Are you ready for it? In honour of global pop sensation Taylor Swift’s Eras tour hitting Edinburgh this summer, Le Petit Beefbar is launching ‘Taylor’s Version’ of its renowned cocktail menu.
The Taylor’s Version menu will be available from the 13th May, when fans and cocktail enthusiasts alike will be able to enjoy a carefully curated selection of drinks inspired by the chart-topper’s iconic discography.
From the nostalgia of Fearless and Speak Now, to the delicate storytelling of The Tortured Poets Department, the menu has something for everyone and every era.
Lovers of a sweet spritz can try Champagne Problems, made with Edinburgh Gin, fresh lemon and topped with Moët Rosé and a cloud of candy floss, and for a quick pick me up, the Bad Bloody Mary customised with your choice of spirit, is sure to hit the spot.
The Lavender Haze is the vision of summer with flower syrup, gin and homemade Lillet Rosé soda, and for those partial to a mocktail, the Anti-Hero combines delicious Amarena Juice and sparkling Nosecco.
To celebrate Taylor’s most recent album drop, the team have transformed their Beefbar Espresso Martini into a cocktail strong enough to spark the genius of any tortured poet.
While enjoying a pre-concert cocktail, Swiftie’s can also take advantage of the delicious bar snacks on offer, from the 45-day cured croque sando, to the baby quesadillas with Kobe karasumi and coveted tempura insane rock corn accompanied by sriracha mayo. All will be sure to set up concert goers for an evening of dancing until midnight.
One of Edinburgh’s leading mixed voice choirs, Cadenza, celebrates sunny days, starry nights and air filled with birdsong, in works by Ravel, Elgar, Saint-Saens and more …
Scottish Ensemble have built a devoted following for their Concerts by Candlelight in the Midwinter, and they now present a series of concerts revelling in the long days and abundance of natural light around the Summer Solstice.
Light-filled venues will resonate to the sounds of vibrant, uplifting music, performed with Scottish Ensemble’s characteristic zest and warmth.
From the 17th to the 21st of June, Concerts for a Summer’s Night will celebrate that magical juncture when daylight outlasts the night, filling the air with the promise of endless possibilities. Performances will take place in Rossie Byre in Perthshire, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Aberdeen Art Gallery, The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Audiences can expect a treat as the ensemble blend classical and contemporary works for string orchestra into a joyful sonic summer cocktail.
From familiar works by Elgar and Mendelssohn to the innovative sounds of Tunde Jegede and Sigur Rós, the programme promises to transport listeners through centuries and musical styles, focusing on themes of joy and connection.
The much-awaited second instalment of Glasgow-based composer David Fennessy’s two-part commission will also feature. Following the warmly received debut of RAIN I during Scottish Ensemble’s Concerts by Candlelight performances last December, this new piece promises to captivate and inspire.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Following on from last year’s second and warmly received Concerts for a Summer’s Night, I am looking forward to the third edition!
“We hope these events will become – like Concerts by Candlelight in December – a regular and anticipated feature of our season.
“At this time of year, natural light is almost a constant, tempting us to spend more time outside and reconnect with the natural world as well as with each other.
“There is a unique kind of energy around the time of the summer solstice, and I hope that hearing live music in these light-filled venues will be a vibrant and memorable experience.”
Tickets range from £9 – £22.50 and are free for under 16s.
80 stalls from local organisations, charities and groups hosting interactive activities such as glitter tattoos, hair braiding, craft workshops, facepainting, games, help, advice, storytime.
Edinburgh festivals – Edinburgh Science festival with their cargo tricycles and science demonstrations.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society – street performers.
Edinburgh Book Festival – free books and talks.
Colla Castellera – building human towers.
Edinburgh Equi Centre returns with their horses.
Obstacle course from North Edinburgh Childcare, and activities from Royal Air Force, Army and Scottish Fire Services.
Art and craft workshops with North Edinburgh Arts, National Galleries of Scotland, video games and scavenger hunt with Tinderbox Collective.
We have Granton Giants Dodgeball, Super strikers and Blast Boxing.
And things to buy include, tie dye clothing, pocket money toys, wax melts, cupcakes, dog accessories etc.
As for food we have RRT handing out free burgers again but we also have cupcakes and cookies, Indian food, hotdogs plus several other stalls to purchase food from.
We have 2 Music Stages this year – the park stage filled with community music and performances and the North by North West stage inside the WPNC for up and coming young musicians.
The parade will kick start the festival, starting at North Edinburgh Childcare and heading along Ferry Road Drive, round the park and into the park. Everyone welcome to join in the parade – theme is Superheroes!
There is so much going on at the festival, with something for everyone. I hope that you will all come along and enjoy the day.
The festival is free to attend. Many of the activities/food/items will be free but there will also be some that require payment.
Please feel free to share this and spread the word.
MUSICAL families, top new young talent and a rich mix of cultures feature in the Northern Streams Festival of Nordic & Scottish Music, Song & Dance 2024 in Edinburgh.
Taking place 26-28 April, this year’s festival features artists all based in Scotland with backgrounds and repertoire from Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Shetland, and North-East Scotland:
Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich with Órla Ní Eadhra and Ró Ó hEadhra(BFÓR): a family affair from Inverness drawing on the Gaelic traditions of Scotland, the Nordic countries and the North Atlantic Fringe. https://www.brian-fionnag.com
Erin Mungall-Baldvinsdottir with Evie Alberti, Becka Gauld and Ben Shanks: members of Jelephant Folk Band in their full Nordic/Scottish mode ranging from Icelandic, Finnish, Saami and Gaelic. https://www.facebook.com/JelephantBand
Sir-Reel Clarks ft: Aaron Clark: a music and song duo comprising Andy and Aaron Clark, carrying on their family’s musical heritage despite the challenges Aaron has faced to become a champion melodeon player. https://www.facebook.com/SirReelClarksFamilyBand
Miguel Girão and Amy Laurenson (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023 winner): guitarist and piano duo drawing on Amy’s native Shetland traditions and Miguel’s exploration of Scandinavian cultures. https://amylaurenson.com/ and https://miguelgirao.com
Event organiser, Fiona Campbell, said: “I’m really excited about this year’s Northern Streams line-up.
“We have amazing talent in Scotland who are exploring the music and song of Scottish and Nordic cultures and coming up with new sounds, whilst respecting the past. This was one of the founding ideas behind the festival. And we have a variety of ways people can take part with concerts, workshops and a session.”
All events take place at The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ.
The outline festival programme is:
Friday 26 April
7.00pm Evening concert
Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich with Órla Ní Eadhra and Ró Ó hEadhra (BFÓR) + Erin Mungall-Baldvinsdottir with Evie Alberti, Becka Gauld and Ben Shanks. Featuring Nordic and Scottish music and song from talented artists based in Scotland, including from Gaelic, Icelandic and Finnish cultures.
