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Festival Fringe 2022: Tickets for further 513 shows made available

Over 790 shows now available to browse online, with more to be announced monthly in the lead up to the Fringe’s 75^th anniversary this August

Today, Thursday 07 April, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to announce that tickets for a further 513 Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows are now available to browse and book at edfringe.com.

This is the second set of tickets to be released for 2022, with the first 283 shows revealed in March.

In total, there are 796 shows now available, with more set to be announced on Thursday 05 May and Thursday 09 June. The official programme launch will take place on Thursday 07 July.

The 75^th anniversary of the Fringe takes place from 5th – 29th August 2022 and will feature an exciting range of shows, with theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, musicals, variety, cabaret, events and more all featured in the programme so far.

Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book from today. The full list of shows released so far can be found at edfringe.com.

Theatre

At Pleasance, Today I Killed My Very First Bird follows a South-East London gangster who starts to lose his grip on reality when he’s forced to look back on his traumatic childhood. Theatre Royal Plymouth co-produce this “unflinching new play based on lived experience”.

In a world first, Irvine Welsh’s Porno has been adapted for the stage. 15 years after Trainspotting, what has become of Renton, Sickboy, Spud and Begbie?

Fills Monkey: We Will Drum You “blends pure joy and comedy with extraordinary musicianship, as two drummers fuse musical styles from rock to heavy metal, and Latin to jazz”.

And in Charlie Russell Aims to Please, Charlie wants to do a show in Edinburgh, and so attempts to “please absolutely everyone by trying to hit as many solo Fringe show tropes and styles as possible within an hour”.

At Gilded Balloon,Swallowed follows a young couple who are separated by an outbreak they cannot speak of. “Desire to connect meets fear of touch”. From emerging Scottish company, Frizz Theatre.

Eve: All About Her sees award-winning actor and cabaret artist Keith Ramsay “fuse spoken word and live music to deconstruct the concept of camp and queer mythology for a post-Stonewall generation”.

After a run in 2021, 1902 returns to Leith Arches. The multi award-winning work from Saltire Sky “takes an access-all-areas approach to working-class life in Scotland as we follow four young wannabe football hooligans in their quest to see Hibs win the Scottish Cup Final”.

At theSpaceUK, Beneath is “a dark and absurd commentary on the effects of climate change”. Four people are trapped under 100 metres of water after an environmental catastrophe. After months of just surviving, each character is forced to examine what their options are and what their futures hold.

And Hiya Dolly! is “the true story of how a cute, attention-seeking lamb became the most famous sheep in history – the world’s first cloned mammal.”

Les Dawson: Flying High is at Assembly. Jon Culshaw stars in in this new play from BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning writer Tim Whitnall and director Bob Golding. “Join Les as he summons forth a wealth of characters and incidents from his eventful life and career.”

Marrow follows a queer artist, who when “forced within the confines of his fabulous mind, takes a euphoric journey to heal”.

She Wolf is a winner of the 2022 Assembly ART Award and the Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize. It’s a fierce, ferocious monologue “about getting f*cked over and fighting your way back”. Spoken by a woman hiding out at the zoo, this show “tears open questions of gender and class in a capitalist world”.

Sandcastles by Steve McMahon “depicts the tumultuous lifelong friendship of millennials Hannah and Beth”. An Assembly ART Award-winning piece from Brite Theater.

Destiny is at Underbelly. “Destiny dreams big… If J-Lo can make it out of the Bronx, then Destiny can make it off the Hill Rise estate.” A recipient of the Pleasance 2021 National Partnerships Award with Bristol Old Vic Ferment, this work follows a teenage girl growing up on a Chippenham council estate.

The Sian Clarke Experience is “an ode to every man who has belittled her, made her feel unsafe, objectified her, told her she can’t be funny, called her a slut, told her to smile more… a dark, twisted comedic piece full of aggression and discomfort, examining the constraints of a woman biting back.”

Lightweight is “the true story of a complicated young woman’s attempts to survive anorexia and maintain a debilitatingly positive attitude in post-9/11 New York City”. Winner of Best Festival Debut at United Solo Festival 2021, New York City.

The B Collective returns with their high-octane show, Murder Ballads, adapted from the album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. “Explosive gig-theatre meets dark comedy cabaret as four actor-musicians invite you to O’Malley’s Bar in the town of Millhaven, 1882, in the wildest part of the old Wild West”.

At Greenside, Almost 13 is a solo drama about a young girl “surviving a hot, violent summer in Brooklyn”. Can she endure being caught between a disintegrating working-class family at home and racial violence on the streets? Award-winning theatre artist Joan Kane plays all 10 colourful Brooklynites.

And the one-woman show Caitlin is based on Dylan Thomas’s wife Caitlin Macnamara, as she tells the story of her “unfulfilled ambitions”, and her “booze-fuelled, infidelity-riddled marriage to poet”.

Comedy

Monkey Barrel have a roster of stand-up this year, including Catherine Bohart’s “blisteringly funny new stand-up show filled with horrendous life advice, cheery nihilism and reluctant self-discovery.”

Taskmaster winner and co-host of Dave’s Unforgivable Lou Sanders is “tour fresh and still yakking away… is this show the real vaccine?”

Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Sofie Hagen presents Fat Jokes: a show bursting with big jokes and fat punchlines.

And Liam Withnail returns with a new show, on the back of winning Amused Moose’s Outstanding Show Award in 2019.

Plus, Glasgow comedian Christopher Macarthur- Boyd is back, exploring “the end of the world and Italian food”.

The Stand is home to Omid Djalili. “After experimental Zoom gigs where he got muted by 639 people… the multi award-winning comedian and actor is now where he belongs, on a stage.”

Paul Sinha is back on tour and appearing at the Fringe. Audiences can “expect jokes and surprises” from the quizzer, comedian and broadcaster.

