Culture Ireland announces largest ever delegation of Irish artists to showcase at Edinburgh Festivals
Culture Ireland, the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide, will lead one of the largest delegations of Irish artists to present their work at three of the world’s most important international Festivals taking place in one unique city this August. Since 2005, seven Irish theatre and dance companies have won the prestigious Fringe First award, with many companies subsequently invited to present their work at key festivals and venues around the world.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival are important platforms for Irish artists to gain international recognition for their work and to generate further touring opportunities. The showcases offer a unique opportunity for international presenters, media and the general public to immerse themselves in a selection of some of the best of Irish arts, over the course of three weeks.
2010 is the fourth year that Culture Ireland will present a showcase of theatre and dance at the Edinburgh Festivals. Twelve artists and companies, including the internationally renowned Druid and multi-award winning Corn Exchange, will present a range of new theatre and dance productions as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
This is the first year that the showcase will include a special focus on Irish writing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Fourteen Irish authors [including Roddy Doyle, Colm Tóibín and Claire Keegan] will join 2009 Choice Music Prize Winner Adrian Crowley at the Edinburgh International Book Fair in a programme presented in partnership with the British Council.
In addition, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will perform the world premiere of a new work by Irish-based composer Kevin Volans, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, and work by internationally acclaimed visual artist John Gerrard will be shown at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to coincide with the annual Edinburgh Festivals.
Speaking at a special breakfast in Edinburgh to announce the Irish programme, hosted by Cliona Manahan, the Consul General for Ireland in Scotland, Eugene Downes (CEO of Culture Ireland) said: "More than ever before, Irish artists are defining Ireland's global reputation as a leader in imagination and innovation. Edinburgh in August is transformed into the world’s leading arts marketplace, offering a unique opportunity for the outstanding artists and companies we are showcasing to build international tours and generate recognition and profile for their work. We would also like to acknowledge the importance of our partnerships with the Edinburgh Festivals, the Traverse Theatre and Dancebase in particular, without whom this programme would not be possible”
Consul General Cliona Manahan who concludes her posting to Scotland this summer said: In the course of my five years here representing Ireland, I have been honoured to be associated with Culture Ireland in promoting the diversity and strength of Ireland’s world class cultural contribution. Through these years, Irish artists especially have delighted Scottish and international audiences. The 2010 showcase of theatre, dance and Irish writing is sure to delight and capture the imagination of all again’.
Since its foundation in 2005, Culture Ireland has supported over 1600 events and projects, featuring some of Ireland’s finest artists and companies in over 70 countries worldwide. In 2008 alone, over 500,000 people saw a live performance by an Irish theatre or dance company, outside Ireland, with the support of Culture Ireland.
CULTURE IRELAND SUPPORTED ARTISTS AND COMPANIES AT EDINBURGH
Theatre
Culture Ireland, in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Traverse Theatre, presents the following companies:
Calipo Theatre Company 10 Dates with Mad Mary by Yazmine Akram
Pleasance Dome, 4 - 6 August [previews] 7 – 29 Aug, 5.20pm
Corn Exchange Theatre Company Freefall by Michael West
Traverse Theatre, 6 & 7 Aug [Previews] 8 – 28 Aug, various times
Druid Theatre Company Penelope by Enda Walsh
Traverse Theatre, 5 & 7 Aug [Previews] 8 – 29 Aug, various times
Gare St Lazare Players Ireland First Love by Samuel Beckett
Pleasance Courtyard, 4 – 6 Aug [Previews] 7 – 25 Aug, 5.30pm
Landmark Productions Underneath the Lintel by Glen Berger
Assembly @ Assembly Hall, 5 &6 Aug [Previews] 7 – 29 Aug, 2.15pm
Maria Tecce Strapless
Assembly Rooms, 6 – 29 Aug, 6.40pm
Although not part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Culture Ireland is pleased to be supporting performances by Irish Times award-winner Dylan Tighe of his work Journey to the End of the Night at Forest Fringe [10 – 15 Aug, 7pm].
Dance
Culture Ireland, in partnership with Dance Base, Scotland’s’ national centre for Dance, is presenting a dance showcase featuring the work of five Irish companies:
Citóg See Saw
Dancebase, 11 Aug [preview] 3.30pm 12 – 22 August 3.30pm
Daghdha Dance Company Standing in Ink
Dancebase, 11 Aug [preview] 4pm 12 – 22 August various times
Irish Modern Dance Theatre The Bowing Dance
Dancebase, 11 Aug [preview]7pm 12 – 22 Aug various times
Legitimate Bodies The Goldilocks Zone
Dance base, 11 Aug [preview] 3pm, 12 – 22 Aug various times
Ponydance Where Did It All Go Right?
Dancebase@GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 11-22 Aug 9pm
Contemporary Music
Culture Ireland, in partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival present
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Symphony: Daar Kom die Alibama [Kevin Volans]
Usher Hall, Fri 27 Aug 7.30pm
Literature
Culture Ireland, in partnership with the British Council, presents a series of events as part of the 2010 Edinburgh International Book Festivalwhich includes readings, performances and music representing the wealth of artistic contribution from the island of Ireland.
Participating guests include Kevin Barry, John Boyne, Michael Collins, Adrian Crowley, Roddy Doyle, Julian Gough, Declan Hughes, Claire Keegan, Donal McLaughlin, Sinead Morrissey, Paul Murray, Stuart Neville, Philip Ò Ceallaigh, Darren Shan and Colm Tóibín.
Visual Arts
John Gerrard Sow Farm
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, July – August 2010
For further information on Culture Ireland's Edinburgh Festivals Showcase contact
Madeline Boughton + 353 1 631 3906