Gilded Balloon Productions

In 1985 Karen Koren and Bob Quilietti created an entertainment and touring agency called Comic Routes. This agency looked after new comics and street entertainers, toured them and secured gigs for them all over Scotland. The agency survived for a year until the Gilded Balloon established itself (in 1986) as an Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue. It was then obvious that there was more work for the stand up comic than the street entertainer (in Scotland at least) and Bob carried on with his own work, mainly as the very successful Magic Bob.

In the late 80s The Gilded Balloon's stand up comedy tours were very well supported, with sponsors such as Gold Bier and Tennents going to all major cities and towns in Scotland. In 1989 the Comedy Shop at the Shelter was created by the Gilded Balloon and comics such as Jo Brand, Sean Hughes, Jeremy Hardy, Arnold Brown, Jenny Eclair, Arthur Smith and many more performed there.

Throughout the 80s and 90s Gilded Balloon Productions organised many Scottish dates for high profile comedians from Bill Bailey, Bob Downe, Still Game, Lynn Ferguson, Geraldine MacNulty, Mel and Sue, Tommy Tiernan, Sean Hughes, Rhona Cameron and Dylan Moran.

2002 / 2003 we co-produced the Scottish dates for Dylan Moran and Mark Thomas.

2003 we brought you the return tour of the 2002 festival hit 'Greggs the Musical - Seven Bridies for Seven Brothers'.

2004 we toured the ever-popular Phil Kay throughout Scotland.

2005 This year we are touring Phil Kay and Dance Monkey Boy Dance and in June we have a three-week tour throughout Scotland with 'the' BA Robertson.

Gilded Balloon also has an excellent reputation for booking comedians onto the Spring and Autumn comedy circuits. We bring the best comedy from the Festival Fringe to you. We have been on tour with Rich Hall, Mel & Sue, Johnny Vegas, Rhona Cameron, Chris Barries and Norman Lovett, Jeff Green, Adam Bloom, Jason Byrne, Tommy Tiernan, Viv & Jill, Ennio Marchetto, Bob Downe, Richard Whiteley and Friends, The Umbilical Brothers, Lynn Fergusson, Bill Bailey... and of course our very own Phil Kay.

Stay tuned to this site for more information and dates on upcoming comedy tours.