Tag: culture

Audiences up at this year’s Tradfest

A CELEBRATION OF THE PAST, THE PRESENT & THE FUTURE OF TRAD IN EDINBURGH

Multi-award winning Scottish folk band Session A9 closed this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest with a standout live performance, and multiple encores at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 11 May. 

The festival ran from (1-11 May) and included 11 days of live music, talks, workshops, folk film screenings and storytelling, thanks to continued support from Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation. 

This year’s programme of over 60 events, was a tremendous success, with organisers enjoying:

●   A 9% increase in ticket sales to music events at the Traverse Theatre. 

●   Multiple sell-outs including award-winning Connemara singing sensations Séamus and Caoimhe, Kim Carnie, Eilidh Shaw and Ian Carr, The Onlies, Deiseil: Dancing in Time, Nexus Project, Dick Gaughan in conversation and Session A9. 

●   Standing ovations for multiple performers including: Rajasthani folk trio SAZ; and Ukrainian folk musician and live-looping artist GANNA.

●   Free pop up performances from Astro Bloc at Edinburgh Airport, SAZ at the Aroma Restaurant and Bar in Broxburn, and Dauntless at Nobles Bar in Leith.

●   An increase in audiences aged under 26 thanks to the festival’s £9 ticket offer for younger audiences. Under 35s up from 21% to 25%

●   A more international audience than ever before with 21% of the audience from outside the UK, whilst still being popular in the local area – 73% from Scotland (55% from Edinburgh).

Copyright_Douglas RobertsonEdinburgh

This year’s music commission A’Chiad Litir, (The First Letter) also received 5-star reviews.The piece, inspired by the life of sixteenth-century lesbian love poet Marie Maitland, touched on questions of language, identity and the notion of queerness and was created and performed by renowned singer songwriter and composer Josie Duncan. 

Joining Josie was a stellar line-up of musicians including; Charlotte Printer (bass and vocals), Chloë Bryce (fiddle), Eilidh Rogers (percussion), Jenny Clifford (guitar) and Ashley Douglas (spoken word) who read one of Marie Maitland’s poems addressed to another woman she loved.

Other stand-out highlights from this year included trad powerhouse RURA and newcomers Astro Bloc who played to a lively crowd on opening night at Potterrow;  The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter – a live vaudeville act, featuring old-time music  performed on fiddles, banjos and sousaphone; Isla Ratcliff’s Scottish trad reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons; and award-winning folk singer Fiona Hunter taming toddlers with her interactive music session for under 5s and above.

Further afield, the hugely successful Folk Film Gathering supported by Screen Scotland, drew in the crowds with its popular programme of Scottish and international films, many accompanied by live scores or introductory talks.

In particular, the launch of Faodail | Found Outer Hebrides Film Archive website which featured live music from acclaimed accordionist and composer Pàdruig Morrison with fiddler and Gaelic singer Claire Frances MacNeil; the world premiere of a new documentary exploring the life and work of tradition bearer Jimmy Hutchison; Celtic Utopia which celebrates Ireland’s current folk renaissance and features many bold, funny, and politically outspoken young Irish folk musicians including Lankum and The Mary Wallopers; the UK premiere of Italian documentary Canone Effimero which showcases the raw energy and some of the vibrant folk traditions of Italy; and a curated selection of early, rarely-seen silent films by Scottish legendary film maker Bill Douglas.

Over at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, crowds gathered on Living Heritage Discovery Day to hear Ireland’s folklore aficionado Michael Fortune talk about Intangible Cultural Heritage and tradition-bearing.

Plus, throughout the festival, the Centre’s popular ‘What is…’ series of talks explaining what makes traditional dance, music,crafts, Gaelic, and Scots, truly traditional, drew audiences from all over, keen to hear from the experts about what makes each artform unique.

Lauren Paterson, Head of Programming at the Scottish Storytelling Centre said:  “During the year of the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s 20th birthday, it’s been a joy to welcome audiences, performers and tradition-bearers alike to celebrate the richness, liveliness and variety of Scotland’s living heritage as part of Edinburgh Tradfest.

“From hands-on Come and Try sessions and workshops to explorations of traditional culture and identity through conversation and performance, it’s been inspiring to see so many people engaging with traditions and making connections with their own experience.”

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are delighted and encouraged with how Edinburgh Tradfest went this year. To have audiences up by 9% is a real achievement especially in tough economic times.

“We are also extremely happy to see the numbers rising amongst the younger age groups. One of the many highlights for 2026 was the move into other areas of the city with some entertaining (and free) pop up performances.

“We hit Broxburn, Turnhouse and Leith this year, and are already planning to pop up in some other unusual locations for 2027.”

