Edinburgh National Partnerships
The Pleasance partners with theatres across the UK to identify and support exceptional artists and companies local to them who want to take work to the Fringe. Each partner is a leading national producing house, with a commitment to supporting and developing new artists. This programme recognises the extraordinary work being created across the country and hopes to provide tangible support to these companies to present at the Fringe. Together, we hope to make a substantial contribution to develop the next generation of leading theatre-makers and companies.
Our partner venues and shows for 2026 are:
- Theatre Royal Plymouth - Meet Mayor Max
- Leicester Curve - CAMPITALISM: Three Gays Try to Fix The Economy
- Chichester Festival Theatre- MAN!FEST: The Drag Boyband Musical
- Sherman Theatre - Amnesia
- Lyric Belfast - The Pitch
Working with our partner theatres we will identify dynamic artists at different stages in their careers. Each partner theatre’s submission process will be different, but the primary aim of the scheme remains the same; to uncover and support the best companies and artists from across the UK to present work at the Fringe! To be eligible for the Edinburgh National Partnerships, you will need to be making work locally to a partnering venue.
- Minimum of £2000 financing towards the costs of presenting your show at the Fringe
- A package of PR and marketing
- Guaranteed inclusion within our Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme
- Edinburgh Fringe registration covered by local partner theatre
- One-week minimum of in-kind rehearsal and development space from local partner theatre
- A programming option in our London transfer run post-Fringe
- Mentorship, support and advice from both local partner theatre and the Pleasance leading up to, and during the Fringe
- Support to develop and deliver accessible performances as part of your run
Applications for the Edinburgh National Partnerships take place via the partner venue. These will be going live across December & January.
From Our Partner Venues
“Our ongoing partnership with Pleasance Theatre continues to be an important pathway for artists to showcase work at the Edinburgh Fringe and kickstart or progress their career in the arts. Championing these incredibly talented artists from the South West, like Alex, and helping them reach wider audiences is central to our mission, and programmes like the Edinburgh National Partnerships are a crucial way to achieve this.” Tom Jackson Greaves, Associate Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Plymouth
“On The Nose productions were one of the artists in Chichester Festival Theatre’s inaugural Future Theatre Makers programme, and developed Man!Fest during their residency with us. Having first performed it in our new venue for emerging artists The Nest, we’re delighted to partner with The Pleasance to enable the company to showcase their production in Edinburgh. These initiatives are vital to allow our next generation of theatre makers to exist and thrive.” Daniel Hill, Producer, Producer, Chichester Festival Theatre
“The Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues to be a hugely valuable platform for artists to showcase their work. Working with the Pleasance to support a Welsh-made production at the Fringe is one of the highlights of the Sherman’s calendar, and we are very proud to be sharing Kimberly’s hilarious and touching play with Edinburgh audiences this year.” Sherman Theatre’s Chief Executive Julia Barry
“Lyric Belfast has been a proud partner of the Pleasance Theatre through its Edinburgh National Partnerships programme for the past three years. This partnership has provided artists from Northern Ireland with a significant opportunity to present their work in Edinburgh and engage with international audiences. We are pleased to support and champion the creative ambitions and distinctive storytelling that emerge from this place.” Morag Keating, Head of Producing for Lyric Belfast
"We're so pleased to once again be working with Pleasance to support East Midlands artists to take work to the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2026 we have the brilliant CAMPITALISM, created by Curve Resident Creative Maria Telnikoff and their company BOY Theatre. It's a smart, sharp comedy that questions how the economy really functions for young people, presented with heaps of silliness and queer joy. It's going to take the Fringe by storm." Cara Nolan, Associate Director of Leicester Curve