Latest news with #GildedBalloon
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Review: 'A fabulous, feel-good night out'
The Lyceum, Edinburgh Gayle Anderson All the world's a stage and there are definite benefits when that stage gets an upgrade. Following on from gigs in Glasgow, Ayr, Arbroath and Largs, the Big Comedy Roadshow rolled into Edinburgh for a night of stand-up in the velvety red and gold Victorian wonderland of The Lyceum. Promoters, Gilded Balloon are masters at mixing up their event spaces and this one didn't disappoint. Host, Chris Forbes promised the ultimate night out for comedy fans. Best-known for appearances on The Scot Squad and as viral sensation, The Other Murray Brother he began with a gentle warm up before serving up the first act. Raymond Mearns (Image: free) Stalwart of the Scottish live comedy scene for over 15 years, Raymond Mearns described himself as an unconstructed Glaswegian, His set - full of grumpy da's and diligent dugs - dropped a hefty number of F-bombs but never dropped the ball. The audience loved it. Next up for a turbo-charged 20 minutes was Taskmaster contestant and Live at the Apollo host, Desiree Burch. The NY-to-London transplant introduced herself as an American on an apology tour. Her observations on generational traits caused a debate between the couples sitting behind who spent the interval Googling to discover if they were Boomers or Gen X. Read more At the start of the second half, Forbes popped back to demonstrate some impressive canine impersonations before introducing Jin Hao Li. Made in China, marinated in Singapore and educated in St Andrews, Li's debut hour Swimming in a Submarine earned him a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024. Full of word-play and whimsy and with probably the best call-back on the Japanese mafia ever heard, he's a huge talent and a ridiculously hard act to follow. But never fear. It turned out they had just the woman for the job. Jin Hao Li (Image: free) Fresh from starring in the BAFTA-winning BBC comedy, Alma's Not Normal, headliner, Jayde Adams soon had the crowd right where she wanted them. Working for her. A member of the front row is told to dig out their phone and search Spotify. Jade is in need of Whigfield's Saturday Night, and what Jade needs, Jade generally gets. She spills the tea about her time on Strictly and dealing with online trolls before a rip-snorting rendition of Nessun Dorma brings proceedings to a shuddering end. The accompanying hand gestures needed no translation. This smorgasbord of stand-up offered a fabulous, feel-good night out.
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Festival Fringe on brink of 'collapse' over costs crisis
When the event returns this August, it is expected to be as big as ever, with a programme boasting well over 3000 shows encompassing music, theatre, dance, cabaret, circus and comedy. Read more: But behind the scenes there are concerns that the financial model behind the festival is at real risk of collapse unless new support for the event can be secured. Leading venue operators and producers have warned that the Fringe is on the brink of 'breaking point' due to the impact of dramatically escalating costs which will make the event increasingly unviable for key players in future years. Katy and Karen Koren are joint artistic directors of the Gilded Balloon. Edinburgh's popularity as a tourism destination, new city council restrictions on the short-term letting of properties and the impact of concerts at Murrayfield Stadium clashing with the Fringe for the first time have all been blamed for the crisis. It is said to have forced many artists and performers to limit the runs of their shows, and for venue operators to take an increasing financial risk on their programmes. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been running since 1947. (Image: PA) William Burdett-Coutts, founder and director of Assembly Festival, which has been staging Fringe shows since 1981, told The Herald that venue operators were being "stretched to the limit." He said: 'The whole economic model of the Fringe really is at the risk of reaching breaking point. 'Overall, I am looking at increased costs of more than £200,000 for this year. 'Almost all of our costs of hiring equipment and building venues has easily increased by 50 per cent since the pandemic. 'Our accommodation costs have increased by up to 100 per cent over the same period, depending on where it is. 'The average cost of a room in a flat for us was around £24 a night 10 years ago. That has gone up to around £85 a night. 'There are a lot less people doing the whole three weeks of the Fringe run. If someone is doing a shorter run they are effectively subsidising their show. It's not a good thing if the Fringe is increasingly reliant on people doing that and if shows are not working commercially.' Katy Koren, Gilded Balloon's artistic director, said: 'The financial model of the Fringe isn't broken, but it is at risk of collapse. "People use to come to the Fringe to do the full run of the festival. More and more people are wanting to do a few days or a week. We definitely don't have the same number of artists working with us as we used to. 'It has become a lot harder to persuade artists to come to the Fringe. Its value to artists is massively in doubt now and is more in doubt every year. 'We have a really good programme for our 40th anniversary, but a lot of that work is being paid for by us in order to get people to come to the Fringe because we really care about it and believe in it. "We are having to take a risk on shows more than ever rather than shows being a collective risk. It's a very precarious business model. "We are being squeezed like nobody's business to give better deals to artists and more money to suppliers." Sam Gough, chief executive of Summerhall Arts, which is in charge of Summerhall's Fringe programme, said: 'Things are getting tougher every year. The whole eco-system of the Fringe is so delicately balanced at the moment. 