views worldwide.
Brand new comedy play Chemo Savvy will make its Fringe debut with a story inspired by the late great comedian Andy Gray and his battle with leukaemia, starring Grant Stott, Jordan Young and Gail Watson.
A rollercoaster of tears and laughter, the show follows the protagonist’s journey, inspired by Andy Gray’s own experiences, as a family is broken and ultimately reunited by the experience, with plenty of gallows humour throughout.
A must for any music fans – take a trip down Scottish music history in Broadside Ballads as members of iconic bands Del Amitri, Orange Juice, Simple Minds and The Bluebells join forces to take audiences on an immersive journey through Scotland’s rich musical heritage, through a captivating blend of music and projection.
Or, journey back to Glasgow in the 1950s as one of Scotland’s most beloved plays takes up residence at Gilded Balloon – The Steamie. Revisit Tony Roper’s loveable characters as four Glaswegian women look ahead to the New Year and all the challenges it may bring.
Comedian Deborah Frances-White will host live shows of her podcast phenomenon The Guilty Feminist at the National Museum of Scotland, welcoming special guests as they discuss topics that face all 21st century feminists following over 150 million downloads of the podcast.
Meanwhile, the UK’s top political podcast returns for two live shows as The Political Party with Matt Forde is set to once again welcome the country’s top political minds, with previous live show guests including Nicola Sturgeon, Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell.
In this sizzling summer of stand-up, Gilded Balloon will welcome some of Scotland’s top TikTok stars including Kim Blythe, otherwise known as Kimbo, who will make her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut.
Following two sold out shows at Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Kim ventures into the world of stand-up comedy in Might As Well, offering a glimpse behind the camera as she navigates the pitfalls of adulthood.
Plus, Glaswegian comic Mark Black will perform a new stand-up and musical hour with The Drink. The Drugs. The Scratchcairds.
Following rave reviews in Glasgow, fans can follow the comedian’s journey from drug addict to men’s mental health advocate, from gaffs to ice baths, featuring songs, wild characters and Mark’s trademark dark humour.
Back for 2024, Gilded Balloon will host Comedy Night at the Museum, a late night unrehearsed and unrestrained show where comedians from around the world will blur the line between arteFACT and arteFICTION in a completely improvised set prompted by genuine artefacts from the National Museum of Scotland.
Prepare for some historically inaccurate but absolutely hilarious facts and fiction!
Following the success of sell out show Leith Social, Gilded Balloon have joined forces with the city’s favourite foodie hangout, Edinburgh Street Food, to curate a new monthly comedy night kicking off in May, which will expand to weekly shows in August.
Fringe fans can take in the ultimate dinner and a show at Edinburgh Comedy Social with the capital’s funniest night out, and only dog friendly comedy night, serving up the very best street food and small plates – August line-ups to be announced imminently.
It’s a family affair at Gilded Balloon with the captivating Wood Owl and the Box of Wonders, the story of a lonely little owl with an enormous heart featuring beautiful handmade puppets, original music and a fantasy world with an age-old message, guaranteed to delight all the family.
Pop Off, Michelangelo is the world premiere of a musical comedy about two best friends Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo who decide to become the greatest artists of all time so God will forgive them for being gay – expect historical inaccuracies but pure hilarity.
Ravers can relive their youth at Rave New World, with tales of revolution, acid house and mischief marking the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Summer of Love in a show where you may even learn the real words to your favourite 90s dance anthems.
Plus, American Horror Story actress Naomi Grossman pens a love letter to AHS fans in American Whore Story, a behind the scenes look at Naomi’s history of hustling, whilst Jamie Denbo, writer/producer on hit show Grey’s Anatomy presents her alter-ego in Beverly Live! exploring everything from her golden years in California to how to avoid being cancelled.
TikTok star Siomha Hennessy ventures out from cornering strangers in the smoking area to tell them her life story to doing it in a theatre instead with comedy cabaret show 30 Under 30; 2023 sell out sensations 1 Hour of Insane Magic return; award winning duo The Awkward Silence journey through your wildest dreams in hallucinatory sketch comedy feast Mind Milk; and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Andrew Clover faces reality after sailing the Atlantic and making a life changing discovery.
With over 130 shows to choose from, Gilded Balloon’s Fringe 2024 programme is a veritable feast of huge names, new comedic talent, exhilarating magic shows, thrilling theatre and classic shows like Late’n’Live and So You Think You’re Funny?
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said, “We’re thrilled to unveil Gilded Balloon’s full programme for 2024 with a fantastic blend of rising stars, big names and weird and wonderful shows set to entertain audiences in Edinburgh this summer.
“Welcoming back the likes of Jack Docherty and Paul Black with new shows following sell-out runs last year is so exciting and we’re particularly proud to be working with the wonderful team on Chemo Savvy, which is a beautiful, heartwarming and hilarious tribute to our friend Andy Gray.
“It’s set to be another stellar year for Gilded Balloon across our two venues, especially with the introduction of new shows like Edinburgh Comedy Social and the return of Comedy Night at the Museum. We can’t wait to open the doors at Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland and enjoy another incredible month of comedy, theatre, magic, kids shows and more.”
Gilded Balloon’s ‘Pals in Pink’ will welcome audiences from around the world as staff transform Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland into fabulously pink hubs of creativity with acts from every genre descending during the month of August.
Prepare for a pink takeover this August as Gilded Balloon presents the very best rising stars, renowned comedians, spellbinding magic shows, thrilling theatre and wild and wonderful kids shows this Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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