Edinburgh Edition 2018

Edinburgh Edition 2018 EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 02 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 03 , or as we say in Québec, Salut! Bonjour Welcome to this special edition of the Québec First Snow / Première neige Culture brochure, dedicated to the amazing artists from Québec appearing at Edinburgh’s Festivals this summer. Théâtre PàP, Hôtel-Motel

Home to 23% of Canada’s population and one of its & The National Theatre founding nations, Québec is a hotbed of creativity, known for its maple syrup, francophone heritage and of Scotland eclectic cultural offering. Québec is well represented A co-production with at the Fringe, International and Book Festivals this the National Theatre year, as you will discover in the next few pages. of Scotland, First This Québec presence includes four circus shows, a Snow / Première neige field for which Québec is particularly famous, as well brings together three as the only contemporary ice skating dance company companies to create in the world, whose performances make a detour to timely theatre about nations wrestling the ice rink well worth the effort! with history, culture For those wishing to collaborate with Québec and and politics. In this meet the team, join us for a special round table on exciting world premiere, international cooperation organised in collaboration © Lino Isabelle’s family descend with the British Council on Saturday 18 August. Sign on their ancestral home, but they can’t stop arguing about up at . the past and have very different visions of the future. www.bit.ly/QuebecRoundTable We wish you all an excellent Festival season and Supported by the QC-UK Connections Programme (British Council and hope you get a chance to experience some of these the Québec Government). fantastic Québec performances. 1 – 26 August except Mondays 6.10pm Canada Hub, King’s Hall £15 (£13)

www.canadahubfringe.com www.theatrepap.com Whilst every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information in this brochure you are advised to contact the host organisations for confirmation. This brochure should not be reproduced in full or in part www.productionshotelmotel.com without the consent of the Québec Government Office. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com , Underbelly @ Circus Hub, 4 – 25 August (see page 9) Cover: Photo © Audric Gagnon. Cirque Alfonse, Tabarnak EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 04 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 05

Whispers in the Cosmos Virginie Fortin Following successful Fringe runs in 2016 and 2017, Saturday Night Live Québec cast member Virginie Fortin returns to Edinburgh with Whispers in the Cosmos. Somewhere between a stand-up comedy show and a philosophical essay, the show might just be an existentialist quest wearing a comedy costume.

15 – 25 August 3.45pm Fireside – Arch III Free Vertical Influences

© Julie Artacho www.freefestival.co.uk | www.virginiefortin.com Le Patin Libre ‘This is pure movement, intelligent artistry, aesthetic beauty and incredible skill all rolled into one – and it’s breathtaking’ ★★★ The Scotsman Iconoclastic ice skaters Le Patin Libre return to Edinburgh’s vintage indoor ice rink, sharing their signature mix of movement, wit, speed and grace. The virtuosity of figure skating joyfully meets the attitude of street dance and the sophistication of contemporary performance. As seen on Darcey Bussell’s New Dance, BBC2.

8 – 25 August times and days vary, see website Assembly @ Murrayfield Ice Rink £17.50 (£15)

© Alicia Clarke www.assemblyfestival.com | www.lepatinlibre.com EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 06 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 07 The 7 Fingers Formed as a collective of seven circus artists in 2002, contemporary circus trailblazers The 7 Fingers reach audiences around the world with over 500 performances every year.

‘The 7 Fingers always make you feel like a welcome guest at their party’ The Boston Globe © Tom Bouchet © Tom Reversible Sisters For Reversible, eight outstanding performers dug through the histories of their families to unveil stories from the Sisters takes audiences on an experimental and human past which reflect how they experience life today. With voyage, combining circus, dance, clowning and music. its unique mix of theatre, circus, dance, music and It is an exploration of the beauty and complexity of the acrobatics, Reversible is dedicated to the generation relationship that joins sisters. Told as a fairy tale, the story who forged the world in which we live today. Be takes the audience through the winding dramas of two prepared for the best in contemporary circus. women trapped in an immutable relationship.

2 – 26 August except 8, 13, 20 6.15pm 2 – 26 August except 8, 13, 20 4.40pm Assembly Rooms – Music Hall £19 (£17) Assembly Rooms – Music Hall £18 (£15) © Alexandre Galliez

www.assemblyfestival.com | www.7doigts.com EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 08 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 09

Attrape Moi Tabarnak Flip FabriQue Cirque Alfonse ‘Stupendously impressive’ Winner - Best Circus Show, Adelaide ★★★ The Stage Fringe 2018. Fringe favourites Flip A celebration of Heaven FabriQue return to and Hell and everything in Edinburgh after sell-out between! Cirque Alfonse, seasons in 2016 and 2017. creators of the five-star, Fringe Join these high-flying, 2015 sell-out hit Barbu, return fearless young artist- with a brand-new show. athletes as they astound Daring, raucous, eccentric audiences with adrenaline and downright fun, Tabarnak pumping feats of cutting combines edge-of-your seat edge nouveau cirque in their circus with crazy cabaret acts crowd-pleasing spectacle and a heart-thumping live Attrape Moi (Catch Me). score.