Meanwhile, Flat and the Curves sees “hilarious divas perform original songs exploring sex, scandal and sisterhood”.

Frankie Boyle is at Assembly with “ashow largely about politics, satirising whichever new leaders emerge from the irradiated rubble.”

For Nish Kumar, who returns with a new show, “it has been a period of upheaval and uncertainty with COVID and the political situation.” He promises we’ll be “amazed by his capacity to somehow take all these things personally.”

Julia Masil is appearing with “a debut solo comedy hour from the legs behind the sell-out hit show Legs. In this absurd homage to migration, a hungry clown from an Eastern European village voyages to America for a hot dog.”

And after his last Fringe appearance, Rich Hall “had to step away from Edinburgh and consider how to be less devastatingly funny.” In this return, he promises “to dial it back just a little”.

At Gilded Balloon, Best Newcomer nominee Maisie Adam has a brand-new show for 2022, Buzzed, “rammed with witty observations, high-octane energy and some right good jokes.”

Comedy magician Pete Firman returns to the Fringe with a new show. “Expect Pete’s trademark blend of laugh-out-loud comedy and jaw-dropping magic”.

And legendary fox Basil Brush has a brand-new show for the adults, following his sold-out 2019 Fringe debut. “The national treasure will bring more anarchy to the festival, featuring different guests daily.”

At Pleasance, Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle is “a new solo spectacular predicted to spiral into chaos as Mind Mangler attempts to read your mind.”

And in Mischief Movie Night, audiences are promised “an improvised movie live on stage”. Every show is different.

Daniel Sloss is at Just the Tonic and is doing a run of shows to work up some new material for his next tour.

Tom Stade is “trying to remember what was important before responsibility and fear got in the way” in his show.

Underbelly is home to Paul Foot, in which “Paul opens his beak and explores topics including Nanna on the rack, murdering Santas and interfering ambulance drivers.”

Jason Byrne recently lost his father, Paddy Byrne. In this one-man play, Jason brings his dad’s life to the stage, “keeping him alive in stories full of laughter and tears”.

In A Problem Shared, Myra DuBois “steps away from the songs and dedicates her attention to the dying art of conversation”.

Drunk Women Solving Crime returns to the Fringe. “This is a true crime podcast with a twist… of lime. Each episode sees the boozed-up panel of writer / comedian hosts Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn welcome a top guest to test out their drunk detective skills and solve true crime cases.”

The Scottish Comedy Festival has a host of Scottish stand-up, including five-time Scottish Comedian of the Year finalist Ross Leslie and a set from Gary Little on “life, relationships, the world!”

Laughing Horse is home to Nathan Cassidy, who presents “stand-up comedy on the death of the planet, the neglect of our leaders and the shield of blame from ourselves.”

PBH’s Free Fringe features Palindrome Fight!, which comprises five panelists, three audience suggestions, and thirty minutes of lurid palindrome history and standup comedy.

Music

Catch The Tiger Lillies at Underbelly. After years away touring the world, the “Olivier Award-winning godfathers of alternative cabaret celebrate their 30th anniversary with a triumphant return to the Fringe”.

Scottish/Danish folk duo The Quiggs are back at Acoustic Music Centre for an hour of folksong and fine singing.

Dougie Mackenzie and Brian Miller are performing together. Dougie is a traditional singer, drawn to Scots ballad language. Brian is a Scottish singer and guitarist.

Massaoke is back at Assembly. Join the house band, Rockstar Weekend, on “a euphoric, spandex-clad journey through the greatest smash hits of all time, accompanied by giant video lyrics and the whole crowd singing together”.

At Pleasance, Shona the Musical Choir is an African/Scottish group presenting original songs from African composer/playwright Neo Vilakazi. “Inspired by historical events around the Shona tribe in Africa and [the] socio-political turmoil of Robert Mugabe’s rule of Zimbabwe.”

Cabaret and Variety

Fascinating Aida are at Assembly. Their latest show is “jam-packed with hilarious songs (old and new), outrageous humour and an elegant charm that belies the biting satire and their potty mouths.”

In Soulful Magic, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Magical Bones returns to the Fringe, with a “brand-new hour of the most awe-inspiring and high-energy magic you’ll see this year.”

Following its sold-out 2019 Fringe premiere, the award-winning An Evening Without Kate Bush returns.Sarah-Louise Young and Russell Lucas “pay glorious homage to the music, fans and mythology of one of the most influential voices in music”.

La Clique are returning to the Fringe, with shows at Underbelly. A decade on from winning the Best Entertainment Olivier Award, this show “promises to be a night of laughs, gasps, naughtiness and the best in international cabaret”.

In More Jewish Chronicles (and Other Musical Stories), multi award-winning musical storyteller Daniel Cainer performs another collection of story-songs, following six off-Broadway runs and 15 Edinburgh Fringes.

PBH’s Free Fringe is home to Caspar Thomas: Sleight of Handkerchief. Having had plenty of time to practice, Caspar returns to the Fringe with a brand-new magic show.

Plus, Ash Pryce’s latest show features paranormal illusions, spooky magic and ghostly goings in the underground vaults of Edinburgh.

Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus

Railed is at Assembly. From the creators of Elixir (winner of Best Circus and Physical Theatre award at Adelaide Fringe 2018), “Railed is a western-themed circus spectacular, combining trademark physical talents, finely chiselled bodies and hilarious comic timing.”

International theatre-makers Same Same Collective are bringing drop dead gorgeous, which “combines movement, clowning and a whole lot of fruit.” Expect “intersectional, irreverent theatre, loosely based on Yukio Mishima’s Book of Anti-Chaste Wisdom”.

Circus Abyssinia: Tulu is at Underbelly Circus Hub. “Celebrating the first African woman to win Olympic gold, this showcase is inspired by the true tale of an Ethiopian icon, Derartu Tulu”. It promises “awe-inspiring acrobatics and mesmerising fire juggling with a rocking, exuberant soundtrack.”

