Pleasance Futures is a new scheme from Pleasance Theatre Trust to nurture artists both on and off stage.
The scheme encompasses the recently established Associate Company Programme which provides financial and production support to new and developing theatre companies as well as Kidzone, Young Pleasance, XYP, The Charlie Harthill Special Reserve Fund and Creative Associates. Pleasance Futures aims to further emphasise and resource each aspect of the trust’s charitable enterprises, creating a network of artists, associates, mentors and supporters.
The charity, founded 31 years ago by Christopher Richardson, continues to create opportunities, support ambitions, encourage excellence and build reputations, with Pleasance Futures bringing this wealth of experience under one umbrella where those in creative, technical and administrative roles will benefit.
Having provided a platform and launch pad for a great many artists at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at Pleasance London, from carpenters, crew, and electricians to photographers, reviewers, bloggers and film-makers, the Pleasance recognises how important those first opportunities into the creative industries can be.
Director Anthony Alderson explains the philosophy of support for artistic enterprise that has always been at the core of the Pleasance’s principles when he says, “… it is our desire to maintain that open door and to give people the opportunity, confidence, ambition and skills to help them find work beyond the festival. Four weeks at the festival can be a life changing experience and we are determined to offer the most from that opportunity.”
The Pleasance is dedicated to seeking out cutting-edge and exciting new theatre and comedy productions and supports with financial help and advice shows which otherwise would not have been able to perform at the Fringe. This support is exemplified by the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund which, as of 2014, has gifted a total of £130,000 into developing theatre and comedy shows and now falls under the Pleasance Futures umbrella.
This year's beneficiaries are Molly by Squint, produced in association with Etch and the Pleasance Theatre Trust that takes an extraordinary journey through the mind of a sociopath.
The Pleasance Comedy Reserve returns for its 11th year boasting four brand new stand ups, Malcolm Head, Tom Little, Jamali Maddix and Joe Sutherland. The scheme has become an important part of the Edinburgh comedy landscape with 12 shows as part of the wider Pleasance programme drawn from Comedy Reserve alumni whose previous list of participants includes Jack Whitehall, Holly Walsh, Doc Brown, Roisin Conaty and Daniel Rigby.
Also part of Pleasance Futures is Young Pleasance that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and since its inception in 1995 this producing arm of Pleasance has involved over 600 young people. 2015’s production is a tongue-in-cheek take on 1920’s British “whodunit?” crime thriller The Hampstead Murder Mystery! that includes the creative team project Fringe First Award-winning playwrights Tim Norton and Joanna Billington
As part of the Pleasance’s XYP initiative that supports talent grown from the Young Pleasance, Incognito Theatre and Pleasance present a darkly satirical and playful version of Wilde’s timeless classic Dorian Gray.
As well as a variety of productions being supported by Pleasance Futures at this year’s festival, the Pleasance also encourages and supports artists behind the scenes through the Creative Associates opportunities. This year, young photographer Anna Bruce, film maker Theo Davies, and two budding journalists Alec Woolford and Ellie Cawthorne will become part of the team. The artists will be generating new material throughout the festival for the Pleasance Picture Show exhibition, Pleasance TV YouTube channel, and Pleasance Times newspaper publication while artist Jordana Globerman, will be painting a mural on Pleasance Beside.
For more information about how to support the Pleasance and Pleasance Futures, please visit www.pleasance.co.uk/patrons#scheme