Edinburgh Tradfest will return from 30 April to 10 May 2027.

www.edinburghtradfest.com

Royal Ballet and Opera announces 2026/27 Cinema Season

  • Cinema Season shares the very best of The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet with audiences around the world
  • Programme includes new productions of Götterdämmerung from Barrie Kosky and Così fan tutte from Netia Jones
  • Beloved favourites return, including The Royal Ballet’s Manon and Swan Lake, and The Royal Opera’s Carmen and Tosca
  • UK audiences can also enjoy Macbeth and La Fanciulla del West from The Metropolitan Opera
  • Tickets on sale from 27 May at rbo.org.uk 

The Royal Ballet and Opera has announced an exciting programme of cinema screenings throughout the 2026/27 Season.  

The two companies present a range of works across the Season. The Royal Ballet performs beloved favourites including Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon and Romeo and Juliet, and Liam Scarlett’s Swan Lake. Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will be specially broadcast over the Easter period, an ideal ballet for all the family, and The Royal Ballet celebrate Christmas with Peter Wright’s enduring classic The Nutcracker. 

The Royal Opera present a mixture of revivals and new works. There will be two new opera productions, including the final installment of Barrie Kosky’s acclaimed Ring cycle, Götterdämmerung. Associate Director of The Royal Opera Netia Jones makes her Main Stage debut with a new staging of Così fan tutte, screened live in February. Two celebrated productions will also return to cinemas: the first revival of Director of The Royal Opera Oliver Mears’ Tosca, and a revival of Damiano Michieletto’s Carmen.  

The UK cinema season also includes two new productions from The Metropolitan Opera, New York. In October, opera fans will be treated to a brand-new production of Macbeth from director Louisa Proske, who makes her debut with the company. 

UK audiences will also be able to enjoy The Metropolitan Opera’s La Fanciulla del West in a new staging by British director Richard Jones. 

Offering audiences a view from the best seat in the house, the RBO cinema Season shares the joy of live performance and the beauty of world-class ballet and opera with audiences in more than 1,500 cinemas and 50 countries around the world.

Cinema audiences can enjoy exclusive extra rehearsal and behind the scenes films during the intervals with specialist presenters offering an insight into the workings of the Royal Ballet and Opera. 

Director of The Royal Opera, Oliver Mears said: “It is fantastic to be able to share our exhilarating productions with our cinema audiences and this season there is much to enjoy. 

“Barrie Kosky’s Ring cycle continues to thrill and excite audiences, and I have no doubt that Götterdämmerung will complete the cycle with breathtaking wonder. 

“Our Associate Director Netia Jones makes her Main Stage debut with a contemporary spin on Mozart’s Così fan tutte whilst enduring classics such as Tosca and Carmen also demonstrate why opera is the most captivating and visceral artform out there.” 

Director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare said: “Sharing The Royal Ballet’s live cinema relays with audiences across the globe is always incredibly special, and this Season we are delighted to bring you a wonderful selection of ballets to delight and entertain.

“Our magical productions of The Nutcracker and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will enchant families and audiences of all ages, while the dramatic tension of Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet contrasted with the pure classicism of Swan Lake make for a brilliant showcase of the artistry and virtuosity of our dancers. I very much look forward to sharing these special moments with you all.” 

2026/27 Cinema Season

Macbeth | The Metropolitan Opera 
In cinemas: Tuesday 20 October 2026 
UK only 

With hair-raising drama and spectacular singing, two of opera’s most extraordinary artists star in Macbeth, Verdi’s thrilling take on the immortal Shakespearean tale of the scheming couple determined to seize power at any cost.

Following past triumphs in many of Verdi’s signature baritone roles, Quinn Kelsey is the Scottish king haunted by the ghosts of his murderous ascent to the throne, opposite Lise Davidsen—the world’s reigning dramatic soprano—as the power-mad Lady Macbeth, whose ruinous ambition damns them both.

Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for a penetrating production by Louisa Proske, a brilliant young director making waves around the world. Rounding out the all-star cast are tenor Freddie De Tommaso as the heroic Macduff and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green as Macbeth’s friend-turned-victim Banquo. 

Manon | The Royal Ballet 
Live in cinemas: Tuesday 27 October 2026 

In the seedy underbelly of 18th-century Paris, money is king. Nothing is sacred – even love itself can be bought for the right price. A native of this hedonistic underworld, Manon is caught between twin desires when she falls in love with the student Des Grieux. Steadfast and devoted, he offers the possibility of an honourable life. Yet, the riches promised by the world of Parisian society remain tempting…  

In this signature work of The Royal Ballet, Kenneth MacMillan’s nuanced understanding of human psychology makes for an unflinching look into the moral degradation of Manon’s Paris, while all its decadence and decay are brought to life through Jules Massenet’s score and Nicholas Georgiadis’ designs.

