Tag: arts

The Famous Spiegeltent announces Edinburgh summer programme

  • The Famous Spiegeltent opens this week
  • Expect magic, melodies, and mesmerising performances as the legendary venue celebrates her ‘centenary plus’
  • The original trailblazing travelling venue makes its grand return to St Andrew Square from 10 Jul – 31 Aug

10 July – 31 August 2025

St Andrew Square Edinburgh 

Tickets for all shows are on sale NOW 

www.thefamousspiegeltent.com

This week, the globally acclaimed venue, The Famous Spiegeltent makes her grand return to St Andrew Square after almost a decade away from her spiritual home.

An iconic fixture at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 20 years since 1996, The Famous Spiegeltent has been instrumental in promoting the international careers of variety, cabaret, independent music and new circus arts.

This summer the grand dame of travelling venues opens her doors for 8 weeks of spellbinding performances, hosting the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival before delivering her own mesmerising programme of live performances, magic, enchanting melodies, and maybe a few surprise  faces!

Opening its Edinburgh festival season, The Famous Spiegeltent will be hosting the renowned Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival for almost 30 concerts from 11 – 20 July.

Beginning with raconteur and brilliant jazz violinist, George Washingmachine, over 9 days, The Famous Spiegeltent will welcome performances from renowned musicians including leading force on the UK jazz scene, Joe Webb, and one of Scotland’s foremost trumpeters, Colin Steele.

Full programme and ticket details for The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival can be found here.

La Clique

2025 marks both The Famous Spiegeltent’s 105th anniversary as well as the 21st birthday of her notorious, multi-award-winning house show, La Clique! 

Since its inception in 2004 in The Famous Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, La Clique has taken the world by storm.

The very essence of live entertainment, the international Oliver Award-winning sensation is a unique blend of daring acrobatics, jaw-dropping stunts, scintillating burlesque and raucous comedy. Visceral, ethereal and in-your-face, each act a masterpiece of artistry and athleticism, La Clique showcases a riotous troupe of crème de la crème artistes from around the world. 
 
From 23 Jul – 31 Aug leave your troubles at the doors of The Famous Spiegeltent, be a part of history and come raise a glass to the 21st Birthday of this trailblazing icon of entertainment! This iteration of La Clique celebrates over two decades of cult status as the true pioneering classic within the cabaret/circus canon, bringing heritage artistes and the next generation of performers together for a spectacular six-week season of subversive revelry.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, La Clique’s birthday show promises an unforgettable night of pure wonder, joy and delight. Sexy, funny, and dangerous, the handpicked cast includes: the iconic Ursula Martinez, Captain Frodo, Tara Boom, LJ Marles, David Periera, Daredevil Chickens, Aurora Kurth, Masha Terentieva, Mikael Bres, Byron Hutton, Heather Holliday, Miranda Menzies and more

Over your head, under your skin, and below the belt! Hang on to your hat and strap yourself in, as we present … La Clique! 

Bold Performances

Watch closely … are you paying attention? Introducing The Unfair Advantage (1 – 25 Aug)an intimate,unique and unprecedented hour-long theatrical event. Take a seat at the card table, sign a legal contract of secrecy and Australia’s leading sleight-of-hand magician Harry Milas will reveal the secrets behind the skill that saw him become a security weapon for the world’s top casinos.

Edinburgh’s own Captivate Theatre enter The Famous Spiegeltent to deliver two stellar musical theatre shows. Performed entirely by talented students, Les Misérables (School Edition), running from 1 – 10 Aug,has been seen by an estimated 22,000 people, with sell-out crowds, standing ovations and multiple five-star reviews.

Les Mis is the story of love, compassion and redemption, featuring hit songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home and many more – don’t be put off by School Edition! From 12 – 24 Aug, prepare to be drawn into a dark and ghoulish world as the streets of Victorian London come to life in their thrilling production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. 

Mesmerising Music

The Paris icon and the Glasgow girl, Christine Bovill established her reputation as one of Europe’s finest interpreters of French song with her smash-hit Piaf. With a fresh take on this self-penned work, she now returns with Christine Bovill: Piaf Revisited on the 5, 12 & 19 Aug, to the venue of her original triumphs, looking back on her remarkable journey. 

Performing for two nights only, on 11 and 18 Aug, see multi-award-winning vocalist Niki King take to the stage of The Famous Spiegeltent for Time. A deeply connecting musical experience, Time explores universal truths of loss, fear and the power of love and connection, while reflecting the concept of time itself. 

What are synths? Where did they come from? And why are they synonymous with cats in space? Laurie’s got answers. Part live gig, part TedTalk, Laurie Black: Deadly Synths (12 & 19 Aug) tells the history of the sound of the future through seven decades of synth tunes.   

Sounds of Scotland 

Presented in association with Scary Biscuits Promotions, The Famous Spiegeltent is delighted to announce Sounds of Scotland. From African dancebeats, Americana, Folk, Roots, Funk, Blues, Rock and Indie, this strand of the 2025 programme, running outwith the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, showcases some of the best music being created in Scotland, welcoming artists and audiences to The Famous Spiegeltent for a series of intimate, one-off performances.   

Enjoy an evening of exuberant Afrobeat, Mbalax, Ska, Reggae dance grooves with double-bill Samba Sene & Diwan + Makossa (28 Jul). Samba Sene & Diwan is an eclectic mix of musicians, led by charismatic Dakar-born singer Samba Sene.

The music is a thrilling fusion of funky mbalax/Afrobeat grooves, with undercurrents of ska, rock and Senegalese soul. Makossa is a long-standing Edinburgh institution, a feelgood band, led by Peter Akyeampong, with influences from African to Latin, Funk, Reggae and Classic Rock.  
 
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award nominee, and daughter of Proclaimer Craig Reid,Roseanne Reid, takes to the stage of The Famous Spiegeltent on 29 Jul supported by The Rezillos’ Fay Fife, with her alt country Countess of Fife band member, guitarist Brian McFie.

In a night that promises to be musical medicine for the soul, acclaimed Edinburgh singer-songwriter and one of the brightest stars of the UK roots music scene Adam Holmes performs with some very special guests on 30 Jul. 

On 4 Aug enjoy a stunning double bill with Liz Jones & Broken Windows and Steve Ray Ladson. Taking tones dynamically from blues, folk-rock and psychedelia for a classic stage buzzing live performance, Broken Windows will be led by force of nature singer Liz Jones. After blowing audiences and judges (including Simon Cowell) away on his recent performance on America’s Got Talent, singer Steve Ray Ladson brings his specialty Blackgrass Brothercana to the tent.

Award winning troubadour and proud Leither Dean Owens occupies the unlikely common ground between post-industrial Scotland, America’s desert states and the lush Italian hills. On Aug 6, he will be accompanied by his band The Sinners – expect a joyous, melancholy mix of songs and stories from Dean’s 12 album international career.

A darkly magnetic experience as blues meets alternative rock in a cinematic descent through Edinburgh’s shadowy underbelly The Filthy Tongues on13 Aug. Spawned from Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, expect pounding rhythms, brooding melodies, and razor-sharp storytelling.

On 20 Aug, Main Street Blues bring their popular show Kings of the Blues to The Famous Spiegeltent celebrating the music of blues legends BB King, Albert King, and Freddie King. Following their forthcoming sell-out show at The Famous Spiegeltent as part of The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2025, Black Cat Bone bring their raucous, blues infused rock’n’roll to the tent again on 26 Aug.

Experience the primal force of their music: thunderous guitar riffs, pounding drums, prowling, fuzzing basslines and a haunting voice that carries the ecstasy and agony of a lifetime.  

Award winning Kirsten Adamson (daughter of rock legend Stuart Adamson Big Country/Skids) is performing double duties on 26 Aug. She headlines with her band The Tanagers, who have just finished recording the highly anticipated follow up album to her widely acclaimed Landing Place album. She’ll also play a short opening set with her duo band, The Marriage. 

Closing the Sounds of Scotland music programme in style, get ready for a night of fearless funk, creative jazzy fire, and groove-soaked energy from Edinburgh- based collective James Brown is Annie on 27 Aug. 

Keep an eye out for more special events and some surprise faces yet to be revealed in The Famous Spiegeltent’s grand return to Edinburgh!

Creative producer and Spiegelmaestro David Bates said: “Leave your troubles at the gates to St Andrew Square and step into our world to discover our specially curated spellbinding programme.

“After almost a decade away, we are delighted to return to Edinburgh, where it all began, to salute The Famous Spiegeltent’s 105th anniversary and the coming of age 21st birthday of the one and only La Clique.

“We are honoured to share this celebration with the people and the place that has forever changed all our lives. To our Edinburgh devotees and newcomers alike, we can’t wait for you to join us and raise a glass to this historic season!” 

Book your tickets now at www.thefamousspiegeltent.com 

Dougie MacLean to Lead Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Weekend Big Singalong

2025 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME RUNS FROM 1–24 AUGUST 2025

eif.co.uk / @edintfest

  • For the opening weekend of the International Festival, Scottish national treasure Dougie MacLean headlines free event The Big Singalong with iconic song Caledonia, joined by a range of community choirs led by choir director Stephen Deazle
  • Famed Scottish folk musician Donald Shaw leads The Ceilidh Sessions for an afternoon of music and dance inspired by the Gaelic ceilidh tradition
  • Festival Director Nicola Benedetti and jazz pianist Joe Webb lead improvisational music sessions alongside up-and-coming young musicians in The Hub

A lineup of world-class musicians at the forefront of their fields are today added to the Edinburgh International Festival programme to lead performances this August that celebrate the joy of music-making.

Highlights include Scottish music icon Dougie MacLean headlining free event The Big Singalong, celebrated folk musician Donald Shaw leading The Ceilidh Sessions with traditional Gaelic music and dance, and Festival Director Nicola Benedetti and jazz pianist Joe Webb leading improvisational sessions featuring emerging young talent. 

In a free, outdoor event to mark the start of festival season in Edinburgh, one of Scotland’s most beloved musical figures, Dougie MacLean will lead The Big Singalongon Sunday 3 August.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Princes Street Gardens, the Perthshire-born singer-songwriter and composer behind the iconic anthem Caledonia will start a mass singalong that welcomes all voices, curated by Edinburgh’s Love Music Community Choir Artistic Director, Stephen Deazley. 

Choirs include The Phoenix Choir, the Maryhill Integration Project Joyous Choir and the Westerton Male Voice Choir. Tickets are free and available at midday at www.eif.co.uk.

The joy of music making continues the next day with The Ceilidh Sessions, also in Princes Street Gardens. Scottish tradition meets Baroque flair, as Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene join forces with Donald Shaw, known as founding member of Scottish folk legends Capercaillie, accompanied by his ceilidh band.

Alongside beloved ceilidh tunes like the “The Gay Gordons” and “Strip the Willow”, Barokksolistene add Baroque music, sea shanties and alehouse tunes to the mix for a truly international afternoon of music and dance. Both events are presented with support from EventScotland, part of VisitScotland.

Jazz takes the spotlight at The Hub on the Royal Mile, with acclaimed pianist and composer Joe Webb leading the Up Late Jazz Jam on Friday August 15th.

Originally from Wales and now one of the most exciting forces on the UK jazz scene, Webb brings his distinctive energy and improvisational flair, honed through his work with Kansas Smitty’s and as part of the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, with whom he made his Festival debut last year.

The late-night session sees seasoned professionals and fresh talent share the stage for an electrifying night of improvisation and raw creativity in action. 

Renowned violinist and Festival Director Nicola Benedetti leads a cohort of the world’s most promising young musicians in Rising Stars: Classical Jam. This spontaneous, informal concert brings emerging and professional musicians together for a dynamic, performance where audiences choose the repertoire. This event is inspired by the behind-the-scenes energy of rehearsal rooms and post-concert jams that classical musicians usually enjoy off stage.

For the third year running, the International Festival’s Rising Stars programme unites up-and-coming young musicians with mentors for professional development and performance opportunities.

This year’s performances include the first cohort of vocalists in Rising Stars of Voice on 19 August, Rising Stars of Woodwind with clarinettist Mark Simpson on 8 August, and a return from the original 2023 cohort of Rising Stars in Benedetti and Sitkovetsky’s Tribute to Menuhin with NFM Leopoldinum on 11 August.

To read more about the Rising Stars selected to perform at this year’s International Festival, see here.

Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival said:“At the heart of our Festival is a commitment to connection – providing a closer communion between artist and audience.

“From our mass ceilidh dancing, to singing Dougie MacLean’s iconic anthem ‘Caledonia’ at the top of our lungs in the Princes Street Gardens, to spontaneous jam sessions for jazz lovers and classical enthusiasts alike, these events invite everyone to take part in the magic of live performance.

“We are all about celebrating artistry in its most human, communal form, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it with us in August.”

Stephen Deazley, Artistic Director of The Big Singalong, said: “Caledonia has become more than just a song—it’s a reflection of Scotland’s spirit. Nearly 50 years on, it still speaks powerfully about what it means to find home, especially for those who are new to Scotland or have journeyed far.

“Singing it together in Princes Street Gardens this August for the International Festival opening weekend isn’t just about music; it’s about connection. It’s a way for people to feel they belong, to share in something bigger.

“When thousands of voices come together, you feel that sense of welcome, of joy, of community—and that’s what Scotland is all about.”

Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said: “The Edinburgh International Festival is one of Scotland’s signature events, and we’re proud to support The Big Singalong and The Ceilidh Sessions as part of the festival’s opening weekend.

“These events not only celebrate our rich musical heritage—with icons like Dougie MacLean and Donald Shaw—but also play a vital role in growing the value of Scotland’s visitor economy.”

“Free, inclusive events like these are essential in ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and connection that live events bring.

“Together with our enviable portfolio of cultural and sporting events, the Edinburgh International Festival reinforces Scotland’s global reputation as a world-class destination for tourism and events.”

Tickets to all performances at the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival are available at www.eif.co.uk. 

OPEN LETTER: Hidden Door Festival Director on the importance of supporting the arts

Arts venues and cultural events need your support now more than ever: Hazel Johnson, Festival Director at Hidden Door, invites you to be part of something special at The Paper Factory this week

Scotland’s arts scene is vibrant, innovative, and utterly vital to our national identity, wellbeing and economy. Yet, like many sectors, it faces unprecedented challenges, from funding pressures to the ever-shifting landscape of audience engagement. Cities like Edinburgh are at their best when they have cultural venues that can thrive all year round, not just in festival season.

This week, we launch our most ambitious venture yet. The Paper Factory is a magnificent, abandoned industrial site which we’re transforming into a vibrant new arts venue hosting an amazing programme of music, visual art and performance. It’s a monumental undertaking, driven by a passionate team of volunteers, and its success hinges, quite simply, on audiences coming along to experience it.

Hidden Door was born from a belief that Edinburgh needs vibrant cultural venues that offer something different. By literally and figuratively opening up forgotten spaces for the arts, we create a place where creative talent can flourish.

We exist to provide a vital platform for new and emerging artists in Scotland, offering them the crucial opportunity to experiment and reach new audiences.

From our diverse music lineup, including promising local bands selected from hundreds of open call applications, to the captivating, site-specific art installations and immersive performances that bring The Paper Factory’s history to life – every element of Hidden Door is designed to be unique and unforgettable.

We were fortunate this year to benefit from the Creative Scotland Development Fund – a fiercely competitive pot of funding. We are also hugely grateful to the sponsors and partners who believe in us enough to generously give their support.

This support has meant we can be as accessible and inclusive as possible. This year we have offered more concessions and free tickets than ever before, including a “pay what you can” option to help us better serve the many different communities across the city.

But the stark truth is that as a volunteer-run charity, we rely on ticket sales. The magic we create, the opportunities we provide for artists, and our ability to keep opening up new, surprising spaces for the arts across our city – all of it depends on you stepping through our ‘hidden door’.

Your ticket isn’t just access to a great night out; it’s an investment in Edinburgh’s creative future, a vote of confidence in the artists who are shaping our cultural landscape, and a lifeline that allows us to continue our unique work. Without you, non-profit organisations like Hidden Door simply can’t exist.

We’ve all seen much-loved venues and arts organisations forced to close, a worrying trend accelerated by ongoing economic uncertainties. The impact from these external factors on the arts sector is all too real, with arts venues and cultural events needing your support now more than ever.

So I invite you to join us at The Paper Factory this week, from Wednesday to Sunday. Come and discover the energy, witness the innovation, and be part of a truly unique cultural moment.

If you want Hidden Door to keep doing what we do, transforming forgotten spaces and championing incredible local talent, then please come down and support us. We’ve been doing this for over a decade, and with you on board, we’ll keep doing it.

Hazel Johnson

Festival Director, Hidden Door

BBC ALBA sets stage for stardom with search for up-and-coming artist to open Belladrum main stage

Following the success of the 2024 talent search, BBC ALBA has teamed up with The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival once again with a new quest to find the best up-and-coming musical talent from the Highlands and Islands. 

Open to solo artists and bands (where at least 50% of its members have a Highland home address) across all genres, one newcomer will be given the opportunity to perform on the main stage at this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival.

Known for its unique and diverse showcase of music and the arts, the festival has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, now attracting thousands of visitors. As it prepares for its 21st year, with acts including Texas, Supergrass, Paul Heaton, Tom Walker and Natasha Bedingfield confirmed, the team is on the hunt to find the best new homegrown talent to open the main stage at the Hot House Arena on Thursday 31 July.

True to its longstanding support of Scottish artists, BBC ALBA is supporting the search, providing a platform to propel newcomers onto the celebrated Scottish music scene, as well as an additional opportunity for the winner to record an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio at the festival.

Calum McConnell, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, said: “While there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of being in the field at a festival, shoulder to shoulder with fellow music and arts fans, BBC ALBA remain committed to bringing the magic of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to audiences who can’t be there in person, as we have done for the past 13 years.

“Our festival highlights are always a popular fixture in BBC ALBA’s summer schedule, and this year will be no exception. The addition of the talent search will shine an even brighter light on the incredible creativity emerging from the Highlands and Islands.”

Musicians can apply by submitting a bio and link to their music to tartanheart@bbc.co.uk, with entries judged by a panel of experts, including representatives from the BBC and Belladrum, alongside an independent musician appearing at the festival, before the shortlist goes to a public vote.

Applications opened yesterday (Tuesday 27 May) and will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 8 June.

It is expected that the public vote will open on Friday 13 June on the Belladrum website, closing on Friday 20 June, ahead of Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival 2025 from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August.

Belladrum festival producer, Dougie Brown, said: “We’re so excited to be teaming up with BBC ALBA once again to uncover and celebrate the next wave of incredible Scottish talent.

“This opportunity is so much more than a performance slot — it’s a potential launchpad for an artist’s future. Over the years, we’ve seen past talent go on to build amazing careers, and that journey often starts right here, on the Belladrum stage.

“Our partnership with BBC ALBA has been instrumental in showcasing not just the festival, but the creativity and energy coming out of the Highlands and Islands. Fourteen years on, it’s still a huge moment when a fresh new voice gets the chance to share their music with thousands, both on site and at home. We can’t wait to see who takes that spotlight this year.”

Last year’s BBC ALBA x Belladrum talent search winner, Cameron Ferguson, said: “Almost a year on from winning the 2024 Belladrum talent search, I can still say that opening up that stage was the proudest moment of my musical journey to date.

“The feeling of playing on a stage I had once only dreamed of playing was surreal, especially one so close to home. Thank you Belladrum, you’ve opened a lot doors for the band and I. We will be back soon enough!”

Belladrum brings together top musical acts, comedy, cabaret, spoken word, dance, drag and even wrestling as part of the annual family-friendly festival. A wealth of new names and popular crowd-pleasers have been added to the festival line up in recent weeks, including The Pigeon Detectives, Example, The Hoosiers, Irish singer and songwriter CMAT, and Scottish folk rock and pop favourites Skipinnish and Tide Lines.

