Issue #04 (Weekend 1st Draft) - 6th August - FREE

21 Incredible VenuesCreativity spills out of the theatres accross our two main venues. Dubbed so far as The Guggenheim Museum, an Iceberg & something from the Crystal Maze, Pleasance Beside (beside the Courtyard) is sure to be a talking point. The walls of both Dome and Courtyard are being lit up with mesmerizingly delightful animations and graphics. But perhaps most excitingly, the Dome toilets have been completely refurbished and are sparklingly spotless.

London DevelopmentPleasance Edinburgh only represents 1 month of Pleasance’s 12 month calendar. The summer Pleasance launches a £4.5million fundraising campaign for developing Pleasance Islington’s facilities, including rehearsal and performance spaces. Supporters can ‘adopt a cobble-stone’ or even get included in a signature mural, the Pleasance Bayeaux Tapestry.

Pleasance Press Launch (FREE Tickets) Pleasance Courtyard, 6Aug 11:00

Pleasance 2011 has everything to offer. Saturday’s Press Launch marks the official opening of Pleasance Courtyard and Dome, starting an incredible Festival month. This, in brief, is what you should be looking out for this month:

PLEASANCE 2011PACKS A PUNCH

INTERVIEW: » Potted Potter Celebrates a Birthday

» Pleasance-Finland Collaboration

HENRy MoLAISoN’S bRAIN WAS SLICED INTo 2401 PIECES,ANALogUE ASKS

“WHo WAS HE?”

PRESSLAUNCH

SATURDAy

(Terry Alderton photo: Steve Ullathorne)

220 ShowsBoasting a stunning array of punchy theatre, gutsy music, kick-in-the-shins comedy and ‘gotcha-nose’ kid’s shows, Pleasance’s programme is sure to bowl you over. Highlights include Art Malik’s Edinburgh debut with Rose, a new drama about one Middle-Eastern immigrant’s struggle to bring up his English born daughter. Cammille O’Sullivan adds Pleasance Grand to her illustrious list of venues: Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, La Clique. Plus, of course, our stellar comedy line-up leaves nothing to be desired: try Comedy Award-Winner Russel Kane, Rich Hall, Terry Alderton, Imran Yusuf, Tim Key, Isy Suttie, Des Bishop, Tim Vine, Alex Horne... Although if you do desire more, try rising stars at Comedy Reserve, AAA Stand Up and The Comedy Zone.

Following 26 years of yellow-ness, Pleasance is now going green. Working with intenational environmental company Planet Positive, Pleasance will accurately measure its carbon footprint, then develop a long term strategy aiming to reduce it. We’ll be making reductions in our own energy usage whilst also helping companies to do their bit.

Top 10 PodcastHaving already shot into the iTunes Top 10 list, Pleasance’s Podcast will feature our very best acts, hosted by guest comedians. Two preview episodes, featuring David Mitchel, Reginald D Hunter, Arthur Smith and others are available now. Full episodes will be released this week.

going green

ANALogUE

INTERVIEW: ANALOGUE

People think and understand in different ways; stories, pictures, sounds. We’ve got both dramatic story and scientific spiel, each extremely important to our storytelling. We worked directly with Dr Jacob Annese – the surgeon who performed the dissection – and he’s been fantastic in helping us to shape the neuroscientist strand. In fact, his voiceover features in the show. 2401 shows how powerful and great your brain is, but also

The Pleasance Times meets Analogue co-director Hannah Barker to talk about 2401 Objects: Following Analogue’s previous projects like Mile End and Beachy Head, where have you found inspiration this year?In 2009 my co-director Liam Jarvis watched a live brain dissection on the internet. It’s become possibly the world’s most famous neurological case study; the brain belonged to Henry Molaison, who suffered from debilitating epileptic fits during his early adulthood, underwent highly experimental brain surgery and consequently lost his ability to turn short term memories into long term ones. Even if he’d known someone from 1953 (when he had the operation) until 2008 (when he died), he’d keep re-meeting them because he simply wouldn’t remember.

What’s your specific interest in the story?There are a ridiculous number of case studies about Henry. Around 100 scientists studied him during life, then thousands following the dissection. The gap comes in his life before 1953, before his operation, which is what we researched. As a result, we’ve been able to create a storyline for him. Without understanding what came before, how could anyone understand what is lost. Henry Molaison was a real man with a family and a life, so we explore that life, and who drove him and his parents to accept such crazy experimental surgery (someone drilled into his brain!) It’s all very well looking at the science, but you need to feel something for the human.With such a weighty, complex scientific topic, how does Analogue keep everything engaging?

Pleasance have launched a collaborative project with Helsinki-based company Ace Production. The partnership, named Start To Finnish, aims to improve cultural ties between the UK and Finland, with huge potential advantages for both parties.

Finland produces some cultral gems which sadly

often remain hidden from world view. Start to Finnish brings theatre from Finland to the Fringe and aims to support its wider awareness through tours, particularly in London.

Prior to yesterday’s launch, Ace Production’s highly successful show Death of a Theatre Critic piloted the partnership with Pleasance during

the story of the human behind it. You’ve been called ‘multimedia mavericks’, how does tech feature in 2401?Our set represents a giant microtome (the big thing that cuts up the brain). It’s also designed to utilise video and sound for our storytelling - particularly important for demonstrating our scientific strand through actual recordings.

