The Gilded Balloon

Our offices are located at 25 Greenside Place, Edinburgh (at the top of Leith Walk, just down from the Playhouse Theatre).

Show location map (for Gilded Balloon Offices only)

     Note: Fringe Performances take place at our venues
              - click here for details

The administration office phone number 0131 622 6555

Winter Wonderland enquiries 0131 622 6552

The Gilded Balloon staff are:

Karen Koren (Artistic Director)
Ann Russell (General & Box Office Manager)
Sharon Burgess (Business Development Manager)
Katie Connelly (Administration)
Gary Staerck (Production Manager)
Phil O'Halloran (Production Manager)
Fraser Smith (Head of Press)
Alex McDonald (Finance)

Get More Information:
History of The Gilded Balloon  |  Awards
Info For Performers  |  Jobs  |  Info for Sponsors

The Edinburgh Fringe's Best Late 'n' Live Comedy & Music

From 1am – 5am every night of the Fringe, the Debating Hall at Gilded Balloon’s Teviot plays host to Late ‘n’ Live. No Fringe experience is complete without a visit, where the very best of stand up and live bands come together at this favourite hangout for performers and punters alike. Previous Late ‘n’ Live survivors have included Jo Brand, Frank Skinner and Eddie Izzard.

Click here for more about the history of Late'n'Live

This year, our fabulous comperes include Klang’s Greg Davies, Stephen K. Amos, Mark Olver, Rob Deering and Al Pitcher.  Read below for who’s on tonight.

Late ‘n’ Live is one of the hottest tickets in town, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Click here to book online and keep checking back here to find out the latest on who will be gracing the stage at Late ‘n’ Live this year

	Line Up for Thursday 14th August
	Stephen Grant (Compere) Paul Tonkinson Tom Wrigglesworth Artist to be announced... Music by Daimh

	Line Up for Friday 15th August
	John Bishop (Compere) Rob Deering Craig Campbell Ed Byrne Music by Seb Clarke

	Line Up for Saturday 16th August
	Phil Nichol (Compere) Glen Wool Artist to be announced... Brendon Burns Music by Seb Clarke

	Line Up for Sunday 17th August
	Stephen K Amos (Compere) (Also has own show - click here for details) Karl Spain Kevin Bridges Artist to be announced... Music by Seb Clarke

	Line Up for Monday 18th August
	Patrick Monahan (Compere) Markus Birdman Joe Wilkinson Artist to be announced... Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Tuesday 19th August
	Stephen Grant (Compere) Ivan Brackenbury Rob Deering Artist to be announced... Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Wednesday 20th August
	Stuart Goldsmith (Compere) Artist to be announced... Des Bishop Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Thursday 21st August
	Stephen Grant (Compere) Gavin Webster Simon Munnery Artist to be announced... Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Friday 22nd August
	John Bishop (Compere) Dan Antopolski Jim Jeffries Brendon Burns Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Saturday 23rd August
	Phil Nichol (Compere) Matt Krishen Artist to be announced... Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Sunday 24th August
	Patrick Monahan (Compere) Greg Fleet (Also has own show - click here for details) Russell Kane Artist to be announced... Music by Big Hand

	Line Up for Monday 25th August
	Stephen K Amos (Compere) (Also has own show - click here for details) Music by Big Hand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History of The Gilded Balloon

A venue with a touch of class’ - The Evening News

The Gilded Balloon ("Why called the Gilded Balloon?") was established in 1986 and is now one of the three largest and well known venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Gilded Balloon has experienced a dramatic evolution from its modest origins of one theatre with seven shows per day, to operating eight venues, with over 70 shows per day featuring performers from across the globe, all encapsulating the very essence of the Fringe.

In its third festival year, and with a dedication to comedy, the Gilded Balloon devised 'So You Think You’re Funny? in order to discover new comic talent; it has now developed into the most influential competition of its kind in the UK. The pedigree of the competition is reflected in the list of past winners: Bruce Morton, Phil Kay, Rhona Cameron, Lee Mack, Dylan Moran, Tommy Tiernan and Peter Kay. These individuals are all now established comedians, many of which receive frequent television work.

It takes time and patience to establish and gain a reputation within a festival arena and over the years the Gilded Balloon made its mark on various venues, but its constant home for 16 years was in the heart of the Cowgate. The Studio, where it all began, was well known for its music and intimate bar, while the old favourites included Backstage I, II and III and the all year round Gilded Saloon.

During this time the importance of the Gilded Balloon was officially recognised when it joined forces with two other main Fringe venues to host a Comedy Festival within the Fringe. This successful grouping undoubtedly enhanced the strengths of the Gilded Balloon and led to unprecedented television, radio and press coverage. Today the Gilded Balloon maintains powerful links with independent television companies outwith and during the Festival, most notably with Angel Eye Film & Television who made "Edinburgh or Bust" for Channel Four Television.

