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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Cutting the Tightrope is a powerful piece of no-holds barred theatre
Church Hill Theatre Neil Cooper Four stars What to do when artists are told by those bankrolling them not to say certain things lest the plug be pulled on them? In the case of those behind this compendium of bite-size plays responding to Art Council England's guidelines warning those in receipt of public funding not to be 'political', you do the exact opposite of what was asked. Leaving aside the very obvious truism that all art is political, the result is a series of urgent statements on the ongoing atrocities being carried out in Palestine and elsewhere. The show begins with one of the eight-strong ensemble stepping out as a festival director attempting to rein in those programmed. The theme is continued in the next piece, in which the dead victim of a bombing attempts to pitch their story to a theatre director, only to be sidelined with a litany of bureaucrat-speak. A young man brings his artist activist girlfriend home to his middle class parents who would rather not discuss uncomfortable topics. A flower seller reminisces about life before the invasion and the man who bought different flowers for each of his girlfriends. A Zionist writer giving a presentation is interrupted from the stalls by an anti-Zionist Jewish playwright. Most powerful of all is 46 Women, based around the incident when Westminster MP Diane Abbott tried in vain to speak in a debate forty-six times after a Tory donor allegedly said she made him hate all black women, and needed 'to be shot.' As women rise from the audience to ask each question, it becomes a vital reclaiming of power. Read more With writers of the calibre of Dawn King, Ed Edwards and Philip Arditti on board alongside Zia Ahmed, Nina Bowers and Hassan Abdulrazzak, rather than be credited individually, the twelve playwrights behind the works are listed as a collective. Equal responsibility for the plays also goes to Mojisola Adebayo, Roxy Cook, Ahmed Masoud, Sami Abu Wardeh and cast members Waleed Elgadi and Joel Samuels. Each act ends with a ferocious monologue, with the latter seeing a young Muslim attempting to walk to Walthamstow following outbreaks of violence after three children were killed in Southport by what was wrongly claimed to be an asylum seeker. Originating at London's Dalston based grassroots Arcola Theatre, all this is brought to life by directors Cressida Brown and Kirsty Housley with Zainab Hasan on a stage lined with the sort of plastic orange bucket seats that look leftover from a 1980s job centre. This inadvertently reflects how the dole was regarded at the time by many would be artists as an unofficial form of funding, no questions asked. Those days may be long gone, but the desire to create contentious work remains. The series of statistics of the daily horrors in Palestine projected on to the stage may break Arts Council England's guidelines as much as the plays, but both bring home the of the moment call to arms that matters more. Until August 17th
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Censorship play company 'almost' pulled plug on Festival run
The company has posted a video mocking the restrictions it claims to have faced in the run-up to the opening night of the production, which is billed as 'daring, thought-provoking theatre that refuses to shy away from the truth.' Read more: Its show, which will be running at the Church Hill Theatre in Morningside over the next few days, is said to explore 'the ever-tightening grip of censorship on artistic freedom.' The video created by the cast and shared on the social media platform Instagram suggests that the arts sector is 'awash with dirty money.' Cutting the Tightrope is being performed at the Edinburgh International Festival. (Image: Ali Wright) The company's performers poke fun at this year's EIF theme, The Truth We Seek, highlights the number of restrictions in their EIF contracts on what they 'can and cannot say,' and explores the link between Baillie Gifford and defence giant Babcock International. The EIF has come under growing pressure in recent weeks from pro-Palestine campaigners to sever its links with the Edinburgh-based investment company. The Art Workers for Palestine group has previously asked EIF performers, arts industry workers and audience members to back an open letter calling for the 78-year-old to drop Baillie Gifford, which has been targeted over its investments in firms which have been linked with Israel. Cutting the Tightrope, which is being performed in Scotland for the first time, was launched by the London-based theatre company Arcola