Saturday 27 April
Workshops:
11.00am – 12.15pm
Brian Ó hEadhra and Fionnag NicChoinnichNorth Atlantic Songs
12.30pm – 1.45pm
Erin Mungall-Baldvinsdottir and Ben Shanks Icelandic/Finnish Songs
2.00 – 3.15pm
Miguel GirãoTunes from the Wedding Traditions of Shetland
3.30 – 4.45pm
Sir-Reel ClarksNorth East Scotland Tunes 7.00pm Evening Concert
Sir-Reel Clarks ft Aaron Clark + Miguel Girão and Amy Laurenson. Featuring Nordic and Scottish music and song from talented young artists based in Scotland, including BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023 winner, Amy Laurenson, and North East Scotland champion, Aaron Clark.
Sunday 28 April
2-5pm Open Music and Song Session – FREE entry
For more details of the Northern Streams programme, guest artists or for booking links, visit www.northernstreams.org.
Ticket prices range from £7 for a workshop – £15 for the concert tickets, with concessions and discount deals worth checking if you plan to attend more than one event. Book your tickets in advance for a chance to WIN an IKEA Voucher! (terms and conditions are on the Northern Streams website ‘Contact Us’ page)
Other ways to get details are by email: eltmsa@yahoo.co.uk or tel: 0795 191 8366, or Facebook – TMSAEdinburgh&Lothians and Twitter@northernstream1.
The Northern Streams festival is organised on a voluntary basis by the Edinburgh & Lothians Branch of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) and acknowledges support from Tasgadh Traditional Arts Small Grants Scheme and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in association with The City of Edinburgh Council.
Audiences: start longlisting and booking early to support artists and #UnleashYourFringe
Today, Thursday 04 April 2024, a new batch of shows to be staged at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been revealed. All shows will be available to view on edfringe.com from 12:00 today.
The 1,373 shows span many genres of the Fringe programme, including cabaret and variety; children’s shows; comedy; dance, physical theatre and circus; music; musicals and opera; spoken word; and theatre. They join the 274 shows revealed previously, resulting in a total of 1,647 shows so far.
More shows are set to be announced on Thursday 09 May, while the official programme launch will take place on Wednesday 12 June.
Audience members are encouraged to start compiling their favourite shows and booking early to support artists, using the hashtag #UnleashYourFringe in the run-up to this year’s festival.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “It’s super exciting when a new batch of shows gets announced – you can really feel the momentum gathering as August gets closer and closer! I can’t wait to get stuck in and add some more shows to my favourites list – and to book a few in, just in case they sell out.”
“Artists are the backbone of this festival and they’re at the heart of everything we do at the Fringe Society.
“Booking tickets in advance, adding free and unticketed shows to your favourites list, giving shout-outs to artists and companies on social media using #UnleashYourFringe – these are things that Fringe audiences can do to show some essential early support and boost morale for the artists they love.
“So if your fave is coming to Edinburgh, or if a show tackles an issue that’s close to your heart, get it locked in now!”
Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book from today. The full list of shows so far can be found at edfringe.com from 12:00:
Cabaret
Yes-Ya-Yebo! at Laughing Horse is ‘an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza celebrating South Africa’s 12 official languages, sprinkled with that incredible township vibe’. Meanwhile, audiences are invited to ‘indulge in the hottest pop-up cabaret experience on Cowgate with a rotating selection of the most electrifying and scandalous performers at the festival’ in Big Gay Afterparty at Just the Tonic.
La Clique brings its ‘breathtaking, hilarious, sexy, dangerous and iconic’ mix of circus, cabaret and comedy back to Underbelly with two shows, the traditional main event and a family-friendly Sideshow. At Eve, ‘the award-winning comedy trio Bad Clowns’ present ‘a night of the best comedy acts from this year’s festival’ in Bad Clowns and Good Friends. And The Burlesque Show at Hill Street Theatre is ‘a competition with a brilliant prize that will satisfy the experienced as well as the novice burlesque watcher’.
‘Award-winning magician’ Dan Bastianelli returns with an all-new evening of close-up magic’ in Deception at Paradise Green. German magician Thomas W Kuenstner ‘combines applied psychology, storytelling and old-school conjuring to generate original mysteries’ in Truth. Lies. And Other Illusions at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre. Caspar Thomas demonstrates The Art of Close-Up Magic at Gilded Balloon while Andrew Frost lays his Cards on the Table at Pleasance. And ‘mind-reading and unbelievable trickery abound in this exploration of how autism and magic make anything possible’: it’s Naughty or Neurodiverse – Magic from Another Planet at theSpaceUK.
In Melody at The Voodoo Rooms, Aidan Sadler guides audiences ‘through the top steps to surviving the apocalypse with 80s-inspired synth-wave melodies’. Australian piano cabaret entertainer Antony (Dr H) Hubmayer brings two shows to artSpace@StMarks – A Monty Python Cabaret Singalong Circus and Another Unwasted Evening – The Genius of Tom Lehrer – plus a third, Meat Loaf – Just the Best Bits, to PBH’s Free Fringe. At Greenside, Baby Belle: Young, Dumb and Full of Autism is ‘a whimsical, musical exploration of social versus personal identity from the perspective of a late-identified and diagnosed non-binary autistic person’. And in Sawdust Symphony at ZOO, ‘obsessed characters discover and transform their space and themselves, transporting the spectator into a unique DIY experience’.
‘Rome Mosaic explores sisterhood and the sibling dynamic – with dance, lipsyncing and good old-fashioned sibling rivalry’ in Sisters? at Hootenannies. Award-winning cabaret star Ada Campe shows off her Big Duck Energy at The Stand Comedy Club, while ‘glamorous, hilarious and fiercely clever Jens Radda… reinvents Sinatra’s classics through saucy modern twists’ in Skank Sinatra at Assembly. In The Taylor Swift Eras Drag Party at The Three Sisters, hosts ‘Blaze, Rujazzle and Rozie Cheeks… take you on a journey through the eras of Taylor Swift’.
Children’s shows
‘The disability Taskmaster’ Blue Badge Bunch returns to Pleasance ‘as two teams battle it out to come up trumps in a show where disadvantage is an advantage’. At Royal College of Physicians, games-master Jes presents ‘crazy bingo variations like you’ve never seen before’ in Amazing Prize Family Comedy Bingo. And ‘your little ones will move, groove and dream, plus you’ll walk away with your very own custom-made medal,’ in The Comedy Games with Coach Mon (theSpaceUK).
‘Full of inviting, imagination-tickling charm’, Taiwan Season: Little Drops of Rain (Assembly) ‘is a feat of non-verbal, environmentally-conscious storytelling ingeniously led by Foley sound’. How to Catch a Book Witch at Underbelly is ‘an open-hearted show aimed at children ages 4+ exploring the importance of libraries and sharing stories’. And ‘when the directors call for auditions for new actors, comedy and mayhem ensue’ in Reach for the Stars at Hill Street Theatre. Meanwhile, Dragon Song Productions presents a trilogy of shows for children aged six and under at the LifeCare Centre – Ice Dragon, Moon Dragon and Sea Dragon – plus Dragon Shows for Babies, each ‘a magical and stimulating show to start a love of the theatre’.