Carmen | The Royal Opera 
Live in cinemas: Tuesday 10 November 2026 

Damiano Michieletto’s searing production returns, casting scorching light on the lust, violence and destructive desire of Bizet’s ever-popular opera.

An all-star cast brings this white-hot drama to life, with Ginger Costa-Jackson in the fiery title role, alongside Russell Thomas as the jealous and despairing Don José. 

The Nutcracker | The Royal Ballet 
In cinemas: Tuesday 1 December 2026 

Nothing says Christmas quite like The Nutcracker, and this year, The Royal Ballet celebrates the festive season with Peter Wright’s beloved ballet. Since its premiere in 1984, this much-loved production has become a Christmas classic. With Tchaikovsky’s stunning score and Julia Trevelyan Oman’s sumptuous designs, this festive favourite is a treat for the whole family, bringing the spirit of the original fairy-tale to life. 

La Fanciulla del West | The Metropolitan Opera 
In cinemas: Tuesday 26 January 2027 
UK only 

Puccini’s exhilarating drama of the Wild West returns in a new staging by celebrated British director Richard Jones, marking the company’s first new production of La Fanciulla del West in more than 30 years. Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky adds to her already remarkable Met repertoire, making her role debut as the larger-than-life Minnie, the tough tavern owner with a heart of gold who finds love when she least expects it. Tenor SeokJong Baek is the dashing bandit who rambles into the remote California mining town to steal her heart, opposite baritone Christopher Maltman as the lawman determined to deliver rough justice—and win Minnie for himself. Maestro Keri-Lynn Wilson takes the podium to conduct one of opera’s most action-packed adventures. 

Götterdämmerung | The Royal Opera 
Live in cinemas: Wednesday 3 February 2027 

For the long-awaited finale of Wagner’s epic saga, director Barrie Kosky situates the rich apocalyptic drama in a contemporary world of dream-like turmoil. Antonio Pappano, Conductor Laureate of The Royal Opera, returns to take on the impassioned, otherworldly music – including Siegfried’s transporting Funeral March and Brünnhilde’s electrifying Immolation Scene.

The brilliant cast is led by Elisabet Strid, Andreas Schager and Mika Kares, who together with the full forces of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Opera Chorus bring opera’s greatest journey to its shattering end. 

Così fan tutte | The Royal Opera 
Live in cinemas: Tuesday 23 February 2027 

In her Main Stage debut, Netia Jones, Associate Director of The Royal Opera, reimagines Mozart’s comedy of manners through a sharp contemporary lens, where 18th-century romantic trickery meets deeply satirical high-tech deceit. Taking on the roles of the lovers is an exciting young cast led by Louise Alder, Simone McIntosh, Mingjie Lei and Huw Montague Rendall, with Gerald Finley as their manipulative game-master Don Alfonso and Emily Pogorelc as Despina. Thomas Hengelbrock conducts, bringing out the exquisite melodies that underpin the provocative, and resolutely modern, themes at the heart of the opera. 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland | The Royal Ballet 
In cinemas: Tuesday 23 March 2027 

Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland bursts onto the stage in an explosion of colour, stage magic and inventive, sophisticated choreography.

Joby Talbot’s score combines contemporary soundworlds with sweeping melodies that gesture to ballet scores of the 19th century. Bob Crowley’s wildly imaginative, eye-popping designs draw on everything from puppetry to projections to make Wonderland wonderfully real. The result shows The Royal Ballet at its best, bringing together world-class dance with enchanting family entertainment and ingenious music and design.   

Swan Lake | The Royal Ballet 
Live in cinemas: Thursday 22 April 2027 

Princess Odette is bound by a curse, turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. The spell can only be broken by a pledge of eternal love. When she meets Prince Siegfried, he is immediately enamoured by her fragile beauty and pledges to free her. but freedom is not promised for Odette as Von Rothbart conspires to thwart the lovers’ plans. 

Liam Scarlett’s production for The Royal Ballet brings together Tchaikovsky’s towering score and John Macfarlane’s picturesque designs to create an enduring ballet spectacle of love, treachery and forgiveness. 

Tosca | The Royal Opera 
Live in cinemas: Wednesday 5 May 2027 

Floria Tosca and Mario Cavaradossi live for each other and for their art. But when Cavaradossi helps an escaped prisoner, the lovers make a deadly enemy in the form of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police. 

Oliver Mears’ acclaimed production returns, setting Puccini’s operatic thriller in a contemporary, war-torn Rome. Daniel Oren conducts Aleksandra Kurzak, who returns to the title role, joined by Saimir Pirgu as Cavaradossi and Christopher Maltman as Baron Scarpia. 

