◆ Trending: Two must-see shows at the Edinburgh International Festival
Tickets for the festival go on sale to the general public this Thursday.
This year will be the second presided over by Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti and includes the usual disparate spread of cultural events, from American indie pop to cutting edge contemporary dance.
Here are five shows that caught our attention.
The Fifth Step: David Ireland’s latest work is a grimly comic play that explores the difficult journey to sobriety. This ‘daring dramatist’ (The Guardian) is best known for his awardwinning provocative plays, Cyprus Avenue and Ulster American.
The Fifth Step features Scottish actor Jack Lowden as Luka, nominated for Baftas in both 2020 as a Rising Star and in 2023 for Best Supporting Actor in thriller series Slow Horses.
Oedipus Rex: Experience Scottish Opera’s immersive staging of Igor Stravinsky’s opera in the unique setting of the National Museum of Scotland. It is a promenade a community chorus of 100. The National Museum of Scotland's aweinspiring Grand Gallery is a spectacular setting for a night of classical drama, exceptional vocal performances and moving orchestral music.
In the ancient city of Thebes, Oedipus has been crowned king, but the Oracle prophesises that misfortune is coming his way – can he defy his future and outrun his fate?
A cathartic exploration of identity, free will, and the human condition, the libretto for Oedipus Rex was written by the pioneering surrealist artist and poet Jean Cocteau. Inspired by Sophocles's ancient drama and imbued with the chorus structure of Greek theatre, this is a timeless piece made anew for audiences today.
The show runs from Monday August 12 until Monday 19 at the National Museum of Scotland.