Edinburgh Preview Season 2018

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All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

HUB 4TH JUNE 20:00 After an amazing Edinburgh Fringe run last year with sell-out shows and five star reviews, HUB is now a monthly feature of the Pleasance London programme, featuring the best acts as they test drive their new material.

SINDHU VEE 26TH JUNE 19:45 Loving your children, spouse and ageing parents (in that order, please don’t tell my mother) is very hard work, very intense and, a lot of the time, it sucks. But who wants to live without love? Highly anticipated debut from host of BBC Radio 4’s Comedy of the Week podcast.

STEVIE MARTIN VOL. 1 25TH JUNE & 12TH JULY 19:45 Expect comedy. Expect laughing.

Expect a stage. Do not expect a live horse because there won’t be one.

As seen on Channel 4’s Damned, Russell Howard’s Good News, Comedy Central’s Brotherhood and BBC Radio 4’s Sketchorama. Co-host of The Debrief Podcast. Really wanted to incorporate a live horse into her show.

HEIDI REGAN 26TH JUNE 21:00 Winner of BBC New Comedy Award 2017 and So You Think You’re Funny 2016, Heidi Regan brings her debut show to the Edinburgh Fringe. In Heidi vs Sharks, the aforementioned Heidi explores our relationship with an increasingly confusing world via the medium of bad shark films (starring the aforementioned sharks).

PIERRE NOVELLIE 25TH JUNE & 4TH JULY 21:00

EVELYN MOK

Last year, Pierre gave you observational comedy for people who think they don’t like observational comedy (★★★★ - Metro), this year it’s satire for people without a team. Pierre’s views don’t please anyone 100% of the time, so who exactly is his demographic?

Other white South African Manxmen?

When you feel alienated by life, mock it vigorously.

27TH JUNE 19:45 Featured on Sky, Comedy Central and BBC’s New Talent Hotlist, the award-winning Swedish stand-up explores responsibility, blame and cake in this much-anticipated second hour, promising to be “uncensored, unapologetic and... wildly refreshing”. (★★★★ - BroadwayBaby.com).

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

TOM HOUGHTON 27TH JUNE 21:00 Tom’s just been made ‘The Honourable’.

Not by his own merit (he’s been sacked from Wetherspoons twice) but the traditional aristocratic way, by default. Basically, his dad, ex-Chief of Defence Staff and current Constable of the Tower of London, was inducted into the House of Lords, making Tom “honourable”, apparently.

‘This unexpected tour de force warrants a 21-gun salute’ ★★★★ - Telegraph

SISTERS 28TH JUNE 21:00 After a sell-out debut show, innovative sketch duo Sisters are putting you in control of their highly anticipated second hour.

‘A genuinely exciting new voice in sketch comedy’ - Telegraph ‘Stands out as a must-see’ - EdFringeReview.com

PETE FIRMAN 28TH JUNE & 18TH JULY 19:45 “The UK’s leading comedy magician” (Time Out) is returning to the Fringe with an astonishing new show. As seen on ITV1’s Tonight at the London Palladium and The Next Great Magician and BBC1’s The John Bishop Show and The Sarah Millican Television Programme.

‘The man from Middlesbrough sets the pace for comedy-meets-magic in the 21st century.’ - Times

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THE PIN 29TH JUNE & 4TH, 11TH & 19TH JULY 19:45 After 3 multi-award winning series on BBC Radio 4, “the next Mitchell and Webb” (Times) are going back to the Fringe with a brand new show that’s “hysterical” (Independent) “masterful” (Sunday Times) and “gorgeously skewed.” (Guardian) Expect a “very classy, very funny” hour (Telegraph) from the creators of BBC3’s Oi, Leonardo! and writers for Famalam (BBC3) and Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC1.) As seen on W1A (BBC2) and ‘Wannabe (BBC3.)

‘The most exciting new comedy duo working today’ - David Walliams

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

BEN POPE KIERAN HODGSON

30TH JUNE 21:00

29TH JUNE 21:00 & 5TH JULY 19:45

Ben Pope is an award-winning comedian and cosmopolitan mammal.

In this, his debut hour of stand-up, the hapless beast tries to find a nest.

