About us

Welcome to The Pleasance

At the heart of the Fringe since 1985

The Pleasance has been at the heart of Fringe theatre and comedy since 1985. With an international profile and a network of alumni that reads like a Who’s Who of contemporary comedy, drama and entertainment, the Pleasance is a place for the experimental and the new.

We’re proud to be one of the most highly respected theatre venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and in London. We welcome audiences in their hundreds of thousands. We are where performers, writers, directors, technicians, producers and the rest of the artistic community can develop ideas and feel fully supported.

The Pleasance is both a Festival Organisation of 27 temporary venues across three sites, and a London theatre and development centre, with three permanent performance spaces which operate year-round. The Pleasance in London and Edinburgh are entirely symbiotic. We’re been a registered charity since 1995 in England and Wales and 2012 in Scotland, supporting opportunities for artists year round.

Pleasance in Edinburgh

Operating across three sites and with the largest programme of any Fringe venue, we present our ambitious programme every year.

Each year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, we deliver an unrivalled programme of theatre, comedy, cabaret, dance and family shows to thousands of audiences. We’re based across three sites:  Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance Dome and Pleasance at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).

Pleasance Courtyard is often described as the very heart of the Fringe: a large extended cobbled courtyard surrounded by eighteen sub venues, where audiences stop by for a drink, a chat and a show. Pleasance Dome was the first venue to be established in the now buzzing Bristo Square, with a sunny indoor plaza, five sub venues and the newly added leisure area Potterrow Plaza just outside. In 2016, the Pleasance established a partnership with the EICC, to present some of the most technically ambitious shows on the Festival Fringe in their state of the art buildings. 

Whether you're visiting us for theatre, comedy, dance, circus, children’s shows, or simply to take in the atmosphere, we aim to make your visit an unforgettable experience. 

Pleasance in London

Our year-round home in London, Islington provides a platform for leading and emerging talent to develop their work, hone their craft and grow new audiences. 

The artistic programme at Pleasance London runs in parallel with Pleasance Edinburgh, with a curated comedy, theatre and family programme. Pleasance London has three performance spaces - the Cabaret Main House, The Studio, and Downstairs - as well as a buzzing bar and outdoor courtyard. 

With capacities ranging from 54 - 230 seats, flexible configurations and bar service to seats/tables in each venue, we provide welcoming spaces for performing companies to present their work and additionally are available for a wide range of event hires. 

Artist Development with Pleasance Futures

Artist development is at the very centre of everything we do.

Our development programme, Pleasance Futures, provides support, mentorship and funding to artists through eight different initiatives. We’re committed to discovering and supporting the most exciting new voices, nurturing the development of emerging companies, young performers, new writers and new producers.

Find out more about Pleasance Futures Initiatives.

We look forward to welcoming you.

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Downloads

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