Pleasance Courtyard Archives - North West End UK

Max Fulham: Full of Ham – The Cellar in Pleasance Courtyard

27Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

Max Fulham: Full of Ham – The Cellar in Pleasance Courtyard

This was Maxs last show at the Edinburgh Fringe, and it was a sell-out. A testament to his popularity in his debut run of Full of Ham. First impressions this guy has the comedic spontaneity of Micheal McIntyre with a ventriloquist dummy. Max Fulham is an innovative ventriloquist with originality and flare. For those of you who remember ‘Billy Bear Ham’ growing up, he breathes life into ‘Billy’ in a way that defies logic, but it works. “I’m ham not spam” Characters who appear in Max’s portfolio of puppetry is his very first red-haired hand puppet given to him as child and from here his interest in ventriloquism was ignited. With a nod to the great Keith Harris and Orvil. Be prepared to see ‘Jesus with his sandals’ grandad, and the ‘birthday boy’. Not forgetting a shopping trip at the...

Thanyia Moore: August – Pleasance Courtyard

21Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

Thanyia Moore: August – Pleasance Courtyard

Thanyia Moore is a seasoned comedian and actress who has appeared on Mock the Week (BBC) Drunk Histories Black Stories (Comedy Central) and Cats does Countdown (C4). First appearing at the Fringe in 2022 she returns with her show August. She named her show August because it was whilst she was at the Fringe she experienced a personal loss through an ectopic pregnancy which interrupted her long awaited run and resulted in her returning to London for treatment. Through comedy she tells the story of her journey and encounters from her favourite taxi driver, the NHS staff and her production team who supported her throughout. Determined to finish her run Thanyia returned and continued to what she described as not the best performance. Humble and steadfast she ploughed through to a standing ovati...

Cara & Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life – The Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three)

15Aug

By Gill LewisNo Comments

Scotland

Cara & Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life – The Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three)

A powerful two hander which packs a punch with its raw and honest portrayal of two larger than life best friends, with some fatal consequences. Nothing is off topic between best pals Cara and Kelly, inseparable soul sisters and best friends who each wear the other half of a heart necklace, a symbol of their friendship. Yet loyalties become blurred as their union is tested to its limits. A friendship, which as we discover, inhabits cracks observed during their scathing arguments, which are littered with hurtful truths. A co-dependence is suggested by Kelly feeling put upon and burdened by Cara’s needs fueled by her broken family background and absent care givers. Their different socio-economic backgrounds become increasingly and painfully apparent. Hanging o...

Hold The Line – Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two

12Aug

By Gill LewisNo Comments

Scotland

Hold The Line – Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two

A build-up of pressure is intensely captured as we take a call on the frontline of the NHS. With a brilliant use of movement and staging, creative elements beautifully demonstrate quite literally, how our frontline workers get tangled up in the ever-growing demand for help. Squeezed by the grip of bureaucracy so tight, the increasing pace of work leaves staff gas lighted into quitting, as they’re told “It is what it is”. Emerging writer Sam Macgregor taps into his own lived experience and perfectly portrays the relentless and urgent nature that NHS call handlers have to deal with, whilst keeping a smile in their voice and a calm, professional tone. This is an immersive two hander which delves inside the belly of an NHS 111 call centre. Macgregor, is Gary, a call handler with 5 ye...

#CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Play That Trump Does Not Want You to See! – Pleasance Courtyard

10Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

#CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Play That Trump Does Not Want You to See! – Pleasance Courtyard

In August 2017 white supremacists held a ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which erupted into violence resulting in more than 30 people being injured in clashes between the so-called Alt Right and counter-protesters. The next day a white supremacist deliberately drove his car into a crowd of counter protesters, injuring 35 people and killing Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal who provided legal help to people at risk of repossessions and evictions. Priyanka Shetty, who was at the time a student in Charlottesville, has written and performs this meticulously researched one person play. It’s a powerful production, directed by Yury Urnov, which lambasts the violent racism of the white supremacists, but also contends that what happened at Charlottesville was not an an...

