theSpaceUK Announces its Programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017

theSpaceUK is proud to announce the line-up for its 2017's Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme. This year will feature over 350 shows across 17 performance spaces - more than 100 more shows than any other Edinburgh Fringe producer - literally offering something to suit everyone, from new writing to classical music, hard-hitting productions about contemporary issues to dance training for the learning-disabled, and everything in between. theSpaceUK occupies an unparalleled position with its two central hubs on the Royal Mile and Nicholson Street/Hill Square. The former is enlarged this year with the return of theSpace on North Bridge (Carlton Hilton Hotel) after a two-year absence, presenting two very smart new spaces.

Over recent years, theSpaceUK has established a solid reputation for supporting new writing and this year is no exception. Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who), Robert Picardo (Star Trek) and Rick Oliver (The Flight of the Rocket) star in A Joke, a new play by Dan Freeman, while Taggart creator Glenn Chandler writes and directs Lord Dismiss Us, the first adaptation of Michael Campbell's wickedly funny novel. Space stalwarts and multi-award winners Naughty Corner Productions bring two intriguing and controversial new works to this year's Fringe - Church Blitz and The British Idles. Elsewhere, plays based on real life stories expose the plight of migrants caught up in the refugee crisis in both Karen Houge and David Tann's Undercover Refugee and Henry C Krempels' The Sleeper.

Technology journalist Geoff White and ethical hacker Glenn Wilkinson present a shocking interactive show, The Secret Life of Your Mobile Phone, illustrating what information our mobile devices are passing on to others, while the play Threadbare reveals the shattering effects of revenge porn. Other contemporary themes include Know Brexit, Geoffrey Brown's sequel to last year's highly successful Knowing EU. The effects of bullying are exposed in Cult-ure, while The Gun Show shares true stories about America's gun culture with brutal humour.

theSpaceUK has a history of presenting thoughtful and sensitive work about women's issues and this year's programme ranges from the fears of a prospective mother in All KIDding Aside to Woman On Fire, a one woman show based on the life of passionate suffragette Edith Rigby.

Bella Freak: Unwritten and Naming Culture are two honest perspectives on a life of disability, again drawn from true-life experiences, both poignant and comical. An exciting innovation this year is DanceSyndrome's Orbit, dance training open to all, but aimed at empowering leaning-disabled individuals in particular.

theSpaceUK always presents a strong musical programme and this year, festival goers will be able to enjoy a wide selection of genres, including classical (the Russian String Orchestra, aka Misha's Gang), Scottish folk (Elspeth McVeigh) and Neapolitan melodies (Anema). The winners of BBC Two's The Choir: Gareth's Best in Britain, Semi-Toned, present their show Stay Tuned, and Rock Choir will be making their Fringe debut with Rock Choir Live!.

After a very successful debut year in 2016, theSpaceUK will bring back YourSpace, which is a unique self artiste platform of workshops, Q&A sessions, forums - basically, a place for Fringe creatives to host their own events and breakout sessions. The ever popular SpaceGin bar will return to Hill Square, while Niddry Street will host Sips in the City at theSpaceUK, providing Scottish-themed food and beverages.

"It's 70 years since the first ever Edinburgh Festival Fringe and few venues represent the very ethos of why this fabulous event was created - a platform for all, performer and audience," says Artistic Director Charles Pamment. "Here at theSpaceUK, we offer just that: a programme embracing opportunity and diversity and the largest 'new writing' programme in Edinburgh, incorporating every genre of live performance possible. We're proud to present one of the oldest Fringe venues, still going strong - theSpace @ Venue 45. Our 2017 programme gives, in the true spirit of the festival, something for everyone. Welcome and enjoy."

