HighTide's Edinburgh 2019 line-up to include pieces by Charlotte Josephine and Kenny Emson
© Bronwen Sharp
New writing company HighTide will be partnering with Assembly during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to programme a season entitled Disruption.
Six new productions will be featured as part of the line-up, which will all run at Assembly Roxy. Kenny Emson's Rust, which will run at the Bush Theatre ahead of the festival, will be the centrepiece. The play follows Nadia and Daniel who have signed for a flat under a pseudonym, and are looking to start again after years of married life. Eleanor Rhode directs, with Max Johns designing and sound designed by David Gregory.
Charlotte Josephine (Bitch Boxer) will return to Edinburgh with her first piece solely as a writer. Pops focuses on a father and daughter stuck in a cycle of addiction but who are trying to connect and forgive nonetheless. The piece will be directed by Ali Pidsley of Barrel Organ and has movement from Jennifer Jackson and sound design from Kieran Lucas.
Collapsible is Irish writer Margaret Perry's piece which won the VAULT Festival's 2019 Origin Award. The monologue looks at the life of a complex, funny bisexual woman and is directed by Thomas Martin.
A double bill of shows by Teddy Lamb and Mia Johnson will be presented in collaboration with The Queer House. Lamb's "Since U Been Gone" – an autobiographical account of growing up queer in the East Midlands – and Johnson's multi-disciplinary Pink Lemonade – which explores masculinity and lesbianism in black womxn – will alternate performances every day.
Suffering From Scottishness, from spoken word artist Kevin P Gilday, looks at nationhood and patriotism. The immersive theatrical experience confronts Scottish identity, and invites audiences to take part in a focus group.
Steve Atkinson, artistic director of HighTide, said: "I am thrilled to be concluding my artistic directorship of HighTide by championing this outstanding group of six bold new artists."
Disruption will also feature a programme of events throughout the month which will be programmed at a later date. Rust, Pops, Since U Been Gone, Collapsible and Pink Lemonade will all run at HighTide's Aldeburgh and Walthamstow Festivals in September.
