logo
Underbelly announces Circus Hub Programme for 2025

Underbelly announces Circus Hub Programme for 2025

Scotsman01-05-2025

Audiences will once again be invited to run away to the magical world of the Circus Hub – the ultimate home of awe-inspiring and one-of-a-kind live performances.Making its UK debut on the Meadows is the latest show from CIRCA: WOLF. Known for their innovative and emotionally resonant performances, this troupe redefine the boundaries of modern circus and CIRCA: WOLF has captivated audiences with its physicality and exploration of primal human instincts. With daring acrobatics and intricate choreography this show has been celebrated for its "weightless dancing, great music and animalistic formations" (Tagesspiege)l, and described as "a rollercoaster ride of emotions from beginning to end" (Berliner Zeitung).
Bernie Dieter, the acclaimed queen of Weimar punk cabaret, is set to make an eagerly anticipated return to the Edinburgh Fringe with her latest show Bernie Dieter'sClub Kabarett. Renowned for her one-of-a-kind blend of live music, circus, and comedy, Dieter curates a lineup which has seen sword swallowers, aerialists, fire-breathers, perform alongside her and her live punk jazz band. As an "an exuberant, juicy, guns-blazing performance that makes other cabarets look stale and tame" (Arts Desk) this show truly embodies Bernie's unique spirit: bold and unapologetic. Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett is a celebration of freedom, individuality, and pushing boundaries, defying expectations at every song. Internationally acclaimed, and fresh off the heels of a run at Underbelly Boulevard, the show's success has continued in Australia, where it was highlighted as "unmissable" by Out In Perth.
This year's programme also features the return of fan favourites such as Sophie's Surprise 29th and Trash Test Dummies alongside bold new shows making their debut on the Meadows including Edinburgh smash hit Mythos: Ragnarök – a show that truly defines the Edinburgh Fringe; a pulse-raising fusion of Norse mythology and wrestling that's redefining physical theatre.
This year sees more family-friendly shows than ever, with six spectacular productions with fun for all the family at its heart. From the magic of The Flying Bubble Show to the heartwarming acrobatics of The Ugly Duckling, along with All Star Circus there's nowhere else to be this August.
Since 2015, the Circus Hub has played host to world famous acts as well as emerging talent and this year will be no different. As a hub of creativity, each day performances will blow audiences away with acrobatics and awe-inspiring stunts. See below for more info on each of the shows on offer:
Step into the smoky world of Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett where debauched circus meets powerhouse live music, gender-bending acts, and fire-breathing chaos in a wild night of cabaret.
where debauched circus meets powerhouse live music, gender-bending acts, and fire-breathing chaos in a wild night of cabaret. From the internationally acclaimed CIRCA ensemble comes CIRCA: Wolf — an acrobatic thrill ride where chaos transforms into primal unity through ferocious, tightly woven choreography.
— an acrobatic thrill ride where chaos transforms into primal unity through ferocious, tightly woven choreography. Expect sky-high thrills in The Nose Dive Assembly , a bold new circus show packed with trapeze artists, teeterboards, custom apparatus and the UK's only female Wheel of Death duo
, a bold new circus show packed with trapeze artists, teeterboards, custom apparatus and the UK's only female Wheel of Death duo Laugh, gasp and connect in Flip Fabrique: Six° , a playful, high-energy exploration of how close we really are – just six degrees – told through gravity-defying circus and comedy.
, a playful, high-energy exploration of how close we really are – just six degrees – told through gravity-defying circus and comedy. Soar into a dreamlike world with The Flying Bubble Show , where shimmering bubbles, flight and imagination collide in a meditative, interactive spectacle for kids and adults alike.
, where shimmering bubbles, flight and imagination collide in a meditative, interactive spectacle for kids and adults alike. Part myth, part muscle, Mythos: Ragnarök blends Viking legends with full-throttle wrestling in a rock-fuelled, critically acclaimed physical theatre phenomenon.
blends Viking legends with full-throttle wrestling in a rock-fuelled, critically acclaimed physical theatre phenomenon. Full of punk spirit and playful rebellion, circus-cabaret show The Ruckus serves up a powerful mix of strong women, breathtaking aerials, human-sized balloons and cheeky circus joy for everyone.
serves up a powerful mix of strong women, breathtaking aerials, human-sized balloons and cheeky circus joy for everyone. Sophie's Surprise 29th is back after a smash-hit run – part circus, part comedy, all chaos – throwing the wildest, most nostalgic 90s house party you've ever stumbled into.
is back after a smash-hit run – part circus, part comedy, all chaos – throwing the wildest, most nostalgic 90s house party you've ever stumbled into. Experience All Star Circus, a jaw-dropping display of Aussie talent featuring backflips, one-arm handstands, human pyramids and aerial grace from a cast of award-winning performers.
a jaw-dropping display of Aussie talent featuring backflips, one-arm handstands, human pyramids and aerial grace from a cast of award-winning performers. With bins, balance and belly laughs, Trash Test Dummies Circus returns to take the humble wheelie bin to ridiculous, side-splitting new heights in this family favourite.
returns to take the humble wheelie bin to ridiculous, side-splitting new heights in this family favourite. A classic tale flips into the circus for Underbelly's youngest audiences with The Ugly Duckling, where high-energy acrobatics and storytelling celebrate finding your tribe and embracing your uniqueness.
