Published: 24 May 2018
Daniel Day Lewis dissected, a rock star lifestyle revealed, military actions and inaction and real life voices of alcoholism are among the highlights revealed as part of 2018 Made in Scotland Showcase.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, today announced the companies and artists selected for the 10th year of Made in Scotland - a curated showcase of music, theatre and dance performed during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s greatest platform for creative freedom of expression.
Since its inception in 2009 and including this year, Made in Scotland has funded 146 companies, ensembles and artists to showcase over 200 shows. The onward touring fund, which supports international performances after the festival, has enabled 89 productions to tour across six continents, visiting over 36 countries.
Celebrating a decade of showcasing world class performance, this year's showcase will support 23 shows at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe who have been chosen by a panel of experts from the Scottish and international performing arts community. The programme represents a mix of established companies and vibrant emerging artists producing theatre, dance, children’s shows and music in Scotland today.
Scotland has a long history of being an outward facing country and thanks to this initiative, we are more globally connected than ever.- Laura Mackenzie-Stuart, Head of Theatre
From the true story of a survivor of military sexual trauma, to site specific dance and music performance at Edinburgh City Chambers, and the story of a starring role for a Scottish performer in Sex and The City, the 2018 Made in Scotland Showcase will build on the success of previous years by showcasing some of the very best theatre, dance and music Scotland has to offer. Playwrights’ Studio Scotland also return with a programme of talks and workshops to support the showcase.
The wealth of talent working in Scotland's performing arts sector is reflected in a strong line-up of companies, ensembles and artists including; Scottish Ensemble, New Room Theatre, Blue Rose Code, Roberta Jean, Fire Exit, The Tron, National Theatre of Scotland, Indepen-Dance, Mary Jane Wells and Scene Change Productions, Ensemble Thing, Brian Molley Quartet with the Asin Langa Ensemble, Graeme Stephen, James Ley in association with Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Greengold Projects and Authentic Artist Collective, Andy Manley, Starcatchers and Curious Seed, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, Ian Cameron & Red Bridge Arts, Meursault, Ramesh Meyyappan and Raw Material, Glas(s) Performance and Platform, Al Seed Productions and Limosani ProjeKts, V/DA and MHz in association with Feral, 21 Common, Traverse Theatre Company and Regular Music.
Playwrights’ Studio Scotland's TalkFest 2018 explores what stimulates the artists behind this year’s Made in Scotland showcase and wider Edinburgh Festivals. The sessions are led and chaired by some of our leading playwrights and theatre-makers including; Ramesh Meyyappan, Christine Devaney, Mark Jeary and Mariem Omari, Lynda Radley, Sarah Rose Graber, Alan McKendrick and Jenny Knotts.
Made in Scotland is a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and the Scottish Music Centre. The showcase is supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals' Expo Fund with part of the funding designed to enable Scottish companies, ensembles and artists to take up onward international touring opportunities from contacts made during the Festival Fringe.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs said: “Made in Scotland provides an important platform for Scottish artists and companies to showcase their outstanding work at the Edinburgh Fringe, the largest performing arts festival in the world.
“Through our Festivals Expo Fund, the Scottish Government have contributed £560,000 towards the delivery of this year’s edition of the festival. Since its launch ten years ago, we have provided just under £5.5 million to Made in Scotland, enabling Scottish theatre, dance and music acts to showcase their work across the world, reaching new and diverse audiences.
“We believe that public funding of the arts is fundamental and we will continue to support our talented artists and companies. I look forward to seeing performances in August.”
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:“It’s a special year for Made in Scotland as we celebrate 10 years of this fantastic showcase, presenting the finest work from Scotland to the world. We are very proud of this initiative and of all artists that have participated in Made in Scotland at the Fringe over the last decade. The showcase provides a crucial platform for Scottish made work at the Fringe, but also supports artists to take their work to other parts of the world, raising awareness about Scotland’s vibrant arts offering.
“I want to say thank you to our panelists who travelled from across the world to select this year’s programme, to our partners and to the Scottish Government, without which Made in Scotland would not be possible. Artists based in Scotland continue to make a hugely significant contribution to the Fringe, with 968 Scottish shows appearing in the 2018 Fringe Programme. I look forward to enjoying the exceptional range of work selected for Made in Scotland 2018 at this year’s Fringe, and I am excited to see how Scottish work continues to evolve over the next 10 years.”
Laura Mackenzie-Stuart, Head of Theatre, Creative Scotland said:"It is a particular pleasure to be celebrating 10 years of the Made in Scotland Showcase and to see how, over that time, it has grown to become an internationally recognized badge of quality. Scotland has a long history of being an outward facing country and thanks to this initiative, we are more globally connected than ever. Every year, with the additional benefit of the Onward Touring Fund element of the Scottish Government's Expo Fund, artists are able to take their work to new audiences and to be inspired creatively by their international peers.
Jude Henderson, Director, Federation of Scottish Theatre said: “Federation of Scottish Theatre has been one of the Made in Scotland partners since the showcase began back in 2009, and we’re delighted to remain part of this fantastic project as it celebrates its 10th year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018. The Fringe brings key international industry figures to Scotland so Made in Scotland is an important platform for the world-class work made by our members across Scotland’s theatre, dance and opera sector. It also helps to create and support international touring opportunities, enabling our industry to develop new partnerships and expand into new markets.”
Gill Maxwell, Executive Director, Scottish Music Centre said: “Working in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland and the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the Scottish Music Centre is delighted that seven new world-class music shows will be presented in this, the 10th anniversary year of Made in Scotland.
Highlighting the quality and diversity of Scotland’s composers, songwriters and musicians, the impressive line-up ranges across music genres. From vibrant contemporary classical to music theatre, from virtuoso jazz performances with international collaborators to indie multimedia presentations, from roots-based folk to Caledonian soul, Made In Scotland 2018 celebrates Scotland’s wealth of music talent.'
For further information, images and interviews please contact Owen O'Leary on 07815 992 658 or email owen@ohreally.co.uk.
See the full programme online at www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com, follow on Twitter @MadeinScotShows and connect on Facebook at Facebook.com/MadeInScotland.
