Assembly, Pleasance and Underbelly reveal some of their programme

Assembly and Underbelly have announced their first shows of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe – as the Pleasance announces its second batch of programming.

Assembly's programme includes a run of David O’Doherty’s new show Whoa Is Me, Fern Brady’s Autistic Bikini Queen and  Susie McCabe with her new show Born Believer.

Brady will be in one of the festival’s biggest venues, the main 890-seat Assembly Hall for just three nights, August 25 to 27 while O’Doherty and McCabe are doing full runs from August 3 in George Square venues.

Meanwhile, Underbelly has announced that both  Jason Byrne and sketch trio Foil Arms and Hog will be in the 900-capacity McEwan Hall at 7.30pm and 9.15pm respectively.

It has also announced new stand-up shows from Paul McCaffrey, Richard Stott and Troy Hawke.

The Pleasance has also announced a new raft of shows, including Marcus Brigstocke’s latest stand-up show, Absolute Shower; Jamali Maddix’s new tour King Crud and a new  show from outrageous sketch team Tarot.

The venue previously announced a handful of shows from the likes of Nina Conti, The Showstopper and NewsRevue – but has now considerably expanded its programme.

Other newly announced shows include Mark Watson bringing  This Can’t Be It, back to where it began in 2021’s mini- Fringe; Ivo Graham’s My Future My Clutter discussing three years of heavy-duty pranking and the return of Shit-faced Shakespeare, taking on Macbeth.

Lily Phillips presents Smut, her debut hour talking about feminism and her dog; Aaron Simmonds talks about the positive side of being disabled in Hot Wheels, and Nic Sampson talks about the 1904 Olympic marathon in St. Louis, Missouri, which 32 athletes entered but only 14 finish.

Leo Reich  shares  his ‘notoriously perfect opinions’  in Literally Who Cares?!  and best newcomer nominees Crybabies present Bagbeard, a sci-fi infected narrative sketch adventure.

Returning line-up shows include the Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show, Mervyn Stutter’s Pick Of The Fringe and the Tartan Ribbon Comedy Benefit for Waverley Care, Scotland's HIV and hepatitis C charity.

Tickets for these shows are available from the Assembly, Underbelly, and Pleasance websites now, before the official Edfringe website releases its first batch of tickets on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Fringe Society has announced that Texas-based Cirrus Logic has signed a £75,000 sponsorship deal with the festival.

The society’s chief executive, Shona McCarthy aid: ‘Their support during this difficult time is a lifeline, and it’s brilliant to see a company with roots in the city actively investing in creativity and culture.’

Cirrus Logic which has an office in Edinburgh’s Quartermile, supplies audio technology for phones, tablets, wireless headsets and more.

Published: 1 Mar 2022