Local Theatre Talent Set For Edinburgh Festival

Three local theatre groups are due to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe later this month.

With the support of the Arts Council and British Council of Northern Ireland, the arts organisations will stage productions that showcase some of the best of local talent at the popular festivals.

Provocative Belfast-based theatre company Kabosh will be performing their play 'Green & Blue' at the Summer Hall up until the Sunday 25 August. Written by local writer Laurence McKeown, the production explores the painful and humorous realities faced buy those who patrolled the Irish border during The Troubles.

PrimeCut Productions, a leading independent theatre company, will perform 'Hard To Be Soft, A Belfast Prayer' from 21-24 August at the Lyceum, with award winning dancer and choreographer Oona Doherty. The four-part dance work in collaboration with renowned DJ David Holmes is based on the experiences and realities of life in contemporary Belfast.

Newry playwright Meghan Tyler's work 'Crocodile Fever' will get its world premier at the Traverse Theatre in a partnership with the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. Set in Northern Ireland in 1989, it follows the story of the Devlin sisters as they confront their father's hideous legacy, fuelled by Tattoos, gin, 80s anthems and a chainsaw.

'Crocodile Fever' will return to the Lyric Theatre from 03-08 September.

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council said the upcoming performances have the potential to put Northern Ireland's theatre offering on the map.

She said: "It's vital that our artists and arts organisations are given opportunities to show their work to audiences outside of Northern Ireland. It's incredibly exciting that hiqh quality work from here is performed at the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  

"These festivals are hugely popular and these works will be seen by thousands of people, helping to put Northern Ireland on the map for all the right reasons and opening up the potential for these works to be toured nationally and internationally."

Visit www.edfringe.com and www.eif.co.uk for tickets and further information.



(JG/CM)