The Sun, the Mountain, and Me

Theatre

The Sun, the Mountain, and Me

Arthur is just trying to finish his painting. It fills his days; it haunts his nights. Nobody understands. Not his girlfriend, not his brother. Everyone keeps telling him to stop. But he can't. Not until it's finished. Whatever the cost... Multi award-nominated solo show that melds ancient myth, historical anecdote and emotive storytelling to explore art, freedom and the mistakes we make when searching for escape. 'Deserves to be seen by audiences around the country' (Longstaff Reviews).

1 - 25 August 2024, 12:20 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Is the WiFi Good in Hell?

Theatre

Is the WiFi Good in Hell?

2008. Margate isn't cool (yet). 12-year old Dev sits on a derelict shack, sandwiched between Margate's sea and the abandoned theme park, Dreamland. He's also recently discovered gay people exist... Is the WiFi Good in Hell? follows Dev from boyhood to adulthood. Margate to London. He's gagging for a good connection, yet with his roots firmly intertwined in his hometown's seabed – can he cope with the realities of a life he's forever put on a pedestal? 'Chapman’s debut play isn’t just genuine; it is brutally real. There is a beauty to his writing that is breathtaking, and there are few emerging playwrights that have the ability Chapman has shown...' ★★★★★ (The New Current) Written and performed by Lyndon Chapman - a queer creator, born and raised in Margate, Kent.  Directed by Will Armstrong - co-creator of queer cabaret ‘idiots. gay idiots.’ (‘London’s Best Cliché Free Cabaret Nights' – Time Out), and director of Abby Vicky-Russell’s GUSH (nominated for Vault Origins award 2023, and The Popcorn Writing Award 2023). Debuted at Brixton House as a part of Housemates Festival 2023.

1 - 25 August 2024, 12:40 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror

Comedy

Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror

Michael Kunze is actor Mitch Coony in this Hollywood odyssey, where you're only ever one hit away from a Tom Hanks sex party. A character comedy featuring sketches, songs and top-notch nonsense. Michael is an OffComm winning comic performer. His show Lil Saffron: Ragu to Riches received five-star reviews at 2022 Edinburgh Fringe and transferred to Pleasance and Soho Theatre. This is his solo debut. ★★★★★ 'A near-perfect hour of unbridled fun' (Ed Fringe Review) ★★★★ 'Go Feed yourself at this banquet of bonkers' (Musical Theatre Review) ★★★★ (Everything Theatre) ★★★★ (Phoenix Remix) 'Comedy master' (ReviewsHub) ‘Great sketch comedian’ (Three Weeks) 2023 Leicester Comedy Festival Best Improv / Musical - Crime Scene Improvisation 2021 OffComm Award - Exile Directed by Lee Griffiths, Fringe First Winner (Lorenzo) and Edinburgh Newcomer Nominee (Late Night Gimp Fight).

1 - 25 August 2024, 12:55 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Experiment Human

Theatre

Experiment Human

Blending dark comedy with the surreal, Experiment Human tells the story of Monkion, a non-human creature curious to understand the strange world outside their attic. Having seized actor Benedict Cumberbatch at the height of his fame to protect him from the media, Monkion has failed to give Cumberbatch what he needs to survive. Will the experiment succeed? What will happen if it doesn't? OFFIE winner, 2024. Innovation Award – VAULT Festival nominee, 2023. Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence, 2022. ‘One of the most unique and unusual stories being told on stage’ (LostInTheatreland.co.uk) ‘Physically masterful, witty and simply fascinating’ (FringeReview.co.uk) Photo Credit: @michaeloreillyphotographer

1 - 25 August 2024, 2:00 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Theatre

DRUM

'A civilization flourishes when men plant trees under which they themselves never sit. What you need to understand is, Ghana is home.' As the afternoon sun hits London's BBC Broadcasting House, photographer James Barnor encounters broadcaster Mike Eghan for the first time. Thrown together far from home, two rising Ghanaian creatives navigate their perception of identity, success, assimilation and home. Inspired by real events this joyful and poignant play fuses storytelling, music and dance; capturing a unique snapshot of the swinging sixties. After premiering at Omnibus Theatre, DRUM is set for its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut. 

