Issue #01 - 3rd August 2011 - FREE
Pleasance INVENTS »»»» Submissions Pleasance by Numbers 27:00 Hour Clock Pleasance 2010: 24hours simply isn’t enough »» Top Twitter
HOLLYWOOD STARS Set to storm PLEASANCE John Malkovich directs Julian Sands in a celebration of Pinter’s literary legacy.
Publicly, he’s best known for his work as a playwright and screenwriter. As life-long admirers of Harold Pinter, however, John Malkovich and Julian Sands arrive at Pleasance to share another of his literary assets; poetry.
“totally unexpected and delightful”, Eric Idle
In 2005, illness prevented Nobel Laureate Pinter from honouring a commitment to read a selection of his poems at a women’s shelter benefit. Pinter asked British actor Julian Sands to step in, and the two worked closely together in rehearsal. Since then, Sands has continued to read Pinter’s poetry and prose for occasional fundraising events. Now, following Pinter’s passing in 2008, Sands performs a selection of poems, anecdotes and commentaries here at Pleasance under the direction of John Malkovich. Director John Malkovich will attend previews of the performance at the Pleasance Courtyard, beginning tomorrow. Malkovich, Academy Award nominee and star of films such as Empire of the Sun, Dangerous Liaisons and of course Being John Malkovich,
also works as a successful producer, director and even fashion designer (look out for ‘Technobohemian’ Menswear). Malkovich and Sands have worked together on films such as The Killing Fields, and the two are thrilled to be working together in sharing Pinter’s timeless literary talent. “Poignant, profound and often hilarious”, Sands finds in Pinter’s work complexity and “an extraordinary revelation of subjective feeling.” Sands’s approach has been praised by the likes of Eric Idle who calls the readings “totally unexpected and delightful” and playwright David Hare who says Sands “does wonders by reading Harold Pinter’s poems as if they were plays.” Julian Sands performs at Pleasance until 21st August. After that, look out for him next on the silver screen in David Fincher’s Girl With A Dragon Tattoo. Julian Sands in a Celebration of Harold Pinter Pleasance Courtyard 4-21 Aug 15:00
2 for1 COUPON
Julian Sands in a Celebration of Harold Pinter Directed by John Malkovich Valid Only: Thurs 4 Aug 2011 Pleasance Courtyard
Redeem at box offices in person, Subject to Availability
THE PLEASANCE TIMES SUBMISSIONS
Welcome to issue #01 of The Pleasance Times 2011. Thanks for picking up a copy, or for finding us online. We’re here throughout the festival providing news, interviews, stories, poetry, features, anecdotes, pictures,
tweets, information, offers and more. Make sure to look out for your copy Monday-Friday, and also for the bumper weekend edition. Do you have something to share? Perhaps a story, anecdote, photos, events, drawings, poetry,
websites, interview ideas... Anyone can send submissions, performers, members of the public staff or anybody else. Whatever content or idea you’ve got, send it to me, Will Sawney, editor for 2011. Have a brilliant festival!
Will Sawney, Editor times@pleasance.co.uk
Pleasance’s 27:00 Hour Clock
2011’s Pleasance programme bursts beyond the 24:00 hour barrier With so much going on at Pleasance 2011, boundaries need to be pushed back to squeeze everything in. Time itself has proved a constraint, therefore Pleasance has decided to run this year’s festival on a 27 hour clock, thereby adding three crucial hours to the day. For example, shows that begin at midnight now begin at 24:00, rather than 00:00. Twenty four hours simply aren’t enough. In fact, the twenty seven days of Pleasance Edinburgh – beginning today – may not even be enough for you to experience everything on offer. This year Pleasance boasts an incredible 220 shows ranging from puppets who perform to you in a box (The Incredible Book Eating Boy) to late night Vive Le Cabaret, from shows about booze (Thirsty, The Thinking Drinker’s Guide to Alcohol) to shows about
Skittles (Skittles). Around Pleasance Courtyard and Dome, regulars will spot some exciting changes. Pleasance Kidzone host to shows, activities and events for children – now takes the form of a stunning igloo to one side of the Courtyard. Beside Kidzone you’ll find the daringly jagged new design of Pleasance Beside. Finally, if you feel pangs of jealously about our stylish new staff T-Shirts, head to the Courtyard’s brand new Merchandise stall. They’ll even sort you out with a ‘survival kit’ for whenever the 27 hour schedule begins to take its toll. Following 26 years of yellow-ness, Pleasance 2011 is now going green. Working with environmental certification company Planet Positive, Pleasance will be accurately measuring our carbon
footprint throughout the festival and working on ways to improve efficiency across all our activities. Beyond the boundaries of Edinburgh, Pleasance has fully launched its development campaign which will build on the Pleasance Islington venue as a base for supporting new talent. Details of the campaign – including how to adopt a cobble-stone or feature yourself on a signature mural, Pleasance bayeaux tapestry – can be found on this publication’s back page. And beyond boundaries of the physical world itself, Pleasance is more
accessible than ever online. In addition to our full digital programme being online at www.pleasance. co.uk, a daily Podcast hosted by Pleasance stars will soon be available for download. Further information and listings will be printed right here daily. Needless to say, The Pleasance Times too will be with you 27 hours a day for the full 27 festival days. Be sure to pick up your daily copy from Receptions and Box Offices, around Pleasance venues or even online at www.pleasance. co.uk/times.
