Pleasance Theatre Trust announce first shows to
join their incredible Edinburgh Fringe programme
Bring on August! Celebrating their 40th festival, The Pleasance Theatre Trust is back for another summer with a fantastic programme of theatre, comedy, cabaret and family productions. Grab a drink at the Courtyard, the Dome or the EICC and head into one of these unmissable shows. The first official on-sale presents past Comedy Award winners, viral sensations, national treasures and exciting debuts.
Unstoppable 82-year-old Miriam Margolyes returns to the Fringe with her new show, Margolyes & Dickens: The Best Bits. Combining her infectious passion for Charles Dickens with her phenomenal versatility, Miriam brings to life the most colourful and iconic characters from his timeless novels before opening the floor to your burning questions. Arturo Brachetti, the world’s greatest quickchange artist comes to the Pleasance’s largest stage with SOLO, his most spectacular show yet. SOLO is a veritable kaleidoscope of lights, illusions, lasers unbelievable costumes and astonishing quick change, with over 50 characters brought to life on a very grand scale.
Join Rosie Jones in the Grand as she ponders whether she is a national treasure, a little prick or somewhere in between in Triple Threat! Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Catherine Cohen is back. Following a world tour and her critically acclaimed Netflix special, Come For Me is an openly glamorous, decidedly horny comedy cabaret exploration of what it means to enter your thirties.Musical supernova Jazz Emu (Telegraph’s 26th Funniest Comedian of the 21st Century) is back with Knight Fever, a brand-new show, with a full live band. Is this the chance for Jazz Emu to secure his long-coveted Knighthood?! New Zealand’s hottest comedy pop-music duo Two Hearts – Laura Daniel (Taskmaster NZ) and Joseph Moore (SNORT) – are back. Join them in Til Death Do Us Hearts for hot new songs about love, life and maintaining a successful relationship with your co-worker.
Acclaimed comedian Kemah Bob comes to the Fringe with their unmissable debut stand-up show. Kemah has been seen on QI, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club and heard on Off Menu podcast and The Guilty Feminist among others. After two smash-hit, sell-out runs, Chloe Petts returns with How You See Me, How You Don’t, a brand-new show which is going to get personal. The acclaimed comedian and 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Colin Hoult returns with Colin, a stand-up show about family, fatherhood and a formative childhood experience with a ouija board and a gorilla.
Shuffle is the latest show from Tarot, the critically-acclaimed, nightie-clad sketch-zealots; come and watch them continue their slow descent into mediocrity! The Olivier Award-winning West End hit Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is back for a 15th year! A hilarious musical comedy made up on-the-spot using audience suggestions, this multi-award-winning must-see show is a Fringe favourite.
After sell-out London runs, join harbingers of queer chaos Awkward Productions (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story) for the viral sensation Gwyneth Goes Skiing – a story of love, betrayal and skiing where you are the jury. Includes original songs by Leland (RuPaul, Troye Sivan, Cher), a special video appearance by Trixie Mattel (RuPaul’s Drag Race AS3 winner) and the singing voices of Darren Criss (Glee, The Assassination of Gianni Versace) and Catherine Cohen (Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner).
David William Bryan is returning with two shows, performed on alternate days throughout the festival. Fragility of Man follows one man’s epic, lifelong battle with the justice system while In Loyal Company tells the incredible true story of missing WWII soldier Arthur Robinson (David’s great uncle). This extraordinary story of survival is a tour-de-force war epic.
Returning to the Fringe due to phenomenal demand, The Importance of Being…Earnest? will have you in stitches. When a traditional production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play gets underway, everything seems to be going perfectly to plan… that is, until the lead actor fails to arrive on cue. Time to decide once and for all – cake or biscuit? Multi-award winning Gigglemug Theatre present A Jaffa Cake Musical, a family-friendly musical comedy, inspired by the 1991 tribunal which determined the true identity of a Jaffa Cake! Doktor Kaboom returns for an electrifying 3rd year with a brand-new show Man of Science combining stand-up comedy, fantastic science demonstrations and lessons in empowerment
Tartan Ribbon Comedy Benefit is a raucous night of laughter, raising much-needed funds for Waverley Care, Scotland’s HIV and Hepatitis C charity. With previous acts including Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard, Katherine Ryan, this year’s line-up will no doubt be amazing. The Best of Edinburgh Showcase Show 2024 is a great value lunchtime comedy showcase featuring the best and brightest of this year’s Fringe comics. Back for its 19th year and with a hand-picked line-up that changes daily, audiences are in for a treat.
With more shows to be announced over the coming months there will be comedy, theatre, circus, magic, dance, kids’ shows and much more, alongside support for some of the most innovative newcomers through artist development strand Pleasance Futures. There’s nowhere quite like the Pleasance at Fringe!