THE PLEASANCE PRESS LAUNCH: 2013

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Early yesterday morning the festival’s press descended onto the Pleasance Courtyard for the

Pleasance press launch 2013. With an exceptional array of artists performing short excerpts from their shows the press launch gave a flavour of what the Pleasance has to offer this year.

Physical theatre company Gecko opened the show with a stunning extract of their show Missing which is on daily at the Pleasance Grand. Beginning in a cut out room, allowing the audience to voyeuristically peep into the dramatic domestic life depicted on stage, subtle movements built into an explosive climax and had the audience enraptured throughout. Beautiful life sized puppetry, combined with multimedia, dance and music to portray a tale of loss, love and a tumultuous relationships.

The charming and affable Joe Lycett was MC for this year’s press launch, warming the audience with his cheeky wit and chat. Playing up his camp demeanour, Joe discussed his burly professional trainer, his encounter with muggers on a night in Birmingham

and explained why he may never be welcomed into an Armani store again. Instantly he was the perfect compere, gaining some of the biggest laughs of the launch from a delighted crowd.

Next up was character comic Colin Hoult, who has appeared on a number of primetime TV shows and his own radio series, and has brought his show Colin Hoult: Characthorse to the Pleasance. Welcoming himself onto stage in the guise of Sir Patrick Stewart, Colin seamlessly slipped between his roles entertaining the packed out Grand with a variety of unusual figures. The highlight, for me, was his final turn as a Pagan worshipping, mask loving eccentric who grabbed ‘masks’ from members of the audience to uncover their true personality beneath.

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After another charismatic turn from MC Joe Lycett, Danish theatre company Neander lit up the stage

with their production BLAM which tackles office boredom at its source and turns the drudgery of nine to five into an exhilarating adventure. Taking office stationary such as post it notes for cigarettes and playing cards, office chairs for getaway cars and their own bodies as weapons against one another, BLAM! transformed a day at the office into an action packed thriller.

Director of the Pleasance Anthony Alderson then delivered his annual speech, describing the Fringe and the part the Pleasance has to play as an intricate, yet fragile jigsaw which comes together each year. Anthony thanked key members of the Pleasance team including Comedy Programmer Ryan Taylor and Theatre

Programmer Cassandra Mathers for their hard work and effort in bringing together the delicate pieces of the puzzle. Founder of the Pleasance Christopher Richardson was also thanked by Anthony for making the Pleasance what it is today whilst the charitable work of the trust – including the work with the Young Pleasance was discussed.

The penultimate act to perform at this year’s press launch were cabaret and variety act Slightly Fat Features. Combining

their skills as cabaret performers – including an excellent juggling routine, live music and cling film escapology – with their comedic talents, Slightly Fat Features amused and entertained with a fantastic routine which was light hearted and energetic throughout.

Finally, raucous comedian Nick Helm closed the press launch for the Pleasance’s 29th year. Entering between two fire cannons, in a white fur coat – lined with a sparkling inner – and Elvis suit, Helm immediately held the stage. Launching straight into his usually aggressive and hilarious persona, Helm picked out his victims from the crowd, showed us his emotional side with a less than heartfelt poem about love and culminated in a serenade to the unsuspecting Paula. Explosive and unpredictable Nick Helm

will undoubtedly be a major hit of the festival and sent off the Pleasance press launch in true style.

From the snippets presented at this year’s press launch, the Pleasance’s 29th year will be one of the biggest and best yet. The eclectic selection of shows at the press launch demonstrate the variety on offer at the Pleasance this year with its vibrant, diverse and exhilarating programme.

Helm sent off the Pleasance press launch in

style.

The charming and affable Joe Lycett was MC for this year’s press launch

A vibrant, diverse and exhilarating programme

Image of the day: Director Anthony Alderson delivers his annual speech at the Press Launch. Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

Left to right: physical theatre from Gecko, MC Joe Lycett, character comic Colin Hoult, Neander’s BLAM!, cabaret act Slight Fat Features. and Nick Helm’s finale performance, Images: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

Returning to the Pleasance for a strictly limited run this year Vive Le Cabaret enters its fourth year

which looks set to be the best one yet. A festival within the fringe, the show combines the best in Scottish talent with A List acts from across the world. Previous line ups have featured stars such as Frisky and Mannish, Tim Vine, Camille O’Sullivan and The Magnets.

