• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Edinburgh Review: Young Pleasance’s The Trial at Pleasance Courtyard

by Greg Stewart
August 12, 2022
Reading Time: 3 mins read
The Trial courtesy of the Company

The Trial courtesy of the Company

Five Star Review from Theatre WeeklyThe fantastic Young Pleasance return to Edinburgh Fringe for their 25th year, the company that gives young people from across the country the chance to experience the Fringe, celebrate this milestone with a modern adaptation of Kafka’s The Trial.

Written by Joanna Billington and Tim Norton, our Josef K is a university student suddenly arrested on his 21st birthday.  Like Kafka’s version the nature of the crime is never revealed, the cause of the arrest seemingly random.

But this adaptation blurs the lines between reality and the dreamworld.  For we discover that Josef K was part of a medical trial, and having consumed alcohol things have gone wrong.  His university ‘friends’ who seem to barely know him at all, wait patiently for news as the inept medical students try to figure out what to do next.

       

It’s an extremely clever re-working of the original novel, and thoroughly explores the challenges faced by young people in the modern age.  The use of live video and references to the way people are judged, subtly highlights the influence social media can have on today’s youth.

While there are some central characters, all giving polished performances, Young Pleasance works very well as an ensemble company.  The cast of over 30 youngsters are all given ample opportunity to share the stage, and there are clearly some future stars amongst this year’s cohort.

You mightalso like

Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants

Edinburgh Preview: Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants at Pleasance Dome (King Dome)

Showgirls and Spies courtesy of Young Pleasance

Edinburgh Review: Showgirls and Spies at Pleasance Dome

Something else that Young Pleasance does particularly well is in the staging, and The Trial is no different.  The relatively simple set is brought to life by the cast who often use physical theatre to create the various scenes required to bring Josef K’s nightmare to life.  At one point, mobile phone lights are used to create a truly chilling scene, that perfectly captures the torment of Josef K’s mind.

Young Pleasance have been bringing us tremendous theatre for the last quarter of a century, and The Trial, a stunning and frightening commentary on today’s world, continues the tradition.  Here’s to another twenty five years of the incredible Young Pleasance.

Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants
Edinburgh Fringe 2024

Edinburgh Preview: Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants at Pleasance Dome (King Dome)

Showgirls and Spies courtesy of Young Pleasance
Edinburgh Fringe 2023

Edinburgh Review: Showgirls and Spies at Pleasance Dome

Marc Benga credit to Ori Jones
Edinburgh Fringe 2023

Edinburgh Interview: Marc Benga on Young Pleasance’s Showgirls and Spies at Pleasance Dome

Showgirls and Spies, credit to Young Pleasance
Edinburgh Fringe 2023

Edinburgh Preview: Showgirls and Spies at Pleasance Dome (King Dome)

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Troubled credit Rich Lakos

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Troubled at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

Pickled Republic Ruxy Cantir Credit Andy Catlin

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Pickled Republic at Summerhall (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly