Underbelly has announced the line-up for its Circus Hub this August, which will return to Edinburgh’s Meadows with 11 acts across circus, cabaret, comedy, variety and more. Taking place across two venues (Lafayette Big Top and Beauty Spiegeltent), the Hub itself has become a haven, its placement on the Meadows making it a welcome space away from the hubbub of the city centre. 

Leading the line-up is Mythos: Ragnarok (pictured above), a wrestling show featuring Norse myths that has been pleasantly surprising audiences on the festival circuit for years. ‘This set-up is akin to when Marvel comics introduced the same set of gods into the mix, making them more accessible for school-age superhero fans and giving them a classical education as they went,’ wrote Neil Cooper in our four-star review of the show last year. ‘By doing this in the flesh, Mythos has scaled things up to keep the legends alive, and it’s a knock-out.’ Read the full review. 

Also on the bill is the latest show from CIRCA: WOLF, which brings modern circus to life with its ‘physicality and exploration of primal human instincts'; Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, a punk cabaret which raucously blends live music, circus and comedy; Sophie’s Surprise 29th, a circus comedy which harnesses the nostalgic vibes of 90s house parties; and The Nose Dive Assembly, which is continuing the death-defying awe of traditional circus (complete with a Wheel Of Death). Kids shows are also well-served on the bill, with performances from Trash Test Dummies and The Ugly Duckling. 

Underbelly’s head of programming Marina Dixon said: ‘This year’s Circus Hub brings together a fantastic mix of shows from around the world, with more UK circus than ever before. We’re thrilled to welcome back returning favourites with exciting new work, alongside fresh voices bringing something special to the Meadows. The programme is full of joy, spectacle and heart. There really is something for everyone.’ 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, various venues, Friday 1 – Monday 25 August.