Let's talk about our August Festivals 2023
Formed in the shadow of a worldwide cataclysm, our first festivals sought to use culture as a healing balm to bring peoples and nations together in celebration of our common humanity and help ‘the flowering of the human spirit’. That founding spirt is as revelant today as it was back in 1947 and our six August Festivals now promise a month of extraordinary experiences in Scotland's majestic capital city. The start of August sees the launch of 3 of our 6 August festivals and we caught up with them on the streets of Edinburgh to hear more about the allure of these world renowned events.
Edinburgh International Festival [4 to 27 August]
Founded in 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival is an unparalleled celebration of the performing arts and an annual meeting point for peoples of all nations. Committed to virtuosity and originality, the International Festival presents some of the finest performers and ensembles from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre for three weeks in August - making Scotland’s capital an unparalleled celebration of the performing arts and an annual meeting point for people of all nations. We caught up with Creative Director, Roy Luxford, to hear about the past, present and future of the Edinburgh International Festival. Discover an unparalleled celebration of music, theatre, opera and dance, in and around some of Edinburgh’s most iconic venues.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe [4 to 28 August]
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the single greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet. For three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe. Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events. We had a chat to Chief Executive, Shona McCarthy, to hear all about the festival. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe aims to give anyone a stage and everyone to seat. Creating a centre of debate where the real issues of the day can be looked at through the lens of creativity while inspiring audiences in an open and inclusive environment.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo [4 to 26 August]
Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s imposing castle, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the most iconic events in Edinburgh's calendar. Bringing together audiences from across the globe, the Tattoo celebrates the skills and talents of military bands and display teams from across the globe. There are few such moving festival moments, a fact to which any of the over 220,000 people who experience it live in any normal year can attest – not to mention the further 100 million who watch television broadcasts of the event! Before the opening this weekend of the 2023 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo we caught up with Chief Executive, Major General Buster Howes to hear more about this truly unique event.