Festival Around Town list.co.uk/festival
EDINBURGH MELA These days the Mela is just as much of a ceremonial start to Edinburgh’s Festivals as the (often far less exciting) Fringe Cavalcade. This year, alongside Bollywood dance shows, multi-artform companies from China, traditional Sufi music from Rizwan- Muazzam Qawwali and the now-traditional international food market, the commissioned part of the programme is particularly strong. The Naturally Inspired strand is a series of collaborations between Scottish and international musicans and storytellers, while Cargo (pictured), a huge-scale aerial/physical theatre work by those old risk-takers Iron Oxide, explores the human need to migrate (although the production itself will be staying on at Leith Links for the duration of the Fringe). ■ Edinburgh Mela, Leith Links, Fri 6–Sun 8 Aug, www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk. Cargo also runs Wed 11–Sun 22 Aug (not Mon 16), Leith Links, Venue 167, 9.15pm.
5QUESTIONS 84 THE LIST 5–12 Aug 2010
Elaine Henry, owner of Word Power Books and the director of the Edinburgh Book Fringe
Why did you set up the Edinburgh Book Fringe in the first place? To give local writers, small publishers and writers outwith the mainstream the sort of voice or platform they wouldn’t get access to during the festival period.
Can you describe the ethos of the festival in one sentence?
All the events are free, everything’s accessible, and there’s a spirit of exchanging information, so we give plenty of time to discussion as well. Most memorable writers you’ve had on over the past 14 years?
We had Mark Thomas come – that was great fun, because in the spirit of the Fringe he mixed humour and politics. And we’ve had Tom Leonard many times. He’s always great, and is opening the festival this year.
Which other writers are you looking forward to this year?
Blake Morrison, who’s reading with Kei Miller. The comedians Stewart Lee and Richard Herring are both appearing, although not together. Ewan McVicar is running an event on Scottish political songs and promising ‘singing, laughter and much merriment’. And we’ve got John Holloway coming from Mexico to talk about his book Crack Capitalism. What do you hope to do with the Book Fringe in the future?
We’re limited in terms of space while we hold it at the bookshop, but that has its advantages – it creates a specially intimate atmosphere for writers to engage with their readers in – they’re only ten inches away, and seem to feel far more able to ask questions. We’re keeping it small. Small is beautiful. ■ Edinburgh Book Fringe, Word Power Books, Wed 11–Wed 25 Aug. www.word-power.co.uk
Hitlist EVENTS, BOOKS, KIDS & LGBT * ✽✽ The Prisoner of Azkaslam The Auld Reekie Roller Girls (pictured) take on the London Rockin’ Rollers All Stars in a special festival roller derby bout. Expect magical moves and terrifying levels of competitiveness. ✽✽ World Kitchen in Leith A three-course experience of total foodie fusion: starters from Scotland, Ireland and India, main courses from India, Africa and the Middle East, and cakes and fruits from all over for pud. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Thu 5 Aug. ✽✽ Hi Fives for Diversity Our Dynamic Earth gets stuck in about the International Year of Biodiversity. See picture, page 86. Our Dynamic Earth, Thu 5, Fri 6, Wed 11 & Thu 12 Aug, Meadowbank Sports Centre, Sat 7 Aug. ✽✽ Edinburgh Mela Festival Celebrating the cultural diversity of Scotland, the Mela (Sanskrit for ‘gathering’) brings together musicians, singers and dancers from a huge variety of ethnic groups for performances amid a carnival atmosphere on Leith Links. See Big Picture, left. Leith Links, Fri 6–Sun 8 Aug. ✽✽ Edinburgh Festivals’ Cavalcade Singing kids on lorries and the entire cast of the Tattoo marching through Holyrood Park? That’ll be your official start to the festivals, then. See picture, page 85. Holyrood Park, Sun 8 Aug. ✽✽ Children’s Storytelling Tours Marion Kenny leads a tour of two major exhibitions – Edward Weston at the City Art Centre and Martin Creed at the Fruitmarket – with art, stories and music. City Art Centre, Wed 11 Aug. ✽✽ Edinburgh Book Fringe A nifty, necessary alternative to the Book Festival’s marqueed glamour; some of the best local and radical writers read free of charge. See 5 Questions, left. Word Power Bookshop, Wed 11–Wed 25 Aug.