pleasance patrons

Supporting Pleasance Futures

Our Patrons directly support Pleasance Futures, the development strand of our charity. It is at the very heart of everything we do, but we cannot do it alone.

Through Pleasance Futures we develop early career artists, young performers, writers, practitioners and producers, as well as those behind the scenes.

As a charitable organisation that receives no regular public subsidy, support from Patrons is vital.

With your backing as a Pleasance Patron we can continue to mentor creative work and career paths that, without support, may never come to light. If, like us, you believe in the importance of this, we’d love your help.

Pleasance patronage comes in a range of suggested levels of donation, from Yellow to Platinum, all of which offer unique and exciting benefits dedicated to bringing you closer to our work and the artists we support.

Scan the QR code to become a Patron or email pleasance.co.uk and find out more.

The Showstoppers / Something for the Weekend SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL

The Olivier Award-winning (Best Entertainment and Family Show) West End hit returns to the Fringe!

The masters of musical improv create a brand new musical comedy from scratch every night in this multi award-winning show.

Audience suggestions are transformed onthe-spot into all-singing, all-dancing, hilarious stories. Whether you fancy something in the style of 'Chicago' in the Castle, or 'Matilda' on The Meadows - you suggest it and The Showstoppers will sing it!

A Fringe favourite and a sell-out phenomenon; your Edinburgh experience is simply incomplete without it. Book early!

Had me weeping with laughter Mail on Sunday

The best musical improvisation group we've ever come across Time Out Critics' Choice

The top musical improvisers in the business... Compulsory Fringe viewing... Just book in time Broadway Baby

If this is what improv can do, you wonder why anyone bothers writing anything down Times Has everything you want from a blockbuster musical – it just happens to be made up on the spot Metro

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW

21:30 (22:30)

Lord Productions

MR & MRS LOVE

All-singing! All-dancing! Alldivorcing? Meet Mr & Mrs Love, royalty on the cabaret circuit for the last 12 years. But tonight it's not just a cabaret... something is brewing under the sequins and piano licks, something is about to go very, very wrong.

A battle of hearts, minds and music ensue as the two sing for their survival, with a surprising array of musical instruments, outrageous dancing and acidic wit.

21:35 (22:35)

Paddy Young

PADDY YOUNG: HUNGRY, HORNY, SCARED

He’s hungry. He’s horny. He’s scared. He’s in the gutter but he’s looking down on all of you.

Join Northern powerhouse Paddy Young, one of comedy’s fastest rising stars, for his unmissable debut stand up hour.

As seen on Channel 4, ITV2, Sky & Stewart Lee’s recommendation list. Over 10 million views online. One of the most exciting new comics I've seen for a long time

Joe Lycett

21:40 (22:40)

Haud Yer Wheesht Theatre in association with The Pleasance

Bampots

Bampots. Noun. 1. (Scotland, slang, derogatory) An idiot; an objectionable and foolish person. What’s Scotland without the people? This debut play from Haud Yer Wheesht Theatre explores what it means to be Scottish! Through the medium of a ceilidh rave, you’ll be taken on a tour of our country. There is no better way to experience Scotland.

21:40 (22:40)

Stamptown Proudly Presents

HUGE DAVIES: WHODUNNIT

From Cats Does Countdown, Edinburgh Best Newcomer nominee returns with his highly anticipated second show about murder. Wearable keyboard? Check! Deadpan delivery? Check! Murder? Read the first sentence. No. 1 show in Time Out London.

21:40 (22:40)

The Pleasance

Comedy Reserve At The Dome

Catch four of the best up-and-coming comedy acts in the 17th year of the Comedy Reserve, hand-picked by the Pleasance and supported by the Charlie Hartill Fund. The line-up includes Abby Wambaugh, Will Robbins, Kyrah Gray and Jin Hao Li.

This is your chance to discover the most exciting newcomers before they become household names, from the show that helped launch the careers of Joe Lycett, Brett Goldstein, Roisin Conaty, Jamali Maddix, Lou Sanders and Chloe Petts, plus loads more!