Expect jokes and stories on millennial rootlessness, finding and escaping yourself, Scandinavia and milk.

Ask most people to remember the early 70s and they won’t. But for character comedian and tedious party guest Kieran Hodgson they might hold the answer to the biggest question of our time: ‘Europe?’

Twice nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Kieran returns to the Fringe with the epic tale of how Britain joined Europe in the first place. An overambitious hour of history, politics and enduring friendship punctuated by stunningly accurate impressions of dead politicians you’ve never heard of.

Piccadilly Comedy Club New Comedian of the Year 2017 and So You Think You’re Funny finalist 2015.

As seen on Comedy Central Online and heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

‘Hilarious’ - List

★★★★★ - Guardian, Telegraph, Evening Standard

SARAH KEYWORTH ADAM HESS 30TH JUNE 19:45 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominee, as seen on Tonight at the Palladium and Live at the BBC. Adam can’t imagine the Queen with wet hair and he can’t get his head around the fact his cat has a grandad.

‘I’ve seen few shows that are funnier’ ★★★★ - Times ‘For high quality gags per minute there is no better comedian on the Fringe’ ★★★★ - Independent

2ND JULY 19:45 You’ve seen her on Comedy Central, you’ve seen her on the BBC. Now see Nottingham-born rising star Sarah Keyworth’s debut hour. Join Sarah as she tells you about her life with an important little girl and her battle against every expectation of what being a girl means. Think Girls Just Wanna Have Fun but British, deadpan and in no way similar.

‘Charming’ - Independent ‘Excellently deadpan’ - HuffingtonPost.com

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

JAYDE ADAMS

ELF LYONS

2ND JULY 21:00

3RD JULY 21:00

Comedian Jayde Adams is going full diva with glorious gowns, acerbic charm and show-stopping music by Olivier Award-winner Richard Thomas.

Directed by Matt Peover.

The Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee (Best Show 2017) presents her one-woman musical about the economy. You read that right. Let’s get fiscal. The queen of clown is back and she’s making the dismal science fun with a whole orchestra and an Invisible Hand.

Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominee 2016. Scottish Sun’s Best Female Comedian Winner 2017. Scottish Sun’s Best Show of Edinburgh Fringe Winner 2017.

Chortle Best Newcomer Nominee 2017.

BBC New Talent Hotlist 2017. Fringe World Best Comedy Show 2018 nominee. British Vogue’s ”20 Names of Now”.

“Jayde Adams is the 3rd funniest woman in the world. Fact.” - Dawn French

FELICITY WARD 3RD JULY 19:45 Fresh off the back of her new BBC Radio 4 series Appisodes, a Netflix special Live from the BBC, and regular co-host of The Guilty Feminist Podcast, Felicity Ward returns to the Edinburgh Fringe after a two-year hiatus. She’s back and ready to bust a nut-ful of jokes.

‘A killer show… tremendous… unrelenting… she’s so bloody funny‘ ★★★★★ - List

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SHORT & CURLY: YOUNG AT START 5TH JULY 21:00 Curly is convinced that appearing youthful is the answer to success and he will do whatever is necessary to get ‘youth’. Cut a long story short. Short ruins it. If you thought pink custard was good you’ll crap your pants over this!

‘It’s completely hilarious and amazing’ ★★★★ - BroadwayBaby.com ‘An exhilarating experience’ ★★★★ - ShortCom.co.uk

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

THE LAMPOONS: HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL 7TH JULY 19:45 The Lampoons are back with this joyously absurd and furiously bizarre late-night comedy! Join these four professional idiots in a hilarious reimagining of a Hollywood classic.

An eccentric millionaire offers four strangers $10,000 if they last the night at his haunted house party. Tasty!

Portuguese ghost cats. Killer pickles.

And Vincent Price’s rogue moustache.

If you find a more haunted house, we’ll double it!

‘The best thing you haven’t watched yet. These idiots are geniuses’ Simon Kane, BBC Comedy

MATT REES 7TH JULY 21:00 Matt Rees returns to Edinburgh with his highly anticipated debut Happy Hour.