‘Featuring stories by Scottish icon Alan Cumming’, Dragonory: Magic and Music at Edinburgh Fringe! (Hootenannies) ‘offers an unforgettable mix of storytelling and music, promoting love and acceptance’, while Newbury Youth Theatre presents The Fantastical World of My Uncle Arly at Paradise Green, ‘a voyage through the absurd world of Edward Lear.
‘Reimagined from a beloved Korean tale by Jung-saeng Kwon’, Aha! Doggy Poo (Bedlam Theatre) ‘incorporates dance, magic and Korean music to embody the philosophy that nothing in the world is useless’. Meanwhile, ‘Edinburgh’s gruesome past is brought to life by two performers (as seen on CBBC’s Saturday Mash Up)’ in Plague, Poo ‘n’ Punishment at Greenside.
FlamenKids at the Edinburgh New Town Church gives kids ‘a fun and visual way to learn about Spanish culture and flamenco art: rhythms, dance movements, clapping, guitar, singing, castanets, percussion and language expressions’. And a ‘professional violinist and cellist perform familiar classical melodies and tell a musical version of Pinocchio’ in Heads, Shoulders, Strings and Bows at Stockbridge Church.
The Spanish Gentleman Juggler is at Laughing Horse, ‘bringing to life everyday objects such as fishing poles, drinking glasses and kebab sticks alongside invented props and gymnastic balls’. Sing, Sign and Sensory at Gilded Balloon offers ‘an immersive, creative experience in customised, inflatable sensory pods’ for ages 0–2.
Comedy
As ever, there’s a strong international flavour at the Fringe. Taiwanese American comedian Titi Lee is a Good Girl Gone Baddie at Just the Tonic, discussing ‘coming out to their immigrant parents as bisexual, and then non-binary, getting pandemic boobs, and renouncing their good girl ways’. Prev Reddy, ‘the first South African comic that is Indian, queer and outspoken’ is at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre in Prev Reddy is a Triple Threat. In Antidepressed at Greenside, ‘Ege Öztokat talks, sings and screams about the wonderfully terrible predicament of her existence as a young woman in Turkey’. Mumbai-based ‘global stand-up star’ Rahul Subramanian makes his Edinburgh debut with Who Are You? at Assembly. Bodega Bonnies at The Stand Comedy Club features ‘a new rotation of the fest’s best comics from around the globe (but mostly from New York)’. And ‘in his debut hour, Jin Hao walks you through the seascape of his mind, filled with nightmares of being a spider, dreams of joining the yakuza and breezy memories of serving in the military with the boys’ in Swimming in a Submarine at Pleasance.
Suchandrika Chakrabarti ‘tries to explain our chronically online era to her niece (5), and speculates about the future’ in Doomscrolling at Hootenannies. And audiences are invited to join Jack Freeman ‘as he learns how to love and be loved in this hilarious solo show combining stand-up with lots of heart and even more limp’: Embrace Me: A Solo Show About Dating and Disability That is Also Funny (Laughing Horse). ‘He’s been a TV presenter, DJ, double-glazing salesman, footballer and comedian’ – now James Gardner: Journeyman (WIP) is at Boteco do Brasil. Musical comedian Amelia Bayler ‘navigates a year of heartbreak and learning to be alone’ in Easy Second Album at the Scottish Comedy Festival. And Robin Cairns, ‘with his array of comedy characters, gives us a riotous hour exploring the (hopefully friendly) rivalry between Scotland’s major cities’ in Edinburgh’s Pandas Were Just Weegies in Disguise! (St Columba’s by theCastle Scottish Episcopal Church).
‘Imagine an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman finally in the same bar as a therapist’ – it’s Five Mugs, No Tea at Leith Depot. The Leith Comedy Festival Presents… The Edinburgh Fringe Edition at The Biscuit Factory, boasting a different line-up every night and ‘your golden ticket to a great night out’. And A Political Breakfast at PBH’s FreeFringe is a ‘political comedy panel show chaired by Chris O’Neill or Harun Musho’d involving up to four comedians (subject to alarm clocks working) and the audience’.
Lady ADHD is at theSpaceUK and online, ‘tracing how Blaire Postman’s unique comedy bits (fueled by a rollercoaster of flipchart rabbit-holes) at first revealed to her the unexpected connections of life’s intricacies, then panned out further to expose the true nature of her own brain’. Character Building Experience at Bedlam Theatre ‘is a Dungeons-and-Dragons-style comedic interactive roleplaying game show, suitable for the experts, the novices and the uninitiated-but-curious’. At Hill Street Theatre, BBC Radio 4’s ‘cop-turned-comedian Alfie Moore returns with a brand-new show’: Fair Cop – Live!
‘Shameless, charmingly aggressive and unladylike, she’s the funniest half-Sri Lankan gal from Coventry’ – she’s Stella Graham, and her show Phoenix is on at PBH’s FreeFringe. In Good Girl at Paradise Green, Rhiannon Jenkins goes on ‘an immersive, interactive clown adventure as she plays with male fantasies, female sexuality, and how we navigate 21st century womanhood’. And Daliso Chaponda ‘revisits the themes of [his] ancient debut show’ two decades later in Feed This Black Man Again at Underbelly.
Among the familiar Fringe faces returning to this year’s festival are David O’Doherty, Flo & Joan, Reginald D Hunter, Milton Jones, Adam Hills, Dara Ó Briain (Assembly); Adam Kay (Edinburgh Playhouse); Bobby Davro (Frankenstein Pub); Andrew Maxwell, Craig Hill, Lucy Porter and Patrick Monahan (Just the Tonic); Raul Kohli (Just the Tonic and Laughing Horse); Sian Davis (Laughing Horse); Sara Pascoe, Nish Kumar and Glenn Moore (Monkey Barrel Comedy); Ahir Shah, Kieran Hodgson, Nina Conti, Rose Matafeo, Sophie Duker, Jordan Brookes, Paul Merton and Suki Webster (Pleasance); and Mark Thomas (The Stand), while former politician Mhairi Black makes her Fringe comedy debut at Gilded Balloon.
Ivo Graham is at the Fringe in three capacities in 2024: with his stand-up show Grand Designs at Pleasance, his theatre show Carousel at Assembly and as the host of Comedians’ DJ Battles at La Belle Angele.
Dance, physical theatre and circus
‘Marrying traditional rhythms with modern dance’, HuXi / Breath (Paradise Green) ‘allows audiences to embody the intricate connection of Qi within and beyond, fostering links between self-realisation and higher realms’. In Korean Painter at theSpaceUK, the Contemporary Yunhee company paints ‘various pictures on stage using the traditional Korean hat called sangmo’, offering audiences a ‘mysterious experience’.
