Tag: Festival Theatre

Sir Thomas Allen’s hit production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro opens this May

Sir Thomas Allen’s production of Mozart’s comic masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro, opens in Glasgow this May, before touring to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. With 17 performances, including two Access shows, this sumptuous Scottish Opera staging is sung in English and set to reach up to 22,000 audience members all over Scotland.  

A revival of his 2010 show, the great British baritone’s take on this timeless tale of social revolution and change is full of humour, subtlety, and wit. Allen directed recent Scottish Opera productions of The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni and The Barber of Seville, the latter also sung in English with the same central character of Figaro.

Conducted by Dane Lam (Carmen 2023) and Scottish Opera Chorus Director, Susannah Wapshott (Don Pasquale 2024), Mozart’s bubbling score shows him at his theatrical best – with a true genius for getting to the heart of each character.

Simon Higlett’s lavish designs provide the backdrop for this much-loved production of an opera that is as relevant today as ever.

By presenting this revival in English, it lets the laugh-out-loud comedy speak for itself and allows a better understanding of the fast-paced plot and quick-witted dialogue. The storytelling is prioritised, and audiences can better connect with Mozart’s energetic music.  

Power, class, gender and complicated personal relationships, including between the working and upper classes, as well as husband and wife, are all examined during The Marriage of Figaro, which is set over the course of one chaotic day.

The once charming Count Almaviva, now a scheming bully, spends his days pestering the serving girls. Figaro, his head of staff, is engaged to Susanna, but Almaviva has a particular soft spot for her and is doing everything he can to delay their wedding. Figaro, Susanna and Rosina, the Count’s disillusioned wife, conspire to expose his schemes but then Figaro’s old foe Dr Bartolo turns up, with a revelation of his own to tell.

Emerging Artist Edward Jowle (Tristan und Isolde 2026) and Emyr Wyn Jones (Oedipus Rex 2024) share the lead role of Figaro, with Ava Dodd (in her Company debut) and Emerging Artist Kira Kaplan (The Office Party 2026)as Susanna, Ian Rucker (also making his debut) as Count Almaviva, Alexandra Lowe (The French Collection 2022) as Countess Almaviva, and Simone McIntosh (The Barber of Seville 2023), and Emerging Artist Chloe Harris (The Great Wave 2026) alternating Cherubino. Also in the cast are Jeni Bern (The Magic Flute 2019) as Marcellina, Edward Hawkins (The Great Wave 2026)as Doctor Bartolo, Emerging Artist Luvo Maranti (The Great Wave 2026) as Don Basilio/Don Curio and Francis Church as Antonio.

Sir Thomas, who was awarded The Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025, and performed in The Marriage of Figaro as a singer at opera houses all over the world during his illustrious career of more than 50 years, said of the production: ‘The Marriage of Figaro, recognised worldwide as one of the greatest cultural creations known to man, returns once more to Scottish Opera.

“But this time it’s different. The opera will be sung in English, making it even more accessible for audience, and personally I am very excited to bring the piece to life for a cast and audiences alike, relishing a language that speaks directly to them. It’s where I began my acquaintance with Figaro nearly sixty years ago. I wonder what I’ve learnt in the meantime?’

Conductor Dane Lam (Music Director of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of State Opera South Australia, and Principal Conductor & Artistic Director of the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra) said: ‘For me, The Marriage of Figaro is where opera really begins. Mozart marries his musical wit to librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte’s razor-sharp words to create an opera that speaks to us almost 250 years after its premiere.

‘In this era of renewed examination of class, power and privilege, The Marriage of Figaro is unusually timely. Gone are references to Kings and Queens, Gods and Titans. Instead, we have ordinary people, getting one up on ‘the man’. And throughout it all, we have some of most sublime, perfect music that any human has written.’

Scottish Opera is offering two specially created Access performances of The Marriage of Figaro, whichrun alongside the mainstage productions in Glasgow and Edinburgh. With Dementia Friendly values at their core, afternoon Access performances are for those who enjoy a more relaxed opera experience.

With a shorter running time (under two hours including an interval) and tickets at just £12.50, these performances are open to all, including those who may be living with dementia or Long COVID, more comfortable at a shorter show, struggling to get to evening performances, or would simply benefit from the more relaxed atmosphere.

