PREVIEW OF 1998
FESTIVALS
Edinburgh International Festival (16 Aug—5 Sep) The big one. the colossus. the world‘s largest arts festival. Ladies and gentlemen. put your hands together for performances from The Royal Opera Covent Garden. Pacific Northwest Ballet. The New York Theatre Workshop. Sir Charles Mackerras. Pierre Boulez. Bryn Terfel and many. many more.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe (9—31 Aug) Last year 756.560 tickets were sold for l5.612 performances of 1423 shows. Unless the sky falls on our heads. the Fringe will be even bigger in 98. Expect the usual mix of comedy. drama. talks. exhibitions and failed livers at the planet's biggest party.
Edinburgh Film Festival (16—30 Aug) At the time of going to press. there was little confirmed about the Film Festival but a spokesman promised all of the favourite elements of past festivals. including the scene-by-scenes and galas would be in place. This year's retro- spective is on Alan Clarke. controversial director of The Firm and Scum.
Edinburgh Book Festival ( I5—3l Aug) Now an annual celebration of the book world, this festival has a new director. Faith Liddell. at its helm. lts tented site in Charlotte Square should be buzzing with authors and book-lovers. but the Book Festival generally has something for everyone.
T in the Park (date and location tbc) Scotland's record-breaking. outdoor music festival is gearing up for another two day feast of top notch band action. Nothing has been rubber stamped. but sources hint T in the Park will happen around mid-July and in Kinross. as last year. Wild and completely inaccurate speculation about who will play should break out in the press within the next couple of months.
Edinburgh lntemational Science Festival (4—19 Apr) Talks. walks. tours. films and family events; if it's got a science angle then you’ll find it here. Ageing, food. new technology. health and water are just some of the topics to be explored and. of course. there‘ll be plenty of hands-on labs for the kids.
Scottish International Children's Festival (Edinburgh: lnverleith Park. l9-24 May) Scotland‘s major festival for the best in children's theatre and other entertainments includes two homegrown highlights: Glasgow‘s TAG Theatre Company in Little Victories by Shaun Prendergast; and Edinburgh‘s Royal Lyceum company in A Stranger Came Ashore. adapted by Fiona McGarrie from Mollie Hunter‘s story.
22 TIIEIJ8T 9-22 Jan 1998
Glasgow Art Fair: Gary Anderson's She‘ll See Right Through You will be among original art works being sold
Aberdonians can do just as well and to prove it they have this annual festival of art. dratna and music. last year saw the likes of Day id Baddiel. Spirituali/ed and the Reduced Shakespeare (‘ompanyz This year's programme w ill be inst as wide ranging.
The Puppet Animation Festival (Central Scotland and lidinburgh: \arious venues) If you thought that puppetry was kids' stuff then think again as this annual beanfeast comes to life. Performance and workshops for adults and children will be complemented by a film animation season. Go and have your strings pulled.
Scottish Book Fortnight (Scotland: various venues) The annual fortnight devoted to the book world helps ptit Scottish writers tip in lights where they belong. The author events are still to be confirmed. but there should be plenty of
New Moves (New Territories) ((ilaxilow: (‘(‘.-\. 30 Feb 2| Marl lile\ en years old and as precociotis as exet‘. New Moves promises a lucky bag of cutting edge dance companies Ones to watch are the funky local folk. Kultyer Dance Theatre and. from Quebec. the l4ondation Jean-Pierre l’erreault who will perform their first show in Britain since they stormed the International Festival three years ago.
The Highland Festival (33 May-(i Jun) The third annual Highland festival boasts a host of indigenous and international talent. Last year saw the shows in the natural amphitheatre of()ban harbour while theatre company Scarabeus performed on the sltores of loci) an liilein at the foot of tlie (‘airngornis Head for the hills if you want more drama than you can shake a stick at.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Doubtless‘ many of you will still be delicate from readings to wrap your ears around. s s. y t 1 ' )‘ ‘ ‘ * (V n o sccmg out )7..(st) thoughts l cclcbi iting Glasgow lntemat'onaI Jazz FestwaI the demise of )8 may be premature. ., ,- , .. . H M _\_ ‘r r Kl “mp-1 thin F hm WI \ .H i\arious \enues. Jlll)/\ scaled down a b tliL- if”:~ ‘ infr- [h “ :11] “pin”: ‘ I; 1‘ version of this festival is likely this year
hfilptutlil ' u k L H ( 1L” k due to a cash deficit. Word is it will run ; L ' ‘ as a long weekend event in the early July Glasgay! (Glasgow) The bi-annual gay slot which it has always occupied. '38 'V; v V i .Y i_‘ . . . . 'l‘mg") {3'1"“:1‘jl‘l'zzfif’gl‘ 1"" ‘9‘st Skill”: Edinburgh International Jazz Festival
l UL " k ‘l 5‘ u.“ ‘ “n 5 (Various venues. 3| Jul—9 Aug) Still annd throughout the vear to raise funds. , . , - . ., . - . ~ - a process of ie-eyaluation and
Aberdeen Alternative Festival tiitxlernisation. this festival will once (Various venues. 15—24 Oct) Anything again launch the lidinburgli beanleast. that we lowlanders can do. the (.lonathan Trew)
Glasgow Art Fair (Glasgow: (ieorge Square. lb—l‘) Apr) Now in its third year. and with funding promised for a further three years. Glasgow .Xrt Fair aims to sell original works of art at affordable prices. Well kent artists like John Byrne and Elizabeth Blackadder will be for sale alongside works by lesser known artists.
T in the Park: Scotland's music festival is gearing up for another two days of big name action