Shedding Fresh Light On Culture

Rhona Taylor discovers there’s much fun to be had at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival

THERE’S a change of pace at the 2018 festival, following its momentous 70th anniversary edition in 2017. The programme has a lighter, more contemporary feel as well as a strong focus on young people.

“This year feels a bit more fun,” says festival director Fergus Linehan. “We’re back into a normal festival rhythm and there’s a slightly lighter touch – our three operas are all comedies. We’ve got some really good comic work.”

The festival has also introduced a major new strand celebrating Scottish popular music, with 10 days of events at Leith Theatre, which was used as a festival venue until it closed for nearly 30 years in 1988. The Light on the Shore came out of a conversation with the National Museum of Scotland about their exhibition, Rip It Up: The Story Of Scottish Pop.

“We were also looking for an excuse to use Leith Theatre, which is still in a relatively raw condition.

“We asked ourselves what could we do that would feel really substantial and also introduce multiple audiences into the space.

“It would be fantastic if we could create another area of excitement that isn’t in the square that exists from George Square to the Festival Theatre to the Royal Mile and the Usher Hall. And, of course, Leith is not like some outer suburb. We’re talking about somewhere with some of our best bars and restaurants – so I really hope it works and that people love it.”