Those who are visually impaired can also take advantage of audio-described performances where live commentary is provided by a specialist audio-describer during the show, describing the action on stage without compromising the music. As part of the experience, a recorded introduction to the opera is available in advance, as well as a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.

At select performances, audiences can book on to a free Touch Tour to become more familiar with the set, scenery, props and costumes. Pre-show talks are also available. These half-hour sessions delve into the detail of each opera, enhancing the audience’s enjoyment and extending knowledge of the piece.

To book tickets for The Marriage of Figaro, visit The Marriage of Figaro | Scottish Opera

Performance Diary

Theatre Royal Glasgow  

9 • 13 • 15 • 20 • 23 May 2026, 7.15pm  

17 May 3pm  

Access performance 22 May 3pm

Festival Theatre Edinburgh  

29 May 7.15pm  

31 May 3pm 

2 • 4 • 6 June 7.15pm 

Access performance 5 June 3pm

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen  

11 June & 13 June 7.15pm 

Eden Court, Inverness  

18 & 20 June 7.15pm 

Pre-show talks  

15 May, 4 June, 13 June, 20 June  

Audio description / Touch Tours  

17 May, 31 May, 13 June, 20 June

Edinburgh’s Capital Theatres leads the way as Scotland urged to “Rethink Dementia”

Pic – Greg Macvean

Dementia affects each person differently, and even day-to-day experiences can change. The Scottish Government has launched the Rethink Dementia campaign to encourage Scots to support people living with the condition to stay socially active, to help them stay well for longer.

Capital Theatres (the charity who runs Festival Theatre, King’s Theatre and Studio Theatre in Edinburgh) is one of the many organisations across the country showing what’s possible when it comes to supporting people living with dementia. The theatre group have redesigned their buildings and continue to train their staff to ensure that people living with dementia feel welcome and supported.

Capital Theatres’ dementia-friendly approach encourages people living with dementia to stay socially connected and continue doing things that matter to them. 

Head of Creative Engagement at Capital Theatres, Claire Swanson explains: “When someone receives a diagnosis of dementia, it means they have a diagnosis of dementia.

“It doesn’t change who they are, what they’ve achieved, or the things that matter in their life. They’re still the person that they have always been.”

Helping someone living with dementia stay connected can help them stay well for longer and at Capital Theatres, this idea is as at the core of the organisation’s mission:

“It’s very important to us that the people in the community of Edinburgh and beyond feel that every one of our venues is a  welcoming place for them,” says Chief Executive Fiona Gibson.

That welcome starts with the physical space. Following a dementia-friendly audit in 2015, the team at Capital Theatres made small but impactful changes to their buildings, such as putting nosing on the edge of the stairs, so that there’s a very visual barrier, and changing the toilet seats to be a solid, contrasting colour.

These details reduce cognitive load and anxiety, making navigation easier.

However, a building is only as welcoming as its people. To counter the anxiety people may feel when arriving, every single staff member, from the people working in the café to the box office staff, is dementia trained. 

Claire Swanson adds, “We also encourage all our new staff to come along to our dementia-friendly events and spend time speaking with someone living with dementia.  Just sitting together and having a chat can relieve a lot of anxiety for those who may not know how to interact with someone living with dementia.”

The more comfortable individuals become around those living with dementia, the more confident they will become in supporting people with dementia to live well.

On the foundation of a welcoming space and a confident workforce, Capital Theatres runs a  dedicated dementia-friendly programme, consisting of a range of vibrant, in-person community events, led by a passionate creative engagement team, including Alex Howard, Gus Harrower, and Lucie Jeffrey.

The programme’s ethos is one of total accessibility. 

Alex Howard, Creative Engagement Coordinator and DementiArts magazine editor, explains: “Here at Capital Theatres, everything in our dementia-friendly programme is completely free, so there are no barriers to entry.

“We have five regularly running events: Tea & Jam, Brew & Blether, Comfy Ceilidh, Relaxing Rhymes and Together in Song. We invite people to come down, tea and coffee is on us, and you can get talking to people and join in. It’s important to us that cost isn’t a barrier.”

Each session is designed to create joy and connection. For Lucie Jeffrey, Creative Engagement Coordinator and Dance Lead, the work is a privilege “It’s an honour to be able to support these individuals,” she says.

Her advice is simple: “My top tips for working with those living with dementia is to treat them as individuals, give them their time and their space and just be kind.”

