h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is there anything that will grow in a large-ish container with virtually no direct sunlight, and that requires almost no maintenance? So far the only things that have survived are sage (looks a bit ropey though), thyme (likewise) and mint. The mint doesn't count though, seeing as the challenge there is to stop it growing!

I would like a big plant in a pot in my shared yard to brighten up an otherwise gloomy corner.

I know you said no maintenance, but if you don't mind some work to start with you can put Ivy in a pot, put some wire in, in a hoop, an obelisk, or even a spiral, and the ivy will grow up it. It might need a bit of training, but it's not difficult. Ivy loves to cling! (it might need trimming though, when it outgrows your wire.)
Ferns are shade lovers as well.

Fatsia Japonica is a large hardy evergreen shrub that should look good in a pot.
Some of the older roses can be grown in the shade, but I'm not sure if they like pots or not.

Try some hostas - they look dead classy, and putting them in pots can save them from the slugs. They'll grow in the deepest deepest shade, and there's lots of nice varieties, with leaves from gold to blue, all spotched and striped, and tall spaires of white or lilac flowers in late summer/

Both sound lovely, do they have to be brought indoors? I have a tiny, tiny flat with no handy over-wintering spots for plants.

How big do they get? And do the hostas need very frequent watering? I am not very good at that. It is survival of the fittest for my house plants - those that like being flooded about once a month last longest, I've had a yukka for about six years now that seems to love this treatment.

Hostas will be happy outside all the year round. They will die back in the winter and come back all freash and lovely in the spring. If they are outside, I would only consider watering them in extremely dry spells

Once I had marygolds in a container, they did quite well, too. They were under the apple tree so not much sunlight there too.