In 2001 the Gilded Balloon expanded to Teviot Row House to include a more diverse range of entertainment including children's shows, cabaret and physical theatre; housing five venues and seven bars it proved to be extremely popular. In 2002 the infamous Late 'n' Live moved permanently from Wilkie House to Teviot Row House, taking over a larger space with a 5am bar licence and a live link to the prestigious Library Bar. It was in hindsight a fortuitous decision, as no one could have known what was going to befall the Gilded Balloon a year later . . .

Gutted!

On 7th December 2002 a fire in the Cowgate destroyed part of the heart of Edinburgh’s old town. Although the fire brigade arrived within minutes the fire had quickly spread to the South Bridge before consuming the Gilded Balloon. The fire burned for three days and a total of eleven buildings were destroyed in one of the worst fires Edinburgh has ever known. Click here for more information about the fire.

Although devastating, the Gilded Balloon, not to be defeated, dusted itself off and focused on Teviot Row House.

It was a year of change for the Gilded Balloon who teamed up with Underbelly to publicise their shows. The Gilded Balloon sponsor, Metro, produced a brochure highlighting round the clock entertainment and proved to be an invaluable guide to all the shows at both venues. 300,000 brochures were printed and distributed by Metro nationally throughout Scotland and England.

The Gilded Balloon's position as a premier venue is based on intriguing, imaginative, adventurous and international programming covering exciting dance and physical theatre, spine chilling plays and challenging drama, children's shows and the cream of stand up, improvisation and character comedy.

Karen Koren, Artistic and Managing Director, is the founder and continuing creative force behind the Gilded Balloon.The creation in 1986 of the Gilded Balloon continues to provide a forum for avant-garde stand up comedians and writers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Over the years, Ms Koren has earned a deep respect throughout the comedy and entertainment industry both in the UK and abroad. The Award winning track record at the Gilded Balloon is ample testament to her success in innovative programming and in her instinct for unleashing previously undeveloped potential.

The Gilded Balloon's Programme for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008

Gilded Balloon Edinburgh Fringe News

	Late Nights at the Edinburgh Fringe
	Whether it be raw comedy, or the best and wildest in live music and stand up, then the Gilded Balloon has something to keep you up into the wee small hours with our exciting late night fringe shows. For details of our late night entertainment in Late ‘n’ Live Big Jessie's Bag of Drag, Carnival des Phenomenes,  and Stephen K Amos's Weekend Chat Show, please click here

Sponsored by five, Paramount Comedy, and 4DVD

So You Think You’re Funny?

The ultimate competition where legends are born, So You Think You’re Funny? is a glorious celebration of comedy! Thrill as the latest clutch of new acts fight it out for the most prestigious comedy crown. To book tickets for So You Think You're Funny, click here For more details of the heats, the competitors and winners, follow the links below Heat 1 - Sun 3rd Aug Heat 2 - Mon 4th Aug Heat 3 - Tue 5th Aug Heat 4 - Sat 9th Aug Heat 5 - Sun 10th Aug Heat 6 - Mon 11th Aug Heat 7 - Tue 12th Aug Grand Final of So You Think You're Funny 2008

	TIM MINCHIN - 'Ready For This?
	Tim Minchin's 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show 'Ready For This?' is playing at the Pleasance Grand.   To book his show and for venue information, visit www.pleasance.co.uk or call 0131 556 6550

	Performers' Blogs
	Want to get the inside track on what it’s like to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? Want to experience the giddy heights of having a sell-out, 5 star show or the painful lows of performing to one man and his dog? A number of our "usual suspects" are itching to expose the intimate details of their Edinburgh Fringe 08 experiences as they unfold. To see our fringe performers' diaries, please click here

	Win Tickets to See Our Shows
	Throughout the Fringe, The Gilded Balloon will be running a new competition, giving website visitors the opportunity to win tickets to a variety of our shows. For today’s competition and entry details please click here

	THE MALCOLM HARDEE AWARD
	Starting this August for ten years, an annual award will be presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival “for comic originality of thought or performance” - THE MALCOLM HARDEE AWARD is in memory of “one of the most anarchic figures of his era” - “the greatest influence on British comedy over the last 25 years” and the “godfather to a generation of comic talent". More information

	STEVE ULLATHORNE - PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
	Steve Ullathorne - Restyles of the Dead and Famous ‘The Annie Leibovitz of Comedy’ Claire Smith, The Scotsman Steve returns to the Gilded Balloon with some twisted tweaks of the Blue Plaque bearing London homes of the dead and gone... Click here for exhibition info, and a sneak preview of this briliant exhibition.

	Best of So You Think You're Funny?
	For the last 21 years, So You Think You're Funny? has been the launch pad for some of the biggest names in comedy including Peter Kay, Ed Byrne and Rhona Cameron. This year, the pick of previous winners and runners up will be returning to where it all began. For details of who's performing and to book tickets, click here

	Edinburgh Fringe Awards
	Over the years, the Gilded Balloon has brought many award winning shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. 2007 was no exception. Click here for details of our awards and nominations in 2007 and previous years

Media Partner

 

Comedy Demon, Sony Pictures and Sunday Mail
So You Think You’re Funny?

The best stand-up comedy competition for newcomers.

