The Edinburgh International Festival and The Macallan have announced the details of the festivals opening event: Where to Begin, which kicks-off the 2024 International Festival, carrying the theme ‘Rituals That Unite Us.’
The large-scale outdoor spectacle, created with The Macallan “blends immersive installation, live performance, music, large-scale video projection and storytelling for a large-scale communal experience” transforming George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh’s Old Town, a first-time venue for the festival, into an immersive environment. Scheduled over three nights from August 2 to August 4, the event will start at dusk, with the final night offering audio descriptions and captions.
The Festival organisers say that the site-specific experience “draws on a combined heritage between the incomparable single malt Scotch whisky The Macallan and the International Festival of celebrating the creativity, excellence and height of achievement that lies within the Scottish identity.”
Creative Director Katy Fuller from Pinwheel leads the production, and, inspired by Edinburgh’s layered landscape, the performance explores the hidden powers within the city’s vaults and tunnels, featuring a journey through flame-lit grounds culminating in a grand video projection.
Jaume Ferràs, Global Creative Director, The Macallan, said, “I’m proud to see The Macallan’s creative partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival come to life in August. Both the International Festival and The Macallan hold a deep commitment to excellence and artistic innovation, rooted in our shared, rich Scottish heritage.
“As The Macallan celebrates our 200th anniversary this year, we are proud to partner with the International Festival to create an unmissable start to the festival season. Where to Begin will captivate audiences with stories of Scotland’s past, present and future, and will offer the inspiration that only a live event like this can offer.”
Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti said, “This year, we’ve invited everyone to participate in our 2024 theme, Rituals That Unite Us. (The) Opening Event: Where to Begin in partnership with The Macallan, marks the first of a new ritual, both for our Festival and the city. We know audiences will be blown away by this spectacle, and we’re proud to show the formidable creative power and potential of Edinburgh and its people to the world. It’s an event that beckons us to find new ways to experience and appreciate our city.”