It’s important to give people living with dementia extra time, avoid interrupting them, and respond with understanding if confusion arises. Small acts of patience make a big difference.

Creative Engagement Coordinator and Music Lead, Gus Harrower connects this daily practice back to the national campaign. He says, “It’s important to treat people with dementia the same as anyone would want to be treated.

“Treat them with kindness, treat them with respect, get on their level and give them the time that they need to respond – patience is key. Events like ours and campaigns like Rethink Dementia are really battling that stigma, which is amazing to see.”

Capital Theatres also produces DementiArts magazine, which features articles and personal stories contributed by members of the dementia community, alongside a comprehensive listing of dementia-friendly events taking place across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

For Claire Swanson, it all comes back to the campaign’s central challenge to every Scot. “We need to change the way we think about people living with dementia and put the person, not the diagnosis, back at the front of the conversation. We’re proud to be championing that approach here at Capital Theatres.”

It’s time to rethink dementia. For more information and practical tips, visit nhsinform.scot/rethinkdementia.

Scottish Opera presents Double Bill at Lammermuir Festival and also in Glasgow and Edinburgh

On 4 September, Scottish Opera’s 2025/26 Season opens at Lammermuir Festival in East Lothian with a performance of two caustic comedies of infidelity: Maurice Ravel’s L’heure espagnole (marking 150 years since the composer’s birth) and William Walton’s The Bear.

This irresistible evening of musical mischief takes place at St Mary’s Parish Church in Haddington and is conducted by French opera expert Alexandra Cravero (Thérèse 2022.) Jacopo Spirei, who worked extensively with renowned opera director Sir Graham Vick, directs this new concert staging, reimagining these operas as short, comic television episodes. 

Designs are by the award-winning Kenneth MacLeod, who is also working with the Company this Season on Opera Highlights.

This concert continues Scottish Opera’s long-running partnership with Lammermuir Festival and demonstrates its commitment to exploring and championing lesser-known pieces by great composers.

There are further opportunities to see Ravel’s and Walton’s mini masterpieces at Theatre Royal Glasgow in October and Festival Theatre Edinburghin November.

These performances, supported byThe Scottish Opera Endowment Trust, feature former Emerging and Associate Artist and Education Artist-in-Residence Lea Shaw; Chloe Harris and Edward Jowle, returning as 2025/26 Emerging Artists; Company favourite Jamie MacDougall; and 2025/26 Emerging Artists Daniel Barrett and Luvo Maranti. They are accompanied by The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Ravel’s Spanish-influenced L’heure espagnole sees a turn from melodramatic to farcical. A clockmaker’s serially unfaithful wife must come up with increasingly creative ways to hide her lovers over 21 fast-paced scenes.

The Bear, a witty one-act opera by English composer William Walton based on a Chekhov play, finds a widow confronting her late husband’s legacy — and serial adultery — when a creditor comes knocking.

While the two composers’ sound worlds are unique, they both examine the workings of imperfect human hearts with wry empathy.

Jacopo Spirei said: ‘I wanted to explore how two women, one trapped in time, the other in mourning, fight to reclaim control of their own narratives. L’heure espagnole and The Bear may be comedies, but beneath the farce lies a sharp, emotional truth about independence, desire, and transformation.

‘By reframing L’heure espagnole and The Bear as if they were episodes in your Netflix queue, we hold up a screen to modern life, where emotions are edited, stories are bingeable, and even grief gets a promo. But what happens when women stop playing the roles they’ve been given?’

Alexandra Cravero said: ‘L’heure espagnole and The Bear are both about women in love and highlight the differences between Ravel’s French style and the British style of Walton.

“The French style invites us to savour the sensuality of orchestral colour, enhanced with a touch of Spanish elegance. In contrast, the British style surprises with its rhythmic intensity. Though composed 60 years apart, these two works humorously explore the complexities of love, across centuries and civilisations.’

James Waters, co-director of Lammermuir Festival said: ‘Over the last 8 years, our partnership with Scottish Opera has brought festival goers a fantastic variety of works and is always a much talked about highlight of the festival.

“This year, as the centrepiece of our tribute to Ravel in his 150th anniversary year, Scottish Opera’s concert staging of his one-act opera L’heure espagnole is certain to be a huge hit.

“In addition, this double bill promises more with Walton’s one-act chamber opera, The Bear. It’s a great programme, a night of operatic comedy and ravishing music and we look forward to being entertained and wowed once again.”

At the Glasgow and Edinburgh performances of the double bill, tickets start from just £23, and with 50% of seats on sale priced under £40, Scottish Opera ensures world-class opera remains accessible to everyone across Scotland.

In addition,£15 are tickets available for under-26s and students at every performance. Over 800 free tickets have been provided to schools since 2022, often introducing pupils to live opera for the first time, and over 1,600 free tickets have been distributed to New Scots communities across the Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh. Free tickets are also available for schools, colleges, and community groups, with travel subsidies where needed.

In December, Scottish Opera’s Opera is Concert series continues at Usher Hall Edinburgh with Tchaikovsky’s Heroines & Heroes. This features selections from Eugene Onegin, Iolanta, and The Maid of Orleans conducted by Scottish Opera Music Director Stuart Stratford.

With a cast including Lauren Fagan (Ainadamar 2022), Josef Jeongmeen Ahn (Don Pasquale 2024), and Natalia Kutateladze and Robert Lewis in their Company debuts, this concert features extended excerpts from three of the iconic Russian composer’s best works, which all centre complex and richly drawn women.

Eugene Onegin is a deeply moving tale of unrequited love and high society life; The Maid of Orleans is a romantic retelling of the story of Joan of Arc; and Iolanta, the last opera Tchaikovsky composed, is a dreamlike fairy tale of a blind princess discovering the world outside her isolated garden home. Allowing audiences to discover his music — which blended French and German influences with Russian traditions —  beyond The Nutcracker, this is the perfect winter night out.

L’heure espagnole & The Bear and Tchaikovsky’s Heroines & Heroes are supported by The Scottish Opera Endowment Trust and Friends of Scottish Opera.

Tickets for L’heure espagnole & The Bear, and Tchaikovsky’s Heroines & Heroes are available from www.scottishopera.org.uk

Double bill creative team

Conductor                               Alexandra Cravero

Concert Staging                      Jacopo Spirei

Designer                                  Kenneth MacLeod

Lighting Designer                    Andrew Burnside

Cast of L’heure espagnole

Concepción                             Lea Shaw
Torquemada                            Jamie MacDougall
Ramiro                                     Daniel Barrett*
Don Iñigo Gomez                    Edward Jowle*
Gonzalve                                 Luvo Maranti*

Cast of The Bear

Yelena Ivanovna Popova                    Chloe Harris*

Grigory Stepanovich Smirnov            Daniel Barrett*

Luka                                                    Edward Jowle*

*Scottish Opera Emerging Artist 2025/26

Performance Diary

Lammermuir Festival  

St Mary’s Church, Haddington 

4 September 7.30pm  

Theatre Royal Glasgow  

18 & 22 October 7.15pm  

Festival Theatre Edinburgh  

15 November 7.15pm  

Pre-show talks  – 22 October & 15 November  

Audio description / Touch Tours  – 22 October & 15 November 

First winners of The Skinny-Fest Festival Awards announced

The Besties is a new series of awards celebrating the best across Edinburgh’s August Festivals. The Award is a partnership between The Skinny & Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland

The Skinny and Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland are delighted to announce the winners of the first of the weekly new Festival Awards, The Besties, in the following categories: 

The Outwith Award (for best international artist/production) for Lou Wall’s The Bisexual Lament at Pleasance Courtyard (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)

Radgie of the Festivals (for boldest performance/behaviour) for Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: LIVE!!! at The Monkey Barrel Comedy (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)

The Sexy Award for Sexiness to Internationaal Theater Amsterdam’s Penthesilea, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh (Edinburgh International Festival)

Night Owl (for a late night show) to John Norris for Mr Chonkers / Mr Chonkers Presents…Piggy Time at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)

Best Kids Show for Garry Starr’s Monkeys Everywhere at The Pleasance (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)

Next Big Thing Award for Emergent Talent for Kim Blyth’s Might As Well at Gilded Balloon (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)

New Writing Award for The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return at Summerhall (Edinburgh Festival Fringe) 

The award ceremony took place on Saturday 10th August at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, hosted by Australian comedian Michelle Brasier whose show Legacy is at the Gilded Balloon, with performances from the cast of A History of Paper, a Dundee Rep and Traverse Theatre co-production being staged at the Traverse. 

