The Fringe Season at The Pleasance packs in both well known acts like Nish Kumar and more unusual shows such as I Hate Children’s Shows featuring the world’s meanest magician. Comedy, theatre, children’s shows, music, dance and cabaret; The Pleasance has it covered.
Winner of Foster’s Best Newcomer comedy award 2014, Alex Edelman is a brilliant raw comedian who reflects on the struggles of young people with refreshingly humble and comical story-telling in his show Everything Handed to You. The New York based comedian sold out many shows during last year’s Fringe; it’s only a matter of time before he will be selling out the large venues.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you responded to those spam emails from mail order brides and Nigerian princes? Find out at James Veitch‘s show The Fundamental Interconnectedness of Everyone with an Internet Connection for five shows only. Selling out during last year’s Fringe with four and five star reviews, Veitch’s internet adventures are like Cat Fish on speed. Iain Stirling returns to the Fringe after selling out the last three runs with his new show Touchy Feely covering post-referendum Scotland and how to aggravate the armed forces. Stirling has an impressive CV from Russell Howard’s Good News to The Now Show and has been nominated for a BAFTA twice.
Non-traditional and stark theatre combines with fun shows painting a complete picture of dramatic choices for audiences. Black-out, headphones and 3D sound merge to create the experience of sleep and wakefulness with the creators of Ring, writer Glen Neath and director David Rosenberg, in Fiction. Internationally acclaimed theatre company Gecko return to the Fringe with Institute. Examining what it means to care for and nurture ourselves and others, the physical theatre company produces shows that are visually stunning with moving choreography taking audiences on an emotional journey. For something a bit more light hearted, Captain Morgan 1: The Sands of Time and its follow-up Captain Morgan 2: The Sea of Souls are performed by one musician and two actors using their bodies instead of props or a set. Pirates, time travel and monsters. What more do you need from a Fringe show?
Balletronic is one of a handful of music and dance shows from all over the world set to charm audiences at The Pleasance. Twelve Cuban musicians, dancers and a DJ merge contemporary and classical dance to offer a fresh take on a night at the ballet. Chopin and Daft Punk in the same show? Genius. Tubular Bells for Two involves over twenty instruments and two mad Aussies running about playing them all to perform Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.
Forensic mind reader Colin Cloud presents his new show Kills. Cloud will tell you everything about yourself, predict your behaviour and tell you how he does it before getting away with murder. Not ready to go home yet? Check out the 11pm Late Night Variety with The Martini Encounter. A variety and cabaret show with nightly guests, ukulele and other small instruments. A little bit naughty with a lot of laughs.
Comedy is as always the frontrunner for the Pleasance programme, but there are strong showings from theatre and a bit of music/dance for good measure. So get your drink on in the quaint Pleasance courtyard and catch some shows this Festival Fringe.
Find the full Pleasance programme on their website