At theSpaceUK, SMACK & Spektakel offers “an adventurous double bill of dance, refreshing the commentary on the empowered female body, while questioning the relationship between performance and identity”.

Children’s shows

At Pleasance, catch Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids. World record-breaking beatboxer SK Shlomo has performed around the world with the likes of Bjork, Ed Sheeran and Rudimental. Here, Shlomo is “back on his mission to empower the next generation of superstar beatboxers to find their true voice, no matter who they are”.

Clowntown In Space @theSpace is at theSpaceUK. Canada’s award-winning clown band sparks the imagination in this space-themed show. “Full of live music, catchy singalongs, fun adventures and interactive comedy”.

Prehysterical is at Assembly. “A hilarious circus show for children and parents of all ages, following three foolish Neanderthals as they struggle to survive the harsh natural world.”

Meanwhile, Brotipo is “crazy Canadian circus for the young, premiering in Edinburgh after visiting 16 countries”. Watch as “two clowns touch the hearts of the audience and make them laugh through their quarrels, their acrobatics and their lonely moments.”

At Gilded Balloon, catch The Dark Room For Kids. You and your family are stuck inside a live-action video game! How will you escape? “An interactive adventure featuring terrible prizes and total mayhem.”

Fruit Flies Like a Banana: Kids! sees “music, theatre, dance and circus collide in this variety show where you choose the show order”.

In There’s Nothing Quite Like Spaghetti Bolognese!, join Penny “for an unforgettable dinner in this show that is fun for all the family. A piping-hot piece of brand-new children’s theatre that asks the question: Should you play with your food?”

Musicals

At theSpaceUK, Flesh is a “fast, furious and funny rock musical that takes a wry take on the story of Burke and Hare – Irish navvies induced by the Edinburgh medical elite to turn their hands to murdering for profit.”

And in About New Year’s Eve, “minutes before the clock strikes 12, a group of friends rediscover themselves and their goals for the new year.” This show “offers audiences a joyful and dramatic exploration of life through the eyes of young adults.”

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022: First tickets available

283 Fringe shows revealed
More shows to be announced monthly, as the world’s greatest celebration of arts and culture returns for its 75^th anniversary this August

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced that the first set of shows for the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe are available to book at edfringe.com.

Tickets for 283 shows have now been released, with more shows set to be announced on Thursday 07 April, Thursday 05 May and Thursday 09 June.

The official launch of the festival, including the reveal of the iconic printed programme, will take place in early July.

Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book now. The full list of shows released this month can be found at edfringe.com.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “It’s always a hugely exciting moment when the first set of Fringe shows are announced, and this year, it feels more important than ever to celebrate the breadth of creativity and freedom of expression that these shows represent.

“We know that so many artists are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and getting your tickets early is a brilliant way to support them at this vital time. It’s also an important investment in the value of culture and creativity, and with some shows offering free and Pay What You Can options, the Fringe remains an essential access point to culture for many.

“I can’t wait to see the programme continue to unfold as we get closer to August, and to see Edinburgh filled with live performance once again as we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of this magnificent festival.”

Theatre

At theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, acclaimed mystery maestros Highly Suspect return to the Fringe “with a new duo of hilarious and interactive murder mysteries, which you – the audience – must solve”. At the same venue, UK Underdog is a solo show based on true events in a London, Jewish boy’s life. “Bullied and humiliated at school, Steve Spiro realises his strength to move forward, but that ultimately comes at a price”.

BAFTA award-winner Jack Docherty is at Gilded Balloon with Nothing But: a darkly comic tale which grapples with lost youth, love, fatherhood, sex, secrets and truth.

At Underbelly, My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) is the “joyous, chaotic, autobiographical story of actor, writer and social-media sensation Rob Madge”.

Assembly has a range of theatre to book from today, including Watson: The Final Problem, in which Sherlock Holmes’ pal tells his tale of long-buried secrets; and Myra’s Story, in which a middle-aged, homeless Dublin street drinker relives her back story.

Comoedia at Greenside is a celebration of traditional Italian masked theatre, as the most famous characters of Commedia dell’arte come together in a one-man show. At the same venue, two women use nothing but their imaginations, a skull and some fancy scarves to bring together A Two Woman Hamlet.

At theSpace on North Bridge, GirlPlay is “an exploration of love and sex spun out in slam”. On a night of firsts, Lucy opens the door to a world of relationships and sex that she had only ever dreamt about. But is the reality all she had hoped it would be?

Online, Transatlantic is a true story of the French immigrant experience. “Cookie is taking care of the last of her uncle’s estate in New Mexico. As she goes through her family’s belongings, she goes on an emotional journey that echoes the many trips back and forth that she and her family have taken between France and the US.”

Plus, from award-winning writer Lita Doolan comes Audrey’s Art Club. “Audrey wants to know what doodling’s got to do with love and goes back to her lover’s childhood home to find answers.”

Comedy

The Stand has a wide roster of shows on sale today, including Seann Walsh: Is Dead, Happy Now? and Stewart Lee: Basic Lee – a work-in-progress show in which “Lee enters the post-pandemic era in streamlined stand-up mode”. Also catch rising Scottish star Gareth Waugh with Doozy and Jo Caulfield with Bad Attitude.

At Assembly, Fern Brady will be tackling big issues such as “death, shagging, marriage and ageing” in her show, Autistic Bikini Queen.

David O’Doherty is back with his show whoa is me and “all of the misplaced confidence of a waiter with no pad”, while Susie McCabe returns with a brand-new show. In Born Believer, the comedian has decided to leave cynicism behind to be an “all-new positive Susie (optimistic at best, positive is pushing it)”.

