Pleasance Edinburgh opened as part of the 1985 Festival Fringe with two theatres facing onto a deserted courtyard-come-car-park at an unfashionable eastern end of Edinburgh's old town. Twenty-one seasons later the Pleasance has become one of the biggest and most highly respected venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with an international profile and a network of alumni that reads like a Who's Who of contemporary comedy, drama and entertainment.
At the 2006 Festival Fringe the Pleasance celebrated its coming of age offering 20 theatre spaces ranging in size from 50-740 across two locations - the Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) and the Pleasance Dome (Venue 23). In excess of 270,000 people came through our doors to watch one of the 185 shows happening every day, or simply to take a breather with a drink or a snack at one of our 10 onsite cafes and bars. Given the all-day buzz and legendary atmosphere, it's no wonder that to many the Pleasance is the Fringe!
Each year new and exciting companies and performers are placed side by side with more established acts in the true spirit of the Fringe. The Pleasance is proud to have found an early home for (amongst many many others!) Frantic Assembly, Theatre de L'Ange Fou, Red Shift, La Fura Dels Baus, Derevo, Ennio Marchetto, Trestle Theatre Company, The Cambridge Footlights, NYT, NYMT, NSTC, Kneehigh Theatre Company and Peepolykus in our Theatre programme; Graham Norton, Paul Merton, The League of Gentlemen, Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse, Jo Brand, Jenny Eclair, Frank Skinner, Bill Bailey, Harry Hill, David Strassman, Bob Down and The Mighty Boosh (to name but a few) in our Comedy programme; music has been provided by The Flying Pickets, Honkin Hepcats, Antonio Forcione, Four Poofs and a Piano, Tom Robinson and Kate Dimbleby. And extravaganzas such as The Donkey Show, The Bomb-itty of Errors and Hedwig and the Angry Inch have all taken part. Every year throws up new surprises.
In 2004 the Pleasance set up the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve - a fund for new theatre - in memory of Charlie Hartill. In 2005 the fund enabled two productions to appear at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and supported Aladdin - A new pantomime at Pleasance Islington.
Pleasance Theatre Trust Ltd [Registered Charity number 2013041].
Edinburgh Fringe 2008
We have over 200 shows at Pleasance Edinburgh this summer made up of the best comedy, music, theatre and kids shows in the Edinburgh Festival. To find shows you can use the links below or search by show title.
Tickets are now on sale. You can even book 2 tickets for the price of one on some shows on 3 & 4 August (full price only).
Pleasance Times (Edinburgh)
We publish an electronic newsletter, which you can use to keep in touch with our latest news. You can submit your email address using the form below. You'll need to respond to the confirmation email we send you. Then you can enjoy up to date news about forthcoming productions and information about the Pleasance!
The Pleasance recognises the need for privacy on the internet and we won't use your email address for any other purpose.
Pleasance Times (Edinburgh)
By Jonathan Lichtenstein
Tuesday 30 September to Sunday 2 November (No show Mondays)
Tue - Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm
“Memory must live in the present and it must be truthful.”
Saturday £14.50 (£12.50) Sunday - Tuesday £12.50 (£10) Preview 30 Sept £10 Press night 1 Oct £10
Welcome!
On our website you can view details of the full Pleasance Islington listings.
You can book tickets online or call the box office on 020 7609 1800.
Become a member of Pleasance Comedy on Facebook.
Pleasance Edinburgh
Pleasance Edinburgh is the largest venue at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2007 we opened 20 spaces in our 2 venues, hosted 185 productions that sold over 270,000 tickets.
You can visit Pleasance Edinburgh or to find out how to perform at Pleasance at the Edinburgh Fringe 2008.
More shows...
Get the Pleasance Islington Programme as an RSS newsfeed.Pleasance Islington
