Gilded Balloon has unveiled over 85 more shows for 2025’s Fringe programme, with huge names including Mhairi Black, Jack Docherty, Michelle Brasier, Kim Blythe, Christopher Hall, Michelle Collins, Fred MacAulay, and more set to entertain audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The homegrown venue will host acts across comedy, music, theatre, magic and more this year in three different venue hubs.
Welcoming a mix of homegrown Scottish talent, rising social media stars and some of the UK’s most established comics, Gilded Balloon’s 40th year at the Fringe will feature: Jack Docherty returning in The Chief, Mhairi Black’s second solo Fringe show, rising Scottish star Kim Blythe, Scottish comedy legend Fred MacAulay, TikTok star Christopher Hall, Australian icon Michelle Brasier, and English actress Michelle Collins making her Fringe debut in new play Motorhome Marilyn.
The Fringe’s original home of comedy, Gilded Balloon’s programme will spotlight exciting comics including: So You Think You’re Funny 2024 winner Alana Jackson’s debut show, SYTYF finalist Sophia Wren performs a comedy-theatre hybrid, American comic Colette Gregory performs a hilarious dissection of Black media tropes, Nate Kitch returns for his sophomore show, The Middle TV star Eden Sher takes on life after the sitcom, comedy cabaret star Mark T Cox takes on the joys and horrors of contemporary gay life in rural Ireland, Michael Welch dives into the chaos of his early 30s, Shamik Chakrabarti makes his international debut as one of India’s breakout comic voices and Brooklyn-based comedian Lily Blumkin heads to Fringe. Plus, Gilded Balloon’s most iconic Fringe shows will return to Patter House including Late’n’Live and new comic competition So You Think You’re Funny.
Gilded Ballon’s family programme welcomes back huge hitter A.L.Ex & the ImproBots: How to Train Your Robot for science theatre merged with comedy for all ages, as well as a Fringe institution with a new take - Fast Fringe: Family Edition. Aussie family-friendly musical adventure Woody’s Bush Cabaret - for Kids will feature interactive ukulele fun and out of this world characters, whilst Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show spotlights the funny in science.
The Pink Pals will also bring theatre and musicals to this year’s Fringe, with a Jackie Onassis themed musical Jackie!!! about life in the White House, solo show There’s Something Seriously Wrong With Cyrus featuring Madonna and Taylor Swift music, and celebrated English actress of EastEnders and Coronation Street Michelle Collins makes her Fringe debut as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator in Motorhome Marilyn.
Female-led stories are front and centre in this year’s programme with plays including Girl Pop! pulling back the curtain on a girl group breakup in the 2000s, whilst Well Behaved Women follows a trio of friends in the 1800s who decide to host a seance, and Mary:A Gig Theatre Show delivers a feminist rendition of Mary Queen of Scots’ story.
Fringe fan favourites including Potty the Plant, Aquapella, 1 Hour of Insane Magic, The Improv Musical and more will all return this August, as Gilded Balloon takes over three venues in the centre of the Fringe.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said, “It’s hugely exciting to unveil even more of this year’s 2025 Fringe programme with lots of wonderful new theatre and of course our excellent roster of comics from mainstays like Jack Docherty, Michelle Brasier and Fred MacAulay to rising stars like Alana Jackson, Kim Blythe and Christopher Hall.
Gilded Balloon’s Fringe programme will see a mix of comedy, theatre, kids shows, music and more operate across a pink-tastic Patter House (3 Chambers Street), the National Museum of Scotland (Lothian Street) and Appleton Tower (11 Crichton Street) at the centre of the capital’s Fringe buzz, whilst Teviot Row House undergoes continued renovations.
Gilded Balloon’s famous ‘Pals in Pink’ staff will welcome audiences from around the world as all three venues are transformed into fabulously pink homes of creativity, art and wall-to-wall comedy for the month of August. From international comedians, rising stars, groundbreaking theatre, spellbinding magic shows and wild and wonderful kids shows, Gilded Balloon’s 2025 venues have something for everyone.
Gilded Balloon shows take place from 30th July - 25th August with tickets on sale from 12pm tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk
Mhairi Black picture by Steve Ullathorne
