This year sees the 70th anniversary of Edinburgh’s prestigious International festival, which shares the city during August with the Fringe and Book Festival.
As ever the EIF pulls together an amazingly curated series of artists and performances from around the globe, with groundbreaking theatre, music, dance and more.
From the stunning launch, ‘Bloom’, which saw the city’s St. Andrews Square transformed in a beautiful cacophony of music and light, highlights abound until the end of the month, and the final fireworks.
Thus far personal highlight have included a Book Festival and British Council collaboration with legendary author Paul Auster, Boy Blue’s stunning dance piece Blak, Whyte, Gray and the incredible, moving new play Meet Me At Dawn, on until the 27th at the city’s home of new theatre, The Traverse, with Alan Ackybourn’s Divide Parts 1 and 2 receiving deservedly glowing reviews.
This coming week will see, amongst others, the wondrous Chilly Gonzalez returning with Jarvis Cocker to perform their album Room 29, the inspirational Martin Creed’s Words and Music, the exhibition Blueprint for the Future, stunning dance piece Rain, the incomparable Meow Meow’s Little Mermaid and Vox Motus’ unique and compelling Flight.
As part of the backdrop of the 70th anniversary celebrations, The Spirt of ’47 with the British Council also highlighted the impetus behind the Edinburgh International Festival; with the spectre of World War 2 and its aftermath as its impetus, the desire was to create a global showcase for art and culture, and the shared humanity which underpins all of us. In an act of extraordinary courage and optimism they asserted that art and culture could act as a beacon of hope and reconciliation in a divided continent.
That message of unity and connectivity in troubled times has rarely seemed so relevant, and the foundations laid in 1947 have flourished well beyond the EIF, as Edinburgh the Festival City welcomes the world with open arms, to inspire and be inspired year in, year out- a profound and incredible legacy which continues to inspire and engage.
For all EIF info and tickets visit www.eif.co.uk
Video- Paul Auster at the EIF/ Spirit of ’47 with The British Council