Since its launch in 2015, Underbelly's Circus Hub has remained the home of world-class circus at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Set in the heart of the Meadows, it was the first major venue at the Fringe dedicated entirely to showcasing the boldest, most breathtaking circus work from around the globe. The Hub's iconic venues – The Lafayette, a striking 550-seat big top, and The Beauty, a stunning 500-seat Spiegeltent – pay tribute to Edinburgh's rich circus heritage. Named after legendary illusionist The Great Lafayette and his beloved performing dog Beauty, they honour the city's historic love affair with spectacle and showmanship. Each year, these extraordinary spaces continue to push the boundaries of what's possible at the Fringe, offering a home for technically ambitious, visually spectacular and emotionally resonant circus that thrills audiences of all ages.
Underbelly's Head of Programming Marina Dixon said: 'This year's Circus Hub brings together a fantastic mix of shows from around the world, with more UK circus than ever before. We're thrilled to welcome back returning favourites with exciting new work, alongside fresh voices bringing something special to the Meadows. The programme is full of joy, spectacle and heart. There really is something for everyone.'
For tickets and more information head to: www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS – IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
ALL STAR CIRCUS
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 5.15pm
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 12th & 19th) (from £14)
Genre: Children's Show, Circus, Acrobatics
Experience world-class circus talent, Head First Acrobats performing extraordinary feats right before your eyes! From amazing backflips and one-arm handstands to towering human pyramids and graceful aerialists, this award-winning cast of Australia's best circus performers delivers a high-energy spectacle for all ages.
BERNIE DIETER'S CLUB KABARETT
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 7.20pm
Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £17)
Genre: Cabaret & Variety, Circus, Live Music
A debauched night of breathtaking circus, powerhouse live music, gender-bending artistry, and fire-breathing sideshow at its most provocative and hilarious best. 'An exuberant, juicy, guns-blazing performance that makes other cabarets look stale and tame.' ★★★★★ (ArtsHub)
CIRCA: WOLF
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 6.20pm
Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 6th, 12th & 19th) (from £15.50)
Genre: Circus, Physical Theatre, Acrobatics
Wolf is a gasp-inducing acrobatic thrill ride from the internationally renowned Circa ensemble. The wolves evolve from disruptive chaos into a ferocious pack, moving with razor-sharp physicality and raw intensity. Overflowing with danger and beauty, this is circus with fangs. Join the pack.
FLIP FABRIQUE: SIX°
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 2.05pm
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 12th & 19th) (from £17)
Genre: Circus, Acrobatics
Are we all just six degrees apart? With five performers on stage, Six° explores the missing connections between us through astonishing acrobatics and comedy. FLIP Fabrique turns the ordinary into the extraordinary in this playful, high-energy circus for a connected world.
THE FLYING BUBBLE SHOW
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 3.10pm
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 12th & 19th) (from £14)
Genre: Children's Shows, Circus
A dreamlike fusion of bubbles and flight. Maxwell the Bubbleologist floats through the air, creating shimmering scenes of magic. This meditative, interactive spectacle invites audiences into a world of wonder, beauty and playful imagination.
MYTHOS: RAGNARÖK
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 8.40pm
Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £12)
Genre: Theatre, Physical Theatre, Rock
Part myth, part mayhem! Mythos: Ragnarök smashes together Viking legend and full-throttle wrestling in this critically acclaimed, globally touring spectacle. Join Loki, Thor, and the gods in a no-holds-barred showdown. 'The maddest, baddest show on the Fringe... A phenomenon.' (Daily Mail)
THE NOSE DIVE ASSEMBLY
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 4.10pm
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £16.50)
Genre: Circus
Big-top circus with heart and spectacle from Revel Puck. The Nose Dive Assembly brings large-scale contemporary circus to the stage, withtrapeze artists, bespoke apparatus, teeterboards, and the only female Wheel of Death duo in the UK. Daring, dynamic, and defiantly joyful.
THE RUCKUS
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 1.05pm
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £15)
Genre: Circus, Cabaret
Circus meets punk in The Ruckus — a celebration of power, play and rebellion. Featuring strong women, giant balloons, breathtaking aerials and the cheeky spirit of The Revel Puck Circus, this is a circus that's as inclusive as it is exhilarating.
SOPHIE'S SURPRISE 29TH
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 9.45pm
Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £17)
Genre: Circus, Cabaret
Sophie is turning 29, and the house party is on! After a smash-hit 2024 debut, this chaotic blend of circus, comedy and 90s nostalgia returns. Featuring jaw-dropping performances and non-stop party vibes. 'Loved every minute of it.' ★★★★★ (Scottish Sun)
TRASH TEST DUMMIES CIRCUS
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 12.05pm
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £13.50)
Genre: Children's Shows, Circus, Comedy
Everyone put your rubbish out – tonight's bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are on duty again! This award-winning, slapstick circus extravaganza turns the humble wheelie bin into a tool of hilarity, acrobatics and delight. A family favourite returns!
THE UGLY DUCKLING
Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 11am
Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £13)
Genre: Children's Shows, Circus, Theatre
A classic tale reimagined through circus from Revel Puck. The Ugly Duckling fuses storytelling and acrobatics in a joyful coming-of-age story that celebrates difference, belonging and finding your flock. High-energy fun with a big heart for the whole family.
For ticketing information, head to www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk and follow Underbelly on social media @FollowTheCow
1 . Contributed
Mythos Ragnarok to head to Underbelly for the first time. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
2 . Contributed
Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett makes a triumphant return to the Fringe Photo: Submitted Photo Sales

