Issue #10 - Weekend 14th & 15th August - FREE

MORE INSIDE...Free tickets for Denise Black

Organ Grinders save lives

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THEPENNY DREADFULS

You may recognise their Victorian incarnation as part of the show Aeneas Favisham (and its sequels), but now The Penny Dreadfuls have jumped forward in time. The setting may have changed to a modern day night-time cityscape, but the comedy remains sublime.

“We’ve very loosely themed it this year, setting everything in a city at night with a yellow and black colour scheme on the stage and the setting and all of the costumes and the props” explains performer David Reed thoroughly. “It’s not crucially important” adds Humphrey Ker, “but

it is nice to hang it all together a bit.” Thom Tuck, the third member of the group, concurs in silence.

“We were actually very afraid of incurring backlash from us abandoning what made us fairly popular and unique in the first place, but it doesn’t seem to have happened which is great” says Humphrey.

“It’s nice be going back to doing primarily sketches this year. It makes for a very different vibe that’s much quicker.” But it’s not all about quick, cheap laughs – putting in the legwork is important too. “Many performers are really, really scared of having any silence in the audience. Silence is fine. It’s that they’re watching and waiting to laugh. Unless they’re coughing and shuffling in their seats, in which case you should be worried.”

The Penny Dreadfuls have achieved

“I ripped Russell Howard’s face apart”

great success at the Fringe and more widely, owing largely to their theatrical style of comedy. “I think theatricality is the wrong word” corrects David. “It is more just an appreciation of your characters and of decent storylines. It’s a shame that such values are associated with the theatre – it’s not a theatrical thing, it’s a good writing thing.”

Although largely unimpressed by television’s comedic offerings (“generally, they’re just not doing it right”), The Penny Dreadfuls do make some exceptions. “Lots of American TV that’s exported over here is coherent, bloody funny and just keeps the laughs coming. We’re also watching Mongrels at the moment and think it’s brilliant – some of the characters are incredible.”

Aeneas Faversham has recently been picked up by Radio 4 to create two four-part series, Faversham Brothers. “We’re now writing a Saturday play about the French revolution, off the back of our Guy Fawkes one.”

However successful The Penny Dreadfuls’ performance is this Fringe, one lasting legacy remains assured; #flyerface. Created by The Penny Dreadfuls, championed by this very publication, #flyerface requires players to combine two flyers to create one amalgamated face.

“One of the great joys of the Fringe” tells David “is that we’ve been slaving away since September on our show,

yet the one thing that will come out of this month is that our technician Neil and associate producer Steve were messing around with some flyers and ended up being featured in The Guardian.” Turning feelings of bitterness around, Humphrey proudly announces “I ripped Russell Howard’s face apart”, to which Thom guffaws.

The Penny Dreadfuls were, finally, keen to plug their musical, G*****: A R*******’* Musical at A****** at 23:15. Unfortunatley, since it is not being performed at Pleasance, the full extent of this promotion has been omitted.

The Penny DreadfulsPleasance Courtyard

4-30 Aug 18:00

Left to Right: The Penny Dreadfuls - David Reed, Humphrey Ker and Thom Tuck

...Talk abouT coming ouT of The vicTorian PerioD, Television’s failings anD The game ThaT has maDe Their name: #flyerface...

ORGAN GRINDERS PLAY FOR THEIR LIVES (AND YOURS!)

In his show, Asher Trelavan asks; ‘what maketh the man manly?’ Here, he provides some answers.

1. Be Mannerly. One year upon returning from Edinburgh Fringe I was on the tube. I watched an elderly woman standing in front of a man who did not offer his seat because he was engrossed in reading a titty magazine. To not offer the seat is rude but to fail to conceal your skin mag in the financial times is criminal

2. Cook Well. Chances are you like food, so learn to cook it. Everyone loves a man who can cook, friends will pat your back and ladies will swoon when you take to the hot plate. If it can make a violent ogre like Gordon Ramsay attractive think what it can do for you.

3. Dress well. Know your measurements, buy one nice dress suit, and learn to tie a tie, but MOST importantly dress your age. There is nothing more sad and desperate then a forty-year-old skateboarding dude.