‘Award-winning choreographer Aparna Ramaswamy weaves together threads of body, memory, desire and devotion to describe the eternal relationship between the deity and the devotee’ in Ananta, the Eternal at Assembly. In The Flock and Moving Cloud at ZOO (part of the Made in Scotland showcase), Scottish Dance Theatre present works by ‘two of the most-exciting female choreographers in the European dance scene: Roser López Espinosa and Sofia Nappi’.
At Edinburgh New Town Church, Flamenco in Scotland is ‘directed and choreographed by Inma Montero and performed by top flamenco professional artists’. Flamenco Fiesta at Alba Flamenca ‘offers the audience an intimate and delicate atmosphere to enjoy the wonders of the passionate art of Flamenco’. And 2Flamenco brings a ‘powerful, exquisite, beautiful and unforgettable Flamenco experience’ to Argyle Cellar Bar, while ‘Jolly performers from Japan will take you on a journey through a dazzling world of rhythm, tap dance and comedy’ in Sushi Tap Show 2024 at Greenside.
Part of the Sacred Arts Festival at Old Saint Paul’s Church, Dancing Ash Wednesday is ‘a piece in which movement interacts with the speaker’ in TS Eliot’s titular poem. ‘Towers grow and decay, bodies leap and are caught, physical limits are pushed to their extreme’ in Circa: Humans 2.0 at Underbelly. the Curve at Just the Tonic ‘stitches together acrobatics, dance, physical comedy and spoken word to form the image of life as a circus performer – and what happens to the body and mind in the process’. And audiences can ‘come and witness Martin and Logy’s ongoing battle against the gravitational pull of the planet’ in Circus Sonas Presents: Down with Gravity at Laughing Horse.
Music
‘Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the finest songwriters of his generation,’ Dean Friedman brings his Words and Music to The Stables at Prestonfield. ‘After nearly a decade-long absence, Sandi Thom makes her long-awaited reintroduction to the iconic Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year’ at The Voodoo Rooms with her new song collection, Warpaint. Valery Ponomarev: The Jazz Messenger! at The Jazz Bar features ‘an unmissable exclusive performance from legendary Russian-American trumpeter and Jazz Messengers alumnus, Valery Ponomarev, who dramatically escaped 70s USSR and toured the world with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers’.
The songs of Jo Carley and The Old Dry Skulls ‘tell stories of deals with the devil, demons in love, witch doctors, zombies, ghosts, ghouls, journeys to the deepest jungles and other exotic adventures’ – hear them at the Argyle Cellar Bar. At Greenside, ‘iuchair tells a tale of debauchery played out in the coarsest catches of Henry Purcell and his contemporaries’ in To Your Rude Health! At Paradise Green, The Seas Are Rising: Stories of a Climate in Crisis is ‘a multimedia concert experience calling attention to the urgency of the climate crisis through original songs by American musician and songwriter Dan Sheehan’. And Grammy-winning cellist Leah Coloff ‘has played alongside the greatest names in contemporary music – from David Bowie to Debbie Harry’; her show, Super Second Rate, is at theSpaceUK.
Audiences are invited to ‘join Delhi maestro Manmohan Dogra for a journey through soulful Hindustani classical music, featuring vocal ragas and a tabla solo in Banares style,’ in Raag Rang: A Journey Through Indian Musical Traditions at Arthur Conan Doyle Centre. Seckou Keita and his Homeland Band are at The Queen’s Hall – formed in 2020, ‘they’ve been lifting audiences to their feet and leaving them buzzing ever since’. And at Valvona & Crolla, Pitchblenders: Só Danço Samba is ‘an evening of vibrant bossa nova, ebullient bal musette and soul-stirring contemporary songs from Spain, France and Brazil’.
At Assembly, ‘Out of the Blue is an internationally acclaimed a cappella group from the University of Oxford and, after jet-setting across the world earlier this year, the group is excited to return to their home turf to showcase new talent and new songs’. Meanwhile, ‘an all-male a cappella group of nerds from Imperial College London’ deliver The Techtonics: 44 Days of Liz Truss (A Cappella) at Gilded Balloon.
The Sacred Arts Festival has programmed church performances across the city this August, with Ave Maria: Centuries of Prayer and Praise at Old Saint Paul’s Church, Sacred Jazz at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral and The Lord is my Shepherd: Sacred song of the English musical renaissance at St Vincent’s Chapel. ‘The Howe Street Singers, directed by Les Shankland, perform Faure’s much-loved Requiem and equally beautiful Cantique de Jean Racine alongside Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms’ as part of the Sacred Arts Festival Music at the Church of the Sacred Heart.
Edinburgh-based chamber choir Calton Consort ‘presents an hour of choral music from LGBTQ+ composers and allies’ in Choral Pride at Canongate Kirk. St Giles’ Cathedral hosts a programme of Celebrity Recitals on its ‘world-famous Rieger organ’, with performances from Francesca Massey, Tom Bell and Michael Harris. St Mary’s Lunchtime Recitals return to St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, featuring ‘a wide variety of performers playing and singing in one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful concert spaces’. And at Edinburgh New Town Church, Scottish Voices and Friends features ‘an imaginative and diverse program, including world premieres of new classical music, with a special focus on settings of Gaelic poetry by Catriona Montgomery and from the Orthodox poetry of Konstantin Balmont and traditional Ukrainian carols’.
‘16-year-old Brit School pianist, guitarist and singer’ George Cassidy brings his second show, Piano Boy, to Laughing Horse, mixing ‘his own songs with those of Elton, the Beatles and many more’. Lisa Scott and the All-Stars bring their Fabulous Sounds of the 60s to Leith Dockers Club, ‘covering all genres of music and top-class musicians, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner and more’. Vocalist Georg Tormann performs ‘a touching and entertaining tribute to Old Blue Eyes’ in Sinatra – The Greatest Hits at Frankenstein Pub. Absolutely (not) Free – An Evening of Zappa is ‘a smorgasbord of Frank Zappa classics hand-delivered by those finest purveyors of conceptual continuity, Pygmy Twylyte’ – catch them at Bannermans. Brian Kennedy toured the US with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell in 1998 – now he celebrates the latter’s 80th year in Brian Kennedy – A Love Letter To Joni Volume 2 at Greyfriars Hall at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. And at Le Monde, All the Hits of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons offers exactly what it says on the tin, with ‘favourites including Sherry, Let’s Hang On, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, Grease and many more’.
‘Guitar, piano, violin, harmonium, banjo, vocals, and sometimes double bass create a folky sound with elements of classical, ambient metal, spoken word, Celtic reels and Eastern European scales’ in The Seventh Season at The Royal Oak. Fiddler Alastair Savage has two shows at St Cuthbert’s Church: Scotland and Beyond with cellist Alice Allen and The Scottish Fiddle Story ‘alongside Gregor Blamey on piano / accordion, with a specially written script read by legendary actor John Shedden’; he’s also at Canongate Kirk with Scots Fiddle Old and New. Audiences can catch ‘Wendy Weatherby (cello, vocals), John Sampson (trumpet, crumhorn, recorders), Sandy Brechin (accordion, piano), Andy Cannon (storyteller) and Allan and Rosemary McMillan (vocals, guitar) for a cheerful, poignant or nostalgic jaunt through our favourite songs, tunes and stories’ in Mrs Weatherby’s Concert Party at artSpace@StMarks.
