Made in Scotland Showcase 2018: Rock stars and LGBT+ icons representing the best of home-grown talent

• Deborah Chu
• 24 May 2018

This article is from 2018

credit: Hugh Carswell

A decade on, the Made in Scotland showcase remains a powerful platform for Scottish work both at home and abroad

Of the 968 Scottish works that will flood the venues of Edinburgh during the Fringe this year, 23 have been plucked from relative obscurity and given a generous injection of public money. Curated by a panel of experts from the Scottish and international performing arts communities, the Made in Scotland showcase, funded by the Scottish government's Expo Fund, functions not only as an official stamp of critical approval, but also provides the financial backing to help the chosen artists travel their work internationally. Now in its tenth year, the showcase has become a central aspect of the Fringe programme itself; as well as a vital pathway connecting Scotland's vibrant arts scene with the world at large.

The music offerings in this year's showcase features works that defiantly transgress genre and medium. ANNO from the Scottish Ensemble and sister act Anna and Eleanor Meredith combines Vivaldi's classic Four Seasons concerti suite with dizzying electronics and visual art, creating a powerful sensory experience of time's passage. Similarly, Graeme Stephen's Letters for Peace explores the ideals and sacrifices of conscientious objectors from World War One through a chamber string trio and spoken word performances. Other works include a deep-dive into Caledonian Soul from Blue Rose Code (also known as Ross Wilson), as well as Jan Tait and the Bear, Emily Doolittle's comedic chamber opera about the adventures of a roguish Shetlander.