Gilded Balloon unveils first wave of shows for Edinburgh Fringe 2018

Luisa Omielan, Zoe Lyons, reigning So You Think You're Funny? champion Maisie Adam and Rhod Gilbert are among the first Fringe shows announced

Gilded Balloon is thrilled to announce that their first round of Edinburgh Fringe shows are now on sale.

Fresh from filming her BBC 3 series of the same name, comedy phenomenon Luisa Omielan returns to the Fringe to headline Gilded Balloon's biggest venue, the Debating Hall, with her brand-new hour, Politics for Bitches. Luisa quipped "I believe it's my right to have an opinion on something I know absolutely nothing about!" - though if her previous shows are anything to go by, we expect the comedy powerhouse to have a sharp-as-nails take on the state of politics today.

It was way back in 2002 that a nascent Rhod Gilbert reached the final of Gilded Balloon's So You Think You're Funny? competition, and now the much-loved comedian makes his way back to the place where it all began for a series of exclusive 'work-in-very-very-early-progress' show: the first time that Rhod has taken to live stand-up in 6 years. Rhod said "the world's gone totally mad since I last toured in 2012, and my head's all over the shop. It's time to get back up there sort it out once and for all!"

Joining Luisa and Rhod as they head back to Gilded Balloon will be Zoe Lyons with her new show Entry Level Human, featuring a whole host of rapid-fire observational gags and 'proper laugh-out-loud one-liners' (The Herald). Melbourne Fringe Best Comedy award-winners The Travelling Sisters will be making the trek from Brisbane, combining physical comedy, character acting and original music to solidify their status as the insane geniuses of sketch comedy, whilst incumbent So You Think You're Funny? champion Maisie Adam makes her comedy newcomer debut with Vague, a show all about navigating the recklessness of youth whilst suffering from a condition that requires her to be a 'Sensible Susan'.

Fusing art and science as they go, BBC stalwarts and masters of comedic erudition Robin ince and Mark Thompson head to Gilded Balloon at the Museum, where they will join South Bend from award-winning playwright Martin McCormick and acclaimed Scottish theatre-makers Grid Iron, as well as Aaron Calvert, the critically-acclaimed master hypnotist, who will be recreating inexplicable urban legends live on stage.

Festival favourites The Noise Next Door, Notflix and the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre are back with all-new madcap hours, and notorious Fringe institutions Late'n'Live and Set-List: Stand-Up without a Net return for another raucous round of gladiatorial late night comedy and outrageous improv, respectively - with the former moving into its almighty 32nd year.

Completing the first round of shows at the Fringe's longstanding home of comedy are Laura Lexx, Justin Moorhouse, Alison Spittle, Stuart Mitchell, Patrick Monahan, Fred Cooke, Red Richardson and the Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning Scott Gibson.

Katy and Karen Koren, Directors of Gilded Balloon, said: "We've been working hard to put together a stellar programme for 2018, and we're so excited that Luisa Omielan, Rhod Gilbert and many more incredible acts will be performing at the Gilded Balloon this Fringe - we cannot wait to reveal what other surprises we have in store!"

Tickets are on sale NOW

Tel: 0131 622 6552 or book online at gildedballoon.co.uk/programme/fringe