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FROM THESPACEUK 2017 PROGRAMME:

A Joke

Theme: Contemporary Society

Starring Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who), Robert Picardo (Star Trek, The Wonder Years) and Richard Oliver (The Flight of the Rocket) in a new play by writer/producer Dan Freeman. Three characters - The Englishman, The Irishman and The Scotsman - discover they are the elements in a joke. Gradually, a metaphor for life develops...

theSpace @ Niddry St, 14-26th, 13.55, 60mins

Church Blitz

Theme: Contemporary Society

Multi-award-winning Naughty Corner's fourth show, in association with theSpaceUK and Edge Hill University. Seven strangers shelter in a church from mysterious lights in the sky and unnatural storms are brewing. As the collective are surrounded by an unknown force, the situation spirals into deceit and paranoia.

theSpace on the Mile, 4-5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 21.15 / 15th, 17th, 19th, 21.05 / 22nd, 24th, 26th, 20.35, 50mins

The British Idles

Theme: Contemporary Society

Alcohol, drugs, zero-hour contracts and love triangles befall this bunch of misfits, who desperately search for a way out. Watch as relationships fall apart, amidst the political and social storm ignited in Britain. Produced by Naughty Corner Productions, in association with Edge Hill University.

theSpace on the Mile, 7th, 9th, 11th, 21.10 / 14th, 16th, 18th, 21.05 / 21st, 23rd, 25th, 20.40, 50 mins

Lord Dismiss Us

Theme: 50th anniversary of the partial legalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales

Glenn Chandler, creator of Taggart, writes and directs this first adaptation of Michael Campbell's wickedly funny 1967 novel, in which a homophobic new headmaster and his devoutly religious wife bring a reign of terror to a boys' boarding school, with hilarious and tragic consequences.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 4-26th, 18.05, 80mins

Undercover Refugee

Theme: Refugee Crisis

Award-winning actors Karen Houge and David Tann present a satire based on true stories told through the eyes of a fictional character, inspired by Karen's trip following refugees in 2015. Showing a different view of the refugee trail from that presented by mainstream media, it's provocative without preaching.

theSpace on the Mile, 15-19th, 10.25, 50mins

The Sleeper

Theme: Refugee Crisis

Set on an overnight train somewhere in Europe, this play weaves together the real testimony of Syrian refugees and the personal experience of Henry C Krempels, who draws from his feature commissioned by Vice Magazine in 2015, at the height of the immigration crisis.

theSpace @ Jury's Inn, 4-12th, 21st-26th, 11.40 / 14-19th 10.30, 60mins

Cult-ure

Theme: Bullying

Circled in their new support group, six young people all brought together by one thing - a journey from friendship to revenge. This play explores the effects of bullying and the true meaning of safety and support.

theSpace on North Bridge, 14-26th, 11.10, 50mins

The Gun Show

Theme: Gun Control

Playwright E M Lewis, assisted by Broadway actor Vin Shambry, shares a unique perspective and true stories about America's most dangerous pastime, with brutal honesty and poignant humour. Leaning neither right nor left, the production jumps into the middle of the gun control debate, asking, 'Can we have a conversation about this?'

SpaceTriplex, 4-26th, 19.40, 75mins

Woman On Fire

Theme: Women's Issues

An explosive one-woman show, based on the fiery spirit and turbulent times of one of the most passionate and dangerous women in Edwardian England - Mrs Edith Rigby. Mild-mannered doctor's wife, guerrilla fighter, vandal, arsonist and suffragette bomber, this outrageous woman remains an enigma to this day.

theSpace on North Bridge, 4-26th, 12.55, 50mins

All KIDding Aside

Theme: Women's Issues

Four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee and creator of Fringe hit ONEymoon, Christel Bartelse shares her fears about becoming a mother while awaiting a pregnancy test - a possibility that comes as a surprise after years of thinking she was infertile. Sometimes the biggest fears can be little ones.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 4-26th, 15.05, 50mins