'The costs that venue producers are experiencing are escalating higher than we can justify in terms of increasing our ticket prices. Our margins are decreasing year on year. 'People are buying Fringe tickets later. We are definitely seeing more requests from artists to do shorter runs. That is making programming harder and it is getting harder for us to support artists.' James Seabright has been producing shows on the Fringe for more than 25 years. He told The Herald: 'It is clear that many challenges face everyone involved in the world's biggest arts festival. 'Since the full-scale Fringe restarted in 2022 after the pandemic pause, it has felt like Edinburgh has not been doing enough to support the vital contribution that the festivals make to the city. 'Decisions by the city council about how to implement the short-term let legislation have led directly to making it more difficult and expensive to stay in Edinburgh, both as a visitor and for participants putting on shows. 'The sad truth is that many hundreds of properties sit empty because landlords can't afford the time or money involved with the complexities of getting even a temporary licence. "Costs for putting on shows have skyrocketed for other reasons too. The cost of licensing temporary theatres has gone through the roof. 'My immersive production of Trainspotting at the EICC has to pay the same substantial fee to get council approval for our small seating stands as the Tattoo does for their huge structures. 'This and other costs have pushed our budget for the show into six figures for the first time since I started producing it almost a decade ago. We are increasingly questioning whether it is worth the risk to bring it back.' Richard Jordan, who has been producing Fringe shows since 1999, said: 'I do think that 2025 could finally be the straw that breaks the camel's back. 'New council housing policies which rightly protect long term local tenants have also affected anyone who may simply wish to short-term rent a place for the Fringe. 'What it's created is a reduction in availability within a market where demand was already not meeting supply. That has propelled rentals to what frankly feels like a level of profiteering amongst some landlords. 'One of the biggest challenge Edinburgh faces is that it needs to retain relevance at a time when there is a growth of Fringes elsewhere. 'What an Edinburgh season may cost is not that far off taking a show to Adelaide (or a decent venue elsewhere) that does not present the same levels of competition, but offer greater returns, means that Edinburgh cannot sit simply on its laurels of reputation or it will risk being left behind.' There is dismay across the Fringe landscape about the potential impact of three Oasis concerts and an AC/DC show at Murrayfield being staged during the Fringe. Mr Gough said: 'The Fringe did not need competition from these new concerts at Murrayfield. The high cost of accommodation in August is not a new thinh. 'But the issue with the Oasis and AC/DC gigs is that they will be filling the city with people who will realistically only be here for one night to go to a concert. 'I'm not worried about those concerts affecting Fringe ticket sales. But they are affecting the cost of accommodation for artists who want to come to the Fringe.' Mr Jordan said: 'The council can certainly argue that these concerts bring a boost to the city with the numbers attending them. 'What it potentially risks leaving on those days is a lot of artists in the city but not a lot of audience. The argument that these concert attendees will be encouraged to see Fringe shows is also nonsensical.' Mr Seabright said: 'Unfortunate scheduling of other major events such as concerts at Murrayfield presenting challenges to the Fringe and underlining the lack of a joined-up approach to planning for what the city can cope with during the busy summer months. 'All the city's summer festivals will wither on the vine if the city prices out visitors who normally travel to the Fringe. 'Edinburgh needs to behave more like the world city it has become as the festivals have supported its growth and popularity.' The city council insisted it did not decide when concerts at Murrayfield would be staged, adding: 'The choice of concert dates is determined by factors like the touring schedule of artists and the availability of facilities." Margaret Graham, the council's culture convener, told The Herald that she was "delighted" that Oasis had decided to stage shows in Edinburgh. Ms Graham said it was "essential" for the council to strike a balance between its calendar of cultural events and "the wellbeing of residents who live here all year-round." She told The Herald: "Measures like our short-term let controls are about keeping visitor accommodation safe and well managed in Edinburgh. "We have made some changes to our policy this year following consultation with residents and the industry. This is to make our scheme as fair and reasonable as we can for residents, visitors and operators.' "We're proud to host the world's best and largest collection of arts festivals, and the Fringe is an important part of this. 'In recognition of and support for its enduring importance, the council provides significant grant funding to the Fringe Society. The new Fringe HQ in Infirmary Street has been a collaboration between the council and the Fringe Society. "This is in addition to considerable operational support from officers to help stage the event, from street management to public safety. All of this is in close partnership with event organisers. 'I am delighted that international artists like Oasis and Taylor Swift have chosen Edinburgh to host concerts. Of course, we know these events can have an impact on the city, and we continue to collaborate closely with Murrayfield and other partners to make sure they run smoothly."
