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Scottish talent in the USA
05/04/2009
A unique showcase promoting Scottish theatre for children and young people will be performed Stateside at the famous New Victory Theater in New York thanks to funding from the Scottish Government.
Having bid successfully for £350,083 from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival will support around 90 performances over seven weeks from four of Scotland's leading theatre companies. New York's prestigious New Victory Theater for children and young people will present the four productions:
- The Man Who Planted Trees - Puppet State Theatre Company (for age seven and up)
- Cinderella - Shona Reppe Puppets (for age four and up)
- My House - Andy Manley in association with Starcatchers (for age 18 months to 3 years)
- Hansel and Gretel - Catherine Wheels Theatre Company (for age eight and up)
Read Michael Russell's Scotland Week blog
Speaking from 'off Broadway' during Scotland Week, Culture Minister Michael Russell said:
"This unique project - which will see four Scottish companies open the autumn season at the premier theatre for children and young people in New York - turns the spotlight directly on our talented artists on one of the world's most famous stages.
"The Scottish Government is determined to see the Edinburgh Festivals continue to flourish and maintain their global competitive edge. To do that we must ensure that more Scottish-based artists get involved and are given the opportunity to take their productions around and outwith Scotland. That is why our Expo Fund is so important - it allows touring opportunities for our artists to promote the wealth of creative talent nurtured in Scotland.
"These performances, which have already been enjoyed by Imaginate Festival goers, are expected to attract audiences of around 10,000 children and young people, their teachers and families in New York. I am delighted that thanks to Expo funding Scottish-based world-class talent will be given this fantastic opportunity to tread the boards Stateside in turn raising the profile of the fantastic talent and culture on offer in Scotland."
Imaginate's Chief Executive, Tony Reekie said:
"The Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival is delighted to have received Expo Funding enabling it to present four Scottish productions for children and young people in New York in collaboration with The New Victory Theater. It is a tremendous honour for Scottish companies and Scottish work to be recognised in this way by the most important presenting children's theatre in the world. The New Victory is the most sought after venue for artists in our field, and to have not one but four companies opening their season is nothing short of incredible. It must be stated that the work of Scottish artists for children and young people deserves this accolade. Their skill, passion and creativity are recognised across the world and this project is a fitting tribute to, not only those companies chosen, but all the artists working for children and young people in Scotland today."
Programming Director of the New Victory Theater, Mary Rose Lloyd said:
"The New Victory Theater is proud to honour the accomplishments of these Scottish innovators and, by bringing them to the United States and showcasing their work, it is our hope to inspire American artists to broaden their perspectives on creating captivating, breathtaking, extraordinary work for young people."
Now in its second year, the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund supports the premiering of productions, events or exhibitions involving Scottish-based participants at any of the Edinburgh Festivals. The fund can also be used to support touring of events or performances after their premiere at the festival and allow successful work to reach new audiences. This funding reinforces the Scottish Government's commitment to ensuring Scotland's cultural assets continue to be at the cutting edge of international talent.
The Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival has been awarded £350,083 from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund for this project which is a collaboration and celebration between the New Victory Theater and Imaginate, producers of the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival. It celebrates the huge success of Scottish Children's Theatre over the past fifteen years with a special season of work presenting four of the leading Scottish theatre companies with productions that have been presented at the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival. The productions will run in New York from September 18 - November 1, 2009. Dates for each production are:
- Cinderella (September 14 - 27)
- My House (September 28 - October 18)
- The Man Who Planted Trees (September 28 - October 11)
- Hansel and Gretel (October 13 - November 1)
The Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival 2009 runs from Monday May 25 to Monday June 1, 2009 and then tours throughout Scotland.
The planned expenditure for the Edinburgh Festivals Expo fund is £6 million over three years (2008-2009 to 2011-2012).
Resources of £2.046 million have been allocated in 2009-10 across the 12 festivals. £1.308 million was allocated in 2008-09. The assessment process and funding is administered by the Scottish Arts Council. 2009-10 allocations for the Art Festival and International Festival have already been announced and details are below. Other allocations will be announced in due course.
The Edinburgh Art Festival has received £250,000 over the next two years from this year's Expo Fund to set up the Commissioning Fund for new work by Scottish-based artists which will be premiered to an international audience at next year's festival.
Scottish Ballet has been commissioned to present three works at the 2009 Edinburgh International Festival, including the world premiere of a new version of Petrushka by Ian Spink. The other two ballets in the programme - Scenes De Ballet by Frederick Ashton and Workwithinwork by William Forsythe - also new to the company.
The Expo fund is available to the 12 members of Festivals Edinburgh, to support the development of Scottish-based work.
The main role for coordinating the portfolio of Expo projects falls to Festivals Edinburgh, led by Faith Liddell. A panel comprising members of the Thundering Hooves steering group has recommended the projects for funding in 2009-10.
Festivals Edinburgh is a high-level organisation created by the directors of Edinburgh's 12 major festivals to take the lead on their joint strategic development and to look at over-arching areas of mutual interest.