Pleasance Times Issue 4 - 6/8/2013

Germany. 1945. The Second World War is over, the world is devastated by

its effects and nothing is certain anymore. A dishevelled Sergeant Beckmann arrives home to find his life has changed; his wife has found a new lover, his one year old son was crushed in a bomb blast and his parents are dead after a joint suicide. Struggling to cope with the trauma of the conflict and to adjust to civilian life Beckmann wanders the streets of Germany, looking for either a glimmer of hope or for some form of escape from a life that is no longer his and a world he can no longer comprehend.

Opening with the attempted suicide of Beckmann, Outside on the Street, follows the war veteran through his first few days in Germany after over three years in Siberia. He is trapped in an unsatisfactory present which offers only isolation, and longs for the glorious past before war hit and destroyed all he knew. Dealing with themes of

post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and confusion at the world Outside on the Street is a work of great emotional impact yet still offers moments of humour, laughing in the face of despair.

A stand out cast is headed up by Paapa Essiedu, who plays Sergeant Beckmann as an angered, confused and lost soul amidst the new Germany he has found himself in. Wherever Beckmann looks he finds only closed doors and no way to get inside and off the street which has now become his home. Encountering an array of characters from his present and past, Beckmann visits a Colonel he knew from the war, who is played mockingly by Steffan Donnelly, attempts to reconnect with a family he no longer has and is faced with the figures of Death, God and The Other – a symbol of optimism and hope in the face of loss - in his delusional dreams. Wolfgang Borchert’s script is poetic, resonating with

all who have felt a little alone and confused by the world they find themselves placed in, and is performed beautifully by the all male cast.

The opportunity to perform, thanks to the Charlie Fund, means a lot to the company. “We’re having an amazing time so far, immersing ourselves fully into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! There are so many fantastic shows on offer. Every day we meet amazing people and interesting artists. We’re very grateful to the Charlie Fund for opening up this experience to us”

As the winners of the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve for 2013, Invertigo’s production offers an edgy and modern take on the events of 1945, giving a deeply individual perspective on the events that shook the world over half a century ago.

Outside on the Street is on until 26th August, in the Pleasance Dome at 13.30.

INSPIRING NEW TALENT: THE CHARLIE HARTILL FUND

0131 556 6550

In 2004, The Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund was established by the Pleasance to support new and

upcoming theatre and comedy talent. The Fund was established in honour of 32 year old Charlie Hartill who sadly passed away after years of being a key figure at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Pleasance. Supporting exciting new acts, the Fund has been continuing Charlie’s legacy for the last nine years.

The Fund contributes towards the production costs of selected projects which have more than four performers on stage and where at least 40% of the company are within five years of full-time education. Previous beneficiaries have included Minor Irritations by Sam Peter Jackson in 2005 and theatre company PIT.

Now, each year the Pleasance selects one piece of theatre and chooses four stand up comics – who form the line up for the Comedy Reserve – to give the Charlie Hartill Fund to. As well as receiving a grant to contribute towards production costs, the Pleasance brings the comics and the theatre piece up to Edinburgh each year for the Fringe. The opportunity

to perform in Edinburgh and the grant are indispensable to many companies who receive the backing of the Special Reserve. 2009’s theatre pick, PIT were quoted as saying that “without the Charlie Fund there is no way we would have been able to afford to present an ambitious show like A Stroke of Genius at the fringe.” The Fund has also helped to launch the comedic careers of household names such as Jack Whitehall, Joe Lycett and Holly Walsh.

This year the Pleasance is presenting Invertigo’s Outside On The Street as the theatre pick and bringing comics Jack Barry, John Hastings, Tez Ilyas and Tom Toal as the line up for Comedy Reserve. The Fund has previously and will continue to support the very best in young talent, bringing cutting edge comedy and theatre to the Pleasance.

If you would like to make a donation to the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund please visit our website: www.pleasance.co.uk

ISSUE 4: 6TH AUGUST 2013

www.pleasance.co.uk

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOOK NOW:

OUTSIDE ON THE STREETEmily Tanner checks out the 2013 Charlie Hartill Special Reserve theatre show,

Invertigo, Outside on the Street

Image of the day: Remember to check under your beds tonight - The Adventure delves deep into our weirdest fears Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

Image: Jassy Earl, Pleasance Photographer

With just 24 hours to spend at the Pleasance, what would fringe fa-vourite The Boy With Tape On His

Face do...?

1. I must eat a hotdog in the Courtyard as it reminds me of the time I got stuck in Norway. Norway is a very expensive coun-try and when a volcano went off and I got stuck there, it was street vendors selling hotdogs that made the last of my funds survive until the planes resumed

2. I think it’s fun to hunt out a member of my street team who doesn’t recognise me and see if I can get them to try and sell me my own show. It’s funny how many people don’t recognise me without the tape and it’s always interesting for me to hear some-body try to explain my show.