2401 Objects, Pleasance Courtyard, 3-28 16:40

START TO FINNISHlast year’s Festival. This year, the company bring two shows to Pleasance, The Overcoat (right) and Chaos. Both shows strengthen cultural ties, having been created in Finland and now recast with Scottish actors.

The Overcoat, Pleasance Dome 3-29Aug (not 15), 12:25

Chaos, Pleasance Courtyard, 3-29 (Not 15), 13:50

Pleasance- Finland Collaboration

WORlD PREMIERE OF 2401 OBjECTS

@ThePleasance#pleztimes

RT @_alexpackerMy bum is front page of #pleztimes #edfringe (thanks to @EuanBorland)

RT @laffoffstigmaDear @thepleasance performers a strange man with dark eyebrows may approach you & ask you to be on YouTube tonight-Don’t panic! He’s with us

RT @idilsukan: Much discussion in the Pleasance #pleztimes office about the underlying sense of great loneliness prevalent in most of my photos #solonely

RT @MonkeyBoyMiller: @ThePleasance #Plez11 @AsherTreleaven fresh sidesplitting show, took me be surprise. Takes you on a journey that everyone needs a ticket for

The global phenomenon of Harry Potter is forever tied to its birthplace here in Edinburgh. Rowling wrote the series of seven books here in the Scottish capital.

Following Harry’s birthday (31st July), now it’s time for another Potter birthday here at Pleasance.

Potted Potter, performed by dynamic duo Dan and Jeff began, like the books, in Edinburgh at the 2006 Fringe. The pair marked their fifth aniversary after their daily show in the Pleasance Grand.

Birthday cake was provided for the 300 audience members. (That’s a lot of cake.) Children and parents alike, delighted with the show, joined in the celebrations with a rousing birthday chorus.

Dan and Jeff are best known as CBBC presenters and as story-tellers on Blue Peter. Potted Potter has sold out theatres in London, Australia, New Zealand, Edinburgh and all over the UK. This year’s offering faces the challenge of ‘potting’ all seven books

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 David Mitchell reveals top tips for performers heading to the Festival

PREVIEW EPISoDE 2 Best of the 2010 festival to get you in the mood for 2011.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUPOTTED POTTER

Dan & Jeff, Photo: Colin Hattersley

into seventy madcap minutes. Only a generous helping of Hogwarts magic can aid Dan and Jeff in their quest. In their arsenal: endless costumes, brilliant songs and even an audience-involed real-life game of Quidditch.

Potted Potter, Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 3-16 16:00

FUNDRAISING FOR THE PLEASANCEYou can support us in a number of ways:

2. Become part of “Pleasance History”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!

3. Simply donate your own amountTEXT: 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.

1. Adopt a Pleasance cobblestoneFamous 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.

SATURDAY 6th

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

AfTER HoURSPleasance Dome 00:40

ANDREW BIRD, JASON COOK, DAVE FULTON, NATHAN CATON , CRAIG

CAMPBELL

AMUSED MooSE CoMEDy AWARD SHoWCASEPleasance Dome 16:00

IMRAN YUSUF, CHRIS MARTIN, ROB BECKETT, NAZ OSMANOGLU, JAY FOREMAN, KATE LUCAS, GUY

MANNERS

CHoRTLE PRESENTS: fAST fRINgE

Pleasance Dome 18:40SALLY-ANNE HAYWARD (MC),

SEGUE SISTERS, JIM SMALLMAN, HARDEEP SINGH KHOLI, SEYMOUR MACE, ANIL DESAI, FINLAY TAYLOR,

LUKE WRIGHT, MORGAN & WEST, TOM CRAINE, CAREY MARX

RANDY, ISY SUTTIE

MERVyN STUTTER’S PICK of THE fRINgE

Pleasance Courtyard 14:30SHOWSTOPPERS, HENNING

WEHN, MARCEL LUCONT, NEW ART CLUB, WILFREDO-ERECTO,

THE TABLE (BLIND SUMMIT THEATRE), SPENT (WHY NOT

THEATRE)

NICHoLAS PARSoNS’ HAPPy HoUR

Pleasance Courtyard 14:30JASON BYRNE, DILLIE KEANE

(FASCINATING AIDA)

Rob DEERINg’S bEAT THISPleasance Courtyard 23:00

STEVE HALL, NICK HELM, TOM PRICE, ISY SUTTIE

SToRyTELLER’S CLUbPleasance Courtyard 22:00

WEIRD FAMILES, WITH: LIAM MULLONE, YIANNI AGISILAOU, NAT LUURTSEMA, ERIC, WITH SARAH BENNETTO & JAMES

DOWDESWELL

THE SHoWCASE SHoWPleasance Courtyard 13:10

KEITH FARNAN (MC), JONATHON ELSTON, FIONA O’LOUGHLIN, ADAM CROW, ALI MCGREGOR

VIVE LE CAbARETPleasance Courtyard 22:30

DES O’CONNORALI MCGREGOR

NORMAN LOVETTHUSTLE

STEVE ARUNITHE KITSCH KATS

MAT RICARDOGYPSY & VIVA - THE VIVE

SHOWGIRLS