‘Exploring classical works for viola and piano… the Kosonen Ranieri Duo will evoke the feeling of having just woken from a sweet slumber’ in Viola and Piano: Aprés un Rêve at Stockbridge Church. At St Cecilia’s Hall, The Triumph of Time and Truth: Handel and Vivaldi is ‘a vocal programme… threaded with gorgeous instrumental harpsichord and violin instrumental pieces’. Audiences can ‘join Duo Malvina for an afternoon of beautiful Classical Guitar music for two’ at St Columba’s by the Castle Scottish EpiscopalChurch. And ‘rising American opera star and composer Johan Hartman is joined by Edinburgh’s Ailsa Aitkenhead’ in 2 Artists, 2 Concerts, 2 Premieres at Greyfriars Kirk.
In Massaoke at Underbelly, audiences ae invited to join Rockstar Weekend ‘for their biggest and most spectacular show ever – a high-voltage, spandex-clad, crowd-powered, sing-along megamix of the biggest hairbrush anthems from across the decades, live and unleashed with giant video lyrics’.
Musicals and opera
The Wellbrick Centre on Roswell Drive (Paradise Green) is ‘a conversational musical with poignant, comedic and absurd elements’, focusing on two patients at a fictional NHS facility. SOFTPLANET Productions bring a pair of grisly historical musicals to the Mackenzie Building: Deacon Brodie is ‘packed with deceit, love, laughs, theft and some great contemporary songs’, while Flesh uncovers ‘the real-life drama of Burke and Hare, Scotland’s first serial killers, with a comic twist and original folk-rock songs’. On a similar theme, Ripper at Hill Street Theatre is ‘a terrifying musical look through the eyes of Jack the Ripper, the officer who pursued him, and one of his victims’.
Macbeth at Saint Stephen’s Theatre offers a new take on Shakespeare, mixing original and modern text with ‘songs from the likes of Foo Fighters, The Prodigy, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Dire Straits to name a few’. In ‘brand-new comedy musical’ The Weird Sisters (Just the Tonic), Amaranth, Scarlett and Blush ‘attempt to initiate the audience into their coven’ to a soundtrack of ‘punchy power-pop’. At Assembly, You & It: The Musical explores romance and technology with the story of Gyujin, who ‘orders an AI robot that eventually replicates his dead wife’.
Beowulf the Musical at Greyfriars Kirk ‘presents two medieval myths intertwined: on one side the famous hero as strong as 30 men, and on the other a princess who must live her life in service to her kingdom against her own heart’.
At Greenside, BANNED the musical ‘follows a group of gender misfits through the events leading up to their debut at a local performing arts festival’. Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical! With Puppets! is at Pleasance, ‘a silly, surreal take on Kafka’s paranoid, mystifying masterpiece to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death’.
Captivate Theatre brings its own mini-festival programme to The Edinburgh Academy, with performances of The Phantom of the Opera, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical Junior, Disney’s Frozen Junior and Les Misérables School Edition. At Underbelly, DIVA: Live From Hell! is a ‘blood-stained love letter to Broadway – a solo musical about rivalry, vengeance, and killer ambition’.
Arias in the Afternoon at the Edinburgh New Town Church features ‘international opera singer Brian Bannatye-Scott (bass) with rising stars Caroline Taylor (soprano), Catherine Backhouse (mezzo-soprano), Laurie Slavin (tenor) and James Atkinson (baritone), accompanied by dazzling Polish pianist, Michal Gajzler’. And at theSpaceUK, Fringe – The Musical isn’t what you think – it’s ‘a hilarious musical comedy about a cherished family run hairdressing salon in Essex’.
Spoken word
At Hill Street Theatre, writer Gigi Bella explores ‘mental health, feminism and the gospel of Taco Bell through poetry, comedy and music’ with show Big Feelings. Poets Christine De Luca and Elspeth Murray, in combination with Katharine Wake on the flute, return to Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts at Canongate Kirk, ‘with poetry and music, offering a reflection on home and homelessness’. Also at the Festival of the Sacred Arts will be Sacred Arts Festival Poetry at Church of the Sacred Heart, promising work ranging ‘widely from masterpieces of the Middle Ages, through ballads and hymns of the Reformation, to satirical and meditative poetry from the 20th and 21st centuries’.
Ben Kassoy brings poems from his ‘spectacularly original book to life in a solo show’ at Zoo. The Funny Thing About a Panic Attack uses ‘physical theatre, dance and traditional poetry reading to reveal the connections between mental health, art and pancakes’.
Storyteller and classicist Jo Kelen brings a ‘new, poetic reimagining of the myth of Achilles’ with Achilles, Death of the Gods at Paradise Green. ‘The warrior Achilles finds himself in Troy, fighting a war that is not his. When Achilles’ lover Patroclus is killed in battle, Achilles inflicts unspeakable horrors upon those around him.’ Iain Dale returns to the Fringe with his All Talk series of political interviews at the Pleasance including Humza Yousaf, Alex Salmond, Liz Truss, Anas Sarwar and Ruth Davidson.
Among the familiar faces returning to Edinburgh are David Harmer and Ray Globe, ‘the irrepressible Glummer Twins’, back with The Beat Goes On at theSpaceUK, offering ‘stand-up comedy, spoken word and music from the beat generation through eight decades.’ Performance poet and musician Attila the Stockbroker performs 14 Days, 14 Completely Different Shows at PBH’s Free Fringe, alongside his Early Music Show at St Ceceilia’s Hall.
‘Humour and horror are woven together with empathy in a shocking insight into the untold stories of ordinary women caught up in a whirlwind of politics, religion and magic’ in Witch? Women on Trial at Greenside. Tales of Haunted Edinburgh – Echoes From Beyond the Grave at Arthur Conan Doyle Centre invites audiences to hear ‘tales of the undead from a paranormal investigator as you discover a host of terrifying stories of hauntings from the city’s dark past’. Anne Bayne of Dunsapie Loch is available online, a ‘poignant audio play [and] a journey into the heart of Edinburgh’s literary history of 1740’.
Theatre
Deaf Action present *Smoke Not Included, a scripted stoner stage play. ‘I cannae tell if I’m having fun or I’m scared he’s gonnae murder us aw’. At Edinburgh Palette, a Pan-Africanist painter, Eda, is ‘cajoled by his friend and former agent Reki to go steal some of Da Vinci’s works that are presumably on tour in an art museum in Nigeria’ in Who Tiff Monalisa? Jeremy McClain stars in Rat Tails (WIP) at Fruitmarket, a new one-man show directed by Matt McBrier. ‘As he muses on his childhood and everything that got him to this moment, follow the Prozac-popping, biracial millennial who’s married into a wealthy, British aristocratic family’.