The Besties award, designed by artist Camillo Feuchter who has recently graduated from Interior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, uses recyclable plastics gathered at the Festival Theatre Café and leftover wood sourced locally.  

Reflecting the broad and diverse coverage both magazines produce every summer and responding to the need for a pan-festivals award, The Besties span all the festival activity taking place in the city over the month of August, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival which started on the 9th, Edinburgh International Book Festival which opens today and the Edinburgh International Film Festival starting next week, and others, making them the only awards to celebrate the full spectrum of culture in the city.  

Winners of The Besties are chosen each week by the editorial teams of The Skinny and Fest, drawing on their cross-festival expertise to celebrate the best work happening anywhere in the festivals. The categories will reflect the diversity of the magazines’ coverage and might be different every week.

Next two ceremonies will take place on Saturday 17th and 24th August. 

The Stamping Ground: River City stars Juliet Cadzow and Jenny Hulse come to Edinburgh for Scottish tour

River City stars Juliet Cadzow and Jenny Hulse are set to go on tour in The Stamping Ground, including dates in Edinburgh.

Juliet Cadzow is one of Scotland’s best loved actors, known for starring as Suzie Frazer in River City, Edie McCredie in Balamory, Coronation Street, The Bill and more.

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Juliet Cadzow 


Jenny Hulse is best known for playing Amber Murdoch in River City, out of this she appeared as Mary McLaughlan in ITV’s ‘In Plain Sight’, as Doris in Morag Fullerton’s ‘Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas’ and as Aine Macdonald in David McKenzie’s ‘Outlaw King’ for Netflix.

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Jenny Hulse 

Joining them is Ali Watt, a regular performer with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, earning rave reviews for his performances during their 70th anniversary season in 2021, Naomi Stirrat, Grid Iron’s Muster Station at EIF 2022, and Robin Campbell, Magnetic North’s Lost in Music.  

They will join returning cast members Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter, and Brian James O’Sullivan.

The Stamping Ground is the must-see new stage musical featuring the hits of Runrig, one of Scotland’s most beloved and iconic bands, is set to hit the road on a Scotland-wide tour later this year.

An exciting co-production between Raw Material and Eden Court Highlands, the show first premiered in Inverness in July 2022, earning glowing reviews and audience acclaim.

The heart of their community, the local pub, is for sale and tensions are rising about the future of this place they call home. As relationships ignite and smoulder, Euan and Annie find themselves swept into a battle to save the heart of the community. But can they save each other?

Featuring exciting new arrangements of some of Runrig’s most iconic hit songs, including The Greatest Flame, All Things Must Change, and of course The Stamping Ground, the musical shares the soaring power and beating heart of some of the band’s most celebrated music.

All of the songs in the show are written by Runrig’s founding members Calum and Rory MacDonald, with 2023 also marking 50 years since the brothers formed the band on the Isle of Skye in 1973.

Margaret-Anne O’Donnell and Gillian Garrity, Raw Material, said: “Scottish based independent production company, Raw Material are delighted to be touring their hit, feel-good musical, The Stamping Ground, across Scotland in 2023.

“Audiences in the highlands, both those new to Runrig and lifelong fans of the band united in their appreciation with standing ovations when the show premiered at Eden Court in Summer 2022. If you are a fan of musicals, a fan of live theatre or just looking for a great night out then this is definitely one not to miss!”

Calum MacDonald and Rory MacDonald of Runrig said: “It is so good to see that The Stamping Ground is not only returning to Eden Court but going on a Nationwide Tour.

“There has been such a positive reaction from fans and public alike, with still so many that have not had the opportunity to see it first time around.”

The Stamping Ground will now tour to some of Scotland’s biggest stages from May to June 2023. Including a run from 23 – 27 May at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre. Tickets on sale now.

Resident Proves She Is On Pointe At Swan Lake 

Resident, Sandy Alexander a 95 year old lady at Strachan House had always wanted to return to watch the ballet so staff at the home made her wish a reality.

Sandy was an accomplished ballet dancer in her younger years and fondly talks of her younger dancing days mainly in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Sandy Alexander has lived at Strachan House for a number of years and is beloved by staff and residents alike. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making her dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to her, and they all wanted to be there to see the smile on Sandy’s face as she was surprised with a trip to watch Swan Lake performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.

