Competition culture hits the Fringe with an energetic new production
Pleasance Grand, 7.40pm
5 – 31, August
There’s a van parked centre stage at the Pleasance Grand, and 12 intrepid contestants are holding on to it, refusing to let go. Whoever holds on the longest, wins the van. Welcome to the play that is sure to get the Fringe crowd revved up this August- Stand By Your Van.
Inspired by a true story, watch as the dynamic competitors battle their wits to try to win the car, fighting each other as well as their own resolve. Suspense meets comedy in this intense competition, and with 4 possible winners the audience will never know exactly what’s coming next.
In a world obsessed with television competition and easy fame, and with a public willing to do pretty much anything to get something for nothing, Stand By Your Van offers a brilliant critique of reality TV culture through this brilliant piece of innovative drama. One of the most anticipated shows to head to the Fringe this year, Stand By Your Van will have the audience on tenterhooks as the suspense rises and the stakes get ever higher for these twelve fanatical competition contestants.
The idea is simple – the contestants place one hand on the brand new car, and with only limited breaks they must keep a hold of it until they are literally the last one standing. Now a popular competition around the world, this idea was sparked by a real event in America, where a Texan car dealership offered a free car to the person who could stay holding on to one of their vehicles for the longest, leading to a brutal three day long competition with dire consequences.
Stand By Your Van re-imagines the action of a volatile 80 hour competition in a thrilling 80 minute play, offering 4 different alternative endings throughout the festival and giving the audience the chance to get involved and root for their favourite character.
With characters ranging from a ditzy glamour model, a woman who believes “God won’t let her lose” and an anarchistic student who lives exclusively on energy drinks, Stand By Your Van cannot fail to get the audience animated as they watch the trials and tribulations of these bizarre competitors.
Written by the award- winning Anna Reynolds and directed by popular Fringe director Paul Bourne, Stand By Your Van is presented by Menagerie Theatre Company in co- production with Pleasance Theatre, and supported by the Escalator East to Edinburgh scheme offered by Arts Council England, East.
Stand By Your Van promises to be a fun-fuelled theatre extravaganza, and one of the most original plays heading to the Fringe this August.
Stand By Your Van features at the Pleasance Courtyard this August for the Edinburgh Fringe 2009
Address:
Pleasance Courtyard
60 Pleasance, Edinburgh,
Midlothian, EH8 9TJ
Venue:
Pleasance Grand
Showing:
August 5th – August 31st 2009
Excluding 18th & 25th August
Price:
£5 / £10
Time:
7.40pm
To Book:
0131 556 6550 / www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh
Editor’s Notes
Pleasance Theatre
Celebrating its 25th year as a venue for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Pleasance is one of the largest and most successful Edinburgh venues, gaining international respect for its impressive and hugely popular programme of elite theatrical and comedy performances.
The Pleasance Theatre Islington was opened in 1995, offering London a highly regarded selection of performances throughout the year, as well as a platform for new talent in both theatre and comedy.
Menagerie Theatre Company
Menagerie Theatre Company is the leading independent new writing company in the East of England. They seek out and support talented writers in order to develop and produce innovative new theatre.
As well as touring widely, Menagerie curates and produces Hotbed Festival every year at The Junction, Cambridge.
Escalator East to Edinburgh
Stand By Your Van has been selected for Escalator East To Edinburgh 2009.
Arts Council England, East launched Escalator East to Edinburgh in 2003 to identify, nurture and develop the artistic talent in the East of England that could benefit from wider exposure at festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe. Since then, the wider Escalator talent programme has grown to support artists and organisations in the region across all art forms.
Escalator East to Edinburgh continues to build critical acclaim, giving artists assistance to source venues and liaise with promoters, as well as practical PR and marketing support and a range of invaluable networking opportunities.
This year, the programme offers structured support to 21 shows, establishing a creative community and raising the profile of creative talent from the East of England.
Contacts
For further information / Use of pictures / Interviews:
Idea Generation: +44(0)20 7749 6850
Paul Woodmansey: paul@ideageneration.co.uk
Paul Drury: paul.drury@ideageneration.co.uk
For details on Escalator East to Edinburgh:
SFP: 0160 366 1459 (0131 667 2480)
Steve Forster: 0793 922 1192, steve@sfppr.co.uk
For Press Tickets:
Pleasance Press Office: 0131 556 6557 or email press@pleasance.co.uk
