Thank you to everyone who came to Summerhall for Festival 2011. We received compliments from all quarters about the atmosphere in the venue, and that is due hugely to the audience who came to our events, exhibitions, bar, and café.
Thinking of that atmosphere, a couple of moments come to mind to me personally.
The packed audience in the Red Lecture Theatre, listening to Iain Sinclair give a specially-written talk on the psychogeographical triangulation between London, Edinburgh, and the Lake District. He talked passionately about Kurt Schwitters, and Chris Petit’s film Radio On (both of which were also featured on the programme), and a devoted audience left feeling informed and inspired.
Another memory is of Little Bulb’s Goose Party on the final Saturday night, as they played an encore in the Dissection Room bar. Dressed in hilarious fancy dress and leading a swinging party, when they slowed down for a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheel (Mama Rock Me) it made for a particularly special few minutes.
Such moments as these did not go without recognition from outside quarters. Summerhall shows received an enormous proportion of glowing (nay, adulatory!) 5-star and 4-star reviews, not least for the spectacular all-night performance Hotel Medea.
We were also pleased to receive a number of awards and nominations, including Herald Angel awards for Hotel Medea, for the ‘These Silences’ writing conference, and, best of all, for the venue in general.
These successes are all due to the belief and abilities of the artists, the staff, and the organisations who worked with us to make Summerhall happen. We were thrilled that so many companies took a chance on this as-yet-unopened venue, many of whom are at the top of their professional game. The management team were incredibly positive and flexible, and the staff as a whole supremely friendly and capable.
The support and collaboration of Battersea Arts Centre was enormous, and great fun to work with, and the involvement of the Demarco European Art Foundation added unique depth and context to the contemporary aspects of the programme: both were essential to Summerhall’s presence.
Now is a time for reflection, but we are already working on plans for next year, and for year-round activities in due course. Keep an eye on the website and our social media platforms, and we will keep you updated as things progress. Exciting times!
Rupert Thomson, Festival Director
