The shows you need to see this August

FEATURES

PICK ‘N’ MIX: THE SHOWS YOU NEED TO SEE THIS AUGUST

The world’s biggest arts Festival is back, bringing over 50,000 performances to more than 300 venues across the capital. Overwhelming? We hear you. Here, our very own arts correspondent, David Pollock, reveals some of this year’s highlights

Iconic: A Brief History of Drag, Photo by Scott Rylander

THEATRE

or anyone who wants to follow a pretty safe bet in terms of new, relevant and exciting theatre, they’re well advised to go to

Fpretty much any show at the Traverse Theatre or Summerhall. One of the lead shows at the former, for example, is What Girls Are Made Of (Traverse, 03-26 August), in which acclaimed Scottish theatremaker Cora Bissett remembers the days when she left school and became a pop star, while Nigel Slater’s Toast (Traverse, 07 -26 August) is the Lowry’s adaptation of the celebrity chef’s revealing autobiography. Summerhall’s programme, includes First Snow/ Premiere Neige (until 26 August), a Scots-Canadian production about politics and nationalism, which involves the National Theatre of Scotland, and Gary McNair’s play After the Cuts (01 - 26 August), which imagines a future without the NHS. Edinburgh International Festival’s highlights, meanwhile, include a new version of David Greig and Gordon McIntyre’s Edinburgh-set romantic comedy Midsummer (02 - 26 August), and although the premise sounds like heavy-going, It’s True It’s True It’s True (Underbelly, 02-26 August) tells the story through court transcripts of the rape of 17th century Italian baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi through the singularly brilliant lens of the exceptional Breach Theatre.

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FEATURES

CABARET

ow as known for his work in musicals as his time on Neighbours and in pop music, expect tales from

Nbehind the scenes in Jason Donovan and his Amazing Midlife Crisis (Assembly George Square Gardens, 22 - 26 August). Elsewhere you’ll find song and storytelling in Iconic: A Brief History of Drag (Assembly Checkpoint, 01 - 26 August) and a different take on politics’ most relentless topic in Jonny Woo’s All Star Brexit Cabaret (Assembly George Square Gardens, 02 - 27 August).

Frankie Boyle

Ayesha Hazarika

Jonny Woo’s All Star Brexit CabaretJason Donovan

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COMEDY

wo returning Scottish comedy heroes are Frankie Boyle with Prometheus Vol.III (Playhouse, 07 - 10 August), the latest in his planned eight-hour stand-up sequence, and Limmy, whose film of his own Vines will be showing at New Town Theatre, 03 -12 August. Although he’s frequently crossed the line from comedy to theatre of late, Mark Thomas’ Check Up: Our NHS at 70 (Traverse, 04 - 26 August) still takes a stand-up format to discuss an important subject, while Ahir Shah’s Duffer (Laughing Horse at Cabaret Voltaire, 02-26 August) sees the 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee telling a story which begins with his first visit to India as an adult. From the United States, Janeane Garofalo (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 01 - 19 August) is a reliably outspoken and well-known Fringe regular, while former political advisor Ayesha Hazarika (Gilded Balloon Teviot, 02 - 11 August) introduces Girl on Girl, a show which asks who feminism belongs to these days anyway.

Mark Thomas, © Steve Ullathorne

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FEATURES

MUSIC

Anna Meredyth © Kate Bones

dinburgh International Festival’s Light on the Shore (Leith Theatre, 09 - 25 August) programme is the major music highlight

Eof 2018, pressing the stunning old Leith Theatre into use as a festival venue once more, with headline gigs from Mogwai, Jesus and Mary Chain, Karine Polwart, Django Django, Anna Meredith and many more. Not to be counted out, however, is Summerhall’s excellent Nothing Ever Happens Here (Summerhall, 01 - 26 August) music strand, featuring appearances by And So I Watch You from Afar, Kevin Rowland, Goblin and Russian revolutionaries Pussy Riot, who have their own 10-night residency. For clubbers, meanwhile, Nightvision’s Leith Docks Sound System weekender (Ocean Terminal, 24 and 25 August) features Peggy Gou, Patrick Topping, Midland and many more. For a chance of winning tickets visit ionmagazine.co.uk

Django Django © Fiona Garden

Pussy Riot

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FEATURES

Scott Hutchison and Michael Pedersen

Rose McGowan

Chelsea Clinton

BOOKS

s ever, Edinburgh International Book Festival is filled with intriguing

Aguests and hugely famous people who you can’t quite believe are appearing in Edinburgh. This year, Chelsea Clinton (19 August) presents her children’s books about inspiring women, and figurehead of the #MeToo movement Rose McGowan (13 August) takes on Hollywood misogyny with her new book Brave. Local poet Michael Pederson (16 August) is also hosting a party in honour of his friend and collaborator, Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, with guests including Hollie McNish and Withered Hand.

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EXHIBITIONS

ighly recommended this year is Rip It Up: The Story of Scottish Pop (National Museum of Scotland, until 25 November), an entertaining and comprehensive exhibition which traces the last half century history of internationally famous pop music from this country – and there’s been a lot of it. Elsewhere, Edinburgh Art Festival (various venues, until 26 August) fills the city with a trail of intriguing exhibits and site-specific works, including new musical commissions from Ross Birrell & David Harding which explore what it is to be a refugee. And a visit to the idyllic Jupiter Artland on the outskirts of the city – including a new permanent work by Phyllida Barlow – is essential for any contemporary art lover.

Simple Minds guitars, Rip it Up

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FEATURES

Looking for things to watch at the Edinburgh International Festival 2018? Here are some ideas to get you started from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre

2-26 AUG

MIDSUMMER Two 30somethings are sitting in a New Town bar waiting for something to turn up. National Theatre of Scotland’sMidsummer is a streetwise romcom that turns a midlife crisis into a dance of freedom, featuring a live band to bring its heart-warming songs and irresistible humour to life.

11-13 AUG

AUTOBIOGRAPHY Trailblazing choreographer and director Wayne McGregor has an unmistakable visual style that pushes the body toever greater virtuosity. Autobiography is mesmerising, multi-layered and mysteriously beautiful, and each performance is truly unique, for dancers and audience alike.

© Mihaela Bodlovic

© Andrej Uspenski

© Jean-Pierre Maurin

21 AUG

BOTHY CULTURE Celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett’s kaleidoscopically rich 1996 album Bothy Culture is celebrated by The GRITorchestra, bringing together over 80 of Scotland’s finest classical, traditional and jazz musicians for an evening of true musical alchemy.

24-26 AUG

LA CENERENTOLA La Cenerentola dispenses with fairy godmothers and glass slippers, puts its Prince in disguise and transforms thewicked stepmother into a buffoon of a stepfather. Told through some of Rossini’s most sparkling music, this Cinderella story is packed with show-stopping tunes and ingenious optical illusions.

© Mihaela Bodlovic

26 AUG

ST. VINCENT Fearsomely intelligent, critically adored, St. Vincent is one of the most celebrated musicians on the planet. Renowned forher flamboyant stage shows, St. Vincent brings her transgressive pop on a rare visit to Scotland as part of her I Am A Lot Like You! tour.

27 AUG

VIRGIN MONEY FIREWORKS CONCERT One of the biggest fireworks concerts in the world, nearly a quarter of a million people gather to share in this grandInternational Festival finale. Join the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Clark Rundell, for a mind-expanding journey into deepest space, with music from Gustav Holst’s visionary The Planets. Book tickets for Princes Street Gardens for the best view in the city.

© Nedda Afsani

The International Festival runs from 03 - 27 August. For more information visit eif.co.uk

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