Bloody Scotland boasts star power
from all over Scotland. This unique intensive training and performance programme develops young dancer’s technical, creative, and performance skills, and also develops them as people – they become more confident and motivated, ready to take on new challenges. Some of our Project Y students from the first few years are now working as professional dancers and dance workers – YDance has employed a number of them, and I am sure that this year’s company will make their mark in a similar way.” Next month’s Bloody Scotland will see an appearance by a Hollywood actress.
Last year one of the surprise hits of the crime writing festival was the Inspector Faro play by Alanna Knight, which featured a cast of crime writers camping it up in a rehearsed reading.
And a similar play is set to be hosted at this year’s festival, with a star playing one of the leading roles.
Inspector Faro Investigates the Vanishing Vagrant will take place in the ballroom of The Golden Lion Hotel at 4pm on Sunday, September 10 and stars Harley Jane Kozak, actress-turned crime writer well known for her roles in several Hollywood flicks.
The mum-of-three from Pennsylvania began her career in soap operas before her big break as Billy Crystal’s ex-wife Helen in the 1989 box office smash When Harry Met Sally.
She followed that up appearing as Rick Moranis’ wife Susan in the movie Parenthood alongside Steve Martin, Keanu Reeves and Diane Keaton.
Harley left acting behind to become an author, penning a successful series of crime fiction novels, including Dating Dead Men, after honing her writing skills on the film and TV sets.
Gordon Brown and Abir Mukherjee return to the cast for the new case and in addition to Harley - will be joined by Marsali Taylor and Douglas Skelton (in the role of Faro himself ).
The day before the play - Saturday, September 9 - Horsehead Theatre company will be putting on two performances of A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil by Christopher Brookmyre at the Tolbooth.
Brookmyre’s star is rising high at the moment.
Having won the McIlvanney Prize for Black Widow at the 2017 Festival, he was recently presented with the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award at the Harrogate Crime Festival.
He said: “Bloody Scotland draws crime writers from all over the UK and indeed all over the world, and it does so because it delivers something they crave even more than each other’s company and a generous supply of drink.
“It delivers an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, which continues to grow year on year.”