2 – 26 August except 8, 13, 20 5.30pm 4 – 25 August except 8, 13, 20 7pm Assembly Hall - Main Hall £16 (£14) Underbelly @ Circus Hub £18.30 - £20.30

www.assemblyfestival.com www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk © Richard Davenport

www.flipfabrique.com © Nicolas Descoteaux www.cirquealfonse.com EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 10 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 11 Roxanne Bouchard Roxanne Bouchard’s fifth novel, and her first to be translated into English, We Were the Salt of the Sea is a dark and consuming crime thriller set on the Gaspé Peninsula of northern Québec.

In Noir Nordique Norđur at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Roxanne and Icelandic writer Ragnar Jónasson compare the remote Marc-André Hamelin northern settings of their work. Roxanne will also be giving ‘There are virtuoso pianists, and there is a reading as part of the festival’s Amnesty International Marc-André Hamelin’ ★★★ The Telegraph Imprisoned Writers Series. Powerful Québec pianist Marc-André Hamelin is known for his unrivalled Noir Nordique Norđur musicianship and virtuosity. He joins Saturday 25 August 1.45pm long-time collaborators the Takács String Spiegeltent £12 (£10) Quartet for two complementary recitals, interpreting the lush Romanticism of Dohnányi’s First and Second Piano Amnesty International Quintets. Inspired by Brahms and Imprisoned Writers Series Schumann, this is urgent, volatile music Saturday 25 August 5.30pm of immense emotional concentration. Baillie Gifford Corner Theatre Free Friday 10 & Saturday 11 August 11am

www.edbookfest.co.uk The Queen’s Hall £11 - £34

www.roxannebouchard.com © Mark Swan, at KidEthic

© Sim Cannety Clarke www.eif.co.uk | www.marcandrehamelin.com EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 12 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 13 Celtic Connections present National Youth Orchestra Le Vent du Nord of Canada & Marjorie ‘There must be few souls alive who could resist Le Vent du Nord’s boundless joie de vivre’ Folk Radio Maltais Since their formation in 2002, Québec folk group Le Vent Energy, conviction, breathtaking du Nord have won the hearts of audiences throughout freshness: the National Youth Europe and around the world with their unique blend of Orchestra of Canada brings traditional songs and original compositions. They perform together the finest musicians at the Edinburgh International Festival alongside Julie aged 16 to 28, including 32 Fowlis as part of ‘Light on the Shore’, programmed by from or living in Québec, to former Celtic Connections Director Donald Shaw. form one of the world’s most accomplished youth ensembles.

Monday 13 August 7.30pm The wordless soprano solo in © Helen Tansey The Leith Theatre £25 (£12.50) Symphony No.3 by Vaughan Williams is performed by mezzo-soprano Marjorie Maltais,

Tuesday 14 August 8pm Usher Hall £10 - £24

© David Popoff www.eif.co.uk | www.nyoc.org | www.maltaismezzo.com EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL UK –UK Ireland – Ireland – Nordic – Nordic Countries Countries 14 UK – Ireland –UK Nordic – Ireland Countries – Nordic Countries 15

La Cenerentola Mahler’s Eighth Symphony Michèle Losier Marie-Nicole Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Michèle Losier takes on the ebullient title role among an Lemieux exceptional cast of international singers in Marie-Nicole Lemieux joins an eminent Opera de Lyon’s extraordinary production of roster of international solo singers, Rossini’s Cinderella opera. Told through some alongside the choral might of the

© Michael Slobodian of Rossini’s zestiest, most sparkling music, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, to perform this is a Cenerentola that charms and captivates from start Mahler’s epic Eighth Symphony – a choral to finish – a brilliant spectacle, and one with a big heart. masterpiece which has earned the nickname ‘Symphony of a Thousand’. 24, 25 & 26 August 7.15pm The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by Festival Theatre £28 - £96 British conductor and www.eif.co.uk renowned Mahlerian

Sunday 26 August 7.30pm Usher Hall £15 - £47

www.eif.co.uk

© Denis Rouvre www.marienicolelemieux.com This brochure is produced by the Culture team at the Québec Government Office in London. Find out more about Québec cultural events and activities in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic Countries:

www.facebook.com/QuebecUK www.twitter.com/Quebec_UK [email protected] www.quebec.org.uk

The High Commission of Canada also proudly supports culture in the UK:

www.facebook.com/CanadaintheUK www.twitter.com/CanadianUK [email protected] www.list.co.uk/canada