list.co.uk/festival Previews | FESTIVAL AROUND TOWN
P H O T O © C A T L N C O O K E
I
I
FESTIVAL DETOURS Musicians, poets and performers step outside their comfort zones
Detours is a series of live shows by music, poetry and theatre artists taking place in galleries across the city. Part of Edinburgh Art Festival, it aims to bring a new audience to visual art by transforming the traditional gallery space. This year there is a special focus on attracting all ages to the performances. ‘For the first time we
have programmed a live theatre performance for families and young people,’ says Sorcha Carey, director of Edinburgh Art Festival. Eilidh MacAskill is collaborating with composer Greg Sinclair in an interactive piece at the City Art Centre which promises to straddle the line between visual art and theatre. The audience will participate as birds who cannot make it to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and Carey says she’ll be bringing her own son along to join in the fun.
Other highlights include a performance by master of spoken word Luke Wright, fresh from
supporting legendary punk rock poet John Cooper Clarke on his UK tour. Set against the backdrop of Counterpoint at the Talbot Gallery, an exhibition showcasing boundary-pushing contemporary artists, it promises to be a quirky and entertaining evening. For music fans, Edinburgh-based band Meursault will perform their unique folktronica sound in an intimate gig at New Media Scotland amid the Alt-w exhibition.
‘The artists enjoy the opportunity to test out new materials and ideas and the audience not only gets to experience this live,’ says Carey, ‘but the performances also offer up new perspectives on the artworks or exhibition in which they take place.’ (Maud Sampson) ■ Various venues, 226 6558, 6, 12, 17 & 19 Aug, times vary, £4, see edinburghartfestival.com for more information.
TALKS & WORKSHOPS SUMMERHALL EDUCATION PROGRAMME Workshops and debates in an intriguing venue
Former veterinary college Summerhall hosts a number of talks and workshops on topical subjects. There's even one celebrating the venue and its purpose, in Kulturnomics: Summerhall’s Multi-Arts Strategy (18 Aug), while Urban Scale and Rural Sprawl (1 Aug) incorporates a tour of the venue’s hidden corridors into a discussion on rural and urban walking art with Deveron Arts, Alec Finlay and more. The role of art is addressed across various events,
including Artist as Activist (22 Aug) with Sri Lankan peace campaigner Chandragupta Thenuwara and The Artist as Healer (21 Aug), a debate on art within the health service, and a big-ticket discussion on issues facing society. Elsewhere, Political-Economy Parallels: Diverging UK, Europe, the World? (5 Aug) and Sovereign Secrets: Independence: The Known Unknowns (11 Aug) offer new perspectives on international politics and Scottish independence.
Other highlights include a Ron Butlin-hosted prose and poetry celebration from Europe’s northern isl es in Northern Idyll (5–10 Aug) and creative workshops such as Devising Within a Democracy (2 Aug), led by Rachel Chavkin. (David Pollock) ■ Summerhall, 560 1581, dates and times vary, prices vary, see summerhall.co.uk for more information.
FIVE PLACES . . . FOR TOP FRINGE FOOD
For visiting festivalgoers, there’s no shortage of decent culinary pitstops in Edinburgh. But all that choice means it’s better to come prepared. Here are some of our favourites Ting Thai Caravan Having originated as a temporary festival pop-up, Ting Thai proved so popular it would have been sacrilege to simply close it down. Thankfully, the owners agreed, which means this year’s festivalgoers can discover the stripped-back decor, informal dining and vibrant Thai street food for themselves. 8–9 Teviot Place, 225 9801. Blackfriars Since emerging from the ashes of Black Bo’s, Blackfriars has quickly established itself as a more than worthy heir to its predecessors’ ‘cult fave’ mantle. The bistro provides the best in modern, seasonal dishes, while the adjoining bar serves up inventive snacks, shares and craft beers. Near many of the comedy venues, it’s ideal for when belly laughs turn to belly rumbles. 57–61 Blackfriars Street, 558 8684, blackfriarsedinburgh.co.uk The Atelier The newcomer that’s surprised everyone thanks to its high-end dishes at mid- range prices and laid-back, personable atmosphere. A little off the beaten track, but still just a gentle saunter from the majority of the venues, making it a good choice for escaping the immediate Festival madness. 159–161 Morrison Street, 629 1344, theatelierrestaurant.co.uk The Gardener’s Cottage Like a good Fringe show should be, the Gardener’s Cottage was a challenging but welcome shock to the system when it opened in 2012. Sitting at communal tables, diners entrust their (affordable) evening entirely to the chefs, who conjure up a different six-course set menu each day, using only the best in locally sourced ingredients. 1 Royal Terrace Gardens, 558 1221, thegardenerscottage.co L’Escargot Bleu While the others on the list are all fairly recent additions to the scene, L’Escargot Bleu (and its sister restaurant L’Escargot Blanc) are trusty stalwarts. If the cooking is unashamedly French, the ingredients are proudly Scottish, thanks to chef-patron Fred Berkmiller’s admirable dedication to championing the produce and talent of his adopted homeland. 56 Broughton Street, 557 1600, lescargotbleu. co.uk (Keith Smith)
All venues were recent award winners in our annual Eating & Drinking Guide. For more details, and for other ideas on eating out in Edinburgh, visit food.list.co.uk
31 Jul–7 Aug 2014 THE LIST FESTIVAL 95