8Aug

By Dylan MooneyNo Comments

Scotland

1984 – Pleasance Courtyard

It was an overcast morning in August, and the clocks were striking 11:25am for Box Tale Soup’s adaptation of !984, the classic novel by George Orwell. Winston Smith works within the outer layer of ‘the Party’ as he begins to desire change and rebellion. In a world where simple things such as thoughts become crimes, Winston must navigate his hope without getting caught while also finding others who share his dreams and want to launch a rebellion. This is never going to be easy as, of course, Big Brother is always watching. On arrival into the theatre, the first striking detail of this piece is its set. Surrounded by wooden pillars, boxes and an ominous, white, tent-like structure, the space has been filled well. Moreover, all of these set pieces are used in very practical ways. Set p...

Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? – Pleasance Courtyard

26Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? – Pleasance Courtyard

Nina Conti's Whose Face Is It Anyway? is a stand-up puppet comedy show that had the audience doubled over with laughter from the very first moment. It's unlike anything I've ever seen in comedy—truly outstanding! Nina's performance was nothing short of fabulous, showcasing her incredible talent. And Monkey? I absolutely love that little guy. Her show was the highlight of my week, proving once again that she's a consummate professional who makes an incredibly difficult skill look effortless. Managing four masked-up audience members on stage simultaneously takes serious confidence, and she pulled it off with ease. The brilliance of Nina's act lies in its spontaneity. The whole show felt genuinely live, with clever interactions that kept us on our toes. The interplay between Nina an...

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story – Pleasance Courtyard

24Aug

By Torya HughesNo Comments

Scotland

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story – Pleasance Courtyard

Diana, Princess of Wales is brought to life as you've never seen her before, in a chaotic sort-of solo show by Awkward Productions. Starring Linus Karp as the titular princess, who is often upstaged by Joseph Martin in the role of Camilla, the show also features very enthusiastic audience participation. The company are honest at the outset - this is the story of Diana's life, but there is very little truth to it. Instead, this is a mix of drag, multimedia, comedy and borderline slander. Certain audience members are chosen to play roles such as Diana's parents, the royal nannies and even the Queen's corgi. To their credit they all get involved with great enthusiasm and seem to relish the opportunity to hop up onstage. Charles is represented by a cardboard cutout with real hair stuck ...

Kanan Gill: What Is This? – Pleasance Courtyard

21Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Kanan Gill: What Is This? – Pleasance Courtyard

I went to watch Kanan Gill: What Is This? without expecting much, but by the end of the show, he had completely stolen the spotlight. It was absolutely hilarious from start to finish, leaving everyone in the audience roaring with laughter. The show was fully captioned, making it accessible to everyone, but it was Gill’s sharp wit and relatable humour that truly set the stage on fire. He touched on all aspects of life as we know it today, turning everyday situations into comedy gold. One of the standout bits was when he talked about the things we see on YouTube—especially those that highlight how imperfectly we live our lives, like common mistakes in breathing. The way he dissected such mundane topics had everyone in stitches. Another memorable segment was his hilarious take on th...

A Jaffa Cake Musical – Pleasance Courtyard

21Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

Scotland

A Jaffa Cake Musical – Pleasance Courtyard

While A Jaffa Cake Musical is by no means the most extravagant musical at the Fringe, you’d be hard-pressed to find a show that fills you with more child-like glee. Based loosely on the 1991 trial in which the nature of a Jaffa cake (not biscuit) was decided, Gigglemug’s new musical is hilarious, surprisingly informative, and filled to the brim with catchy songs. The story mostly follows Kevin, played with giddy optimism by Sam Cochrane, who is the defence lawyer hired by the Jaffa Cake company to prove that Jaffa Cakes are indeed cakes not biscuits. In typical musical fashion, Kevin’s parents are devastated he chose to become a lawyer rather than an actor: ‘Why would you want stability when you could be performing in a musical?’ His rival, Katherine, is the far more accomplished of...