Vaudville, comedy and cabaret reign over this feast of late night fun. Broadway Baby declared that “If you

love cabaret this is a must see” whilst for What’s On Stage Vive Le Cabaret is “Funny, sexy and incredibly entertain-ing.” Be delighted by the extravagant

circus acts, clutch your sides in pain as you laugh riotously at the stand up

slots and be enchanted by beautiful burlesque.

This year the line up is set to fea-ture acts such as Gypsy Charms, Tom Kat, Des O’Connor, East End Cabaret and Chris Martin proving that Vive Le Cabaret is even bigger, better and brilliant than ever before.

You can check out Vive Le Caba-ret until 11th August at the Pleasance Courtyard, 23.10.

Since 1996, Young Pleasance, the Pleasance’s largest producing arm, has given hundreds of young

people the opportunity to get involved in theatre in a variety of different ways; whether their passion lays centre stage or behind the spotlight, Young Pleasance is a great stepping stone into the world of professional theatre. After performing at the Fringe for the past 16 years, each time coming back to Edinburgh with something fresh and exciting, this year is no exception, showcasing the raw talent and uncompromising passion of these young individuals. We can’t wait to celebrate Young Pleasance’s sweet sixteenth with an affecting tale of adolescence: RITES: A Children’s Tragedy.

Capturing the dual excitement and anxiety of teenage-hood, this years Young Pleasance production RITES is visually astonishing with its impressive cast of 25 youngsters. A modern adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s 1906 play Spring Awakening – a production censored throughout its early history for its controversial subject matter – the adaptation reveals the contemporary relevance of the play over a 100 years later. Described as comic tragedy, this fusion of seemingly distant genres means the play takes many twists and

turns, never failing to provoke your emotions.

Hannah Wisher, has been with Young Pleasance for three years and is performing in this year’s production RITES. Reflecting on her experiences with the group, Hannah comments that “the shows have been so different. That is what is so fantastic about the company – you get to dip into different performance styles and really explore your range as a young actor, but the consistent factor is the professionalism, the stand-out production values, and the sense of ensemble which makes YP feel like a family.”

An exploration of identity and existentialism, the show deals with the questions of adolescence, illustrating the trails and tribulations of the transition from childhood to adulthood. Confronting the future is both alienating and exhilarating as the performers ask questions such as ‘Where am I going?’. In trying to break out of the oppressive rules of society, they find empowerment in rebellion and freedom in a sense of their personal individuality.

The chance for young people to perform at the world’s biggest and most renowned arts festival is a stimulating opportunity, where performers can network with others in their field and throw themselves into the festival spirit. RITES cast member George John knows this after three years with Young Pleasance; “What I love about the Festival is the opportunity of working with such a dynamic creative team, and seeing

such a diversity of theatre and comedy. The Pleasance feels like a big family and chatting to fellow performers, crew and the Pleasance team in general is fantastic. I love the city and its architecture too. And (let’s be honest) YP always know how to party”

RITES: A Children’s Tragedy is on until the 17th August at the Pleasance Courtyard, 13:20

A RITE OF PASSAGE Sophie Chilvers chats to members of the Young Pleasance and explores the themes of this year’s

production: RITES: A Children’s Tragedy

VIVE LE CABARET

The Pleasance feels like a big family

@ThePleasanceWe have our audience, time to

start the Launch #Pleasance

@MMWillWoodWell @joelycett just

did the best @edfringe press

launch MC’ing I’ve seen for

@ThePleasance

@MeetJohnB@TheNickHelm was easily the best bit of @ThePleasance press launch. Cried tears

of laughter despite being told to f##k off #EdFringe

PLEASANCE

TWEETS

Comedy vs TheatreComedy can only be funny if its good, theatre can also be funny if its bad.

George Windsor vs North West

I think its totally unfair to compare our new Prince to one of history’s most popular directions. NW has been with us for several millennia, and GW has only just been born. Next Question.

Poetry vs ProseHere’s a haiku: When I was fourteen / I heard the front door slam shut / My parents left me. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

Haggis vs Fish and ChipsDeep fried haggis. It’s like having your cake and eating it too. And then throwing it up.

David Cameron v David Beckham

We’re not big fans of either, but if you put a gun to our heads…. we’d cry and cry and cry and cry and cry. We’re only human.

Catch deep fried haggis fans Graham in their show Anti-Graham on until 26th August at the Pleasance Courtyard 16:35

STRIKEOUT!WITH GRAHAM

Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance

Photographer

“If you love cabaret this is a must see”Broadway Baby

Edited by Sophie Chilvers and Emily Tanner