Autumn / Winter 2016

NC E AS A PL E AUTUMN/WINTER

SEASON BROCHURE 020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

For over 30 years the Pleasance has provided a platform and launch pad for a great many artists at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at Pleasance London. The Pleasance has also supported a great many individuals in associated creative, administrative and technical roles. We call this wealth of experience and support Pleasance Futures.

Pleasance Futures oers a variety of initiatives for an array of individuals both on and o stage. From carpenters, crew and electricians to photographers, reviewers, bloggers and film-makers, the Pleasance recognises how important those first opportunities into the creative industries can be.

Find out more at www.pleasance.co.uk/futures

The Pleasance Theatre Islington has been one of the most exciting fringe theatres in London since it opened its doors in 1995, providing a launch pad for some of the most memorable productions and renowned practitioners of the past decade and staying true to its mission of providing a platform for the talent of the future.

This coming autumn season we are proud to present some of the most exciting theatre companies on the fringe. We look forward to welcoming you.

LITMUS FEST

Tickets £6.50 or both shows on the same night for £10

LITMUS FEST is an annual research and development festival that offers 6 theatre companies 2 weeks of development space, 2 technical play days followed by 2 public work-in-progress performances of 30-60 minutes.

Come and see some of London’s most exciting theatre companies experiment with their work and push themselves out of their comfort zone.

Supporting experimentation

SKELETONS

by Performance Anxiety 27th-28th September, 7:30 pm SKELETONS is an excursion into the hidden world of our secret selves. Join Adam and Lee for live lie detecting, unwanted revelations and cringe worthy confessions as they explore the secrets that define us and confine us.

Digs by Theatre with Legs in association with Etch 27th-28th September, 8:30 pm This explosive new production tells the untold stories of house and flat sharing, and takes a closer look at how we live.

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

27th September - 2nd October

Left My Desk at Crescent House

by Lost Watch 29th-30th September, 7:30 pm

Modern Love

by Levi Productions 1st-2nd October, 7:30 pm

“Really, it would be cheaper for the tax payer if all the babies in care died and we paid for each one to have a horse drawn funeral carriage.”

A one-woman show about caring.

Spanning one term at Oxford University, Modern Love follows the story of two sets of best friends - Olivia and Ella, Harry and Jonah - whose lives collide when they all fall for Ella.

This hybrid production will blend film and theatre to create a new and unique visual experience.

Trench

by Philippa Mannion 29th-30th September, 8:30 pm

Project A

by Piqued Productions 1st-2nd October, 8:30 pm

A new play about the seismic shifts in relationships, about land falling into the sea, about the gulfs between people, about continents drifting apart.

In a corner of the UK unlawful abortion still carries a life sentence. In an unusual piece of total theatre Project A illuminates the unheard stories that surround this contentious and emotive subject.

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

Showroom in association with Pleasance presents

Epic Love and Pop Songs 4th-9th October 7:30 pm, 5:00 pm £12 (£10 Concession)

“Incredible chemistry… a funny, engaging story” The Scotsman “A kind of British “Juno”… energetically performed” The Stage “Sharp insight… A rainbow-tinted slice of teenage fun” Fest “Two wonderful performances… real class” Reviews Hub

Remember your best friend? Not that one – the other one. Yeah that one. The one that liked to lie. Maybe it’s time they fessed up. Maybe Doll and Ted should start telling the truth. Doll is on the mic, Ted is on backing vocals. Set to the greatest love songs of all time, this is what happens when the lights come on, you’re singing your heart out to Celine Dion, you’ve been sick on your shoes, and you realise you might just have to grow up.

Epic Love and Pop Songs makes its London debut after a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Written by Pheobe Eclair-Powell and directed by Jamie Jackson.

Picture by Mihaela Bodlovic

Jaw Rattle Productions presents

Can You Hear Me Running?

4th-23rd October 8:00 pm, 5:30 pm*, 1:00 pm £12 (£10 Concession) Can You Hear Me Running?, written by Jo Harper, charts the real life experiences of Louise Breckon Richards, a performer who loses her voice to a rare condition and decides to overcome it by running the London Marathon. Louise embarks on a journey to refind her voice and meets a host of characters along the way, from voice professionals to new age healers.

