Underbelly Festival is back for its tenth year on the Southbank with a big line-up, including headline shows from four countries across four different continents by some of the finest purveyors of circus in the world.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since we first landed on the Southbank but we’re celebrating in style with our most exciting program yet. As well as providing a range of brilliant comedy, cabaret, family entertainment, food, drink and bars, our headline shows all demonstrate the richness and variety of circus performance all around the world and it’s amazing to be hosting them mere yards away from the birthplace of circus 250 years ago,” says Underbelly director Ed Bartlam.

Shows are currently on sale. Here is a sampling; a modern twist on the grand tradition of European Circus: acclaimed German production SOAP combines acrobatics and water for a visually extraordinary and riotously fun spectacle that includes bathtub acrobatics, a mop ballet and a spectacular rainy finale.

For its London premiere at Underbelly Festival, Circolombia is one of the hits of last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a fiery Latin circus-concert infusing circus performers with an original live soundtrack which echoes Colombia’s vibrant cultural heritage.

Headline acts already announced are Ethiopian Fringe sensation Circus Abyssinia, starring Bibi and Bichu, and Australian circus troupe Circa’s brand new extravaganza Peepshow and Elixir, winner of the “First and Foremost Entertainment Award Brighton Fringe 2015,”–a beautiful mix of acrobatics and comedy.

Beyond the intercontinental feast of circus, Underbelly Festival also celebrates a decade as London’s home of spring and summer comedy and family entertainment, with shows such as the Metta Theatre, a show that reinvented the Hans Christian Anderson’s classic in Metta’s Little Mermaid –  including The Circus Sensation with their signature blend of circus, physical theatre, contemporary dance and spoken word.

Circus Abyssinia
Time: Tue-Fri 7:45pm, Sat 3pm & 6pm, Sunday 6pm (60 mins)
Venue: The Belly
Dates: 6 April – 20 May
Tickets from £14.00

Circolombia
Time: Tue-Fri 7:45pm, Sat 3pm & 6pm, Sunday 6pm (60 mins)
Venue: The Belly
Dates: 24 May –14 July
Tickets from £17.50

SOAP
Time: Tue-Fri 7:45pm, Sat 7pm & 9:30pm, Sun 7pm (70 mins)
Venue: Spiegeltent
Dates: 3 May – 17 July
Tickets from £12.50

Circa: Peepshow
Genre: Circus
Time: Tue-Fri 7:45pm, Sat 7pm & 9:30pm, Sun 7pm (60 mins)
Venue: Spiegeltent
Dates: 27 June – 18 August
Tickets from £11.50

Elixir
Time: 7.15PM, 7.45PM, 9.15PM & 9.30PM (8.15PM, 8.45PM, 10.15PM & 10.30PM)
Venue: Spiegeltent
Dates: 12 – 23 June
Ticket Prices: £15.50 (£14)

Metta’s Little Mermaid – The Circus Spectacular
Time: 12PM, 2.30PM & 7PM (1PM, 3.30PM & 8PM)
Venue: Spiegeltent
Dates: 24 July – 12 August
Ticket Prices Monday – Thursday: £18 adults / £10 children / £52 family ticket for 4
Ticket Prices Friday – Sunday: £22 adults / £14 children / £60 family ticket for 4

Link to Full Listing

Source: Underbelly Festival Media Release
Photo: David Jensen