HighTide Festival to Premiere BOTTLENECK & EDUCATING RONNIE at Edfringe

Artistic Director Steven Atkinson today announced two new HighTide productions premiering at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, August 1-9 at Pleasance and Assembly Theatre respectively.

BOTTLENECK, a new play by Luke Barnes, is a vibrant coming-of-age story which culminates at the Hillsborough tragedy and explores its aftermath for Liverpool. Barnes, and the production’s director, Steven Atkinson are native Liverpudlians. They are collaborating for the first time in order to explore the legacy of Hillsborough on their generation; being raised in a community that was profoundly affected by that event, changing how Liverpudlians regarded others, and how others regarded them.

BOTTLENECK has been selected to be part of Arts Council England's showcase programme Escalator East to Edinburgh. It will be presented at the Pleasance Courtyard, Attic opening August 1st.

EDUCATING RONNIE, created by Joe Douglas and Gareth Nicholls, is an autobiographical piece performed by Joe Douglas. EDUCATING RONNIE is an extraordinary true story charting Joe's decade-long relationship with the young Ugandan boy he befriended during his gap year. Ronnie was 16, Joe was 18. They were both the eldest sons of large families. They both supported Manchester United. Six months later, back in Manchester, Joe got a text: “Brother my sponsor has pulled out on me and I want to stay in school. Can you help? Ronnie x”. That text was to change both of their lives and inextricably link them together. EDUCATING RONNIE takes place over a decade: 4000 miles apart and thousands of pounds invested, it explores the murky processes behind bettering oneself in Uganda.

EDUCATING RONNIE has been selected as part of Creative Scotland's showcase programme Made in Scotland. It will be presented by macrobert and Utter in association with HighTide Festival Theatre at Assembly George Square, opening August 2nd. EDUCATING RONNIE was previewed at HighTide Festival 2012 and the Imaginate Festival ahead of the official premiere at Edinburgh.

EDUCATING RONNIE is the fourth HighTide production to transfer from HighTide Festival 2012 following Ella Hickson’s BOYS (currently playing at Soho Theatre), Vickie Donoghue’s MUDLARKS (currently playing at Theatre503) and Luke Barnes’ EISTEDFFOD to Latitude Festival 2012.

Artistic Director Steven Atkinson said : 'these are two playful works that share an inventiveness in their form and how they are staged. Both are deeply personal works to Luke and Joe, and through having them staged they hope to innovative in their craft and share two extraordinary stories with audiences attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Both are early break-out plays for these playwrights, we're delighted that they’re collaborating with HighTide to produce their plays.'

Escalator is an artist development initiative which aims to identify, nurture and establish creative talent in the East across all art forms. Escalator East to Edinburgh is one element of this larger scheme. It continues to build critical acclaim championing exceptional performing artists from the East, who want to showcase work at the Edinburgh Festivals and benefit from wider exposure. Since 2003, artists and companies have been assisted with venue sourcing, promoter liaison, professional feedback, invaluable networking opportunities, PR and marketing advice.

Made in Scotland is a curated showcase of high quality performance from Scotland at the world’s biggest arts festival, made possible by support from the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. It is a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) and Creative Scotland

LISTINGS

BOTTLENECK by Luke Barnes. Directed by Steven Atkinson.

Pleasance Courtyard, Attic
Aug 1-3 Previews 14:00 (1hr) | £5
Aug 4-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 14:00 (1hr) | £10/£9 conc
Aug 6-9, 14-16, 20-23 14:00 (1hr) | £9/£8 conc
Box Office: 0131 556 6550
Fringe First Eligible
2 for 1 performances: Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th August

A HighTide Festival Theatre / Escalator East to Edinburgh production.

EDUCATING RONNIE created by Joe Douglas and directed by Gareth Nicholls. Performed by Joe Douglas. Directed by Gareth Nicholls. Designed by Lisa Sangster. Video Design by Tim Reid. Sound and Music by Michael John McCarthy.

Assembly George Square, Assembly Three.
Aug 2-3 Preview 13:15 (1hr) | £6.
Aug 6-9, 14-16, 21-23 13:15 (1hr) | £10/£8 conc.
Aug 4-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 13:15 (1hr) | £12/£10 conc.
Box office: 0131 623 3030
Fringe First Eligible

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