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{{for|the surname|Pleasance (surname)}}
{{Primary sources|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
 
'''The Pleasance''' is a street just outside the [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]] of [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]], a remnant of the [[Edinburgh town walls|townFlodden wallsWall]] flanking the west side of the street between [[Drummond Street, Edinburgh|Drummond Street]] and the [[Cowgate]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/119866/photographs/edinburgh+pleasance+flodden+wall/ | title = Edinburgh, Pleasance, Flodden Wall | accessdate = 2013-03-18}}</ref> Historically, the street was one of the main routes into Edinburgh from the south, meeting St Mary's Wynd (now St Mary's Street) at St Mary's Wynd Port, one of the gateways of the town walls. The name derives from the [[Scots language|Scots]] ''plesance'', meaning a park or garden. It first appears in 1507 as the name of a nearby house, and was later transferred to the street and then the suburb which was part of the [[regality]] of [[the Canongate]].<ref>S Harris, The Place Names of Edinburgh, London 1996</ref> The derivation of the name from a nunnery of St Mary of Placentia, often mentioned in histories of Edinburgh, is an invention by [[William Maitland (historian)|William Maitland]] in his 1753 ''History of Edinburgh''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/52131/details/edinburgh+pleasance+convent+of+st+mary+of+placentia/ | title = Edinburgh, Pleasance, 'Convent Of St Mary Of Placentia' | accessdate = 2013-03-18}}</ref> The street is largely residential, although the [[University of Edinburgh]] owns property in the area.
 
The street is largely residential - mainly 19th century tenements and 20th century flats - although the [[University of Edinburgh]] owns property in the area, including a large new [2017] university student flats complex on St Leonard's Street, the southerly extension of the Pleasance, on a site formerly occupied by a Homebase home improvements and gardening store. In addition, although the Pleasance along with St Leonard's Street is a quieter area than the nearby main commercial centres and streets of the Southside there are several restaurants, pubs, a few shops, lawyers' offices, churches, and the modern St Leonard's police station. After years of planning blight from the 1960s and 1970s in which redevelopment of the formerly rather run-down area was hampered after the abandonment of bizarre plans to build a major road comparable to a motorway, from the late 20th century onwards the area benefited from a gradual renaissance.
==University of Edinburgh union==▼
 
▲==University of Edinburgh union buildings==
[[File:Student Union buildings in the Pleasance.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Student Union buildings]]
The Pleasance contains a [[The Pleasance|complex]] of university-owned buildings which, for nine months of the year, operate as one of the four Student Union venues that serve the [[Edinburgh University Students' Association]]. TheIn PleasanceAugust, the complex consistsis converted to use as one of twothe mainmajor bars:venues of the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]], for which it is most publicly well-known. The [[Pleasance BarTheatre andTrust]], Thenamed Cabaretafter Bar;the complex, runs the Pleasancevenue theatreduring (withthe Fringe, as well as a capacity[[Pleasance ofIslington|sister 320<ref>{{citevenue]] in London. web
|url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/node/56▼
|title=Pleasance Edinburgh: Pleasance One▼
|publisher=Pleasance.co.uk▼
|accessdate=2009-08-07}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>); and several rooms that can be booked out for society use. Two LCD tvs and a large projector also ensure that all major sporting events are shown in the main bar. The Pleasance is the only one of the four student unions to hold a public license which means anyone can gain access without having to be a university student or signed in by a member.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}▼
 
As well as providing the opportunity to purchase food and drink, the Pleasance maintains a program of evening entertainment. Live comedy traditionally takes place on Tuesday evenings with acts such as [[Russell Howard]] and [[Jim Jefferies (comedian)|Jim Jefferies]] appearing in recent years.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} The Edinburgh Folk Club use the Cabaret Bar as the venue for their gigs on Wednesday nights. However the busiest evenings of the week normally fall on Monday nights with the Pleasance Pub Quiz attracting up to 40 teams on occasions in 2009.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}▼
 
==The Pleasance Theatre Trust, Edinburgh==
[[File:Pleasance Courtyard.jpg|thumb|The Pleasance Courtyard during the [[2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe]]]]
 
Use of the union buildings during the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] led to the formation in 1985 of Pleasance Theatre Trust Ltd,<ref name=pleasance>{{cite web|url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/about |title=About Pleasance |accessdate=2010-01-05 |work=Pleasance.co.uk |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20090907073048/http://www.pleasance.co.uk:80/edinburgh/about |archivedate=7 September 2009 }}</ref> which is the parent organisation that runs the Pleasance's Fringe events. By 2010 it had expanded from the Pleasance's two permanent theatre spaces into 23 venues hosting shows under the Pleasance name. These spaces range in size from the 770 seat Pleasance Grand to the Bunkers, which seat 50 people. {{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
 
The Pleasance is famous for spawning such acts as [[Frank Skinner]], [[Graham Norton]], [[Paul Merton]], and [[Al Murray]], although the list of its alumni is much longer.<ref name="pleasance"/>
 