1 - 25 August 2024, 2:10 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

The Durham Revue: Mid-Laugh Crisis

Comedy

The Durham Revue: Mid-Laugh Crisis

Durham University's premier sketch comedy troupe is turning 50 – cue the mid-laugh crisis! With the big birthday bash looming, will the troupe conquer their 50th fears, or will they face their last laugh? The group that brought you Liz Kingsman, Ed Gamble, Stevie Martin, Nish Kumar, Ambika Mod and many more are back with a new troupe and 100% new material. Join the award-winning Durham Revue, for an hour of hilarious, cutting-edge sketches. Come along and make selling our soul to sketch comedy worthwhile. 'Raucously funny with sublimely clever writing.' (FringeBiscuit.co.uk).

1 - 25 August 2024, 2:30 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Theatre

The Mosinee Project

Mosinee, Wisconsin, 1950. An idyllic Midwestern town wakes up to find themselves in a nightmare. Armed Communist forces have taken over; imprisoning townspeople, cutting off communication, marching through the streets with nobody to oppose them. Prices are changed, barbed wire fences erected, and the Mayor is held at gunpoint. Or so it appears. This is just how it begins. Plunging into the dawn of the Cold War and back again, The Mosinee Project follows the true story of a fake invasion. A fevered, darkly funny retelling, interrogating why we fear, control and tell tales about the future.

1 - 25 August 2024, 3:30 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Jamie Finn: Nobody's Talking About Jamie (Taylor’s Version)

Comedy

Jamie Finn: Nobody's Talking About Jamie (Taylor's Version)

After a sell-out run, Nobody's Talking About Jamie returns with "Taylor's Version"... ' 'Who are you Jamie!?' 'I'm that bitch!' Jamie is not, in fact, that bitch. Jamie has been dumped. Jamie is a hot mess and needs to reinvent himself. Celebrating the dizzying romance and heart-breaking tragedy of friendship, Jamie Finn explores the chaotic wilderness of platonic love and searches for someone who will finally talk about Jamie! 'Jamie Finn will make you feel better... fresh and funny' (Michael Palin). BBC Comedy Awards Regional Finalist 2021. Best Fringe Debut, Theatre Weekly 2023.

1 - 25 August 2024, 3:40 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Karen

Theatre

KAREN

Karen invites you into the uproarious world of our Protagonist. Seamlessly breaking the fourth wall, she’ll whisk you through a chaos-filled narrative that has been described as Fleabag meets The Office with Cameron-West's acting described as 'the female Peep Show' (The Nerd Party).  We open on Protagonist's 30th birthday at the Alton Towers, where her life takes an unexpected turn. Mid-calippo, she's unceremoniously dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Joe. Little does she know, this is just the beginning. Protagonist must soon navigate through office hell as Joe starts dating her arch-nemesis: Karen. This creates a perfect storm of heartbreak, societal pressures, and an identity crisis that threatens to engulf our heroine. The final straw unleashes in an explosive office showdown, where the suppression of her emotions can no longer be contained and our Protagonist finally finds her voice. Through laughter, tears, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, Protagonist learns the invaluable lesson that the path to healing lies in moving through the pain, not around it, and in the empowerment of owning one's emotions that allows you to find peace.

1 - 25 August 2024, 3:55 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

You're SO F**KING Croydon!

Theatre

You're SO F**king Croydon!

'It was my nemesis, I hated Croydon with a real vengeance. It represented everything I didn't want in my life, everything I wanted to get away from. I think it's the most derogatory thing I can say about somebody or something: God, it's so f**king Croydon!' (David Bowie). You're SO F**king Croydon! explores noughties club culture and female resilience, interweaving music, dance, comedy, spoken word and Croydon celebrities. It's a f**k you in pink to the cant's and wont's and a strut down Croydon High Street in 2003. Featuring David Bowie. Featuring interactive moments and a fun, ‘Love of Huns’ aesthetic, You’re SO F**king Croydon holds up a mirror to societal perceptions of women from places like Croydon: predominantly working class with a notoriously negative reputation. Challenging Bowie's quote, it looks at stereotypes attached to certain locations, in particular trying to dispel the notion that being from a particular place diminishes someone's worth. At its essence, it's the story of a woman triumphing over adversities. It’s a stomp through pop culture, identity and destiny, blending comedy with profound exploration and personal narrative with societal perceptions.

