Hold On To Your Butts – The Pleasance Courtyard (Forth)

Ingenious and hilarious! Who needs special effects and CGI when you have Recent Cutbacks, who are back at the Fringe with a playful retelling of the biggest prehistoric hit movie ever made.

Fresh from a critically acclaimed UK tour, a West End debut, and a sell-out run at Fringe 2024, Hold On To Your Butts is a frantic, non-stop whistle stop parody of 1993’s Jurassic Park. Iconic moments and shots are recreated in such hysterical and imaginative ways you’ll wonder why Spielberg bothered with the animatronics.

Two actors and a Foley artist hustle their way through the entire film, conjuring up dinosaurs, and drama providing an enjoyable retelling. This creative parody delivers as much spectacle and ‘special affects’ as the Blockbuster it’s based on.

Scene for scene, the cast nail it – from the hatching of a baby Velociraptor, the Gallimimus stampede to the T-rex paddock is brought to life. The versatility and ingenuity are jaw dropping; props including razors and paper napkins become alive before our eyes with clever use of acting, lighting and live sound effects.

A jaw-snapping, laugh-out-loud spectacle blending razor-sharp, quick witted comedy, physical theatre, and ingenious live foley work. Amusing observational gags are thrown in, and the oodles of silliness and absurdity keep the audience on the edge of their seats. No stone is left unturned, with no let up on the energy and pace throughout.

It is recommended that you’re familiar with the film as many of the references and mannerisms of the original actors are teased here providing plenty of laughs with its knowing audience.

A popular must see at the fringe, get your ticket before they go!

Runs until 25^th August 2025. Book tickets here https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/hold-your-butts

Reviewer: Gill Lewis

Reviewed: 12th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: