The Pleasance Opening Gala highlighted the artists who are performing shows in one of the venues – at Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance Dome or Pleasance EICC.
This was just a glimpse into what is on in the many theatres and spaces at Pleasance this year.
Anthony Alderson, Director of Pleasance, said: “To the thousands of artists joining us this year, thank you. Every one of you is curious, you arrive without knowing whether anyone will come, whether the reviews will be kind, or whether this would be the show people are still talking about in ten years.
“But you did it anyway. Curiosity isn’t only what we ask of our audiences, it’s what gets you here in the first place.”
Remember, Remember! gave audiences an incredibly misinformed, inaccurate retelling of one of Britain’s most infamous tales of treason.
Through hilarious songs, explosive action and narration from Stephen Fry, the story of the Gunpowder plot is completely turned on its head into theatrical mastery.
ALL PHOTOS Martin McAdam
Dom McGovern hosted the event. He is the co-writer of Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg, this BBC New Comedy Award nominee is performing his debut show Dom McGovern: Prize Hog, about bodies, blokes and b’something else. With the caustic wit of an old Noel Coward and the self-esteem of a young Princess Diana, Dom McGovern proves why he’s one of comedy’s rising stars.
Emma Doran showcased a riotous preview of her Edinburgh Fringe show, Emmaculate. Bursting with Emma’s trademark wit and unapologetic honesty, her latest comedy hour dives into the trials and tribulations of her blended family, serving razor-sharp observations on motherhood and marriage.
Acid’s Reign. 2019: A new drag supergroup bursts onto the scene, intent on challenging climate change. Present day: Interest wanes. Climate funding falters. When commercial opportunity knocks, the company faces a reckoning: stay radical or stay visible? Provocative, camp and razor-sharp, Acid’s Reign is a riotous queer musical with a live band and powerhouse vocals from drag superstars including Victoria Scone, Scarlett Harlett and Gigi Zahir (fresh from supporting Chappell Roan) about activism, community and the power of performance. Tickets here.
Colin Cloud: Hoax. In this brand-new show, everything you think you know will be challenged. What do we believe, why do we believe it, and what does it take to change a mind? In a world where reality is shaped at the touch of a button, truth feels flexible and trust feels dangerous. Blending jaw-dropping mentalism with razor sharp comedy, Cloud dismantles assumptions, bends reality and makes the impossible uncomfortably personal. Hoax is designed to blow your mind, shake you to your core and linger long after the lights fade. You will not leave the same person inside.Tickets here.
Hasan Al-Habib:Stuck in the Middle (East) With You. Returning after a sold out run at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, Hasan Al-Habib shared a hilarious preview of Stuck in the Middle (East) With You, his brand-new show. Finding humour in impossible situations, Hasan gave us a deeply personal, yet very funny look at growing up in a house defined by conflict. Tickets here.
Bliss. Featuring 17 West End performers, electric vocals and pop-rock punch, this fearless musical turns fairy tale inside out as four sisters escape their tower and collide with the outside world. From Olivier-Award winning producers of Cabaret and Benjamin Button, Bliss brought the Gala to a spectacular close, leaving us buzzing with excitement for the month ahead.
Bliss
Acid’s Reign
Acid’s Reign
World renowned Las Vegas star and Fringe favourite Colin Cloud then offered the audience a mind-blowing glimpse of his brand-new show, Hoax. Blending jaw-dropping mentalism with razor sharp humour, Cloud dismantled assumptions and challenged perceptions, leaving us questioning everything we thought we knew.
Hasan Al-Habib:Stuck in the Middle East With You. Extended sold-out run, Edinburgh Fringe 2025. Funniest Jokes of Edinburgh Fringe (Telegraph, Times 2025). NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy: nominee 2025. ‘Deliciously funny’ (Guardian) Hasan Al-Habib is back with a brand-new stand-up hour. His agent told him it needs to be more relatable for white British people, so it’s all about growing up as a child of divorce. Tickets here.
Bliss. From the Olivier Award-winning producers of Cabaret and Benjamin Button, the biggest new musical of the Fringe turns the fairy tale inside out. Once upon a time, there was a princess. Whatever that means… Four sisters escape their tower and collide with the outside world. Where fairy godfathers rule and happy endings come at a cost, this hilarious, razor-sharp tale rewrites the concept of happily ever after. With 17 West End performers, electric vocals and a pop-rock punch, Bliss is a fearless musical about ripping up the rule book and the price of perfection. Tickets here.
Bliss
Bliss
The Pleasance continues to grow its commitment to accessibility. laire Hill once again captioned the Opening Gala and will do so for a wide range of performances throughout the month. GAMEPLAY will have integrated audio description into every performance as standard, ensuring the show is fully accessible to visually impaired audiences.
Ahead of this year’s festival, the Pleasance team has undertaken specialised accessibility training with Birds of Paradise, Sight Scotland and Deaf Action, ensuring all staff are empowered to support audience members and artists. In partnership with Sight Scotland, large print and braille venue guides will also be available across Pleasance venues. Once again, each venue is equipped with a dedicated BSL spotlight to support both BSL interpreted performances and Deaf Action’s BSL on request services. Pleasance has expended its access through community ticketing, providing 100 tickets for accessible performances throughout the festival.
Pleasance is supporting With Spice’s community ticketing programme. This ensures improved access and that more people can experience work by Global Majority artists at Pleasance.