Romeo and Juliet | The Royal Ballet 
In cinemas: Tuesday 25 May 2027 

Shakespeare’s great love story is brilliantly retold through this modern ballet classic. The fervent longing of the star-crossed lovers is perfectly captured by Kenneth MacMillan’s impassioned choreography.

The flourishing of young love is just as present in Romeo and Juliet’s meeting on the balcony as in their final moments when they desperately cling to life in the tomb.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026 to open with International Premiere of Louis Paxton’s debut feature The Income

Uniquely inventive, darkly funny Scottish debut features stars Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke

EIFF will run from 13 – 19 August 2026

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced today that Edinburgh-born filmmaker Louis Paxton’s spirited and witty debut film, The Incomer will open its 79th edition, running from 13 – 19 August 2026.

The Focus Features and Universal Pictures International film, stars Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina, The Paper), Gayle Rankin (House of The Dragon, Glow) and Grant O’Rourke (Outlander) with ensemble cast including John Hannah (Sliding Doors, The Last of Us) Michelle Gomez (Green Wing, Doom Patrol) and Emun Elliott (The Gold Sexy Beast). 

The Incomer is set on a remote Scottish island and follows siblings Isla (Rankin) and Sandy (O’Rourke) who have lived in peaceful isolation for decades, hunting seabirds, chatting to mythic creatures and defending their isle from dreaded Incomers. Their world is upended with the arrival of Daniel (Gleeson), an awkward council worker, tasked with uprooting them to the mainland.

Written and directed by bold new filmmaking talent Louis Paxton, the film won the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Produced by Bafta winner Shirley O’Connor and Emily Gotto and co-produced by Wendy Griffin, The Incomer has been praised by critics and audiences for its wit, heart and independent spirit.

The film is supported by the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Screen Scotland with additional support from musician Moby and Lindsay Hicks’ U.S. production company Little Walnut, Trevor Noah’s Day Zero Productions, UK’s Head Gear Films and Ireland’s Inevitable Pictures. 

The Incomer will be released by Universal Pictures International in the UK and Ireland later this year.

EIFF CEO and Festival Director, Paul Ridd has said: “With wit, grace and intelligence, this striking, unpredictable and beautifully acted Scottish debut dazzled, moved and amused us immensely when we first saw it back in January.

“We are thrilled to open this year’s edition with a film which embodies such a stirring and inspiring spirit of creativity, empathy and invention in filmmaking. This is precisely the kind of film that EIFF is all about.”

Film Producers, Shirley O’Connor and Emily Gotto said: “It’s such an honour to open Edinburgh with this film. Shooting in Scotland with this exceptional cast and crew was a genuinely special experience and bringing that work home to a Scottish audience means everything to us.

“Huge thanks to EIFF, and all our partners, including Screen Scotland, who helped get us here.”

Director Louis Paxton said: “Opening the Edinburgh International Film Festival with my debut feature is a dream come true.

“Screening in my beloved hometown, and the festival where I started as a teenage usher, sharing this story with a Scottish audience, is nothing short of mind-blowing. I couldn’t ask for a more meaningful premiere.”

Kezia Williams, Managing Director UK & Ireland, at Universal Pictures International commented: “We’re delighted to see The Incomer open this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. Louis Paxton has made a wonderfully distinctive film, firmly rooted in Scotland, full of character and heart.

“We’re proud to be bringing it to audiences across the UK and Ireland.”

Isabel Davis, Executive Director of Screen Scotland said: “Louis is bringing it home following The Incomer’s triumph at Sundance earlier this year.

“It marks an extraordinarily assured debut feature. This singular story of a remote community on Scotland’s Far North coast feels truly distinctive, something that could only have come from here.”

Mia Bays, Director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, said: “Opening the 2026 Edinburgh Film Festival with The Incomer means a great deal to us.

“It’s a terrific film made by Louis, Emily, Shirley and team that looks at Scottish island life, sibling relationships and the quiet forms of loneliness that shape people — but it does so with such generosity and bright humour.

“Watching Daniel (Domhnall Gleeson) reassess the world he’s taken for granted when he meets Isla and Sandy (the peerless Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke) is both moving and gloriously funny.

“We are grateful to Paul Ridd and team for centring such bold, character driven storytelling and cannot wait to experience the response to it from a homegrown and internationally blended crowd.”

EIFF’s invigorated vision under leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa continues to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media. 

More information will be released on the shape of the 2026 Festival, venues and key strategic partners in the coming months. 

EIFF 2026 is supported by Screen Scotland.

The EIFF team continues to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. 

The Festival is supported by a Board chaired by Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting, including Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, producer and former Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffery; and gaming executive Romana Ramzan.

Folk Film Gathering: Amussu film screening at North Edurgh Arts

Join us next Wednesday (29th April) for a special evening of film, discussion and live performance at NEA, as part of the 2026 Folk Film Gathering!