The Good Iranian makes its Edinburgh Fringe debut with ‘a mesmerising and moving production directed by Sepy Baghaei. Enjoy the art of storytelling and the triumph of good over evil, all in one educational hour’ at Just the Tonic. ‘Though dementia is increasingly common in an ageing population, it remains an unknown quantity to many’. In William Kite has Memory Issues, follow William’s experience of seeking support for someone with early-onset Alzheimer’s as he faces his changing reality (Paradise Green). When their daughter announces that she wants to transition, a couple ‘find themselves divided in their attitudes and judgements’. In Divided, the mother – who has always seen herself as inclusive – struggles with losing a daughter and gaining a son (The Royal Scots Club).
A historical satire championing John Kay, one of Edinburgh’s unsung artists, Passing Likeness at Virgin Hotels Roof Terrace is ‘a play of grotesque caricatures and still more grotesque originals’.
Enjoy a sip of mezcal at Comala, Comala, a ‘Day of the Dead-style theatrical experience’ at Zoo. Adapted from a novel by Johnny Tait, Naked Truth is ‘an extreme satire on false-celebrity culture. Not for the easily offended. A deep, dark rollercoaster ride’ at Saint Stephen’s Theatre. In Why Am I (Still) Like This? at theSpaceUK and online, Nicole Nadler asks why she still can’t ‘leave the house on time, pay her credit card on time or know where she put her glasses’ following her ADHD diagnosis. At Laughing Horse, The Guerilla Autistics show returns for its tenth year and asks ‘are you eccentric?’ The Basement Entertainer at PBH’s Free Fringe is ‘a comedy about being a performer at heart’, as basement-dwelling artist Kate performs her sketches ‘to an audience of miscellaneous junk with faces drawn on’… until one of them starts talking back. Ne’er the Twain at Mayfield Salisbury Church is a ‘laugh-a-minute comedy’ that tackles the historic joining of Edinburgh with the port of Leith, and a family caught on the boundary line.
‘Two rising Ghanaian creatives navigate their perception of identity, success, assimilation and home’ in DRUM at Underbelly. A US writer ‘with a big nose grows up hearing stories of mixed ethnic heritage to discover the stories are not true, sort of true, then true in a way that no one expects’ in Journey to Long Nose at Greenside. The Shroud Maker at Pleasance weaves ‘a harrowing story of courage, love, escape and disappointment with comic fantasy and true stories to create a vivid portrait of life in Palestine before the recent heartbreaking events’. In Do This One Thing for Me at Bedlam Theatre, Jane Elias tackles questions of Holocaust remembrance and how we move forward through an ‘acute portrait of her relationship with her father, a Greek Holocaust survivor’.
Fix Your Mind at Gilded Balloon is a ‘a contemporary exploration of patriarchy, love and the internet’, as two siblings are drawn in different directions by their chosen communities, while I Sell Windows at Assembly is ‘one Black woman’s exploration of what is birthed at the collision of grief, ambition and sex’.
Stepping Out at Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre ‘charts the lives of seven women and one man attempting to tap their troubles away at a weekly dancing class’, and at Hill Street Theatre, Rave is a jukebox musical set in a nightclub, where ‘we see the lives and battles of a group of friends coming to terms with getting older and the reality of faded dreams’. A musical comedy about coming of age in the 1980s, ‘mashing hundreds of classic 80s songs into both dialogue and song (a la Moulin Rouge). Don’t Stop Believing: A Theatric Remix of the 1980s is at PBH’s Free Fringe.
Summer is on the way and the festival season is hotting up, with Assembly Festival announcing a further 110 shows for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Assembly Festival opens on Wednesday 31 July with the Assembly Gala Launch at Assembly Hall, highlighting some of the biggest and best shows of the year; expect spectacular circus, thought-provoking theatre, riotous comedy, and more to kick-start your festival experience.
Best of the Fest returns with three shows for your regular dose of Fringe fun. The eponymous Best of the Fest will be the highlight of your weekend with a changing line-up of established talent and rising stars at Assembly Hall.
For the best in emerging talent and fresh comedy faces, head on over to Best of the Fest: The New Class in George Square Gardens. Finally Best of the Fest: Daytime will move to a new home at Assembly Rooms to serve up a daily dose of family-friendly Fringe variety from circus to stand up.
Assembly has a bumper comedy programme in store this year including recently announced shows from the purple felt-faced comedian, Randy Feltface: First Banana; a welcome return to the Fringe for The Last Leg host Adam Hills: Shoes Half Full; and Dara Ó Briain: My Life is a Work in Progress (Work In Progress), Dara’s first Fringe run since 2005. Also appearing on Assembly’s largest stage at Assembly Hall is Milton Jones: Ha!Milton; and Reginald D Hunter will be appearing in George Square Studios this year with his new show Fluffy Fluffy Beavers.
Since 1981, Assembly’s stages have launched the career of many a household name, including Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand, Bill Bailey, Sandi Toksvig, and Rik Mayall, so this year’s selection of comedy debuts could well behold the next big thing.
Assembly’s programme is also renowned for its international talent, and this year is no exception; from Australia, TikTok star Jenny Tian: Chinese Australian and winner of Director’s Choice Award, Melbourne Comedy Festival Bronwyn Kuss: Sounds Good; from New Zealand Guy Williams: This Glass House Makes it Easy to See All the Cowards I’m Throwing Stones At (New Zealand Today, Taskmaster NZ) and soon to be the most powerful man in the universe Ray O’Leary: Your Laughter Is Just Making Me Stronger (Taskmaster NZ); Japan’s latest comedy export Takashi Wakasugi: Welcome To Japan; BBC Galton and Simpson Comedy Winner Grace Mulvey: Tall Baby from Ireland; from India Rahul Subramanian: Who Are You?;from the USA, 17 year-old Maeve Press: Failure Confetti; and from the UK circuit, writer of Death DropHolly Stars: Justice For Holly and self-renowned poet Paulina Lenoir: Puella Eterna.
There’s more stand-up from the “Bloody Hilarious” (Sarah Millican) Gearóid Farrelly: Gearóid Rage; the award-winning Geraldine Hickey: Don’t Tease Me About My Gloves; shortlisted BBC New Comedy Award 2023 Jo Griffin: Last Chance Saloon; Kelly Bachman: Patron Saint; co-writer of Starstruck (BBC) Nic Sampson returns with his new show Yellow Power Ranger; Ireland’s favourite scoundrel Stephen Mullan: Rascal; and the irrepressible Ted Hill: 110 Percent Normal. Plus, work in progress shows from Angela Barnes and Joanne McNally.
From the world of musical comedy, David O’Doherty returns to Assembly with a new megaconcert, David O’Doherty: Ready, Steady, David O’Doherty; acclaimed duo Flo & Joan: The Joan & Flo Show present their greatest hits ; a personal and political hour from Jonny & the Baptists: The Happiness Index; Taskmaster New Zealand star Paul Williams returns to the Fringe with Mamiya 7; and Ivo Graham returns with one of the best nights out at the Fringe with Comedians’ DJ Battles.