PLEASANCE BY NUMBERS
»» 27th Pleasance
@ThePleasance #pleasancetimes
»» 220 Shows spanning
RT @fordandakram We are in Edinburgh! So long real life. So long committed relationship. Bonjour booze induced self esteem!
Season at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. comedy, theatre, dance, music, cabaret, children’s...
»» 300,000 Tickets sold in 2010.
»» £4.5 Million to be »» »»
raised for Pleasance London’s upgrade campaign. 21 Performance Spaces over 2 sites. 500,000 People through Pleasance’s doors in 2010.
RT @MattRudge Just did my tech run at @ThePleasance - now getting excited.
RT @thepleasance So far Pleasance Beside’s been described as, The Fortress of Solitude, The Guggenheim Museum, an Iceberg & something from the Crystal Maze.
RT @richardbmarsh Teching the show. Venue staff lovely, but I’m not sure about these blue Skittles. #pleasancetimes #edfringe #bluefoodiswrong
RT @1blindsummit Calling all press: photocall this thurs 4th at 10.30am @ThePleasance courtyard with @theatreadinf all welcome! #edfringe #pleasancetimes
RT @elsa100 in edinburgh, but can’t find the white rabbit anywhere...have you seen him? @SpotTheRabbit @ThePleasance #pleasancetimes #waitingforalice RT @SoldPlayEdFest Just found out we’ve sold tickets for EVERY SINGLE SHOW FOR ALL OF AUGUST! Waaaaaaaaaah! Don’t miss out, book yours now! #pleasancetimes
»» 8 Bars catering to your beverage requirements.
»» 23 Issues of The
Pleasance Times to enhance your festival experience. Brooke’s manager Dan enjoys a a Pleasance Times edition.
Presented by one of our comedy acts and featuring their special guests, including:
Joe Lycett, Matthew Crosby from Pappy’s, Jeff Leach, Katherine Ryan, Tom Price, Dan Clark, Kate Copstick and a regular daily message from Angelos Epithemiou. PREVIEW EPISODE 1 PREVIEW EPISODE 2 David Mitchell reveals Best of the 2010 top tips for performers festival to get you in heading to the Festival the mood for 2011.
RT @ootboxford Here’s hoping this tweet makes it into the first edition of this year’s Pleasance Times...
WEDNESDAY 3RD CHORTLE PRESENTS: FAST FRINGE Pleasance Dome 18:40 Carey Marx Nick Helm Ria Lina teve Hall Tiffany Stevenson Dan Antopolski Liam Mullone Mick Ferry Kitty Cointreau The Silky Pair Tim Fitzhigham MC Mark Olver
VIVE LE CABARET Pleasance Courtyard 22:30 Des O’Connor Marcel Lucont Edd Muir - Frayed Knot Circus Piff The Magic Dragon Rayguns Look Real Enough The Kitsch Kats Mat Ricardo Hustle and The Vive Le Cabaret Showgirls
LINE-UP INFO PAGE The Pleasance Times Full Pleasance line-ups for shows with changing guests, invited performers and themes will be published here daily. You’ll also find this information on boards near Box Office at both Pleasance Dome and Pleasance Courtyard.
Please note that all line-ups are subject to change. Check the Box Office for the latest information.
FUNDRAISING FOR THE PLEASANCE You can support us in a number of ways:
1. Adopt a Pleasance cobblestone
2. Become part of “Pleasance History”
3. Simply donate your own amount
Famous for its cobbled courtyards, the Pleasance is the bedrock of great theatre and comedy. You can look after these very foundations by adopting your own pet cobblestone! We promise to provide you with regular updates on how it’s getting along.
We would be delighted if you joined our celebrity alumni on this extraordinary 231-ft long ‘Bayeaux-esque Tapestry’, charting the history of the world according to the Pleasance. You will also receive a very beautiful portrait. All we need is a passport photo! And if you don’t have one immediately, it doesn’t matter, because you can always send it to us later!
TEXT: plez33 to 70070 (for any amount up to £10) BY TELEPHONE: Please call us on 0207 619 6868 ONLINE: Please visit www.pleasance. co.uk/islington/support-us IN PERSON: Complete the Gift Aid form on the back of the Fundraising leaflet and drop it into Reception at any of our box offices in Edinburgh and London, or pop it in the post.