For more info and to book your FREE ticket, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/amussu-film-screening…

Performing For Peace

CHARITY CONCERT at INVERLEITH ST SERF’S CHURCH

FRIDAY 15th MAY at 7pm

Join us for an inspiring evening of music, dance, and culture at Performing for Peace — a special charity concert bringing people together in support of for two very worthwhile causes.

This is more than a concert.

Every ticket you purchase is a direct contribution to real people, real families, and real lives.

Event Details

📍 Inverleith St Serf’s Church, Ferry Road, Edinburgh

🗓 15 May 2026

🕢 Doors open: 7:00 PM | Concert starts: 7:30 PM

🎟 Tickets: £15

What to Expect

• Live music performances

• Dance showcases

• Cultural programme

• A warm and welcoming atmosphere

• A chance to be part of something that matters

Where Your Support Goes

All proceeds from the event will support:

• Children of Heroes (Ukraine) — helping children who have lost one or both parents due to the war. Your support provides care, stability, and future opportunities.

• Edinburgh Direct Aid — delivering humanitarian aid directly to communities affected by crisis, ensuring help reaches those who need it most.

Why It Matters

One evening can make a real difference.

One ticket can support a child.

One room full of people can create impact.

Organised by Rotary Club of Leith

Gilded Balloon announces a bumper programme of new shows now on sale for the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe

105 new shows across comedy, theatre, musicals, cabaret, variety and children’s shows go on sale today from Gilded Balloon, marking its biggest on sale to date, with more programme announcements still to come.

On sale from 12pm, Monday 30th March

 tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk 

These newly announced shows form part of a wide-ranging 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, bringing together leading names, rising stars and international artists. From big nights out to thoughtful theatre and side-splittingly clever comedy, August at Gilded Balloon offers something for all ages and tastes.

Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon, said: “We’re delighted to be putting a further 105 brilliant shows on sale as part of this year’s Fringe programme, with even more still to be announced.

“This line-up brings together some of the most exciting talent working today alongside the next generation of performers, and truly reflects the breadth and energy of the Fringe.”

The programme brings together established names including Gregor Fisher, Phil Nichol (returning with two shows), The Guilty Feminist and Rich Hall, alongside a strong wave of new voices making their Fringe debuts. Rising talent includes includes Madeleine Brettingham, Adi Parmar, Fab Goualin, Hannah Byczkowski and Shane Daniel Byrne, while Gilded Balloon continues its commitment to Scottish artists with debut shows from Eva Peroni and Alan Jay, and returning favourites Kim Blythe and Kathleen Hughes. The programme also features new Scottish music and theatre, including Crocodile Rock and a range of bold new productions across the theatre programme.

Gilded Balloon’s legendary shows return for 2026. Late’n’Live is back as the original late-night show, featuring stellar line-ups of your favourite acts from across the festival, hosted by some of the best MCs in the country every night.

Described as “The best late-night show on the Fringe” (Scotsman) and “A Fringe institution for a reason” (TheRecs.co.uk), previous acts have included Johnny Vegas, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, Mawaan Rizwan, John Bishop, Larry Dean, Maisie Adam, Reuben Kaye, Jordan Grey and Viggo Venn. Late’n’Live remains an essential addition to any Fringe bucket list.

Best Of So You Think You’re Funny? returns with an unmissable line-up of fresh talent, including finalists Reb Day, Joel Walker and Rachel Porter, offering audiences the chance to see the best emerging comedians before they become household names.

So You Think You’re Funny? Heats continue the search for comedy’s next big star, as contestants compete for a place in the final of the UK’s biggest newcomer competition. Previous winners include Peter Kay, Aisling Bea, Sara Pascoe and Lee Mack.

Comedy highlights includeGregor Fisher: An (Early) Evening With Gregor Fisher, where the Scottish stage and screen legend shares stories from his life and career; Madeleine Brettingham: Legend, the debut show from the So You Think You’re Funny? 2025 winner exploring myth, identity and growing up in a world of booze-soaked bad behaviour; and Rich Hall: Chin Music, a typically sharp, improvisational hour from the acclaimed comedian.

The Guilty Feminist, hosted by Deborah Frances-White, brings its Road to Gilead Project to the Fringe, alongside rising Scots comedy star Kim Blythe: Puzzle, following a sold-out 2025 run, and Smack The Pony’s Fiona Allen: White Lies, a sharply observed new show about social anxiety and human interaction.

Further highlights include Kathleen Hughes: Twig, exploring family and legacy; Reuben Solo: Someone in This Crowd Will Betray Me [Revenge Edition], a chaotic, high-concept return; and two shows from Phil Nichol, with a brand-new work Aren’t We Lucky and the 20th anniversary of his Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning The Naked Racist.