Jason Byrne is at Underbelly with Unblocked, as “the constipation of Covid has been cleared, live entertainment has been colonically irrigated and readied up for us all”. At the same venue, Foil, Arms and Hogg return to the Fringe with a mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation. Plus, Richard Stott: Afterparty sees the stand-up contemplate whether he’s missed the boat. “His friends have families, six-figure salaries and houses. He has a level-two food hygiene certificate and acid reflux.”

Gilded Balloon is home to double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Andrew Maxwell’s Krakatoa, as well as Justin Moorhouse’s brand-new show Stretch & Think, which “may contain yoga, getting older, Madonna, shoplifters, labradoodles, middle-aged cyclists, The Menopause, running, hating football fans but loving football, not drinking, funerals” and a lot more. Plus, catch Sian Davies,winner of Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2020 and Funny Women runner-up. Her show is all about time, growing up and finding your place in the world.

There’s a range of Laughing Horse shows available to book from today. Shows including Annie and Angela’s Disco Divorce Party: “a drag-infused comedy of musical mirth celebrating friendship and new beginnings”, and Comedy Queers: “a spicy late-night mix of outrageous queer comedians, cabaret and drag acts”. Plus, there’s stand up from the likes of Nathan Cassidy and Dave Chawner.

Fringe stalwart Nina Conti returns to Pleasance with The Dating Show, in which “finding true love can’t be promised, but big laughs are guaranteed”. And after a UK and Australia tour and an Amazon special, Taskmaster runner-up and accidental YouTube cult leader Mark Watson brings his show This Can’t Be It back to where it began (at last year’s “mini Fringe”).

Also on Pleasance’s bill is Angela Barnes: Hot Mess (“trying to live your best life, as it turns out, is really bloody hard”); Ivo Graham: My Future, My Clutter (“bumbling wordsmith and tripe factory returns to discuss three years of heavy-duty pranking / parenting / procrastinating since Dave’s 2019 nominations for Best Comedy Show and Joke of the Fringe”); and NewsRevue, which will return to the EICC to “parody politics in a post-pandemic world”.

At Just the Tonic, Daniel Sloss and Kai Humphries bring their hit podcast, Sloss and Humphries On The Road, to the festival. Plus, Fringe veteran Craig Hill returns with I Always Knew I Had It In Me, and rising Scottish star Connor Burns isat the festival with his show, Live, Laugh, Loathe.

At Queen’s Hall, Henning Wehn returns with It’ll All Come Out in the Wash: a show that promises to “give everything a good rinse and witness him wring sense out of the nonsensical”.

Music

At theSpaceTriplex, California-based Hip-Hop Orchestra, Ensemble Mik Nawooj (EMN), presents music from their new album, Death Become Life, which fuses hip-hop and classical (think full strings, woodwind, French horn and soprano).

There’s also a range of Night Owl Shows to choose from, including 007 Voices Of Bond (featuring hits such as Goldfinger, Skyfall, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die and many more); Back to Black: The Music of Amy Winehouse (which promises to take you on a moving journey through a modern legend’s career); and California Dreams (featuring an immersive trip through California in the late 60s and 70s, with hits by The Mamas & The Papas, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Byrds and more). All are happening at theSpace UK.

Acoustic Music Centre has a range of shows on sale from today. Acts include The Willow Trio: a band of three clarsach players – Sophie Rocks, Sam MacAdam, Romy Wymer – who will be presenting a mix of Gaelic music and original new work.

The Strange Valentines are a Nova Scotian folk duo, blending acoustic instrumentation and their signature stunning two-part harmonies to tell provocative stories.

Plus, up-and-coming harpist Romy Wymer presents traditional tunes from Scotland and Netherlands in her Fringe / AMC debut. Romy recently earned second place at the World Harp Competition (2021) and was a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year (2022).

Cabaret and Variety

Pleasance is home to West End star and multi award-winning magician Ben Hart, as he returns to Edinburgh with his show Wonder. Using only the simplest of props and the minds of the audience, Hart conjures a show that is “always amazing, sometimes shocking and shines a light into the darkest corners of your imaginations”.

Mat Ricardo is at Gilded Balloon with The Extraordinary Gentleman: “a unique, hilarious and unmissable one-man show” from the acclaimed variety artist.

Best of Burlesque is back at Assembly, with award-winning striptease, cabaret and variety from the 2022 Fringe, plus international special guests.

Dirty Tricks – How the Illusionati Rule the World is at Greenside. In this show, The Great Baldini demonstrates “how the illusionati rig elections, launder money and orchestrate assassinations: a wholly (im)plausible conspiracy theory”.

At theSpace @ Symposium Hall, Sue Kelvin stars in Bette Midler and Me: a tribute show to Midler, covering her life and songs from the perspective of a lifelong fan. Expect musical hits, plus highlights from Midler comedy routines and a puppet version of Beaches.

Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus

Underbelly Circus Hub returns to the Meadows this year, and with it comes Circa: Humans 2.0:“asymphony of acrobatics, sound and light”, described as “a tightly woven choreography of bodies, pulsing with music”.

Also on the Meadows, Hotel Paradiso is “an irresistibly colourful, loud and fun show for all the family” from contemporary circus company, Lost in Translation. Featuring circus skills, physical comedy, theatrical storytelling and slapstick, this show “sees the staff family tackle the scheming banker as he tries to possess the Hotel Paradiso”.

Cirque Berserk! is at Pleasance. Showcasing “traditional circus thrills and skills”, Cirque Berserk! combines “contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action”, as “this astoundingly talented international troupe includes over 30 fearless acrobats, aerialists and daredevil stuntmen”.

At Assembly, Muse is a circus piece which attempts to answer the question, “what does it mean to be a woman?” Plus, The Black Blues Brothers sees “five extraordinary acrobats perform their comedy tribute to the cult movie The Blues Brothers”. Expect breathtaking jumps, fire, somersault routines, human pyramids and more.

