The Underbelly Festival is returning to London this summer 2024, once again taking over Cavendish Square in Central London.
Running from 4 July to 21 September 2024, the pop-up festival aims to offer a slice of the Edinburgh Fringe in Central London, and will showcase world-class drag, cabaret, comedy and LGBTQIA+ entertainment.
This year’s programme highlights in the Underbelly Spiegeltent include Dizney in Drag: Once Upon A Parody, an X-rated pantomime following childhood favourite characters to discover sides of them you never knew existed; and The Bitten Peach, an evening of drag, burlesque, dance, comedy, music, spoken word and circus with a mission to diversify Asian representation in cabaret.
Also the Police Cops musical comedy team are back in London with their hit show Police Cops in Space, from 31 July to 18 August 2024.
Family and children’s events throughout the summer include Mr Sleepybum, Baby Loves Disco and Shelf: The Kids’ Show.
Underbelly Festival 2024 – Highlights
Dizney in Drag: Once Upon a Parody (4 – 14 July 2024)
A nostalgic comedy X-rated pantomime following childhood favourite characters to discover sides of them you never knew existed. With original parodied songs, The Hairy Godmother will guide the audience through a magical adventure in search of the wide-eyed hopeful Hero’s true love, meeting a host of familiar characters along the way. Prepare to have all your childhood dreams shattered like Cinderella’s glass slipper in a raucous reclamation parody of favourite childhood stories. London audiences have the chance of catching the show first before it heads up to Scotland for the Fringe.
Tweedy’s Massive Circus (18 – 27 July 2024)
Ahead of its run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Tweedy has his very own massive circus, but the tent has shrunk and Tweedy hasn’t a clue. Hosted by the much-loved star of Giffords Circus for over 15 years, Tweedy and his friends create their very own circus show in the ‘little’ big top. Expect a show filled with magic, mirth and mayhem suitable for the whole family.
Police Cops in Space (31 July – 18 August 2024)
Following an acclaimed run at Southwark Playhouse with Police Cops: The Musical, the Police Cops are back in London this summer with their 80s space age comedy blockbuster Police Cops in Space. Performed by three actors armed with B-movie props, Police Cops in Space is an intergalactic whirlwind spoof packed with parody references, slo-mo fights and low budget costumes.
YUCK Circus (28 August – 8 September 2024)
YUCK will be here to tear up London with their sell-out show featuring high-flying acrobatics, absurd confessions, and groovy dancing, all smashed together with their trademark ripper comedy. Winners of Fringe World top-tier Martin Sims Award, Best Circus at both Melbourne and Sydney Fringe, and Best Emerging Artist at Adelaide Fringe, YUCK Circus are a powerhouse of female circus performers kicking art in the face.
The Bitten Peach (Selected dates 6 – 21 September 2024)
The UK’s first queer Pan-Asian cabaret tells Asian stories, creates safe spaces and diversifies Asian representation in cabaret. Following their mission is to empower the queer Asian community through their shows, The Bitten Peach is an evening of drag, burlesque, dance, comedy, music, spoken word and circus.
Kids and Family Events include:
Mr Sleepybum (6 – 7 July 2024), the multi-award nominated kids’ comedy show written and performed by character comedian Jody Kamali, re-enacts stupid and silly nighttime dreams in a high-energy, interactive kid’s comedy for the whole family. Mr Sleepybum awakes in his bed to find a room full of parents and children and a circus of silly sketches and dream scenes ensues, from swimming with Sharks to solving the mystery of a stolen chocolate cake to dodging balls in the guide of the Cowboy Ball-Dodger.
Baby Loves Disco (14 July, 31 August, 15 September 2024), is the original family dance party. DJ Dub and special guests will be mixing feel-good dance floor fillers with pop classics from the years before parenthood struck right up to the present day. The perfect party for parents and babies, toddlers and young children to dance together. Hold tight for all manner of dance floor shenanigans, mummy and daddy dance offs and a whole host of dance-floor fun and games. Suitable for parents of all ages and children aged 0 – 9.
Shelf: The Kids’ Show (21st September 2024) is a kids’ comedy show for all the family full of sketches, songs, pranks and silliness. Best friends Rachel and Ruby use physical comedy and silly characters to bring sketch comedy to children of all ages – a fun way to explore emotions, friendship and shyness.
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