New additions to the programme include Comedy Night at the Museum, a Gilded Balloon production bringing together top international comedians for a wholly improvised late-night show inspired by real artefacts from the National Museum of Scotland; Shane Daniel Byrne: Baby It’s Time, showcasing one of Ireland’s fastest-rising comedic voices; and Christian Dart: GUMSHOE!, a multi award-nominated, sell-out hit blending noir parody with high-energy character comedy.

Rising voices and distinctive perspectives continue across the programme with Adi Parmar: Sunny Boy, Alan Jay: Hell Hath No Humour Like a Gayboy Scorned, Eva Peroni: Jungledand Fab Goualin: Mixed Messages, alongside Hannah Byczkowski: Killer, a darkly comic debut from the winner of The Traitors, and Aoife Dunne: Good Grief,returning after a sell-out run. Emmy and Golden Globe-winning comedian Guy Branum brings Be Fruitful, a bold, thought-provoking hour blending humour with social commentary.

Theatre highlights include SLAY, a darkly funny and unflinching exploration of trauma, therapy and modern coping mechanisms, andSilent Disco, an inventive, headphone-led experience blending psychology and music.

Further standout work includes HESS, Michael Burrell’s powerful and timely revival exploring the psychology of extremism and its lasting impact, and Broke & Fabulous in the 21st Century,a riotous, raunchy dramedy celebrating friendship, ambition and modern love.

Other theatre shows on sale today include Ostrich, a sharp look at modern dating and identity; Top Gunchained, a high-energy parody from the team behind Yippee Ki Yay; Boy in a Box, a confronting and urgent piece examining race and identity in America; and Waiting For Wonka, a darkly comic reimagining of childhood nostalgia.

Themed shows bring a mix of interactive and late-night entertainment, includingThe Thinking Drinkers’ Great British Pub Ride, an epic, drink-fuelled journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats; Dreamgun Film Reads, where comedians perform unrehearsed parody versions of classic films; and Not Another Quiz Night, a high-energy, chaotic late-night favourite.

Cabaret and variety sees Fake, a critically acclaimed blend of magic, storytelling and illusion from Chris Cook that explores truth, deception and identity; EIGHT: The One (Wo)Man Drag King Musical Parody, a high-energy, genre-bending musical comedy reimagining Henry VIII through drag, parody and pop and Fungasm: Save or Smash offers up bold, interactive performance.

Music and musicals range from nostalgic fun to powerful storytelling, including Crocodile Rock, a touching coming-of-age musical set on Cumbrae; Primary School Bangers, a high-energy singalong experience; Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits, a new musical exploring the Scottish care system; and Antigone: A Town Hall Musical, a contemporary retelling of a classic tragedy.

Also featured is Charlene Kaye: Diversity Shredder, introducing audiences to the unhinged, razor-sharp world of Charlene Kaye — guitar god, internet legend and “breakout comedy star” (Rolling Stone), alongside Siobhan Wilson: Flowercore, an immersive performance celebrating Scotland’s wildflowers through music and visual art.

Children’s and family shows include Max Fulham’s Monkey Business, a lively, family-friendly mix of puppetry, sketches and slapstick comedy and Mama G: The Magic Bookmark comes to Teviot. “Everyone’s favourite pantomime dame!” (Metro) and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G discovers the magic of books and the power of being yourself in this hilarious award-winning panto adventure for the whole family! 

Bring Yer Bairn Comedy is the adult comedy show where you can bring yer bairn! A selection of our favourite comics from the Scottish scene and beyond, performing to parents, carers and bairns under 15 months old! The perfect morning show!

All shows will take place across Gilded Balloon’s four venues this August, including the welcome return to Teviot, alongside Patter House and Gilded Balloon at the Museum, as well as the newly added Gilded Saloon, GB’s year-round pub and live venue.

It’s set to be a very pink summer!

Further programme announcements will follow in the coming months. For full listings visit www.gildedballoon.co.uk or follow @gildedballoon.

Gilded Balloon is one of Scotland’s leading and best-loved entertainment producers, presenting a cross-genre programme annually at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and touring productions across the UK throughout the year.

Book online from 12pm TODAY 30th March at tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk 

or call Tel: 0131 622 6552

Mayday Announced

A National Theatre of Scotland production  

Mayday

Curated and directed by Cora Bissett and Hannah Lavery

With visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao

A one-night-only response to the times we are living through, presented by a host of leading Scottish artistic talent from the fields of theatre, music, poetry, comedy and dance.

On 1 May at Edinburgh Central Hall at 7pm.

