Underbelly lands new Edinburgh venue

The Underbelly is further expanding its Edinburgh Fringe operation, with a brand new 200-seat venue.

It has signed a deal to run the £3million studio that has is just being completed on the back of the Festival Theatre. The space will be called Topside during August, and be accessed via Potterow, the road that runs around the back of the Pleasance Dome.

Most of the shows in the venues will be dramas, including an adaptation of the novel Stuart: A Life Backwards. However Topside will also host the return of Dr Brown, who won the Foster’s award last year, and cabaret shows such as Le Gateau Chocolat.

It is thought Underbelly won a tough bidding war against the other ‘Big Four’ fringe venues to secure the space. Underbelly is also returning to the 1,020-capacity McEwan Hall, one of the biggest venues on the Fringe which Jason Byrne will play this year.

Published: 3 May 2013