Every summer Underbelly Festival brings music and entertainment to the Southbank in the heart of London. From early April to late September, Underbelly Festival Southbank showcases comedy, cabaret, circus, and family entertainment. Southbank's Underbelly Festival can appeal to audiences of all ages, offering a range of family-friendly events and performances specially designed for children and parents. Visitors can also enjoy international street food at free-to-enter festival grounds and have a drink in one of the largest outdoor bars on the banks of the Thames.
Among the biggest highlights of the festival in previous years was an Ethiopian circus troupe Circus Abyssinia with show Ethiopian Dreams; SOAP, a fun show combining water with acrobatics; Elixir circus; and Circolombia’s concert show. A wide range of shows is specially designed for children, like Metta’s Little Mermaid—The Circus Sensation, or The Amazing Bubble Man. Comedy part featured such top performers as Katy Brand, James Acaster, Sara Pascoe, Nina Conti, Ruby Wax, Danny Bhoy, Stephen K. Amos, and Gina Yasher.
Festival History
2009 marked the first year of the Underbelly Festival. The big purple upside-down cow Violet is the mascot and symbol of the festival. Tickets for the festival's cabaret, theater, circus, and comedy shows have been sold over 1.2 million times since its inception. Organizers say the Underbelly Festival has been a London cultural icon for over ten years and the capital's original pop-up festival.
Underbelly Festival Southbank offers a lively and diverse cultural experience, bringing together entertainment, food, and outdoor fun in the heart of London's Southbank.
