“THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS” THE OBSERVER • WELCOME • DID YOU KNOW? Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s Since opening its doors with only eight shows in 1985, largest arts festival. The Pleasance Theatre Trust better known as simply The Pleasance, has become one of the most famous festival venues in the world. It stands at the very heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and now spans 23 venues across 2 sites. In 2014, our 30th anniversary on the Festival Fringe, for each of the 27 days throughout the festival the Pleasance presented 240 shows from 12 different countries. We welcomed 500,000 people and sold over 420,000 tickets. The Pleasance is the first destination for anyone seeking the best shows at the Edinburgh Festival. Our year-round operation with two further theatre spaces and rehearsal room complex in central London enables those at the pinnacle of their careers alongside those just starting out, with the facilities to create and AND... develop brilliant new work. 1 in 4 tickets sold on the Fringe is for a Pleasance show. My love of the Pleasance is because it’s “ just got a great vibe. TIM MINCHIN ” • ABOUT US • As a registered charity in England, Wales and Scotland, The Pleasance Theatre Trust has created a powerful platform from which we can discover, nurture and support the best new talent from around the world. Promoters, industry experts, and festival managers from across the Globe come to the Pleasance looking for productions. The Pleasance receives no public subsidy and all revenue generated is reinvested back into future festivals and the London development programme. The Pleasance has a spirit of artistic possibility, of youthful enterprise (whatever your age), of good humour and of celebration. The Pleasance embraces new ideas and invention. A lot of theatres talk about encouraging new“ work and new talent but the Pleasance really does it. They were the only place where Robert Webb and my ridiculous attempts to amuse people were welcomed. Pleasance continues DAVID MITCHELL ” “ to dominate” • SOME PLEASANCE HIGHLIGHTS • 1998 • David Baddiel • Jason Byrne 2010 1985 • Paul Merton 2009 • Peter Kay • Bo Burnham • The Bodgers : Edinburgh 1999 • Kevin Bridges : • English Shakespeare Company • National Theatre of Scotland Comedy Award Nominee Edinburgh Comedy Award • The Mighty Boosh Best Newcomer Nominee (Beautiful Burnout) : • Omid Djalili • Gecko Theatre (The Overcoat) “All of the ingredients of a 1997 • Rich Hall knock-out hit” 1986 • The Steven Berkoff Company 2008 HHHH THE INDEPENDENT • Alistair McGowan • Greg Davis • Nola Rae MBE & John Mowat • Mitchell & Webb • Tim Minchin • Hoipolloi • Stefan Golaszewski Speaks 2000 About The Girl He Once Loved : 1987 • Brendon Burns Fringe First Winner 2011 • Andy Parsons • Mark Steel 1996 • Julian Sands, directed by • Mackenzie Crook John Malkovich (A Celebration • Mervyn Stutter • Armstrong & Miller : • Puppetry of the Penis of Harold Pinter) : Edinburgh Comedy Award Best 2007 • Steven Berkoff (Oedipus) : Comedy Show Nominee 1988 • Les Enfants Terribles “The bravest, most exciting and • The League of Gentlemen : 2001 (The Terrible Infants) : moving Greek tragedy in years” • Miles and Millner Winner of the Edinburgh “Captivating” THE STAGE HHHH SUNDAY TIMES • Dead Ringers • Jo Brand Comedy Award Best Show • NIE : • Adam Hills “The exceptional ensemble • Ross Noble combines exquisite, highly • Dara Ó Briain physical acting and wonderfully 2012 1989 1995 • Joan Rivers integrated live music...” • The Boy With Tape on His Face • Kneehigh Theatre THE DAILY TELEGRAPH • The Reduced Shakespeare • Dylan Moran • The Two Worlds of Charlie F Company • Tim Vine • Miriam Margolyes • Arthur Smith & Caroline Quentin (The Live Bedshow): 2002 Edinburgh Comedy Award 1994 2006 Best Comedy Show Nominee • Miranda Hart 2013 • Russell Kane • Cambridge Footlights • Graham Norton • Alan Carr • Simon Amstell • BLAM : • Sean Lock & Bill Bailey HHHHH EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, THE SCOTSMAN, 1990 2003 THE INDEPENDENT, THE LIST, BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE 1993 • John Bishop 2005 • Theatre de Complicite • Michael McIntyre • Steve Coogan & Frank Skinner • Al Murray • Jason Manford • Harry Hill • Jimmy Carr • Rhod Gilbert : Edinburgh • Jenny Éclair • Reginald D Hunter Comedy Award Best 2014 1991 Newcomer Nominee Pleasance celebrates 30 years • We Are Klang on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe • Paines Plough : 1992 “The lifeblood of the UK’s theatre ecosystem” THE GUARDIAN • Dum Show: Coogan, Herring, 2004 • Dillie Keane Lee, Marber & Munnery • Russell Howard • Tim Key • PLEASANCE COURTYARD • Probably the most famous venue in Edinburgh, for many the Pleasance Courtyard is the very heart of the Fringe and few people leave the city without at least one