Pleasance
Encyclopedia
The Pleasance is a street in the Old Town, Edinburgh
, Scotland
. It is largely residential, although the University of Edinburgh
owns property in the area.
. The Pleasance complex consists of two main bars: The Pleasance Bar and The Cabaret Bar; the Pleasance theatre (with a capacity of 320); and several rooms that can be booked out for society use. Two LCD tvs and a large projector also ensure that all major sporting events are shown in the main bar. The Pleasance is the only one of the four student unions to hold a public license which means anyone can gain access without having to be a university student or signed in by a member.
As well as providing the opportunity to purchase food and drink, the Pleasance maintains a program of evening entertainment. Live comedy traditionally takes place on Tuesday evenings with acts such as Russell Howard
and Jim Jeffries appearing in recent years. The Edinburgh Folk Club use the Cabaret Bar as the venue for their gigs on Wednesday nights. However the busiest evenings of the week normally fall on Monday nights with the Pleasance Pub Quiz attracting up to 40 teams on occasions in 2009.
Use of the union buildings during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe led to the formation in 1985 of Pleasance Theatre Trust Ltd., which is the parent organisation that runs the Pleasance's Fringe events. By 2010 it had expanded from the Pleasance's two permanent theatre spaces into 23 venues hosting shows under the Pleasance name. These spaces range in size from the 770-seat Pleasance Grand to the Cellar and Hut, each of which seats 50 people.
The Pleasance is famous for spawning such acts as Frank Skinner
, Graham Norton
, Paul Merton
, and Al Murray
, although the list of its alumni is much larger.
, North London
, which operates throughout the year. This is named Pleasance Islington, previously Pleasance London. Comprising two theatres, one with 289 seats and another with 55 seats. Pleasance Theatre Islington regularly plays host to established comedians such as Russell Brand
, Simon Amstell
, Eddie Izzard
, Mark Thomas and Dara Ó Briain
.
Pleasance Islington also comprises a large complex of rehearsal rooms, recording studios, and production offices; and are often used by visiting companies and theatre companies preparing material for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Pleasance Islington has a number of resident theatre companies and organisations that it works with. These include Islington Community Theatre and the London Urban Collective.
Old Town, Edinburgh
The Old Town of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the medieval part of the city. Together with the 18th-century New Town, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has preserved its medieval plan and many Reformation-era buildings....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is largely residential, although the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
owns property in the area.
University of Edinburgh union
The Pleasance contains a complex of university-owned buildings which, for nine months of the year, operate as one of the four Student Union venues that serve the Edinburgh University Students' AssociationEdinburgh University Students' Association
Edinburgh University Students' Association provides services, representation and welfare support to matriculated students of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.-Composition:...
. The Pleasance complex consists of two main bars: The Pleasance Bar and The Cabaret Bar; the Pleasance theatre (with a capacity of 320); and several rooms that can be booked out for society use. Two LCD tvs and a large projector also ensure that all major sporting events are shown in the main bar. The Pleasance is the only one of the four student unions to hold a public license which means anyone can gain access without having to be a university student or signed in by a member.
As well as providing the opportunity to purchase food and drink, the Pleasance maintains a program of evening entertainment. Live comedy traditionally takes place on Tuesday evenings with acts such as Russell Howard
Russell Howard
Russell Joseph Howard is an English comedian best known for his TV show Russell Howard's Good News and his appearances on the topical panel TV show Mock The Week...
and Jim Jeffries appearing in recent years. The Edinburgh Folk Club use the Cabaret Bar as the venue for their gigs on Wednesday nights. However the busiest evenings of the week normally fall on Monday nights with the Pleasance Pub Quiz attracting up to 40 teams on occasions in 2009.
Pleasance Edinburgh
The Pleasance is famous for spawning such acts as Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
, Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
, Paul Merton
Paul Merton
Paul Merton is a British comedian, writer, actor and television presenter. Known for his improvisation skill, his humour is rooted in deadpan, surreal and sometimes dark comedy...
, and Al Murray
Al Murray
Alastair James Hay "Al" Murray , is a British comedian best known for his stand-up persona, The Pub Landlord, a stereotypical xenophobic public house licensee. In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy...
, although the list of its alumni is much larger.
Pleasance Islington
In addition to the Edinburgh venue, the Pleasance Theatre Trust also runs a sister venue in IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, which operates throughout the year. This is named Pleasance Islington, previously Pleasance London. Comprising two theatres, one with 289 seats and another with 55 seats. Pleasance Theatre Islington regularly plays host to established comedians such as Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
, Simon Amstell
Simon Amstell
Simon Marc Amstell is a BAFTA nominated, award-winning English comedian, television presenter, screenwriter and actor, best known for his roles as former co-host of Popworld, former host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks and co-writer and star of the sitcom Grandma's House.-Early life:Amstell was born...
, Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard
Edward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime...
, Mark Thomas and Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain is an Irish stand-up comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting topical panel shows such as The Panel and Mock the Week....
.
Pleasance Islington also comprises a large complex of rehearsal rooms, recording studios, and production offices; and are often used by visiting companies and theatre companies preparing material for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Pleasance Islington has a number of resident theatre companies and organisations that it works with. These include Islington Community Theatre and the London Urban Collective.