Find out more about Belladrum and get your tickets at tartanheartfestival.com.

For those unable to attend, BBC ALBA will be bringing the best of the festival to viewers at home with its annual live coverage broadcast across the weekend, available on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer.

Watch live or on demand from Thursday 31 July: Belladrum on BBC ALBA.

Edinburgh International Festival celebrates record-breaking Youth Participation with 25 Years of Art of Listening Workshops

2025 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME RUNS FROM 1–24 AUGUST 2025

eif.co.uk / @edintfest

  • Edinburgh International Festival’s Art of Listening workshops celebrate 25 years of inspiring schoolchildren through live classical music, reaching a record 3,000 young people in 2025, and expanding with a new family-friendly workshop open to the public. 
  • A summer programme for young people includes an interactive Family Concert, a free outdoor singalong event The Big Singalong, and the Young Musician’s Pass, a programme offering over 2,000 free concert tickets to young music fans.
  • From Discover Opera school tours set to introduce over 1,000 pupils to opera this year, to ongoing initiatives that bring events to community and healthcare settings, the Festival’s year-round programmes deeply engage with Edinburgh’s communities, enhancing wellbeing and expanding access to live performance.

This year the Edinburgh International Festival’s flagship workshop Art of Listening celebrates 25 years of bringing live classical music to schoolchildren across Edinburgh.

Across this quarter century, the workshop has been delivered to an approximate approximate 23,000 pupils, and so far in 2025 has reached an unprecedented 3,000 young people — its largest audience to date.

Designed for pupils aged 10-12, Art of Listening introduces children to the artforms of classical music and opera through an imaginative blend of live performance, songs and activities. Taking place at the International Festival’s home, The Hub, these two-hour workshops feature music ranging from Beethoven and Britten to the Harry Potter film scores and Taylor Swift.

Led by a facilitator, professional opera singer and pianist, the sessions encourage participants to engage their imaginations, strengthen listening skills and respond creatively to music. For many children, this is their first experience of live classical music.

The workshop has been delivered across every ward in Edinburgh, and are offered every year to every state primary school in the city, anchoring the International Festival’s strong commitment to culturally impacting the cultural and civic life of the city.

For the first time, Art of Listening for Families will also be open to the public as part of the International Festival’s 2025 programme, with an interactive workshop designed for children aged 7-11 and their accompanying adults to discover the joy of active listening together.

Back due to popular demand, the Family Concert is recommended for ages 7-11, but suitable for all ages. In a special interactive introduction to classical music, Scottish musical traditions are contrasted with the sounds of America, performed by the inspirational young musicians of the National Youth Orchestra 2 from New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall, with presenter Lucy Drever introducing the musicians and the music.

During the International Festival’s opening weekend, singing enthusiasts of all ages are also invited to Princes Street Gardens’ Ross Bandstand for The Big Singalong, a free event led by Stephen Deazley, artistic director of Edinburgh’s Love Music Community Choir.

Every year, the International Festival’s Young Musician’s Pass opens up opportunities for young people who live in Scotland and play a musical instrument or sing to discover a world of music for free.

With over 2000 tickets available, each budding musician can claim up to three pairs of free tickets for Festival performances from the world’s finest orchestras and ensembles. A free scheme that is open to anyone aged 8-18, the full details and range of performances will be released today and can be found at www.eif.co.uk/ymp.

Secondary school pupils are invited to performances and activities during August across music, theatre, opera and dance in the Discover series, an annual commitment to creating pathways to each artform and foster a lifelong love of the arts. This year, Discover Opera tours Edinburgh schools in June to introduce 1,000 students to the story and music of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as offering 500 tickets to students to attend the spectacular opera for free in August, enabling many to see opera on stage for the first time.

This summer will also see flagship projects that bring groups into the heart of August’s performances, developing long-term connections with Edinburgh’s communities to find ways to reflect the ideas, ambitions and creative interests of different groups within the International Festival’s year-round work.

In 2025, for the first time the International Festival has established a Youth Collective, inviting fifteen young people from across Edinburgh to co-create the youth experience of the 2025 Festival, such as a Youth Takeover Day for senior pupils from across Edinburgh.

Culture Clubs for community groups, and pop-up performances at NHS settings, with the NHS Lothian Charity, extend the joy of the International Festival beyond concert hall and theatres, into local communities.

The International Festival’s multi-year Community Connections Hub partnership with Space @ Broomhouse Hub also continues, creating work experience opportunities for young people, co-curated projects and inviting artists including Aga Khan Masters, London Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Ballet to connect with the Broomhouse community.

Nicola Benedetti, Edinburgh International Festival Director, said: “For a quarter of a century, Art of Listening has opened the doors of classical music to thousands of Edinburgh’s young people.

It’s a programme rooted in the belief that live performance should be accessible to everyone, and we’re thrilled to welcome a record number of eager schoolchildren in 2025. Expanding the workshops to families in our 2025 Festival marks a wonderful new chapter, inviting audiences across generations to connect with music in fresh and inspiring ways.”

Caroline Donald, Head of Discovery and Participation said: “Removing financial barriers and creating a welcoming space for families and schools are cornerstones of the year-round work we do.

“The International Festival provides workshops like Art of Listening free of charge to all participating schools, including transport costs, ensuring children from all backgrounds can experience the power of live classical music — often for the very first time.

“Underpinning the International Festival is an ambition to build relationships and offer meaningful, valued, world-expanding experiences through the performing arts, and we’re excited to continue our work with the young people of Edinburgh and their communities.”

Tickets to experience the Art of Listening for Families and other performances at the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival are available at www.eif.co.uk.

For full information about the International Festival’s year-round work, visit www.eif.co.uk/social-impact.

Specialists gather in Edinburgh for European Arts Festivals Summit 2025

Pic Greg Macvean 27/04/2025 City of Edinburgh Council – reception at City Chambers for the Arts Festivals Summit

215 festival specialists gathered this week in Edinburgh for the European Arts Festivals Summit 2025.

Hosted by the Edinburgh International Festival, Festivals Edinburgh, and the City of Edinburgh Council, the Arts Festivals Summit 2025 of the European Festivals Association’s (EFA) welcomed over 200 festival professionals for a four-day conversation about festivals, arts, and the role of arts festivals today.

With 215 delegates participating from 44 countries, it has brought diverse perspectives, questions, and themes forward on how festivals can assume a responsible role towards their artists, audiences and societies in an ever-changing world.

Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti opened the Summit with a keynote talk on her experience of taking on the role and how her perspective as a performing artist has shaped her approach to curation, collaboration and connection.

Ms Benedetti shared reflections on the importance of holding in balance a deep respect for the past whilst providing a fertile ground for daring innovation, risk and unbridled creativity. 

