Made In Scotland showcase announced for Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Transgender choirs, police van drama, Idi Amin's impact in Scotland, refugee stories and record collection conversations among the highlights revealed as part of 2017 Made in Scotland Showcase.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, today announced the companies and artists selected for the 9th year of Made in Scotland - a curated showcase of music, theatre and dance performed during the 70th Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's greatest platform for creative freedom of expression. Since its inception in 2009, Made in Scotland has funded 125 companies, ensembles and artists to showcase over 180 shows. The onward touring fund has enabled 65 productions to tour across six continents, visiting over 35 countries.

This year's showcase will support 24 shows at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe who have been chosen by a panel of experts from the Scottish and international performing arts community. The programme represents a mix of established companies and vibrant emerging artists producing theatre, dance, children's shows and music in Scotland today. From tense police drama written by former policeman Adam McNamara, to Robert Mapplethorpe inspired dance and a starring role for the record collection of musician MJ McCarthy's Great Aunt Kathleen, the 2017 Made in Scotland Showcase will build on the success of previous years by showcasing some of the very best theatre, dance and music Scotland has to offer. Playwrights' Studio Scotland also return with a programme of talks and workshops to support the showcase.

The wealth of talent working in Scotland's performing arts sector is reflected in a strong line-up of companies, ensembles and artists including; National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Dance Theatre, Gary McNair, Capercaille's Donald Shaw, Andy Canon, Stellar Quines, FK Alexander, WHYTE, Dogstar Theatre Company, Pauline Goldsmith, Capella Novella, Withered Hand, Iklan, Savage Mansion, Joan Clevillé Dance, Caroline Bowditch and Company, Sean Shibe, Modern Studies and Lomond Campbell, Utter, Tom Poulson, children's favourites The Polar Bears, MJ McCarthy and Red Bridge Arts, Apphia Campbell, Robbie Thomson and Cryptic.

Playwrights' Studio Scotland's TalkFest 2017 explores what stimulates the artists behind this year's Made in Scotland showcase and wider Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The sessions are led and chaired by some of our leading playwrights and theatre-makers including; Rona Munro, Nicola McCartney, Philip Howard, Adura Onashile, Orla O'Loughlin, Pauline Goldsmith, Adam McNamara, Joe Douglas, Michael John McCarthy and Martin O'Connor.

Made in Scotland is a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and the Scottish Music Centre. The showcase is supported by the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals' Expo Fund with part of the funding designed to enable Scottish companies, ensembles and artists to take up onward international touring opportunities from contacts made during the Festival Fringe.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairssaid: "Made in Scotland is an integral part of the Fringe Festival, showcasing excellent, bold and innovative work from Scotland to local, national and international audiences. We have contributed almost £5 million to Made in Scotland through the Scottish Government's EXPO fund since it began, and it has enablEd Scottish theatre, dance and music acts to perform around the world. This year's showcase features a rich variety of stimulating stories and talented artists, and I look forward to seeing performances in August."

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said:"This is an auspicious year for the Fringe as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. A festival which started because eight companies, six of whom were Scottish, simply wanted to present their work to audiences. 70 years on and the Made in Scotland showcase provides an incredible opportunity for Scottish based artists across dance, theatre and music to highlight their work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, supporting them to take advantage of the opportunities presented by a festival of this scale and internationalism taking place in Scotland. As well as providing a platform to raise their profile and connect with local and international industry and media, Made in Scotland opens up opportunities for onward international touring giving shows a life beyond the Fringe. I am delighted this platform exists through partnership with Creative Scotland, Federation of Scottish Theatre and Scottish Music Centre and with support from the Scottish Government's Expo Fund."

Laura Mackenzie-Stuart, Head of Theatre, Creative Scotland said: "In this 70th year, we celebrate the founding international principles of the festivals by connecting Scottish artists to national and global audiences. The Made in Scotland showcase highlights the wealth of talented artists working across music, theatre and dance drawing them to the attention of the wider world. We are rightfully proud of the work made by artists living in Scotland and thankful that beyond August the Onward Touring Fund element of the Scottish Government's Expo Fund enables artists to extend the advantage of performing at the Fringe by supporting them to take up invitations to perform internationally."

Hazel Wotherspoon, Interim Director, Federation of Scottish Theatre said: "The Federation of Scottish Theatre has been involved in Made in Scotland since the inception of the showcase and we are very excited about the increasing success and recognition of the showcase among the promoters and programmers as well as the general public. This year, as we celebrate the 70th year of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Made in Scotland showcase yet again offers a wide and varied programme of world-class theatre, dance and music."

Gill Maxwell, Executive Director, Scottish Music Centre said: "Working in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Creative Scotland and the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the Scottish Music Centre is delighted that in this 70th anniversary year of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this year's showcase presents eight world-class music shows from Scotland. Highlighting the quality and diversity of Scotland's composers, songwriters, musicians and artists, this impressive line-up showcases a wide range of music genres. From new choral works and contemporary classical virtuoso performances via emerging indie artists, thrilling live soundtracks and multimedia presentations, this year's programme truly offers something for every music-lover."

Details of the full programme is available on the Made In Scotland website.