Made in Scotland is an inspirational mini-festival presented as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to highlight a selection of established professional and rising stars of Scottish theatre, dance and music.
This annual showcase in August was launched in 2009 as a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland, Federation of Scottish Theatre and Scottish Music Centre, and funded by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.
A diverse range of Scottish companies is given financial support each year to perform to an international audience as part of the Made in Scotland programme. It’s a valuable platform when theatre promoters come to town to find quality shows and talented performers. In addition funding may also be provided for Scottish & UK tours and to enable travel to arts festivals worldwide.
This year 29 productions are appearing under the Made in Scotland banner at key Fringe venues around Edinburgh including the Traverse, Summerhall, Underbelly and Dance Base.
Scottish Dance Theatre will be performing Miann, choreographed by Fleur Darkin with music from The One Ensemble. SDT is an innovative, cutting edge ensemble which always dazzles with youthful, energetic performances.
A musical drama, Biding Time (remix), features singer-songwriter Louise Quinn, telling the story of her comic and surreal journey through the music business.
Lung Ha and Stellar Quines are two of Scotland’s finest theatre companies. Their play, 13 Sunken Years, in association with Finnish National Theatre, is about three women across three generations, on the theme of family connections, memories and coping with old age.
Grid Iron specialises in exciting site specific plays (e.g. in the Airport, a New Town flat and Debenhams store) with great success. This year it is collaborating with the Edinburgh International Book Festival for their show, Letters Home, written by a group of Commonwealth writers to present a global celebration of words, music and literature.
The Canongate Chamber Project will perform six concerts at Canongate Kirk with music from Bartok to Zemlinsky. An ideal performance time of 4pm each day (11 – 16 August), so escape the madding crowd of the Royal Mile for an hour of sublime music.
Elsewhere a play, Spoiling by John McCann, is inspired by the Scottish Independence debate, and Falling in love with Frida, is a dance show relating the life and work of Artist, Frida Kahlo; Play Dough, a “Gameshow” for children about money; the Brian Molley Quartet, (saxophone, piano, bass, percussion), performing Latino-inpsired re-interpretations of classic jazz.
In short, a theatrical or music performance for every age and cultural taste.
Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture, gave an introduction to the programme at the media launch:
“ Our continued funding of Made in Scotland reinforces this Government’s belief that culture and the creative arts are the measure and reflection of our nation. Scotland’s culture and creativity reaches a wide audience both at home and abroad and our festivals welcome artists from all over the world to come, to inspire and be inspired, to innovate and create. It is this great exchange of cultures, views and art forms that makes the Fringe so vibrant and so inspiring.”
Made in Scotland takes place throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, August, 2014. Pick up a colourfully-striped, pocket-sized brochure today.