last year. The show was partly inspired by controversial new guidance issued by Arts Council England warning that political statements made by companies and artists which cause 'reputational risk' could breach funding agreements. The show, which was also said to have been created in response to 'silence around Palestine on UK stages,' consists of a series of short plays exploring 'the power of the arts in today's world events, political resistance and displays of artistic freedom.' Writing on the EIF website, festival director Nicola Benedetti describes Cutting the Tightrope as an 'urgent artistic response to that moment and audaciously explores the power of the arts in today's world events, political resistance and dialogue around artistic freedom." Cutting the Tightrope's video, which is partly bleeped out, has emerged in the wake of claims that the EIF has tried to gag artists and performers appearing in this year's event. The Art Workers for Palestine group has published an exchange of emails which suggests visiting companies have been warned against doing anything which may affect the reputation of the festival or any of its sponsors. However the EIF has insisted that clauses in the contracts of artists are "standard provisions" used across the UK arts sector. At the start of Cutting the Tightrope's video, one of the company says: "Today we want to talk about truth. We are currently in rehearsals for our run at the Edinburgh International Festival. We're really excited to bring this to you. 'It's a really fantastic show, and you know what? We almost didn't do it, but we ultimately decided that it's more important to tell these stories on that stage, especially at this current point in time, and we thought we could raise some awareness while we're doing it.' Another performer says: 'We just had to check our contracts, because this year, there are quite a lot of clauses in the contract about what we can and can't say, particularly in relation to the festival and their sponsors. 'You see, Baillie Gifford is one of the EIF biggest institutional funders. It's a Scottish investment firm, which in turn holds millions in arms and fossil fuel companies.' A third member of the company said: 'We decided to take up this space and tell these stories that need to be told in a sector that is, when you really look at it, quite disgustingly awash with dirty money.' The video ends with the message: 'Come watch our show, Cutting the Tightrope, where we tackle issues of censorship in the arts scene, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, whose theme this year is The Truth We Seek." A spokesperson for the EIF said: 'We're proud to be the only international festival to present Cutting the Tightrope this year. 'Having sought out this collection of plays at the Arcola Theatre, we issued an invitation to the festival because we believed in its artistic potential and its daring, important themes. 'The plays sit alongside a number of powerful productions we have selected this year to tackle urgent global issues head-on, from a range of perspectives, reflecting our theme. 'It is often our role to boldly programme work that others would not. We give voice to artists, and create a platform for important questions to be addressed artistically with nuance and empathy. 'As Cutting The Tightrope do-director Kirsty Housley said in the audio introduction to this work: 'The platform that Edinburgh International Festival are giving us feels really important. It's the first time we've ever received proper organisational support. It means that we have access to a different audience, a wider audience, an international audience, as well as the local Edinburgh audience, but also, just have infrastructure around us.' 'We are also proud of the longstanding support we have received from Baillie Gifford over the past two decades. We believe that Baillie Gifford's investment principles and portfolio are being mis-characterised and we encourage anyone commenting on this to ensure their own factual accuracy. 'We have always been transparent and forthright with artists about the essential mix of public and private funding that the festival requires. We recognise that people have different personal views on this subject and support the right for these to be expressed. "The festival doesn't prevent anyone from expressing their political views and we support we are giving artists a significant international platform for their work. We look forward to introducing these powerful plays to new audiences, and now more than ever, these important stories deserve to be heard.' The Herald has teamed up with to make the purchase of tickets for the festival so much easier. To buy tickets, please click here.
