Latest news with #Pleasance
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Prize aiming to 'rewrite rules of breaking into theatre' to see winner's play performed at next year's Fringe
The winner will have their play produced for next year's Fringe Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An aspiring writer will win the chance to have their play produced and performed at next year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a new prize launched today which aims to 'rewrite the rules of breaking into the theatre world'. The winner of the Leodis Prize, who will see their play performed at Pleasance next year, will be selected by a panel of judges including actor Tamzin Outhwaite. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The winning writer, who must not have previously published a play or be represented by an agent, will also have their work published by a leading drama publisher and receive a £2,000 cash award. Daniel Hinchliffe, managing director of Leodis Talent and founder of the award, said he hoped the prize would 'champion unrepresented and previously unrecognised talent'. He said: 'I wanted to create a writing prize to find a new voice in theatre that is open to anyone, especially without age restraints. Pleasance Courtyard. | Pleasance Courtyard, where The Green is situated. 'I don't think our industry does enough to support new theatre writing and I wanted to ensure we created a pathway to the Fringe that is fully funded for our winning playwright to allow them to concentrate on the play and not the process of producing.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The winner will see their debut play fully produced by talent agency Leodis in association with Pleasance Theatre Trust, premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2026. In addition to a full production, the winning writer will be offered representation by Leodis and the winning play will be published by Methuen Drama, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing. He added: 'I am delighted to be launching this new prize with Pleasance and Bloomsbury Publishing, companies that I admire greatly for their support of new writing.' Alongside Ms Outhwaite, the panel of judges will also include writer Jenna Fincken, whose play Ruckus was a standout at the Fringe, and understands how to navigate the Fringe path to success and director Sam Yates, acclaimed for his work on the West End and internationally. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leodis prize founder Daniel Hinchcliffe | Leodis prize founder Daniel Hinchcliffe Anthony Alderson, director of the Pleasance Theatre Trust, said: 'The Fringe has always been about discovery and it remains the launchpad for some of the most exciting new works. It is a place to find and platform new voices. 'The Leodis Prize is the kind of initiative that keeps the spirit of the Fringe alive and urgent and we are proud to be partnering with the award to stage the winning play and help to uncover new artists.' The prize is open exclusively to writers, of any age, who have never had their plays performed, are not published and do not have professional representation.
Evening Standard
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Edinburgh Fringe Round Up
Sometimes the stories come completely out of the blue. New Yorker Cat Cohen, winner of the 2019 Best Newcomer Award here, had a major tour planned for 2023 which she abruptly cancelled. In her latest show Broad Strokes – don't call it a comeback – Cohen (Pleasance, five stars) reveals how she had a stroke at the age of 30. It was totally unexpected, though looking back there may have been a link to the migraines that she had suffered from since childhood. She thought she was a hypochondriac but an MRI scan revealed a hole in her heart. Though of course she could still be a hypochondriac.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Sight Scotland partners with Pleasance to boost accessibility for thousands at Edinburgh Fringe
Sight Scotland, supported by Sight Loss Councils, has partnered with famous fringe venue the Pleasance to deliver specialist visual impairment awareness training to over 250 of its staff ahead of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The training is set to transform the festival experience for visually impaired audiences, helping to make one of the world's largest arts festivals more inclusive than ever before. The Pleasance's commitment to accessibility is especially significant given its scale and reach during the Fringe. In a record-breaking 2024, it held over 279 shows across the Courtyard, Dome and EICC, and issued nearly 500,000 tickets. On its busiest day, the Courtyard alone saw about 30,000 visitors. The training, led by Callum Lancashire, Engagement Manager for Sight Loss Councils in Scotland, focused on raising awareness and equipping staff with the skills and confidence to support visually impaired visitors. It covered effective communication techniques, practical sighted guiding, and insight into the five main eye conditions and how they affect vision. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This collaboration builds on the momentum of Sight Scotland's Accessible Venues Report, launched in 2024. Developed by blind and partially sighted members of its policy group, the report highlights key barriers faced by visually impaired audiences such as poor communication, inaccessible booking systems, a lack of audio descriptions or touch tours, untrained staff, and inadequate design features like low colour contrast and unclear signage. Callum Lancashire from Sight Loss Councils leads the accessibility training to over 250 staff at the Pleasance. Jonny Patton, Head of Theatre Edinburgh for Pleasance, said: 'Our message is simple – the Fringe is for everybody. We want every audience member who visits the Pleasance to feel welcomed, supported, and able to enjoy their time at the festival comfortably and confidently. 