This year, the Pleasance is bringing two Comedy Reserve shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, so make sure to catch the Comedy Reserve at the Courtyard as well! (Page 71)

21:40 (22:40)

Linus Karp & Awkward Productions

HOW TO LIVE A JELLICLE LIFE: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE 2019 HIT MUSICAL CATS

A show that provides a jellicle discussion about the jellicle aspects of the jellicle cats in Cats and how you can apply them to your life in order to make it truly jellicle.

An award-winning evening of queer chaos brought to you by the team from Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story – no previous Cats knowledge required.

Camp, kitsch and catnip for the soul Theatre Weekly

So much FUN

James Graham

Too many penis jokes

Guardian

21:40 (22:40)

London Limelight

JAZZ EMU: YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE

Returning after two sell-out runs at Soho Theatre, global sensation Jazz Emu is back with his virtuoso musical spectacular.

This is a work of genius Telegraph

I may just have found my new favourite comedian Times

Improbable, clever and very funny Guardian

21:45 (22:45)

PLEASANCE COURTYARD • THE ATTIC

Show And Tell in association with Wales Millennium Centre

LEILA NAVABI: COMPOSITION

The Welsh, brown, gay, Gen-Z comedian presents her debut hour: an audacious punk musicalcomedy show about the dubious ethics of artistically exploiting marginalised identities for social gain. Star of BBC's Vandullz and the BBC New Comedy Awards 2022, Leila has written for Bad Education and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

The actual future of comedy LMAOnaiseComedy.com

21:40 (22:40)

Avalon

PAUL CHOWDHRY: FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMEDIAN

As the climax to his twiceextended sell-out national tour, the star of Taskmaster and the first British-Asian stand-up to sell-out Wembley Arena on his smash-hit Live Innit tour, returns to Edinburgh for the first time in almost ten years!

A stand up so vibrant and imperiously on top of his game Mail on Sunday

21:45 (22:45)

PLEASANCE COURTYARD • BUNKER THREE

Stamptown Proudly Presents

MARTIN URBANO:

Apology Comeback Tour

In his controversial comeback show, Martin briefly shares mildly personal insights regarding the allegations against him, and then offers a ton of hilarious takes on 'wokeness', family, and the current social climate.

He often leans into a persona of a sex creep VICE His work combines edgy, almostover-the-line humor with - get this - really good jokes Vulture Sincerely subversive NY Times

21:50 (22:50)

Lee Martin for Gag Reflex

FLAT & THE CURVES: DIVADOM

The Chortle Award 2023 finalists bring you their glittery comedy cabaret of unbridled fun! The comedy quartet delivers their self-penned songs celebrating sex and sisterhood in a bra-burning evening of mischief. Expect big voices and bold statements in a sparkly spectacle filled with hilarity and full-frontal vulgarity. 'Fierce, intoxicating and gloriously indecorous' (4.5 stars, Chortle).

Truly remarkable Broadway World

An evening of rip-roaring entertainment West End Wilma

Spy in the Stalls

21:50 (22:50)

IAM

JODIE MITCHELL: BECOMING JOHN TRAVULVA

Award-winning 'brilliant... natural comic' (Guardian) John Travulva teams up with his tick-box protégé - queer, non-binary class-straddler

Jodie Mitchell (Comedy Central Live, UKTV, Channel 4). But does he need to? He's not sure, he gets plenty of praise as himself.

John's set is so funny it makes all the comedy in my life up to this point redundant Theatre Bubble

Standout talent Stage

22:00 (23:00)

Soho Theatre

BILL O'NEILL: THE AMAZING BANANA BROTHERS

PLEASANCE COURTYARD • BESIDE

21:55 (22:55)

Lee Martin for Gag Reflex

CARA CONNORS: STRAIGHT FOR PAY

As seen on Hulu, Just for Laughs and Apple TV, Cara Connors is a comedian and multifaceted homosexual with an ass that won’t quit. Fresh off her 30-city international tour, Connors makes her Edinburgh debut with her unique brand of high energy and fearlessly chaotic comedy.

