The Pleasance has announced the five productions selected for its 2026 Edinburgh National Partnerships Programme, highlighting outstanding theatre talent from across the UK ahead of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The initiative sees Theatre Royal Plymouth, Curve, Chichester Festival Theatre, Sherman Theatre and Lyric Belfast partner with the Pleasance to support new work developed outside London.
Each organisation has selected a standout production from its region, offering artists a major platform to present their work on an international stage.
The 2026 programme features a diverse range of productions spanning documentary theatre, drag musical comedy, political satire and contemporary storytelling.
Works in this year’s line-up include Meet Mayor Max, Campitalism: Three Gays Try to Fix The Economy, Man!Fest: The Drag Boyband Musical, Amnesia, and The Pitch.
The subjects explored range from toxic masculinity and boyband culture to working-class life in North Wales, economic inequality, identity in Belfast, and even the true story of a golden retriever who became a mayor.
Jonny Patton, Head of Theatre Edinburgh at Pleasance said: “This programme is a snapshot of some of the most exciting theatre being made in the UK right now. It’s fearless, funny and fiercely contemporary. We’re proud to help these artists bring their work to the Fringe.”
Tom Jackson Greaves, Associate Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “Our ongoing partnership with Pleasance Theatre continues to be an important pathway for artists to showcase work at the Edinburgh Fringe and kickstart or progress their career in the arts. Championing these incredibly talented artists from the South West, like Alex, and helping them reach wider audiences is central to our mission, and programmes like the Edinburgh National Partnerships are a crucial way to achieve this.”
Cara Nolan, Associate Director of Curve said: “We’re so pleased to once again be working with Pleasance to support East Midlands artists to take work to the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2026 we have the brilliant CAMPITALISM, created by Curve Resident Creative Maria Telnikoff and their company BOY Theatre. It’s a smart, sharp comedy that questions how the economy really functions for young people, presented with heaps of silliness and queer joy. It’s going to take the Fringe by storm.”
Daniel Hill, Producer, Producer, Chichester Festival Theatre said: “On The Nose productions were one of the artists in Chichester Festival Theatre’s inaugural Future Theatre Makers programme, and developed Man!Fest during their residency with us. Having first performed it in our new venue for emerging artists The Nest, we’re delighted to partner with The Pleasance to enable the company to showcase their production in Edinburgh. These initiatives are vital to allow our next generation of theatre makers to exist and thrive.”
Sherman Theatre’s Chief Executive Julia Barry said: “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues to be a hugely valuable platform for artists to showcase their work. Working with the Pleasance to support a Welsh-made production at the Fringe is one of the highlights of the Sherman’s calendar, and we are very proud to be sharing Kimberly’s hilarious and touching play with Edinburgh audiences this year.”
Morag Keating, Head of Producing for Lyric Belfast said: “Lyric Belfast has been a proud partner of the Pleasance Theatre through its Edinburgh National Partnerships programme for the past three years. This partnership has provided artists from Northern Ireland with a significant opportunity to present their work in Edinburgh and engage with international audiences. We are pleased to support and champion the creative ambitions and distinctive storytelling that emerge from this place.”
The programme continues the Pleasance’s commitment to nurturing emerging voices and supporting the development of new theatre across the UK.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
