New festival of creativity and science begins

Programme of more than 40 events running in Dundee until Sunday

A five-day festival has started in Dundee celebrating everything from science to music, food, theatre and art.

Organised by Dundee University, Festival of the Future will see more than 40 events run until Sunday.

Highlights include a talk from Professor Niamh Nic Daeid and bestselling crime writer Val McDermid on forensic science and its relationship with the justice system.

Also featured will be Dundee singer Be Charlotte who is collaborating with scientist Dr Kate Stone to create digital music using new technologies.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate how using science and creativity could help solve the biggest issues facing the world at local and global levels.

Festival manager Anna Day said: “The festival comes at an exciting time for the university and the city.

“It’s an evolution of the Dundee Literary Festival and Women in Science – a chance for us to shout out loud about absolutely everything that the university and the city is brilliant at.

“Design, science, dance, theatre, music, art, literature, food and, of course, comics, all feature throughout the festival’s exciting programme of events.”

Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee Rep and other local businesses are also involved.

Each day of the festival will feature workshops aimed at children, young people and adults featuring figures from the worlds of science and culture.

The festival was launched at Bonar Hall last night with the world premiere of RADIAL, a Scottish-Australian film shot in and around Dundee.

The film is a collaboration between the National Theatre of Scotland and Australian theatre makers Back to Back Theatre.

Jackie Wylie, artistic director and chief executive of the National Theatre of Scotland, said: “RADIAL is an extraordinary, ground-breaking piece of filmed performance, captured uniquely by our collaborators, Back to Back Theatre as part of our nationwide Futureproof festival.

“It’s a beautiful piece of art that this special group of young artists from Dundee will have in their lives forever.”

Other events include an event detailing historical links between Scotland and Jamaica, exploration of the links between food and science, as well as daily debates on world issues.

For the full programme listing, visit dundee.ac.uk/festival-future

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Young performers at the launch of RADIAL to mark the opening of Festival of the Future at Bonar Hall in Dundee yesterday.