Delegates heard from a range of different voices and perspectives to gain a greater understanding of the interaction between festivals and their city, particularly in the case of Edinburgh, and explored the different aspects that contribute to Edinburgh’s success story.

They had the chance to meet the network of Festivals that exists in Edinburgh and the eleven festivals that contribute to Edinburgh’s unique reputation as The Festival City.

Fittingly Edinburgh is one of the founding members of the recently established EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions, run by EFA which was developed by seven cities – Belgrade, Bergen, Edinburgh, Ghent, Krakow, Leeuwarden, and Ljubljana – to build on the achievements of the EU-funded Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe – EFFE programme and sets out to build co-operation between cities and their festivals across Europe.

During the Summit, four cities signed up to the EFFE Seal: Nis (Serbia), Budapest II District (Hungary), Coimbra (Portugal) and Tampere (Finland).

The EFFE Seal recognises cities for their commitment to their festival communities and aims to promote creativity, sustainability, internationalism, and resilience through knowledge exchange.

The future of festivals and their place in society focused delegates on how festivals contribute to societal topics such as sustainability, inclusion, well-being and freedom of speech, discussed from the point of best practices, learning from failures, perspectives and innovative proposals.

Inspiring keynotes by Roman Krznaric, author and social philosopher, and Elena Polivtseva, independent researcher and a co-founder of Culture Policy Room, challenged participants to think through the current tests the arts are facing, their vision for the future and the importance of long term thinking.

Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival, said: “The Edinburgh International Festival exists to spark dialogue and cultural exchange – not only on our stages, but across communities and borders.

“It was a privilege to host the European Festivals Association’s 2025 Summit at The Hub, our home in the heart of the Festival City – where the International Festival sparked what is now the largest cultural celebration after the Olympics, every August in Edinburgh.

“Being surrounded by such a dynamic gathering of cultural leaders was a powerful reminder that the most enduring festivals and institutions are driven by a deeper desire to change society for the better.

“Coming together with our international counterparts to reflect, challenge, and collaborate on how we can deepen our impact was both energising and essential.”

Jan Briers, President of European Festivals Association affirmed: “The Summit in Edinburgh was full of new information, permanent networking, and making new collaborations and friends.

“It was a wonderful edition during which festivals coming from many different contexts discussed the future and its shape.”

Lori Anderson, Director of Festivals Edinburgh added: “Seeing our European festival colleagues inspired by cultural conversations across the city, and exhilarated by the beauty of Edinburgh, has been not only heartening but deeply moving – and reminds us that, in the current climate of global uncertainly, there is so much that unites us and so much to gain from deeper international relationships”.

EFA Members elected their President giving a continued mandate to its current chair, Jan Briers 

Jan BRIERS shared: “I am pleased to continue to chair this wonderful organisation and being elected in Edinburgh is very meaningful for my new mandate.” 

Michael Herrmann, Founder and Director of the Rheingau Music Festival, has been appointed as new Honorary Member of EFA.

The Summit concluded with the handing over of Edinburgh to Budva, Montenegro.

“We are excited about the opportunity to host the Arts Festivals Summit in Budva next year. The gem of the Western Balkans has many things to offer.

We are committed to make sure delegates enjoy a fruitful and unforgettable stay.“, said Milena Lubarda Marojević, Director of Theatre City Budva that will host EFA’s next Arts Festivals Summit in April 2026.

During the Summit, 22 new organisations joined EFA, reinforcing EFA’s desire to increase the more diversity of its membership and adding to the Association’s relevance at a geographical and artistic level.

New members include Africa Simply The Best (Belgium), Anibar International Animation Festival (Kosovo), DokuFest (Kosovo), Festival Fabula (Slovenia), Festival Música Viva (Portugal), Food Film Fest Bergamo (Italy), I Suoni Delle Dolomiti (Italy), KotorArt International Festival (Montenegro), Maribor Theatre Festival (Slovenia), Oeiras International Piano Festival (Portugal), ReMusica Festival (Kosovo), SPRING Utrecht Performing Arts Festival (Netherlands), Turkish State Theatres (Türkiye), and Vicenza Opera Festival (Italy). Five Ukrainian festivals have been reconducted in their membership, expressing EFA’s solidarity with the country: Construction Festival, Festival of Contemporary Art “Gogolfest”, Kharkiv Music Fest, Odessa Classics Music Festival, and Ukrainian Festival Association “Art-Ethno Fest”.

Three organisations also joined as collective and affiliate members: Creative Island (United Kingdom), the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres (AAPPAC) and the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC).

Pomegranates Festival kicks off this Friday

There’s less than one week to go before the 4th Pomegranates Festival of International Traditional Dance (25-30 April) kicks off at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and various venues across Edinburgh. 

The Festival celebrates Scottish traditional dance alongside traditional dance practised by cultural migrant communities across Scotland. The festival includes exhibitions, films, workshops, masterclasses, talks, shows, walking tours and ceilidh dancing. 

Pomegranates is produced by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and this year’s themes that run through the programme are Masks – the mystery and power they present when used in different dance traditions, and Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Programme highlights include:

●      A discussion about safeguarding our Intangible Cultural Heritage and the opportunities for Scottish traditional dance with Steve Byrne Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), Rachel Hosker of the Centre for Research Collections, University of Edinburgh and Árpád Vörös, recipient of the knighthood award for lifetime contribution towards Hungarian folk dance. 
The discussion will be combined with demonstrations of traditional dance accompanied by live music including Scottish Country Dance, Step and Highland, with a Flowers of Edinburgh set by Scottish Step Dance artist Sophie Stephenson. There will also be a short display of two examples of traditional dances from Hungary and Poland that were recently inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list: Csardas (performed by Hungarian folk dancer Árpád Vörös) and Polonaise (performed by Anthony Carter, Fiona Lynch, Natalia Nowak and Renata Grillanda of Parzenica, Scotland’s  Polish Folk Dance Group).

●      A packed programme of ten short films celebrating Scottish Step, Highland, Indian Classical, East African, Chinese, and more. Including two short films directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Marlene Millar: To Begin the Dance Once More and Bhairava; Home directed by Kes Tagney and featuring Scottish stepdancer Sophie Stephenson; new work Second Guessing by Bgirl Emma Ready; and The Bright Fabric of Life commissioned by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland in 2024 and created by Estonian filmmaker Mare Tralla.

●      New dance theatre piece not for glory devised and performed by award-winning dance artists Jack Anderson, Charlotte Mclean, and in collaboration with composer, and musician Malin Lewis. This contemporary and radical performance piece combines mesmerising and unique sounds from bagpipe, fiddle and loop pedal with energetic and raw dance and movement. Claiming to dissect heritage and resuscitate tradition whilst exploring kilts, queerness and ceremonial violence. 