The multi-award-winning Welshman and sober drunk brings 60 minutes of “very funny lines with a compelling, unforced lugubriousness” (Chortle.co.uk) from “a properly original comedy mind” (Guardian).

The deadpan rising star has won a whole host of awards including Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year and Leicester Square Comedian of The Year as well as being nominated for Chortle Best Newcomer.

FIN TAYLOR 9TH JULY 19:45 “The most relevant comedian in Edinburgh” (EdFestMag) is back! His finger’s still on the pulse, except now he doesn’t know whether that’s flirting or harassment.

This is the third year in a row Fin has picked a stupid title after 5 star sellouts Whitey McWhiteface and Lefty Tighty Righty Loosey. With race and politics done, he’s getting stuck into the War of the Sexes.

As seen on Comedy Central. ‘exceptionally thought-provoking and properly hilarious’ - The Skinny

SHEEPS 10TH & 17TH JULY 21:00 Everything is going well in the wider world. No crises on the horizon.

Seeing that the coast is finally clear, the Sheeps three are reuniting, despite never having broken up. It will be lots of new sketches and no old sketches.

So if you mainly like our older stuff then this one’s not for you. But if you want to see new (wiser) sketches from some old masters (Time Out’s ‘Ones To Watch, 2011’) then see it.

‘Clever, arch and hilarious’ - Guardian

multi-layered…

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

BEN HANLIN LOLLY ADEFOPE

13TH JULY 19:30

11TH JULY 21:00

TV magician Ben Hanlin returns to Edinburgh with his brand-new show. Ben has searched the globe and the history books to find the 50 best magic tricks ever performed.

He’s added his own cheeky spin and presents them in this fastpaced magic show!

The hotly-anticipated new show from the multi-award-winning character comedian and star of Taskmaster (Dave), Loaded (Channel 4), Miracle Workers (TBS USA) and Damned (Channel 4).

The Observer’s Rising Star 2017, Lolly is ”nothing short of outstanding” ★★★★★ - ITalkTelly.com

Ben’s warm and fun personality have made him a regular TV face, appearing in his own ITV2 show, Tricked, Celebrity Juice, Live at the Palladium and many more. In 2016 his debut Edinburgh show, Trickhead, was a great success achieving four and five star reviews!

‘Amazing!’ - Kim Kardashian ‘You wanker’ - Kerry Katona

CHRIS WASHINGTON 12TH JULY 21:00 Edinburgh Best Newcomer nominee, Chris Washington debuts his brandnew show about the best year of his life! Including receiving the prestigious 10 years service tie pin from Royal Mail and the series of ‘You Beauty!’ moments that followed.

A feel-good underdog story about a Wigan postman who used all his annual leave to take a show to the world’s biggest arts festival and got five numbers and the bonus ball on the comedy lottery.

As seen on Live from the BBC. Jason Manford tour support.

MOON 13TH JULY 19:45 Moon is a comedy double-act by Jack Chisnall and Joshua Dolphin, two proud sons of England’s provincial backwaters. They’ll be hawking up their brand of dark, unexpected, and immersive sketches at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe for the first time.

Armed with some nifty soundtrack trickery and plenty of acting chops, they’ve weaved together this eyecatching debut hour. Leicester Square Sketch-Off finalists 2018.

Writers for BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show.

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

DANIEL COOK & CIARÁN DOWD 13TH JULY 19:45 A new stand-up show from “hilarious faced” (List) idiot, Daniel Cook. I wanna talk to you face-toface about my new pet cat. As seen and heard on BBC One, Channel 4, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2.

‘Frenetic and hilarious... Superb’ ★★★★ - List The grotesque love child of Don Juan and Don Quixote takes you on a journey through his conquests, his adventures and every stupid thought in his idiot head. Returning to Edinburgh with his debut solo show, Ciarán is a character comedian and member of the critically acclaimed sketch group BEASTS. As seen on Drunk History (Comedy Central), Josh (BBC One) and Gameface (E4).

Directed by Tom Parry.

ALEX EDELMAN 16TH JULY 21:00 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Alex Edelman returns to Edinburgh with his third solo show. It’s about jigsaw-loving Nazis and tribalism.

