Issue #5 - Monday 9th August - FREE
Pleasance 2010 LAUNCH
Clockwise from above: Pleasance Director Athony Alderson introduces Reginald D Hunter; Steven K Amos hosts; Bo Burnam performs ‘What’s Funny?’ Credit: Gabrielle Motola
Before a crowd of invited journalists, promoters, VIPS and many others, on Saturday the Pleasance launched its 2010 Fringe Programme. Although it would be impossible to present all the vast array of talent at Pleasance in one showcase, an impressive line-up of acts entertained the crowd. Opening the event were Soho Storeys, a dazzling 1950s musical about migrants from all over the world beginning new lives in London’s Soho. With almost fifty performers and a live jazz band, this was an imposing start to the event. Their full show opens this afternoon. Hosting the event, Stephen K Amos then introducted the rest of the lineup. Bo Burham performed songs and
routines from his show Words Words Words. Bo’s intricate wordplay and multilayered jokes have propelled him from youtube sensation to internationally acclained comedian in just three years. Nina Conti introduced the crowd to her charming, if a little abrupt, grandmother, a puppet character in her show Talk To The Hand. From the Pleasance at Ghillie Dhu lineup, Frances Ruffelle and Peter Straker both performed songs from their shows. The two singers are performing at Pleasance’s newest venue to the delight of audiences and fans. Anthony Alderson, director of the Pleasance, also gave a speech to the assembled crowd. He thanked staff, performers and all those who help make the Festival Fringe such a
thriving global event. In particular, he congratulated Kath Mainland, Chief Executive of the Festival Fringe, on her success in the role, which she took up in 2008. Offering a note of caution, he reminded that, in amongst all of the changes and developments the Festival, the core founding principles of the Fringe must not be forgotten. Then later in the evening it was the turn of Pleasance at Ghillie Dhu to roll out the red carpet. The stunning venue provided the location for a launch party of invited guests who were guided through a night of cabaret entertainment by the legendary Des O Connor. The 2010 Festival has well and truly arrived at the Pleasance.
MORE INSIDE...
» » »
iPhone app & Podcast Interview: McNeil & Pamphilon Lady Garden’s secret gig, Shh...
(left) and Steve (right) do someINTERVIEW: MCNEIL & PAMPHILON Sam thing dangerous, Photo: Tim Jordan We started a game ADDICTED TO DANGER Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon have been performing regularly together as a comedy duo for almost a year. “We actually started off about two years ago” tells Steve. “I was in Brendan Burns’s 2007 show as an actor. I loved watching Brendan do his thing and got really excited about getting into comedy. So I contacted everyone who I knew and, after a few trials, ended up with Sam as a double act.” The pair are thrilled to be performing at the Pleasance. “Our director, Matt Holt – who also directs Idiots of Ants – has really helped us get momentum.
He really knows what he’s talking about and has been an inspiration.” McNeil and Pamphilon perform a show called Addicted to Danger “It’s not really dangerous danger. The tale of it really is that I’m a thirty year old project manager and Sam works in a pub. We want to be dangerous but we’re not very good at it. We’re asking people for suggestions about their own dangerous habits and getting them featured in the show.” “If we’re honest, though” – interjects Sam – “the name of the show wasn’t exactly carefully planned.
where we tried out names on the poster and tested each others’reactions to see how it looked. I wrote ‘Addicted to Danger!’ (with an exclaimation mark) and it got Steve’s approval instantly.” Somewhat hypocritically, Sam adds the disclaimer “I’m not a fan of exclamation marks, they’re unnecessary and prove you can’t get what you want to say into the sentence itself.” Like most comedy acts now, the duo have had great success with online video content. “It means
1) There’s a whole great big load of live music in it - clarinet, piano, accordian, singing, and a cajon (basically an old box that sounds like drums). 2) Being multi-facetted performance-men, we do a mega-wide range of types of things. Within this one
show, you get a chat show, a murder investigation, an acting masterclass, a highgothic short play, as well as all the abovementioned music. 3) If you can’t afford a luxury cruise, this will more or less fill you in on what it’s like, at about an
eight-hundredth of the cost. We’ve just spent six months as entertainers on the QM2, so we know. And it’s not all good. (Life on a cruise, that is, not the show. The show’s all good). 4) It’s performed by the classically trained Shakespearian and veteran of the West End, Broadway, and your screens, Sir (pending) Oliver Birch; and John Biddle. 5) It’s an hour of delight at 7 o’clock, so you can enjoy a glass of rosé before, and then pop for dinner after, and thuswise have a perfect festival evening. Jollie: Roger Pleasance Dome 4-30 Aug (Not 23) 19:00
FIVE REASONS TO SEA JOLLIE: ROGER
you can just shoot stuff and do stuff that’s a little less structured and silly” says Sam. Steve is keen to add that “live stuff is so different. People seem to see something live and think “that’s brilliant – stick it on TV. “We’re really excited about the show. It’ll make you laugh. Honestly – try us!” (Exclaimation mark added for effect, ed.) Addicted To Danger Pleasance Dome 4-30 Aug (Not 16) 17:00
KIDZONE DROPZONE READER DISCOUNT Readers of The Pleasance Times continue to get their first hour of childcare free at Pleasance’s Kidzone Dropzone. Whether you’re seeing a show, hard at work or chilling out, keep the kids happy with this excellent professional service.
LADY GARDEN SHARE A SECRET So... our Top Secret Gig. How to evoke it without giving too much away? How to hint at the magic without letting the light in on the magic? How can we offer a flash of sheer stocking top without too much fleshy thigh? How to buy you a drink without taking you home? It’s a fine balance to strike. How best to describe our third full length compendium of sketches whilst preserving the ‘top secret’ element? Hmmm... You understand if we keep our powder dry vis a vis the nuts and bolts of the main body of the material. It’s a secret. It’s just so you enjoy it more when you come, and we don’t want to paint ourselves in to a corner by making all kinds of high flown promises about how we’ve ‘reinvented’ this, or ‘subverted’ that. Or what have you.
Obviously we want you to come and see the show. We want you to come and share the fruits of our labours; that’s a given, but we don’t want to spoil it if you do decide to come. You can see our predicament. We do about 53 minutes; most nights. Which is long enough if you’re enjoying yourself. But if after twenty five minutes you’re going ‘oh sweet Christ, its hot, I much prefer the work and style of another comedian or sketch group’ or what have you, you’ve broken the back of it. We would love you to be there, though. We’d absolutely love it. It’s taken us ages, this show. But we also know you’re busy and, put it this way, you’ve got options. So. Suffice to say. Come if you can. Ok. We’ll give you a line. Just a line. It may not do it for you as a piece of comedy in and of itself. But look. A C-sharp isn’t necessarily a beautiful note is it? It’s all about the other notes that surround it. So, here goes: “Joseph. I am with Child”. Lady Garden: Top Secret Gig Pleasance Courtyard 4-30 Aug (Not 16) 18:20 Photo: Andy Holingworth
PLEASANCE INTERACTIVE: WHEREVER YOU ARE The Pleasance is on a mission to make the most of the digital world. This year, we introduce two new digital mediums, helping you explore our programme fully: The Pleasance iPhone App; and a brand new Podcast. The Pleasance App, available now from the iPhone App store, is the most intuitive way to access the Pleasance Programme. It’s essential for any serious Fringe-goer. The free download contains the entire programme, and is updated with any additions or changes. On the opening screen, you’ll be able to see all directly upcoming shows to plan your next few hours. If you’ve just been handed a flyer, find out further details by searching for the show, or searching by venue. Alternatively, if you are stuck for ideas, just give the iPhone a shake for a show suggestion. For full interactivity, you can even mark shows that you’ve seen, and those that you want to see soon. Once you’ve found the ones you want to see, you can head straight from the App to the online booking page. Covering shows from across the Pleasance programme, our Podcast will be available this week on iTunes and online at pleasance.co.uk/podcast. Be entertained by the
Pleasance wherever you are with show recordings, news, interviews and behind-the-scenes gossip. Featuring interviews with Bo Burnham, Reginald D Hunter, the team behind Itch, highlights from the Pleasance launch event, the Charlie Hartill Comedy Reserve winners, a chance meeting with Ian D Montford and much much more... Podcasts will be put out twice weekly. Every day is a festival day at the Pleasance, so have a Pleasance day!
@ThePleasance #pleasancetimes
RT: @alicevjones Great night. Beautiful Burnout @ThePleasance is a knock-out. And Bo Burnham - a twisted mix of Bieber and Ben Folds - is brilliant #edfringe RT: @threescompany Sat next to Mark Watson to watch JohnLuke Roberts at @ ThePleasance Almost had to fight him for the last seat. #edfringe RT: @tomlamont Recommended: Our Share Of The Future at Pleasance 2. Moving three-hander; my neighbour even had a little cry.
MONDAY 9TH BBC COMEDY PRESENTS Pleasance Dome 23:00 Carl Donnelly Abandoman Tom Wrigglesworth Two Epidoses of Mash David O’Doherty BEST OF EDINBURGH: THE SHOWCASE SHOW Pleasance Courtyard 13:10 HOST – KEITH FARNAN ADDY VAN DE BORGH SHAZIA MIRZA GARY DELANY TERRY ALDERTON
ITCH: A SCRATCH EVENT Pleasance Courtyard 14:00 Hardeep Singh Kohli Wendy Wason Shazia Mirza Jared Christmas, Hils Barker & Gordon Southern SPANK’s James Wren Segue Sisters MERVYN STUTTER’S PICK OF THE FRINGE Pleasance Courtyard 12:55 TRIPOD TOULSON & HARVEY THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE THE FITZROVIA RADIO SHOW BANE TWO SPRING AWAKENING
NICHOLAS PARSONS: HAPPY HOUR Pleasance Courtyard 17:10 Janey Godley Miles Jupp Daniel Sloss RONNA AND BEVERLY Pleasance Courtyard 17:45 Arj Barker Clive Russell HORNE SECTION, THE Pleasance Dome 00:20 Mark Watson Tim key Josie Long Please note that all line-ups are subject to change. Check the Box Office for the latest information.
*G ZPV XPVME MJLF UP LOPX NPSF BCPVU UIF 1MFBTBODF 5IFBUSF 5SVTU "OUIPOZ "MEFSTPO %JSFDUPS BOUIPOZ!QMFBTBODF DP VL PS )BOOBI &JEJOPX $SFBUJWF %FWFMPQNFOU IBOOBIF!QMFBTBODF DP VL XXX QMFBTBODF DP VL TVQQPSUVT 1MFBTBODF 5IFBUSF 5SVTU " OPU GPS QSPöU PSHBOJTBUJPO 3FHJTUFSFE DIBSJUZ TJODF /P