The curtain has fallen on the third Army@TheFringe, with the venue celebrating the critical success of its five shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This weekend also saw the awarding of three Lustrum Awards for \u201cbest festival moments\u201d by Robert McDowell, Director of Summerhall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These went to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s full Army@TheFringe programme also included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All the productions in the programme received four and\/or five star reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brigadier Robin Lindsay<\/strong>, operational head of the Army in Scotland,said: \u201cArmy@TheFringe has worked hard to establish itself as a home for high-quality shows which are diverse, inclusive and that prompt debate about life in and out of uniform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are extremely proud that the shows we hosted have enjoyed so much success \u2013 with a series of awards and excellent reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dead\u00a0Equal<\/em> was also highly praised by\u00a0Edinburgh author Louise Miller\u2019s whose biography A Fine Brother: The Life of Captain Flora Sandes<\/a><\/em> was one of its key inspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said of Flora, who was the only British woman to officially fight as a soldier in WWI, who rose to the rank of captain (and was decorated seven times) in the Royal Serbian Army: \u201cFlora was the most courageous woman I have ever encountered. I loved the opera. To see her brought to life on stage in front of me was wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book has been optioned by Mad as Birds and a film is under development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Army@The Fringe takes place inHepburn House, a Drill Hall in Edinburgh\u2019s New Town for training Army Reservists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the festival it is transformed into a performance space, staffed by soldiers and hosting shows intended to encourage debate about the role of the Army \u2013 and wider social issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year there was also a field kitchen serving Army food, a series of post-show discussions about issues raised by the productions and Live Equal<\/em>, a photographic portrait exhibition of serving Army women by Wolf James. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Army@TheFringe takes place in association with Summerhall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Ends –<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notes for editors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More about the shows <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bomb Happy:<\/em><\/strong> A verbatim play from Everwitch about ordinary young men in extraordinary times. It brings to life the powerful testimonies of five Normandy veterans \u2013inexperienced conscripts, who find themselves part of one of the most dangerous operations of World War II. Memories \u2013 humorous and harrowing \u2013 collide, allowing a close-up experience of life on the frontline. See https:\/\/everwitchtheatre.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dead Equal:<\/em><\/strong> An all female team tell the forgotten true story of\u00a0Flora Sandes, heroine of the Allied front line in World War I, in a new opera. Flora and fellow nurse Emily Simmonds travel to the Serbian front as medical volunteers. Sick of the sidelines, Flora joins the Serbian army as a soldier while Emily continues nursing. Presented by Palmer and Hall Music.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hallowed Ground<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em>From Serbian snowfields to deserts in Afghanistan, four women unite across a century. Lilian, a surgeon in her 50s denied service in the Australian army in WW1 joins the WW1, joins The Scottish Women\u2019s Hospital. In WW2, Australian radiologist Mary finds herself the only woman among 3,000 British troops in the Middle East. In Iraq doctor Tam, plagued by dreams of fleeing war-torn Saigon, reconciles her own refugee experience. Catherine, on active service in Afghanistan, reflects on the remarkable women who paved the way. Presented by The Shift Theatre. See https:\/\/theshifttheatre.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Happiness Project<\/em><\/strong> from Creative Electric explores our need for non-sexual physical contact in our highly digital era. It features scenes of graphic reality TV binge-watching, Whitney Houston and spooning. Previous projects include the award-winning\u00a0Church of Broccoli\u00a0<\/em>(Leith Late, Kelburn Garden Party) and\u00a0Leith Is Where The Heart Is\u00a0<\/em>(Hidden Door). See\u00a0http:\/\/www.creative-electric.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unicorns, Almost: <\/em><\/strong>Presented byThe Story of Books. See https:\/\/unicornsalmost.com<\/a>.Audio Experience:An immersive audio experience and installation based on the play by Owen Sheers about the life and work of WW2 poet Keith Douglas. Unicorns, Almost tells the story of Keith Douglas from childhood to his early death three days after D-Day landings aged 24. It is the story of one man\u2019s Faustian pact with a war, which would both gift his unique and penetrating poetic voice, but then also take it away. Directed by John Retallack. Sound design by Jon Nicholls. Exhibition design by Leslie Oschmann. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Live show:<\/strong>An immersive set and Dan Krikler\u2019s \u201cwonderful performance\u201d (Margaret Atwood) take you into Douglas\u2019s world, from childhood to his death three days after D-Day aged 24. This is the story of the accelerated development of a poet and his desperate race to see his words in print before time runs out. Following the performance the audience is free to explore the installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Army@TheFringe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shows from past years<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Army@TheFringe is continuing to build on its strong track record of presenting bold, high quality, independently produced performance art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year\u2019s dance theatre production\u00a0The Troth<\/em>, from the Akademi, (\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 Broadway Baby<\/em>,\u00a0\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 Herald<\/em>) won Herald Angel and Lustrum awards with its portrayal of the experiences of South Asian soldiers on the Western Front in World War I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The queer theatre production\u00a0Cezary Goes to War<\/em>, from Poland, (\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 Broadway Baby<\/em>) also won a Lustrum Award. In 2017\u00a05 Soldiers,<\/em> from the Rosie Kay Dance Company, achieved huge critical acclaim with a string of\u00a0\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 and\u00a0\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 reviews and went on to enjoy major national and international success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook <\/strong>@Armyatthefringe<\/p>\n\n\n\n Twitter <\/strong>@<\/strong>ArmyatTheFringe<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Website:<\/strong>www.Armyatthefringe.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Summerhall is Edinburgh’s independent arts venue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now in its ninth year, Summerhall occupies the former University of Edinburgh Royal Dick Veterinary College – on the south side of the city. It is well known for its award-winning and critically acclaimed Edinburgh Festival programmes, presenting innovative international work that challenges and entertains from the likes of Ontroerend Goed, Sh!t Theatre and Paines Plough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Summerhall’s exhibitions are free and open all year, and the visual arts programme has welcomed world-class artists including Genesis P-orridge, Susan Hiller, Carolee Schneeman, Tamsyn Challenger and Laure Prouvost. Its live music programme, Nothing Ever Happens Here\u2026, has been lauded for its contribution to the Edinburgh music scene, with a programme which combines the best new music coming out of Scotland with touring national and international artists including Shonen Knife, Sun Kil Moon, Charlotte Church and Pussy Riot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All this combined with housing over a hundred artists and creative businesses, the renowned Richard Demarco archive, a brewery and a gin distillery plus hosting festivals and events year-round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank the dark gods for Summerhall\u201d The Guardian<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSummerhall is one of the city’s best live music outlets\u201d The List<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSummerhall has effectively rewired the fringe\u201d The Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n