The Edinburgh International Festival 2015, considered the world’s most prestigious arts festival held in Edinburgh, will host a free gala opening event. The festival also has a new theatrical version of Alasdair Gray’s novel, Lanark, folk and pop music, a series of new directions an new venues this summer. The festival will run from 7th August to 31st August. The festival will open with a free event outside the landmark Usher Hall. Projected on to the venue will be a digitally animated artwork set to music.
The festival is looking at the youth to develop future audiences for the festival. It has introduced works conceived for young people into the main programme. The festival offers great value for young ticket buyers with a 50% discount on all tickets eligible, right from the opening of ticket sale. Fergus Linehan, the Irishman, is the programme director and is no novice, as he has previously directed the Sydney Festival, Vivid Live and the Dublin Theatre Festival. He revealed about the festival that big international stars from the performing arts are coming and also new areas of programming for the festival that includes diverse genres of music and family-focused shows are to be featured.
With a new partnership with BBC Arts online, the festival’s artists’ conversations will be available to a wider audience online. Free tickets will be announced on Twitter (to be issued) and more info is available at eif.co.uk/artistconversations. The free opening event should not be missed.