Scotland’s Danny MacAskill joins incredible international artists as Underbelly’s Circus Hub celebrates 5th anniversary
Marking its 5th year on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Underbelly’s Circus Hub 2019 programme announced today offers audiences of all ages a tantalising balance of world-leading innovative contemporary circus, traditional theatrical clowning, gravity-defying trial riders and debauched late-night cabaret and burlesque, all of which will take your breath away.
In 2015 Underbelly took the bold move to create a new venue on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe dedicated to circus. Now in its 5th year The Circus Hub is firmly established as the Fringe venue to experience the very best contemporary circus the world has to offer, and all from the lush pastures of The Meadows.
With a proud nod to Edinburgh’s circus history, The Circus Hub’s two venues The Lafayette and The Beauty provide the perfect space to host both ambitious large-scale productions, packed with skilful risk and grand spectacle in The Big Top, alongside intimate stripped-back performance and raucous late-night cabaret in The Spiegeltent.
Featuring a heady mix of international, Scottish and Fringe premieres, the 2019 Circus Hub programme presents fresh new shows alongside the mighty return of much-loved Fringe favourites.
The Lafayette
Highlights from The Big Top include; Scotland’s own, YouTube sensation Danny MacAskill’s Drop and Roll Show Live. After five years touring the world, Drop and Roll makes its much-awaited Edinburgh Fringe Debut with a brand-new show led by world-famous trials rider Danny MackAskill. MacAskill is joined by highly acclaimed trials rider and fellow Scotsman Duncan Shaw, plus more athletes to be announced. Hosted by extreme sports commentatorHenry Jackson, the hour-long show includes crowd plenty of participation plus prizes to be won throughout. Expect an action-packed display of gravity-defying tricks, guaranteed to amaze children and adults alike! Straight from LA,Short Round Productions present the UK Premiere of Filament, a show bursting onto the scene as amazing circus skills collide with a story inspired by your favourite 80s teen movies. This fresh take on acrobatic theatre dives into the trials and tribulations of growing up and discovering who you are, all set to a backdrop of dazzling lights and an infectious soundtrack. Making its Fringe Premiere, Finland’s outstanding Race Horse Company present Super Sunday, a frantic combination of the company’s innovative circus skills, a humorous rollercoaster ride, a boneheaded approach and endless dark humour. Oh yes, and there’s a Wheel of Death, a double trampoline, two human catapults, teeter board, acrobatic balls, Russian bar, and floor acrobatics.
Five-star Fringe favourite Circa (Closer, Beyond, Wunderkammer) returns with Humans after its 2017 blockbuster season. Created by Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa ensemble, Humans is thrillingly fearless, boundary-pushing circus at its best. Ten acrobats take audiences on a stirring journey of what it means to be human. Much-loved Circus Hub scamps, Splash Test Dummies are back, ready to roll out their beach towels and spring into an hour of circus-filled hilarity for the whole family. See a brilliant array of catch-your-breath stunt work, acrobatics, juggling and the side-splitting, slapstick comedy for which the dummies are famous.
THE BEAUTY
Get ready to witness a powerhouse of female circus performers kick art in the face! Making their European Premiere, YUCK Circus, the award-winning cast of elite circus artists is bringing its true stories of young Australian womanhood to the stage and sky, using impressive acrobatics and aerial performance to get into the grotesque of beauty standards, bougie art, and unrelenting menstruation. Continuing the action from Australia, Company 2 (Cantinaand Scotch & Soda) presents a new work Le Coup, transforming the Spiegeltent into a late-night neo-vaudeville speakeasy. A place where hard-hitting travelling entertainers clash with the glamour of high society. Daring acrobatics, aerial feats and twisted tails are supported by the live sounds of none other than musical masters Father Grant and The Blunt Objects. Also making its Fringe Premiere, Canada’s Les Foutoukours presents Kombini, an utterly magical show which mixes modern theatricality with traditional Russian clowning. Exasperated of waiting for the biggest international theatres’ call, they decide to accept the unthinkable contract… a child’s birthday. The company have been commissioned by Cirque Du Soleil’s 45 Degrees, performed all over Europe and are excited to bring this creative brand of circus performance to the UK for the first time. The family fun continues with Hotel Paradiso, also making its Fringe Premiere presented by one the UK’s leading contemporary circus companies, Lost in Translation. The cast of 6 highly skilled acrobats, clowns and jugglers tell the story of how the tenants battle to save their home and livelihood. Circus favourites Lost in Translation display a colourful mix of daring circus skills, physical comedy and theatre. The show also features a specially written musical score by renowned composer and multi-instrumentalist Roger Eno. With thrills, gasps, laughs and drama there’s plenty for both adults and children to enjoy.
Multi-award-winning mistress of mayhem, Bernie Dieter (star of La Clique) returns following a smash-hit 2018 Fringe and international success with Little Death Club. Alongside her hilariously degenerate family of fantastic freaks, Bernie returns with gin-soaked, Weimar-punk jazz band soundtracks, hazy nights of dangerously funny kabarett, breath-taking circus and fire-breathing sideshow at its most inappropriate, provocative and hilarious best. If that’s not enough late-night action, Australia’s Highwire Entertainment presents Rouge, a circus for grown-ups which features a decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, operatic cabaret and twisted burlesque.
Underbelly’s Circus Hub on The Meadows runs from the 2nd – 24th August 2019.
Lauren Eisinger, Festivals Programmer and Producer for Underbelly said; “August marks five years of Circus Hub on the Meadows and this year we’re presenting Underbelly’s strongest programme to date. We have a spectacular programme featuring some of the most exciting artists and companies from around the globe. It’s especially exciting to have Scotland’s own Danny MacAskill in his first appearance at the Fringe 10 years since his incredible Edinburgh film brought him to the attention of world; as well as Super Sunday by Race Horse Company all the way from Helsinki with some of the most innovative circus and daredevil stunt work ever seen on stage; and Filament from Short Round Productions in the USA whose artists and creatives have lent their talents to international powerhouses like Cirque Du Soleil and Seven Fingers.
“This year Underbelly’s Circus Hub has a programme of shows you won’t see anywhere else in the world – be prepared to be inspired, thrilled and totally amazed.”
For further information and tickets visit www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk
