Following a critically acclaimed UK tour and West End debut, the 2024 Fringe sell-out Hold on to Your Butts returns to Edinburgh this summer. Running at Pleasance Courtyard (Forth) from 30 July to 25 August (not 7 & 18), this live, shot-for-shot parody of the greatest dinosaur film of all time is performed by just two actors and a Foley artist, who recreate every scene and character — including the dinosaurs — using inventive props and physical theatre.
With cardboard cut-outs, traffic cones, and muffin tins, the trio bring the iconic film’s groundbreaking CGI to life in lo-fi style. The result is a hilarious, high-energy tribute that celebrates the magic of cinema and the joy of live performance.
Directed by Kristin McCarthy Parker, Hold on to Your Butts is part of Recent Cutbacks’ double bill at the Fringe, alongside the UK premiere of Fly, You Fools! (Pleasance Courtyard, 15:10). Actors Nick Abeel and Kyle Schaefer appear in both productions, joined in Butts by Laurence Pears and Foley artist Kristin Renn Parker.
Kristin McCarthy Parker, co-founder of Recent Cutbacks, brings her signature blend of comedy and theatrical precision to the production. Known for directing the Off-Broadway hit Puffs, Parker’s work spans theatre and film, with a unique style shaped by training in clown, mime, and Shakespeare.
Recent Cutbacks, founded in 2014, is renowned for its smart, nostalgic theatre that fuses humour with lo-fi spectacle. Their Edinburgh debut with Hold on to Your Butts in 2024 was met with acclaim, and this year’s return promises another unmissable Fringe experience.