The Herald Scotland
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Tips for 12 Edinburgh Festival shows outwith the city centre
However it is still possible to experience the best of the festivals off the beaten track, as well as discover hidden gems and lesser-known venues. Here are some of the best places to take in the festivals well away from the city centre. Jupiter Artland There's nowhere in Scotland quite like the award-winning sculpture gardens and art attraction Jupiter Artland. Founded in 2009 by art collectors Robert and Nicky Wilson, the attraction features more than 30 permanent site-specific works by artists including Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, Phyllida Barlow, Anish Kapoor, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Marc Quinn and Andy Goldsworthy. A highlight of recent summers at the site has been Jupiter Rising, which offers the chance to explore the site and its latest exhibitions after dark. Ticketholders will also be able to enjoy experimental music, poetry, performances and late-night DJ sets outdoors, with this year's line-up featuring club night Ponyboy, singer-songwriter Roxanne Tataei, artist and DJ Taahliah, dancer and choreographer Florence Peake, and author Sacha Coward. A radical retelling of the William Shakespeare play As You Like It will be staged at the Church Hill Theatre in Morningside as part of thr Edinburgh International Festival. (Image: Dahlia Katz) Church Hill Theatre The long-time home of many of Edinburgh's amateur theatre companies has also regularly featured in the Edinburgh International Festival's line-up. Handily placed for the many cafes, bars and restaurants in Bruntsfield and Morningside, the venue will be playing host to two of the EIF's main theatre productions. Cutting the Tightrope will feature a series of short plays short plays exploring the power of the arts in global conflicts, political resistance and displays of artistic freedom. William Shakespeare's play As You Like It will also under a radical reimagining for an adaptation which is said to be 'unafraid to confront the thorny truths of our time.' Performance artist Linder Sterling will be staging a special show partly inspired by Sir Walter Scott at the Royal Botanic Garden as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. (Image: Ross Fraser McLean) Royal Botanic Garden Arguably the most idyllic oasis within easy reach of the city centre, the Royal Botanic Garden is far from a culture-free attraction. The garden is playing host to the first ever retrospective exhibition in Scotland devoted to the trailblazing feminist photographer and performance artist Linder Sterling, which spans 50 years, back to her student years in Manchester. The former frontwoman of the Manchester post-punk band Ludus will be opening this year's Edinburgh Art Festival on August 7 with a special performance inspired by the Scottish writer Walter Scott's early definition of 'glamour,' while the feminist collective Femmergy lined up to perform at the official launch party in the nearby Grange cricket club. The garden will also be hosting Botanic Lates, a festival event offering rare night-time entry to the attraction, which will feature exclusive access to the exhibition, live music, and pop-up bars and food stalls. Harpist Esther Swift will be part of the Bellfield Brewery's Fringe line-up. Bellfield Brewery More than 500 Fringe shows have been announced since the official programme was announced at the start of the June. One of the most intriguing new elements is the Taproom Sessions, a new series of events at the Bellfield Brewery and Taproom in the Abbeyhill area. Two cornerstones of Edinburgh's year-round cultural life, the Hidden Door festival and music promoters Soundhouse, previous collaborators with the brewery, have joined forces on a programme which will encompass live music, spoken word and film. Billed as 'a grassroots alternative to the city centre mayhem,' the Taproom Sessions programme will feature jazz stars Graeme Stephen and the Phil Bancroft Trio, singer-songwriters Kate Young, Cahalen Morrison and Adam Holmes, harpist Esther Swift, and poets Iona Lee and Kate Ailes. The seaside town of North Berwick is transformed by the Fringe by the Sea event in Berwick Fringe by the Sea was originally envisaged as an event that would offer the prospect of a day trip to the seaside town as an alternative to the hustle and bustle of the historic heart of Edinburgh. Now it is firmly established in its own right as one of the biggest and best of Scotland's summer festivals, transforming The Lodge Grounds into the main hub for North Berwick's annual event. It has previously secured acts as varied as Del Amitri, Travis, Texas, Sister Sledge, The Jacksons, Richard E Grant, Frankie Boyle and Alexander McCall Smith, and sold more than 86,000 tickets last year. This year's line-up includes live music from Air, Ezra Collective, Hamish Hawk, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Bluebells and Eddi Reader, as well as appearances from Judy Murray, Irvine Welsh, Vic Reeves, Ruby Wax and Flawless. Lego artist Warren Elsmore will be creating a new exhibition made