Theatre that explores mythology and ancient traditions at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe
- Gareth K Vile
- 25 June 2019
This article is from 2019
Blood and Gold, Mara Menzies
Including The Grandmothers Grimm, Qing Snake and Blood and Gold
The origins of Western theatre may well have emerged from the religious festival in fifth century Athens, but mythology has always provided stories for the stage. From contemporary adaptations through to respectful engagement with ancient traditions, the Fringe explore the diversity and continuity of the stories that have provided societies around the world with a shared set of values and ways of making sense of the world.
Daphne, or Hellfire
Boxedin Theatre
Pleasance Pop Up (Dynamic Earth), 2–26 Aug (not 6, 13, 20), 5.15pm
From Ovid's tale of divine harassment comes a contemporary take on Graeco-Roman mythology. Daphne is an environmentalist, Apollo is a boastful boyfriend and her father is applying the pressure as the heroine battles business' lack of concern.
Blodeuwedd Untold
Jo Blake, Pleasance, Royal and Derngate
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul–26 Aug (not 12), 3.15pm
Jo Blake, a recognised storyteller around the world, investigates the tale of a woman who is formed not of flesh but flowers. From the margins of Celtic mythology, Blodeuwedd is give a physical and poetic reclamation.
Gilgamesh and Me
Babolin Theatre
Paradise in Augustines, 2–10 Aug (not 4), various times
The oldest of myths is turned on its head as Hannah, the god of love, becomes enraged at rejection by Gilgamesh – who'd rather hang with his main man than an immortal, discovering that she is also the god responsible for war.
Green Knight
Debbie Cannon
Scottish Poetry Library, 7–14 Aug (not 8, 11, 12), 7.30pm
Venturing into the age of chivalry, and a supernatural warrior threatens the harmony of the famous Round Table. Cannon's storytelling sets a woman at the heart of the action and imagines how this changes an adventure of male honour and martial skill.
Hoichi the Earless
Theatre Ronin
C South, 1–10 Aug, 1.05pm
A mash-up of traditional Chinese music, storytelling and physical theatre, Hoichi delves into folklore through the story of a lute-player who has an intimate connection to those who have passed.
Where Do Fairies Come From
TypeCast Productions
Paradise in Augustines, 2–17 Aug (not 4, 11), various times
Tracing the history of the fairy-folk from Celtic mythology through Shakespeare and into contemporary fantasy, TypeCast chase down these elusive stars of much British mythology.
Qing Snake
Xiao Bai Art Co
theSpace @ Venue45, 12–17 Aug, 10.15pm
Using puppetry and shadows, Xiao Bai take a myth that has been the inspiration for opera and television series and translate Chinese folklore into intimate physical theatre.
Blood and Gold
Mara Menzies
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 1–26 Aug (not 12, 19), 2pm
From Kenya to Edinburgh, Menzies uses storytelling to transport the audience to a world where mythological imagination and mundane urban life come together to reflect on the post-colonial world.
The Grandmothers Grimm
Some Kind of Theatre
Paradise in the Vault, 3–17 Aug (not 11), 9.15pm
The Brothers Grimm may have defined the old stories for the age of enlightenment, but in their versions, much was covered and cleaned up: not only the violence and the anti-social messages, but the very women who had kept the tales alive throughout history.
Narukami Thunder God
KabukiMa
theSpace on North Bridge, 19–14 Aug, 2.10pm
A kabuki classic in which a woman rescues the dragon god from a mad monk. Brought to the Fringe by a company determined to present kabuki theatre to western audiences.
