Five-day Hidden Door festival to make comeback at mystery ‘forgotten’ location in Edinburgh in mid-september
Edinburgh's Hidden Door festival is to make a comeback in September - in a mystery outdoor location.
Live music, theatre, dance, spoken word and visual art are all expected to be part of the rebooted event, which has transformed unused and “forgotten” spaces across the city for cultural celebrations in recent years.
The festival, which largely focuses on new and emerging Scottish artists and performers, is being planned to ensure it can go ahead if social distancing restrictions are still being enforced in Scotland in midseptember, when the rebooted event is due to be held.
The first tickets for this year’s event, which has moved its dates from late May and early june, are on sale even though the location is being kept firmly under wraps by organisers.
The event, which is created by a volunteer-run charity, is expected to feature specially commissioned collaborations between Scottish musicians and artists, as well as “visually stunning multimedia shows and immersive experiences”.
Hidden Door was staged for the first time in 2014 when historic vaults on Market Street were used before they were redeveloped.
A courtyard gap site on kings’ Stables Road was transformed for the event in 2015 and 2016 before relocated to the Leith Theatre building for the next three years.
Hidden Door also won a best cultural event honour at Visitscotland’s annual Thistle Awards.
Hidden Door is the latest of Edinburgh’s festivals to announce plans to return over the next few months. last week it emerge that live events were expected to be staged at both thee if and the fringe, while the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival announced that it would be returning in May and June with outdoor events.
David Martin, the festival’s creative director, said: “We are going to create something special in a large outdoor space that will have enough room to spread out and feel free, yet at the same time give everyone something to share together.
“While there has been lots of arts happening online, we are crying out to share experiences together and create new memories.
"We will throw 18-months worth of pent up creative energy at this and create something truly memorable for the city.”