Hilariously acerbic Paste Magazine

Will have you reaching for the rosary beads Irish Times

Two daredevil brothers attempt the impossible – slipping on 1,000 banana peels. Through a surreal exploration of loss, failure, masculinity and death-defying pratfalls, O’Neill challenges the limits of the human body and spirit, one banana peel at a time.

Directed by Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning Natalie Palamides (Nate, Laid).

22:00 (23:00)

PLEASANCE COURTYARD • THE GRAND

Berk's Nest in association with United Agents

NICK MOHAMMED

PRESENTS THE VERY BEST & WORST OF MR. SWALLOW

Double Emmy award-nominee and star of Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed brings Mr. Swallow back to the Edinburgh Fringe.

Comic masterclass Times

Pure entertainment Telegraph

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare

SH!T-FACED SHAKESPEARE®: ROMEO & JULIET

The smash-hit, internationally acclaimed, multi sell-out Fringe phenomenon is back with their hilarious combination of an entirely serious adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet with an entirely sh!t-faced actor. Featuring a rotating cast of the finest classically trained actors, partial nudity, foul language, acts of a sexual nature and actual Shakespeare - no two shows are ever the same!

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare seeks to introduce theatre goers to the works of the Bard by reviving the raucous, interactive and vibrant nature of Elizabethan theatre with a very modern twist. Remember to enjoy Shakespeare responsibly.

Prithee follow us on Instagram: @shitfacedshakespeare

A great night out to get properly Pucked up. It's what Willy would have wanted Time Out

I have no idea how they do it, as there wasn’t a soul in the audience who wasn’t in stitches from start to finish Broadway Baby

This was laugh-out-loud funny and was a brilliant example of just how creative the team behind the show are Spy in the Stalls

Theatre for people who hate theatre. I hated it beyond words Sunday Times

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW

22:20 (23:20)

Stamptown Proudly Presents MOSES STORM: PERFECT

Cult

Official Selection: Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch (2022). Fresh off his HBO Max stand-up special Trash White produced by Conan O’Brien, Moses Storm makes his Edinburgh debut with a brandnew show about being raised in an unsuccessful doomsday cult. Film and TV credits include: Arrested Development (Netflix), Everything's Trash (Hulu), Half Baked 2 (Universal) and multiple late-night sets.

22:30 (23:30)

Berk's Nest

CATHERINE COHEN: COME FOR ME

After her critically acclaimed Netflix special, Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Catherine Cohen returns to the Fringe.

Outrageously sharp Guardian

Winningly funny Evening Standard

A fabulous performer... brings to mind Tim Minchin Chortle

22:30 (23:30)

Lachlan Werner

Lachlan Wernervoices Of Evil

The horrifying debut from the award-winning poof prince of puppets. A 'must-see' (Reviews Hub) sell-out hit. Ventriloquist/ clown, Lachlan Werner, presents an occult ritual, where demonic voices come from every corner.

Joyously metatheatrical. The definitive queer puppet show Lost In Theatreland

Winningly silly Chortle

23:00 (00:30)

AEG Presents in association with PBJ Management

All Killa No Filla

Hot off the back of huge sold out shows in Manchester, Birmingham and London, stellar comedians Rachel Fairburn and Kiri PritchardMcLean bring their smash-hit true crime podcast, All Killa No Filla, back to the Edinburgh Fringe. The hilarious and outspoken pair will host a late-night show full to the rafters of legends. So come along and watch as they overdress, overshare, over swear and if they remember, talk about true crime.

(£15.50)

22:50 (23:50)

JORDAN BROOKES: SNAKES FOR CATS TO WATCH (WORK IN PROGRESS)

Some new ideas from the Edinburgh Comedy Award winner 2019.

Sublime lack of self-awareness List

A performer teetering on the brink of sanity Scotsman

23:00 (23:50), 18:00 (18:50) & 14:05 (14:55)

Richard Jordan Productions, 412, with Lawrence Batley Theatre, Ketchup, Pleasance

LASH - A PULSATING NEW PLAY ABOUT GOING OUT OUT!