●      For International Dance Day (29 April) audiences will be treated to a new dance piece Hidden Faces created by festival choreographer Jonzi D with support from B-girl Emma Ready and B-boy Sean Edwards. This new piecewill be performed by more than 15 Scotland-based dancers. Jonzi D is a MC, dancer, spoken word artist and widely recognised for his influence on the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene. Emma Ready is a breakdancer, choreographer and creative educator based in Glasgow. Sean Edwards is a multi-disciplined award-winning artist with roots in community theatre, B-boying, street jazz, clowning and mime. 

Plus, there are tours of Edinburgh’s Old and New Town’s dance history, with dance historian Alena Shmakova; a special festival edition of the Traditional Dance Forum’s Ceilidh Plus which includes three hours of Scottish, Polish and Hungarian trad dances, all called on the night, with live music; and this year’s festival exhibitions by Lorraine Pritchard: Masks at the Scottish Storytelling Centre until 12 May and Venice Carnival (also inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list) at the Edinburgh City Library celebrates the popularity of mask-wearing traditions and the making processes behind this traditional craft.

Pomegranate Festival co-producers Wendy Timmons and Iliyana Nedkova said: “We are delighted that this year’s Pomegranates Festival is reaching new heights. With 15 events serving a ‘fascinating cocktail of movement’ this year’s Pomegranates highlights the intimate links of traditional dance with live music, film, fashion, poetry, art and heritage craft.

“Once again, we celebrate Scottish traditional dance alongside world-traditional dance practised by New Scots and cultural migrant communities across Scotland. However, we have two new festival themes – Masks and Intangible Cultural Heritage which we are delving into with our festival partners and over 100 artists.

“We can’t wait to share our discoveries over the long festival weekend with our new and returning audiences! Heel, toe, we are ready to go!”

The Pomegranates Festivalwill run from Friday 25 April to Tuesday 30 April 2025 and is Scotland’s annual festival of international traditional dance. Initiated and curated by Traditional DanceForum of Scotland it is presented and produced in partnership with Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh City Libraries, Dance Base and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. 

For tickets and more information visit https://www.tdfs.org/pomegranates/

NHS65 arts activism campaign comes to Edinburgh today

To mark 65 years since the passing of NHS founder Nye Bevan, arts and activism collective Hive Mind Speaks has begun an ambitious UK-wide campaign.

In just 6 days, the group will visit 65 locations, asking the public 3 powerful questions about the future of the NHS — gathering real opinions from real people.

The aim is to provide a platform for the general public to have their say on the future of the NHS,

At the heart of the tour is a striking satirical short film, played on a large mobile screen, drawing crowds and sparking conversation.

Watch here.

The campaign culminates on Saturday 12 April at a Citizens’ Jury hosted at South Bank University, where key figures will respond to the public’s views.

Results will be presented to current Health Minister, Wes Streeting and submitted to the Change NHS 10 year Health Plan for England.

NHS65 is a nationwide arts activism initiative dedicated to providing a platform for the general public to have an impact on the future of the NHS. The showcase will take place across 65 locations in 6 days, via an LED van playing a powerful satirical video on the threat to the future of the NHS.

The project will culminate in a Citizens’ Jury on Saturday 12 April 2025 at London South Bank University (LSBU) in London, England, a leading university for Nursing and Midwifery in the UK. Expert speakers will include Aneira Thomas- the first ever baby born under the NHS, Professor Gwyn Bevan from the London School of Economics and Dr. Bob Gill, producer of the documentary The Great NHS Heist.

EDINBURGH LOCATIONS TODAY:

City Centre 2.30pm

Holyrood 3pm

NHS Scotland 3.30pm

Queen Margaret University 4pm

Murrayfield 5.30pm

Stockbridge 7pm

On the road, 3 key questions will be posed to the general public based on key findings from the recently commissioned Lord Darzi Report, which outlines a proposed 10-year plan for healthcare in the UK:

1) Ensuring adequate funding for the NHS

Should the NHS spending be legally protected with a minimum percentage of GDP? 

2) The Long-Term Sustainability of the NHS

Should NHS funding priorities be decided by an independent health body rather than by politicians to ensure long-term stability and prevent short term political influence? 

3) Privatisation vs Public ownership

Should the NHS renew or cancel all current privatisation contracts when they next come up for renewal?

From these three, the public will determine the most important issue and question for deliberation at the citizens jury.

How Does the Citizen’s Jury Work?

A diverse, representative panel of jurors will hear from expert speakers on the current state of the NHS. The expert speakers will include Aneira Thomas- the first ever baby born under the NHS, Professor Gwyn Bevan- Emeritus Professor of Policy Analysis at London School of Economics, Dr. Bob Gill- current practicing GP and producer of the documentary The Great NHS Heist. Observers and members of the public are encouraged to attend, ask questions and take part in discussions.

The results of citizens jury deliberation will be fed into the NHS’ very own Change campaign. A campaign to canvas public opinion over the next 10 years for implementing change as part of the 10 year health plan, resulting from the current government’s Lord Darzi report commission.

Hive Mind Speaks will ensure the findings are presented to current Health Minister, Wes Streeting, and the results will be made available on the Hive Mind Speaks platform, as well as being archived at the British Library. Additionally, the results will be presented on the LED van across significant locations in London on Monday 14 April.

The Red Jay NHS Story 

A Lifelong Bond with the NHS: A Story of Care, Resilience and Gratitude 

Joshua was born on April 12th, 1982, at the Whittington Hospital, North London, arriving into the  world with an extremely rare, genetic musculoskeletal condition called Larsen’s Syndrome, a  condition so uncommon that, at the time of his birth, only around 500 cases had been  documented in the UK. It was a moment filled with uncertainty for his parents, who had no  indication of any complications before his arrival and also for the doctors, who had rarely, if ever,  encountered anything like this before. 

But what could have been an overwhelming ordeal for any family was met with the steadfast  hands and compassionate hearts of the NHS. In those early days, as his parents Christine and Terry  navigated the fear of the unknown, the doctors, nurses and specialists of the NHS became more  than just medical professionals, they became guardians, problem-solvers and beacons of hope. 

Among them, a South African doctor, Dr. Patent, affectionately nicknamed “Dr. Pavement” by a  young Joshua, who would become a guiding force in his early medical journey. With a calm  presence and a determined strategy, Dr. Patent led the way in understanding and addressing the  complex web of muscle and tendon abnormalities that accompanied Joshua’s condition. 

The first two surgeries on Joshua’s thighs were purely exploratory, a leap into the unknown, guided  only by expertise and an unwavering commitment to care.

From there, the next three operations  on his legs and left hip took place before he was even six months old, carefully correcting what was  discovered. The NHS didn’t just offer treatment, it offered trust, patience and reassurance to a  family learning to navigate a condition they had never expected. 