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ghosts, grief and glitches: Dead Air explores AI, loss and the dgital afterlife
Ghosts, grief and glitches: Dead Air explores AI, loss and the dgital afterlife

Scotsman

time3 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Ghosts, grief and glitches: Dead Air explores AI, loss and the dgital afterlife

Alfrun Rose's debuts a darkly comic solo show bringing tech horror and emotional truth to the Edinburgh Fringe. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Can algorithms help you grieve? Or do they just keep the dead alive a little longer? Maybe even too long... Writer and performer Alfrun Rose goes looking for answers, and her own father, via a chatbot trained to mimic the voices of the dead. The result is a darkly comic, emotionally gripping one-woman show, exploring mourning in an age where technology rules. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After her much loved dad passes away, Rose found herself spiralling down digital rabbit holes, looking to old recordings, voice notes and even to AI services. Rose believed it was comforting at first. And then... Alfrun Rose blurs the line between memory and machine in Dead Air. When one AI system hallucinated that the deceased was "burning in hell", the idea for Dead Air was born. A modern ghost story, not written about Alfrun Rose's father, but written for him. By Alfrun Rose 30th July – 24th August, Bunker One – Pleasance Courtyard, @ 11:40, (60 min)

Queer comedy star David Ian gets uncomfortably honest
Queer comedy star David Ian gets uncomfortably honest

Scotsman

time3 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Queer comedy star David Ian gets uncomfortably honest

TikTok sensation David Ian returns to the Edinburgh Fringe, asking the one question that queer men fear the most... Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After a TV special on OUTtv and amassing over 2.5 million views on social media, it's time for David Ian to face the music. He's got a fabulous talent for being mean, but how? Why? Where did this talent come from? When a pal told David he should try being a little nicer, it got David thinking - am I mean? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David himself says: "A question I never thought I'd have to ask until someone I really liked told me I was. Isn't that just my personality? Let's find out together!' Your favourite mean gay just got self aware... A rising star of the UK queer comedy scene, David was a semi-finalist in Leicester Square Theatre's New Comedian of the Year and sold out his previous shows Mediocre Gay and his debut Fringe hour (Just a)Perfect Gay. Off stage, David is the founder of the Milli Group and the co-founder of The Queer Comedy Club in London. He's also hosted Pride events across the UK as well as featuring on The Guardian, BBC Radio and Times Radio. Expect big laughs, gloriously filthy punchlines and a touch of introspection in a show that's equal parts heartwarming and savage. Stand-up, LGBTQ+ 30 July -24 August (not 11 and 18), Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, Coorie @16:20 (1 hr), From £9, 16+ Audience participation, Strong language/swearing

Hypnotist cures people's fears of spiders and snakes at live event
Hypnotist cures people's fears of spiders and snakes at live event

Daily Record

time9 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Hypnotist cures people's fears of spiders and snakes at live event