==The Pleasance Theatre Trust, Islington==
 
In addition to the Edinburgh venue, the [[The Pleasance (Theatre)|Pleasance Theatre]] Trust also runs a venue in [[Islington]], [[North London]], which operates throughout the year. This is named Pleasance Islington, previously Pleasance London. Comprising two theatres, one with 260 seats and another with 54 seats.<ref name=pleasance>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/technical|title=Pleasance Theatre Islington technical information|accessdate= 2010-01-05 |work= Pleasance.co.uk}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Pleasance Theatre Islington regularly plays host to established comedians such as [[Russell Brand]],<ref name=russell>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/node/699|title=Russell Brand at Pleasance|accessdate= 2010-01-05 |work= Pleasance.co.uk}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> [[Simon Amstell]],<ref name=simon>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/node/606|title=Simon Amstell at Pleasance|accessdate= 2010-01-05 |work= Pleasance.co.uk}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> [[Eddie Izzard]],<ref name=eddie>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/node/613|title=Eddie Izzard at Pleasance|accessdate= 2010-01-05 |work= Pleasance.co.uk}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Mark Thomas<ref name=mark>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/node/mark_thomas|title=Mark Thomas at Pleasance|accessdate= 2010-01-05 |work= Pleasance.co.uk}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and [[Dara Ó Briain]].<ref name=dara>{{cite web|url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/node/719 |title=Dara O Briain at Pleasance |accessdate=2010-01-05 |work=Pleasance.co.uk |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20100204072626/http://www.pleasance.co.uk:80/islington/node/719 |archivedate=4 February 2010 }}</ref>
 
Pleasance Islington also comprises a large complex of rehearsal rooms and production offices; and are often used by visiting companies and theatre companies preparing material for the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]].<ref name=rehearsal>{{cite web |url=http://www.pleasance.co.uk/islington/rehearsal|title=Rehearsal spaces to hire at Pleasance Islington|accessdate= 2010-01-05 |work= Pleasance.co.uk}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
 
Pleasance Islington has a number of resident theatre companies and organisations that it works with. These include Islington Community Theatre and the London Urban Collective.
 
==Young Pleasance==
 
Pleasance Theatre Trust also supports a youth theatre company, Young Pleasance, who rehearse and train all year in London. Young Pleasance produces a large scale production annually, which Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh plays host to during the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]]. The Young Pleasance was founded in 1996 and is still run by its joint Artistic Directors Tim Norton and Kathryn Norton. Since 1996, an annual production has showcased the talents of performers between the age of 15 and 24.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Young Pleasance {{!}} Pleasance Theatre Trust|url = https://www.pleasance.co.uk/yp|website = www.pleasance.co.uk|accessdate = 2015-10-29}}</ref>
 
The Pleasance complex consists of two main bars: The Pleasance Bar and The Cabaret Bar; the Pleasance Theatre (with a capacity of 320<ref>{{cite web
== Pleasance Futures ==
▲ |url = http://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/node/56
For more than 30 years the Pleasance has provided a platform and launch pad for a great many artists at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at Pleasance London. The Pleasance has also supported a great many individuals in associated creative, administrative and technical roles. In order to bring all of this wealth of experience and support under one umbrella, in 2015 The Pleasance Theatre Trust launched Pleasance Futures.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Pleasance Sets 2015 Edinburgh Programme|url = http://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/Pleasance-Sets-2015-Edinburgh-Programme-20150518|website = BroadwayWorld.com|accessdate = 2015-10-29}}</ref>
▲ |title = Pleasance Edinburgh: Pleasance One
▲ |publisher = Pleasance.co.uk
|accessdate = 2009-08-07
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090813132142/http://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh/node/56
|archivedate = 13 August 2009
|df = dmy-all
▲|accessdate=2009-08-07}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>); and several rooms that can be booked out for society use. Two LCD tvstelevisions and a large projector also ensure that all major sporting events are shown in the main bar. The Pleasance is the only one of the four student unions to hold a public licenselicence, which means anyone can gain access without having to be a university student or signed in by a member.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
 
▲As well as providing the opportunity to purchase food and drink, the Pleasance complex maintains a program of evening entertainment. Live comedy traditionally takes place on Tuesday evenings, with acts such as [[Russell Howard]] and [[Jim Jefferies (comedian)|Jim Jefferies]] appearing in recent years.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} The Edinburgh Folk Club use the Cabaret Bar as the venue for their gigs on Wednesday nights. However the busiest evenings of the week normally fall on Monday nights, with the Pleasance Pub Quiz for instance attracting up to 40 teams on occasions in 2009recent years.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
Pleasance Futures offers a variety of initiatives for an array of individuals both on and off stage. From carpenters, crew, electricians to photographers, reviewers, bloggers and film-makers the Pleasance recognises how important those first opportunities into the creative industries can be.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Young theatre at the Pleasance - Fringe interview - The Skinny|url = http://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh-fringe/pleasance-futures-first-30-years|website = www.theskinny.co.uk|accessdate = 2015-10-29}}</ref>
 
==References==
Line 44 ⟶ 28:
 
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.pleasance.co.uk}}
* [http://www.pleasancetrust.org.uk Pleasance Trust website]
 
{{UniversityTransport ofin Edinburgh}}▼
{{Streets and Squares in Edinburgh|state=collapsed}}
{{coord|55|56|51.33|N|3|10|55.23|W|display=title}}
▲{{University of Edinburgh}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pleasance, The}}
[[Category:Streets in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Theatres in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Festival]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Comedy Festival]]
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