We are delighted that many current and former friends of IASH will be presenting work across the Festivals in 2022. From theatre to poetry to politics, there is something for everyone! We heartily recommend checking out these shows and events.
Shatha Altowai and Saber Bamatraf, former IASH Fellows, are bringing their play “Saber Came to Tea” to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for two performances only: ‘Saber Came to Tea is an entertaining short play with original music and magic that tells the story of one young woman's defiant stand against the constraining social norms of her family. A young Yemeni couple risk their family and their lives to be together.’
6th–7th August, 10:30-11:30 BST, Zoo Southside – Main House
Get tickets here.
Claire Askew, one of our Dangerous Women authors, is presenting “Claire Askew and Salena Godden: Life and Death,” at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: ‘Claire Askew’s second collection, How to Burn a Woman, is a tale of power and resilience. She’s joined by poet and writer Salena Godden, whose debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death is a daring, poetic take on life, love and death.’
14th August, 14:15-15:15 BST, Northside Theatre
Get tickets here.
Former IASH/Traverse Creative Fellow and playwright Peter Arnott’s “Tay Bridge” is back at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: ‘The highly acclaimed Tay Bridge was commissioned by Peter Arnott for the 80th anniversary of Dundee Rep in 2019. A homage to the victims of the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879 realised as a series of set pieces, each of the seven characters tells a tale while the ensemble acts as a chorus.’
15th–20th August, 20:15 BST, The Royal Scots Club
Get tickets here.
Apphia Campbell, former IASH/Traverse Creative Fellow and playwright, is bringing her critically-acclaimed piece “Black is the Colour of My Voice” back to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: ‘Direct from sell-out shows, an extensive UK tour and London season, Fringe First award winner Apphia Campbell's stunning solo show inspired by the life of Nina Simone returns.’
4th-–9th, 11th–16th, 18th–20th August, 15:00 BST, Pleasance at EICC, Cromdale Theatre
Get tickets here.
Former IASH/Traverse Creative Fellow Jo Clifford’s new play “The Not So Ugly Duckling: A Play for Grownups”, comes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: ‘We think we know this story. But when two older women retell a familiar tale, they find dark places and unanswered questions. Entering life's gloriously chaotic duckpond, they celebrate the pains and joys of lives well-lived.’
11th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 25th August, 16:45 BST, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Netherbow Theatre
Get tickets here.
Margie Orford, an IASH Community Fellow and internationally acclaimed author, is speaking at “Joanne Harris and Margie Orford: Women in a Man’s World”, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: ‘Join Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat, and Margie Orford, who penned the acclaimed Claire Hart thrillers, as they discuss how women confront male privilege and walk their own paths.’
22nd August, 11.30–12.30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.
Allan Little, member of the IASH Advisory Board, is presenting several events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival:
“Serhii Plokhy with Allan Little: Ukraine at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia”
16th August, 21:30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.
“Jakuta Alikavazovic with Allan Little: Lives Shaped by War”
19th August, 11:15–12:15 BST, Northside Theatre
Get tickets here.
“Antony Beevor with Allan Little: The Epic Story of Russia’s Revolution”
24th August, 17:30–18:30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.
"Val McDermid with Allan Little: A Woman’s a Woman, for a’ That”
25th August, 20:30–21:30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.
“Giles Foden with Allan Little: Band of Brothers”
26th August, 20:15–21:15 BST, Northside Theatre
Get tickets here.
Alycia Pirmohamed, current IASH Junior Anniversary Fellow, is speaking with Jay Gao at the event “Jay Gao and Alycia Pirmohamed: History, Memory, Poetry”, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: ‘How does identity shift through generations? Can we ever write free from historical trauma? How do we live in the moment? These are just a few of the questions posed by Alycia Pirmohamed and Jay Gao in their anticipated debut collections, Another Way to Split Water and Imperium. ‘
13th August, 18:30–19:30 BST, Wee Red Bar
Get tickets here.
Alexander McCall Smith, long standing friend of IASH and founder and sponsor of the Isabel Dalhousie Fellowship, presents “A Writer for Good” at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: ‘Who better to turn to in trying times than literature’s undisputed king of kindness, Alexander McCall Smith? He has new books to introduce, including the deliciously quirky Tiny Tales, the latest Number 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novel and a slightly twisted collection of stories, Best Served Cold: Tales of Revenge.’
16th August, 12:30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.
Gerda Stevenson, one of our Dangerous Women authors, is presenting “Through Language, Landscape and Time” at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. ‘In 12 stories, Gerda Stevenson’s collection Letting Go spans the mid-19th century to the present day, taking us from Glasgow and the Borders to Apartheid South Africa and the disappearing Arctic. And all in a blend of English and Scots.’
25th August, 16:30 BST, Wee Red Bar
Get tickets here.
Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister and Dangerous Women contributor, is speaking with two Scottish authors at the Edinburgh International Book Festival:
“Louise Welsh with Nicola Sturgeon: Writing Glasgow, 20 Years On”: ‘Join Welsh as she introduces Rilke’s return to the shadowy streets of Glasgow in The Second Cut. In this special event, she speaks with MSP for Glasgow Southside, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.’
15th August, 17:30–18:30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.
“Brian Cox with Nicola Sturgeon: The Lion of Dundee”: ‘Cox’s Golden Globe-winning depiction of the leonine media tycoon has won him countless new admirers. His memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, is refreshingly honest about life on stage and screen. The Dundonian actor joins us for a wide-ranging conversation with Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.’
29th August, 21:30 BST, Central Hall
Get tickets here.