Latest news with #Underbelly
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Bill Gates musical dubbed 'Fyre Festival of Broadway' resurrected after a decade
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was dubbed the 'Fyre Festival of Broadway', after a much-heralded New York run collapsed at the 11th hour amid a debacle that culminated in a $6 million lawsuit linked to claims of financial mismanagement by its maverick producer. Nerds is to open at Underbelly this week. | Nerds Now musical Nerds, based on the lives of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, is to finally be resurrected after more than a decade at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which the creators of the show described as 'the world's scrappiest, boldest stage'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The musical was pulled two weeks before it was due to start its Broadway run in 2016 after investment many involved had understood to have been already secured by producer Carl Levin failed to materialise. It was one of the few times in Broadway history such a thing has happened. The show sees Microsoft founder Mr Gates meet Apple head Mr Jobs. Nerds chronicles the rise from their early days in the tech industry to the influence their creations now have over the world. It was premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2005, and subsequently had two runs at the Philadelphia Theatre Company and North Carolina Theatre in 2013. Two weeks before it was due to launch at the Longacre Theatre theatre on Broadway, after years in production, Nerds was suddenly pulled by Mr Levin, who claimed the show had 'lost a major investment'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, a subsequent lawsuit brought by investors who said they were told by Mr Levin that all funding was in place claimed in reality only $200,000 [£149,041] of more than $6m needed had been raised. The lawsuit, which was eventually thrown out due to a technicality, also claimed Mr Levin had said Mark Zuckerberg's sister and Microsoft were also backing the venture. Now, almost a decade after the 2016 saga - dubbed 'the Fyre Festival of Broadway' by the Hollywood Reporter - the show is to open at the Fringe on Thursday. Glasgow's failed Willy Wonka experience, which hit the headlines last year when members of the public complained after being sold £35-a-head tickets for a near-empty warehouse, has also been compared to Fyre Festival. Mr Levin is no longer involved in the production. Creators Jordan Allen-Dutton, Erik Weiner and Hal Goldberg, said: 'Nerds is a musical about two revolutionary, socially awkward geeks - Bill Gates and Steve Jobs - who accidentally reinvented civilisation by building things that go beep in the garage. It's a funny and touching dot-comedy, with bad fashion, robotic jazz hands and a rap battle that might just redefine nerd-kind. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We're bringing it to the Edinburgh Fringe because no matter how wild tech gets, nothing beats the raw, analogue magic of live theatre - and there's no better place to unleash a scrappy origin story than the world's scrappiest, boldest stage.' Producer Paul Taylor-Mills said: 'I'm thrilled to be bringing Nerds to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer after the success of I Wish You Well and My Son's a Queer, both having played the Fringe before taking the West End and the world by storm. 'There's few better places in the world to premiere new work than the thrilling, creative climate of Edinburgh. Nerds is a joyous, camp and hilarious look at some of the most iconic figures in tech history, just what the world needs right now.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Work underway for Edinburgh Festival Fringe with under one week to go
Preparations for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are well underway as construction continues to be set up. With under a week until the Fringe starts, on August 1, some of the venues and eatery hubs are taking shape. Most of the main hotspots are coming together for the Underbelly, Gilded Balloon and Pleasance hangouts. READ MORE: Netflix viewers rush to watch 'compelling' BBC drama series set in Edinburgh READ MORE: Edinburgh St James Quarter worker claims 'things weren't being maintained' At Bristo Square, the Underbelly bar and ticket areas are already assembled, with many food traders ready to go. Ticket booths already have a handy timetable showing what performances will be held at certain times. Thousands of posters are in place across the capital as artists and performers from across the world bring their talents to Scotland. With over 3,000 shows across the city, there is something for everyone to enjoy from August 1 to August 25. An online message from Fringe organisers reads: "For three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city, presenting shows for every taste. Venues can be anywhere, from existing theatres and concert halls to repurposed spaces like bars, parks, buses and shipping containers. The Fringe street events bring colour, excitement and vibrancy to outdoor areas, free of charge. "From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival spans every genre of live performance, including theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events."
Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
What Fringe shows to see if you love dance, physical theatre and circus
From rave culture and dementia to technology and Shakespearean tragedy, the human body expresses an awe-inspiring range of storytelling at this year's Fringe. From the playful folk of Revel Puck Circus, The Ruckus welcomes us into the sweetly chaotic world of Nancy, who has asked her talented friends to entertain the audience while she picks the right outfit for her party. Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows, 1.05pm, Aug 2-23 (not 6, 11, 18), £16; two-for-one Aug 4-5 Electric muscle stimulation is used on dancers' bodies, allowing the choreography to be controlled by computer code. This piece explores ethical concerns about technology, and the human body's relationship with it. Assembly @ Dance Base, 9.40pm, Aug 12-24 (not 18), £8
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Lincoln Lewis shares Home and Away moment with Ray Meagher
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more From Tomorrow When the War Began to Underbelly, Lincoln Lewis has shared the screen with some of Australia's biggest names. As the son of NRL legend Wally Lewis, fame runs in his family but he's forged his own successful path in the entertainment industry. Most still remember him as soapie heart-throb Geoff Campbell from Home and Away (2007-2010), a role that not only made many teens swoon but launched his career and saw him compete on Dancing With The Stars … twice. These days you'll find Lincoln presenting on Getaway, racking up travel miles and perfecting the art of carry-on packing. Here, Lincoln opens up about his gym essentials, travel must-haves, and his mum's self-help book recommendations (yes, he actually reads them). Plus he shares his wildest fan encounters (one word: bizarre) and reveals the Home and Away co-star he says changed his life. WHAT'S IN YOUR GYM BAG? 'I train in Lululemon a lot, they have great gear.' 'I don't do over-ears at the gym, I tried that once and was just sweating into my earphones. So I do AirPods.' WHAT'S YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT? 'I've got a mix for different occasions, whether it's catching up with mates or going out to dinner but my everyday cologne is Ralph Lauren Polo.' WHAT ARE YOUR CARRY-ON ESSENTIALS? 'Sony headphones for the plane, the big noise cancelling ones.' Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, $220.96 (down from $259.95) at Amazon Australia 'The Burt's Bees lip balm because when you're flying around you're going to dry up.' Burt's Bees 100% Natural Origin Moisturising Lip Balm, $5.99 at Amazon Australia 'I'll always take a book with me. I just bought one that mum told me to get, it's called The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Mum said 'Linc, you've got to read it, it's a phenomenal book.' The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, $18 (down from $32.99) at Amazon Australia WHAT ELSE ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT? 'The other two books I always keep with me are The Alchemist and Manuscript Found in Accra – it's just a really nice couple of questions that villagers had asked an Elder, it puts things into perspective.' WHAT'S BEEN YOUR WEIRDEST FAN INTERACTION? 'I've been asked to sign the inside of a car, the outside of a car. Some people will even ask me to sign replica weapons from different movies that I've had nothing to do with.' DO YOU HAVE AN ICONIC STORY FROM YOUR TIME ON HOME AND AWAY? 'I remember my first ever call back with Ray Meagher (who played Alf Stewart). He could tell I was really nervous and he turns to the casting director and says 'take five, love'. So here I am, 16 years old, my first ever big callback and Ray gives me a little five minute acting class. I was clearly nervous and he just wanted to help me improve. It's a lesson I'll never forget.' Stay up to date with the latest on fitness products by signing up to our checkout shopping newsletter to see the latest about new products and upcoming sales.
The National
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Alba playwright puts working-class voices on stage at Edinburgh Fringe
The Glaswegian isn't afraid to tackle controversial issues either. Fresh from touring Alba, his critically acclaimed show about the Scottish independence referendum, he is about to stage a play dealing with toxic masculinity. Full of Glaswegian patter, it's one of three pieces of Scottish theatre presented by Underbelly during the Fringe this year and seems set to be as much of a hit as Alba. 'I'm pouring all my savings into it to get us there, but I think it's worthwhile,' he told the Sunday National. 'When we did Alba, we only did 12 days and we made the money back that we put in, plus a wee bit more. 'I think Going Soft has a broader appeal, so we'll hopefully see an increase in audience numbers for this and we've got a better spot during the day. The last show, with a name like Alba, had the potential to turn people away if they just assumed it was about a certain political party or a certain political view.' With prices now so high for renting venues and accommodation at the Fringe, making sure Scottish working-class voices are heard is becoming more difficult, but Byrne feels it is essential for Scottish actors, playwrights and theatre companies to continue to take part. 'It's something I'm passionate about and I've got a goal going into it, but the prices are just going up and up,' he said. 'For working-class people, being able to just put on a show, you're just getting out-priced. 'But as Scots, we've got to make sure we've still got a seat at the table and we've still got a voice in this festival, especially when it's on our home turf, so that we can network with other artists from Scotland and also globally.' Byrne agrees there is a danger that Scottish voices could be squeezed out but is optimistic this can be overcome. 'It's always a possibility with the amount of stuff from elsewhere that it starts to diminish the Scottish voice,' he said. 'But I think we'll always be loud, as a people and as a nation. I don't think we'll let ourselves go quietly. There'll always be somebody there shouting for us.' Making sure that some of those voices are working class is what led him to start his theatre company, Action Theatre Scotland. 'That's something that we really push,' he said. 'The goal with the last show and now with this one is to get working-class voices on the stage and heard, because you don't hear them as much on this kind of platform, especially when it's the world's biggest arts festival. We want to carve out a wee space for working-class theatre. It's nice to get a voice out there.' Going Soft is centred on a Glasgow prison-themed bar where the co-owners are attempting to set up an adults-only soft play. 'I always want to focus on issues that are prevalent in society,' said Byrne. 'That's why we're called Action Theatre Scotland – because we want to focus on important issues in a kind of call to action.' He believes toxic masculinity, the focus of the recent hit TV series Adolescence, is still a huge problem in society. 'It's a real issue because young men feel they need to act a certain way and can't just express themselves or be themselves, so I wanted to tell that story through this lens of the two working-class guys in working-class Glasgow, and show my experience of it,' said Byrne. Going Soft was inspired by prison-themed bars south of the Border where punters are presented with orange jumpsuits to wear while they are drinking. 'I want to put my spin on it, a Glaswegian spin, so it is a fast-paced, high-energy show, dealing with heavier themes but with that comedic edge,' said Byrne. Going Soft runs from July 31 to August 24 with the exception of August 12. Two of the other Scottish shows at Underbelly during the Fringe are Desperate Wee Gay Boy, a Fringe debut from writer-performer Fraser Kelsey about a thrill-seeking Scot navigating London's queer nightlife and Mary, Queen of Rock!, above, from a female-led Pretty Knicker Productions, who staged Salamander in 2023 which garnered a host of five and four-star reviews. It is described as a fun piece of gig theatre set against a surrealist backdrop of the Scottish Reformation where rock'n'roll has been banned. Mary Stuart, reimagined as the world's biggest rockstar, is tasked with reclaiming the throne of rock. Anyone with EH, G, KY or FK postcodes can benefit from 20% shows on a Wednesday and Thursday with the code LOCALHERD at the checkout – or in person at box offices during the festival.