Come. In the last year alone, Edelman has performed on Conan, supported Beck and Ricky Gervais, and saw his special, Live at the BBC released on Netflix UK. A Boston native, NYC dweller, this millennial posterboy is wise beyond his years, remarkably self-assured, and at the top of his game. He’s still Jewish.

Hope that’s OK.

‘Greatest of the fools’ - Scotsman

CHRISTOPHER BLISS 17TH JULY 19:45

JOHN HASTINGS 16TH JULY 19:45 Last year, John Hastings was hit by a car and broke his arm. He then became homeless (his choice) with a long distance girlfriend (her choice) and now has a lot of thoughts on pigeons and bicycles (your choice). Now he’s written this comedy show. A tale of displacement, death and denial (don’t worry, there are jokes too).

Award-winning comedian Rob Carter’s cult-hit creation, Christopher Bliss, is back. The worst novelist in Shropshire has written, directed, and cast himself in his first ever play, alongside both of his friends.

‘One of the best character shows we’ve seen for a long time’ Comedy.co.uk ‘This is how character comedy should be done’ ★★★★ - Chortle.co.uk

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

CARL DONNELLY & JACOB HAWLEY 20TH JULY 19:45

LAUREN PATTISON 18TH JULY 21:00 Following a whirlwind year of awards, nominations and sold-out shows on top of a run at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Lastminute.com Best Newcomer nominee 2017 Lauren Pattison is back in Edinburgh.

Come see her deliver some new home truths with her wicked, warm and authentic brand of humour.

‘Razor wit and brutal honesty’ ★★★★★ - List

19TH JULY 19:45 After the sold-out success of Everglow and Everlong, English Comedian Of The Year winner, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and voice of ITV’s Survival Of The Fittest is back with a lovely story from a loveable boy about loving things. Lovely.

‘Unmistakable influences of Daniel Kitson’ - Fest ‘A teenage Alan Bennett’ - Skinny

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‘Unpredictable, hysterical and, quite frankly, inspiring’ ★★★★ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine Jacob Hawley presents his highlyanticipated debut hour. Hailing from a working-class Brexit town, Jacob now has an arts degree, a vegetarian girlfriend and an almost-convincing concern for climate change. It’s not quite Billy Elliot but it’s something.

‘A mature, sharp wit, a relaxed manner and an undertow of political passion... clever, and different’ - Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard

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Carl Donnelly is set to celebrate a decade’s worth of critically acclaimed stand-up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his 10th one-man show; ‘Strictly Carl Donnelly’.

TANIA EDWARDS & PIERRE NOVELLIE 21ST JULY 19:45 Tania Edwards has written for Mock the Week (BBC 2), Stand Up For The Week and Twit of the Year (Ch 4).

Tania recently supported Katherine Ryan on tour. Her scintillating oneliners were crowned top jokes of the Fringe (Mirror), James Acaster’s best Edinburgh Fringe picks (The Guardian), and Glamour Magazine’s top female comics.

‘Fantastically seamy side to the material... also great with audience banter... sublime... brilliant’ - Chortle

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Pierre was nominated by industry website Chortle.co.uk for the Best Club Comedian award in 2016 and 2017.

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‘Very funny’ - Scotsman

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

ROB AUTON & STEVE BUGEJA

ADAM HESS & MATT WINNING

22ND JULY 19:45 This is a comedy/theatre/spoken word show about talking by award winning writer and performer Rob Auton.

Following on from his shows about hair, sleep, water, faces, the sky and the colour yellow, Rob now turns his attention to talking because he is ready to talk about talking.

24TH JULY 19:45 A show about how he almost ruined his life this year, leaving him with nothing, and how he’s trying to get it back on track.

‘A genuine original.

Poetical, philosophical, humane, completely charming and funny to boot.’

- The Guardian Steve Bugeja: BBC New Comedy Award Winner returns following three critically-acclaimed shows. As seen on Stand Up Central (Comedy Central), Love Island Aftersun (ITV2) and Radio 4’s Fresh From The Fringe.

‘For high quality gags per minute there is no better comedian on the Fringe’ ★★★★ - Independent Dr Matt Winning is thinking about starting a family but wonders if he should. A show about why our knowledge about climate change doesn’t necessarily match with our actions.