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Unmissable shows at Gilded Balloon's 40th Fringe
Continuing on from my last column, I'm delighted to give you another rundown of some of the unmissable shows taking place at Gilded Balloon's 40th Anniversary 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... First up, 30 years after their last appearance at the Gilded Balloon, we have the return of the Oblivion Boys and Gayle Tuesday. Steve Frost and Mark Arden were an '80s double act who performed in The Young Ones, Blackadder and were the boys who caused havoc in Channel 4's The Tube. You may also recognise them from their hilarious Carling Black Label ads, in my opinion some of the funniest TV ads from the 80s! I can't wait to see them treading the boards once more. QI panellist, comedian and Jonathan Creek star Alan Davies, is back with his new show, Think Ahead Another familiar face making a welcome return is QI panellist, comedian and Jonathan Creek star Alan Davies, back with his new show, Think Ahead. After making his first fresh-faced appearance at the Gilded Balloon in 1994, he's back after a 10-year break with his new show. Also, impressionists Ronni Ancona and Hal Cruttenden will join forces for their parody podcast, In Pieces, where they seek help from celebrity guests dealing with performance chitters. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Comedian and actress Rosie O'Donnell, 11-time Tony and Emmy award winner and American talk show host, is making her Edinburgh Fringe debut after recently relocating to Ireland. Her new show, Here & Now, reflects on her life and extraordinary career, with Rosie's signature blend of heart, humour and honesty, this is a rare chance to see one of America's biggest TV stars in a Fringe setting. We also have another star returning in Aunt Hilda herself, Canadian-born comedian Caroline Rhea of Sabrina the Teenage witch and Pineas and Ferb fame. Caroline is a close friend and very much one of the Gilded Balloon family. She's a class act and loves Scotland – so much that she popped over for a Scottish tour last year. She has been working as a stand-up comedian for over 35 years and has some very funny showbiz stories to tell. There's a hub of Scottish stories in our 40th programme, including the incredible acting of Gail Watson in Ian Pattison's Faye's Red Lines. It received rave reviews from its run at Oran Mor earlier this year. Gail appeared in last year's Chemo Savvy and is part of BBC TV's River City, and we're so excited to have her with us as the star of this incredible piece of writing. Mary, A Gig theatre show uses original music and spoken word in this feminist retelling of Mary Queen of Scots' iconic story. F Bomb Theatre also return with a new autobiographical show telling a heartfelt, hopeful and immersive story about the turbulent journey of experiencing pregnancy loss as a young queer person. And there is so much more – head to our website and come and see some incredible entertainment at the Gilded Balloon this year.