visit, whether it be for theatre, comedy, children’s shows, or simply to take in the irresistible atmosphere. Surrounding the famous cobbled squares and overlooking the picturesque Arthur’s Seat, the Courtyard houses 17 performance spaces, 6 bars and 3 cafés. Open DID YOU KNOW? from 10am until late into the night, it is one of the only On the busiest day venues to offer the true festival day out. 25,000 people visit the Courtyard On any given day visitors are likely to be brushing shoulders with a mix of journalists, broadcasters, up- and-coming performers and world-famous stars, whilst they consider seeing one of the 200 shows that may take place each day. • PLEASANCE DOME AND BROOKE’S CLUB • The Pleasance Dome opened in 2000 and since that time it has inspired the arrival and growth of other venues in Bristo Square. This is now the central hub of the entire Festival. The Dome’s 5 performance spaces surround a central atrium and palm court. As evening falls the space is transformed into one of the festival’s busiest nightspots, with live shows, music, food and drink keeping the crowds buzzing until 5am. “More exclusive is Brookes Bar situated in the Pleasance The Dome is also home to the infamous Brooke’s Club, Dome ... But don’t just the original VIP bar of the festival. Performers, press and industry professionals share the exclusive membership, turn up expecting to get in. with the stars of tomorrow doing deals over a beer and Admission is by invitation only game of pool. unless you’re a particularly experienced ligger ” • PLEASANCE KIDZONE • Since its creation in 2009 as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, the Pleasance Kidzone has grown from strength to strength. The Pleasance remains the only venue in Edinburgh to offer a completely dedicated children’s area. Located in the heart of the Courtyard, awash with balloons, the Kidzone has taken the form of a gigantic teepee, a floating ark, a haven for puppets and even an alien wonderland. The fantastic programme, suitable for all ages, includes award-winning music workshops, story hours, face– painting, and a dedicated arts, crafts and play area (with plenty of toys!). The Pleasance venues “lead the way in terms of children and families.” • PLEASANCE ISLINGTON • Whilst Edinburgh remains the original home of the Pleasance, our year-round base is in Islington and has rapidly become a vital DID YOU KNOW? part of the Fringe in Central London. Initially Tim Minchin wrote comprising 2 theatre spaces, the Pleasance Matilda at the Islington has since expanded into an even Pleasance in 2009 greater development hub including: production offices, rehearsal rooms, and workshop space. Over the years, the Pleasance has developed a unique model of self-reliance and productivity, building an environment that facilitates the development of raw talent and creativity. It allows artists a place to create ideas and hone their skills, and all of this without regular public subsidy. The Pleasance Islington has a two performance spaces; the Main House (180 seats) and the Studio Space (60 seats), with a bar and foyer area and attracts over 40,000 visitors each year. DID YOU KNOW? Russell Brand and Simon Amstell shared a stage for 6 months whilst writing their first stand up shows. Page• CHARLIE title HARTILL SPECIAL RESERVE • Established in 2004 in memory of Charlie Hartill, this designated fund created by the Pleasance provides complete financial support to artists and companies wishing to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 11 years on, this fund has directly supported 10 theatre companies including PIT and Invertigo alongside 44 new comedians, including Jack Whitehall, BAFTA winner Daniel Rigby, 2014 comedy award winner John Kearns, Daniel Simonsen and Holly Walsh. Since it started this fund has provided over £115,000 worth of subsidy for both productions and individual artists. • YOUNG PLEASANCE • Right at the very heart of the Trust is our award winning theatre company The Young Pleasance. “YP” was founded in 1995 dedicated to offering young people up to the age of 21 dynamic, excellent and inclusive theatrical opportunities. It is based at the Pleasance Islington where the company regularly performs, together with an annual production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Children from the local community and throughout London, participate in and experience theatre-making of the highest professional standards through workshops, projects and large-scale productions. Young Pleasance annually sponsors a young person from Islington to rehearse and perform in Edinburgh. “Young Pleasance is extraordinary” BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE Page title • PLEASANCE CONNECT • Distributed throughout our venues and online The Pleasance Times is our very own daily festival newspaper and includes features, photographs, stories, awards