Featuring Comedy:Sanjeev Kohli (Still Game) / Tia Rey; Music: Dala by Heir of the Cursed performed by Djana Gabrielle / Cora Bissett, Kathryn Joseph and Joan Clevillé &  Kassichana  Okene-Jameson of Scottish Dance Theatre/ Kitti / Loud and Proud Choir / Soapbox / Declan Welsh; Poetry: Shasta Hanif Ali / William Letford / Michael Mullen; Theatre & Dance; An artistic response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech (2026) – led by Janice Parker / Apphia Campbell / Reuben Joseph / Hannah Lavery / Uma Nada-Rajah / Sara Shaarawi / Dawn Sievewright performing It’s No a Weans Choice

Live band: Isaac Savage (keyboards/vocals) / Adam Scott (bass) / Djana Gabrielle (guitar/vocals) / Signy Jacobsdottir (drums and percussion) / MJ McCarthy (musical direction)

Two of Scotland’s leading artists and theatre-makers, Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett, join forces to create an urgent multi‐form evening of theatre, music, poetry, comedy, film, dance and collaborative performance at Central Hall, Edinburgh, on 1 May.

Created as a rapid-response theatre project, in direct response to the turbulent social and political climate, they have curated and gathered together a constellation of Scottish artists for a one-night-only flare of short, urgent performances and interventions.

Through new work, unique collaborations and community voices, Mayday meets the “dark times” we are living through with wit, defiance, tenderness and imagination. This collective response honours the theatrical space as a place where audiences can think together, dream together and begin to imagine the futures we are still reaching for.

Co-curators/co-directors Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett said: “Given the times we are living in—where division is being  fuelled by dangerous and deliberately misinformed rhetoric— we feel deeply and personally connected to this Rapid Response Project.

“We are living through an age of fear: extreme racism and anti-migrant sentiment are being normalised, human rights attacked at every level, climate injustice accelerating, and ordinary people struggling to meet even basic needs. 

“We’re  thrilled to curate an event that will bring together bold, fierce, insightful and creatively galvanising voices from across Scotland – an urgent celebration of our shared humanity that challenges the rising tide of hate, calls upon solidarity, inspires change and imagines a more compassionate future.”  

Highlights include: 

  • Original short sharp plays from playwrights Apphia Campbell (The Official Version), Hannah Lavery (Patriotic Renewal), Uma Nada-Rajah (The Proposal) and Sara Shaarawi (Pandora’s Box) 
  • Sanjeev Kohli delivers a short sketch on the cultural impact of his character Navid from Still Game
  • Live music from Declan Welsh, Soapbox and Djana Gabrielle, who honours Beldina Odenyo’s (Heir of the Cursed) Dala with a powerful, intimate performance that moves between vulnerability and defiance. 
  • Cross-artform collaborations including Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award winner Kathryn Joseph’s powerful new collaboration with dancer Kassichana Okene-Jameson, visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao, choreography by Joan Clevillé, and direction by Cora Bissett. Joseph’s haunting, fragile songs intertwine with movement in a visceral fusion of music and dance. Created in collaboration with Scottish Dance Theatre.
  • Collaborations between professional artists and community groups:
    • An Artistic Response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech, Edinburgh, March 2026 led by award-winning choreographer and dance maker Janice Parker.
    • Loud and Proud Choir 
    • Dawn Sievewright (Wild Rose) performs No a Weans Choice, the defiant rallying cry from the Glasgow Girls stage show, composed by Cora Bissett
    • Reuben Joseph (Orphans – NTS, Hamilton the Musical) performs a new version of Robert Burns’ A Man’s a Man.

Listings information

Friday 1 May 2026, Central Halls, Edinburgh, 7pm (doors from 6.30pm)

2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh, EH3 9BP

Pricing: Pay What You Can

Full info and Box office: https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/events/mayday

Running time: 2 hours 50 mins approx. with interval

First Awards from Scottish Government’s Expanded Festivals Fund announced

The first recipients of the Scottish Government’s new Expanded Festivals Fund have been announced today, marking a major step in widening support for Scotland’s festivals, and strengthening opportunities for artists and audiences across the country. 

Creative Scotland has awarded £1,994,000 of funding to 28 festivals in the first tranche of support for the new Expanded Festivals Fund. 

Designed to enable innovation in programming and showcase Scottish and Scotland-based artists and practitioners, it supports festivals in expanding their international and domestic reach and profile and creating opportunities for skills or sector development. 

This initial round spans a wide range of artforms and locations, extending activity far beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow to communities from Orkney to the Borders, Argyll to Aberdeen, and Dumfries & Galloway to Highlands, reflecting the breadth and ambition of Scotland’s festival sector and the transformative potential of this new investment.  

Supported projects represent significant investment into opportunities for artists and creative professionals which will broaden cultural offerings for audiences, including new and innovative festival programming, international collaborations, touring opportunities and talent development programmes. 