1 - 25 August 2024, 4:10 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Jeromaia Detto: MUSH

Comedy

Jeromaia Detto: MUSH

MUSH is the latest edition of silliness developed by award nominated comedian Jeromaia Detto! Unlock your inner child in this one-of-a-kind, kids-show-for-adults experience. MUSH uncovers the weird mushiness of one man's mind in a nonstop hour of very silly proportions! 'Definitely a must-see this Fringe' ★★★★★ (Glam Adelaide) ★★★★½ (Xpress Mag) ★★★★½ (Perth Happenings) ★★★★ (List UK) Best Physical Theatre and Circus and Spirit of the Fringe, Sydney Fringe 2023 (Nominated). Best Comedy Sydney Fringe 2022 (Nominated).

1 - 25 August 2024, 5:10 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Really Good Exposure

Theatre

Really Good Exposure

Molly was a child star. Now she's considering getting into porn. What would you do if your acting career peaked in 2009 (well before the Me Too movement) and you hadn't booked another role in years? Exposed for working as a stripper, dumped by her agent (and her boyfriend), Molly's giving mainstream success one last shot. Enter a world of child stars, strip clubs, and casting couches, and question what it means to earn a living as a performer.

1 - 25 August 2024, 5:20 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Dr Dolittle Kills A Man (and reads extracts from his new book)

Comedy

Dr Dolittle Kills a Man (and Reads Extracts From His New Book)

You've seen him on Countryfile, Blue Peter and that episode of Springwatch that the BBC have tried to scrub (scrub!) from the internet. Now, join Dr John Dolittle, PhD (yours truly and the very same), as he thrills with an animal adventure from yesteryear – before the fame, before the fortune, before they took away his OBE. So come on, let's laugh, buy his new book afterwards, and dare-I-say-it-yes-I-do have a really great time! Starring Aidan Pittman  'Sheer talent... a guaranteed hilarious performance'  ★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com).

1 - 25 August 2024, 5:25 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Chris Turner: Childish

Comedy

Chris Turner: Childish

As a child, Chris wanted to be two things: a comedian and a rock star. After 15 years of following the first dream, he's booked a live band to help him achieve the other! Chris was the first comedian to perform a Las Vegas residency with Cirque Du Soleil, the first comedian to receive a standing ovation on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and his 2023 Edinburgh Fringe show was a complete sell-out. 'A virtuoso' (Guardian) 'The Fringe holy grail' ★★★★★ (EdFestMag.com)  'Exquisite' ★★★★★ (Scenestr.com.au)  'An absolute must see' ★★★★★ (One4Review.co.uk).

1 - 25 August 2024, 5:45 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Theatre

Ugly Sisters

A hallucinatory plunge through the circles of sisterhood. Who fits into a glass slipper, and who buys heels for drag queens? The critically acclaimed and multi-award winning piss / CARNATION dance between performance art, alt-comedy and theatre. Ugly Sisters is their latest offering: a brutal ritual for a new kind of sisterhood forged from sleepover confessions, smashed toilets, and the death of Germaine Greer.* *Germaine Greer was not harmed in the making of this show.

1 - 25 August 2024, 6:30 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Rosalie Minnitt: Clementine

Comedy

Rosalie Minnitt: Clementine

Lady Clementine has until her 27th birthday to find the one. When her latest beau goes missing, she embarks on a hilariously unhinged quest to solve the mystery of her ill fortune. But with neither sense nor sensibility, will our romantic heroine find love in time? One of The Guardian's Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2023. 'Absolutely barnstorming' ★★★★ (Telegraph) 'Hilarious and heartwarming' ★★★★ (Time Out) 'Painstakingly crafted and brilliantly performed' ★★★★ (Chortle.co.uk) ★★★★★ (BroadwayWorld.com) ★★★★★ (TheatreWeekly.com)

1 - 11 August 2024, 6:40 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

My Last Two Brain Cells

Comedy

My Last Two Brain Cells

The award-winning, 7th highest rated comedy of the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 returns! When disaster strikes in Gary's brain, it's up to his brain cells to try and fix everything. Unfortunately, they've all jumped ship and we're stuck with these two idiots. Can brain cell numbers 12 and 64,928,460,784 put aside their differences to save Gary's life? Probably not. But hey, it's a wholesome, extremely chaotic and incredibly stupid comedy that'll leave you wanting to come back for more!

1 - 25 August 2024, 8:10 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Alex Franklin: Gurl Code

Comedy

Alex Franklin: Gurl Code

In 2024, trans girl Alex (me) started HRT. Now she (me) feels the most alive she's (me's) ever felt; and she wants to make you feel alive too, or die trying. A ludicrous, musical, chaotic, joyful show about the colours of the world becoming slowly brighter and giving people furniture via the tube. Also being trans. As seen / heard on Channel 4 / HBO Max / BBC Radio 4. 'Undeniably ludicrous comedy gold' ★★★★ (Entertainment-Now.com) 'Eclectic, risk-taking and inventive' (Scotsman) 'Winningly weird... this young comic is on the way up' (Telegraph). Directed by Dom Stephens.

1 - 25 August 2024, 8:25 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

A white man with blonde hair wearing a red athletic jacket, black trousers and a yellow rucksacks turns back towards the camera with a devilish, open mouthed smile. Behind him is a row of blue American school lockers with fire filling a gap between them.

Musicals and Opera

DIVA: Live From Hell!

Following a critically acclaimed, sell-out run at the Turbine Theatre, Luke Bayer gives a tour-de-force performance in this blood-stained love letter to Broadway – a solo musical about rivalry, vengeance, and killer ambition. As president of the drama club and star of every school show, Desmond Channing spent most of his short life in the spotlight. When a rival student Evan Harris, a hotshot transfer from New York, challenges his throne, Desmond responds as any diva would, with lethal force... Now stuck in the ‘Seventh Circle’, Hell’s most squalid cabaret venue, Desmond is forced to relive his disturbing tale of woe. As we join him and his band for their one-millionth consecutive show, Desmond performs with a desperate vigour in the hopes that he can prove he’s repented and can be freed from this eternal, campy torment! Inspired by All About Eve, this blood-stained love letter to Broadway will have you laughing hysterically and lusting for revenge. Starring Luke Bayer as Desmond, and every other character to boot, this one-act, one-person riot of a show will take you beyond the darkest depths and demonstrate exactly what it takes to earn the title of diva. See you in hell!

1 - 25 August 2024, 8:30 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

House of Life

Theatre

House of Life

House of Life is a travelling musical cult collective, hosted by the Rave-Rend, with one mission: to get you happy, at any cost. A space to celebrate. To elevate. To lay out your shit and wash it away. The chance to achieve absolute euphoric togetherness through the relentless powers of music and vibes. House Of Life is back after a sell-out run in 2023. 'Fringe’s biggest feel-good sensation' ★★★★★ (Dom Cavendish, Telegraph) ★★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com).

1 - 25 August 2024, 8:55 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Tom Lawrinson: Buried Alive and Loving it

Comedy

Tom Lawrinson: Buried Alive and Loving it

Everything is awful but that’s okay, argues Tom Lawrinson in his ridiculously entertaining show about family and growing up in a Spanish subterranean cave. A show for siblings who shared a rubbish childhood and comedy fans alike. With over 200 million views online, this ‘effortlessly engaging’ (Chortle.co.uk) and 'truly unique’ (Rolling Stone) stand-up is not to be missed. NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy runner-up. ‘Menacing heart-throb’ (Time Out).

