Fringe debut for Scots stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill

Scots stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill is this month marking the 10th anniversary of the launch of his breakthrough video, April 2009, which has had over 38 million views on YouTube.

It features mind-blowing stunts filmed at iconic locations across Edinburgh, and was viewed by hundreds of thousands of people overnight.

The world-renowned street trials rider and YouTube sensation from the Isle of Skye is celebrating his riding career, which has seen Danny demonstrating his extraordinary street trials skills all over the world, both on video – with more than 350,000,000 views online – and to live audiences.
To celebrate this key career milestone Danny and Drop and Roll Tour, his hugely popular street trials stunt display team, head to the capital for the month of August for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019, with a brand new supercharged live indoor show, featuring jaw-dropping stunts and gravity-defying tricks to amaze adults and children alike.

Danny MacAskill’s Drop and Roll Live, with an exceptionally talented team of riders including Drop and Roll’s co-founder and fellow Scot, Duncan Shaw, will be performed at The Lafayette at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on The Meadows, Edinburgh, every day from 3 to 24 August 2019; with two shows a day on 7, 12 and 19 August.

Danny said: ‘After living on the Isle of Skye for my entire childhood, Edinburgh was the first city I ever lived in. Since arriving in the capital in 2006 the city has always been a home from home. It really opened up a whole new world in terms of riding and made me the rider I am today.

‘I will always be grateful for the stunning back drop Edinburgh provided for the April 2009 video that launched my career. 10 years on it seems a fitting time to return to Edinburgh with the Drop and Roll Tour display team for a run of shows with Underbelly at such an Iconic festival. Our new show for the Fringe is going to be something very special!’

The team are working on an ambitious, adrenaline fuelled and action-packed debut Edinburgh Fringe show. Hosted by extreme sports commentator Henry Jackson, the hour-long show will be filled with super skilled tricks and audacious stunts, many replicated from the team’s videos, including the Spikey Fence Rail Ride and Tree Flair (Backflip 180) performed on the Meadows for April 2009.

There will be plenty of crowd participation, prizes, post show poster signings and exclusive Drop and Roll at the Edinburgh Fringe merchandise.

Duncan Shaw, from Inverness, one of the world’s leading street trials riders, known for his technical and precision moves, said: ‘After five years of touring all over the world, to some of the most amazing crowds, the time is right to come back home to Edinburgh for a month of awesome shows on home soil in front of the very special international festival audiences we have heard so much about; our debut Fringe show and a first in a Big Top!

Danny MacAskill performs a stunt near Edinburgh Castle

‘We can’t wait to get into rehearsals to develop some of the crazy ideas we have been talking about in the tour bus for the last couple of years. It will be interesting to see which will make the cut. For this extra special show, we are planning to replicate a number of iconic tricks, previously only seen on screen. It is no secret that some of these video stunts can take hundreds of attempts to perfect, so we really have our work cut out to get them refined and ready for August. No pressure!’

Since hitting the road in 2014 the Drop and Roll Tour street trials display team have performed shows in Scotland, England, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, South Africa, Philippines, Indonesia and the USA.

Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood from Underbelly said: “We’re delighted that Danny and Duncan have chosen to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their association with Edinburgh with their Fringe debut at Underbelly’s Circus Hub in Drop and Roll Live. Circus Hub is the venue for breathtaking stunning stunts and Fringe-goers are sure to have their hearts in their mouths!”

Find out more about Danny MacAskill at http://www.dannymacaskill.co.uk/ and Duncan Shaw at http://facebook.com/duncanshawtrials