ASHER TRELAVAN OFFERS 5 TOP TIPS FOR...THE MODERN MAN

In August 2007, sax player Andy Williamson had been on kidney dialysis for a year and a half. Fellow band member Maff Brown, unable to stand the sight of his friend in such distress, decided to offer Andy the gift of life by becoming a living kidney donor. Both went through with the operation, leaving Andy with a whole new lease of life.

Originally united through music, just three weeks later the pair formed a new band, The organ grinders, celebrating the success of Andy’s recovery and working towards the potential recoveries of others.

The Organ Grinders quickly released a single entitled Live Life Then

Give Life, the proceeds of which went (and still go) to the charity of the same name. The song aims to raise awareness about the crucial task of signing up to the UK Organ Donor Register, and to raise understanding so that people feel comfortable signing up. Anybody can join the list and thereby provide consent for their organs to be used after death, and it is important to discuss the issue openly so that family and friends understand your wishes.

Charity Life Life Then Give Life, whom the Organ Grinders support, aims to save and improve the lives of transplant patients through media campaigns, talks, public events, pubilicity material,

discussion forums and t-shirts (famous for their emblazoned slogan ‘I’d Give You One’). Each year, 1000 people in the UK die awaiting an organ transplant, and more than 9000 people are currently seriously ill while waiting for one. You are far more likely to need a transplant than you are to receive one.

Struggling to find the Organ Grinders in your programme? Andy and others were due to perform as The Denbone Walkers, but Denny Ilett was called off in July to join the Chris Barber Jazz Band. The description in brochures still holds true (apart from the Denny Ilett bit!)

The Organ Grinders (See: The Denbone Walkers)

Pleasance at Ghillie Dhu13-16 Aug 23:00

4. Partner Dance. Partner dancing at any age is a skill sure to endear you to all ladies and as the ‘lads’ whisper crude things to their giggling mates at the bar it will be you who is flying around the dance floor with lovely ladies, so who is the real man here?

5. Shut Up/Listen More. The only thing you can never take back is the word that has just left your mouth.Asher Trelavan: Secret Door

Pleasance Courtyard4-30 Aug (Not 17) 20:40

@ThePleasance#pleasancetimes

RT @SteveGreerBeautiful evening in the #Pleasance courtyard: always helps when the audience can relax with a pint before the show. RT @KiddingAroundEdwas at Charlie & Lola at The Pleasance this morning - excellent!! Most definitely worth a peek!!

RT @DanAntopolski Saw the majestic, acerbic, coruscating wit of Simon Evans in full snarl last night, Pleasance 2150. Rating: Essential.

RT @ThePleasanceExtra Shows: The Amazing 5 star smash hit Bo Burnham @boburnham is on 26th - 28th at 5:30pm

Hello Edinburgh,Dennis Hazeley here,

very likely a familiar name to many of you. As an actor, you will have seen me in various uncompromising productions over the years. And before you ask - Yes, in 2006 I won a Fringe First for “Cut Me Some Slack”, a dance project exploring themes of male circumcision. Terrific show, though in hindsight it was a bit long and could have done with shaving a little off the top end.

Anyway, I am back in Edinburgh with “Afghan

HELLO EDINBURGH(A NOTE FROM DENNIS HAZELEY)

FREE PREVIEWS FOR READERS: DENISE BLACK’S LOOSE SCREW

Readers of The Pleasance Times are being offered limited complementary tickets to the previews of Denise Black’s new midnight party – the loose screw. A recession ago, Denise Black was a frequent Edinburgh Fringe darling. Now, the Pleasance are thrilled to welcome back her and her band this Sunday until the 29th.

Denise will also be appearing in a production of Calendar Girls in Glasgow nightly, but will then race back to Edinburgh especially for her show

Hounds”, a devised piece about two gay members of the Taliban. Love. Loss. A mortar attack re-enacted to Barbara Streisand’s “Evergreen”. See you there.

It’s great to be back at the Fringe, and I’m pleased to report that my accommodation this year is excellent. Crucially, the living room is large enough for a comprehensive Alexander Technique warm-up. Yes, it’s quite far away from the Pleasance, but there’s quite a lot to do in Hull so I’m happy.