There’s off-the-cuff guffaws in Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised; a classic murder mystery is created on-the-spot in Murder, She Didn’t Write; the return of the painfully funny improvised medical drama St Doctor’s Hospital, who also bring endless comedy possibilities in The Free Association: 3; and Terry Wogan is back from the dead in Late Night with Terry Wogan.
On the sketch front, expect a raft of comedy sketches with the world’s only surreal, sketch-comedy circus troupe Laser Kiwi: Rise of the Olive; 100 years of TV in one hour in Joe & Rory: Television 1; and comedy duo Grubby Little Mitts are back with two new shows, Grubby Little Mitts: Eyes Closed, Mouths Open and Grubby Little Mitts presents: Sketch Book.
The uniquely eccentric Trygve Wakenshaw returns after seven years with his Dada-esque new show, Trygve Wakenshaw: Silly Little Things; and Jody Kamali is Ironing Board Man with eight ironing boards and one banging soundtrack. Join comedian Benjamin Alborough as he attempts to improve the most notorious property trading board game in the chaotic, interactive gameshow Absolute Monopoly; take part in an hour of mad cap game show and entertainment with Mad Ron and Jerry; Australian cult classic The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase makes its way to the Fringe; and there’s a wild and raunchy, adults-only night of magic and comedy with Sam, Justin, and Magnus ‘Danger’ Magnus in Adults Only Magic Show.
After sell-out runs in 2023, the smash-hit historical-storytelling comedy returns with an all-new collection of 5 Mistakes That Changed History. Less historically accurate but with equally irreverent storytelling is Isabelle Farah: Nebuchadnezzar, a silly show about love and war in Babylon; Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself explores a world of witches, neurodivergence and the Vengaboys; Chris Grace: Sardines (a comedy about death) guides audiences through a tragic and hilarious exploration of life’s important questions; and Marc Burrows embarks on a journey through the life and work of one on Britain’s best loved authors and humourists in The Magic of Terry Pratchett.
There’s plenty to entertain the whole family at Assembly this year. The multi-award-winning Circus Trick Tease return to Assembly Festival with their phenomenal Children Are Stinky for another summer of fun.
Expect high calibre circus, a rocking soundtrack and genuine belly laughs, leaving adults and children with their jaws on the floor hooting for more. The Canadian “masters of slapstick” behind Brotipo, Les Foukoutours present a celebration of childhood creativity in NoVa; the harmony of gecko-like Gael is upset by the arrival of a stranger in children’s dance show The Last Forecast; and a chance encounter with a resilient drop of water sends plucky young Hope on a life-changing puppetry adventure in Taiwan Season: Little Drops of Rain.
DJ, performer, and mum of two Monski Mouse is back with her Baby Cabaret and Baby Disco Dance Hall full of bonkers fun for 0-5s and their parents/carers; Mr Sleepybum has more dreams to share in his high-energy, interactive, multi-award-nominated comedy show for the whole family; The Greatest Magic Show returns with more whimsical wonders than ever before; and Mojo the Monkey and Jimmy the Tomato guide audiences on a rollercoaster of amazement in Mojo and Jimmy: The Comedy Magic Spectacular.
For a touch of magic for more mature audiences, look no further than Dom Chambers: Magic Hunt, an untamed magic rampage, a fusion of awe and anarchy and a ‘unique blend of comedy and illusions’™; and a brand-new show from Chris Dugdale: 11, 11 tricks and a message that may or may not change your life. There’ll be audience participation aplenty with the return of Goose’s Quizzes Elimination Game. Scotland’s premiere quiz company bring their raucous five-star game show, with fresh questions every night, brilliant prizes and all-new rounds – will you face elimination, or be crowned a champion?
After taking Australia by storm everyone’s favourite Ogre inspired burlesque and drag parody is finally coming to Edinburgh! The award-winning, critically acclaimed, Swamplesque makes it way to Assembly Festival from far-far-away.
There’s more drag excellence as glamorous, hilarious and fiercely clever Jens Radda explodes onto the Edinburgh scene with Skank Sinatra; Sarah-Louise Young and Russell Lucas pay glorious homage to the music, fans and mythology of one of the most influential voices in music in An Evening Without Kate Bush; and high camp and heartbreaking drama collide in These Are the Contents of My Head (The Annie Lennox Show) as Salty Brine charts his way, track by track, through Lennox’s masterpiece Diva.
Following hit sell-out sensations Macro and The Pulse, Gravity & Other Myths return to Edinburgh with their brand-new critically acclaimed show Ten Thousand Hours, an ode to the countless hours needed to achieve great things. Blending circus and dance, Taiwan Season: I Am The BOSS asks what do three siblings do when home alone; the 600-year-old Korean folk song Arirang is brought to life in ARI: The Spirit of Korea; and Taiwanese choreographer Chuang Po-Hsiang presents Taiwan Season: Palingenesis, an absorbing dance trio inspired by a biological concept of regeneration.
Assembly Festival and Dance Base team up once again, presenting a programme across two stages at Scotland’s National Centre for Dance.
Five dancers collide and rebound through urban, breaking, contemporary and everything in between in PACK; the boundary between the inert and the living is blurred in Golem, a captivating dialogue between dancer and sculptor; The Show for Young Men asks what it means to be a man today in a tender dance performance for ages 8+; and the eternal relationship between the deity and the devotee is explored in Ananta, the Eternal. Masquerading as a sequel to an earlier, non-existent version of itself,
The Passion of Andrea 2 is a mischievous con artist of a dance theatre piece about uneasiness, confusion, and the painful desire for more; Futuristic Folktales scrutinises reproductive injustices through storytelling, contemporary movement, and an evocative soundscape of experimental bagpipe; and the Korean tradition of tying and untying knots faces the climate crisis in Sleeper.
Assembly Festival is proud to present this year’s ART Award winner, Gracie and the Start of the End of the World (Again) from writer and performer Zoë Bullock. Meet Gracie, an immortal, pop culture obsessed, very horny jellyfish. An extinction-level comedy about heartbreak, revolution and surviving the apocalypse; this is excellent new theatre from one of Scotland’s up and coming creative teams.
Other new writing in Assembly’s 2024 programme includes the intricacies of mother-daughter relationships in Glitch and Mum and I Don’t Talk Anymore; plus, Good Luck, Cathrine Frost! a funny one-woman show about philosophy and childbirth. Love is on the menu as Steve Porter is back with a new spicy seminar, How to Mate: The Ted XXX Talk; while Pillock confronts loneliness, hook-up culture and medical role plays.
English American writer/comedian returns to the UK with Alison Larkin: Grief… A Comedy, looking at love, loss and hope; a doc-com billionaire pays a famous American theatre company to translate the Bard in Polishing Shakespeare; ‘one of the most fascinating experimental theatrical minds at the Fringe’ brings us Honnef’s Lost words; and a clandestine cabal of misfits attempt their ultimate heist in Brian Parks’ new work, Plotters.