Intambo is at Greenside. This show features Ruciteme Karyenda Culture de Buyenzi: a group of Burundian drummers, founded in 1987. Starting with 27 members, the members range in age from 8 to 50, and they will be performing an old, traditional Burundi dance that used to be played for the Kings.

Also at Greenside is Éowyn Emerald & Dancers. Éowyn presents Your Tomorrow: “an entertaining and deeply intimate jazz dance for two performers”.

Children’s shows

Peppa Pig – My First Concert is at Assembly. This interactive introduction to a live orchestra is “an accessible, exciting concert designed for the youngest audience members, with Aurora Orchestra.”

Also at Assembly, Yellow Bird Chase follows “a clownish maintenance crew” who find a magical bird and a mad chase begins. Appropriate for the whole family and accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.

Plus, from the creative team behind the Hairy Maclary show, young audiences can now see all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books live on stage.

At Pleasance,The Smeds and the Smoos is an exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?

At Underbelly, the Amazing Bubble Man Louis Pearl is back. Louis “explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerised”.

Fox Tales: The Pied Piper is at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall. In this family puppet show, Hans the Storyteller, Reynard the Fox and Gripp the Raven give “a hilarious new telling of the classic fairy tale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin”. Expect “jokes, ridiculous rhymes, mischief and nonsense”.

At the same venue, Den of Enquiry “is a fun, light-hearted show that gets kids talking about democracy”.

Musicals

In Soho Boy at theSpace @ Symposium Hall, “young, trendy Spencer leaves home and hits Soho like a whirlwind in a journey of love, laughter, heartbreak and happiness”. This work is a “modern tale of the gay scene, which can be harsh and lonely, surrounded by glamour, sex and songs”.

At theSpace @ Niddry St, Julie: The Musical is an original, new musical telling the life and adventures of historical LGBTQ+ icon Julie D’Aubigny. “One of the first public figures to live as an openly bisexual woman, she seduced nuns, dueled multiple men at once, burnt down convents, was bribed by princes, innovated opera – all before she turned 30.”

Now in its 10th year, The Improv Musical is at Gilded Balloon. Each show is a completely improvised, never-before-seen musical on its opening, and closing, night.

At Greenside, Raft follows four women, seemingly trapped on a raft in the middle of the ocean, hunted by a mystical sea monster. “An original one-act musical around abuse, bravery and friendship.”

Underbelly at the Festival Fringe 2022

First shows announced – and they’re udderly brilliant!

Photographed by David P Scott for Underbelly. All rights reserved.

Underbelly has revealed the first 10 shows to go on sale for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The stellar line-up includes the cream of the comedy and circus crop. Festival goers can purchase tickets via the Underbelly website – www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk.

Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe runs from the 3 – 29 August 2022 across four sites: George Square, Circus Hub on the Meadows, Cowgate and Bristo Square.

McEwan Hall

With over 500 million views online, legendary comedy group Foil Arms and Hog will be back in the magnificent McEwan Hall this year to premiere their new show ‘Hogwash’. A mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation, get ready for some side splitting laughs!

McEwan Hall will also host Fringe-favourite comedian Jason Byrne with Jason Byrne: Unblocked. Join him live on stage as he unleashes what he does best – guaranteed, pure and utterly unfiltered joy and laughter.

Udderbelly George Square

The Amazing Bubble Man is back for a 14th year with another show of spellbinding bubble tricks to keep the whole family mesmerised. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe favourite will return to Udderbelly George Square with his family friendly show, exploring the breath-taking dynamic of bubbles.

Edinburgh Comedy Allstars returns to the purple cow with weekend comedy line-ups comprised of the biggest, brightest, and most hilarious comedians at the Fringe. Previous performers include a who’s who of comedy giants, from John Bishop, Phil Wang and Fern Brady to Joel Dommett – a sell-out show since 2017 and a must see!

The Cow will also play host to The WhatsOnStage Awards 2022 winner Rob Madge forBest Off-West End Production. Rob Madge: My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do), is the joyous autobiographical story of social-media sensation Rob, who brings to life their childhood rendition of a very memorable performance of a Disney parade. Hopefully, this time no one will mistake Aladdin for Ursula and by all means nobody dare to rain on it.

Circus Hub at The Meadows

Five-star Fringe favourite CIRCA returns to Underbelly’s Circus Hub with Circa: Humans 2.0 – the sequel to its internationally acclaimed and sold-out Fringe 2019 show. A symphony of acrobatics, sound and light, this next chapter of Humans is a tightly woven choreography of bodies pulsing with music. Intimate, primal, and deeply engaged with the challenge of being human.

Circus for all the family, Hotel Paradiso is the irresistibly colourful, loud, and fun show, from Guinness World Record Holders, Lost In Translation Circus. Heart-stopping aerials, stunning floor acrobatics, extraordinary juggling and theatrical storytelling combine to create this follow up to international hit The Hogwallops.

Bristo Square

Bristo Square will play host to Fringe World 2019 Best Comedy Show nominee Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy’d! and Dave’s Funniest Jokes 2019 runner-up Richard Stott: Afterparty.

Underbelly Cowgate

Paul McCaffrey: We Go Again is a hilarious new stand-up show from the star of Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard’s Good News, Impractical Jokers UK and Stand Up Central.

Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe runs from the 3 – 29 August 2022 across 19 venues and 4 sites; George Square, Circus Hub, Cowgate and Bristo Square. Further exciting programme details will be revealed in the coming months.

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly, said: “The Fringe is where Underbelly started 23 years ago and is the place, we call home. It’s been a challenging few years for everyone – we deserve to laugh, dance, sing and gaze in awe at some of the incredible acts we have lined up for 2022.