‘Winning’s sharp wit and intelligence allows him to educate as he entertains’ ★★★★ 1/2 - Sunday Post

‘Big Laughs’ - Guardian

FLO AND JOAN & PIERRE NOVELLIE FLO AND JOAN & MATT FORDE 23RD JULY 19:45 Flo & Joan: “Their style is stiletto sharp, their diction perfect as they race through their complex rhymes” (Evening Standard). Winner - Best Musical Act (Leicester Comedy Festival 2018). Winner - Best Music & Variety Act (Chortle Awards 2018).

Matt Forde: The whole thing’s a mess and only one person can sort it out.

Sadly, we have no idea who. Join Britain’s leading political comedian, Matt Forde, for his last show as an EU citizen.

‘Possibly the best political comedy show on the Fringe’ - Telegraph

25TH JULY 19:45 Following a sell-out run of their critically acclaimed 2017 show The Kindness of Stranglers, musical comedy duo and sisters Flo & Joan return to Edinburgh with a new hour of their dark and witty songs.

‘These intricately crafted, flawlessly performed numbers will have you howling with laughter one minute, wiping away a tear the next’ ★★★★ - Telegraph Last year, Pierre gave you observational comedy for people who think they don’t like observational comedy (★★★★ Metro), this year it’s satire for people without a team. Pierre was nominated by industry website Chortle.co.uk for the Best Club Comedian award in 2016 and 2017.

‘Dawn of a major talent’ - Guardian

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

NINA’S GOT NEWS 26TH & 27TH JULY 19:45 ‘I asked you to come here because I was frightened and you’re my closest friend’.

In the aftermath of their failed relationship Nina calls on her newly ex-boyfriend Chris and best friend Vanessa for help. She has news, and it scares her. Will her friends believe her?

No matter how implausible her story?

And should they?

Nina’s Got News is the debut play from comedian, author and broadcaster Frank Skinner. His many broadcasting credits include Fantasy Football League, Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned, Room 101 and Taskmaster.

AHIR SHAH & BILAL ZAFAR 28TH JULY 19:45 Ahir Shah: Duffer. A stand-up show about death and what comes before, life and what comes after, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

‘Ratchets up the dismay to thermonuclear levels’ ★★★★ Guardian Bilal Zafar is back with a brand-new show! Social media has been taken over by bots spreading hate, fear and influencing how we vote. In Lovebots, Bilal has made his own bots to fight back, except these bots only want to spread love and compassion.

‘Witty and absorbing... entertaining’ - Times

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JULIAN DEANE & JACK BARRY

SITTING 26TH & 27TH JULY 19:45 Luke, Cassandra and Mary are sitting.

They sit weekly for their portraits and in a series of revealing sessions end up sharing their funny and moving tales of love, longing and loss. ‘Sitting’ is the debut play by BAFTA award-winning actress Katherine Parkinson. Her many credits include The IT Crowd, Doc Martin, The Honourable Woman and Humans.

29TH JULY 19:45 Julian Deane: As seen on Russell Howard’s Hour and fresh from a world tour via Wembley with Paul Chowdhry, one of Britain’s funniest and most talented comedians presents his brand new show about being a working class parent out of his depth. ‘sharp, original punchlines’ - The Independent This year, acclaimed stand-up Jack Barry’s been appointed by his parents as their couples therapist. To save the marriage, he’s read up on sex, love and relationships. He’s definitely still no expert. ★★★★★ - EdFestMag.com ★★★★ - Sunday Times

All tickets £5 or see any 3 shows for £12

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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), Holloway Road Piccadilly line (15 minutes walk).

Mon - Sun 10am - 6pm

OVERGROUND Caledonian Road and Barnsbury (15 minutes walk).

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

TICKETS

Tickets can be collected anytime during Box Office opening hours or posted to you for an additional 50p.

Please note tickets sold are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Latecomers may not be admitted. £1 booking fee per ticket, capped at £5.

ACCESS

Pleasance Theatre strives to provide access for all. Our Main House is fully accessible via a lift from street level, we have infra-red 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. access@pleasance.co.uk

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.

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