Big names heading for Edinburgh Fringe

A host of big names are joining the Gilded Balloon’s star-studded 2018 roster for the Edinburgh Fringe.

Hot Brown Honey, Esther Rantzen, Jon Culshaw, Janeane Garofalo and a brand new play from the award-winning Henry Naylor are the latest shows to

In the midst of a world tour, the award-winning and genre-defying Hot Brown Honey will be turning up the heat in the Debating Hall, as they embark upon a full run in Gilded Balloon’s flagship venue with lashings of sass and a hot pinch of empowerment.

For three nights only, the legendary Dame Esther Rantzen is set to welcome you behind the scenes of 50 years of broadcasting, so be sure to catch her while you can.

Dead Ringers’ expert impressionists, Jon Culshaw and Bill Dare, will be sending up politicians and celebrities in an unscripted, spontaneous hour where the audience decides the direction of each show, whilst American institution and star of The Larry Sanders Show and Wet Hot American Summer, Janeane Garofalo, will return to the Fringe for the first time in five years.

Award-winning playwright and political satirist Henry Naylor will premiere his brand new work, Games, which explores the real-life plight of Helene Mayer, the only Jewish athlete on the Nazi team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Elsewhere, the most in-demand magician of his generation, Ben Hart, returns to Gilded Balloon with a piece that promises to examine the darkest corners of your imagination, the universe, and existence itself.

From a West End star to a Soho Queen, come join Maggie Thatcher, Queen of Club Nights – the one female Tory leader who still has public support – as she delivers nonstop 80s hits, whilst the giant, ginger, Glamonster, Gingzilla, is back to host the infamous Late Night Lip Service – expect excess, inclusion, and midnight madness.

Impressionist Jon Culshaw is coming to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe

Among those making their Fringe debuts this year are legendary New York City drag king, Murray Hill; star of Comedy Central and Chappelle’s Show, Christian Finnegan; the future of Scottish stand-up in the shape of Christopher MacArthur-Boyd, and 2017 Britain’s Got Talent finalist Daliso Chaponda, who is embarking upon a world tour with What the African Said.

Fringe 2017’s top-rated Scottish comic, Jay Lafferty, is back with her latest hour, Wheesht! Joining Jay as she flies the flag for Scotland will be Rosco McClelland, Kevin Quantum, Fred MacAulay and Scot Squad’s Chris Forbes, whose new show will tell you the extraordinary tale of how he met a man who claimed to be the son of God.

Festival favourites Tom Stade, Micky Bartlett and Kai Humphries all make their way back to the Balloon with all-new material, whilst Gareth Waugh will deliver the sequel to last year’s smash-hit, sell-out Fringe debut, as he examines the law of the playground and accidentally fulfilling your bucket list.

Heading up Gilded Balloon’s children’s programme will be David Baddiel’s AniMalcolm, an energetic and gloriously funny musical from the award-winning Story Pocket Theatre, as well as The Dark Room (For Kids!) – are you and your family brave enough to escape the live-action video game you’ll find yourselves trapped in?

Joining both will be the phenomenally talented, Edinburgh-based Captivate Theatre, who will be bringing you full-blown musical productions of Annie, Les Misérables, Brave Macbeth and Rent throughout August.

Katy and Karen Koren, directors of Gilded Balloon, said: ‘We cannot wait to host the Honeys in our biggest venue. We still have a few surprises up our sleeves… there’s definitely more to come!’
Tickets are on sale NOW.