History and highlights of Underbelly

Underbelly's history

How we came to be

Underbelly was first opened in 2000, as a small performance venue for five shows brought to the Fringe by the long running Fringe company, Double Edge Drama. The Double Edge directors, now directors of Underbelly, had heard of the venue through a production of Gargantua, performed by acclaimed Scottish company, Grid Iron in the haunting vaults below the central library of Edinburgh. Whilst Grid Iron staged one show there, the vaults proved the perfect location for all five of Double Edge's shows with the company winning a Fringe First and sell-out houses for its critically-acclaimed productions of Bent and Marat Sade.

Underbelly's success

The next few years would see Underbelly rapidly grow into one of the most popular and most written about venues on the Fringe. Its atmospheric setting in the former bank vaults under George IV Bridge presented performers and public alike with wonderfully atmospheric, site-specific spaces and a real Fringe experience.

The combination of dilapidated crumbling walls, a challenging and often provocative programme of shows and a loyal following of Underbelly regulars drew many, including founder of the Traverse, Richard De Marco, to suggest that it was the first venue in years to sum up the true spirit of the Fringe.

Highlights of 2000-2008

2008

  • UdderBELLY to return to Brighton Fringe Festival with additional performance space.

2007

  • if.comedy Newcomer Award for Tom Basden
  • Two Fringe First Awards, two Herald Angels, the Carol Tambor Award, the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award
  • 25% increase in like-for-like ticket sales (ie excluding new venues) at Edinburgh Fringe
  • New 1,000+ capacity McEwan Hall Edinburgh Fringe venue for Silent Disco and three additional site-specific performance spaces in lorry, container and portaloo
  • UdderBELLY goes to Brighton Fringe Festival and hosts T4 Transmission concerts

2006

  • The Writers Guild Award, two Herald Angel Awards and three nominations in The Stage Awards
  • 36% increase in like-for-like ticket sales (ie excluding new venues)
  • New UdderBELLY 322-seat venue in shape of upside-down purple cow
  • New Cow Barn venue in Reid Hall
  • Underbelly Promotions is launched as a new division to promote comedians

2005

  • The Writers Guild Award, the inaugral Malcolm Hardee Award and the Dubble Act Award
  • Ed and Charlie awarded Chortle Award for Best Off-Stage Contribution
  • 17 five star shows and another 58 four star shows
  • 138 shows in 10 performance spaces
  • New Baby Belly venue in the Caves on Niddry Street

2004

  • Perrier Award for Will Adamsdale in Jackson's Way
  • Three Fringe First Awards
  • Perrier Newcomer nomination and Amnesty Award nomination
  • 13 five star shows and a further 29 four star shows out of 85 shows

2003

  • Underbelly Live features gigs from Athlete, Keane, The Thrills, Mark Owen, Skin, Ocean Colour Scene and others
  • Perrier Newcomer Award and Fringe First Award
  • Aaron Barschak, the self-styled Comedy Terrorist gains massive media coverage for breaking into Prince William's birthday party in Windsor Castle

2002

  • One Fringe First Award
  • The Late Show featured Bill Bailey, Ross Noble, Jimmy Carr, Jerry Sadowitz, Andrew Maxwell and many other top comedians
  • 11 five star shows out of 55 shows

2001

  • One Fringe First Award
  • Underbelly's debut year with 18 shows
  • Ed Bartlam, Charlie Wood and Tom Page establish Underbelly Limited

2000

  • Ed Bartlam as producer of Double Edge Drama operates Underbelly venue under the umbrella of C Venues