In a visually engaging and innovative production, live music, video projection and storytelling are combined to theatricalise this intimate yet universal story about never giving up until the finish line.

Jaw Rattle Productions, established by Steve Grihault, brings together creative collaborators for each new project to explore inventive ways of approaching plays and theatre making; consequently it remains fresh, playful and dynamic. Can You Hear Me Running? is funded with generous support from Arts Council England.

“Totally blown away!”

Jennifer Bozon, assistant editor Women’s Running “Beautiful, poetic writing… a maestro performance” Janet Tyler, writer “Fascinating, compelling, emotional and smart” Ben Blaine, screenwriter and director

*The 5.30pm performance on Sunday 16th October is a sign language interpreted performance.

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

Cardboard Citizens presents

Cathy

11th-15th October, 7:30 pm £12 (£10 Preview /£8 Concessions) Settled... Until suddenly you’re not...

Candid, poignant and intimate, this new play by award-winning playwright Ali Taylor offers a timely reflection on the social impact of spiralling rents and forced relocation. Acclaimed theatre company Cardboard Citizens presents this powerful and emotive forum theatre show, provoking discussion and debate, inspired by Ken Loach’s pioneering drama, Cathy Come Home.

Ali Taylor’s previous credits include plays Cotton Wool and Overspill (both Critics’ Choice). Cathy is directed by Cardboard Citizens’ Artistic Director, Adrian Jackson.

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

Pleasance presents

A Pleasance Scratch

SSF presents

Shakespeare Schools Festival

20th-21st October £9.00 (£7 Concessions) Group offer £6.50 for 20+ tickets purchased

17th October, 7:30 pm

£6.50

A Pleasance Scratch is an evening of variety, ideas and fun; a chance to see artists present brave, new work at the first stages of development.

The Pleasance is proud to support a large number of developing artists every year through our various Pleasance Futures initiatives, and this is an opportunity for you to have the first glimpse at what these talented young theatre makers are creating next.

See Shakespeare performed as you’ve never seen it before! Shakespeare Schools Festival is proud to present a series of unique performances by children from all over London.

All are welcome to this inspiring evening of theatre. Whether you are a parent, friend or another local school, SSF is a wonderful way to experience the language, magic and possibilities of Shakespeare.

Please contact the box office direct for a list of schools and the plays they are performing.

Come and celebrate the future of Shakespeare with your local schools. For adults and children alike an evening at Shakespeare Schools Festival will create a night to be treasured and remembered!

Programme to be announced...

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

PLEASANCE PRESENTS

HUB

THE HOME OF ALL THINGS FUNNY

★★★★★-“A dynamic, energetic and overall marvellous showcase of talent” Broadway Baby

Time Out Critics’ Choice Tickets £5.00 Dates 3rd October 7th November & 5th DecembeR 0207 609 1800 pleasance.co.uk Check website for line-ups

Velvet Trumpet presents

Rubber Ring

31st October-6th November 7:45 pm, 5:00 pm £12 (£10 Concessions) “Velvet Trumpet are the masters of municipal dark comedy. An unlikely genre but they totally nail it.”

Stewart Pringle, Time Out/Exeunt “Velvet Trumpet once again proves they are masters of tragicomedy” The Metropolist on Money Womb “Full marks to Velvet Trumpet, a small theatre company with big ambitions, who aren’t afraid to be inventive and push against the squeeze on funding and challenge the social status quo that seems to have theatre by its vice like, privileged grip.”

View From The Upper Circle on Money Womb

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

“I’m sixteen. I don’t know whether I like boys or girls. I live in Sheringham. I’m fucked. Well I’m not actually, that’s the problem.”

Jimmy’s sixteen, sexually confused and stuck in Sheringham; the seaside town they forgot to bomb. When Morrissey comes to London, Jimmy flees to the city to try and find his hero and himself.

Velvet Trumpet present work that is bittersweet and above all funny. They are proud to present this witty debut play by windswept Norfolk playwright James McDermott.

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

INK Festival 16th-19th November 7:45 pm, 2:45 pm £10 (£8 Concession) What do Benjamin Britten, Ralph Fiennes, Latitude and Ink Festival all have in common?

Answer: East Anglian theatre at its best.

