This August sees the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) transform from an international meetings and events space into a festival venue and hosting the greatest number of shows in its 10-year history with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The increase in performances for 2017 results from a new partnership between the EICC and The Pleasance Theatre Trust - which has announced that several shows from its Edinburgh Fringe 2017 programme are set to be staged at the EICC this August.
The technical facilities at the EICC will allow the Pleasance to present work on a scale that has previously not been possible. One of the highlights is the high-octane Cirkopolis, by critically-acclaimed contemporary circus troupe, Cirque Éloize from Montreal, Canada. Inspired by the legendary 1927 film Metropolis, the twelve acrobats of Cirque Éloize present a breath-taking blend of circus art, theatre and dance performed in the EICC’s Lennox Suite.
The comedy line-up at EICC this August includes EICC regulars and Fringe favourites Craig Hill, Daniel Sloss and Jimeoin along with comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti, Frankie Boyle and two comedy galas – Barnardo’s Big Comedy Benefit on 10 August and the lastminute.com Edinburgh Comedy Awards Show on 27 August.
Other shows taking place at EICC include Trainspotting Live, an immersive staging of Irvine Welsh’s classic. In the children’s programme, The Polar Bear and Unicorn Theatre present Polar Bears Go Up, devised and performed by Eilidh MacAskill and Fiona Manson.
On 16 August EICC will host the one-off performance Requiem for Aleppo, a new work by composer David Cazalet and choreography by Jason Mabana which features 12 international dancers, choral music, medieval Arabic poetry and the real life stories of people from the ancient and devastated city of Aleppo. All proceeds go to the Syria Relief and Techfugees charities.
Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of the EICC, said: "The Pleasance has a rightly revered position on the UK and international arts and culture scene and as a venue we are very excited to be hosting some of their biggest shows at the EICC this August. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is integral to our city’s offering to the world and, as part of EICC’s increasing support of Edinburgh’s festivals, myself and the team are delighted to be working in partnership with the Pleasance."
Anthony Alderson, Director of the Pleasance said: “The Pleasance is thrilled to be working with the EICC. The incredible technical facilities will allow us to present work that previously could not have considered coming to the festival. Presenting work and artists at the very pinnacle of their careers alongside those starting out is central to the Pleasance Theatre Trust’s aims. We are already in discussion with a number of shows for the 2018 and 2019 festivals, shows that will utterly delight Fringe going audiences.”
Completing the line-up at EICC is a varied programme of oriental arts comprising Chinese opera, dance and theatre and featuring a performance of Hua Mulan, a story previously adapted by Disney for the big screen.