First «Swiss Selection» at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia is, for the first time, presenting a selection of three Swiss theatre productions at The Fringe in Edinburgh, the world’s largest theatre festival. The selected artists are given the opportunity to showcase their work in front of an international audience of theatre professionals. «Swiss Selection Edinburgh» represents a pilot project that builds on the successful experiences gained with the promotion platform «Sélection Suisse en Avignon».
The Fringe festival in Edinburgh is one of the most important meet-up events in the world for the international theatre scene. Over one million visitors are expected to descend on the Scottish capital in August, where thousands of theatre productions will be on show at around 250 venues.
From 31 July to 25 August , Pro Helvetia will, as a pilot project, present three Swiss theatre productions at The Fringe under the label «Swiss Selection Edinburgh»: «21» by Mats Staub, «8:8» by Mercimax and «Traumboy» by Daniel Hellmann, which is to be shown in combination with «Traumgirl» by Anne Welenc. Summerhall, one of the central venues at the festival, has signed up as partner to the project.
«By bundling the Swiss productions under one label, and by collaborating with a renowned venue, we are enabling the participating artists to generate maximum awareness,» says Felizitas Ammann, Head of Dance and Theatre at the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. Experiences with this form of promotion strategy have been successful elsewhere: For four years, Pro Helvetia has been sending a «Sélection Suisse en Avignon» to the theatre festival in Avignon, in collaboration with Corodis (Commission romande de diffusion des spectacles). It opens up networking opportunities for the artists involved, as well as the possibility of other invitations for guest performances. «A further gratifying effect of the «Sélection» is that it has noticeably raised the interest of international professionals in the Swiss theatre scene,» adds Felizitas Ammann.
Besides the «Swiss Selection» at The Fringe, Pro Helvetia is also supporting the performances of Milo Rau’s play «La Reprise» at the simultaneously held Edinburgh International Festival from 3 to 5 August 2019.
Further information on the individual productions of the «Swiss Selection Edinburgh» and their performance dates, as well as on The Fringe in general can be accessed here: https://prohelvetia.ch/de/2019/05/swiss-selection-edinburgh-programm/
Media information:
International media and local media enquiries in Edinburgh:
Emma Berge
emma@mobiusindustries.com
+44 (0)20 3195 6269
Swiss media:
Lisa Stadler
lstadler@prohelvetia.ch
+41 44 267 71 51
Media Release
Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, 9 July 2019