1 - 25 August 2024, 9:05 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

The Duncan brothers: Blood Sword

Comedy

The Duncan Brothers: Blood Sword

The Duncan Brothers find themselves burdened with a legacy they never asked for. Will the mystical power of the Blood Sword exorcise the ancient Celtic curse that has haunted their bloodline for generations? From the award-winning makers of Legs, Logs and Clogs and Jeremy Segway. 'Incredible...' ★★★★★ (ThreeWeeks) 'Extraordinary' ★★★★ (Scotsman) 'Stupid' (Frankie Boyle) 'Inspired' (Chortle.co.uk) 'Bizarre' (BroadwayWorld.com) 'The Future' (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk)

1 - 25 August 2024, 9:30 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Furiozo: Man Looking For Trouble

Comedy

Furiozo: Man Looking for Trouble

A sell-out season at 2023 Edinburgh Fringe, shortlisted for Best Show in Comedians' Choice Awards 2023. A disturbing yet absurdly funny portrait of toxic masculinity. This solo punk-rock comedy show stars one man - Furiozo, an aggressive hooligan with a giant heart. Police chases, petty theft, drugs, and longing for the greatest thrill of all - true love. You will love him. You will hate him. You will experience the presence of the beast. 'Terrifying then lovely' (The Guardian) 'Adorably scary' (All That Dazzles) Piotr Sikora is a clown, comedian and improviser. Piotr has showcased his work at festivals all around the world: USA, France, Germany, Philippines, Denmark, UK, Australia and New Zealand. He's a lecturer of improvisation at the University of Warsaw but really just loves sleeping in his hammock and playing Nintendo Switch.

1 - 25 August 2024, 9:40 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

Thank You So Much For Coming

Comedy

Thank You So Much for Coming

You are cordially invited... Cynthia, the ultimate party host, is in the midst of throwing her most fabulous party ever! A hilarious, immersive one-woman character clown show that explores loneliness, femininity, and the pressure to be seen. Playful, absurd and unhinged, Cynthia wrestles with desire and disgust at the prospect of being loved and known in a world filled with ubiquitous, yet too often empty, encounters. A delightful descent into pure madness! Awards: Best Immersive (TVO Awards), Best of Broadwater (Hollywood Fringe) 'A beautifully surreal show with an extraordinary performance' (Noho Arts) Co-written and directed by Natasha Mercado

1 - 25 August 2024, 9:55 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

BATSU!

Comedy

BATSU!

Created in New York and Chicago, BATSU! returns to the Fringe after a riotous, sell-out 2023. Witness comedians compete to avoid electric shocks, paintballs, a giant chicken and many more hilarious, jaw-dropping punishments. Long, long ago, in the Land of the Rising Sun, four Warriors used the power of laughter to capture Batsu no Akuma, the Spirit of Punishment, within a sacred gong. The evil spirit has once more emerged at the Fringe and the Comedy Warriors must rise again! ‘This is truly our favourite thing we’ve ever seen, anywhere’ (Playbill). £8 Hachimaki Headband Upgrade Purchase your ticket and hachimaki headband and receive a surprise visit from the SAKE SHINOBI!! Book now to recieve early bird pricing! What is a Hachimaki and what happens if I buy one? The hachimaki is a Japanese headband – imagine Karate Kid, but BATSU! style. These headbands, worn in Japanese culture as a symbol of effort of courage, are yours to take home. If you wear your hachimaki to the show you will receive two visits from the sneaky SAKE SHINOBI to deliver you two sake shots. BATSU! Book for BATSU! Udderbelly Special at George Square, 25 August 11.15pm here

1 - 24 August 2024, 10:45 pm

Underbelly Cowgate

#1 Son

Comedy

#1 Son - Natasha Mercado

LA clown Natasha Mercado invites you to a mass that’s equal parts holy and horny — hosted by God’s sexiest son, Father Greg Orian. Experience a religious awakening like no other. Desire and devotion. Sacred, yet profane. It's like church, but with "smash or pass" revelations about lust, lies and living with your demons... As seen on HBO Max and [adult swim].

1 - 25 August 2024, 11:10 pm

Underbelly Cowgate