Bella Freak: Unwritten

Theme: Disability

A collection of poignant, but often comical, true-life stories of three disabled individuals with wide-ranging impairments, placing them in cultural and historical contexts from the Act of Union to the 21st century as a fundamental part of Scotland's national story. Produced by Disability History Scotland/Bella Freak, with support from the HLF.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 4-12th, 17.15, 45mins

Naming Culture

Theme: Disability

This short, sweet and interactive one-woman show is an autobiographical journey through a life labelled 'disabled'. Zara Jayne's open and honest stories draw audiences into her world as she playfully calls stereotypes into question and leaves them with a few things to think about!

theSpace @ Jury's Inn, 8-12th, 15.15, 30mins

Threadbare

Theme: Revenge Porn

Mia loses control over her social media accounts and is forced to address life on the darker side of the Internet. But what websites can she trust? A brand new piece of writing which combines furious questioning of revenge porn with the heartfelt vulnerability of the new found identity of victimhood.

theSpace on North Bridge, 4-19th, 12.20, 50mins

SPOKEN WORD

Know Brexit

Theme: Brexit

Geoffrey Brown returns after presenting the highly successful Knowing EU at the Fringe festivals in Brighton and Edinburgh 2016 and Adelaide 2017, with a humorous and entertaining look at the Brexit options, our future relationship with the EU and what it all means for the UK.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 4-26th, 16.05, 50mins

The Secret Life of Your Mobile Phone

Theme: Technology

The brainchild of award-winning technology journalist Geoff White and ethical hacker Glenn Wilkinson, this show is an interactive stage performance using cutting edge interception technology to reveal the people, places and companies your phone is talking to behind your back - and what it's telling them.

theSpace on the Mile, 21st-26th, 15.50, 60mins

MUSIC

Semi-Toned: Stay Tuned

Semi-Toned, the burgundy-blazered winners of BBC Two's The Choir: Gareth's Best in Britain, jump out of the TV to bring you a vibrant new show. This a cappella group, who have recently returned from their third tour of the USA, are renowned for their jawdropping vocal acrobatics and their wide musical repertoire.

SpaceTriplex, 14-26th, 17.05, 50mins

Rock Choir Live!

Witness a spectacular display of uplifting, feel-good pop, rock and contemporary chart songs performed by national phenomenon, Rock Choir. Local singers from Scotland and the North East make their Edinburgh Fringe debut this year by presenting an explosion of entertainment that will guarantee to get the crowd on their feet.

SpaceTriplex, 4-26th, 20.05, 45mins

Misha's Gang - Russian String Orchestra

Everything you would expect from a renowned Russian string orchestra... and some things you would not! Following recent sell-out concerts in Russia, USA and China,

70-year-old conductor Misha Rachlevsky and his 14-strong Gang deliver a compelling mixture of passion, energy, fun and great music, accessible for all ages.

SpaceTriplex, 4-12th, 17.30 / Space @ Surgeons Hall, 14-26th, 14.45, 70mins

Remember Me My Dere

Elspeth McVeigh brings another gorgeous and unusual programme of little known, rarely performEd Scottish and European 17th-century music to the Fringe. Sung by street musicians and accompanied on the clarsach (early Scottish harp), these beautiful, haunting songs are a glorious celebration of life and the heart.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 21st-26th, 18.10, 50mins

Concerto Napolide

A journey through Neapolitan Music, from the songs of the great tradition to famous songwriters Renato Carosone and Domenico Modugno, guided by Anema who perform timeless melodies and rhythms with novel twists. The ensemble has a firm grounding in classical education, enhanced by long-term experience in jazz and popular music.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, 14-19th, 12.55, 50mins

DANCE

Orbit

DanceSyndrome is an inclusive arts charity providing access to high quality dance leadership and development opportunities. Training is open to everyone, but for learning-disabled individuals in particular, enabling them to become more active and visible citizens and providing creative, cultural and social opportunities to increase physical health and personal wellbeing.

theSpace@ Surgeons Hall, 14-15th, 11.30, 45mins

For more information go to: http://thespaceuk.com