The very beautiful space that is Edinburgh’s Dovecote Gallery today played host to this year’s launch of Made in Scotland Programme for the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Since its inception in 2009, Made in Scotland, a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and the Scottish Music Centre, has funded 159 companies, ensembles and artists, picking up over 60 awards and continue to showcase the wealth of world class performance created in Scotland with its onward touring fund has enabled 57 productions to tour across five continents, visiting over 20 countries.
This year’s programme is testament to the strength of work being created in Scotland with the 2016 showcase representing a strong line-up of companies, ensembles and artists including Barrowland Ballet, Janis Claxton Dance, Kieran Hurley, Puppet State Theatre, Andy Manley, Starcatchers, Moishe’s Bagel, Simon Thacker and Justyna Jablonska, Kai Fischer, Sam Rowe, Graeme Stephen, Cryptic, Adura Onashile, Will Pickvance, Sita Pieraccini, Mairi Campbell, Gary Gardiner and Ian Johnston.
From this fine array of artists, we heard some lovely tasters from Mairi Campbell who will star in the show Pulse at the Scottish Storytelling Centre then from Simon Thacker and Justyna Jablonska Karmana who bring Songs of The Roma to the EICC in August.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society’s new Chief Executive, Shona McCarthy said, “Made in Scotland highlights the work of many talented artists and companies in Scotland today and presenting their work at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the fields of music, dance and theatre; it opens up an array of opportunities both during the Fringe, when thousands of industry professionals and media are in town, and after by way of the onward touring fund. The Fringe is an extraordinary international stage, and for me, as the new Chief Executive of the Fringe Society, it is fantastic that such a platform exists through partnership with Creative Scotland, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and the Scottish Music Centre and support from the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund.”
Playwrights’ Studio Scotland returns with TalkFest 2016 to explore what stimulates the artists behind this year’s Made in Scotland showcase and the wider Edinburgh Festivals and Fringe. The sessions are led and chaired by some of our leading playwrights and theatre-makers - Kieran Hurley, Rob Drummond, Kai Fischer, Adura Onashile, Clare Duffy, Deb Jones and Kathy McKean, David Greig and Lewis Hetherington.
Roll on August!
www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com
2016 Made in Scotland Companies, Ensembles and Artists
Will Pickvance
Anatomy of The Piano (For Beginners)
age guideline: 6+
Will asks Father Christmas for a spaceship - he gets a piano!
An adventure into the world of piano - where it comes from, how it evolved and why it makes a pretty cool Christmas present. Featuring Bach's cave piano, Beethoven's bad moods and a jam with 'Fats' Waller.
SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE (venue 30a): Aug 4 Preview | Aug 5-28 (not Aug 17, 22, 23, 24) | 13:00hrs (55mins) | Aug 10 BSL interpreted performance
Sita Pieraccini in association with Feral
Bird
age guideline: 12+
A vast and desolate world. One lone creature, starved of both food and friendship. With only a patch of soil to call her own, she must be ready to seize every small opportunity that might fly by…
Created through inventive clowning, mime and visceral physicality, and enriched by a detailed and subtle soundscape which is performed live, Bird is a timeless tale of friendship, courage, magic and madness.
DANCE BASE (venue 22): Aug 5, 6, 7 Previews | Aug 9-28 (not Aug 15, 22) | 18:30 (40mins)
Gary Gardiner /Ian Johnston /Adrian Howells
Dancer
Scotland’s leading learning disabled-artist Ian Johnston and Gary Gardiner hit the floor in this often hilarious exploration of what it really means to be a dancer. With a blistering soundtrack careering from Kylie to Nick Cave, they will attempt to understand what it is about dance that makes them feel most alive. Expect outrageously camp jerks and thrusts... and complete stillness.
Show originally co-created with the late Adrian Howells.
DANCE BASE (venue 22): Aug 17 Preview | Aug 18-28 (not Aug 22) | 17:00hrs (50mins)
Sam Rowe Theatre and Macrobert Arts Centre in association with Showroom
Denton and Me
by Sam Rowe, based on the journals of Denton Welch
1944: Fastidious diarist Denton Welch writes with astonishing honesty about his obsession for reckless land-boy Eric.
2011: A young writer is given the diaries by a family friend and discovers echoes of his own life within.
This multi-layered, stunningly designed show weaves together writer/performer Sam Rowe’s autobiography with the writing of Denton Welch (1915 - 1948), a fascinating figure in queer and literary history, and favourite of Alan Bennett, William S Burroughs and John Waters. A powerful, moving and humorous production.
SUMMERHALL (venue 26): Aug 3, 4 Previews | Aug 5-28 (not Aug 15, 22) | 15:05hrs (75mins)
Scottish Theatre Producers in association with the Traverse Theatre Company
Expensive Shit
by Adura Onashile
’The country change, the city change, the people dem think they change, but I tell you dem shit the same. Dem all dey run from it the same.' One toilet attendant. Two sets of toilets. One night. Worlds apart.’