Fraser Penman, known as 'Penman: The Imaginator' teamed up with indoor rainforest Amazonia. A Lanarkshire hypnotist and mind reader who was inspired by Derren Brown to launch a stage career has helped people to cure their fear of exotic spiders and snakes. Fraser Penman, from East Kilbride, delivers a unique brand of hypnosis, mind reading and comedy despite having impaired vision. ‌ The 30-year-old recently teamed up with Amazonia, Scotland's indoor rainforest that is home to a range of exotic creatures, to perform the unique one-off live event. ‌ Known as 'Penman: The Imaginator', he used innovative visualisation techniques to help members of the public to face their fears head on. After spending just a few minutes with them, Penman performed rapid, instant hypnosis inductions to help them handle a royal python called Eva and a Chile rose tarantula named Val – creatures they were convinced they could never face. The special event held at the Alona Hotel at M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, was one of a series of high-profile stunts that Penman will be doing around the country, ahead of his headline show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Lewis Thomson, 32, from East Kilbride, who had a fear of snakes, was so excited when his fear disappeared that he said he felt like 'Ace Ventura', the Jim Carey pet detective in the hit Hollywood film. He said: 'When I was hypnotised it was so calming, it was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. You become the best version of yourself, and it gives you a renewed sense of confidence. 'I thought snakes were horrible and the thought of even going near one filled me with dread. I can't believe I had one around my neck.' ‌ Wendy Gifford, Glasgow, 56, was unable to go even a few feet near the tarantula. However, after being hypnotised, she was brave enough to stroke the spider and now wants one as a pet. She said: 'I was aware something was going on when I was hypnotised, it was like being in my own wee world and all I could hear was Fraser's voice. ‌ 'Even small spiders made me terrified, they made my skin crawl. I was always that person who was never going to be hypnotised. But after spending just a few minutes with Fraser my fears gradually disappeared and I'm now considering having a spider, such as a Tarantula, as a pet.' Amazonia, based at Strathclyde Park, is a temperature-controlled tropical house, home to over 60 different species, including monkeys, parrots, snakes, frogs, tarantulas and scorpions. ‌ Penman said: 'Using unique psychological techniques, I wanted to share with others the gift I have of being able to transfer your mindset like I did for myself to make life-changing outcomes. 'What better way to demonstrate my ability than to take exotic creatures most people have a fear of and seeing their shift in mindset go from panic to calm while holding these beautiful animals? 'Your mind is like a computer and the techniques I use is like giving it an update, such as you no longer have a fear of spiders or snakes. ‌ 'I've been exploring a bold, unconventional approach - something rarely attempted before to eliminate fear almost instantly. Using rapid, hypnosis inductions to bypass the slow descent into a deep trance, I can access the subconscious mind almost immediately - faster and more directly than traditional methods allow. Amanda Gott, manager of Amazonia, said: 'I don't fancy being put to sleep myself. But it was amazing to watch Fraser's live performance, it's incredible that someone can be cured of their fears within just a few minutes. ‌ 'It was fascinating to see how calming Fraser was with those taking part and the sensitive way he dealt with the tarantula and royal python. Many people come to Amazonia with preconceptions that all the creatures here are scary and strange, but at our education sessions we try and combat that.' Penman's Fringe show at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh gives a revealing insight into how the coping mechanism he initially used to deal with his limited sight has heightened his other senses, allowing him to perform numerous breathtaking stunts. He was born with Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA) - the most severe form of the condition. The congenital disorder affects just one in 20,000 people and means he lacks pigment in his skin, hair and eyes as well as having a visual impairment. ‌ Penman, who describes himself as a 'psychological influencer', has hypnotised Pop Star Callum Beattie, some of Scotland's top TikTok social media influencers and renowned Scottish comedian Gary Faulds. With more than 2.5 million views on TikTok, he is determined to change the perception of those with albinism, and hopes his Fringe stage show will act as an inspiration for people with the condition. Penman added: 'When I was training to be a primary teacher in my twenties I was inspired by Derren Brown's storytelling and showmanship, I must have watched a DVD about hypnosis a thousand times. Once I read a few books and looked into the neuroscience behind it I realised that I had the ability to hypnotise someone almost instantly. It was like having a superpower, I was blown away. ‌ 'I had a difficult childhood growing up with albinism, so having this gift has allowed me to turn around my life and chase my dreams of one day having my own residency at Vegas. 'Many people with albinism are confined to the house wearing dark glasses but I'm determined to change that perception. I want to inspire others to show they have more within them than they may realise.' For the past six years, Penman has been holding down two jobs while honing his craft with performances at venues around the UK. His new Fringe show is the first time it will be performed before audiences in Scotland. Penman said: 'The show takes the audience on an innovative journey through my life while delivering a Vegas-quality entertainment experience. If you think you've seen a hypnosis show, then think again. Expect summer anthems and countless moments of unbelievable, impossible possibilities live in front of your very eyes, with a very special message for the audience to take away to help inspire their own life." *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store