Pleasance to Launch 2026 Edinburgh National Partnerships Programme With Five UK Theatres

The Pleasance has announced the five productions selected for its 2026 Edinburgh National Partnerships Programme, reaffirming its commitment to championing outstanding new theatre voices from across the UK at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The 2026 partner organisations are Theatre Royal Plymouth, Curve, Chichester Festival Theatre, Sherman Theatre and Lyric Belfast, joining Pleasance in recognising and amplifying extraordinary work being created outside London and supporting artist development and new work.

Created to support exceptional artists and companies in bringing ambitious work to the world's largest arts festival, each partner venue identifies a standout production from its region, offering artists a vital pathway to present their work on an international stage at the Fringe. Together, the Pleasance and its partners aim to make a substantial contribution to developing the next generation of theatre-makers and companies working across the UK.

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 2026 programme showcases a bold range of new work spanning documentary theatre, drag musical comedy, political satire, psychological drama and contemporary storytelling. Subjects explored include boy bands and toxic masculinity; life, loss and working-class resilience on the North Wales coast; an entertaining exploration of power, privilege, class and survival in late-stage capitalism; what life is like for young people living in Belfast through the lens of Gaelic football; and the extraordinary true story of a small-town American mayor who just happens to be a golden retriever.

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