Get on the Lash! A booze-fuelled adrenalin rush, through bustling streets and bouncing clubs, where big tunes and mad characters collide. From the award-winning creators of Heroin(e) For Breakfast and just in time for last orders!

Stunning piece of theatre Scotsman

PLEASANCE COURTYARD • BUNKER THREE

23:00 (00:00)

Play People Productions

LATE NIGHT MAGIC

Prepare to have your mind blown! Expect the unexpected in this brand new late night line-up of the best magic and variety acts the Fringe has to offer! Starring members of the famous Magic Circle and hosted by Tom Brace.

Charmed, amazed and delighted in equal measure!

James

O'Brien LBC

A great way to spend an hour at the Fringe!

World Magic Review

23:00 (00:20)

The Pleasance

Pleasance Newcomer Comedy Gala

A one-off comedy extravaganza!

For the past 38 years, the Pleasance has been the home of new comedy talent in Edinburgh.

Check out some of the most exciting new comedians at the Fringe as they make their Pleasance debuts in this late-night comedy party. Best of all, tickets are free! Line-up to be announced.

23:00 (00:00)

Plosive Live NICK HELM'S HOT 'N' HEAVY WEEKEND

Join the legendary Nick Helm as he celebrates the 10th anniversary of his first album Hot 'N' Heavy, performing the whole damn thing. Top. To. Tail.

All the bangers. All the heat. All the sweat.

A true mastermind EdFest Mag

Terrific Times

23:00 (00:30)

Stamptown Proudly Presents

Stamptown Comedy Night

Sold Out Run: Edinburgh Fringe (2017-2022).

A raunchy and chaotic, late-night variety show featuring the best alternative performance on the international scene. Hosted by the bad boy of clown, Zach Zucker. The best late-night show on the festival circuit Chortle

A popular showcase of cuttingedge comics New York Times

The best live comedy cabaret

Brian Logan, Guardian

• FORTH

23:00 (00:00)

Rosa Garland

Trash Salad

Sex. Love. Lettuce. Join Trash Salad on a joyful, dirty, clownburlesque adventure into the messy parts of queer intimacy. Nominated for the VAULT Festival 2023 Innovation Award.

Salad at its sexiest Fringebiscuit

A force of nature Wee Review

A knock out... riotously funny Binge Fringe

23:00 (0:00) & 15:30 (16:30)

Off The Kerb Productions

IVO GRAHAM: ORGANISED FUN

After dismantling a barge (Taskmaster), doxxing himself in the Doubletree (Off Menu), and blanking on the 1992 Ipswich Town crest (University Challenge), Ivo ropes his audience into more chaos against the clock. Expect quizzes, tangents and fluster. Best Show/Joke nominee 2019.

BBBB

Motormouthed finesse Times

I could watch him natter all day Telegraph

23:20 (01:00)

Impatient Productions

SIBLINGS & FAMILY

FRIENDS

Prepare yourselves for a wild and wonderful variety night, hosted by character-comedians and IRL sisters Maddy and Marina Bye, of critically acclaimed Siblings and starring their family friends... (who happen to be the best comedians at the Fringe). 3 exclusive nights.

Nominated: The Edinburgh Fringe Comedians Choice Award 2022.

Nobody could make it through this with a straight face Telegraph

23:10 (00:10)

Berk's Nest, Tarot & Kiri Pritchard-McLean in association with PBJ Management

TAROT: HIVE MIND

From the minds of Tarot and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Hive Mind is a loose late night gameshow where contestants have to crowdsource their way to victory.

Bark out loud funny... the whole show is startlingly live Guardian

One of the balls-out funniest shows of the Fringe Chortle

23:30 (01:30)

Comedians Beer Mat Flipping

COMEDIANS BEER MAT

FLIPPING SUPER BOWL

8 top comedians compete to see who is the champion beermat flipper 2023!

Sikisa, Bella Hull and Stuart Laws host comedy’s premier sporting event, with 8 guest comedians competing to take home the trophy. Expect trick shots, live betting odds, trash talk, live slap bass and a night to remember.