Awards, news and stats from Ed Fringe 2019 at the Pleasance!
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At the end of the August bank holiday weekend another Fringe drew to a close! It's been an amazing month, littered with awards in both comedy and theatre.
With over 560,000 festival goers enjoying 5,534 performances of 277 productions, the Pleasance celebrated its 35th year on the Fringe in style.
In 2019, we supported a record number of artists and companies at all stages of their careers. This was primarily through an investment of over £140,000 in 20 productions within the Pleasance Futures programme.
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Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2019
The Pleasance received thirteen out of the seventeen overall nominations in the Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer awards 2019. And for the second year running, Pleasance comedy acts won both prizes!
Darren Harriott, Goodbear, Ivo Graham, Jordan Brookes, London Hughes and Spencer Jones were the nominees for Best Show, with Jordan Brookes claiming the biggest prize in comedy at the Fringe.
Meanwhile Catherine Cohen, Helen Bauer, Huge Davies, Janine Harouni, Michael Odewale, Nigel Ng and Sophie Duker were on the shortlist for Best Newcomer, with Catherine Cohen emerging as the overall winner.
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Jordan Brookes
Best Comedy Show 2019
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Catherine Cohen
Best Newcomer 2019
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The legacy of the Comedy Reserve
Five alumni from the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill funded Comedy Reserve received Comedy Award nominations, while Josh Jones and Mo Omar from this year’s cohort were nominated for the BBC New Comedy Awards. Ultimately, the Pleasance’s Janine Harouni won the top prize.
Janine also received the Amused Moose Comedy Award, beating Pleasance favourites Stephen Buchanan and James McNicholas, who were also shortlisted.
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Scotsman Fringe Firsts
Two Pleasance shows won Fringe Firsts this year!
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Bobby & Amy
The dark comedy about foot-and-mouth disease was also shortlisted for the Holden Street Theatres Award.
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E8
Actress Alice Vilanculo also took home one of The Stage's Edinburgh Awards for an outstanding performance.
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Further Theatre Awards
The Accident Did Not Take Place was nominated for the Total Theatre Award for Innovation, Experimentation and Playing with Form, which ultimately went to Tricky Second Album, a previous recipient of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund!
The Greenhouse received the Three Weeks Editors’ Choice Award for their zero-waste venue, which is built entirely from found and recycled materials.
How to Save a Rock won the Creative Carbon Scotland and Staging Change's Sustainable Fringe Award for being a carbon neutral show.
The Brunch Club won the Bright Spark Award by Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe and SOLD inspired a new award from Musical Theatre Review for Best Ensemble.
The Listies won the Primary Times Children's Choice Award, accompanied by the warning 'tape up your sides before coming to this show'.
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The Indies
Created in 2017, in honour of our 33rd year at Venue 33 on the Edinburgh Fringe, The Indies are named after Pleasance founder Christopher Richardson’s black Labrador, Indie.
The Indies are the Pleasance’s in-house awards, which celebrate the best shows at the Pleasance, as voted for by the companies and artists themselves:
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A word from the Director
"Shows at the Pleasance have done so incredibly well, recognised by professionals and audiences alike with wins at the Comedy Awards, Fringe Firsts, Amused Moose, Stage Awards and Total Theatre.
"With a sustainable venue called The Greenhouse and two performances powered by bicycles, we’re working to make the Fringe as green as possible.
"We’ve striven to make performances more accessible than ever before and this is something we will continue to pioneer. With over 5,500 performances from 174 companies, Pleasance remains a forward-thinking venue and the contemporary resonance of this year’s shows reflect the importance of the arts in making change.
"This has been the most wonderful festival, a truly inspirational month of great art and great friends."
Anthony Alderson, Director of the Pleasance
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Stat Attack!
In 2019, the Pleasance issued over 560,000 tickets!
We've hosted 5,534 performances!
216 dedicated volunteers participated in the Festival Volunteer Programme!
Over £60,000 was raised for Waverley Care through collections made across the Pleasance's sites and the proceeds from the one-off spectaculars, which mark the largest level of donations in the partnership's 28-year history!
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Goodbye from Edinburgh
Thank you to all those who visited the Pleasance Courtyard, Dome, EICC, and all our pop-up venues this year, it has been an amazing month!
Until August 2020 comes around, please don't be a stranger - do come visit us in Pleasance London!
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