entirely from Lego bricks for this year's Fringe. Picture: Neil Hanna Granton Long-held ambitions for the former industrial area on Edinburgh's waterfront to be transformed into a new cultural quarter for the city have finally been taking shape in recent months. The former gas holder, the most distinctive landmark in Granton, has become home to a new public park, close to where a former railway station has become home to artists and creative industry workers. A few minutes walk away, on West Shore Road, The Pitt has become a major new food, drink and cultural destination since it opened in December thanks to its bars, food stalls and event spaces. It will also become a Fringe venue for the first time when it plays host to Brick Journeys, an exhibition built by artist Warren Elsmore entirely from Lego bricks which celebrates how humans have travelled, from planes and trains to hot air balloons. The FirstStage Studios complex in Leith will be opened to the public for the Edinburgh Art Festival. (Image: Liam Anderstrem) FirstStage Studios It is more than five years since a former wave power plant on the outskirts of Leith Docks was turned into Edinburgh's first full-time film studio. Industry giants Amazon, Sony and Netflix have all used the vast warehouse complex since then, for shows including The Rig, Outlander and - most recently - Dept Q, the new Edinburgh-set crime thriller starring series adapted from the novels of Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen. However the festival season will open the building up for rare public access for a spectacular one-off event. Former world champion gymnast Lewis Walker, who now works across multiple dance, theatre, film, fashion and music projects, will be bringing the Edinburgh Art Festival to a close. Co-commissioned with the Serpentine Galleries in London, the show is expected to explore the human search for authenticity in a world built on repetition. Citadel Youth Centre If you're looking for a good local project to support at this year's Fringe look no further than the long-running youth project. It will be entering the Fringe fray for the first time with two fundraisers for its work with young people and families in Leith. The first, Punchline on Leith on August 6, will feature a surprise line-up of Fringe favourites and rising stars, as well as a raffle of works of art donated by the comics Joe Lycett and Phill Jupitus. Storm in the Citadel, on August 7, will serve up three garage punk bands – local favourites The Bad Moods and The Screamin' Kick, along with Spanish stars Los Retumbes. Portobello Town Hall One of the most under-used venues in the city will finally be playing a major part in the Fringe when it a hosts a four-day festival of Palestinian art and culture. Running from August 12-15, the programme will feature theatre, dance, comedy, storytelling, music and poetry performances, as well as panel discussions and talks with artists. The Creative Scotland-backed project involves writers, dancers, theatre-makers, publishers and producers based in Scotland who have worked regularly in Palestine and the Middle East for decades. A crowdfunding campaign raised £40,000 from more than 430 supporters. Leith Depot The grassroots culture powerhouse of Leith Walk is well worth a trip across town at any time of year and it's no different in August. A major new addition to its Fringe offering is a series of music and in-conversation events hosted by BBC broadcaster Vic Galloway. Musical guests lined up so far include Haiver, Constant Follower, Siobhan Wilson, Broken Chanter, Adam Ross, Gillian Fleetwood and Rick Redbeard. Other festival highlights include Riot Reveals Cabaret, a show expected to feature burlesque, comedy, magic, drag and live music, a performance showcasing the 'radical subversive poetry' of Robert Burns, and Karaokekarma, a play set in a karaoke booth. Hibernian Supporters Club While Oasis and AC/DC will be filling the home of Scottish rugby over four nights in August, a social club a stone's throw away from Easter Road, the home of 'The Hibees,' will be turned into a Fringe venue to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the club. It will play host to 1902, the story of the club's famous bid to claim glory in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final to bring an end to the club's trophy drought, told through the experiences of four friends desperate to see their team at Hampden. Nathan Scott-Dunn's play lifts the lid on the bravado of the fans in a story which is said to have been built on the 'passion, humour and resilience of working-class people. The Bowlers Rest Tucked away off the main tourist trail in Leith, The Bowlers Rest on Mitchell Street is nonetheless one of the easiest Fringe venues to reach from a tram stop in the city. The pub has become increasingly well-known of late for its jam sessions and intimate live music gigs. Now it will be playing host to a South African film and TV actor's one-man play. Sean Higgs' show will explore the unravelling of a white South African man who is forced to survive as a beggar in a black township. To purchase tickets for the Fringe, please click here
