A Grave Situation
Pleasance Courtyard (Beyond)
2nd – 17th August
15.15 (55 mins)
Book Tickets
Celebrating their 24th year on the Fringe, the highly regarded Young Pleasance are back with the brilliantly inventive comedy revival A Grave Situation. With their trademark large-scale ensemble cast, over 25 young actors and singers conjure up the worlds of gallant airmen, gutsy girls at the ministry, the exotic distractions of an absinthe bar, as well as their own unique versions of heaven and hell.
It is 1939. Britain is at war. Armed with only five spades and Albert’s trusty toothpick, will our grave-digging heroes tunnel back to Blighty in time to return Ethel’s library book, see Ginger earn his wings and taste Daphne’s Battenburg? Will Chippy get his girl and Bitsy outwit the Colonel? Chocks away for more exciting jolly japes!
Award-winning writing duo, Tim Norton and Ned Bennett, offer up a wonderfully anarchic
celebration of the British stiff upper lip, the glorious few and the irrepressible Dunkirk spirit.
It is always exciting to watch the excellent Young Pleasance. Each year, they bring a new young company to the Fringe with a brand new show. The powerful ensemble work is dazzling…an absolute triumph. (British Theatre Guide).
Since its inception in 1995, Young Pleasance has involved over 800 young people in its incredible and inspiring theatrical productions. Young Pleasance is part of Pleasance Futures, The Pleasance Theatre Trust’s initiative providing a launch pad for the very best emerging talent and the brightest new ideas. With soaring ambition and a wellspring of youthful energy, Young Pleasance is truly incubating the stars of the future, with alumni going on to work with the RSC, the RNT, at the Trafalgar Studios, with Cheek by Jowl and the Globe Theatre as well as appearing in outstanding TV and film productions!
Tim Norton, who directs alongside Kathryn Norton-Smith and Edward Sayer says, this remains one of the most memorable and joyous of all our YP productions: we were blessed with a stunning cast of young people then, who have all gone on to very great things. The piece still remains very close to the hearts of the original company who created the piece and – if it had been at all possible – they would all have returned to perform in it again this Summer! During rehearsals the laughs came tumbling off the page as fresh as paint; it has been a treat to hear Ned Bennett’s fizzing score come magnificently back to life at the hands of our wonderful new cast.