“We are incredibly excited at the prospect of Underbelly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe being back with a bang this year!”

Back with a bang!

Edinburgh Festival Fringe gets underway with dynamic programme of over 700 in-person and online shows

Today, Friday 06 August, the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe officially comes to life with an exciting hybrid programme of over 700 in-person and online shows.

From 06 – 30 August, Edinburgh will once again be host to a diverse and exciting selection of work from the worlds of theatre, dance, circus, comedy, music, musicals and opera, cabaret and variety, children’s shows, spoken word, exhibitions, events and more.

This year’s Fringe also features a scaled-back programme of street events in managed locations; a range of community engagement work, including the return of Fringe Days Out; and a programme of activity for artists and arts industry professionals via Fringe Connect and Fringe Marketplace.

All work is being delivered in strict accordance with Scottish Government covid-19 guidance, to ensure a safe, secure and enjoyable festival for artists, audiences and residents. More information can be found below.

Commenting on the launch of the festival, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Fringe is always a remarkable feat, but this year, it’s nothing short of extraordinary.

“In the face of complex restrictions and enormous challenges, the Fringe community has created a diverse and engaging programme of over 700 shows to entertain us, bring us joy, and ultimately, do what culture does best: tell stories that help us understand where we are, what we’ve been through, and where we need to go.

“I’m enormously proud of the artists, venues, creatives and workers that have made this festival not only possible, but safe, engaging and entertaining. It’s so good to be celebrating the Fringe again this August, and I’d like to thank every artist, producer, worker, audience member, funder, sponsor and supporter that has got us here today.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, President, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Edinburgh Fringe is BACK! In an act of pure artistic heroism, the Fringe Society and thousands of artists, writers, dancers, actors, designers, comedians, musicians and creatives have fought to bring this festival back to the streets of glorious, glittering Edinburgh. We have a lot of time to make up for and this festival is more than ready for you.

“With hundreds of live and online events you can see as many shows in a week than you would have in the whole of last year and we are finally able to reconnect, inspire, surprise, and entertain each other like we used to. I have never wanted to have a leaflet thrusted at me more. We’re being offered a giant cultural sprinkler after a year of drought and I can’t wait to jump through it, shrieking, with you all.”

Benny Higgins, Chair, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Edinburgh Fringe is a remarkable arts festival that has created an unparalleled legacy for the city and the country, and it will have an important part to play in how we move forward after such a difficult period.

“The cultural value that the Fringe holds is enormous, and its launch today is the first step on a long road to recovery – for the festival and for Scotland. We must all play our part in ensuring an inclusive, diverse, and accessible festival for the future, with wellbeing at its heart.”

Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Scottish Government, said: “A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to support the return of these globally significant cultural events and the benefits they bring to Scotland in terms of tourism, trade and our place on the world stage.

“Edinburgh’s festivals were sorely missed last summer and their return is another step in the right direction and testament to the determination of festival organisers, along with the artists, venues and businesses involved. I’m delighted that the Fringe will be able to welcome back audiences and give festival goers something to cheer this year.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Communities Vice Convener, said: “The return of live August festivals events and performances truly reflects our city’s on-going recovery and, of course, our cultural DNA, and we’re delighted to see an exciting Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme.

“There’s no doubt it was greatly missed last year and it’s so lovely for our city to be welcoming audiences again to the Festivals this August. To everyone taking part, we ask you to continue to follow the safety guidance and to enjoy this year’s fantastic festival experiences safely.”

Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Johnnie Walker Princes Street, said: “As Johnnie Walker moves closer to opening the doors to our new venue on Princes Street, it’s fantastic to see Edinburgh continue to open up for cultural events, and for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the best that the city has to offer.

“The Fringe Festival will always be an important part of the city’s cultural calendar and the team at Johnnie Walker are delighted to once again support the Fringe Society in bringing the festival to life through our Fringe Club whisky bar on The Mound. We can’t wait to welcome visitors from home and away as they enjoy the best of what this world famous festival has to offer.”

In-person, online and on-demand shows

In 2021, audiences will be able to access a wide range of amazing Fringe shows through socially distanced in-person events, scheduled online performances and on-demand digital shows. Tickets and information for all kinds of registered Fringe shows – live, online, paid and free – can be found at edfringe.com.

Around 440 shows are taking place in person. Many shows are taking place in new, creative outdoor locations across Edinburgh, including a football ground, a car park and a racecourse.

Familiar Fringe operators such as Acoustic Music Centre, Assembly, Dance Base, French Institute, Gilded Balloon, Laughing Horse Free Festival, Monkey Barrel, PBH’s Free Fringe, Pleasance, Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Stand, theSpaceUK, Summerhall and Zoo are all taking part in this year’s festival with physical spaces in the city.

All in-person performances will be fully Covid compliant, following the latest guidelines on social distancing, mask wearing, ventilation and hygiene.

Currently, live events must operate at one-metre distancing. On 09 August, Scotland moves to level zero and restrictions on distancing will be dropped.

Every Fringe venue operates individually. For up to date information on capacity and distancing at individual Fringe shows, please check with the relevant venue.

In an exciting move for the festival, more than 260 shows are taking place online, providing a global platform for artists, while enhancing the Fringe’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability.

There will be two kinds of online events available this year: scheduled and on demand.

With scheduled shows, audiences can buy tickets as they would to a traditional in-person event. Shows will have a dedicated start and end time and are treated as an ‘appointment to view’ event. For on-demand shows, audiences can buy tickets to watch at their leisure.

Audiences can view Fringe shows on online platforms including the new Fringe Player streamed by Brightcove (NASDAQ: BCOV), the global leader in video for business.

Available via edfringe.com, this bespoke digital platform offers an easy-to-use viewing experience for audiences whilst giving artists a platform to present and showcase their work digitally. The player will be accessible to audiences from 06 Aug, with auto-subtitling built in. Both on-demand and scheduled online shows are available on this platform.