At 14 years old, Joshua’s journey with the NHS continued after a sledging accident resulted in  another two surgeries, this time due to the unique structural challenges of Larsen’s Syndrome.  Though these operations left him with a leg length discrepancy, they were a testament to the NHS’s  ongoing commitment to ensuring he could lead as full and active a life as possible. 

Throughout his childhood, Joshua was acutely aware that his nose was different, the result of  missing nasal cartilage, a depressed nasal bridge and a prominent forehead. He remembers sitting  with NHS doctors, flipping through a book of noses, contemplating facial reconstruction surgery.  Though advised to wait until adulthood, he carried the thought with him for years. 

At UCL Hospital in 2013, he finally underwent a LaFort II Osteotomy, a groundbreaking facial  reconstruction procedure that realigned his upper jaw. This was combined with a rhinoplasty  procedure, where they took Joshua’s lower right-hand rib to replace the missing nasal cartilage.

For  the NHS, it was complex but routine surgery. For Joshua, it was transformational. It gave him  ownership over his face, removing a lifetime of self-consciousness and allowing him to walk through  the world without shielding himself from it. 

The Future and Family Planning 

Most recently, Joshua’s journey with the NHS came full circle through genome sequencing at Great  Ormond Street Hospital, revealing that he had a 50% chance of passing Larsen’s Syndrome to  future offspring. While this news carried its own emotional weight, the NHS was there once again,  not just as a provider of answers, but as a partner in finding solutions. It opened the doors to NHS funded IVF treatment, offering the possibility of building a future family without the fear of passing  on his condition.

A New Diagnosis and a Disturbing Reality 

In 2024, Joshua received another life-altering piece of news, one that shifted his perspective on the  NHS and deepened his urgency to take action. 

Concerned about memory loss, he underwent a brain scan, which revealed atrophy of the  cerebellar vermis, a degenerative condition with a life expectancy often cutting short in the 50s or  60s. The news was deeply troubling, a future he had never considered was suddenly placed in front  of him. 

Yet, in the midst of grappling with this deeply concerning revelation, Joshua was given a one-year  wait to see an NHS neurologist. The NHS, the very institution that had always been his safety net was  now buckling under strain. 

Faced with this uncertainty and while abroad in Canada, where he holds dual citizenship, Joshua  made the difficult decision to seek a private consultation to gain some reassurance. There, a  specialist was able to put his mind at ease, stating that this was not an actively degenerative  condition, but something he was born with. Had it been a new, progressive disorder, the reality  would have been vastly different. 

The experience shook Joshua, not just because of his personal health scare, but because it  highlighted, in the most painful way possible, the crisis the NHS is facing. 

For the first time in his life, he had to use a private doctor. He described it as feeling like he was  cheating on the NHS. But it felt he did it not out of choice, but out of necessity. 

Why This Project Matters 

This moment became a key driver in Joshua realising we can no longer all just be supporters of the  NHS, we had to actively fight for its future. 

The NHS isn’t failing by accident, it’s being failed and Joshua, through NHS65, is putting the future of  the NHS on trial. 

From the very moment of his birth to the milestones of surgery, transformation and family planning,  Joshua’s life has been woven into the fabric of the NHS. It is not just an institution, it is a lifeline, a  source of unwavering support and a testament to the best of humanity. 

His story is one of gratitude, resilience and love for a service that has given so much to so many. A service that must not be left to collapse. 

The NHS is in crisis. 

The future of the NHS is on trial. 

And the people must deliver the verdict. 

This is why NHS65 exists.

Edinburgh International Festival to breaks boundaries in a year exploring ‘The Truth We Seek’

1–24 AUGUST 2025 

eif.co.uk / @edintfest

  • Edinburgh International Festival’s 2025 programme offers opportunities to experience world-class artists in thought-provoking and unconventional ways – including an eight-hour choral extravaganza, a distinctive outdoor promedande dance piece and a circus infused opera. Audiences can also get involved in many Festival performances, from an outdoor mass-singlaong to interactive concerts where the audience chooses the repertoire.
  • The Truth We Seek is the timely theme underpinning the 2025 International Festival, as contemporary reflections on the world are presented alongside time-honoured tales, a place where fact meets faith and fiction.
  • The International Festival is the ultimate destination to experience world-class performances, with an exciting lineup of 133 performances, bringing 7 world premieres, 8 UK and Scottish premieres and 2 European premieres to Edinburgh this year. Programme highlights include the world premiere of a gripping new play by James Graham starring Brian Cox, a new narrative ballet from Scottish Ballet, and Festival debuts from rising classical stars – violinist Maria Dueñas, mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, and 2024 BBC Young Musician of the Year Ryan Wang.

From 1-24 August 2025, Edinburgh International Festival presents a hand-picked selection of leading international and local artists in the world’s Festival City, with 24 days of world-class opera, dance, music and theatre.  

The 2025 programme is defined by world-class artists bringing audiences and artists closer together in creative and unexpected ways. Audiences can experience an opera incorporating circus performers for a breathtaking fusion of music and acrobatics in Orpheus and Eurydice, a site-specific promenade dance work that transforms Edinburgh’s Old College Quad into a stage for Dance People, and enjoy Bach through a new lens in Breaking Bach, where hip-hop meets 18th-century period instruments. 

Audiences can also actively participate in performances—whether by shaping the repertoire in a real-time Classical Jam or sharing their dreams to inspire Hanni Liang’s piano recital, Dreams. For those seeking deep immersion, eight-hour choral epic The Veil of the Temple invites audiences to sit on beanbags and lose themselves in waves of harmonies, and a choral workshop welcomes amateur singers that will preview a powerful performance at the Festival’s Closing Concert, Mendelssohn’s Elijah. 
 
Now in its third year under Festival Director and celebrated Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, the 2025 programme welcomes over 1,700 artists from 42 nations to Edinburgh —including 600 from Scotland—across 133 performances. The Truth We Seek is the theme underpinning the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, inviting audiences to explore their relationship with truth – within themselves, between one another and in understanding our place in the world.  

Ensuring that cost is not a barrier to live performance, over 50,000 tickets (more than half of all tickets available for the 2025 International Festival) are priced at £30 or under. Thousands of free tickets are available for young musicians, NHS staff and community groups, and £10 Affordable Tickets are available for all performances for anyone who needs them. 