Now INK spills into the capital with a showcase of the brightest and best in new playwriting from the hugely successful INK Festival 2016.

INK is a springboard festival which champions new writing from East Anglia in an unmissable weekend of quality, live back-to-back performances of short plays and films plus live music.

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

22nd November – 1st December

LAMDA is a world-leading drama school.

Expect bold, risk-taking and unforgettable work. This autumn, LAMDA’s BA (Hons) Professional Acting and Stage Management and Technical Theatre students will bring two classical productions to the Pleasance.

Find out more at www.lamda.org.uk

William Shakespeare Directed by Ian Brown

Richard III

Cyril Tourneur or Thomas Middleton Directed by Rodney Cottier

The Revenger’s Tragedy

22nd November-1st December 7:30 pm, 2:00 pm £10 (£6 Concession) Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined to wrest the crown of England from his brother, King Edward IV, at any cost. A story of jealousy, manipulation and deceit chronicling the bloody rise to power and reign of Shakespeare’s most tyrannical monarch.

23rd November-1st December 7:30 pm, 2:00 pm £10 (£6 Concession) Vindice and Hippolito are seeking revenge. But the decadent Italian court they operate in will not provide it easily. Schemes and counterschemes collide in this vivid and often violent tale of lust, treachery and aristocratic ambition.

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

Coming soon...

NSDF Transfer Week: Goggles

The winner of this year’s National Student Drama Festival award is Goggles, by theatre company ThisEgg. As part of the NSDF award, the winning company will receive a week’s run at Pleasance London.

Keep an eye on our website for more details.

Gemma and Josie had pet fish, Sunny and Boo. But now they are dead. Goggles is an attempt to give them the happy ending they deserved. As they remember watching their fish live harmoniously in a bowl, Gemma and Josie wonder if they love each other as much as Sunny and Boo had loved each other. They wonder if they love each other equally. A quirky comedy about two people trying to stay afloat. Winner of EntertainmentWise.com’s Best Hidden Gem Award.

“This theatre company is definitely one to keep an eye on” EdinburghSpotlight.com

020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

£1 transaction fee per ticket on telephone and online bookings, capped at £5

As a patron you can benefit from regular patrons’ updates, discounted tickets, invitations to various patron events, an invitation to our Festival Launch Gala in Edinburgh and much, much more.

To find out more about becoming a patron please visit: www.pleasance.co.uk/patrons

With special thanks to our patrons Ellie and Duncan McKinnon Laura and Danny Masters Campbell Armour Karen and Dan Docwra Richard Cockburn and Susan McGrath Chris and Laura Hodgson Tim Wishart

Box Office

Find us

Carpenters Mews, North Road, London, N7 9EF 020 7609 1800 www.pleasance.co.uk

UNDERGROUND Caledonian Road - Piccadilly line (5 minutes walk)

Mon - Sun 10am - 6pm

OVERGROUND Caledonian Road and Barnsbury (15 minutes walk)

Concessions

BUS Bus 393 stops right directly outside the theatre with buses 17, 91, 259 and N91 all stopping at Caledonian Road Underground Station, 5 minutes walk away.

On performance days the Box Office will remain open until the start of the final performance.

Concession rates (where advertised) are available with proof of status for Under 18s, Senior Citizens, Students, Registered Unemployed, Disabled, Visually Impaired, Deaf or Hard of Hearing Visitors. Carers and Personal Assistants can attend free of charge. Group and Schools discounts are available on selected events, please contact the Box Office directly.

PARKING Metered on-street parking is available outside the theatre Mon to Fri 10am 4:30pm with free parking evenings and weekends.

Booking fees Telephone and online bookings are subject to a ÂŁ1 transaction fee per ticket, capped at a maximum of ÂŁ5. Tickets can be collected anytime during Box Office opening hours or posted to you for an additional 50p.

Bookings made in person are not subject to a transaction fee.

Please note tickets sold are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Latecomers may not be admitted.

Access Pleasance Theatre strives to provide access for all. Our Main House is fully accessible via a lift from street level, we have infrared hearing system in both performance spaces, accessible toilets and Guide Dogs are welcome. Sadly at present our StageSpace does not have step free access.

Our aim is to make your visit as enjoyable as possible for further information or to discuss any access requirements please contact the Box Office.

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