Fresh off the back of two successful seasons with Salamander, Scottish, female-led Pretty Knickers Productions bring Mary, Queen of Rock! a brand-new musical that will get Scotland rocking! While the reign of the only Empress–Queen is a prism through which the entire crown can be seen via Victoria’s journals and letters in Queen; and notorious filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl attempts to sanitize her past in the insightful, hilarious wild ride of Leni’s Last Lament.
Comedian Ivo Graham goes around and around, backwards and forwards, to the places he aches to go again in Carousel; a girl with anxiety must rescue her friend from a city of skeletons in Shadow Necropolis, from the creators behind Shadow Kingdom; You&It: The Musical looks at the love between a husband and wife when one of them returns as AI; and aspiring actor and current window salesperson Kacie confronts an existential journey in I Sell Windows.
A group of former kid detectives return to the scene of their greatest unsolved case in Solve It Squad; actor and pro-wrestling fan Tegan Verheul presents a knockout solo show about sports entertainment in Chokeslam; follow Shy Girl’s attempts to open up in Wyld Woman: The Legend of Shy Girl; and myths and legends are told like never before in Remythed.
More mythology from Fringe smash hit Mythos: Ragnarok as they return to Assembly Festival this year, a masterful blend of storytelling, theatre and stage combat. Also coming back this August is hot-ticket interactive theatre piece Temping; ten minutes of a father with dementia and his family is revisited in multimedia theatre piece Layers; and an unexpected patient challenges a counsellor’s commitment in Black and White Tea Room: Counsellor, part of the Korean Season at Assembly Festival. Plus, Captivate Theatre return with Fringe favourite Sunshine on Leith; and Oxford’s internationally acclaimed a cappella group, Out of the Blue return to the Fringe for their 20th year.
Assembly Festival’s Fringe season will begin on Wednesday 31 July and run through to Monday 26 August. Performances will take place across Edinburgh city centre, including Assembly Festival’s year-round home Assembly Roxy, Assembly Checkpoint, Assembly Hall, Assembly Rooms, and Assembly George Square Gardens.
For tickets and further information, and to sign up to receive news about future shows at Assembly Festival 2024, visit www.assemblyfestival.com.
★ Two-part Vocal Programme officially begins in September 2024
★ TASTER DAY set for 5th May, including a Concert, Performance Classes, Coaching and Ensemble Work for ages 13 – 18, led by vocal experts
St Mary’s Music School, an established internationally recognised specialist music school based in Edinburgh’s West End, has announced an exciting new two-part expansion to their music education: theChanging Voices Programme and theSenior Vocal Programme.
These programmes will create opportunities for young singers who are interested in developing classical solo voice to the next level.
The Vocal Programmes are designed to support young aspiring singers in realising their potential. With a focus on expert coaching and teaching, these programmes run concurrently with the School’s academic classes, reinforcing the School’s reputation as a leader in shaping musical education.
Head of Voice Kate Aitken said: “The new vocal programmes at St Mary’s Music School are a fantastic and significant addition, not only to the School and its pupils, but to music education in Scotland.
“The programmes will give passionate young singers a place where they can thrive and hone their craft in a safe and supportive environment. Vocal education is not just about receiving great singing lessons, the creation of a complete programme for young singers will help to develop and inspire the next generation of singers: this has been a long time coming!”
To experience what the new programmes have to offer, a Vocal Taster Day will be held on 5 May 2024, opening the School’s doors to prospective pupils and their families who want to learn more about specialist vocal training for children aged 13 – 18.
With notable former pupils including Alexander Armstrong, Steven Osborne, Brìghde Chaimbeul, and Aaron Akugbo, the new Vocal Programmes expansion at St Mary’s Music School hopes to see wider pools of exciting new talent emerge to lead the upcoming generations of singers across Scotland and beyond.
Director of Music John Cameron said: “To add a comprehensive programme for singers to sit alongside the instrumental training we offer is hugely exciting and speaks to the ambition of the School.
“Early exposure to movement, drama, languages and poetry as well as singing lessons and ensemble work is key to the development of young singers whilst the voice settles and grows. We look forward to being able to offer this new programme and look forward to watching it grow.”
Scotland’s culture and creative sector will be helped to flourish on the world stage with the launch of Inspiring Connections: Scotland’s International Culture Strategy 2024-30, according to Culture Secretary Angus Robertson.
The strategy sets out the value of international activity to Scotland’s culture and creative sector. It recognises the importance of international engagement to learning, innovation and to the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Mr Robertson said: “Scotland’s culture and creative sector and our historic environment are internationally renowned. Our festivals, vibrant music scene and rich cultural heritage bring people from across the world to Scotland.
“The strategy sets out our vision for international engagement to be central to the long-term development of the sector. We are starting from a strong position, but we know that recent challenges have made international cultural engagement increasingly difficult.
“Developing international cultural connections will create new opportunities, make our culture and creative sector more vibrant and diverse, and help it to reach new audiences and markets across the world.”
Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh, said: “Edinburgh’s Festivals are a place for Scotland and the wider world to exchange creative ideas, and this new International Culture Strategy recognises the importance of such an international outlook for artists, creatives and citizens across Scotland.
“We look forward to working with colleagues and Scottish Government on these ambitions to help strengthen our nation’s cultural fabric.”
The Edinburgh Festival Chorus will perform with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow and Edinburgh in March 2024 to mark the 150th anniversary of Verdi’s Requiem
This will be the final chance to catch them before their performance at the Edinburgh International Festival in August
The performances also mark their first appearances since the appointment of their new Choral Director, James Grossmith, in 2023
The Edinburgh Festival Chorus are set to perform Verdi’s Requiem this month in Glasgow and Edinburgh, 150 years after its premiere in Milan in 1874. These performances also mark their first public performances since the appointment of James Grossmith as Choral Director in September 2023.
The performances, which take place on the 21st of March at Glasgow City Halls and the 24th of March at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, will see the Chorus performing the Verdi’s highly operatic funeral mass with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Ryan Wigglesworth.
Verdi’s Requiem is a highly theatrical and epic Catholic funeral mass which was written following the death of Verdi’s Italian poet, philosopher and novelist, Alessandro Manzoni.
The Edinburgh Festival Chorus are often credited as being the “choral backbone” of the Edinburgh International Festival’s programme. The chorus was founded in 1965 and has run continually since then. It’s comprised of 130 singers from all walks of life from all around Scotland who are selected through an auditions process and rehearse weekly.
Since the creation of the Chorus, its singers have had the opportunity to perform alongside the likes of Leonard Bernstein and the London Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan’s Berlin Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
This is the last chance to see The Edinburgh Festival Chorus in concert before the Edinburgh International Festival in August, where the Chorus will perform Alexander Grechaninov’s Passion Week.
