Underbelly has announced Goodbye Dandelion as the inaugural recipient of its Underbelly Futures Fund Award, a new initiative designed to support exceptional new work at and beyond the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Created by award-winning writer and performer Maddie Rice and composer Marcus Rice, Goodbye Dandelion has been recognised for its artistic merit and potential for future touring.
As the 2026 recipient, the production will receive a package of support including £5,000 in grant funding and £5,000 in investment to support the current and ongoing life of the show.
The award also includes a favourable venue agreement, enhanced marketing support, in-kind rehearsal space, financial assistance for accessible performances and an opportunity to perform as part of Underbelly Soho’s Fringe Fix Season in September.
Created and directed with Katie Pesskin, Goodbye Dandelion is performed by real-life siblings Maddie and Marcus Rice. Blending storytelling and live piano music, the show follows the final years of 87-year-old Darcy through the eyes of an unlikely new friend, exploring friendship, mortality and what it means to truly live.
The production was first presented in development at Underbelly’s Belly Scratch scratch night in November 2025, where it stood out for its writing, use of music and the on-stage dynamic between the sibling performers.
The show marks Maddie Rice’s return to Underbelly after her acclaimed appearance in Fleabag in 2017, where she became the only actor other than Phoebe Waller-Bridge to play the role. She also previously brought her award-winning solo show Pickle Jar to the venue in 2018.
Marina Dixon, Head of Programming at Underbelly, said: “We were all highly impressed with the beautiful and sensitive writing, the way the music is used to heighten the story, the clear on-stage familial dynamic between Marcus and Maddie, and the willingness to take on a controversial and relevant topic.
“We are proud to name Goodbye Dandelion as the recipient of the inaugural Underbelly Future Fund Award and look forward to supporting the show’s continued development and future journey.”
Maddie Rice said: “We’re so thrilled to be supported by the Underbelly Futures Fund! Goodbye Dandelion begun life at BellyScratch, and as a writer/ performer I’ve done most of my previous fringe shows at Underbelly- so this feels like a full circle moment. It’s my first time at the fringe for 7 years and feels extra special to have this support and to be working with Marcus and Katie. Thank you Underbelly!”
