The Pleasance bring a Vanishing Elephant and a Globe of Death to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The return of Mr. Swallow and circus-theatre spectacular Cirque Berserk! are amongst the latest shows to be announced in the Pleasance’s ever-growing festival programme, along with a host of Fringe favourites on sale from 1st March.
An hour of magic, music and elephants awaits in one of the most hotly anticipated highlights of the Pleasance’s 2018 programme as Nick Mohammed’s alter-ego Mr. Swallow returns in Mr. Swallow and the Vanishing Elephant. “After much speculation, I have finally (temporarily) replaced Mr. Goldsworth and Jonathan with an actual real-life elephant called Hayley. God help us all!” (Mr. Swallow).
The show marks Mr. Swallow’s first treading of the boards since the smash-hit runs of Mr. Swallow: Houdini at the 2016 Fringe and at Soho Theatre in 2017, with Nick Mohammed recently racking up credits in the BBC / Netflix series Collateral, Ridley Scott’s The Martian, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Ab Fab The Movie, The Sense of an Ending and Disney’s Christopher Robin.
At glittering West End venue Pleasance at EICC, Britain’s biggest theatre-circus spectacular Cirque Beserk! makes its eagerly anticipated Edinburgh Fringe debut. Combining contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, the show features an astoundingly talented international troupe of over thirty acrobats, aerialists, dancers, drummers and daredevil stuntmen. Among the jaw-dropping action is the world’s most hair-raising circus act – the legendary motorcycle ‘Globe of Death’.
At the Pleasance Grand, familiar favourites make a welcome return. After storming into America and being seen by 51 million people online, Comedy Award winning TAPE FACE premieres brand new The TAPE FACE Show. Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Tim Key arrives back at Pleasance with Megadate – a brand new 70 minute show, blending poeticals, talking, standing, spotlights, cables, Kronenburg, foot-stamping and old school wistfulness. And Paul Merton’s Impro Chums – including Suki Webster, Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson and Mike McShane – play ten shows only from 9th – 18th August.
On Wednesday 22nd August, Jayde Adams and Kiri Pritchard-McLean host the comedy world’s celebration of all things West End in the triumphant return of Amusical, as comedians perform their favourite songs from the musicals. Plus, The Tartan Ribbon Comedy Benefit returns to the Grand on Tuesday 14th August with another top line-up of some of the finest names in comedy. The Pleasance will once again be supporting the work of Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV and Hepatitis C charity, with the proceeds of these two one-off, sure to sell-out spectaculars being donated to their important services.
After being cluster-bombed with yoghurt on Taskmaster, half-killed on The Island and selling out all previous shows from 2014-17, Mark Watson presents his new show The Infinite Show at Pleasance Forth at 7pm. In Bunker Two – which last year played host to Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer winner Natalie Palamides – rising star Catherine Bohart will debut her first solo hour Immaculate after appearing as part of the Pleasance Comedy Reserve in 2017.
The first acts in the much beloved Cabaret Bar venue have also been announced: former ’80s pop star turned vicar and broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles (seen recently on Strictly Come Dancing) joins the Pleasance line-up for an hour of candid chat with special guests, and lunchtime compilation show Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show features a daily-changing line-up of the best and brightest comedians.
Elsewhere at the Pleasance Dome, TV magician Ben Hanlin – seen on Tricked, Celebrity Juice and Live at The Palladium to name a few – takes to the KingDome stage with new show 50. Also coming to the stage at Pleasance at EICC is the wickedly subversive Scots comedian Craig Hill, who promises an hour of “Balls-out” comedy in C’mon the Lads!
An entire festival in itself, the Pleasance’s programme offers some of the biggest names in entertainment, with much-loved returning acts and exciting newcomers over three sites. These newly announced shows join an exciting line-up already revealed in February, which included Reginald D Hunter, Colin Cloud and Showstoppers! The Improvised Musical.
With over 200 shows still to be announced, including comedy, theatre, circus, magic, dance, kid’s shows and much more still to come, alongside support for some of the most innovative newcomers through artist development strand Pleasance Futures, there’s surely no better place to be this August.