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Scotland has a wealth of outstanding festivals across the country which lie at the heart of our culture sector and national life.

“Our festivals’ ambitions and creativity provide focal points for activity and an invaluable platform for artists and performers to showcase their work. They also provide hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy and support a pipeline of jobs and businesses.   

“The Expanded Festivals Fund forms part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to provide an additional £100 million more annually for culture funding by 2028-29. I am heartened to see this fund support incredible projects across Scotland which will increase participation in creative pursuits and ensure festivals can commission and collaborate on new and exciting works.” 

Paul Burns, Interim Director of Arts and Engagement at Creative Scotland said: “Scotland’s festivals are a vibrant celebration of our creativity and culture, recognised and enjoyed by local communities and people from around the world.  

“The Expanded Festivals Fund is a new opportunity to profile incredible creative work in every corner of the country and support other areas vital to our festivals’ ongoing success.

“The supported projects reflect the full range of our festivals’ work – including sector and talent development, international collaboration, and the development of new projects with specific groups and communities in their areas.” 

The list of awards up to £100,000, for programmes of activity taking place between 1 May 2026 and 30 April 2028, can be found on the Creative Scotland website (see below). 

In Edinburgh, there’s funding for the HIDDEN DOOR (£57,000) and PUSH THE BOAT OUT (£71,000) festivals.

Recipients of awards of up to £200,000 will be published in May 2026.

expanded-festivals-fund-march-2026Download

Scotland’s Culture Hustings

THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY from 7 – 8.30pm

Do you want to hear all of Scotland’s main political parties discuss their plans for culture ahead of May’s elections?

Then join us for a FREE, open-access, livestreamed event next Thursday evening:

https://campaignforthearts.org/events/scottish-arts-hustings-2026/

SCOTLAND’S CULTURE HUSTINGS 2026 will be the only chance to hear all the main political parties set out their values and vision for Scotland’s cultural future at this critical moment.

The event is chaired by Halla Mohieddeen and features:

  • Angus Robertson, Scottish National Party
  • Euan Davidson, Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • Malcolm Offord, Reform UK Scotland
  • Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Neil Bibby, Scottish Labour
  • Q Manivannan, Scottish Green Party

Captions and BSL interpretation available.

Organised in partnership with Culture Counts, Federation of Scottish Theatre, Scottish Contemporary Art Network, Festivals Edinburgh, Equal Media & Culture Centre and the Campaign for the Arts.

theSpaceUK announces first shows on sale for 2026 Festival Fringe

theSpaceUK has announced the first wave of shows on sale for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, offering an early snapshot of a programme rooted in bold new writing, distinctive solo performance and genre-spanning cabaret and musicals.

Elsa Jean McTaggart marks 15 years of touring with #SHORN, a music-led theatre piece that combines original songs and spoken reflections, performed with long-time collaborator Gary Lister. Triple Lutz Productions’ Dear Michelle Kwan is a darkly comic coming-of-age story set inside a hyper-competitive figure skating rink, where teenage rituals, obsession, and girlhood collide.

Solo storytelling features prominently. In A Cat in a Box, Tom Nemec delivers an autobiographical play exploring love, trauma and recovery within a dysfunctional family, while Raising Cain Productions’ award-winning thriller The Night Ali Died reconstructs a single catastrophic evening through multiple perspectives. 

Julie Flower returns following a five-star Fringe run with Grandma’s Shop, a multi-character solo show blending family history, subculture and community, set in a Sheffield second-hand clothes shop in the late 1980s.

Dark ensemble work is represented by Minotaur Theatre Company’s And The Little One Said, a late-90s-set black comedy in which a summer holiday unravels into violence and moral collapse. Political satire arrives in January 6th The Musical, where two aspiring performers attempt to sing and dance their way out of alleged involvement in the US Capitol insurrection.

From Italy, Action Theatre presents Democrazy, a physical-theatre, mask-led examination of populism and dictatorship, dedicated to Alexei Navalny.

The first on-sale announcement also includes cabaret and musical theatre. Canada’s The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, winners of Best Large Group at the 2024 Burlesque Hall of Fame Awards, celebrate 20 years with a body-positive variety spectacular. Vocal trio The Sundaes return with Diva Las Vegas, a short-run cabaret celebrating iconic divas, while Thank You for the Muesli offers an ABBA-inspired musical comedy with pun-heavy exuberance.

Musical theatre highlights include Music & Murder By…, a darkly comic new musical set at a writers’ retreat that turns fatal, and Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue, an unauthorised 90s-inspired seaside musical comedy from Low Fat Productions. 

I Made You a Mixtape by Response Theatre Company is a movement-led dance theatre piece set at a 1990s dorm party, using popular music to explore friendship, identity and memory, with each performance shaped live in response to sound.