Maddie Rice returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with Goodbye Dandelion

Maddie Rice, known for Fleabag and the Fringe hit Pickle Jar, is running at the Edinburgh Fringe with a new play, Goodbye Dandelion, as the first recipient of the Underbelly Futures Fund Award.

Written by Maddie Rice and Marcus Rice, the show blends storytelling and live music to explore life, loss and the unexpected connections that change us. It is the story of an unlikely friendship with a 50-year age gap — and death.

Told by real-life siblings Maddie Rice on the mic and Marcus Rice on the keys, this poignant and sharply funny new work follows the final years of 87-year-old Darcy seen through the eyes of a new friend. What unfolds is a friendship that is as life-affirming as it is heartbreaking.

With warmth, wit and striking honesty, Goodbye Dandelion does not shy away from the big questions. Instead it leans into them, asking what it really means to live, what we fear about death, and what might happen if we let go of those fears. Blending vivid storytelling with a live piano score, the show creates an intimate, emotionally rich experience that lingers long after the final note.

Writer and performer Maddie Rice said: “I'm so excited to be returning to Fringe, after a 7 year hiatus, and this time to get to work with my brother, Marcus, on a show that's close to my heart. It also feels really special to be collaborating with Katie Pesskin again, who I made Pickle Jar with in 2019. If you want an hour of storytelling and live music that means you get to laugh, cry and maybe even sing a little song, this show is for you!”

Goodbye Dandelion runs at Underbelly, Belly Dancer, until 30 August 2026 at 4.10pm, with a running time of 60 minutes.