It’s time to paint the town pink once more as Gilded Balloon today announce the first shows for 2024’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme. This year, Gilded Balloon, the Fringe’s original home of comedy, will welcome audiences to two dynamic and well-loved venue hubs throughout August: Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland. World-class comedy, theatre, magic and more will delight Fringe fans galore, for a summer of non-stop entertainment in Edinburgh’s city centre. This year’s Fringe programme so far includes Louise Atkinson, Hypnotist Matt Hale, John Robertson’s The Dark Room, Kathleen Hughes and more.
Gilded Balloon shows take place from 31st July - 26th August with tickets on sale from 12pm, Wednesday 21st February tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk
Gilded Balloon will bring legendary Fringe institutions like Late’n’Live and Best of So You Think You’re Funny? under the Patter House roof, whilst Teviot Row House undergoes renovation. The full Gilded Balloon Fringe programme will operate across a pink-tastic Patter House (3 Chambers Street) and the National Museum of Scotland (Lothian Street) in 2024, before returning to Teviot for Gilded Balloon’s 40th anniversary celebrations in August 2025.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said, “We’re delighted to reveal the first few shows of this year’s Fringe programme, ahead of what will be another exciting year for Gilded Balloon. As we transfer our full operation into two of our pre-existing venues, it’s a chance to refresh our programme this year. We’re looking forward to bringing a bigger and better operation to Patter House for 2024 including some brilliant programming - from kids shows to international comedy, thrilling theatre and lots of famous faces.
“We will, of course, miss Teviot Row House which has been a major part of Gilded Balloon’s Fringe operation since 2001, but we look forward to returning next year for a big pink birthday bash to celebrate 40 years of Gilded Balloon. Planning is already underway for 2025’s very special celebrations, but in the meantime we can’t wait to welcome Fringe fans back to Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland for a month of wonderful shows.”
Gilded Balloon’s ‘Pals in Pink’ will welcome audiences from around the world as staff transform Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland into fabulously pink hubs of creativity with acts from every genre descending during the month of August. From internationally renowned comedians, rising stars, groundbreaking theatre, spellbinding magic shows and wild and wonderful kids shows, Gilded Balloon’s 2024 venues are set to be a hotspot of Fringe fun.
This year, Patter House will host the vast majority of Gilded Balloon shows including; a brand new hour from Louise Atkinson following an acclaimed run last year; John Robertson’s The Dark Room; and a triumphant return for Hypnotist Matt Hale: Top Fun! 80s Spectacular after a sold out 2023 season. The UK’s biggest new comedy competition, Best of So You Think You’re Funny? will host a mixed bill show featuring the top three acts from 2023’s competition including winner Samira Banks plus Christopher Donovan and Lizzie Norm. Also part of the 2024 programme is sketch show Biscuit Barrel: Not Another 69 Sketch Show and comedy murder mystery show Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit.
One of Scotland’s fastest rising comedy stars, Glaswegian Kathleen Hughes will showcase her debut hour, plus Britain’s Got Talent magician Cameron Young will bring mind-bending illusions and hilarious comedy to Gilded Balloon this year.
A Gilded Balloon venue for three years, Patter House will see a bigger and better line-up than ever before, with a focus on events programming and expanded bars in the three-story venue. With nightly pink projections on the building facade, an Instagrammable bar with late-night DJs, special bar discounts for all Fringe artists, and themed Patter Parties, Gilded Balloon will transform the Chambers Street venue into a Fringe must-visit once again.
For the eighth year, Gilded Balloon will pop up in the National Museum of Scotland, bringing an array of comedy, theatre and magic shows to one of the most visited venues in the UK. Revamped for 2024, Gilded Balloon’s outdoor bar at the Museum will return once again, providing food and drink from beloved local brands like Newbarns for Fringe audiences.
Gilded Balloon’s ‘Support the Artist’ scheme returns for 2024, meaning customers can add an optional £2 to each ticket purchased, given directly to artists themselves. Designed to extend the support offered to performers faced with growing costs at the Festival, artists and fans can opt-in to the scheme at the point of purchase.
Book online from 12pm on Wednesday 21st February at tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk or call Tel: 0131 622 6552
Picture: Ryan Johnston