Programme highlights include:

  • Two major world premiere productions in UK theatre and dance: Make It Happen, an eye-opening take on the 2008 financial crisis set in Edinburgh, starring Brian Cox (Adam Smith) and Sandy Grierson (Fred Goodwin), written by one of Britain’s most in-demand playwrights, James Graham; and Mary, Queen of Scots, an iconic story of one of Scotland’s most famous women, unconventionally told with choreography by Sophie Laplane that blends classicism with modernity, and costuming that nods to haute couture and punk.
  • In a landmark year for choral music, marking the 60th Anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, this renowned chorus of singers from around Scotland performs at the monumental Opening Concert, as well as Vaughan Williams’s Sea Symphony, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah (this year’s grand Closing Concert). The programme also includes the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists performing works by Handel and Bach.
  • This year’s Opening Concert features the aforementioned Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Monteverdi Choir and the National Youth Choir of Scotland, offering a rare chance to hear John Tavener’s The Veil of the Temple in all its eight-hour glory, a colossal universal prayer performed in full for the second time ever in the UK.
  • The International Festival’s opening weekend welcomes all to Princes Street Gardens’ Ross Bandstand for The Big Singalong, a free event led by Stephen Deazley, artistic director of Edinburgh’s Love Music Community Choir. The following day, Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene returns to lead The Ceilidh Sessions, an afternoon of music and storytelling inspired by the Gaelic ceilidh tradition.
  • The most substantial programme of Polish artists in the International Festival’s 78-year history is featured in celebration of the UK/Poland season 2025. Performances include two concerts from one of the Festival’s resident orchestras in 2025, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, and a showcase of Polish artists and repertoire from the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble, VOŁOSI, Piotr Anderszewski, Bomsori Kim to 2024’s BBC Young Musician of the Year, Ryan Wang.
  • Operatic works include a fully staged Australian reimagining of Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice featuring acrobatics; the UK premiere of Book of Mountains and Seas from Chinese composer Huang Ruo, puppeteer Basil Twist and Ars Nova Copenhagen, and two operas in concert: Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus and Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the London Symphony Orchestra, with a line-up of international soloists.
  • Residencies bringing leading orchestras to the International Festival for an extended, more sustainable stay that features multiple performances and community engagement. This year, three outstanding orchestras provide distinctive insights into their collective sound and ambitions: Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra 2, Poland’s NFM Leopoldinum, and the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of new Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano.
  • Intimate morning recitals at The Queen’s Hall feature International Festival debuts from on-the-rise young virtuoso María Dueñas and Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, as well as a cohort of exceptional Scottish artists including the Dunedin Consort with John Butt and Scottish percussionist Colin Currie with peerless vocal group The King’s Singers.
  • A wider orchestral programme that stretches the globe to welcome the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, and the NCPA Orchestra from Beijing, with conductor Myung Whun Chung and Bruce Liu as piano soloist. The London Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the International Festival for the first time in a decade under the baton of Edward Gardner with a stunning programme that features pianist Beatrice Rana performing Rachmaninoff’s inspired Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Holst’s The Planets, a seven-movement orchestral suite journeying through the cosmos to explore our true place in the universe.
  • Aurora Orchestra makes its International Festival debut with Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, in the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death. A work that grapples with the pursuit of truth under oppression, audiences are seated on beanbags as Aurora delve into the symphony from the inside out with a conversational presentation in the round, and then in full later that evening, performed entirely from memory.
  • The Scottish premiere of Figures in Extinction from the internationally acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater, visionary choreographer Crystal Pite and ground-breaking theatre-maker Simon McBurney (Complicité), which confronts powerful truths about humanity’s impact on the world and art’s meaning in the face of mass destruction.
  • A stellar dance offering continues with works that expand the experience for audiences: Maqamat and Omar Rajeh take performance outdoors to Edinburgh University’s College Quad in promenade with Dance People; the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment combine hip hop with Bach in Breaking Bach with choreographer Kim Brandstrup, and an International Festival debut from Australian disabled dancer Dan Daw about identity and kink.
  • Leading theatre-makers exploring truth via the climate emergency, colonialism and politics, with Cliff Cardinal’s take on Shakespeare in As You Like It A Radical Retelling, a spectacular nonverbal work from Belgian theatre collective FC Bergman in Works and Days and a remount of acclaimed play Faustus in Africa!, 30 years after its original premiere, from Handspring Puppet Company and William Kentridge.
  • The Hub, the International Festival’s headquarters on the Royal Mile, brings together a hand-picked variety of global musical styles and traditions, experienced up close in an intimate performance space, including Up Late gigs from artists such as Kathryn Joseph and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. In a truly international programme, musicians from 16 countries including Australia, China, Poland, Norway and across East to West Africa come to the home of the Festival. 

READ THE BROCHURE HERE

The future of the Brunton in Musselburgh

Key stakeholders, local councillors, community leaders and representatives from the arts sector gathered for a roundtable discussion on the future of the Brunton Hall in Musselburgh.

Many MSPs and MPs were present including, Martin Whitfield MSP, Colin Beattie MSP, Alison Johnston MSP, Jeremy Balfour MSP, Douglas Alexander MP, and Paul McLennan MSP, showing cross-governmental support for the project.

The meeting, held in response to ongoing challenges facing the historic venue, focused on potential redevelopment, public consultation, and securing funding for a sustainable future.

The discussion, led by key figures such as Sarah Boyack MSP, Councillor Andy Forrest, and representatives from The Brunton Trust and Creative Scotland, highlighted the urgent need to address the deteriorating condition of the Brunton. Following the end of COVID-19, the top floor of the theatre was deemed unsafe, leading to staff being relocated to other areas such as Haddington. Plans are now in place to mothball the building by June.

A major point of discussion was the importance of public consultation, ensuring the local community has a say in the theatre’s future. Stakeholders agreed that any plans must be community-led, with an open call for ideas to explore creative solutions.

As one representative noted: “There will be someone in the public that will have an idea that no one has thought of yet.”

A full public consultation will launch in the next 3-4 weeks to gather community input and assess potential uses for the space.

The estimated cost of demolishing the building currently stands at £3.6 million, a figure likely to increase. Identifying funding sources is the priority, including engagement with key groups.

Discussions included the potential for the Brunton to serve as a multi-use arts centre, supporting local artists and attracting larger productions. The idea of expanding event offerings, such as weddings and touring productions, was also raised as a potential revenue stream.

Calls were made for greater collaboration with the Edinburgh International Festival and other arts organisations to ensure Musselburgh remains a cultural hub.

“There’s no point having an International Festival City if there is nothing offered in Musselburgh,” said a participant.

With strong concerns over maintaining Brunton’s identity and cultural value, stakeholders emphasised that any redevelopment must preserve the theatre’s role as a community hub. Creative Scotland representatives acknowledged the challenges but expressed optimism about potential funding opportunities if a clear and viable plan is developed.

The roundtable concluded with a commitment to keeping the community informed and involved in the next steps. Further meetings will be scheduled as feasibility studies progress, ensuring a transparent and collaborative approach to shaping the future of the Brunton Hall.

Commenting, Foysol Choudhury MSP stated: “The Brunton has always been known for being a vibrant community hub.

“Finding venues can be tough, and it is very important, as the Edinburgh International Festival attracts thousands of visitors each year, that we prioritise areas like Musselburgh.”