Free Running Headlines Southbank Udderbelly

Free Run has been created exclusively for the Udderbelly and combines free running, with parkour, acrobatics and martial arts. Formed in 2003, the 3RUN team have been involved in film and television projects including 2006 Bond film Casino Royale and a commercial for Microsoft’s Xbox. They currently hold 15 Guiness World Records for the sport and their Youtube channel has been viewed over 13 million times. Free Run is the first live show of its kind to been presented in the UK.

Last year’s Udderbelly was headlined by Brazil! Brazil!, a tribute to Brazilian football, dance and music which captured the mood of a football-crazed nation. The piece combined the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira with Carnival music and dance and street football skills.

Other theatre included in this year’s line-up includes childrens shows Not So Grimm Fairy Tales! and Propeller’s sixty-minute version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, titled Pocket Dream. Fitzrovia Radio Hour, who played Trafalgar Studios 2 earlier this year, have two dates lined up in the upside-down purple cow. Edinburgh Fringe favourite Showstopper! The Improvised Musical also follow up on their limted season of weekly performances at the West End’s Ambassador’s Theatre with summer dates on the South Bank.

Running for an extended 12 weeks, from 28 April to 17 July 2011 ahead of its annual move north of the border in August for the Edinburgh Fringe, the programme will kick off on the weekend of the Royal Wedding by showing the nuptials live on the big screens in the adjacent outdoor cow pasture and presenting an Alternative Royal Reception of wedding-themed comedy shows.

Amongst a comedy-heavy programme, presented as part of Southbank Centre’s 60th anniversary of the 1951 Festival of Britain celebrations, highlights include one nighters by I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue star Barry Cryer and the first live performance by Trigger Happy TV comic Dom Joly.

Other acts playing the cow include Paul Daniels, Roy Walker and Jim Bowen, alongside Jenny Eclair, Howard Marks, Gina Yashere, Spymonkey and Australian comedian Wil Anderson. They are joined by cabaret superstars Frisky & Mannish, The Boy With Tape on His Face, Abandoman and Carl Donnelly.