THE BRITISH Army returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with Different Voices, One Team, which looks to shed a light on the military and the contrasting views of its different allies.
Different Voices, One Team is a programme of events which aims to help us understand the essence of the army and dig into its purpose.
Authority, discipline and duty are all words we tend to associate the British Army with.
However, Army@TheFringe returns to uncover the neglected faces of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in today’s Scotland.
Their programme includes everything from plays and talks to photo exhibitions and concerts.
Most events will be held at Hepburn House – a venue which has a special place in the Army’s history as the location where popular painters, Francis Caddell RSA and William Geissler enlisted.
In this year’s Fringe, the army focuses more on the survival of cultural property by interacting with intangible heritage.
This is an idea inspired by UNESCO Protected Intangible Heritage festivals, like Laupupidu in Estonia.
Scottish Military Engagement leader, Lt Col Hugo Clark MBE said: “In a year where the Fringe is on its way to recovery by having 80% of its 2019 programme, I’m pleased to support this by increasing our own capacity by 60% from last year.”
Producer, writer-artist and reservist Harry Ross will be the new Creative Director.
With over 20 years of experience, he wants to grow a new branch for the festival where soldiers interact more with work creation.
“Today’s army is very different to the one I grew up next to, and I hope that my programme reflects the values of a contemporary, diverse, and moral organisation that the British Army seeks to become”, Ross added.
The shows include workshops and readings on Scotland’s heterogeneous language and an event digging into the reason behind the British Army celebration of the Scots poet Robert Burns.
Outlander’s Gillebride Macmillan is also set up to team up with the Scottish Poetry Library to usher a workshop on Gaelic war poetry.
The events programme will also offer photographic exhibitions.
At Stills Gallery, Alex Boyd’s Tir An Airm, will give an insight into Scottish land used to train British and Nato Soldiers.
Likewise, award-winning military photographer, Bdr. Murray Kerr, will display To Spur a Running Horse.
An exhibit of portraits of veterans at rest and Officer Cadets engaged in combat.
The army promises to end the festival on a high note.
On the 28th of August, they will offer a one-off concert by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at the War Poets Collection, Edinburgh Napier’s Craiglockhart Campus.
The music will be composed by 20th and 21st-century musicians at war in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier Music Students.
To help their post-Covid rebirth, visiting performers and some recent graduates from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland do not have to pay rent.
This is something that keeps ticket prices affordable with over one quarter of shows running under a pay-what-you-want scheme.
Enjoy this multifaceted look into the army’s soul, mind and body this month at Hepburn House Reserve Centre.
To read more of Deadline News’ dedicated coverage of the Edinburgh Fringe, click here.