Where other platforms (such as Zoom, YouTube and Vimeo) are being used to host online work, information on how to access these is clearly provided at the point of purchase.

Online shows will be available to watch from August but can be pre-booked from today.

Street events

The city’s world-famous street events are returning this year, with a scaled-back programme of live performances.

A fantastic starting point for any Fringe-goer, events will run daily from 11.30am until 8.30pm in the High Street’s designated Fringe safe street performance area, West Parliament Square.

There will also be a programme of activity on the Mound, as well as additional opportunities for buskers and other street artists well known in the Fringe landscape.

All performances will be delivered in accordance with current and relevant Covid guidelines. Limits on audience numbers will be introduced in line with social distancing, and event details will be published online to audiences in advance to allow them to plan.

Strict hygiene measures will also be in place, including masks and sanitisation, to help everyone enjoy the events safely.

Community, access and learning

We are continuing to work alongside communities, venues and artists to ensure the Fringe is as inclusive as possible.

Our Fringe Days Out scheme is a long-term commitment by the Fringe Society to reach out to communities that have not traditionally engaged with the Fringe. Through this programme in 2021, we have delivered Fringe vouchers, Lothian bus tickets and access support through our 30+ community partners, including The Welcoming, The Citadel Youth Centre, Lothian Autistic Society, Vintage Vibes and Capability Scotland.

In response to some groups being unable to visit the festival in person, or being hesitant about attending, we are also continuing our Fringe in Communities programme. This will see street performers going out to locations across the city to perform during July and August.

The Fringe’s commitment to improving disabled access remains a priority. Customers with access requirements can use our Access Bookings system and search specific shows which are accessible such as relaxed, audio described, captioned and signed performances. Plus, a free personal assistant ticket is available for anyone who needs assistance to attend the Fringe. Customers can also search for shows in performance spaces with wheelchair access.

This year, we are once again providing sensory bags for children and adults on the autism spectrum. Each bag contain a fidget toy, earplugs, water bottle and a stress reliever. These items are designed to help users relax and overcome stressful or intense situations and are distributed to select partners across the city.

Our street events offering will see BSL interpretation on the West Parliament Square Stage on Saturday 21 August, and there will be a wheelchair accessible viewing area on the High Street throughout the festival.

We are also continuing Teachers’ Theatre Club, our partnership with Imaginate, which brings Edinburgh teachers to the Fringe. Each show seen will be followed by a group discussion with some of the artists and creative teams who made and/or presented the work, covering both the content of the show and how it could enhance and inform teaching practice.

And we’re making sure that Edinburgh’s schoolchildren can also take part in the Fringe fun by working with Gracemount High and selected Edinburgh primary schools to make sure they see Fringe shows too. .

Support for artists and arts industry

This year, the Fringe Society is hosting two digital platforms for artists and industry professionals: Fringe Connect and Fringe Marketplace.

Launched last month, Fringe Connect is an exciting new year-round platform, designed to bring Fringe artists together with peers and members of the arts community.

Described as ‘part social network, part events space’, Fringe Connect gives users the opportunity to populate their own profile with information about their professional experiences and interests (both Fringe-related and otherwise).

Registered users will have access to exciting industry news and opportunities, alongside access to year-round digital events aimed at supporting and facilitating professional development.

Guests and speakers during the Fringe include Lyn Gardner, Andrew Miller, Amy Conachan, Tarek Iskander, Jo Clifford and Richard Jordan, plus many more.

And after a successful pilot year in 2020, Fringe Marketplace has returned for2021. This dedicated showcase platform aims to connect arts industry delegates all over the world with professional and tour-ready artists.

The work that will appear on the platform has been selected by Fringe venue programmers and assessed by Fringe associates: an independent cross-genre industry experts who have experience and understanding of the Fringe.

Work with strategic partners

The Fringe Society is delighted to be working with three strategic partners this year: Something to Aim For, Parents and Carers in Performing Arts and Somewhere EDI. All three partnerships help us to better support and engage with significant groups of participants and understand the barriers they might be facing at the Fringe.

Something to Aim For is the charity devoted to supporting public health and (re)building social fabric through the creative industries.

Parents and Carers in Performing Arts work to promote best practice employment and support for parents and carers in the performing arts sector.

Somewhere EDI is a platform for positive LGBTQ+ culture, learning and activism, championing and empowering LGBTQ+ people to be out and visible in business, culture and in wider society.

Johnnie Walker

The Fringe Society is delighted to be working with Johnnie Walker for a third year. 2021 sees the return of the popular Fringe Club, a dedicated bar space for visitors to the festivities for the entire duration of the festival. Located on the Mound, an exciting spot with live street performances, the bar will once again serve a number of delicious highballs, cocktails and drams for guests in the dedicated whisky lounge.

Festival-goers will also have the chance to win exclusive prizes through the Johnnie Walker Ticket prize giveaway. Prizes include complimentary highballs at the Fringe Club, bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, £20 vouchers for shows at the Fringe and tour tickets to Johnnie Walker Princes Street. With each ticket bought via the Fringe, customers can click on the ticket banner in their booking confirmations to be entered into the prize draw.

Edinburgh Gin

2021 is the first year of our exciting new partnership with Edinburgh Gin, who are working to support Fringe artists affected by the pandemic.

The team have collaborated with Fringe Society president Phoebe Waller-Bridge to create a special limited-edition bottle, which captures the wonder of Edinburgh through the lens of Fleabag.

Every penny of profit will go towards a new fund, being run in partnership with the Fringe Society, which will support artists to create and bring work to the Fringe. More than £150,000 is hoped to be raised.

Sponsors and supporters

As a charity, the work of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society would not be possible without the valuable support of our partners, sponsors and funders. We are delighted to be working with Johnnie Walker for the third year running as our official whisky partner.