A nightclub toilet attendant in a fictional club based on the Shimmy Club in Glasgow. Her conflicted journey spliced with flashbacks to the toilets of the Shrine nightclub in Lagos, Nigeria, where her younger self dreams of revolution. An unseen, underground heroine struggles to have power and control over her life.
TRAVERSE THEATRE (venue 15): Aug 4 Preview | 21:30hrs | Aug 5-28 (not Mondays) | various times (70mins)
Pachamama Productions, National Theatre of Scotland and Regular Music
Glasgow Girls
Cora Bissett and David Greig’s life-affirming, song-filled Scottish drama, based on the true story of seven feisty teenagers, whose lives change forever when their school friend and her asylum-seeking family are forcibly taken from their home to be deported. The young women take a stand and fight for the life of their friend, her family, and, ultimately, for the rights of all children of asylum-seekers. They take on the government and succeed where others have failed, capturing the imagination of the media and inspiring a whole community to unite behind its residents.
ASSEMBLY HALL (venue 35): Aug 4, 5 Previews | Aug 6, 7, Aug 8 – 29 (not Aug 15) | 14:20hrs (90mins)
Graeme Stephen
Metropolis
Award-winning Scottish composer and guitarist Graeme Stephen presents the world premiere of his score for the 1927 silent film Metropolis, a pioneering science-fiction classic by German auteur Fritz Lang. The screening features the score performed by the composer, innovative Dutch string quartet ZAPP 4 and acclaimed drummer Tom Bancroft. Metropolis is Stephen’s seventh film score. His composition for the F W Murnau classic Sunrise won him the Innovation Award at the Scottish Jazz Awards.
SUMMERHALL (venue 26): Aug 18, 19, 20 | 22:15hrs (120mins)
Kieran Hurley with Show And Tell
Heads Up
A city. Just like this. Right now. A woman staggers home after a two-day bender. A priest who doesn’t believe in God stares blankly at the endless disasters on the TV news. A finance worker tears down a Keep Calm And Carry On sign outside a Café Nero. In just one moment, all their worlds will end. With an original innovative score by Michael John McCarthy, multi award-winner Kieran Hurley (Beats, Chalk Farm, Hitch) weaves a picture of a familiar city at its moment of destruction, asking what would we do if we found ourselves at the end of our world as we know it.
SUMMERHALL (venue 26): Aug 3, 5 | Aug 6-28 (not Aug 15, 22) | 19:05hrs (60 mins)
Starcatchers in association with the RSNO & Pleasance Kids
Hup
age guideline: 0-24months
A quirky quartet of playful musicians create an enchanting classical music experience for 0-24 month olds and their grown-ups. Discover two violins, one cello and one very mischievous raccoon. Hup is created for babies, and has a relaxed and comfortable performance style with the chance to stay and play afterwards.
EICC (venue 150): Aug 11-16, 16-23, 25-28 | 10:00hrs & 11:30hrs | Aug 12, 19, 21, 25, 27 | 14:00hrs (45mins)
Simon Thacker and Justyna Jablonska
Karmana, Songs of The Roma
Scottish virtuoso guitarist/composer Simon Thacker returns to create a new Romani musical journey in this dazzling world premiere of reimagined Gypsy songs and original works inspired by Indian, Balkan and Spanish traditions. With the outstanding Polish cellist Justyna Jablonska and one of the Roma Gypsy tradition’s finest exponents, singer and violinist Masha Natanson, Karmana features music of a rare emotional directness and spontaneity embracing the incredible talents of three diverse musicians and one of the world’s great song traditions.
SUMMERHALL (venue 26): Aug 12-20 | 21:15hrs (60mins)
Kai Fischer, in association with National Theatre of Scotland
Last Dream (On Earth) age guideline: 12+
A traveller stands on a beach in Morocco with a group of friends. Tonight, they are getting ready for a journey to change their lives. Decades earlier, a young man is getting strapped into a tiny sphere, ready for his mission: to become the first Human in Outer Space. Experienced on headphones, this award-winning production creates a world of immersive sounds and stories, interweaving a driving live music score with accounts of those who risk their lives for a distant dream.
ASSEMBLY HALL (venue 35): Aug 4, 5 Previews | Aug 6-28 (not Aug 10, 15, 22) | 13.25hrs (60mins)
Puppet State Theatre Company
Leaf by Niggle
In 1939 JRR Tolkien was despairing of ever bringing his great work The Lord of the Rings to a conclusion. One morning he woke up with the tale of Niggle, a struggling artist on a curious journey, complete in his mind and wrote it down. The story is often seen as an allegory of the writer's own creative process. Surrounded by ladders, bicycles, easels and heirlooms, Richard Medrington (Jean from Puppet State’s The Man Who Planted Trees) recounts Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece, with an original score by Karine Polwart and MJ McCarthy.
SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE (venue 30a): Aug 4 Preview | Aug 5-28 (not Aug 10, 15, 22, 23) | 17:00hrs (75mins) | Aug 17 BSL interpreted performance
Greengold Projects and Authentic Artist Collective
Mairi Campbell: Pulse
Award-winning Scottish musician’s solo quest to heal cultural wounds. A homecoming in viola, voice, movement, animation and storytelling. From London’s classical Guildhall training, to love and danger in Mexico, discovering step-dancing in Cape Breton, Campbell “Campbell opens her throat in a spirit of belonging that is ancient and modern, and life affirming for all of us.” Mary Brennan, The Herald. Co-devised and directed by Kath Burlinson.
SUMMERHALL (venue 26): Aug 3, 4 Previews | Aug 5-28 (not Aug 15, 22) | 14:25hrs (55mins) |
Aug 18 & 25 BSL interpreted performances
Andy Manley and Red Bridge Arts
Mikey and Addie
by Andy Manley and Rob Evans
age guideline: 9+
Mikey is a sunny boy. He lives alone with his mum. Mikey's mum has a secret. It’s not well kept. Everyone knows it. Everyone except Mikey. Addie is a good girl. She doesn't tell lies. Her father makes sure of that. Addie tells the truth. It's what you have to do. Isn't it? It's hard to tell when your life will change. The day you wake up normal, but end up falling far from everything you've ever known. Spinning into nothingness. Today is that day.
SUMMERHALL (venue 26): Aug 3,4 Previews | Aug 5-28 (not 10, 15, 22) | 11:25hrs (55mins) |
Aug 24 BSL interpreted performance
Moishe’s Bagel World Folk Music
A thrilling mix of klezmer, folk and jazz. Stunning original compositions meet sublime traditional
melodies, backed up by infectious foot-stomping grooves. This virtuoso band (fiddle, accordion,
piano, bass and percussion), featuring some of Scotland’s finest musicians, will also perform
excerpts of their recently commissioned silent film score Salt for Svanetia.
ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE at ST BRIDES (venue 123): Aug 14 18:00hrs | Aug 15 & Aug 17 |
20:00hrs (75mins)
Barrowland Ballet and Macrobert Arts Centre
Poggle
by Natasha Gilmore and the company
age guideline: 6 months – 4 years
Mischief maker, Maker of fun, Tumble tumble, Tickle my tum,
Beasties beasties, Buzzing bees, Poggle’s not scared of climbing trees.
Vince wants to explore the forest but he’s too scared until he meets Poggle, a friendly creature who takes him on an adventure through the forest, where they meet the magical musical tree. This is a warm-hearted, sensory show with live music in an imaginatively changing world that the children have the chance to explore.
DANCE BASE (venue 22): Aug 5, 6, 7 Preview | Aug 9 | Aug 10-21 (not Mondays) | 13.30hrs (40mins)
Janis Claxton Dance
Pop-Up Duets (fragments of love)
Award winners Janis Claxton (choreographer) and Pippa Murphy (composer) join forces with four world-class dancers for a series of short, contemporary dance duets choreographed specifically for public spaces. Based around the theme of love, POP-UP Duets draws on Claxton’s signature trademark of bringing high quality dance to public spaces.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND (venue 179): Aug 4, 5 Previews | Aug 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 15:30hrs (50mins)
Mark Lyken
The Terrestrial Sea
The Terrestrial Sea highlights the diverse and ever-changing environments of the Cromarty Firth through music and film. In 2012 Mark Lyken was Artist in Residence at The Lighthouse Field Station in Cromarty, where he worked alongside the Field Station’s team of ecologists and recorded The Terrestrial Sea album. In this Cryptic commission for Sonica, presented in partnership with Filmhouse, Lyken has developed The Terrestrial Sea into an enthralling audio-visual performance with regular collaborator Emma Dove.
FILMHOUSE (venue 352a): Aug 16-18 | 16:30hrs (45mins) | Aug 17 relaxed performance
Barrowland Ballet
Whiteout
by Natasha Gilmore
A heartfelt dance theatre piece that gives resonance to the complexities of bi-racial relationships. Informed by personal experiences from her marriage and as the mother of bi-racial children, acclaimed choreographer Natasha Gilmore (Tiger and Tiger Tale), explores this issue with honesty and humour. With original music by Luke Sutherland, the six dancers use their versatility of styles to create a visually exciting show.
ZOO SOUTHSIDE (venue 82:) Aug 5, 6 & 7 Preview | Aug 9 | Aug 10-27 (not Mondays) | 17:00hrs (50mins)