Staff first found out about Sandys dream as she had always spoke about her time as a ballet dancer. She takes part in many exercise classes at the home and it was clear how much she loved being a dancer with her moves and chat about how she was On Pointe.

Ever since learning about Sandy’s passion they have been dedicated to helping her achieve it her dream of returning to the ballet. Sandywas also accompanied by staff, who were there in support of this momentous occasion.

In response to this wonderful surprise, Sandy said: “It was amazing and I never thought I’d ever see the ballet again. The powerful music and dancers just filled me with memories that came flooding back of my time preforming. It truly was an amazing surprise and one I won’t forget”

Gordon Philp, General Manager at the home, said: “We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here at Strachan House. It was so nice to see how happy Sandy was – and the staff loved being a part of this as well.”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.

Stagebox’s free auditions to take place in Edinburgh this April

10th April – Edinburgh Festival Theatre audition date

Leading entertainment industry training programme and talent management, Stagebox, has announced audition dates taking place across the nation from April 2022.

The annual search sees experts audition passionate performers aged 8-18 years old from across the country (and internationally), offering successful members the chance to benefit from world class training and opportunities in a contemporary supercharged industry accelerator for musical theatre, television and film.

Last year’s auditions saw the Stagebox team meet thousands of performers from across the UK and beyond, and this year they anticipate similar interest. This year, auditionees will be able to select whether they are auditioning for an acting or musical theatre membership and their audition day will see them be put through their paces in this discipline.

Many young performers training at Stagebox have already landed dream roles on stage and screen, thanks to the expert training and management.

Stagebox has secured their clients major lead talent screen roles in Oscar nominated and Emmy award winning productions, including Peaky Blinders (Netflix), Sex Education (Netflix), Robin Robin (Netflix), Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Avenue 5 (HBO), The Power (Amazon Studios), Pistol (Disney +), BAFTA anthology Superdad (Channel 4), Gentleman Jack (Netflix/HBO), Lagging (BBC) and many more.

Stagebox management clients also continue to star in West End and UK Tour musicals including Frozen, Matilda the Musical, School of Rock, Annie, The Grinch, Mary Poppins and Tina the Musical to name a few.

To further the opportunities for their clients, Stagebox Management has also brokered agency partnerships stateside, working alongside Innovative Artists, Paradigm Talent, Luber Roklin Entertainment, Gravity Hill, KMR, Maverick and more.

Commenting on the upcoming 2022 auditions, Stagebox’s General Manager, Jasmine Quinlan Gardner, said: “We are so excited to begin our nationwide search for the stars of today and tomorrow.

“We are proud of our inclusive, diverse and extraordinarily talented community and we can’t wait to meet those who will join us on the journey.”

Kirsti Bagger, Head Agent at Stagebox, adds: “At Stagebox, the training is second to none, preparing our young stars for careers on the stage and screen. 2021 was one of our most successful years ever with Stagebox Management clients wrapping on global award-winning feature films and television series and critically acclaimed theatre productions.

“We’re committed to making auditions for Stagebox free as part of our ongoing dedication to inclusivity in the arts. We only open for auditions once a year, and we’re excited to see our 2022 auditionees’ incredible new talent!”

These auditions are guaranteed to fill up fast and limited spaces apply. To register your spot for your preferred audition date, please visit the Stagebox website to apply.

To find out more about Stagebox, please head to: https//www.stagebox.uk/

*Auditions will adhere to all necessary COVID-19 guidelines.

EIFF Special Event this Friday: Edinburgh’s Talking About Jamie

Edinburgh International Film Festival is delighted to announce that the 74th edition will host a unique and inclusive celebration of being yourself at Edinburgh’s Talking About Jamie.

The free, hour-long event in St Andrew Square at 6pm on Friday 20 August will kick off with drag queen entertainment and cocktails.

Those dressed to impress will be in with a chance of prizes for the best outfits. It takes place immediately ahead of the eagerly awaited Special Preview of the film adaptation of the award-winning hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Compere Alice Rabbit  – Edinburgh’s Most Wanted drag queen, Mother of the Hoose of Rabbit, reigning queen of Edinburgh’s legendary regular Tuesday night drag explosion, The Rabbit Hole and all-round drag powerhouse – has found time in her busy, “booked and blessed” schedule to, whilst running her sell-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut ‘Alice Rabbit’s AYE-Cons’, bring the beautiful crowd of  Edinburgh’s Talking About Jamie an hour of local legends, live singing and legendary looks. 

