Underbelly’s Fringe will feature 199 shows

Underbelly opened this year’s fringe with its press launch in Violet, everyone’s favourite purple cow.

Six at the Underbelly Press Launch, a show which features the six wives of Henry VIII to tell their tale. In our view this was the standout act – slick and just a bit different!

Showing off just some of the acts that make up the 199 Underbelly shows on the Fringe there was a little bit of something for most adults here – and a bit of a surprise for Ed and Charlie the directors too!

Ria Jones sang an excerpt from ‘Don’t tell me not to Fly’ at the Underbelly Press Launch

A fabulous variety line-up which included Helen Lederer, Ria Jones, Dick and Dom, Bernie Dieter, Garry Starr, Queens of Sheba, Cirque Alfonse and Universoul entertained the invited crowd in the afternoon.

Underbelly’s reputation for entertainment and fun was taken to the extreme by directors Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood who dad danced their way through Dick and Dom’s musical statues.

Dick and Dom at the Underbelly Press Launch got Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood with their custard pies

They both ended up wearing custard pie just before making their speeches…..

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Earlier in the day Universoul posed by the Ross Fountain

It’s Hip-Hop Under the Big Top, combining edge-of-your-seat performances, stunning spectacle, hilarious audience participation and a soundtrack that will blow the roof off the tent. UniverSoul’s international cast includes high-wire artists, slapstick comedy, jaw-dropping contortionists, Caribbean limbo fire-dancers and global internet sensations Fresh The Clowns. Come see the show that has entertained over 20 million people in the USA Photo John Preece