AfriFest Scotland
AfriFest is a vibrant and exuberant showcase of visual, performing arts and culture of the Scottish/UK Pan-African diaspora
As part of the international celebration of Black History Month, AfriFest supports and promotes the arts and culture of Black Scots and artists of the Pan African diaspora by bringing together a high quality curated programme of music, literature, storytelling, dance and theatre featuring award winning internationally acclaimed artists and undiscovered local talent
AfriFest is a vibrant commemoration of the unique input black performers have made to the artistic and cultural landscape of Scotland.
This two day festival showcases visual and performing arts, as well as the culture of people of African descent, supporting artistic expression and innovation
The Gardener – Cumbernauld Theatre
The Gardener, an intimate portrait of a lifetime spent in love with the beauty and simplicity of nature and of the challenges we all meet as we age and face the last great question at the closure of our own life-story.
Premiered at Summerhall during the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Gardener boasted sold out performances and was winner of a coveted ‘Herald Angel Award’
La Banda Europa @ Celtic Connections
The brainchild of visionary composer Jim Sutherland, La Banda Europa is the village band meets the orchestra, bringing together 36 virtuoso musicians from 15 European countries playing ethnic/traditional instruments that belong to their home country. La Banda Europa is a potent symbol of how people from different backgrounds and cultures can come together in common purpose, united by music.
As a key feature of Celtic Connections 2017, La Banda Europa performed to standing ovations in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Legendary trombonist Rick Taylor conducted a musical set including the world première of Jim Sutherlands’ newly commissioned piece We Are An Ocean and the UK première of The Pillars of Hercules, composed for Marseille’s reign as European Capital of Culture.
White Gold – Iron-Oxide
At the old gateway to Glasgow, stories flow from the mouth of the Clyde…
White Gold an ambitious, site-specific performance set in Greenock’s iconic Sugar Sheds. Woven together from untold, vivid and touching stories shared by the people of Inverclyde in a poignant and deeply moving show
As the audience walked through the show, a community cast of 200 join a team of professional artists and performers to bring these gathered narratives to life through drama, movement, original music and breathtaking aerial performance.
Produced by Iron-Oxide, conceived by Mark Murphy, directed by Simone Jenkinson and Joseph Traynor of Cuerda Producciones with All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre, Tigerstyle and the Beacon Arts Centre. White Gold was part of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 Cultural Programme
Struileag – La Banda
Struileag, a 3 year international arts initiative highlighting the importance of indigenous language to the concept of home and belonging. The Struileag legacy includes a BBC Alba TV arts programme, a staged performance, a book of poetry, a CD album and an engaged, international online community.
Struileag worked with 25 commissioned poets and 24 musicians, 9 Gaelic singers and a Gaelic rapper to create the music score and album for the spectacular 60 minute Struileag stage show Children of the Smoke which premiered during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as part of Festival 2014.
Other highlights
The Swelkie – La Banda
The unveiling ceremony for the sculpture Nomadic Boulders – created by artists Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullione at John O’Groats.
The ceremony reflected the heritage of the area as well as the sounds of maritime activity. Jim Sutherlands’ music performed by musicians with Canisbay pupils reciting George Gunns’ poetry and a team of fire walkers.
An Turas/The Voyage – La Banda
Commissioned by the Scottish Government as a gift from Scotland to Derry-Londonderry UK Capital of Culture. The composed music underscored the opening ceremony of the ‘Return of Colmcille’.
The commissioned art work and music were presented by Scottish Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop to the Mayor of Derry-Londonderry and the Irish President
HeLa – Iron-Oxide / Adura Onashile
HeLa, an engaging exploration of the vast scientific progress made possible by the cells of one, unknown woman. This solo show by Adura Onashile takes as its inspiration the true life story of Henrietta Lacks and the extraordinary life of the HeLa cell line.
Winner of the ‘Scottish Arts Club Best Scottish Show on the Fringe Award’
Digi-Bhang – Iron-Oxide / Tigerstyle
Digi-Bhang Live music experience featured artists and musicians from both Asian and Scottish backgrounds, combining traditional influences of Bhangra with electronic elements – an intergalactic future folk fusion event, followed with a club night.
Part of Made in Scotland 2013
Skewered Snails – Iron-Oxide / Ramesh Meyyappan
Skewered Snails, the darkly comic tale of a dysfunctional family. powerfully told through extensive and imaginative physicality of Glasgow-based Singaporean theatre maker Ramesh Meyyappans’ eclectic mix of visual and physical theatre styles.
A London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Commission
CircoScotia – Articulation / Iron-Oxide
A showcase of high quality contemporary Scottish circus acts including aerial dance, Chinese pole, acro-balance and floor acrobatics.
Programmed over two days as part of Merchant City Festival and Surge Festival.