Joining Alice Rabbit is Jamie Campbell, and his mother Margaret who will make a special star appearance at St Andrew Square.

Also on the bill is Scotland’s lioness, Lady Rampant! This high-heeled activist uses her two law degrees to influence her performances and frequently works with third sector organisations, the Scottish press and politicians advocating for equality.

As such, she won Best Political Queen at the Glasgow Drag Awards 2020. Talent, humour and intelligence all wrapped into one, she has earned her spot as Scottish Drag Royalty.

Although pre-booked tickets for the event are sold out, we will allow free un-ticketed entry to all screenings by walk-up on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability of space. On arrival, please make your way to the ‘Event Entrance’ located on the south-west corner of St Andrew Square.

The film will have its Special Preview screening at the Festival Theatre – a ‘coming home’ of sorts – where the stage musical was the last show to play before the March 2020 lockdown. The screening is now sold out.

Inspired by true events, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the film adaptation of the award-winning hit musical from London’s West End, about Jamie New (newcomer Max Harwood), a teenager in a blue-collar English town with a dream of life on stage.

While his classmates plan their livelihoods after graduation, Jamie contemplates revealing his secret career ambition as a fierce and proud drag queen.

His best friend Pritti (Lauren Patel) and his loving mum (Sarah Lancashire) shower him with endless support while local drag legend Miss Loco Chanelle (Richard E. Grant) mentors him toward his debut stage performance.

But it’s not all rainbows for Jamie as his unsupportive dad (Ralph Ineson), an uninspired career advisor (Sharon Horgan), and some ignorant school kids attempt to rain on his sensational aspirations. In rousing and colourful musical numbers, Jamie and his community inspire one another to be more accepting, and to see the value in facing adversity stepping out of the darkness into the spotlight.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will be released exclusively on Prime Video on 17th September 2021.

Join the Facebook event here.

St Andrew Square is also the home of Film Fest in the City, delivered in partnership with Essential Edinburgh and supported by Johnnie Walker, EIFF’s Official Whisky Partner, Innis & Gunn, EIFF’s Official Beer Partner, and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

The 74th edition of EIFF runs from 18 – 25 August 2021. 

The full programme is available on www.edfilmfest.org.uk

#EdFilmFest

EIFF 2021 Opening Film: European premiere of PIG

We are delighted to announce that the 74th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival will open with the European Premiere of Pig starring Nicolas Cage, on Wednesday 18th August at Festival Theatre. 

The Academy-Award winning actor has achieved acclaim for this performance with Variety citing him as “at his melancholic best… a reminder that Cage is among the most gifted, fearless actors working today” and the Washington Post hailing “a soulful performance of unexpected depth and quiet beauty.”

A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped. This film marks the directorial debut of Michael Sarnoski, who had edited and produced The Testimony which was shortlisted for the 2016 Academy Awards in the best documentary short category.

Edinburgh International Film Festival has an affection and recent history with Cage, in 2014 the festival programmed the critically-acclaimed Joe which starred the actor alongside Tye Sheridan and helmed by David Gordon Green.

In 2019, the festival co-programmed Cage-a-rama 3D with Matchbox Cineclub, screening two Cage cult classics Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and Drive Angry in eye-popping 3D.

Director, Michael Sarnoski said: “We’re so thrilled to be sharing PIG at Edinburgh International Film Festival.

“It was a labour of love for all involved, and we hope it gives the audience a moment of reflection and togetherness after such a hard year.”

Nick Varley, Lead Guest Programmer of Edinburgh International Film Festival added: “Honouring the work of Nicolas Cage has become something of a tradition in Edinburgh and we are delighted to continue our long association with the premier of this most beautiful and thought provoking of films.

“From the moment the programming team viewed PIG we knew it was the film to open the 74th edition of the festival. Sincere thanks to Will Clarke and the team at Altitude for making the film available to us.”

Pig will be exclusively released in cinemas nationwide by Altitude Film Distribution on 20 August 2021.

Join the Facebook event here.

The 74th edition of EIFF runs from 18 – 25 August 2021. The full programme will be announced on 28 July 2021.

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