We are proud to be partnering with the newly opened St James Quarter and are excited to be working with them this year and beyond.

We are excited to be partnering with Crowdfunder again through our FringeMakers fundraising platform, supporting Fringe artists and venues with vital fundraising efforts.

We have teamed up with Rare Birds Books to a create a limited-edition book bundle with books selected by the women behind three of the Fringe’s most iconic venues; Rowan Campbell, the General Manager of Summerhall, Dani Rae, the General Manager of Assembly and Katy Koren, who co-runs Gilded Balloon. Proceeds of the sale of this bundle will support go directly to supporting Fringe artists bring work to the Fringe.

We would also like to thank Lothian Buses for their continued support of our Fringe Days Out programme.

We’re thrilled to welcome Edinburgh Gin on board as Official Gin of the Fringe and look forward to working with them.

We are grateful for funding through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government -through Creative Scotland -the City of Edinburgh Council and Festivals Edinburgh; Scottish Government for Made in Scotland through the Festivals Expo Fund -managed through Creative Scotland -and the continued support of the City of Edinburgh Council. Thanks also to Scottish Government for funds from their Get into Summer campaign.

We are grateful for funding from the Pivotal Event Business Fund, the SCVO Adapt and Thrive programme, the Foyle Foundation and the UK Government to enhance our digital capabilities.

Our thanks also to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Pump House Trust and the Turtleton Charitable Trust.

With thanks to EventScotland and City of Edinburgh Council for supporting Street Events.

Thank you to Brightcove, our streaming partners, for their support in delivering the Fringe Player.

Our thanks also to our Fringe Angels, Patrons, Friends and supporters whose passion and generosity made a real difference this year.

World leading festivals begin bounce back from impact of COVID-19

Edinburgh’s world-leading summer festivals are back, with their recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic supported by more than £5.4 million from the Scottish Government.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe opens today, followed by the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), with the Edinburgh Art Festival already open.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival will open a new chapter in a new venue on August 14, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival will welcome audiences from August 18.

The Scottish Government’s Gateway process has also allowed a small number of flagship events with national significance to take place in 2021, with limited numbers of spectators and subject to health advice, and both the EIF and the Fringe will stage events as part of the process.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture Angus Robertson said: “Edinburgh’s festivals are back – a significant moment for these landmark, world-leading events, and for our nation’s capital.

“The festivals were sorely missed last summer, and their return is a major step in the right direction as well as testament to the determination of festival organisers, along with the artists, venues and businesses involved.

“Already a huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to support the return of these globally significant cultural events and the benefits they bring to Scotland for our culture, for tourism, for trade and our place on the world stage.

“I’m delighted to welcome the Edinburgh Festivals’ return and see the world’s leading festival city come back to life in 2021.”

Chair of Festivals Edinburgh Sorcha Carey said: “The support of the Scottish Government and its agencies has been crucial to the very survival of our world-famous festivals, and we’re deeply grateful.

“All those who’ve worked tirelessly and are now able to manage a careful restart will be delighted to reconnect the people of Scotland with the live culture they’ve so badly missed.

“We want to support the vision of the First Minister and her team that culture will be at the heart of recovery, and we look forward with hope that Edinburgh’s peak festivals season can mark a turning point for Scotland’s culture sector.”

Heroes take flight at the Edinburgh Fringe

All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre and Room 2 Manoeuvre are bringing their new show, Heroes, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 from 01 to 26 August (not 12 August).

All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre and Room 2 Manoeuvre, two of Scotland’s most prolific companies working in the world of physical performance, have teamed up for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 to perform Heroes, their new light hearted show for all the family that delves into the world of superheroes and beyond. Continue reading Heroes take flight at the Edinburgh Fringe

All the fun of the fair at Circadius celebration

Films, food, face-painting and fun!

The 18-month Circus Skills project that Muirhouse Youth Development Group has just completed will be celebrated tomorrow (Wednesday 17th May). Join in the circus fun from 6.30pm at North Edinburgh Arts at a fantastic event suitable for all ages. Continue reading All the fun of the fair at Circadius celebration

Roll up, roll up! Randolph Crescent joins the party

Don’t you feel the West End is always left out when it comes to Fringe Fun? Well, no more – the West End is joining the party …Randolph Crescent gardens are no longer sleeping. From 8 to 24 August a 150-seats circus tent, twice the size of the Institute’s theatre, will expand the Fringe experience at the Institut français.

The gardens off Randolph Crescent are about to turn into a new Fringe venue as the Institut français adds circus to its programme for the first time this August. From 8 to 24 August, the tailor made big top of Belgian company T1J will be the home of the circus show L’Enfant qui…

Randolph Crescent gardens are no longer sleeping. From 8 to 24 August a 150-seats circus tent, twice the size of the Institute’s theatre, will expand the Fringe experience at the Institut français.

Under the ‘Chapiteau’, the Belgian theatre company T1J will bring together acrobatics, puppetry and live music for the stunning circus show L’Enfant qui… Passing the doors of the impressive structure, festival-goers, neighbours and inhabitants of Edinburgh West End will discover the world of an ill child who finds his own way to escape reality through arts, his connection to Nature and the power of his imagination.

Including circus to its Vive le Fringe! programme is the latest and biggest development of the Institut français since its return to the Fringe in 2010.

Covering almost all the surface of the gardens, the circus tent will provide greater visibility to the Institut français’ presence at the Fringe and increase the attractiveness of the West End, a flourishing area that the recent arrival of the tram contributed to reinforce.

Pictures: Ann Baraquin

Institut français d’Ecosse/ Venue 134 – 13 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh.

Box Office: 0131 225 53 66 Mon – Sun 9.30 am – 9.00 pm.

www.vivelefringe.org