Edinburgh International Festival Sets Conversations Lineup

Edinburgh International Festival is delighted to announce an exciting and high profile array of performers for its Edinburgh International Festival Conversations this August, in partnership with BBC Arts Online.

Dance legend Sylvie Guillem, theatre and film actor Juliette Binoche and innovative theatre-makers, Robert Lepage and Simon McBurney will take part in these intimate conversations held in front of a small studio audience in Edinburgh, whilst being streamed live across the world on bbc.co.uk/arts

This brand new series will be presented, individually, by experienced broadcasters Deborah Bull and Jamie MacDougall.

Deborah Bull is Director, Culture at King's College London. She was a Principal with The Royal Ballet and then became Creative Director of the Royal Opera House. Since 1998, she has presented a wide range of programmes across both television and radio.

Jamie MacDougall is well established as one of Scotland's most versatile singers and performers. Since 2001 Jamie has been the nation's voice of classical music for BBC Radio Scotland and a regular presenter on BBC Radio 3.

Free tickets for the conversations will be made available exclusively online. People can register their interest via eif.co.uk and Twitter and be entered into a ticket ballot. Winners will be advised closer to the event. People will also be able to ask the artists questions on Twitter in advance of the conversation by tweeting using the hashtags #askguillem, #askbinoche, #asklepage or #askmcburney.

Festival Director Fergus Linehan says, "I am delighted with our line-up of Conversations this year presented in a brand new series with BBC Arts online. To me these artists are fascinating and innovative individuals both on and away from the stage and these special occasions will allow each of them to talk intimately to a world-wide audience."

Director, BBC Arts Jonty Claypole says, "Edinburgh International Festival is one of the greatest arts festivals in the world, renowned for its collaborations with the very best artists and performers. BBC Arts is thrilled to participate in these Conversations that will give an insight into those shows for those in and beyond Edinburgh who are unable to see them in person."

As well as appearing across a host of BBC platforms throughout August, the Edinburgh International Festival continues its long-standing broadcasting partnership with BBC Radio 3. Twenty-four live and recorded broadcasts will be made from three of the Festival's key classical music venues, The Queen's Hall, the Usher Hall and the Playfair Library.

BBC Radio 3 will broadcast live from Festival every weekday for three weeks and a further week of highlights will be broadcast during September. Jamie MacDougall will also be presenting these concerts with BBC Radio 3 presenter Donald MacLeod.

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