Sponsored by Comedy Demon, Sony Pictures and Sunday Mail.

Established since 1988 'So You Think You’re Funny?' is the most prestigious of all the Edinburgh Festival Fringe stand-up comedy competitions.

The Gilded Balloon with a strong allegiance to comedy, devised 'So You Think You're Funny?' in order to discover new comic talent. During the years it developed into the most influential competition of its kind in the UK.

The competition starts in March with showcases countrywide, the search for the best comedy newcomers goes to Bath, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin, Brighton and there are ten comedy clubs in London used. Last year there were over 600 applicants for only 70 places.

Each heat is one and a half hours long with each stand-up allowed eight minutes in which to win over the judges and the audience. A winner is announced who then goes forward to the finals. The final is always popular and with two and a half hours of top comedy, tickets are sold out within a couple of hours.

The competition is going into its 19th year and has continued to thrive from year to year. The pedigree of the competition is reflected in the list of past winners (see image gallery): Bruce Morton, Phil Kay, Rhona Cameron, Lee Mack, Dylan Moran, Tommy Tiernan and Peter Kay, all of which are now established comedians and television performers.

Other competitors in the past have been Ardal O'Hanlon, Johnny Vegas, Steve Furst, Michael Smiley, Ed Byrne, Dan Antapolski, Jason Byrne, Alex Zane, Dominic Holland, Nick Wilty, Lucy Porter, Reginald D Hunter, Paul Foot, Andy Zaultman, Nina Conti, Des Clarke, Francesca Martinez, Craig Hill, Alan Carr, The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III, Rhod gilbert, Matt Kirshen, Andrew Lawrence, Stefano Paolini, Russell Howard and many, many more.

The Final Compares have included Chris Evans, Jo Brand, Eddie Izzard, Mark Lamarr, Julian Clary, Arthur Smith, Graham Norton, Sean Lock and Bill Bailey.

Celebrity Judges have included Steve Coogan, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, Avid Merrion, Jo Brand, Jenny Eclair, Emma Freud, Gail Porter, Fred MacAulay, Dylan Moran, Rhona Cameron and Owen O'Neill.

As well as attracting the glitterati of the Comedy world to the competition we also present the best party at the Fringe. Annually there is the Perrier Award Party, the Paramount Party, the BBC Comedy Awards Party, the Guardian Party and numerous others, however the So You Think You're Funny? Party has become a must to all festival and media players.

The Gilded Balloon are delighted to be working this year with Sony Pictures, The Sunday Mail and Comedy Demon, the official sponsors of So You Think You're Funny? - together we show our commitment to supporting new comedy.

Apply for 2008 contest here...
Previous Winners
1988 Bruce Morton	1989 Phil Kay
1990 Trio Brothers Troupe	1991 Alan Francis
1992 Rhona Cameron	1993 Dylan Moran
1994 Martin Trenaman	1995 Lee Mack
1996 Tommy Tiernan	1997 Peter Kay
1998 Rob Rouse	1999 David O' Doherty
2000 Drew Rokos	2001 Miles Jupp
2002 Matthew Osborn	2003 Tom Wrigglesworth
2004 Nick Sun	2005 Tom Allan
2006 Wes Packer	2007 Richard Sandling
2008

  

The Riot Show GRRRLS Club
at the Gilden Ballon Teviot , 13 Bistro Square Tel: 0131 668 1633 Grid Ref: F5
Join  electro-pop divas Dworkin for this musical romp putting the 'çamp' back into campaigning. Expect drinking, bisarre instruments and spectactular frocks as our heroines prove once and for all that feminists really do have better sex.
21.15 fromm July 30th till August 24th 2008.
'The Riot Show GRRRLS Club is a highly unusual show that gets you thinking with audience involvement along great entertainment.... this show was a must for a USA Weekly News over five star award..." USA  Weekly News



Andrew Stanley's Comedy Mish Mash
Lisa Ricards in Association With Edcom8
at the Gilden Ballon Teviot , 13 Bistro Square Tel: 0131 668 1633 Grid Ref: F5
30th July till 24th August at 23.30
A different show every night from Andrew Stanley and his friends and some special guests featuring stand-up, sketches, Q 7 A, music, and of course free bisuits of your choosing..
Éffervescent and upbeat...bursting witgh playful energy (Chortle)
"Great relaxed style comedy with a lot of interesting and unusual audience involvement..Andrew Stanley's Comedy Mish Mash is definate for an over five star award form the uSAWeekly News.' USA  Weekly News
www.lisarichards.ie
Comedians that are available through Lisa Richards

Click on a thumbnail to see more information

Eddie Bannon

Eddie Bannon

Des Bishop

Jason Byrne

Damian Clark

Neil Delamere

Brendan Dempsey

Tara Flynn

PJ Gallagher

John Henderson

Maeve Higgins

Adam Hills

Eric Lalor

John Lynn

Colin Murphy

Dara O Briain

David O'Doherty

Deirdre O'Kane

Colm O'Regan

Jarlath Regan

Karl Spain

Andrew Stanley

Paul Tylak

Dermot Whelan