Young Pleasance
YOUNG PLEASANCE 2026
After 30 years of continuous activity, Young Pleasance will take a planned break for one festival in order to allow time for a thorough review of the programme. This pause will give us a rare and valuable opportunity to take stock of what we deliver, how we deliver it, and how it can best meet the needs of young people today.
Young Pleasance has grown and evolved over three decades, but the nature of an annual festival means there is rarely space to stop and reflect in depth. After 30 years, this feels like the right moment to step back, review the activity in full, and ensure that Young Pleasance is fully up to date, relevant, and delivering the strongest possible programme for the future.
Pleasance Theatre's award-winning young company
For ages 16-21, Young Pleasance is dedicated to offering dynamic, excellent and professional theatre opportunities for young people through workshops and large-scale productions delivered by our ambitious creative team.
Having produced annual original productions for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 1995 the company have established an excellent reputation at the Fringe with audiences and critics alike.
Based at Pleasance London for rehearsals, the company then performs in Edinburgh at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected], you can find information relating to the 2025 Young Pleasance below for reference.
Each year Young Pleasance creates a company of young aspiring creatives (performers and non-performers). The company specialise in large-scale ensemble work, creating dynamic and original shows with high production values and runs for two weeks at the Fringe. Having staged original productions for the Fringe for the last 25 years, the company has launched the careers of many performers, writers, directors and technicians.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe production gives young performers and backstage crew a professional theatre experience, creating a large-scale production, before and during the largest arts festival in the world.
You can keep up to date with openings by following our artist development X account or signing up to our artist newsletter.
Applications for Young Pleasance are currently closed, the information on this page is for reference and relate to 2025.
All places are subsidised by Pleasance! A participation fee of £995 applies and there are means-tested bursaries available.
Fun workshop auditions are held at Pleasance, Islington in London.