The Made In Scotland programme launches today, it’s the eighth year of the annual showcase of Scottish theatre, dance and music at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Every year local artists and companies apply for some of the funding provided through the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund, to help performers not only put on a show at the world’s largest arts festival but get it seen by some of the hundreds of producers and scouts who come to the Fringe every year.
Since starting in 2009, Made In Scotland has funded 159 companies, and helped 57 productions to tour across five continents, visiting over 20 countries. Made in Scotland productions have picked up over 60 awards.
This year, the showcase’s eighth, there was £590,000 in the fund, and the successful shows were selected by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and the Scottish Music Centre.
THIS YEAR'S SHOWS
From nightclub toilets to the National Museum of Scotland this is one of the Made in Scotland showcases biggest year’s yet. Here The National provides details on each of the 19 shows.
Anatomy Of The Piano (For Beginners)
At the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Will Pickvance (pictured below) tells the story of the piano – where it comes from, how it evolved and “why it makes a pretty cool Christmas present.”
Bird
Clowning, mime and acrobatics from actress Sita Pieraccini and Glasgow company Feral about a lone creature, starved of both food and friendship with only a patch of soil to call her own.
Dancer
In a show that was originally co-created with the late Adrian Howells, Scotland’s leading learning disabled artist Ian Johnston and Gary Gardiner will explore what it means to be a dancer.
Denton And Me
This show from Sam Rowe Theatre and Stirling’s Macrobert Arts is based in part on the diaries of influential queer writer Denton Welch.
Expensive Shit
Adura Onashile’s show at the Traverse, is the story of a nightclub toilet attendant. Though her workplace is fictional, it’s very much based on the controversial Shimmy Club in Glasgow. The piece tells the story of her journey from Lagos in Nigeria where her younger self dreams of revolution to the present day.
Glasgow Girls
Cora Bissett and David Greig’s song-filled Scottish drama makes a welcome return. 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.
Metropolis
At Summerhall the 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.
Heads Up
Award winning writer and performer Kieran Hurley returns with a new solo piece about a city on the edge of destruction.
Hup
A quartet of playful musicians from the RSNO create “an enchanting classical music experience” for children aged between 0-24 months. Two violins, one cello and a mischievous raccoon. A relaxed and comfortable performance style is promised.
Karmana, Songs Of The Roma
World premiere of Scottish guitarist Simon Thacker’s new Romani musical journey.
Last Dream (On Earth)
Every member of the audience at the Assembly Hall will be given their own set of headphones for this tale of travel, outer space and distant dreams, in this, the latest piece of work from the National Theatre of Scotland.
Leaf By Niggle
This is a little known tale by JRR Tolkien, written as he was despairing of finding a suitable end for The Lord of the Rings. One morning he woke up with the tale of Niggle, a struggling artist on a curious journey. Surrounded by ladders, bicycles, easels and heirlooms, Richard Medrington recounts Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece.
Mairi Campbell: Pulse
This a solo quest from the award-winning Scottish musician to “heal cultural wounds. Audiences are promised “a homecoming in viola, voice, movement, animation and storytelling.”
Mikey and Addie
The new play for the over nines from by Andy Manley and Rob Evans is about Mikey, 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.
Moishe’s Bagel
World Folk Music is the latest show from the successful Scottish, jazzy Balkan music band.
Poggle
A dance show for children from Barrowland Ballet telling the story of Vince. 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.
Pop-Up Duets (Fragments Of Love)
Janis Claxton and Pippa Murphy join forces with four world-class dancers for a series of short, contemporary dance duets in the National Museum of Scotland.
The Terrestrial Sea
A show about the Cromarty Firth told by Mark Lyken, the former artist in residence at the Lighthouse Field Station in Cromarty.
Whiteout
A personal dance theatre piece about the complexities of bi-racial relationships, from choreographer Natasha Gilmore.
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