For the first time the Army has its own venue at the Edinburgh Fringe where it will present cutting edge theatre and dance, including Rosie Kay Dance Company’s acclaimed 5 Soldiers.
The Hepburn House Army Reserve Centre, in East Claremont Street will be transformed into atemporary performance space fully staffed by military personnel called Army@TheFringe.
The initiative is part of the Army’s drive to engage with the public in new, open and creative ways – sparking conversations about its role in 21st-century society, and reflecting on its place in history.
Army@The Fringe is in association with Summerhall and will be featured within the Summerhall programme. Summerhall is proud of the diverse line-up of work at the festival and is working with The Army to present a performance programme which delves behind the front line to tell stories of life in and out of uniform.
Brigadier Gary Deakin, Commander 51st Infantry Brigade, said: “Having a venue at the world’s biggest arts festival gives us an unparalleled opportunity to engage with people in new ways. As well as having superb shows from this country and overseas, there will be
discussions and other events. Army@TheFringe will allow us to have entirely different conversations about our place in society and the issues affecting all of us in a rapidly changing world.”
The Rosie Kay Dance Company’s production 5 Soldiers: The
Body is the showpiece.
Rosie Kay, said: “We are thrilled to bringing 5 Soldiers to the Edinburgh Fringe with the support of The Army. If someone had told me when I started the research for this work nine years ago, that this would be the result I would never have believed them.
Attitudes to the arts and to engagement in the Army have changed dramatically, and we are proud to be reaching more audiences in new ways through this work at the Fringe.”
Hepburn House will take audiences into the world of today’s Army – and will be complete with comfortable Mess Bar and Army tuck-shop. It also had an important part in the city’s history as the point where many Scottish troops gathered for deployment in both world wars.
