Edinburgh Festival Fringe
For three inspired weeks each August, Edinburgh really is a stage.
Asian twist for Edinburgh Festival
This year's Edinburgh International Festival celebrates the diverse cultures of Asia, welcoming performers from China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam. We take a look at some of the highlights.
China at the 2011 Edinburgh Festivals
Young China Shines!
Traditional song, dance, drama and martial arts from some of China's most talented young people. Hear the Drums of Shanghai, explore contemporary Chinese fashion and have fun with free performances, all day, from China's stars of tomorrow. Experience a range of performances, including ancient Chinese drama, precision drumming, a cultural showcase, visual art presentations and traditional music.
Festival Square, August 4 - 22.
National Ballet of China: The Peony Pavilion
China's answer to Romeo and Juliet, this is a classic love story that's been reworked by generations of artists in a variety of genres. Choreographed by Fei Bo, this new ballet fuses traditional Chinese and western styles. Edinburgh debut for the National Ballet of China.
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, August 13-15.
Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe: The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan
The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan is an interpretation of Shakespeare's Hamlet unlike any you will ever have experienced. Combining gorgeously embroidered costumes, extraordinary acrobatics and brilliant music the Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe is a virtuosic ensemble dedicated both to preserving the ancient artistry of Chinese opera and extending its repertoire beyond traditional boundaries.
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, August 19 - 21.
India at the 2011 Edinburgh Festivals
Amjad Ali Khan
One of India's greatest musicians, the virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan plays a series of morning ragas on the sarod, a multi-stringed traditional Indian lute. Ragas are described in ancient Indian texts as ‘a combination of tones... with beautiful illuminating graces'. It is commonly believed that ragas have their maximum effect when played at the time of day for which they were conceived. Amjad Ali Khan takes you on a journey from Edinburgh's Queen's Hall to the colours and sounds of India.
The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, August 24.
Jaipur Virasat Foundation: The Legendary Music of Rajasthan
A concert featuring the voices and instruments of the Langa and Manganiyar desert communities. The concerts feature three legendary folk musicians, each revealing aspects of the rich musical heritage of this spiritual part of India, evoking sunsets, sunrises and full moons. Produced by the Jaipur Virasat Foundation.
National Museums of Scotland, August 27 - 29.
Japan at the 2011 Edinburgh Festivals
Tenchi Shinmei: Wadaiko Tokara
Edinburgh's St John's Church will once again echo to the sounds and rythms of Japanese taiko drumming when group Tenchi Shinmei return to the city. The group will explode onto the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a new collaboration created by Taiko Artist Art Lee, the only non-Japanese to win first place in Tokyo Odaiko Championships.
St. Johnʼs Church, August 5 - 29.
Korea at the 2011 Edinburgh Festivals
Mokhwa Repertory Company: The Tempest
Shakespeare's The Tempest is transported to 5th-century Korea in this dramatic re-imagining and adaptation from the Mokwha Repertory Company. Inspired by a true story from the Korean Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Tae-Suk Oh's The Tempest blends extraordinary historical fact with Shakespearean fiction, infusing both with elements of traditional Korean culture and folklore. Directed by Korea's leading playwright Tae-Suk Oh.
King's Theatre, Edinburgh, August 13 - 16.
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
The Seoul Philharmonic, South Korea's oldest orchestra, will make its UK debut at the Edinburgh International Festival 2011. The orchestra will be conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, their Music Director and Chief Conductor since 2006. Chung, who trained as a pianist and made his debut performance with the Seoul Philharmonic aged 7, has worked with orchestras from all over the world, including the Opera de Paris-Bastille, the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic and the Boston and Chicago Symphony orchestras.
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, August 24.
Vietnam at the 2011 Edinburgh Festivals
Drought and Rain (re-creation 2011)
Vietnamese choreographer Ea Sola celebrates cultural memory and meditates on the human cost of war in Drought and Rain. Together with a group of elderly women from the north of Vietnam, whose singing had consoled soldiers on the front line, and an ensemble of virtuoso traditional musicians, Ea Sola has re-created this moving and beautiful work. First seen in 1995 it offers deep insights into the tumultuous history and sufferings of Vietnam.
King's Theatre, Edinburgh, September 1 - 3.
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Did you know...
The Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320 by Scottish nobles to swear their allegiance to Robert the Bruce and state Scotland's case for independence. "It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom"