It’s still four months until the Fringe commences, but the Pleasance are steadily upping anticipation with a raft of shows being announced.  There are now 51 shows already confirmed and there are several that immediately catch the eye.

Many punters were last year wringing their hands in lamentation at missing the smash word-of-mouth hit of the Fringe, Rob Kemp’s The Elvis Dead.  Happily, the Best Newcomer nominee is returning for a full run of his innovative mash-up of the music of The King and Evil Dead 2.

Double Chortle Award-winner Kiri Pritchard-McLean has somehow managed to craft a new hour in between writing with sketch nutters Gein’s Family Giftshop, touring last year’s excellent show Appropriate Adult, and hosting the popular All Killa, No Filla podcast with Rachel Fairburn.  Her star is very much on the rise, so Victim, Complex is looking essential.

Last year’s best show nominee Elf Lyons is bringing her new one-woman comedy musical about the economy, ChiffChaff to the Courtyard.  As last year’s acclaimed Swan was a bonkers sprint-through-a-dressing-up-box take on Swan Lake, expect something similarly whimsical and innovative.

Best newcomer nominee Ed Night has also announced his new show early.  Still in his early 20’s, Night’s new show An Aesthetic is sure to be highly anticipated following Anthem for Doomed Youth last year.  We spotted his potential a couple of years back, and it’s always nice seeing promise fulfilled.

Some intriguing debut shows have also been announced.  Massive Dad alumnus Stevie Martin is bringing the aptly-titled Vol 1, The Raymond and Mr Timpkins Revue present their “terpsichorean” (relating to dancing, apparently) comedy Ham, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year nominee George Rigden is irresistible to everyone in George-ous, and Winner of BBC New Comedy Award 2017 and So You Think You’re Funny 2016, Heidi Regan uses awful shark movies as a metaphor for our relationship to a confusing world in Heidi Vs Sharks.

Also confirmed are new shows from Brennan Reece, Gary Delaney, improv troupe The Noise Next Door, and Mawaan Rizwan among many others.  The full line-up announced so far, and tickets are available from  https://www.pleasance.co.uk/.