3. I would grab a ticket to see Mat Ri-cardo’s ‘Showman’ at the Dome. He is one

of the finest Gentlemen Jugglers and as my performing career started out with me as a juggler, it’s great to see someone who has really honed his skill.

4. At some point in the 24 hours I will have to take some time to perform my show at 9:40, on in the Courtyard. Once everything is organised I’ll run to The Dome to make it to Another F*cking Variety Show for my 10 minute spot.

5.When the variety show comes down the cast will venture out into one of the bars at The Dome and watch as audiences choose to see more shows or choose to spend their evening throwing up into a bin.

Catch The Boy With Tape On His Face until the 24th August at the Pleasance Courtyard, 21.40

Dealing with grief, cruel boyfriends and talking cats, Family Tree tackles some of

life’s most absurd situations in a comical and heartfelt way. I caught up with cast member Kate Craggs to chat about the show, her time in Edinburgh and how the Young Pleasance - the Pleasance’s youth company - helped her to where she is today.

Coming straight from catching Invertigo in the Jack Dome, Kate already seems immersed in the Fringe, enthusiastic and excited to get chatting about her experiences of the festival and her current show. “It’s so great to be at the festival,” Kate smiles as we sit down in Brooke’s bar, “Always such a stimulating experience.” Such a response is unsurprising considering that it’s her fifth fringe performing with the Pleasance, “I came for the first time when I was 15, which is so young when you consider the social side of the festival and also learning how to network and talk to people when you’re just 15!”

Kate speaks passionately about her show, detailing how her training at drama school inspired its truth and naturalism. “It’s a new type of theatre, it’s certainly a comedy but it has heart and is about human relations. It’s very physical, very slick and very fast,” Kate adds, “And our costumes have been designed by a Central St Martins graduate so it’s a huge accumulation of graduate arts work.”

It is not only the theatre school education that has been important in Kate’s professional and artistic development “Family Tree has a very Young Pleasance feel to it actually; the sort of anything is possible vibe.” Not only has this training inspired the atmosphere surrounding the show but has contributed significantly to Kate’s work ethic and willingness to dive in at the deep end. “Young Pleasance is amazing. You’re an adult really and it’s your first experience of having to up your game and compete with professionals in this industry. You’re an ambassador for the company and you have to help with the get in, the get out all of that! It helps

you really work as a team and to prove that your show is what you make it.”

Finally, as I thank Kate and let her get back to her day at the festival, she tells me why she thinks the Fringe is the best place to experience theatre. “In London you go and see theatre and you have to be impressed. Here you have to disappoint. People go with no expectation and try out new things they would never do otherwise. It’s fantastic and a great place to get new, exciting work out there.”

Catch Kate in Family Tree until 26th August at the Pleasance Courtyard, 16.30

Edited by Sophie Chilvers and Emily Tanner

“YOUR SHOW IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT”Star of Family Tree, Kate Craggs, chats to Pleasance Times about her work with Young Pleasance,

love of the Fringe and talking cats

24 HOURS AT THE PLEASANCE... WITH THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE

“It’s a new type of

theatre”

For the ninth year running the Pleasance have selected four top notch newcomers to perform in the

Comedy Reserve. After try outs held this March at the Pleasance’s permanent home in Islington, London four stand ups from around the country were selected to light up the stage this year at the Fringe. The show, funded by the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve, has previously launched the careers of TV stars and stand up heroes including Jack Whitehall, Fosters Comedy Award Winner Doc Brown, BAFTA award winning actor Daniel Rigby and BBC3 star Lee Nelson. This year promises to offer yet more stand out performances from comics you may not know just yet but who will soon be household names.

Fresh from supporting Fosters Comedy Award nominee James Acaster on his latest tour, Jack Barry has been heralded as ‘One to Watch’ by Broadway Baby. Lancashire lad Tez Ilyas began performing three years ago and has been a finalist in a number of renowned comedy competitions including the 2011 BBC New Comedy Award. His cheeky sense of humour offers a unique take on modern life and has been pulling in audiences across the world. Canadian comic John Hastings has been a big hit across the Atlantic, winning the 2010 Best Newcomer Award at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal. Now taking on the UK, John’s engaging style of observational comedy has propelled him from strength to strength. The final act to complete the line up for this year’s Comedy Reserve is Tom Toal, a rising star on the comedy circuit whose 2011 show ‘Rom-coms and Revolutions’ played to sold out theatres across its nationwide run.

For those who love to say ‘I saw them first’ The Comedy Reserve is a real must. Spotting the potential of the stars of tomorrow before anyone else this year’s line up will inevitably go on to great things in the future.

Check out this year’s Comedy Reserve until 26th August in the Pleasance Dome at 21.30

COMEDY RESERVE

“Young Pleasance is amazing”

STOP PRESS: JOY OF SKETCH FRIDAY 9 AUG LINE UP ANNOUNCED

MAX & IVAN - MCNEIL AND PAMPHILON - BETA MALES - BEASTS - MORE TO COME!

“The Comedy Reserve is a real

must”