Any recommendations?

Even if you have to kill to get a ticket, make sure you see “Everything Is Absolutely Fine”, a drama about a quadriplegic who finds a new lease of life through the medium of sarcasm. 9.30am, The Skull & Heather, Lothian Road.

My father keeps threatening to come up, though I’m confident he won’t bother. If he was in Edinburgh, he’d probably recommend going to see The A Team or anything with Jason Statham in it. He is not an aesthete.

No Son Of MinePleasance Courtyard

4-30 Aug (Not 25) 15:15

Father Don stands behind Dennis Hazeley, sitting

at the stunning cabaret hall of Pleasance at Ghillie Dhu.

Guests for Denise’s opening shows - with her house band The Loose Screw - include Vive La Cabaret stars Sarah Louise Young and Des O’Connor, Peter Straker, hot-to-trot funny girls Checkley Bush and the show stopping Circus Trick Tease. Not to mention a charbanc of Calendar Girls including Jennifer Ellison, Jean Boht,

Joe McGann, Ruth Madoc and a very special guest appearance from the divine Elaine C Smith on Monday Aug 16th!

Free tickets for the opening two performances are limited, and will be issued on a first come, first served basis to customers who quote ‘Pleasance Times’ at the box office.Denise Black’s Loose Screw

Pleasance at Ghillie Dhu15-29 Aug 00:15

Saturday 14thAFTER HOURS

Pleasance Dome 00:40TERRY ALDERTON

ANDREW LAWRENCESHAPPI KHORSANDI

MICK FERRYROBERT WHITE

AMUSED MOOSE GANGSHOWPleasance Dome 12:40

ANDI OSHOCHRIS MCCAUSLAND

MATT GREENJOEY PAGE

MAUREEN YOUNGERSY THOMAS

GARETH MORINAN

BBC COMEDY PRESENTSPleasance Dome 23:00

CHRIS RAMSEYFERGUS CRAIG

ROB ROUSEPETE FIRMAN

RICHARD HERRING

BEST OF EDINBURGH: THE SHOWCASE SHOW

Pleasance Courtyard 13:10HOST – MAEVE HIGGINS

MATTHEW HARDYEDWARD ACZELAIDAN BISHOP SEANN WALSH

THE DAVE HILL EXPLOSIONPleasance Courtyard 23:00

SAM SIMMONSABANDOMAN

ITCH: A SCRATCH EVENTPleasance Courtyard 14:00

JO CAULFIELDSTEPHEN FROST (BLACKADDER)

RICHARD VRANCH (PAUL MERTON’S IMPRO CHUMS)

RUTH BRATT (SHOWSTOPPERS)PHIL NICHOL HOSTS

Please note that all line-ups are subject to change. Check the Box Office for the latest information.

MERVYN STUTTER’S PICK OF THE FRINGE

Pleasance Courtyard 12:55CAMILLE

ALUN COCHRANEROB ROUSE

JACK LBROAD COMEDY

AN EVENING WITH DEMENTURECACTUS

NICHOLAS PARSONS: HAPPY HOUR

Pleasance Courtyard 17:10PETE FIRMAN

JUSTIN MOORHOUSEBARBERSHOPERA

NINA CONTI: TALK TO THE HAND

Pleasance Dome 20:30CLIVE RUSSELL

BEST OF POPCORN COMEDYPleasance Dome 23:30

JOSIE LONGCARDINAL BURNS

RONNA AND BEVERLYPleasance Courtyard 17:45

LACHROB ROUSE

STORYTELLER’S CLUBPleasance Courtyard 22:00

‘LOVE STORIES’ANDREW CLOVER

NADIA KAMILCAREY MARx

HANNAH GADSBYHOST: SARAH BENNETTO

VIVE LE CABARETPleasance at Ghillie Dhu 21:30

ALI MCGREGORSxIP SHIREY

PIPPA THE RIPPERKIKI KABOOM

MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMERTHE KITSCH KATSSPENCER MAYBE

DESMOND O’CONNOR (HOST)