'Following on from last year's Accessible Venues Report, it has been incredibly valuable working with Sight Scotland and Sight Loss Councils. They have been a brilliant resource for us, giving practical advice, helping us bounce around ideas, and supporting us to make straightforward and effective improvements to accessibility. This year, we are piloting a range of accessible initiatives, including more audio described shows and creative approaches such as introductory audio notes that add texture and context to performances for visually impaired audiences. 'The accessibility training has been fantastic. Our team expands significantly during the festival, and this has given both permanent and seasonal staff the practical tools and confidence to support audiences with visual impairments more effectively. We are also producing a dedicated venue guide for visually impaired visitors this year, which provides key information to support their journey to and through our spaces.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Anthony Alderson, Director of the Pleasance Theatre Trust, commented: 'We were thrilled to partner with Sight Scotland for the first time this year to provide training for all our staff and volunteers. The training discussed different kinds of visual impairments and how to help audience members and artists who may need assistance. Pleasance strives to every year improve our accessibility and we think this partnership is an important step to making the Fringe a more accessible place for all.' Callum Lancashire, Engagement Manager for Sight Loss Councils in Scotland, who led the training at the Pleasance Courtyard, said: 'Sight Loss Councils, along with Sight Scotland, are proud to partner with the Pleasance to deliver this training. It was encouraging to see so many staff participate, and we hope it will enhance the experience for both Pleasance staff and visually impaired visitors during the Edinburgh Fringe. Training like this is vital for raising awareness, as small changes can make a big difference to someone's festival experience.' Mark Ballard, Head of External Affairs and Campaigns at Sight Scotland, adds: 'This is a significant step forward for our Accessible Venues campaign. The Pleasance welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, making it all the more important that accessibility is prioritised. By working with such a prominent venue to raise awareness and provide practical training, we're helping to create a more inclusive environment where everyone can fully enjoy the festival experience. We hope this sets a positive example for other venues to follow, not just in Edinburgh, but across Scotland and beyond.' Sight Scotland is also working alongside Extant, VICS (Visually Impaired Creators Scotland), Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) and the Royal Lyceum Theatre to make the arts more accessible for people with visual impairment in 2025.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
My Festival: Mike McShane: 'When I stay at people's houses I go through their cheese selections'
The improv veteran turned cat-stroking supervillain on how best to deal with bad notices and the time he was stalked by vengeful seagulls all the way down the Royal Mile Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please tell us why we should come and see yours. I'm evil, I'm wearing an eyepatch, holding a stuffed Persian cat and using vocal production at a level only dogs can hear. They actually tell you in a warning at the Pleasance. Not unlike a Brian Blessed Installation Announcement in West End theatres. So come and be blessed at a competitive rate! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mike McShane in The Spy Who Went to Rehab | Contributed What will we learn from your show that we didn't know before? The Spy Who Went To Rehab juggles the cliches of 12-step programmes and their participants, with an understanding and respect for its actual effectiveness. You may learn something about yourself, Western male fantasy culture, and the influence of Architectural Digest in supervillains' lairs and lives. Who or what was the biggest inspiration for your show? Michael Lonsdale, Max Von Sydow, Divine and the playwright, Gregg Ostrin. What's the best review you've ever had, and the worst? Best was on Loose Ends after Ned Sherrin asked me to perform the 'Plump Jack' speech from Henry IV, Part I, with Timothy West sitting across the table from me. When I finished, I dared to cast a glance at Mr West; he gave me a slight smile and nod. I was very grateful for it. Worst? I toured a production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest with Isla Blair and Danny Webb. I was playing Chief Bromden. One of the cast members invited me to have an early tea with his friend before our show, all very nice, with chips. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Then a review of the show came out a couple days later which the critic chose to pick me out for scorn, saying that I looked like Haystack Calhoun and had none of the bearing of the 'Noble Savage'. The critic was the cast member's friend who I'd had tea with. It struck me, even as I had been told years before by an actor wiser than me: 'Believe none of them, take none to heart; you've got work to do.' Also that it was lazy writing, made of the 19th century romantic pulp cliches that are like little Home County eyemasks for people of that man's generation. I wish I could have dragged him in front of my birth mother, a full blooded Ojibwe woman from Garden River in Canada. I bet she would have set his pink arse straight. Apparently, from other relatives, she was an Indigenous version of Janey Godley. Who or what are you most excited about seeing this year? My neighbour in the States is a Scottish fellow named Colin Cox, and he has a show at the C Venues, called Not Without Right: Shakespeare's Secrets. Then John Hegley every year if he's there, he's sharp, kind and welcoming in his own very sweet way; Showstoppers, just to remind me that your culture gave an Olivier to a group of improvisors, and see it as a viable artistic form. We still have trouble with that in America, but we're trying. I also just walk into anything if where I'm going to is sold out. I'm a big believer in another line from Henry IV Part I, when Prince Hal says: 'And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.' Mike McShane (in non-supervillain mode) | Daniel Reichert Who do you most like spending time with in Edinburgh? My friend Anne Marie. She works for the NHS, and as my birth mother was a healthcare worker and the mother who raised me a nurse, I have a lot of respect for those who do all the jobs that keep us out of pain and fear of poverty from illness, and the challenges they have with the governments of our respective countries. She's brash, smart and full of heart. And her mother, now gone, tripped and fell on me, knocked me over, and we rolled down York Street in the rain for about five car lengths, laughing and screaming like chimps. That didn't take her out; she lived for many more years after that; but this is a hearty family. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Make sure you keep up to date with Arts and Culture news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Tell us something about you that would surprise people. When I stay at people's houses, I open their fridge and go through their cheese selection; then use that to judge their morals and ethics. What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival? Best: the Dagda Bar on Buccleuch Street has been a continual favourite for adventure, and intelligent drunken discourse; one night I was sitting there nursing an ale and this guy with an intense face and Ben Turpin moustache was just staring at me, sipping his beer. He came over to me and said his name was Nick. We started talking and he was a veteran, Falklands, as I recall. I'm a veteran too, so I'll always have time for this. He said would I like to come back over to his place. I was feeling warm and jolly, so why not! We stepped out of the bar, walked directly across the street standing in front of an 18th century building, which was the Archers Hall, the clubhouse of the Royal Company of Archers, whom have served as the Royal Family's bodyguard in Scotland since the early 19th century. We entered from the side as he was the caretaker of the building along with his wife, June. He explained its origins as he poured. I was overwhelmed with his hospitality and the place's history. It was 3am when I rolled home, blazing and wide awake with the wonder of the martial spectacle and building itself. I always looked them up when I was here. He's gone now, I found out last year, as well as June. But they were great people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Worst? Again, long ago, and incredibly early in the morning, I staggered out of the now closed Cannon Mill Bakery, mangling a fresh sausage roll, trying not to cauterise my mouth or paint myself with grease. I crossed over the South Bridge, and cut a left down the Royal Mile to my digs. It was pretty quiet, last week of Festival quiet, and among the broken glass and mangled flyers there was a dead seagull lying on the cobblestones amongst it all. I stopped and had a moment of mortal showbiz contemplation, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw three other seagulls eyeing me; and the thought suddenly seized me; they thought I'd killed their trash brother. I started walking down past the World's End – they followed, occasionally letting out a sharp cry, and hoisting their wings in a gunslingers' feint. I picked up speed, they matched me. I was now in full run, like a greasy, drunken sausage-scented Tippi Hedren, and cut sharply into a close and into my flat. breathless, knowing I'd just escaped a deadly Full Scottish Peckfest. What's the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night? I say good morning to those have gone before me, and hope they will help me that day. At night, after I read for an hour, I close my eyes and I imagine I'm walking off a field after a good game, and I thank everyone I played with, my friends, my ancestors, and those I've hurt, I ask them for forgiveness. Thanks for the interview! We'd like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dagda Bar and a session ale is fine, thank you very much.
Edinburgh Reporter
04-08-2025
- Climate
- Edinburgh Reporter
Storm Floris results in closure of Edinburgh venues
The sixth named storm of the year, Storm Floris, is described as an 'unseasonably disruptive system' which will bring with it 'strong winds and heavy rainfall across the northern half of the UK on Monday and early Tuesday'. The advice during the amber weather warning is not to travel unless necessary but there were many people out and about on Monday. Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens are closed today, and you are advised to check on any cancellations to Fringe shows before setting out. Pleasance has said it is closed until 6pm on Monday. Princes Street Gardens closed Photo Alan Simpson Princes Street Gardens closed on Monday due to the storm PHOTO Alan Simpson Princes Street Gardens closed due to Storm Floris PHOTO Alan Simpson Princes Street Gardens closed due to Storm Floris PHOTO Alan Simpson As Storm Floris approaches many visitors were out and about PHOTO Alan Simpson Edinburgh Castle is closed on Monday morning and the evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been cancelled. Photo Alan Simpson Edinburgh Castle is closed on Monday morning and the evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been cancelled. Photo Alan Simpson The Yela family from Barcelona were turned away at Edinburgh Castle which is closed today. Entrance to Pleasance Plaza at Bristo Square has been affected by high winds PHOTO Alan Simpson Taxis out and about on Waverley Bridge awaiting the storm PHOTO Alan Simpson Visitors turn out in numbers in Edinburgh outside McEwan Hall despite Storm Floris on the approach Visitors get a bit blown about in Edinburgh as Storm Floris approached PHOTO Alan Simpson Visitors out and about in blowy conditions in Edinburgh as Storm Floris approaches. PHOTO Alan Simpson Visitors out and about in blowy conditions in Edinburgh as Storm Floris approaches. PHOTO Alan Simpson Still time for another street performance awaiting Storm Floris PHOTO Alan Simpson Still time for another street performance awaiting Storm Floris PHOTO Alan Simpson Visitors out and about in blowy conditions in Edinburgh as Storm Floris approaches. PHOTO Alan Simpson Like this: Like Related
