Once again, the Edinburgh Fringe line-up at Summerhall is overflowing with riches, including visual arts, cutting edge theatre and a wide array of music. We’ve picked the brains of some of Summerhall’s residents and staff for a pick of the events happening in the building they’re most looking forward to. Check out the full Summerhall programme at www.summerhall.co.uk
Finiflex Records
Our top pick is Pussy Riot, because they represent protest and there are not enough protest singers or songs. The Russian art collective have one of the most important voices of the last ten years whose lyrical themes include feminism, LGBT rights, and opposition to Vladimir Putin (Dissection Room, 10-19 Aug). We’re also looking forward to The Kevin Rowland DJ Show because Kevin Rowland is a musical genius and the most stylish man in music (Dissection Room, 10 Aug). And then there’s Optimo, the most significant and consistently great selectors in Scotland (Dissection Room, 17 Aug).
Finiflex are a recording and production studio based in Summerhall. Selection by John, Donna and Davie
Will Anderson
F for Fake is probably my favourite film, and being a filmmaker and animator based in Summerhall, I would be mad to miss the exhibition of The Drawings and Paintings of Orson Welles (Laboratory Gallery, 2 Aug-23 Sep). Baby Face looks pretty provocative and challenging – it sounds the right amount of surreal and thought-provoking for my taste (Demonstration Room, 1-26 Aug; not 5, 13 and 20). And maybe And So I Watch You From Afar. I enjoy a bit of heavy music, and saw these guys play probably over 5 years ago, so I’ll be revisiting them at my doorstep (Dissection Room, 8 Aug).
Will Anderson is an award-winning animator and filmmaker based in Summerhall
Jamie Sutherland
The Nothing Ever Happens Here line up at Summerhall is absolutely overflowing with talent this year. If I had to pick a few highlights I would first say Meursault’s musical urban-horror show Crow Hill produced in collaboration with Made in Scotland (Dissection Room, 15-16 Aug). We’re also looking forward to Adam Holmes & the Embers who’ve gone from strength to strength with their distinctive sound blending folk, roots and Americana (Dissection Room, 4 Aug). Finally we’re thrilled to have a one-night-only DJ set from the legendary Optimo in the Dissection Room (17 Aug).
Jamie Sutherland is music programmer at Summerhall and frontman for Edinburgh band Broken Records
Barney’s Brewery
One of the immediate stand outs for us is having Pussy Riot perform their amazing autobiographical show Riot Days on site (Dissection Room, 10-19 Aug). We’re also excited for Darkfield’s immersive new show Flight, where the audience become the passengers on a plane. If it’s anything like their previous show, Séance, it’s sure to be a hair raiser, and at only 30 minutes it’s perfect for someone on the go (The Terrace, 1-26 Aug). Finally, we’re most excited for our own show, Barney’s Brewery Tours giving people a chance to look behind the curtain and see how Barney’s beers are made (Barney’s Brewery, 3-5 Aug; 9-12 Aug; 16-19 Aug; 23-26 Aug).
Barney’s Brewery are brewers of fine craft beers, based in Summerhall
Rebecca Sweeney
Everything Not Saved is my top pick for sure! This is the new show by Malaprop, who brought my favourite show of Fringe 2017 (BlackCatfishMusketeer) to Summerhall last year. Their shows are always brilliantly written, funny and just new writing theatre at its very best (Old Lab, 1-26 Aug; not 2, 13 and 20). I’m also looking forward to Love Song for Lavender Menace. I missed this when it was at the Lyceum last year so very excited to catch it at Summerhall (Techcube 0, 1-26 Aug; not 6, 13 and 20). And then there’s Big Aftermath of a Small Disclosure. I was sold on the title; it’s just a great name (Old Lab, 1-26 Aug; not 13 and 20).
Rebecca Sweeney is duty manager at Summerhall and a playwright. Her new play, Squall, is part of Traverse Theatre’s Breakfast Plays season (14-26 Aug; Sweeney’s play performed 15, 18, 22 and 25 Aug)
Tickets for Summerhall’s Fringe shows are on sale now. For more info on what’s on and to purchase tickets, head to festival18.summerhall.co.uk.
For more on the Fringe and its must-see shows, keep an eye on The Skinny’s Fringe coverage at theskinny.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh-fringe
For more info on Summerhall and its Fringe line-up, head to www.summerhall.co.uk