Three to See 2016: Musicians Gone Theatrical

Three Weeks / Caro Moses


Wind Resistance | Rehearsal Studio, The Lyceum Theatre | 5-29 Aug
There are a few musicians at this year’s Festival who have broadened their performances to something that fits into the theatre programme, and we find that quite intriguing. In this International Festival presentation, award-winning Edinburgh singer songwriter Karine Polwart combines story and song to explore history, birdlore and personal memories, and it sounds absolutely lovely.

Horse Macdonald In Careful | Gilded Balloon At The Museum | 3-29 Aug
Meanwhile, another renowned Scottish singer songwriter – Horse, aka Sheena Mary Macdonald – heads Fringe-wards with her theatrical offering, a biographical and no doubt fascinating account of growing up gay in 1970s Lanarkshire, and her journey to becoming one of Scotland’s most celebrated vocalists.

Mairi Campbell – Pulse | Summerhall | 3-28 Aug (pictured)
And yes, it’s yet another brilliant Scottish singer and musician, Mairi Campbell, who also tells her own story in ‘Pulse’, a look at her journey through classical Guildhall training, to love and danger in Mexico, to discovering step-dancing in Cape Breton. Described as a “quest to heal cultural wounds” the show was first performed in 2015 to critical acclaim, and I imagine it’s only got better since then.