The Pleasance Theatre Trust will present another incredible London theatre season in Spring 2025.
With shows spanning drag cabaret musicals, improv and bold work from emerging new writers, there’s something for everyone at Pleasance London, with further additions to the programme to be announced soon. Relish Theatre will be leading this diverse and dynamic theatre programme with two world-saving cabarets.
Acid’s Reign (5th February – 1st March) will star Ru Paul’s Drag Race icon Scarlett Harlett, in this brand-new musical queering and querying the climate discourse. Alongside this will be Oh My Pain, My Beautiful Pain! (6th February – 1st March) that will use drag, cabaret and clowning to tackle important socio-cultural issues, exploring the cultural impetus on artists. This fast-paced satirical play will expose the personal cost of working in an industry that demands infinite reserves of pain.
Islington audiences can quench their theatrical thirst with a rich blend of playlets with The Big BiteSize Show (5th March – 15th March). Serving up two delicious menus, each stuffed with eight fifteen minute plays, this multi-award-winning extravaganza will perform at Pleasance London for the first time, following the success of almost two decades at the Pleasance Edinburgh.
Yankl And The Beanstalk (19th March – 22nd March) promises an unforgettable evening, as the saucy Queer Jewish pantomime features a Yiddish performance of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, and answers questions of true love, workers’ rights and bashert. Hapless pickle worker Yankl swaps his pickles for some magic beans and scales a beanstalk in Mayfair ahead of his Bar Mitsvah.
Continuing the Purim celebrations, this infectious adult twist on the classic childhood tale will present an inclusive and interactive production celebrating Jewish heritage through queer identities. Featuring stars from the Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, the Pleasance will present a magnificent weekend of improv with The London 50 Hour Improvathon 2025: Because We Can Can Can! (4th April – 6 th April). Set in Paris’ most notorious club, the improvised comedy soap opera in 25 episodes will feature exciting guests to celebrate its 15th anniversary in style.
Desperate Times (23rd – 25th April) by emerging new writer Amal Abdi is returning to the Pleasance, after its sell-out success at Futures Festival 2024. From the team behind Dugsi Dayz (Royal Court), Side eYe’s heartwarming show follows the story of lonely supply teacher Lucky. This compelling performance shares Lucky’s sneaky new compulsion for petty thieving, asking audiences how likely it is that she can keep this up.
Continuing the Pleasance’s unwavering commitment to artistic development, their annual Charlie Hartill Award is returning for Edinburgh Fringe in 2025. With one theatre company being selected as the recipient for the Early Ensemble Strand of The Charlie Hartill Fund, the Try-Outs will run from 25th – 26th February. Running for over 20 years with generous investment each year, The Charlie Hartill Fund supports two productions made by UK-based theatre makers through their Early Ensemble Strand and the Global Majority Strand, as well as comedians in bringing their work to the Fringe, offering unique and unparalleled support to artists through direct cash investment, programming, and mentoring support. The Pleasance will also host their annual Staff Scratch Night, for team members, offering a space to try out new material, and a two-night Pleasance Scratch for artists to present brave, new work at early stages of development.
Full listings and ticket information can be found here