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Smack the Pony Back in the Saddle for Fringe run
The time has come – our long-awaited press release has officially been proclaimed to the world, announcing Gilded Balloon's 40th Anniversary programme! I've been working on it for quite some time now and it feels wonderful to let everyone know what we have in store for this year's festival. 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... Forty years is a real milestone for me, and something that's always been at the forefront of the business is championing women. It's important for me to celebrate women who have worked in the industry for many years and have fought hard to be heard. Therefore, it was of great importance to me that the Smack The Pony ladies agreed to a reunion. Doon Mackichan has performed all of her shows at Gilded Balloon over the years, Sally Phillips and I had chatted last year about her doing a solo Fringe show and Fiona Allen brought a show to the festival in 2023. It only made sense to bring them together to reignite the magic of their Emmy winning series – live on stage. Smack the Pony will reform for a special run of shows Broadcasting royalty Kirsty Wark will be interviewing them, and fans can expect classic sketches they know and love alongside behind the scenes banter. Doon, Sally and Fiona have also let me know that they have written new sketches especially for the summer which is very exciting. Will this mean that they will end up touring? Who knows, but the Fringe is the perfect stage to get the bit between their teeth again and perform in front of a live audience. Another exciting announcement is Rosie O' Donnell, who will perform her debut Fringe show titled, Here and Now. I was over the moon when I found out she wanted to do a Fringe show. She is such an important voice and it's a huge coup to have her at the Fringe. Following her recent move to Ireland, it'll be great to see her on stage on this side of the pond. I feel really proud to have her with us. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's a great feeling to celebrate people who've performed with us over the last four decades, and bring them to our stages this Fringe. Jenny Eclair first performed at the Gilded Balloon in 1990 in a play called 30 Somehow – it was a deeply black comedy about a plane crash in Bodo, Norway and she performed alongside two other talented comics and writers, Maria McErlane and Julie Balloo. I still remember how hilarious that show was, and consequently we have been friends ever since. Jenny was the first woman to win the coveted Perrier Comedy Award and since then has certainly made her mark on the comedy scene across the UK. This August Jenny will take part in one of our 40 Years of Fringe shows – a special in-conversation series we are presenting starring comedy greats. Other guests include Michelle McManus talking with various Scottish comedians about their journey into the business, Doon MacKichan will be joined by Keiran Hodgson for a Two Doors Down reunion, and there's one more surprise up our sleeve which we'll announce in the coming weeks. It's been a happy and sometimes arduous journey to our 40th anniversary – but I wouldn't change it for the world. Cheers to 40 Years!
Scotsman
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh magicians take centre stage at Glastonbury 2025
Based in Scotland's capital, the three magicians began their careers performing on the Free Fringe, hustling for crowds in pubs, basements, and pop-up venues during the chaos of August in Edinburgh. Fast forward a few years, and their show — which blends magic, mind-reading, stunts, and fast-paced comedy — has become one of the most exciting and talked-about acts on the circuit. Not only did Insane Magic Show sell out every performance at the Edinburgh Fringe in both 2023 and 2024, but they also took their unique brand of chaotic wonder across the world to the Adelaide Fringe Festival in early 2025. Now, they're gearing up for their biggest homecoming yet at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025, playing their largest venue to date. Now, armed with a string of sell-out successes and an even bigger venue at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025, these three friends are gearing up to bring a taste of the Scottish capital to Somerset. 'We couldn't be prouder to represent both Edinburgh and the magic community at Glastonbury,' says Gibson. 'It's incredible that what started as three friends doing a show together for a bit of fun and collaboration has led us to becoming artists at one of the world's biggest festivals.' At Glastonbury, Insane Magic Show will bring everything from impossible illusions to bold mentalism moments, the show promises to be one of the must-see highlights of the festival. For Gibson, Bibby and Osey, the journey feels like coming full circle: from the grassroots energy of the Free Fringe in Edinburgh to the sprawling fields of Glastonbury. And while they'll always be Edinburgh performers at heart, this summer they'll be thrilling a whole new audience under the festival's iconic skies. Don't miss your chance to see how the local lads have turned magic into something genuinely… Insane. Insane Magic return to the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 at Orchard at Appleton Tower - Gilded Balloon's largest venue. Tickets on sale now: 2 . Contributed Luke, Elliot & Cameron performing their show "Insane Magic" at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Cameron, Elliot & Luke at the Gilded Balloon "so you think you're funny" after party Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Cameron, Elliot & Luke have sold out every single show for the past 2 years running at the Edinburgh Fringe Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: EdinburghScotlandGlastonburySomersetMagic
